Heartbroken may be the best adjective to describe the Kansas State Wildcats, and they’re hoping Jack Trice Stadium won’t be another Heartbreak Hotel.

The Wildcats come into Saturday’s game with the Iowa State Cyclones as owners of a three-game losing streak, in which they’ve lost their last two games by a combined total of five points.

“The Colorado game was another disappointment for our players and our coaches,” Kansas State coach Bill Synder said. “It was a matter of missed opportunities and maybe the appropriate amount of discipline that created the discrepancy in points.”

Kansas State fell two weeks ago to Texas A&M 30-28 after falling behind 23-8.

The Wildcats’ 20-point fourth-quarter rally brought them to within two at 23-21, but still was not enough to win.

The Wildcats followed up the disappointment with a crushing defeat at the hands of the Buffaloes 23-20 on a 50-yard Mason Crosby field goal with only six seconds to play.

Synder said the Wildcats can’t focus on the struggles they’ve had so far in the season and need to give Iowa State their full focus.

“This is a very good Iowa State football team,” Synder said.

“They’re very balanced and I thought they put it all together against Texas A&M in College Station.”

Synder, whose team lost to the Cyclones 37-23 last year in Manhattan, said he feels this Iowa State team is improved over last year and will present a challenge.

“They came back and beat us at the end of the year and they’re a more experienced team,” he said. “Their quarterback’s a year older and they’re sound on special teams.

“I think they’re a little bit better and more experienced in each area of the game.”

Synder said he’s particularly impressed with the improvements made by the Cyclones special teams.

Specifically, he said he was impressed by the improved performance of the field goal unit, but was especially pleased by the performance of the kickoff return unit.

The unit ranks second in the Big 12 and 11th in the nation.

Mostly, however, Synder is concerned about keeping his team disciplined and not making mistakes that could be the difference in winning or losing, especially on the road.

Against Colorado, the Wildcats had three turnovers and eight penalties for 60 yards.

“Obviously there’s a noise factor that discipline doesn’t completely eliminate, but if you can keep the game between the white lines and avoid mistakes, then you’ll be okay,” Synder said.

“Everyone’s field is pretty much the same, so you have to be able to keep the game where it’s supposed to be. Sometimes that’s easy to do and sometimes it’s not so easy.”