AMES, Iowa (AP) — Rookie Iowa State coach Matt Campbell has often implored his team to “trust in the process.” The process has been agonizing so far. The Cyclones (1-5, 0-3 Big 12) have taken double-digit leads into the fourth quarter of their last two games against teams they were expected to lose to by double digits. What happened in those final 15 minutes is a painful reminder that there’s a big difference between improving and winning.

Iowa State was outscored 17-0 by both Baylor and Oklahoma State in the fourth quarter, turning what seemed like near-certain victories into devastating defeats. Campbell admits he’s ticked and says he hopes his players are, too, as they prepare for a visit to Texas (2-3, 0-2) on Saturday.

Iowa State’s recent meltdowns have obscured the fact that the program, especially on offense, is trending in the right direction — averaging more than 42 points over its last three games and scoring on all 18 chances inside the red zone, including 14 touchdowns.