The feeling in Iowa City is that things couldn’t possibly get any worse for Kirk Ferentz and his 0-2 Hawkeyes. Following losses to Kansas State and Western Michigan they now have the third longest losing streak in Division I football (10 games) and will now have to face Iowa State’s undefeated Cyclones. People all across the state are all ready chalking this one up for Iowa State, but not so fast said ISU head coach Dan McCarney at a press conference Tuesday. “This is gonna be a war; there’s no doubt about it. It’s gonna be a dog fight for both football teams. And if anyone thinks it’s gonna be anything less than that then they’re in for a shock,” McCarney said. McCarney spoke highly of Hawkeyes Scott Mullen, Kahlil Hill, Ladell Betts and Jeremy Allen. Mullen, a senior, has thrown for 390 yards, completing 33 of 60 passes for two scores. He will start Saturday at quarterback. Junior Kyle McCann will back up Mullen. McCann has started the last two games against Iowa State. Hill, junior that sat out all of 1999 due to a suspension, joins All-Big 10 wide receiver Kevin Kasper as the Hawkeyes receiving threats. Through two games Kasper has 13 catches for 132 yards and one touchdown, with Hill adding five catches for 96 yards and a score. Betts and Allen make up the Iowa backfield that will try and test the Cyclones formidable rushing defense. Betts has been an all-Big 10 selection the past two seasons, and McCarney feels that Allen “is the best running fullback” that Iowa State will face all season. Up front for Iowa are guards Bruce Nelson and Eric Steinbach, tackles Alonzo Cunningham and David Porter and center A.J. Blazek. Defensive linemen Aaron Kampman and Anthony Herron will be key for the Hawkeye defense that has given up 27.0 PPG and 390.5 yards of offense to its opponents. The pair is coming off a 1999 season that saw Kampman collect 103 tackles and Herron 65 tackles while starting all 11 games. Jerry Montgomery starts at defensive tackle with Derrick Pickens playing nosetackle. LeVar Woods, Derrick Davison and Mike Dolezal all make the start at linebacker, with Woods and Davison returning starters from last season’s 1-10 squad. They will try and improve on their opponent’s average of 118.5 rushing yards per game. Tim Dodge, converted wideout, has proven to be Iowa’s best defensive back so far by intercepting a pass in each of the Hawkeyes’ first two contests. Shane Hall, Ryan Hansen, and Mikkel Brown round out the secondary that is allowing 272.0 passing yards per game. Hill, always a threat on returns, will be deep for the Hawkeyes on kick and punt returns. Freshman Nate Kaeding will handle the kicking duties, and senior Jason Baker the punting chores. Head coach Kirk Ferentz is in his second season at Iowa City with a 1-12 mark. Ferentz is 13-33 overall having had previous coaching stints at the University of Maine and Baltimore of the NFL. Ferentz and McCarney were both assistants under Hawkeye legend Hayden Fry.