The numbers speak for themselves.

Three wins in the last 15 years – no wins in Memorial Stadium since 1977.

The rivalry senior linebacker Alvin Bowen sees in Saturday’s game against No. 25 Nebraska is “probably one-sided.” But when it comes to Big 12 football, the intensity is always there.

Saturday, the ISU football team opens the conference season in Lincoln, Neb., in front of an expected crowd of almost 85,000.

“The Big 12 is very physical,” Bowen said. “Not to say the first four games weren’t very physical, but the Big 12 is a different deal.”

Bowen and the ISU defense will have the chance to prove they are the real deal against the Cornhuskers (3-1 overall). The Cyclones have shown improvement on defense, primarily in the passing defense.

Last season, Iowa State ranked 115th in opponents’ passer efficiency and allowed a Division I-worst 72.46 completion percentage.

This season, the Cyclones (1-3 overall) have given up an average of 164.5 yards per game through the air – the second best average in the Big 12.

After giving up an average of 31 points per game last season, the Cyclones have given up 24 ppg this season, but 38 of the 96 points scored have been off turnovers.

Coach Gene Chizik said the margin for error on Saturday is slim against a Nebraska team averaging 36 ppg this season.

“They’re clicking now, I mean they’re averaging 500 yards a game,” Chizik said. “And they’re playing some good teams.”

The Cornhuskers’ (3-1 overall) only loss of the season came to top-ranked Southern California. Senior quarterback Sam Keller is averaging 319.5 yards passing per game, leading Nebraska’s west coast offense.

Cyclone right cornerback Allen Bell said the secondary is excited to take an increased role.

“We get excited when we get a team that wants to throw the ball a lot, because then it puts the game in our hands a little bit more and gives us a chance to make plays with it, which we all love to do,” Bell said.

The only fault of the Cyclone defense has been that they’ve only forced four turnovers, which Bowen said needs to change. Iowa State has a negative-7 turnover margin.

“We need to capitalize,” said Bowen, who had an interception against Toledo. “There has been times where we could have had some turnovers, balls have been rollin’ around on the ground, and we could have had some interceptions, but I think we just haven’t capitalized on it enough.”

Even after scoring 35 points last weekend, Iowa State currently ranks last in the Big 12 at 19 ppg.

Nebraska allowed 40 points to Ball State last Saturday, and has given up an average of 29 ppg.

Quarterback Bret Meyer is coming off his best game of the season, finishing 24-of-33 for 251 yards and three touchdowns against Toledo.

Chizik said those numbers were worse than he performed, as four balls were dropped and two were thrown out of bounds intentionally when receivers couldn’t get open.

Also, in two straight games, Meyer has led the Cyclones down the field for potential game-winning drives.

Against Toledo, Iowa State gave up an 11-point lead in the final five-and-a-half minutes of the fourth quarter.

Bowen said he sees a team that can win if it eliminates costly errors.

“We saw glimpses of being a real good team,” the senior said. “It’s just making mistakes that’s killing us.”