Iowa State and Nebraska both enter Saturday’s game undefeated, and the nationally televised game at Jack Trice Stadium will present each team with their first major test of the year.

Both teams are 4-0 but have different attitudes toward their start of the season. The Cyclones are off to their best start in 20 years while the Huskers have struggled and lost their No. 1 ranking, slipping down a spot in the Associated Press poll.

“It’s an exciting week for all of us here at Iowa State,” said ISU Head Coach Dan McCarney. “We’re proud to be 4-0 right now. We started a few weeks ago with 114 teams in America that didn’t have a loss ,and now there’s only 13 of us left right now.”

“It’s a game with the most meaning since I’ve been here. I’m sure a lot of people think it isn’t going to be much of a matchup but we feel we can line up and hang with Nebraska,” McCarney said.

The Huskers are the second-ranked team in the nation and a 15-point favorite, but Husker Coach Frank Solich is expecting a tough game.

“We’re anxious to get to Ames and see how good we are, because it will be test for us,” Solich said. “It’s a big game for us, and it’s a big game for Iowa State. I truly believe that Iowa State is an excellent football team.”

In McCarney’s five previous meetings with the Huskers, the Cyclones have lost by an average score of 58-13. In most of those games, the Cyclones dug themselves into a big hole in the first half.

To have a chance at the upset, McCarney feels a strong start and a solid effort through all four quarters are required.

“We have to try and make this a four-quarter game; obviously it never has been since I’ve been here,” McCarney said. “It’s really important to get off to a good start in this football game because Nebraska has jumped on us fast in the last five meetings with them. We also can’t come out and turn the ball over.”

The key to the Cyclones’ successful start has been the balanced play of the Cyclone offense. The Cyclones have recorded over 400 yards in total offense in the first four games.

The Cyclones are averaging 227.5 rushing yards a game and 221.5 yards through the air. In last Saturday’s 31-17 win over Baylor, ISU running back Ennis Haywood totaled 241 yards on 39 carries.

“I think they [Iowa State] offer probably as good of a combination of a running and passing game that we have faced to this point,” Solich said. “Last week their rushing attack was tremendous, and they also have an excellent throwing attack. It would not be uncommon for them to be able to highlight either one of those and put up huge numbers.”

In years past, the Husker defense has been its strength, but the Blackshirts have given up several big plays this season. The Huskers rank 10th in the Big 12 in rushing defense and ninth in total defense, giving up an average of 340.2 yards per contest.

“We’re not where we want to be, we feel we have a lot more talent than what we’re showing,” said Husker defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch. “We haven’t been coming out and dominating teams like we need to; we’ve stressed that in practice. We’re looking into everything. We’re not playing like the Blackshirts are used to playing.”

While the defense has struggled, the Husker offense has been nearly unstoppable. The Huskers lead the Big 12 in total offense and rushing offense and have scored over 40 points in three of their first four games.

“That’s as good of an offense as there is in college football right now, and I’ve seen a lot of them,” McCarney said. “They’re explosive, scoring over 40 points a game. There’s first-round picks all over the place in that offense, and there’s not a better offensive line in the nation than we’re going to see Saturday.”

Eric Crouch is the Husker signal caller and the person that the Husker option attack revolves around.

Crouch has hurt teams with his rushing and also has showed off his passing skills with five touchdown passes against Iowa.

“There’s not a better football player in America than Eric Crouch. He can do it all. He’s strong, fast, powerful, he can throw it, and he can beat you running the football. I’ve never coached against a more impressive offensive player in my career as an assistant or a head coach.”

ISU quarterback Sage Rosenfels has suffered through three convincing losses to the Huskers and has learned what it takes to knock them off.

“It’s been a mismatch when we play them, and it can be with anybody if you don’t bring your A game,” Rosenfels said. “Kansas State got blown out by them pretty good last season, and they were one of the best teams in the nation. They just didn’t bring their A game and you have to if you want a chance to beat them.”

McCarney isn’t making any predictions but knows the importance of a Cyclone victory.

“It would be monumental. There’s no question about it, because rarely does it happen when Nebraska loses,” McCarney said.