It seems like a millennium has passed since Iowa State’s last football game when the team traveled to Iowa City and took down then-No. 21 Iowa 20-19 for the Cy-Hawk trophy.

With that victory, the Cyclones entered the AP top-25 standings by taking Iowa’s spot at No. 21.

After having a week off of play to get some well-earned rest and prepare for its next matchup this Saturday against Arkansas State, the now-No. 20 Iowa State team hopes to extend its undefeated season going into Big 12 conference play.

However, I believe that the Cyclones’ success heading into conference play hinges on how they have used this bye week to grow in certain aspects of their game.

One of those aspects will be how Iowa State has worked on defending the run, as the Cyclones have given up an abysmal 378 yards on the ground in just two games played.

In the Matt Campbell era, Iowa State has not had a lot of success coming out of a bye, going 5-6. To be fair, the bye weeks would usually come later in the season and typically in the middle of conference play.

Regardless, having a below .500 record after having a week off to prepare is not ideal for the team’s success. Especially since Iowa State hosts a Red Wolves team that just came out of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and only lost by 10 points to now-No. 18 Michigan.

Even though Arkansas State was held to only three points through the first three quarters against the Wolverines, they did not lie down and give up, and they scored two late touchdowns in the fourth quarter to lose within two possessions.

The Red Wolves’ persistence will be something that the Cyclones will have to handle if they want to remain undefeated going forward.

But even after the Arkansas State game, the challenges are beginning to ramp up as Iowa State will enter conference play by traveling to Houston, Texas, to take on the Cougars.

Although Houston has not had an ideal start to its season, they still won’t make it easy on the Cyclones, especially since Iowa State will be on the road to start out the conference season.

Following its game against the Cougars, Iowa State will come back home to host Baylor before heading to Morgantown, West Virginia, to take on the Mountaineers on the road.

After the last game before their second bye of the season, the Cyclones will host Central Florida for the first time in program history.

Each of these Big 12 teams that Iowa State takes on before its second bye of the season will bring new challenges that’ll show if the Cyclones can carry on the successes they’ve had so far.

Everything that Iowa State has worked on and prepared for will be put to the test against Arkansas State at 1 p.m. Saturday from Jack Trice Stadium.