Sky-high off its third-straight win against Nebraska, fast-rising, 12th-ranked Texas rumbles into Ames this week to contend with ever-optimistic Iowa State.

For the Cyclones (4-3, 1-3 Big 12), it’s another week and another opportunity for a major upset — a potential event that has been tantalizingly close, but narrowly elusive.

Texas (6-2, 3-1 Big 12), which thrilled its largest home crowd ever last week, is determined to stave off the hungry ‘Clones and avoid looking ahead.

“Iowa State isn’t the same team it was last year,” Senior middle linebacker Anthony Hicks said. “They are capable of beating us if we don’t come out and play. A letdown on our team’s part could cost us a win, and we cannot afford a loss.”

The Longhorns, ranked 10th by the BCS (Bowl Championship Series), are poised to appear in a major bowl game, something that seemed implausible nine weeks ago when they dropped their home opener to mediocre North Carolina State, 23-20. The Wolfpack won the game on one of three blocked punts and were outgained by 200 yards.

Consecutive victories over Oklahoma and Nebraska have revived hopes for a successful season for the Longhorns which, in Austin, means at least eight wins and a top 10 finish.

Texas sits tied with Texas Tech atop the Big 12 South Division and has Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Texas A & M remaining on their schedule.

Winning the South could set the stage for a rematch with the Huskers in the Big 12 title game, a possibility that stirs excitement in ‘Horns fans and wariness in head coach Mack Brown.

“To be as inexperienced as we are and look ahead would be a critical error,” Brown said. “I think it is the type of error we might have made here in the past. It is easy to do after a big win, and our team has played better after losses than after wins this year.”

Sophomore Quarterback Major Applewhite leads a multi-faceted offense that mixes the pass and the run well.

Applewhite has completed 59.5 percent of his passes for 2,304 yards and 15 touchdowns. He’s thrown a mere four interceptions so far.

“Major is a guy who manages the game well,” Brown said. “He is a great team leader right now, and our kids really believe in him.”

Junior tailback Hodges Mitchell handles the bulk of the rushing duties with 141 carries for 759 yards and four touchdowns.

Texas has a cellar-deep stock of receivers with several big play threats, including leading pass-catcher Kwame Cavil, who has snared 58 passes for 753 yards and five touchdowns.

A massive wall of skilled offensive linemen such as 315-pound senior Roger Roessler and 355-pound junior Leonard Davis afford Applewhite exceptional pass protection and open gaping holes for the running game.

“We were credited with one sack against us [vs. Nebraska], but that one came when Major [Applewhite] dropped the ball,” Brown said. “In essence we went through the entire game without allowing a sack to the No. 3 defense in the country.”

The defense tends to bend but not break and is especially stingy against the run. Nebraska was the first team to emerge from a game against the Longhorns with a 100-yard rusher this season.

When linemen such as Shaun Rogers and Casey Hampton aren’t dominating the line of scrimmage, safeties Lee Jackson and Greg Brown streak in for damage control. Jackson and Brown had 21 and 15 tackles last week, respectively.

The Cyclones have the Longhorn’s public respect at least, as coaches and players all preach the same sermon: ISU is capable of scoring an upset this week.

“[Iowa State] is probably the most improved football team in our league,” Brown said. “This matches up to be a lot better game than people would have thought coming in .”

Sophomore cornerback Ahmad Brooks expects the Cyclones to continue feeding the lion’s share of the offense to standout tailback Darren Davis.

“He is a defense’s nightmare,” Brooks said. “He is elusive, fast and shifty.”

Brown had effusive praise for ISU head coach Dan McCarney and sounded impressed by an improved Cyclone defense.

“I think that Dan has done as good a job coaching, from the time he arrived until now, as anybody in this league,” Brown said. “One of the things they’re doing better is stopping the run. They are also running the ball better. Usually, that is a sign of turning the corner.”

Weather, Brown believes, will also have a profound impact on the outcome of the game.

“It’s going to be cold and windy there,” Brown said. “The wind was a big factor against Nebraska, and we expect it to be a big factor this week as well.”

The Longhorns may not have their boisterous, record-setting fans for extra motivation this week, but they should not need them. Winning could put Texas in the top five and one of Y2K’s most prestigious and lucrative bowl games.

“There won’t be as much enthusiasm in Austin this week about this game, and the guys know that, but this game is even more important to us now than the Nebraska game,” Brown said. “Now, we have more to play for.”

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