Here are three takeaways from Kliff Kingsbury's weekly Big 12 teleconference on Monday:

1. Alan Bowman is cleared for takeoff

Because of his partially collapsed lung, Texas Tech quarterback Alan Bowman had to be driven to the TCU game as patients with partially collapsed lungs are instructed not to fly.

That wasn't an issue in Bowman's first game back with the Red Raiders hosting Kansas at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock.

Going into the Week 9 road matchup with Iowa State, Bowman is cleared for takeoff to travel with the team by plane.

"We bussed him to the TCU game, but he was cleared after that," head coach Kliff Kingsbury said during his weekly Big 12 teleconference.

2. Freshman showdown

With Bowman available, it'll set up a meeting of standout freshmen quarterbacks in Ames, Iowa.

Freshman quarterback Brock Purdy led Iowa State to consecutive upset wins over No. 25 Oklahoma State and No. 6 West Virginia. In those two games, Purdy completed 75 percent of his passes for 572 yards, seven touchdowns

two interceptions.

"It's really impressive to watch what Purdy's done there. In his short time as a starter, he's brought a real spark to that offense," Kingsbury said. "He can run it, he can throw it, he's taking care of the football. It's impressive."

Meanwhile, Bowman has maybe been the biggest surprise of the Big 12. Bowman took over in the first quarter of the season opener after junior starter McLane Carter went down with a high-ankle sprain.

Since then, Bowman leads the Big 12 with 2,088 passing yards, has thrown 14 touchdown passes and four interceptions.

3. Can Texas Tech tackle David Montgomery?

Texas Tech has showcased its improved defense this season, holding Oklahoma State, TCU and Kansas all to less than 20 points.

But Iowa State running back David Montgomery may be the Red Raiders' kryptonite.

In a 31-13 loss to Iowa State last season, Montgomery rushed for 164 yards.

"You watch that West Virginia game and it looked like a wet field, it had been raining there and everybody was slipping and sliding except him," Kingsbury said. "He's a special, dynamic player. He's as good as any running back in the country as far as a complete back and what he does in that offense. We don't have an answer, we haven't tackled him in a couple years."

Montgomery rushed for 189 yards and a touchdown against West Virginia on Oct. 13. He averages 104.6 rushing yards per game, only behind Kansas State's Alex Barnes in the conference.

Big 12 Honors: Texas Tech linebacker Dakota Allen was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week and kicker Clayton Hatfield was named the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday.

Allen recorded a team-high seven tackles, including two for a loss against Kansas. He also recovered a fumble, his first of the season.

Hatfield made a 48-yard field goal and a 47-yarder against Kansas, making him the first Texas Tech kicker to make two 40-plus-yard field goals since 2011.