Iowa State isn’t typically known for dominating the Big 12. After all, Iowa State hasn’t finished .500 or better in the league since 2005 when it went 4-4.

One of the biggest reasons for that is Iowa State tends to get off to slow starts.

The Cyclones started 0-6 in Big 12 play during coach Matt Campbell’s first season at the helm, so even though they won two of the final three games, Iowa State still finished with a 2-7 record in the conference.

That’s another reason last week’s huge 38-31 upset over then-No. 3 Oklahoma is so important. It keeps Iowa State afloat in the Big 12.

With Kansas (1-4, 0-2 Big 12) coming to town for Saturday’s 11 a.m. kickoff, the Cyclones (3-2, 1-1 Big 12) can do something they haven’t done since 2002: start 2-1 or better in Big 12 play.

“I don’t think there’s any difference between last week and this week in a lot of ways,” Campbell said. “Adversity comes in two ways: positive or negative.

“I just got done talking to our kids about this. Ten percent of the teams in the country can handle success. What a huge challenge for Iowa State football right now.”

That success Campbell is talking about? It’s something Iowa State hasn’t seen in years. Four seasons have come and gone since Iowa State last won more than three games, which is the total the Cyclones sit at right now.

Even though four wins isn’t much of a benchmark on a national scale, it’s a hurdle Iowa State has struggled to clear in recent years. Last week’s win over Oklahoma, however, has opened a window for the Cyclones.

Sophomore running back David Montgomery touched on how important it is for Iowa State to keep the momentum going after last week’s win.

“I feel like once you’ve been down for so long and counted out for so long, once you get a win, you get this chance, you become hungrier,” Montgomery said. “It’s a win but we’ve got to move on.”

Montgomery said teams can fall into the trap of winning and being OK with where they’re at, rather than focusing on getting better.

It’s not often a team is a 30-point underdog one week and a 20-point favorite the next, which is why this week is so unique for Iowa State. Kansas has allowed 42 or more points in each of its last four games, all of which the Jayhawks lost.

In two Big 12 games this year, Kansas has been outscored 121-53. That’s good news for an Iowa State team that could be set up for a letdown after a potential program-changing win.

Iowa State isn’t looking past the Jayhawks though. Senior wide receiver Allen Lazard complimented the Kansas defense and made it clear that Iowa State has to bring its A-game to win on Saturday.

“They’re very strong, very gifted up front,” Lazard said. “They have athletes, they have a lot of talent [on defense].”

Iowa State is 6-1 against Kansas over the last seven meetings between the two teams, with the last Kansas victory coming three years ago in Lawrence. Kansas hasn’t won in Jack Trice Stadium since 2008, when Gene Chizik was firmly entrenched on the Iowa State sideline.

A win would put Iowa State at 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big 12, and with six games left, the Cyclones would have a great shot at making their first bowl game since 2012. Depending on the outcome of the four other Big 12 games this weekend, Iowa State could be in a tie for first place in the conference with a 2-1 record.

“Can you handle the opportunity to play a game where you played and some really positive things happened?” Campbell asked. “Can you handle success? That’s going to be a great challenge for us.”