MANHATTAN, Kan. — Just three months ago the ISU football team was predicted to finish last in the Big 12 North.

Fast-forward to November; 10 games and six wins later, those same Cyclones have become bowl-eligible by beating Kansas State 37-23.

If Iowa State beats Missouri next weekend, or if Colorado loses to Nebraska on Friday, the Cyclones will play the Big 12 South champion Oklahoma at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. on Dec. 4.

“We’ve come a long way,” said ISU head coach Dan McCarney. That long way is history in the making. In 113 years, it’s only the second time Iowa State has won four consecutive games against conference opponents — the last was in 1978. After starting the season out 0-3, the 1978 squad beat Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Colorado to earn a Hall of Fame Bowl berth.

Becoming bowl-eligible seemed out of reach for the 2004 Cyclones after they also lost their first three conference games. On Oct. 23, Iowa State was trailing Baylor by five points with less than five minutes in the game and on the verge of losing its fourth straight conference game.

It was then when the Cyclones’ fortunes began to turn.

ISU freshman quarterback Bret Meyer took Iowa State down the field and led the Cyclones to victory. He said having experienced both ends of the spectrum made qualifying for a bowl berth more gratifying.

“When you are down, you can only dream about things like this,” Meyer said.

After the victory over Kansas State, the Cyclone football team and celebrated with a small section of ISU fans who trekked to Manhattan.

ISU wide receiver Todd Blythe said it was the “most unbelievable feeling he’s ever experienced in football.

“This win today, I can’t even describe to you how it felt, and celebrating with the fans was a great feeling,” Blythe said.

ISU wideout Milan Moses said being underdogs the whole season gave the Cyclones the opportunity to do something most thought unimaginable.

“We came into the season and a lot of people had us underrated — that gave us something to strive for. That gave us hunger and made us work harder in practice,” Moses said. “Now that it’s here it’s a dream that nobody had thought could come true.”

With Florida, Texas and Louisiana – and even the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Ariz. — being tossed around as possible post season destinations, McCarney said that he was “thrilled” for the simple fact that the Cyclones were going to have the opportunity to play more football.

“None of us wanted the season to end next Saturday [against Missouri],” he said. “This is one of the most enjoyable seasons I’ve ever been through.”