BOULDER - Can you say "sense of urgency?" How about "heightened sense of urgency?"
Iowa State's football staff would never, ever utter it publicly, but bet on this thought being there nonetheless: The Cyclones believe their best chance to become bowl eligible occurs Saturday when Colorado visits Ames, Iowa (noon MST, no TV).
Last weekend's 34-8 loss to now-No. 17 Oklahoma State left Iowa State at 5-5 overall (3-3 Big 12 Conference) with two games remaining (Saturday vs. CU, Nov. 21 at Missouri) to claim the sixth win needed for postseason play.
The Cyclones haven't played in a bowl since 2005, and in their first year under coach Paul Rhoads, they've already matched former coach Gene Chizik's two-season win total.
The Buffaloes (3-6, 2-3) also developed a sense of urgency last weekend in rallying to defeat Texas A&M, 35-34, and keep their postseason hopes intact, as well as the faint notion of winning the Big 12 North Division.
To accomplish either, though, CU must win out, defeating Iowa State Saturday, winning at Oklahoma State on Nov. 19 and beating Nebraska on Nov. 27. For CU to win the North, Kansas State must close out with losses to Missouri and Nebraska.
The Buffs' road record since 2006 is 2-17, but they've been competitive in road trips this season to West Virginia (34-25 loss) and Texas (38-14) before flattening out in the first half of a 20-6 loss at Kansas State - their most road trip on Oct. 24.
Iowa State is 3-3 at home this season, having beaten North Dakota State (34-17), Army (31-10) and Baylor (24-10), while losing to Iowa (35-3), Kansas State (24-23) and Oklahoma State.
DIFFERENCE MAKERS: Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman reiterated on Monday's Big 12 coaches teleconference how pivotal the play of CU quarterback Tyler Hansen and receiver Markques Simas were in the Buffs' win against the Aggies.
"I thought (Simas) did well and their quarterback made some tremendous plays," Sherman said. "I've never been in a game where we sacked the quarterback eight times and they sacked us once (and still lost).
"The kid (Hansen) made some great plays with his feet . . . that tandem (Hansen, Simas) kept them in the game and allowed them to win at the end."
Simas wound up with seven catches for 135 yards (both career highs), while Hansen ran 20 times for 105 yards (he lost 60 yards on the sacks) and completed 21 of 32 passes for 271 yards and a touchdown (one interception).
"This one was a tough one," Sherman said. "We had the game in check for 56 minutes . . . it was tougher than getting your butt kicked."
CU coach Dan Hawkins attributed his team's ability to come back and win in the fourth quarter to "guys growing up and getting confidence. We'd been in that situation; Kansas was similar. And it was Simas and Tyler playing well, 'Speedy' (tailback Rodney Stewart), too.
"We had good flow . . . good rhythm, the pieces were coming together."
RUNNING CYCLONES: Iowa State is third in the Big 12 in rushing, averaging 185.7 yards a game. (CU is No. 11 at 86.2.)
Cyclones assistant head coach/offensive line coach Bill Bleil said his line has "come together" and developed "good chemistry," although the group features only one senior (center Reggie Stephens).
Iowa State tailback Alexander Robinson is averaging just under 100 rushing yards a game (96.0) and quarterback Austin Arnaud, primarily running the option, averages 4.4 yards a carry and has scored a team-best seven rushing touchdowns (Robinson has six).
Bleil said Cyclones offensive coordinator Tom Herman "understands that (Arnaud) can pull it down and get six or seven yards, plus he runs the option and that puts pressure on you."
CYCLONES STUFFED: Here's the flip side to Iowa State's running success: While the Cyclones went into last weekend against the Cowboys averaging 200.3 rushing yards a game - formerly the best in the conference - they were held to 54 ground yards by Oklahoma State.
Robinson got 51 of those on 16 carries, which dropped him from first (101.6 yards pre-Okie State) in the league in rushing to third.
Iowa State's 242 yards of total offense were the fewest Oklahoma State has allowed this season. The Cowboys' first eight opponents averaged 342.5 yards.
"I think they're the best team we've played to date," Bleil said. "They're balanced on both sides of the ball . . . they stop the run and make plays, and they make you take the ball the length of the field to score."
BUFFS 'D' IMPRESSIVE: CU's run defense allowed Texas A&M just 132 yards, but the Buffs still rank ninth in the Big 12 (151.6 yards a game). Three Big 12 teams - Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska - rank among the national Top 10 in run defense.
Bleil said he was impressed with CU's speed at linebacker and in the secondary: "The defense runs well in the back end, they're physical in the secondary and they bring pressure. They've done a nice job against everybody they've played."
BUFF BITS: After allowing 16 sacks in the past two games (eight in each), CU ranks third from the bottom (No. 118) in that national NCAA category. The Buffs have allowed 36 through nine games as compared to 33 in 2008 . . . . CU is No. 117 in fewest penalties per game, having been flagged 82 times in nine games (9.1 penalty average, 75.6 average yards lost) . . . . After getting eight turnovers in a 9-7 win at Nebraska on Oct. 24, Iowa State has recorded just two in its past two games - and none against Oklahoma State . . . . The Cyclones gave up 473 total yards to the Cowboys, including 206 rushing and three touchdowns to tailback Keith Toston . . . . Before last weekend, Arnaud had been sidelined for the previous two games with a bruised right hand. He threw three interceptions against Oklahoma State . . . . The Cyclones' loss against the Cowboys was their 14th consecutive against a ranked opponent.
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
