The rumors you’ve heard are true.

Iowa State will host Nebraska Saturday for a chance to take first place in the Big 12 North.

How did this happen? Coach Dan McCarney said honesty was the key.

“It’s being as honest as you can with the young men on the football team,” McCarney said. “We have never lost our kids, there’s no doubt about it. They showed a lot of resolve, resiliency and character through the last few weeks.”

A big reason for the Cyclones’ recent winning streak has been the emergence of freshman walk-on kicker Bret Culbertson. In narrow wins over Baylor and Kansas, he has made every kick he’s attempted, going 2-for-2 on field goals and 3-for-3 on point after touchdowns in those two games.

“It’s been a merry-go-round of kickers with the injuries throughout the season,” McCarney said. “Bret is the guy who’s stepped up the past few weeks on game day with PATs and field goals.”

If Iowa State’s final three conference games prove to be as close as the previous three, the kicking game will be instrumental if the Cyclones want a legitimate shot at contending for the North title.

“It would be nice to get some stability at that position, and productivity; we’ve gotten that the last two Saturdays,” McCarney said.

“Before the season, [Bret] had no expectations, and all of a sudden he’s our guy. We’re proud that we’ve got him.”

McCarney said his team has shown him consistent improvement all season.

“It’s not giant leaps and bounds all the time, but there is no doubt they see improvement,” McCarney said. “When kids know they’re improving, football is a lot of fun.”

However, the Cyclones wouldn’t be in the position they are now had it not been for the struggles of the other teams in the North.

Iowa State is currently tied for second with Missouri with a 2-3 conference record. Nebraska sits alone at the top at 3-2 in the Big 12.

Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said that’s just part of playing in a conference like the Big 12.

“Every year it changes,” Callahan said. “The dynamics change, the balance of power changes — that’s competition.”

McCarney said he’s grown tired of the criticism the North has undergone this season for being inferior to the South.

“It does get kind of old; we’ve got our own world we live in trying to get our team ready to play and focusing on the next opponent,” McCarney said. “I understand some of it, but I have such a great respect for the coaches, players, staffs and teams that we have in the North.”

After a 24-3 victory over Missouri last week that propelled his team into first place in the division, Callahan said he still doesn’t see his Cornhuskers as the so-called “team to beat” in the North.

“I don’t look at life like that or at the league or the standings or anything like that for that matter, in that context,” Callahan said.

“Last week’s game gave us one win, and that’s all it guaranteed us, was a win.”

Regardless of the strength of the North division this year, McCarney said a division title is a division title — no matter who wins.

“I don’t think anybody would make apologies [for winning the North]; this is a conference full of outstanding coaches and teams,” McCarney said.

“The neat thing about the Big 12 North is, with three Saturdays to go, [all] six teams are very much in the race. It makes it exciting for all the teams, fans and programs of the North.”