A growing crew of prospects hailed for their ability to create off-script plays entered the NFL only to discover that it’s not nearly as easy as the Chiefs quarterback makes it look.

But the losing side on that cold, blustery day in Ames, Iowa wasn’t a directional school getting drummed for a payday, but fellow Big 12 foe Texas Tech, led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes — who was playing in his next-to-last college game.