It’s the type of game coach Gene Chizik sees every year, only this year, it was worse.

Chizik, whose Cyclones fell to No. 15 Texas 56-3 in week seven of the season, has watched his team bounce back with three straight competitive games, including two against opponents ranked in the top 25.

“There’s a game during the year, somewhere, that is a complete debacle,” Chizik said. “I mean, you can’t do one thing right. You can’t call the right play and a guy is going to trip and fall down.”

That game marked the first time in 45 games that the Cyclones’ defense had given up more than 500 yards. It’s something Chizik said he’s seen out of every team he’s coached at throughout his career.

“I’ve been at some places when it happens, you get [beat] really bad and I’ve been at some places where you’re so good athletically that you play that horrendous a game and you still win,” Chizik said.

Since then, they’ve dropped close games against No. 4 Oklahoma and No. 7 Missouri, and defeated Kansas State.

“What I’m most proud about is since that game, we’ve been able to convince our football team, meaning our coaches who have done a great job, that that’s not who we are,” he said.

Who they are is a football team that has been in every football game since. Against the Sooners, the Cyclones’ defense held Oklahoma to zero first-half points. A week later, they held Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel to 250 passing yards, 76 fewer than his season average.

“The last couple of games, I think everyone’s realized we can compete in the Big 12,” said senior kicker Bret Culbertson. “We’ve just got to capitalize on stuff.”

Getting some

After going nine games without getting there, the Cyclones’ defense has found itself in the end zone two times in as many games.

Despite the recent success, Chizik has no explanation for the sudden change.

“That’s an enigma to me,” Chizik said.

The Cyclones’ defense has forced 17 turnovers this season. Against Missouri, redshirt freshman defensive back Devin McDowell returned a Daniel interception 25 yards for a touchdown. A week later, junior defensive back Chris Singleton brought back a Josh Freeman interception 21 yards for a touchdown.

“Sometimes the ball just bounces off a guy’s hand and sometimes a running back just [hap]hazardly fumbles,” Chizik said. “I don’t know.”

Besides the defense forcing turnovers, Chizik said he’s happy with how the Cyclones offense has held onto the ball. After turning the ball over 19 times through nine games, Iowa State gave up only one interception by senior quarterback Bret Meyer against Kansas State.

“I think we’re getting better trying to protect the football, and our decision making process on offense,” Chizik said.

Watching the weather

Forget about the ISU logo – the last time Colorado visited Jack Trice Stadium in 2005, the game was delayed 40 minutes because of a tornado in the city limits.

“I guess that’s Cyclone weather,” said senior wide receiver Milan Moses. “Like [former ISU coach Dan McCarney] said, whenever it was cold out, raining, or whatever, coach Mac would always say ‘Cyclones weather.'”