In the 10 years since the conference was restructured, the ISU wrestling team has never won a Big 12 title.

Taking home the trophy this season could be even harder than in years past.

Three Big 12 schools placed in the top four at last weekend’s National Duals. Missouri has become a legitimate contender, Oklahoma State is reloading but still competitive and all five wrestling teams in the Big 12 conference are ranked in the top 20.

“[The Big 12]’s always tough,” coach Cael Sanderson said. “We saw that it is extremely tough last weekend.”

Sanderson and the third-ranked Cyclones (6-3 overall) will open the conference season at rival No. 20 Nebraska (7-3) on Saturday.

Iowa State showed it had the muscle to contend for the Big 12 title last Sunday, beating four-time defending national champion and perennial conference favorite Oklahoma State.

The Cornhuskers enter Saturday night’s dual with a different season outlook.

Nebraska went 1-2 at the tournament and has been struggling to overcome adversity and injury this season.

“They’ve got some really good individuals, but they are going to be a tough team,” Sanderson said. “There is no doubt about that, especially wrestling there. They are always tough, and with our rivalry with them the last few years . They are going to give us their best and we’re going to give them ours.”

Nebraska only fields three ranked wrestlers this season, but has nipped Iowa State by one point in the past two season’s duals.

A 22-21 loss to the Cornhuskers ended the dual season last February and harmed two Cyclones’ postseasons.

Trent Paulson (157) and Kurt Backes (197) both suffered ankle injuries in the dual. Paulson injury-defaulted, likely causing a nine-point swing in team points that could have changed the outcome in the dual. Backes returned and won his match by tech fall.

Nebraska will be without two expected starters. Junior NCAA qualifier Jon May (HWT) leaves a big hole in the Cornhuskers’ lineup after suffering a season-ending injury. Vince Jones (184), a freshman standout during the 2005-06 season, has missed the entire season for an undisclosed reasons.

The anchors of the Cornhusker lineup are eighth-ranked sophomore Paul Donahoe (125) and eighth-ranked Dominick Moyer (141). Freshman Craig Brester (197) is ranked 19th as a freshman.

Iowa State is the heavy favorite in Saturday’s dual. In the latest USA Today poll, nine out of 10 Cyclone starters are ranked, and last weekend most of the lineup showed the rapid improvement of a young lineup.

In his last match, freshman Nick Gallick (133) upset third-ranked Coleman Scott. Ranked only 20th, Gallick said the win gave him a confidence boost.

“It shows me I can compete with the top guys,” he said. “It’s a motivator, too. It’ll keep me working hard . This team has a lot of potential, and we’re all hard workers. I think we can do great things with that.”