Coming off of his worst game of the year, the Big 12’s leading rusher won’t gain anything easily against Oklahoma State either.

Ennis Haywood, whose 128.4 yards per game is tops among league rushers, will face a Cowboy defense that ranks 16th in the nation, giving up a mere 95.6 yards per game.

Something has got to give in Stillwater.

Last week against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Haywood struggled. The Husker rush defense was near the bottom of the conference, but numbers can be deceiving.

Haywood managed only 27 yards on 11 carries. He had rushed for 100 yards in every game so far this season, including a break-out 241-yard performance a week earlier against Baylor.

Haywood has been twice named Big 12 player of the week on offense – not bad for the guy who is filling the shoes of Darren Davis.

No offense to the Cyclone’s first four opponents, but none of them were Nebraska.

The Huskers always bring their `A’ game, and Haywood found out just how good that is.

Now comes a Cowboy defense that statistically is better than Nebraska’s, and it is important that Haywood and the Cyclones bounce back.

The Cyclones will need to average better than 1.5 yards per rush, which is what they did against the Huskers.

Quarterback Sage Rosenfels is having an incredible year, he has completed 84 of 153 passes for 1221 yards and five TD’s.

J.J. Moses, Chris Anthony and Craig Campbell combine to be one of the best groups of receivers in the Big 12, but the team can’t win if they are one-dimensional.

Haywood needs to put up big numbers for his confidence and for the team.

Oklahoma State is a very beatable team. Tony Lindsay, the Cowboy’s starting quarterback is out for the season, so freshman Aso Pogi will make his first start.

The Cyclone defense is playing well. Last week they gave up 49 points, but 28 of them were in the fourth quarter, and 14 of those were when the game was out of reach.

Three times in the first half Nebraska was inside the ISU 30-yard line and left empty-handed. No points. Zero. Not many teams can say they have done that to the Huskers’ potent offense led by quarterback Eric Crouch.

If Haywood rushes for over 100 yards, Rosenfels has a typical day and the defense shows up, the Cyclones will be in the clear for win number five.

The offensive line will play the biggest role in making this become a reality.

The starting line played exceptionally well in the first four games. They allowed zero sacks.

Against Nebraska the group faced a quicker, stronger and bigger defense than any other team can offer. The Huskers sacked Rosenfels and stuffed the run, overpowering Iowa State in the trenches.

Things may not be easier this week, but the o-line needs to re-group, forget the past, and play up to their potential this week.

If they do that, and Ennis gets free, the Cyclones could put themselves at five victories with Homecoming next week.

What happens next, we’ll have to wait and see.