A big, glaring six now exists in the ISU loss column, making it official to say that the season is on the line for the Cyclones from here on out.

Although statisticians have hinted at a possibility of 5-7 teams potentially playing in bowl games because of 80 — yes, 80 — slots available for the postseason, the gold standard to go bowling is universally regarded as a modest 6-6 record.

At 3-6, a three-game win streak to close out the season that ends in two road games seems about as likely as Hickory Park being empty at 6 p.m. It’s probably not going to happen.

But, if there was an upset to start that streak, which ends in winnable games against Kansas State (3-5, 0-5 Big 12) and West Virginia (4-4, 1-4 Big 12), wouldn’t it be Oklahoma State?

The Cowboys had a shakier schedule than the much maligned and fellow undefeated team, Iowa — at least until last week’s throttling of then-undefeated and now-No. 8 Texas Christian that took place in Stillwater, Okla.

Oklahoma State has met every challenge to date en route to a 9-0 record, but is it too early to assume that the Cowboys are the real deal instead of a team that merely found lightning in a bottle against TCU?

Mason Rudolph is a tremendous quarterback — on pace for more than 3,500 yards on the year — but the Cowboy offense, which scores 44.6 points per game, ranking seventh in the NCAA, is relatively one-dimensional.

Oklahoma State is No. 99 in the NCAA in rushing and does not have a rusher with more than 400 yards on the season.

If Iowa State can keep the Cowboys behind the chains by stopping the run and limiting the pass game — perhaps by intercepting a ball or two on what are likely to be 40-plus OSU pass attempts on the afternoon — the Cyclones can once again find some Jack Trice magic in November.

Iowa State leads the Big 12 in time of possession and would be hard-pressed to win this game without building on that lead.

After a woeful 43-yard performance at Oklahoma, running back and Oklahoma-native Mike Warren is primed for a bounce-back performance to lead the Cyclones to a win that will shake up the College Football Playoff picture.

Prediction: Iowa State 31, Oklahoma State 30