With three games left in the season, Iowa State controls its own destiny in the hunt for a divisional title in the Big 12 Conference.

The Cyclones (7-3) face Kansas State (7-2) and Colorado (6-3) the next two weeks before taking on Connecticut at home to close out the regular season.

If the Cyclones beat Kansas State and Colorado, they will be division champions, even if division leader Colorado can win its other two remaining games.

“It’s a great opportunity, and it’s something we’re definitely excited about,” ISU defensive lineman Jordan Carstens said.

“But we can’t really look that far ahead. We’ve just got to think about K-State and playing them tough, and then whatever happens and the end of the season happens.”

With a win over the Wildcats, Iowa State would essentially eliminate the Wildcats’ chance at winning the Big 12 North.

But a win for Kansas State keeps their hopes alive, with a home game against Nebraska and a date at Missouri, who is 4-5 overall, still left on the schedule.

The Buffaloes, who sit atop the division with a 4-1 conference mark, have the best shot to take the divisional title.

If the Buffaloes win out, they are the 2002 Big 12 North champions. But a loss at Missouri Saturday opens the door a little wider for the winner of the Iowa State-Kansas State game to clinch the crown.

And the Nebraska Cornhuskers, at 2-3 in the conference, still have an outside chance at the title.

They would have to win out, Iowa State would have to lose the next two weekends and Colorado would have to lose at Missouri in order for that to happen.

Receiver Lane Danielsen, who had 152 yards on eight catches in the Cyclones’ win over Missouri, said at the beginning of the season he didn’t think the team would be in the position it is now.

But it didn’t take long for him to change his outlook.

“We came in the locker room after the Florida State game, after a loss, and coach Mac said ‘we can win the Big 12 North. We’re that good of a team,'” Danielsen said.

“After that game I was a believer and ever since then, I felt we had a good shot to win the Big 12 North.”

With postseason eligibility already locked up for the third consecutive season — something that has never been accomplished at Iowa State — ISU head coach Dan McCarney said he’s proud of the progress, but there’s more goals to accomplish.

“We’ve done some things already this season that this football program has never been able to do in the history of this place, with three games to go,” McCarney said.

“Now, we’ve never won the Big 12 North, we’ve never played in the championship game, this university has never played in a January 1 bowl game.”

“We’re in November and we’re playing for these things. It’s not just some dream that our players or coaches had last summer. It’s here.”

And it starts with Kansas State this Saturday.

McCarney said his team knows the task at hand.

“We really want to finish strong,” McCarney said.

“God bless it, everybody in this program does.”