After Iowa State’s humiliating 49-14 setback at the hands of third-ranked Nebraska last Saturday, many of the Cyclone faithful were left wondering if ISU will ever be able to turn the corner and establish a winning program.

A Cyclone squad that had shown so much progress in starting off 3-0 and manhandling ninth-ranked Kansas State for 30 minutes appears to have reverted back to its old ways of being a Big 12 punching bag.

However, ISU fans should not close the door on the Cyclones just yet.

Second half letdown against the Wildcats not withstanding, Iowa State is right where they should be at 3-2 heading into the meat of Big 12 competition. And ISU’s final six games are all winnable.

Sure, that statement may seem a little too optimistic, considering that the Cyclones will encounter a slew of offensive powers in Colorado, Texas and Oklahoma, plus a scrappy Texas Tech squad that upset 13th-ranked Texas A&M. But none of those teams possess the defensive ability or physical strength of K-State and Nebraska.

Even though Iowa State wasn’t able to belly up against the Wildcats in the second half of their Sept. 25 confrontation, the Cyclones did manage to dominate the first half.

ISU outgained K-State 332-102 in total offense in taking a 28-7 halftime lead. If the Cyclones can run over Kansas State for two quarters, they can knock off any of their remaining foes.

However, that great effort was in front of a friendly home crowd at Jack Trice Stadium, and in order to solidify the school’s first bowl bid in 21 years, ISU will more than likely have to steal a win on the road.

ISU hasn’t won a conference contest away from home since they edged Missouri 23-22 in Columbia on November 2, 1991. The Cyclones have gone 0-28-1 in Big Eigth/Big 12 road competition since then, so it would be a tremendous confidence builder for ISU to pick up a W on an opponent’s home field. The Cyclones have an excellent chance to do so this year.

Missouri, Texas Tech and Kansas are the three remaining road tilts on the Cyclones’ schedule, and they also happen to be the three weakest teams ISU has left to face.

The Missouri game this Saturday will be especially important for the Cyclones in order to restore team morale after back-to-back losses.

The Tigers, also at 3-2 on the season, will be a tough test for ISU.

Missouri pushed Colorado to the limit in Boulder during a 46-39 overtime loss last week and feature the Big 12’s second leading rusher in DeVaughn Black (116 yard per game average).

ISU’s Darren Davis leads the conference and is second nationally with a 162.8-yard average, so it should be an interesting battle.

A win in Columbia and the Clones are in good shape at 4-2 (1-2 in Big 12 play) returning home to face Colorado and Texas. A loss won’t necessarily end their bowl hopes, but the ISU players and coaches may start to have doubts.

The Cyclones must face Missouri and the rest of the Big 12 without the services of all-conference receiver Damien Groce, who is out for the season with a broken arm suffered against Nebraska.

As long as Davis is still running strong, however, and the defense and offensive line continue to show improvement, there is no reason ISU can’t muster three more wins and earn a trip to a bowl for the first time since 1978.