The next two games for the ISU football team hold little weight in terms of fighting for a bowl game, but that doesn’t mean they don’t matter to the players. 

The Cyclones fell just short of an upset against undefeated, No. 5 Oklahoma State on Saturday, which would have been the second such upset in the last five years. Iowa State led for much of the game before falling 35-31 in the closing minutes.

It wasn’t only the upset that slipped from Iowa State’s grasp in this season’s final game at Jack Trice Stadium, but also any real chance at postseason play — although it is theoretically possible the Cyclones could end up in a bowl game if they finished the year with a 5-7 record. 

While the team is setting its sights on winning the last two games of the season, the loss to the Cowboys still lingered in the players’ minds two days later.

“We had a chance to shock the college football world again,” said defensive end J.D. Waggoner. “We played a great game. That’s the one thing that kills me.”

Monday was a new day for Iowa State, though, as it tried to push aside the thoughts of Saturday’s defeat. The ability to do that, or lack there of, will largely dictate the team’s ability to focus on its final two regular-season matchups.

ISU coach Paul Rhoads said it’s one of the hardest things for a head coach to do — keeping a college football team motivated when there is no postseason to play for.

But that’s exactly what Rhoads and the rest of the coaching staff are trying to combat while they make sure to set different goals for the remainder of the season. 

The Cyclones currently sit with two wins in the Big 12 in 2015. If Iowa State wins its final two games of the season, it would mark the most conference wins for Iowa State since 2005 and the second most in program history.

That’s what Rhoads will try to get his players to latch onto. Although, it may be difficult. 

“It’s a challenge every week to motivate 18-, 19-, 20-year-old kids,” Rhoads said. “[Whether we] win, lose, [are] playing for a championship, playing for a bowl, playing for victory number three, it’s a challenge every week. That’s part of the responsibility.”

The players didn’t seem to care much about those records, though. They focused on playing for the man next to them. None of the 17 graduating seniors have won more than three conference games in a season during their careers. 

“[We’re trying to] finish strong for the seniors right now,” said quarterback Joel Lanning. “[And] getting them a win this week and [trying] to get them a win next week. You’ve got to keep fighting for the seniors and send them out right.”

The team isn’t completely ruling out a bowl game, though. Some experts in college football have said it is possible there could be some five-win bowl teams. 

The Cyclones, who have one of the hardest schedules in the nation, would seem to be at the top of the list if they were able to win the next two weeks. 

It is a slim chance, but it’s a chance that Iowa State can still play for.

“I would say the bowl game isn’t completely out of the picture,” said kicker Cole Netten, who has recently regained his confidence kicking field goals. “It’s obviously a slim chance. But it’s something we all internally know.” 

Waggoner believes Iowa State’s current record, 3-7, doesn’t accurately reflect the level of talent on the team. That may ring true to some extent as the Cyclones let at least a couple of wins slip from their grasp. 

But these last two games could serve as a tool for the team to prove its worth. 

“[Two wins are] something that we’re aiming for as a team,” Netten said. “I think these next two games will show us what we’re made of as a team and how close we really were this year.”