AMES, Iowa -- Nebraska is used to being unbeaten when it plays Iowa
State.
But facing another undefeated team in the Cyclones? That just doesn't happen
very often.
The No. 2 Cornhuskers and Cyclones are both 4-0 and face off as unbeatens
for the first time since 1965 on Saturday when Nebraska visits Jack Trice
Stadium.
"We're 4-0 and we're playing one of the best teams in the country,"
Cyclones quarterback Sage Rosenfels said. "It may be the biggest game of my
life."
The resurgent Cyclones are off to their best start in 20 years. They will
get a good indication Saturday whether talk of a bowl game, something the
Cyclones haven't seen since 1978, is legitimate.
"We're not playing the past, we're not playing the tradition. This is not
the Iowa State of old," coach Dan McCarney said. "This is a better football
team than in the past."
Iowa State has a lot of history against the Huskers to shake off. Nebraska
has lost just once to Iowa State since 1977 and has been particularly unkind
during McCarney's five years. The Huskers have beaten Iowa State 73-14, 49-14,
77-14, 42-7 and 49-14 since McCarney took over in 1995.
"We've been completely dominated in the games we've played against
Nebraska," McCarney said. "We're not the only one that happens to, but it
sure has happened to us and it hasn't been a whole lot of fun."
The Cyclones haven't started a season with four straight wins since 1980 and
haven't had a winning season since 1989. Although the turnaround has been long
and slow, Nebraska coach Frank Solich said it looks to be complete.
"It's not a deal where you turn on the tape and you say, 'OK, here's a
weakness, there's a weakness, there's a weakness. Let's exploit it,"' Solich
said. "Those things aren't jumping out at you, so it means that they're a very
solid and very good football team."
Last year in Lincoln the Huskers took a 21-0 lead in the first quarter, and
the Cyclones had no chance of recovering. Rosenfels was sacked three times and
threw an interception. He was 11-for-21 for just 83 yards and had 11 rushing
yards.
This year Rosenfels is averaging 248.8 yards of total offense per game and
has yet to be sacked.
"I think he has real good command of what they're really trying to
accomplish. I don't think he's a speed demon, but I don't think he's an
immobile quarterback," Nebraska defensive coordinator Craig Bohl said.
While the Cyclones are trying to prove they aren't the Iowa State of years
past, the Huskers want to show they are the same old Nebraska. Unimpressive
wins over San Jose State, Iowa and Missouri dropped Nebraska from No. 1 in the
AP poll, the spot the Huskers held from the preseason.
Nebraska allowed 492 yards of offense last week against Missouri.
"I don't think we're overrated. I think we're a great team, but we have to
show that," I-back Dan Alexander said. "It's a reality check. You can only
pat yourself on the back so many times."
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