Todd Blythe came to Iowa State wanting to become the best.

On Saturday, the senior wide receiver will take one step closer to becoming that when the Cyclones travel to Texas Tech, as Blythe is only 82 yards away from becoming Iowa State’s all-time receiving yards leader.

“That’s something that was a goal,” Blythe said. “Every kid comes into school and says ‘I want to be the best to ever play.'”

A 6-foot-5-inch native of Indianola, Blythe might get that chance. Having already set the Cyclone record for career touchdown receptions with 26, his

2,608 receiving yards rank him second only behind Lane Danielsen. As a freshman, Blythe watched from the sidelines as Danielsen wrapped up his career with

163 receptions, 2,690 yards and 14 touchdowns catches.

A year later, Blythe broke out with

39 receptions and nine touchdowns.

“Whatever he’s accomplished at Iowa State he’ll continue to accomplish. Nothing surprises me,” said former Cyclones coach Dan McCarney. “He’s one of the most selfless players I’ve ever been around. He’s one of the most tenacious competitors I’ve ever coached.”

Now in his final year, Blythe is averaging 12.1 yards a catch in the Cyclones’ first five games. He’s also reached the end zone four times this season.

“I don’t think it could happen to a better guy,” said Cyclones coach Gene Chizik. “I think what he’s done for this program in four years and the contributions that he’s made is what Iowa State’s all about.”

Some of those contributions he got to see up close. As a defensive coordinator for Texas last season, Chizik was planning schemes to stop the lengthy receiver. Most of them didn’t work, as Blythe caught six passes for 68 yards and one touchdown against the Longhorns.

“He’s a big target and he’s hard to defend on certain things,” he said. “He’s a good football player.”

While McCarney has been in awe of what the receiver has been able to accomplish on the field, he said what impressed him the most is how Blythe was able to recover from a torn ACL after his freshman year.

“He attacks recovery and rehab just like he tries to attack defensive backs and secondaries to go make plays,” McCarney said.

While Blythe is finishing up his career in the midst of a 1-4 season, he said he’d trade all the records for more wins.

“I came here to win football games,” Blythe said. “Not to break records and things like that. I wish I had never lost a game up to this point.”

Running into the South

Watching college football highlights from the previous weekend, defensive end Rashawn Parker couldn’t help but get excited.

That’s because Parker, along with the rest of the country, watched as Big 12 South Division powerhouses Oklahoma and Texas were defeated by unranked conference opponents.

“I think it gives us hope,” Parker said. “We play a couple of those teams the next couple of weeks. The hope is there, we’ve just got to take our opportunity when the opportunity is there.”

The Cyclones will a get a chance at adding to the upsets when they play host to No. 19 Texas in week seven of the season and No. 10 Oklahoma the following week. Texas, previously ranked at No. 7 in The Associated Press poll, was defeated by Kansas State, 41-21, on Saturday. That same day, Oklahoma, which was ranked No. 3, fell to Colorado 27-24.

“I think it just shows that there is a lot of parody in college football right now,” Blythe said. “Everybody’s got good players and if you line up to play them on Saturday, anyone can win.”

The Cyclones will also play host to Kansas State, who moved into the poll at No. 24 after the Texas game on Nov. 3 and Colorado on Nov. 10.

“Anybody can win on any given day,” Parker said. “You’ve just got to go out and play the game.”

Congrats coach Mac

Big 12 schools weren’t the only teams making upsets last weekend.

No. 6 South Florida defeated No. 5 West Virginia 21-13 last week. The Bulls, whose defensive line is coached by McCarney, moved up 12 spots in The Associated Press poll from No. 18 after the win.

“Everyone wants a piece of our rear end right now,” McCarney said.

While Blythe has focused on his team’s schedule, he said he has paid close attention to what his former coach is up to as well.

“They’re doing good things down there,” Blythe said. “They’re playing great football, and they’re beating a lot of good teams.”

Blythe, who said he keeps in contact with McCarney, has watched South Florida roll to a 4-0 record, including an upset against Auburn.

McCarney isn’t the only former Cyclone enjoying the success. Junior Tyrone Mackenzie is currently playing for the Bulls. The 6-foot-2-inch linebacker from Riverview, Fla., finished eighth in the nation with 10.75 tackles per game in 12 appearances for the Cyclones last season. This year he was granted an NCAA waiver, making him eligible this year after transferring, and is second on the team with 21 solo tackles.

In his brief conversations with McCarney, Blythe said his former coach has kept a close eye on Iowa State.

“He’s excited about what’s going on down there, and obviously he’s pulling for us every game, too,” he said.

The undefeated Bulls travel to Boca Raton, Fla., on Oct. 6 for a matchup with Florida Atlantic (3-2).

“Every week gets bigger and every victory means more,” McCarney said. “We’ve got our hands full [with Florida Atlantic].”

Iron Man Meyer

In three-and-a-half years with the Cyclones, quarterback Bret Meyer has taken a lot of hits.

On Saturday, the senior from Atlantic will make his 42nd straight start for the Cyclones. He’s also been sacked 111 times in his career.

“He’s gotten up after every one of them,” Blythe said. “Some were a little slow and he’s come back to the huddle and I don’t think he really knew where he was sometimes.”

Despite the sacks, Meyer is second among active quarterbacks in total offense with 9,266 yards and has never missed a game due to injury.

“That kid is probably in the training room once a year,” Blythe said. “For him to get hit as much as he has, and get hit as he has, by as big as guys as he’s gotten hit by, that’s pretty impressive.”

Stat of the day: Iowa State is the least penalized team in the Big 12 this year. The Cyclones have been whistled only 15 times for 129 yards this season.