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Iowa State needs a win over Colorado – which could clinch the North with a victory – plus another Buffalo loss next week and one Missouri loss to book a flight to Houston to play for the conference championship.

“You’ve got the only two bowl-qualified teams in the North playing each other,” coach Dan McCarney said. “We’re clawing, scratching and fighting to stay alive for the North title and Colorado knows they can close the deal by beating us, so I think it makes for a great game.”

More than just the division will be at stake for the Cyclones. With bowl representatives from the Alamo, Houston and Champs Sports Bowls expected to be in attendance, as well as a national television audience, a good showing is imperative.

“I hope the kids enjoy the magnitude of this game and the pressure in this game,” McCarney said. “That said, I think there is a lot more pressure on [Colorado].”

McCarney also said the team needs to be focused on this game, and can’t become content with just rebounding to bowl eligibility after its three-game losing streak.

“Let’s finish strong,” he said. “Let’s be proud of what we accomplished but let’s stay hungry, too.”

Iowa State (6-3, 3-3 Big 12) comes into the game riding a three-game winning streak in which the Cyclones have outscored their opponents 124-41.

“We’re playing good football right now,” quarterback Bret Meyer said. “We’ve got a lot of confidence going and we feel like we can win.”

Still, McCarney heaped all the credit on the Buffaloes.

“Colorado’s an outstanding football team,” McCarney said. “They’ve played the most consistent football through nine games than any team in the Big 12 North.”

The suddenly explosive ISU offense will be in for a stiff test against Colorado, which has a defense that ranks fourth in the conference. The teams Iowa State has beaten during its three-game winning streak – Oklahoma State, Texas A&M