The ISU football team has started to look past its lackluster performance against Illinois State and focus on its next and arguably biggest task — the Iowa Hawkeyes.

The Cyclones have taken five out of the last seven games in the series, although Iowa has won the last two meetings and holds a 35-17 all-time record.

While Iowa State was hobbling to victory Saturday, the Hawkeyes were shutting out Ball State, 56-0.

“Obviously we’ve got a really outstanding Iowa football team coming in — a legitimate top-10 football team,” said coach Dan McCarney. “Iowa’s on a nine-game winning streak and barely got a decent scrimmage out of Ball State last Saturday.”

The Hawkeyes are also the defending Big 10 champions. Overall, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz is 43-31 with the Hawkeyes, including a 17-10 win over the Cyclones last season. The Hawkeyes have not lost a game since losing to Michigan on Sept. 25, 2004.

“[It’s a] huge challenge; big, big challenge with Kirk and his football team coming in here, but it’s a great opportunity,” McCarney said. “We have a great atmosphere, and we are really looking forward to this weekend.”

ISU quarterback Bret Meyer has yet to record a touchdown against the Hawkeyes, as the only touchdown strike in last season’s game came from Austin Flynn, who connected with Todd Blythe.

Meyer said he isn’t worried about any of the statistics, but simply wants to prepare in the best way possible for the Hawkeyes.

“I’m just trying to focus on getting ready for the next game,” he said. “I’m not going to do anything out of the ordinary.”

McCarney said he recognizes the talent coming to Ames on Saturday, and the Cyclones need to find the best possible way to stop it.

“Such a very, very experienced team coming in; a very talented team coming with Drew Tate, Abdul Hodge, Chad Greenway,” he said. “You’re talking about three of the best players in all of America. They have talent everywhere, but those three have already established themselves as three of the best that can line up on the field on game day.”

McCarney said DeAndre Jackson, whose blown coverage gave up long touchdowns of 56 and 80 yards Saturday, was lacking technique against Illinois State, but McCarney said he does not lack faith in the junior cornerback.

“He has the athleticism, the foot speed, the quickness, the experience, to be a real good cover corner,” McCarney said. “He expects a lot more of himself; I do, [secondary coach] Chris Ash does and [defensive coordinator] John Skladany does. You don’t have to be a seasoned veteran to see what happened — that he got beat.”

Senior Nick Leaders said the Hawkeyes take the matchup just as seriously as Iowa State does.

“They’ve won the last two games, so obviously they take the game seriously enough,” he said. “It’s going to be a great matchup, and they’re going to be ready to play.”

McCarney, who said the mistakes made Saturday are “correctable,” said even if the Cyclones lose the game, the loss isn’t necessarily what they will be remembered for.

“I looked up and saw that Big 12 Championship flag, and some of my guys out there holding it,” he said. “How could you not get a little emotional seeing that Saturday, knowing the thing has been missing for so long at a school like this. Those guys … they won’t be remembered as, ‘you guys were 7-5.’ No, they’ll be remembered they were bowl champs and they were Big 12 North Division Champs the rest of their lives.”