The ISU football team will take a huge leap in competition Saturday, traveling to Lincoln to take on fourth-ranked Nebraska.

The Cyclones and Huskers are both perfect, with the only difference being the Huskers have played, five games to the Cyclones three.

The Huskers opened Big 12 play with a 36-3 victory at Missouri, while the Cyclones routed Baylor 41-0.

Winning in Lincoln will prove to be a daunting task as the Huskers are 64-1 at home over the last 10 years, and quarterback Eric Crouch is 16-0 as a starter at Memorial Stadium.

“A huge, huge challenge lies ahead for us over at Nebraska,” ISU head coach Dan McCarney said. “We’re going to a place in my mind that is the toughest place to play in college football, but we’ve earned the right to play this game on national television. 64-1 at home is hard to fathom. That’s amazing.”

The Cyclones have won six games in a row dating back to last year, scoring 30 points in each of the six victories.

The Cyclone offense, ranked eighth nationally, has shown flexibility as Ennis Haywood ranks 10th nationally in rushing and quarterback Seneca Wallace is off to a spectacular start in his first season under center.

Last week, Wallace set a Big 12 record by completing 18 passes in a row. Wallace finished the game 22-of-24 for 299 yards and four touchdowns.

“They’re on the rise fast, a very fast rate, and those are the scary teams,” Husker quarterback Eric Crouch said. “You never know what to expect, and you can’t take any team for granted. We’ve got to come out and play our most physical game.”

Wallace and the offense, averaging 468 yards per game, will face a tough test as the Husker defense, nicknamed the `Blackshirts’, ranks second nationally. The Husker defense gives up just 216.6 yards per game and has allowed only 37 points in five games.

“We’re going to have to improve in every phase this week because we’re going to see a national championship-caliber team Saturday,” McCarney said. “Our offense won’t scare Nebraska, I promise you that, but it might earn a little more respect. They’re physical, well-coached and very confident.”

The Cyclones have also found success on the defensive side of the ball, ranking third in turnover margin and sixth in scoring defense.

Linebackers Justin Eilers and Matt Word lead the defense with 37 and 31 tackles, respectively.

The Cyclone defense draws another tough assignment in the Husker option attack.

Last week, the Cyclones had to face the Bears’ no-huddle offense after having to go against the Ohio Universiry option two weeks ago.

The defense has recorded shutouts in two of the first three games.

Crouch leads the offense that is second in the nation at 275 yards per game. Crouch rushed for 191 yards last week, including a 95-yard touchdown run, which was the longest in school history.

Running behind a mammoth offensive line, Crouch is joined in the backfield by fullback Judd Davies and junior I-back Dahrrran Diedrick.

Diedrick has totaled 475 yards and seven touchdowns this season.

“They just move so good and they run the option like a machine,” Word said. “It’s like boom, boom, boom so you really have to know what you’re doing or you’ll get lost in the sauce.”