Ten games into the season, the ISU football team is still leaving fans scratching their heads.

Week in and week out, it’s the same mistakes and shortcomings that drive Cyclone Nation mad and keep coaches awake at night.

The latest example of the confusing puzzle that is the 2006 ISU football season came Saturday, when a Kansas team with one Big 12 win entered Jack Trice Stadium, asserted its will in every facet of the game and walked away with a 41-10 victory.

Their 0-6 mark in league play leaves the Cyclones as the only Big 12 team without a conference victory.

The loss also leaves an extremely bitter taste in Iowa State’s mouth, even more so than its season-ending losses that prevented consecutive trips to the Big 12 Championship game.

“The two games where we could have made it hurt, but this hurts a different way,” said quarterback Bret Meyer.

“I don’t know how to describe it. It’s one of the most disappointing things I’ve been a part of.”

The ISU defense gave up yards in bunches, allowing Kansas to march up and down the field numerous times.

Five of Kansas’ six scoring drives went for more than 40 yards, with its final trip into the end zone capping off a 12-play, 90-yard drive.

The Jayhawks put up more than 400 yards of total offense, passing for 234 yards and rushing for 169 more.

“We did some really good things,” said Kansas coach Mark Mangino. “I thought we ran the ball well when we needed to and threw the ball well when we needed to.”

The Jayhawks not only dominated the ISU defense, but they also held the Cyclone offense in check.

The Cyclone ground game was halted again, going 33 yards on 30 carries.

Starting tailback Stevie Hicks missed his second consecutive game with a knee injury and backup Jason Scales was also sidelined, leaving rushing duties to true freshman Josh Johnson.

Johnson gained 31 yards on 11 carries. He was also one of five Cyclones to fumble.

Meyer was sacked six times by a Jayhawk defense that was in the ISU backfield all game.

“We’re definitely a little bit frustrated and we’re definitely a little bit disappointed,” said ISU offensive coordinator Barney Cotton.

“There are two ways to go. We either take the high road and do our best these last two weeks, and I can’t even mention the alternative.”

Cotton has been one of the main focuses for the ire of ISU fans, many of whom left at halftime of Saturday’s game, leaving empty seats spread throughout Jack Trice Stadium.

“I can look myself in the mirror every day and know that I came to work and gave everything I could have,” Cotton said. “I don’t profess to be the smartest coach and I don’t profess to be the most creative coach, but I’m going to work hard and do the best I can to put my players in the best position I can put them in.”

Iowa State turns its attention to Colorado and Missouri, its last chances to earn a win and prevent a winless Big 12 season.

“If you’re a man about it, you’ll come out and practice the way we have been and you won’t quit and you won’t be a coward. I don’t think we have anyone on the team like that, but we’ll find out,” Meyer said.