Their backs are against the wall, it’s do or die time, it’s a make or break game — pick any of these sports clich‚s you like.

They all apply to both teams in this weekend’s matchup between Colorado and Iowa State.

The ISU football team (2-3 0-2 Big 12) heads to Boulder, Colo., on a 12-game, Big 12 losing streak, and the Buffaloes are no different having dropped consecutive games to Missouri and Oklahoma State.

“Iowa State is a team that’s struggled the past couple of weeks, and so have we, so it’s a big game for both teams,” said Gary Barnett, head coach of the 3-2 (0-2 Big 12) Buffaloes.

“Luckily we’re at home.”

After several drives that stalled in the red zone in last week’s 34-3 thumping by Texas A&M, ISU coach Dan McCarney said his team has to finish drives if it hopes to hang with Colorado.

“When we get there inside the 20, 15, 10-yard line, we can’t give up tackles for a loss. We’ve got to make plays, and we’ve got to be more efficient,” McCarney said.

Another thing McCarney wants to do this week is utilize his tight ends.

“We had five catches with our tight ends Saturday,” McCarney said. “We want to get the ball to our tight ends; those guys are playing good solid football for us.”

Senior tight end Brett Kellogg said it’s important to get the tight ends involved in the game.

“It opens up the running game and opens up our wide receivers to make more plays,” he said.

The Colorado offense was led by quarterback Joel Klatt, who has passed for 870 yards on the year with three touchdowns. Klatt sustained a neck strain last Saturday and will not start for the Buffaloes; sophomore James Cox will start at quarterback.

McCarney said it will be key to get pressure to the quick Colorado passing attack.

“They don’t hold the ball in that pocket very long,” McCarney said. “They don’t let pressure or defenders get to them very often because they get rid of the ball quickly.”

Perhaps even more of a concern for the Cyclones is running back Bobby Purify, who has 461 yards on the ground with five touchdowns.

“He’s a really outstanding running back, we’ve got to try and slow him down,” McCarney said. “We’ve improved these first five games against the rush, and we’ll get another real test with him.”

The Cyclones will try to avenge last year’s 44-10 loss to the Buffaloes in Ames on Senior Day.

“We thought we had a good game plan, and we were dominated all day by them.”

This time McCarney will have to play in the thin mountain air of Colorado.

“There’s a big sign in front of the stadium about how high it is there, sending you a message that you’re going to be sucking gas from the first series on,” McCarney said.

However, McCarney said he’s never had a problem with any of his players being short of breath at Folsom Field.

“In all the times I’ve been there, I’ve never had a player run to the sidelines and say, ‘Can you lower the elevation?'” McCarney said.

“I like playing there, I always have. It’s an exciting Big 12 stadium, and through the years we’ve had some great games with them.”

ISU keys to victory

1. Pretty simple: Score points. Offense, defense, special teams — it doesn’t matter. Iowa State needs to put points on the scoreboard. The Cyclones have scored 10 points combined in their first two Big 12 games of the season, and that won’t cut it this week in Boulder, Colo. Colorado is ranked 102nd in total defense in the country, so this is Iowa State’s big chance to finally have a break-out game offensively.

2. Protect the quarterbacks: Don’t blame Bret Meyer and Austin Flynn for this season’s lack of production on the offensive side of the ball. They need time to throw the ball, and Iowa State must be able to run the ball. These are two young guys who still have a lot of maturing, and that’s never going to happen if they don’t have any time. The offensive line must perform better in order for Iowa State to do anything offensively.

3. Defense: I don’t know what happened last week, but Iowa State’s defense was lit up by Texas A&M. Adjustments need to be made because that can’t happen on the road at Colorado. Though Colorado isn’t nearly the team that A&M or Oklahoma State were — it’s a Big 12 game on the road. The defense should up this week in Boulder and gives Iowa State a chance to win.

CU keys to victory

1. We’ll see one of the nation’s worst offenses in Iowa State against one of the nation’s worst defenses in Colorado. This is a big opportunity for the Buffs to step up and gain some confidence defensively, and the key to that will be putting pressure on the young ISU quarterbacks.

2. Use the home-field advantage: Get the crowd in the game early and take whatever confidence Iowa State has away from them. We all know Iowa State has struggled on the road, and Boulder is a tough place to play. Pin Iowa State back in its own territory, and the crowd noise will be big with the Cyclones’ young and inexperienced offense.

3. : Colorado’s running back Bobby Purify scored four touchdowns in Colorado’s three wins this season. In its two losses, he scored one, so getting him in the end zone is a must for Colorado, which has the 70th ranked rushing offense in the country. That won’t be easy, though, as rush defense is the strength of the ISU squad.

Final Thoughts: Colorado is a much weaker opponent than what the Cyclones have seen the past few weeks, but they still should be considered the favorite against the Cyclones this weekend.

It’ll be a game of who makes fewer mistakes. Iowa State again needs to convert on all PATs and field goals on the road.

This is a must win for Iowa State if it wants to play in any sort of a bowl game. With six games remaining, Iowa State needs to win four to qualify for a bowl. If it loses on Saturday, that mean’s Iowa State will have to win four of their last five, which will be a tough thing to do.

— Chris Williams