Projected to finish ninth out of 10 teams in the Big 12 Conference, Iowa State finished 6-6, 3-4 in Big 12 play after winning four games in which it was designated as underdogs. Those four wins were highlighted by a pair of multiple-overtime wins against in-state rival Iowa and No. 2 Oklahoma State.

Here’s a look at some of the story lines that shaped the regular season for the Cyclones.

Jantz, Barnett split regular season at quarterback

On Aug. 20, ISU coach Paul Rhoads revealed that junior quarterback Jerome Tiller, who started the final two games of the 2010 season and was widely thought to be the choice to start the 2011 season, would be academically ineligible for the entire 2011 season. Thus, Rhoads named junior college transfer Steele Jantz as the starter for Iowa State’s season opener against Northern Iowa.

After a triple-overtime victory over Iowa, Jantz became known for more than just his unique name as he completed 25-of-37 passes for 275 yards and four touchdowns in the 44-41 ISU victory. Jantz again led the Cyclones to victory at Connecticut, but sprained his foot in the process. Over the next three games, Jantz would turn the ball over five times. After an interception and a pair of three-and-outs to start the Texas A&M game, Jantz was pulled in favor of redshirt freshman Jared Barnett.

In his first start the next week, the Garland, Texas, native returned to his home state and ended Iowa State’s four-game skid, quarterbacking a 41-7 win against Texas Tech. Barnett racked up 125 rushing yards in a

13-10 win over Kansas and then accounted for 460 total yards in a 37-31 upset of No. 2 Oklahoma State to start his ISU career 3-0 as a starter.

Cadre of backs carry Cyclone rushing attack

Facing the departure of the fourth-leading rusher in school history, Alexander Robinson, the ISU preseason depth chart listed four sophomore running backs – Shontrelle Johnson, James White, Jeff Woody and Duran Hollis – who were all expected to see carries throughout the season.

After Johnson was lost for the season due to a neck injury suffered in the Texas game, the 5-foot-8-inch, 184-pound White carried much of the load with 43 carries in losses to Baylor, Missouri and Texas A&M. Then, in a 41-7 win over Texas Tech the ground game exploded. The Cyclones ran the ball on 67 of their 93 offensive plays en route to 368 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. White and Hollis eclipsed the 100-yard plateau and Barnett added 92 yards as Iowa State rushed for the most yards since rushing for 434 against Indiana State in 1999.

White led the Cyclones on the ground with 701 yards rushing and seven touchdowns, including 100-plus-yard performances against Baylor and Texas Tech. Woody thrived in his role as a bruising back with 360 yards and five touchdowns, 145 of which came in the final two games. Hollis showcased his big-play ability, averaging 7.4 yards per carry, aided by runs of 71 and 44 yards as he added 214 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Attendance records shattered at Jack Trice Stadium

After 54,672 people came out for the season opener, the ISU athletic department made it a goal each week to have the total attendance at Jack Trice Stadium exceed 50,000 fans each week. They succeeded.

Over the six-game home schedule, an average of 53,647 fans attended each game at Jack Trice, a stadium record breaking the previous season-high average of 51,906 set during the 1982 season. In addition to the season opener, which saw the sixth-most fans all-time come through the gates, two other games cracked the top 10 all-time most attended games at Jack Trice with the second-most all-time on hand for the Texas game (56,390) and third-most for Iowa (56,085).

Biggest win in program history

52,027 fans were on hand in Jack Trice Stadium as Iowa State entered its nationally televised Nov. 18 matchup with No. 2-ranked Oklahoma State 0-56-2 all-time against teams ranked in the top six in the AP poll.

Down 24-7 in the third quarter, the Cyclones battled back to force overtime, and after an interception by Ter’Ran Benton in the first overtime, Jeff Woody carried four times from 25 yards out, including the final plunge into the end zone to seal the 37-31 double-overtime win. Holding an explosive OSU offense to just

24 points and forcing five turnovers, the Cyclones celebrated their first win over a top six team by storming the field en masse.

Gary emerges amid legal issues

Beginning with the win against Kansas, a new leading receiver stepped up for the Cyclones in redshirt sophomore Albert Gary. The Ocala, Fla., native snagged five balls for 57 yards against Kansas. The Monday after the Kansas game, Rhoads announced that Gary had been suspended for the first three games of the season and that he was going to be charged with first-degree robbery stemming from an incident in Ames back in June.

Just three days after turning himself in to authorities and spending Tuesday morning in jail, Gary was back on the field leading Iowa State with seven catches for 109 yards and a touchdown in the upset of No. 2 Oklahoma State. He also led the Cyclones with four catches for 52 yards the following week at Oklahoma.

Gary’s order for arraignment hearing will take place Monday. Rhoads has said that he will consider further punishment if Gary is found guilty.

Defense ends season on high note

A defense that allowed more than 400 yards and 33 points in each of its four mid-season losses rebounded to help the Cyclones become bowl eligible.

After allowing 42.5 points per game in the four-game skid, that average dipped to just 18.5 points per game in the Cyclones’ three-game win streak and a 26-6 loss at Oklahoma.

The 18.5 points per game average was the best in the Big 12 over that month-long stretch ahead of Texas, who allowed 19.7 per game.

The Cyclones also forced 13 turnovers over that stretch, two more than they had in their previous seven games.

Four Cyclones were recognized by the Big 12 Conference, led by first-team All-Big 12 linebacker A.J. Klein, who was named co-defensive player of the year.

Knott and cornerback Leonard Johnson were named to the second team and defensive end Jake Lattimer received honorable mention recognition.