The rivalry started in 1896 with a 12-4 Nebraska victory.

During the next 104 years, the Cornhuskers racked up an 85-17-2 advantage over the Cyclones.

Saturday, Iowa State (5-4, 3-2 Big 12) and No. 9 Nebraska (7-1, 3-1) will meet for what is likely the final time on the gridiron before Nebraska makes its move away from the Big 12 and into the Big Ten in 2011.

“They’re such a storied program. You like to compete against a level of competition like that,” said ISU coach Paul Rhoads, who grew up in Ankeny watching Iowa State and Nebraska face off. Rhoads was also an assistant coach for the Cyclones during the 1990s, the hayday of Nebraska football. “To not not have that opportunity anymore, I’m sure all the people in the league are savoring this last opportunity.”

While Nebraska has historically dominated its neighbor to the east, the Cyclones have slowly turned the tables since 2002, winning three of the last eight matchups.

Iowa State’s 9-7 win in Lincoln on Oct. 23, 2009, was its first in Nebraska’s state capital since 1977. The win gained the Cyclones national attention, and the 2010 ISU football squad is sure to get Nebraska’s best shot Saturday inside Jack Trice Stadium.

“There’s a good chance that they’ll be ready to play,” Rhoads said. “After that first ball is kicked off, if both teams respond to those first hits … then the emotion from something like that sort of goes out the window.”

The Cyclones will have to keep their emotions in check in order to slow down the Cornhuskers.

Nebraska’s offense turned the ball over eight times in Iowa State’s 2009 victory, and the unit has struggled with fumbles in the 2010 campaign. The offense has 26 fumbles through the team’s first eight games, although only nine were recovered by Nebraska opponents. The Nebraska passers, though, have only thrown three interceptions.

The primary signal caller for the Cornhuskers, freshman Taylor Martinez, hasn’t been as much a thrower as a runner. Martinez has 886 yards rushing so far this season, and he’s also accounted for 1,161 yards through the air.

“He’s a superb athlete,” said ISU safety Michael O’Connell. “You see him out there running away from defensive backs. He understands their scheme very well and executes it very well.”

O’Connell, a senior, had one tackle and an interception in the 2009 victory, but wasn’t on the field for the full 60 minutes, playing behind the now-graduated James Smith.

The 2010 Nebraska offense, mainly due to Martinez’s emergence, is scoring 12 more points per game than in 2009, including 51 points against Oklahoma State and 48 against Kansas State.

While Martinez has run the show for the Cornhuskers through eight games, he’s also had to leave two games due to injury or poor performance. Against Texas, the freshman was taken off of the field in favor of Zac Lee, more of a traditional, drop-back passer.

Martinez was injured in Nebraska’s win over Missouri on Saturday.

While the Cornhuskers’ offense is more explosive than in 2009, the defense is allowing 7.4 more points per game this season.

A major reason is the departure of the No. 2 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, Ndamukong Suh.

“That’s the biggest difference, but they roll them right in there with [Jared] Crick,” said ISU running back Alexander Robinson. “They’re sound in what they do. They’re sound across the board, front four, linebackers and the backfield are pretty good.”

Crick leads the team with 4.5 sacks so far this season, and had 9.5 last season, his first full season with the team.

Robinson missed the game in Lincoln, and as a senior, wants a crack at beating Nebraska for the first time in his career.

Although the 2009 victory was a constant point of discussion in the week leading up to Saturday’s games, the players insist that they are focused only on the next and final installment of the rivalry.

“This is a completely different team and they’re a completely different team,” Robinson said. “We’ve got to come in here and prepare for their best shot, because we know that’s what we’re going to get.”

A win against Nebraska would give the Cyclones two in a row over their rival and give them bowl eligibility with the season’s sixth win.

A win could also help the Cyclones in their bid to potentially win the Big 12 North, although Rhoads insisted Monday that his team was not in contention for the division crown.

“We’re trying to improve, we’re trying to be a better football team now than we were a year ago,” Rhoads said. “We’ve played three top-10 teams to this point, and all three have beat us soundly. I want to show up and play. I want to be around for four quarters.

“I’ve just got to make sure my guys are ready to hit on the first snap on the opening kickoff.”