Welcome home.

Iowa State’s Jon Davis, Nick Leaders, Caleb Berg and Stevie Hicks are heading that direction Saturday – home to Nebraska.

Even offensive coordinator Barney Cotton, who was the offensive coordinator at Nebraska in 2003, returns to Lincoln for the first time since joining the Cyclones last season, and one thing is being made clear by the Cyclones.

“You can’t really say it’s just another game. It’s like the Iowa-Iowa State game for me, being from Nebraska,” Leaders said. “This is a chance to be able to play in front of your friends and family.”

Davis, who said he thought the Cornhuskers wanted him to walk on, shared his teammate’s sentiments.

“It’s a little bit [of a bigger game], because I know a lot of people that go to that school, and a lot of friends and family are going to be up to see that game,” he said. “So it is a little bit, but I don’t try to put that much importance on it and lose focus.”

Nebraskans on the ISU football team have said in the state of Nebraska, there may as well be only one team in the Big 12 North.

“Growing up it was just Nebraska, everyone didn’t know who Iowa State was,” Leaders said.

“This is a chance to put Iowa State on the map. Winning at Memorial Stadium, no matter what team it is, no matter what the rankings are, no matter what the situation, it’s always a huge feat.”

Even ISU players not from Nebraska have said the game is important, not just because they are playing one of the most storied football programs in the history of college sports, but because it gives them an opportunity to step up as a team.

“It’s a big game, definitely, when you’re from the state where you’re playing,” said safety Nik Moser. “Any time you can go back there and play a team where you know you came from, it’s huge for you, and it’s huge for your team to try and pick up their effort for you.”

Cotton is doing what he can to help Iowa State pick up its effort. In just his second year away from Lincoln, the ISU offensive coordinator has a chance to make another statement against the team he used to coach for.

Last season, he called just the right amount of plays against the Huskers, winning 34-27 in Ames. With an offense that has struggled somewhat this season, Leaders said Cotton has aligned his priorities correctly.

“Every game’s important to him; he wants to just get the offense back on track,” Leaders said. “Last year, it was obviously a huge game for him, to be able to play against his old players. He doesn’t want to embarrass his old players, but he definitely wants to win and prove that they made a mistake by letting him go over there.”

When new coach Bill Callahan took over at Nebraska, he installed a West Coast style offense that Cotton’s type of offensive play calling just didn’t mesh well with.

“He didn’t fit into their new system, and he’s happy here, and we’re happy we got him,” Leaders said.

Especially happy, since the Cyclones can use their offensive coordinator to help steer them in the right direction, on both offense and defense.

“He gives a pretty good scouting report,” Leaders said. “He lets us know what their strengths and what their weaknesses are, what we have to watch out for and the certain tendencies of players. We definitely have an advantage in that sense.”