Fred Garrin News

Iowa State's A.J. Klein makes a tackle in a football game against Army this fall in Ames.

Internet search engines experienced heavy traffic last December when word filtered through the Iowa State football team about a guy being mentioned to be their next head coach.

Long story short - Marquis Hamilton figures his Iowa State football career will be thumbs up if it ends like it started back in 2005.

Iowa State and Colorado enter Saturday's game hoping to set some milestones. The Cyclones are trying to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2005, something few thought possible in the first season under coach Paul Rhoads .

Alexander Robinson and Iowa State would feel safer about their bowl prospects with two more wins, though just one more makes them bowl eligible.

The nationally ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys took advantage of three Austen Arnaud interceptions and led 13-0 at halftime before cruising to the 34-8 win over Iowa State at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday.

But the Cyclones believe they have a better chance of hanging with opponents because they are smarter - at least when it comes to having a better grasp of what new head coach Paul Rhoads and his staff are trying to get across to them.

Ames, Ia. - Iowa State's most impressive defensive showing of the season began with dinner and a movie.

I know it is tough, but we all must put that Texas Tech debacle behind us and focus on Iowa State.

To win its first Big 12 Conference game in almost two years, Iowa State was forced to turn to a backup quarterback who hadn't played in a month.

One could see Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads truly appreciated Iowa State's 24-10 victory over Baylor Saturday night.

The slate has now been wiped completely clean for Coach Paul Rhoads. Iowa State 24, Baylor 10.

Iowa State started the season by snapping a 10-game losing streak. The Cyclones then erased a 17-game road losing skid, and on Saturday night they rolled to their first Big 12 win since 2007.

Iowa State isn't sure who it will see at quarterback for Baylor tonight, but it does know who it won't: Robert Griffin.

Saturday night is the closest to a must-win that Iowa State football has this season.

Forget the one-game-at-a-time mantra coaches preach to players. It's time to explore what Iowa State football fans can expect, or at least think about, during the second half of Paul Rhoads' first season as a head coach.

PLAYER OF THE GAME Jeremiah Schwartz came off the bench when Alexander Robinson got hurt in the first half, and he finished the game with 76 yards on 21 carries.

Iowa State football coach Paul Rhoads blamed his team's mistakes and soft pass rush for Saturday's 24-23 loss against Kansas State.

Emmanuel Lamur blocked the extra point after Iowa State's Austen Arnaud had thrown a 23-yard TD pass with 32 seconds remaining, allowing Kansas State to escape with a wild 24-23 victory Saturday over Iowa State.

FACTS & STATS: Site: Arrowhead Stadium -- Kansas City, Missouri. Television: FCS.