If the Big 12 Conference race were a presidential primary, the ISU football team would be Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla. — down and out.

Although he probably knew it already, head coach Dan McCarney is getting a thorough lesson this fall: Raised expectations are dangerous.

Iowa State has a long history of losing football — its best decades were the ’70s (57-56-1) and the current one (25-21 through Saturday). Losing 28-0 to Nebraska, as the Cyclones just did, might normally produce some satisfaction, because the Huskers are usually able to roll up quite a few more points.

But the football team that was just shut out for the first time in 12 years represents a better program than Iowa State used to have, McCarney says often. A program that won 23 games during the last three seasons. A program that’s traveled to three straight bowl games and beat the Big Ten Conference co-champions on their home field last season.

Fans, players and coaches have been taught now to expect better. Since Iowa State’s last win, 48-20 over Ohio Sept. 6, Jack Trice Stadium crowds have anxiously watched the ISU offense toil in games against Iowa, Oklahoma and Texas, hoping the unit could score enough to help keep the Cyclones with highly ranked opponents’ offenses.

They’ve been disappointed.

From 1995-96, Troy Davis (and an excellent offensive line) performed an invaluable service. Davis got people excited to watch a bad team play football. And the Cyclones never rushed for less than 104 yards per game during his two years as Iowa State’s featured back. Tailbacks Darren Davis and Ennis Haywood contributed greatly to the Cyclone offense from 1996-2001 as well.

Now, the ISU running game isn’t maddening to watch because of 0-, 1- and 2-yard gains — those are almost exciting. Against defenses like those of Texas and Oklahoma, though, you can almost flip a coin to find out whether the Cyclones will gain or lose (big) yardage on a given offensive play.

Since Austin Flynn’s 25-yard touchdown scramble against Iowa to cut the Hawkeye lead to 10-7, the Cyclones haven’t scored in the first half of a game at home. It’s been little better on the road — Iowa State trailed Texas Tech 21-14 at the half and Nebraska 28-0.

Little is more frustrating than watching any team’s offense unsuccessfully try to grind out yards during a blowout loss. At least when the Red Raiders lose, they do so spectacularly, as in Saturday’s 62-31 loss to Missouri in which Texas Tech allowed Brad Smith — a quarterback — to rush for 291 yards.

Iowa State has tried a lot to fix the offense. Three tailbacks have seen significant playing time, and Waye Terry got his first try at the reins at quarterback late in Saturday’s game. The Cyclones’ talented wide receivers have made some big plays but it seems they’ve dropped just as many catchable balls on third-down plays.

On defense, Iowa State has dealt with critical injuries. The Cyclones have surrendered more than 200 yards rushing in three straight games — about the time Nik Moser, Iowa State’s fastest linebacker, went down. A big part of senior defensive tackle Jordan Carstens’ game is his speed, but since coming back against Texas Tech from a knee injury, Carstens has been a step slow on several plays. After beating Texas 19-13 in the second half Oct. 18 and holding Nebraska scoreless in Saturday’s second half, McCarney has praised his team’s character. He has a good point — a group of ISU players that hasn’t experienced losing so much in a long time (if ever) has never quit.

Still, falling behind four touchdowns before starting to play well isn’t a plan for long-term success.

It’s a funny thing about streaks — they have to end sometime. Beating Iowa had become a habit. Before this fall, December bowl games were becoming a trend for the Cyclones. (Technically, Iowa State could still become bowl-eligible by winning out.)

Fans are looking to attribute this current slide to something — the head coaches, assistant coaches, recruiting, uninspired play, butterfingers, sloppy tackling, President Bush— something.

In the past, six straight losses to ranked teams would be cause for dispassionate understanding. Now, it’s an aberration, and someone is expected to answer for it. And unlike Graham, the Cyclones can’t drop out. Instead, they have two weeks to figure a way to beat Kansas State.