AMES, Iowa
As Matthew Wyman peered toward the end zone and measured his steps at the 43-yard line, Kansas coach David Beaty stepped forward onto the Jack Trice Stadium grass and looked for an official.
It was early in the second quarter on Saturday afternoon — the beginning stages of Kansas’ 38-13 loss to Iowa State in its Big 12 opener — but in this moment, as Beaty pondered a decision, the Jayhawks still trailed by just three points. The football rested at the Iowa State 35-yard line. It was fourth and 3.
At first, the decision appeared obvious, at least on the KU sideline.