While ISU fans are buzzing about next week’s matchup with Nebraska, the football team is focusing on this weekend’s matchup with Troy State.

Saturday marks the first-ever meeting between the two schools, but in four meetings against ranked teams, Troy State has yet to win.

They’re hoping that will change come Saturday when they take on the 21st-ranked Cyclones.

One of the keys will be a strong running game.

The Trojans (1-2) attack on the ground has been a strong point for the team this season.

Coming off their first victory of the season last week, a 40-15 routing of Southern Utah, Troy State moved into fifth in the nation in rushing offense, averaging 280.67 yards per game.

Against Southern Utah, Troy State had three running backs rush for over 100 yards, led by senior LeBarron Black, who carried 16 times for 100 yards and two touchdowns.

Backups DeWhitt Betterson and Mario Fraser combined for 24 carries, 244 yards and another touchdown.

In only their second year in Division I-A, the Trojans are already gaining respect.

Head coach Larry Blakeney led his team to a 7-4 record last season, with three of their losses coming to ranked teams, Miami of Florida, Nebraska and Maryland.

While the Cyclones (3-1) may still be riding high on their huge victory over Iowa last weekend, the players know it is time to get back to business.

“We’ve put [the Iowa game] behind us,” quarterback Seneca Wallace said.

“We went over there, played hard, it was a good game and that’s over with now. We’ve got to look forward to the next game.”

With all the hype of the Nebraska game surrounding his team, ISU head coach Dan McCarney knows the competition his squad faces this weekend is not to be overlooked.

“A lot of people around here don’t know a lot about them,” McCarney said.

“But we know an awful lot about them. We’ve been studying them for a long, long time.”

Wide receiver Jack Whitver agreed with his coach.

“Coach Mac made it clear in our Monday scouting report that Troy State’s not a team to take lightly, and we don’t plan on coming out here looking forward to Nebraska,” the Cyclone wide receiver said.

“We’re not holding anything back and we’ve got to come out and get a win this week.”

If Troy State didn’t have McCarney and his staff’s attention before, they definitely do now.

Not just because of the 464 yards the Trojans put up last week, but because of the Trojans’ performance against Nebraska in their season opener.

The Trojans went into Lincoln, Neb. and outgained the Huskers on offense 347-to-313, but their sloppy special-teams play was costly.

They ended up falling to the Cornhuskers 31-16, but the game was closer than the final score indicated.

McCarney knows Troy State will come in fired up to meet the 21st-ranked Cyclones, and he said he won’t rely on a home field advantage.

“They play eight games on the road.” he said. “They’re not a bit intimidated coming into Ames, Iowa.”

ISU cornerback Harold Clewis agreed with his coach, and said the Cyclones have to stay focused this Saturday.

“We are a very focused team and Troy State is a really good football team, and we’re going to have to bring our A game.” Clewis said.

“We’re practicing hard and watching film like any game. We’re going to approach it like we approach every game.”

McCarney said improvements need to be made if the Cyclones are going to continue to be successful, mainly with their running game.

“We’ve got to improve rush offense and rush defense starting this week if we’re going to go on and have a real good season,” he said. “We have to improve it immediately.”

One improvement McCarney is noticing is that of kicker Adam Benike.

McCarney said he noticed Benike’s consistency in the second half – especially in the fourth quarter – last week in Iowa City, when Benike scored on field goals of 36 and 38 yards.

“Those two fourth-quarter field goals were just outstanding and had a lot to do with us winning that game,” he said.