Tuesday is actually Thursday in the minds of ISU coach Paul Rhoads and the football team.

“Happy Wednesday,” Rhoads greeted the media at his weekly news conference Monday at the Bergstrom Football Facility as the team continued preparing for the second-straight Thursday night game, this time against the Texas Longhorns.

It is not just the unconventional that has the players feeling different than it did the first two weeks of the season; it is the fact they’re entering a week with a win under their belt.

“It’s different for sure; it was different on Saturday when we came in, and it was different yesterday on the practice field,” Rhoads said. “In Tulsa preparation, there was a high amount of enthusiasm, especially by our defensive kids in the actual game week.

“You’re trying to create something and now with the victory and the credibility that goes with it, now it’s more back to business and really learning about the Texas Longhorns, their formations, their plays, their tendencies. I saw that kind of business approach from our kids yesterday.”

One constant Iowa State has been able to lean on has been the defense. More specifically, the fact it is creating turnovers.

Against Tulsa, the Cyclones’ defense forced four turnovers with one interception and three fumble recoveries, two of which came from defensive end Nick Kron, a redshirt sophomore. There might have even been four fumble recoveries had it not been for a refereeing error, one that Rhoads is still trying to get corrected.

Iowa State is currently No. 7 in the nation in fumbles recovered and second in the Big 12, averaging two per game, a product of a team that is getting smarter and faster on the defensive side of the football with every game.

“We’re getting more confident, getting back to the fundamentals of tackling and playing physical and aggressive,” said ISU linebacker Luke Knott. “We’re getting smarter. And when you get smarter that allows you to play a lot faster and if you’re playing faster, you’re making more plays.”

The Cyclones are no strangers to creating turnovers. Last year, safety Durrell Givens led the entire nation with nine total takeaways, six of which were fumble recoveries and three interceptions.

Right now Iowa State is averaging 2.3 takeaways per game. If the team keep this pace up, it could even surpass last year’s mark of 26, which was good enough for No. 3 in the Big 12.

“One interception and all the fumbles, but turnovers at a good number that are providing our football team with an opportunity to win the game,” Rhoads said. “It’s maybe the most important stat in any game.”