The ISU football team has already clinched a postseason berth with two games left to be played.

But don’t think for a minute the Cyclones will let up with their bowl ticket already punched.

Iowa State secured its fifth bowl appearance in the last six years by beating Kansas State, 45-17, Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium. The sixth win of the season also brings Iowa State back into the race for the Big 12 North championship.

“It’s a great accomplishment for the program,” said ISU coach Dan McCarney in his weekly Big 12 coaches teleconference.

“It shows consistency in the program and shows that we have a real good foundation not only for right now but for the future. Now we go on and let it all hang out in the last two Big 12 games we have and try and play for the best possible bowl we can go to.”

Wins in their final two games, coupled with a Colorado loss to Nebraska and a Missouri loss to either Baylor or Kansas State would give the Cyclones the Big 12 North title.

That would also give Iowa State the opportunity to play the winner of the South – almost certainly Texas – in the Big 12 Championship game.

Still, McCarney stressed that Iowa State must get ready for its next game.

“Our focus right now, honestly, is all Colorado,” McCarney said. “Yes, we accomplished one of the goals that was important to the program and we’re going to the postseason to represent the Big 12 Conference and this university. We’re proud of that and we’re going to do everything we can to move up the ladder.”

Colorado has proven to be the team to beat in the North, holding a 7-2 overall record and a 5-1 mark in the conference.

The Buffaloes only two losses have come on the road at No. 3 Miami (FL) and No. 2 Texas.

“Colorado is an outstanding football team,” McCarney said. “They’ve played the best football week in and week out in the Big 12 North throughout the season.”

Although Colorado is a hard team to beat, the Cyclones enter the game playing their best football of the season.

Iowa State has outscored its opponents 124-41 in the last three games, using a balanced offense and a stiff defense to post dominating wins.

“Everyone in November wants to be playing their best football,” McCarney said. “The last three weeks we have played our best football of the season and we’re hoping we can continue to build on that.”

There are still things for the Cyclones to work on, however. Entering Saturday’s game, Iowa State was the least-penalized team in the Big 12. The Cyclones had 13 penalties Saturday, however, including four on their final drive of the second quarter.

“You wouldn’t accept that on the road,” McCarney said. “We were ridiculous from the penalty standpoint and we have to get that fixed immediately.”