The ISU football team will face three teams in the Associated Press top 25 poll in its first four Big 12 games.

Four other opponents made bowl appearances in 2006.

But if coach Gene Chizik is worried about it, he’s not letting on.

“I’m not worried about it at all to be honest,” Chizik said. “I’m just trying to figure out how to get through today’s practice. I think about us trying to get better as a football team every day.”

The action starts Aug. 30 with a Thursday night game against Kent State. Here’s a look at the Cyclones’ 2007 opponents.

Aug. 30: Kent State – The Chizik Era opens with a visit from Kent State, who just missed a bowl game appearance after a 6-6 record in 2006, after starting out 4-0 in the Mid-American Conference. Fourth-year coach Doug Martin looks to keep the rebuilding process going, as Kent State improved from a 1-10 record in 2005.

Sept. 8: Northern Iowa – Last year’s 28-27 win over the Panthers was too close for comfort, clinched only when UNI kicker Brian Wingert’s 51-yard field goal floated wide right on the last play of the game. Northern Iowa, 7-4 in 2006, starts the season ranked ninth in the Football Championship Subdivision Sports Network preseason poll.

Sept. 15: Iowa – Athletic director Jamie Pollard made another bold move in the off-season when he announced single-game tickets for this game would not be sold. The traditional Dan McCarney vs. Iowa storyline is gone, but the rivalry is as strong as ever, with Iowa holding on to a 27-17 win in Iowa City last year, getting revenge for the 23-3 Cyclone upset in 2005.

Sept. 22: at Toledo – The Cyclones open a three-game road trip in this final nonconference game. Iowa State started off the 2006 season with a 45-43 triple-overtime thriller against the Rockets. The Rockets are led by senior running back Jalen Parmele, who was second only to quarterback Aaron Opelt in all-purpose yards for the team in 2006.

Sept. 29: at Nebraska – Big 12 play opens up against the 20th-ranked Cornhuskers, who came away from Ames with a 28-14 win last year. Nebraska is an early favorite to repeat as champions in the Big 12 North under fourth-year head coach Bill Callahan. The Cornhuskers’ swept the North and earned a trip to the Cotton Bowl, a 17-14 loss to Auburn.

Oct. 6: at Texas Tech – Iowa State closes its three-game road trip against the defending Insight Bowl champion Red Raiders. Texas Tech spoiled Iowa State’s homecoming last year, emerging from Ames with a 42-24 win. The Cyclones have only beaten the Red Raiders once, when Seneca Wallace led Iowa State to victory in 2002.

Oct. 13: No. 4 Texas – Chizik will provide the storyline for this game – two years after helping coach the Longhorns to a National Championship he will try to pull off an upset over his former team. The fourth-ranked Longhorns could be facing a letdown after facing rival Oklahoma the previous week.

Oct. 20: No. 8 Oklahoma – This homecoming matchup is the Cyclones’ third preseason top-25 opponent in four games. Iowa State welcomes the defending Big 12 Champions after losing to them 34-9 in Norman last year. Chizik was 2-0 against the Sooners as a defensive coordinator at Texas.

Oct. 27: at Missouri – The Tigers provided Iowa State’s only win in Big 12 play in 2006, as head coach Dan McCarney led the Cyclones to a 21-16 win in his final game as head coach. That was Missouri’s fourth loss in five games after starting the season 6-0. They recovered to earn a trip to the Sun Bowl, and look to contend for the North title in 2007.

Nov. 3: Kansas State – The Cyclones had a 10-0 lead to start the game in 2006 before the Wildcats stormed back for the 31-10 win. Kansas State has been in a rebuilding process since winning the Big 12 in 2003, but earned a trip back to a bowl game under first-year head coach Ron Prince in 2006.

Nov. 10: Colorado – In perhaps the lowest moment of Iowa State’s 2006 season, Colorado stomped the Cyclones 33-16 in Boulder, just days after McCarney announced he would resign as football coach. It was one of only two Colorado victories under first-year head coach Dan Hawkins.

Nov. 17: at Kansas – The Jayhawks came to Ames and dominated Iowa State 41-10 in 2006, but their 6-6 record did not earn them a bowl game. The last time Iowa State was went to Kansas in 2005, they lost an overtime heartbreaker that cost them a trip to the Big 12 Championship game.