Iowa State’s 35-34 second half collapse against Kansas last season is a moment Cyclone fans may want to keep buried away in the far reaches of their minds.

But for the Jayhawks, last year’s 20 point comeback served as a viable learning tool.

“We have presented last year’s game against Iowa State, as ‘this is what happens when you show up and are not ready to play and not mentally sharp,’” Kansas coach Mark Mangino said at his weekly press conference on Monday. “We played two totally different halves, but if we don’t show up ready to play, or take your opponent for granted, you will get stunned.”

Although the memory of the lost chance remains, the Cyclones (3-2, 0-1 Big 12) remain confident as they head on the road Saturday to face the 14th-ranked Jayhawks (4-0).

“We know we can play with these guys – we had them up 20-0 last year,” said ISU defensive back Leonard Johnson. “But we need to be willing to play mistake free ball.”

Mistake free ball is not a phrase that can be used to describe Iowa State’s 24-23 loss to Kansas State last weekend.

Fourteen missed completions, 65 yards of penalties, two turnovers and a blocked extra point all culminated in a loss that the Cyclones had several opportunities to avoid.

The loss dropped Iowa State to 3-2 and quelled a bit of the premature hype and optimism exuded by parts of its fan base.

Despite this setback, Kansas expects the Cyclones to come prepared and ready to get their season back on track.

“They’re going to be fired up because of that [loss],” said Kansas offensive lineman Brad Thorson. “Sometimes games like that jump on you and surprise you, but I definitely think they are going to come here and try to redeem themselves.”

The Jayhawks, however, provide a daunting and formidable bump on the road to redemption.

Kansas, who has won back-to-back bowl games, has raced to an unblemished 4-0 record this season and currently sits tied with Missouri atop the Big 12 North.

Heading up the Jayhawk’s spread offense is senior standout quarterback Todd Reesing.

“He’s scary good in what he means to their football team and what he is able to achieve,” said ISU coach Paul Rhoads. “When you have an operator like he is you  most things that you want and you can do it effectively.”

Reesing has had his way with the Kansas offense in his three years as a starter.

Reesing owns almost every passing record in the Jayhawk record books and, having already racked up 1,137 yards and nine touchdowns this season, those records are sure to grow.

Apart from the solid passing game, a pair of standout running backs anchor the offense.

 Senior Jake Sharp, Kansas’ top rusher last season, began the season on a tear with 240 yards rushing and a nation’s-best six touchdowns.

But in the Jayhawks’ third game of the season against Duke, Sharp suffered a calf injury that benched him for the majority of the game, as well as the following week against Southern Miss.

Kansas suffered no letdown thanks to freshman Toben Opurum. In four games this season, Opurum has racked up 320 yards and six touchdowns. He is tied with Sharp for fifth in the Big 12 in average rushing yards per game.

With Kansas having last week off, Sharp gained extra time to heal. Mangino said he hopes to be able to use Sharp on Saturday.

“I didn’t realize he [Sharp] was hurt until I started [on the game plan] today,” Rhoads said after practice on Tuesday. “They haven’t had any doggone drop off with  [Opurum] in and they are supposed to have Sharp back in the lineup, so that doesn’t help me sleep much as we move forward.”          

Sleep will be easiereasier to come by for Rhoads if a remedy to the error-riddled play that cost the Cyclones a victory last Saturday, as well as in the 2008 Jayhawk debacle, can be found.

“This team is getting better every week and I think we are going the right way. Eventually things will go our way,” senior linebacker Jesse Smith said.