Cyclones again looking to regroup after blowout loss

AMES - For the second straight week Iowa State's football team is picking up the pieces after a blowout loss to a top-10 team.

Still, hope remains. Goals are still within reach.

Five games are left on the schedule, starting with Saturday's 11 a.m. game at No. 22 Texas (4-2, 2-1 Big 12).

The Cyclones - who fell to 3-4 overall and 1-2 in conference play - are doing their best to stay positive following last week's 52-0 loss at Oklahoma.

ISU has been outscored 120-27 the last two weeks in losses to the Sooners and Utah.

“No one is giving up,” receiver Darius Darks said Monday. “Going into this season we knew it wasn't going to be easy … I believe we still have some wins to come on the schedule. We were only predicted to win two or three games. The way we see it, we still have a chance to win the North and go to a bowl game.”

Coaches gave weary players the day off Sunday, hoping the time off helps them regroup mentally and physically.

The Cyclones were shut out for the first time in 82 games, dating back to a 45-0 loss to Kansas State in 2003.

The defense allowed a whopping 672 yards. ISU's offense managed just 183 and crossed onto OU's side of the field only twice and failed to enter the red zone.

“We have to keep pushing,” defensive back Ter'ran Benton said. “We knew Oklahoma was going to be a good team. They have 10 people who should be drafted (by the NFL). This Texas team is going to be just as good.”

The Longhorns rebounded from consecutive losses with a 20-13 upset of No. 5 Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb.

They'll be the fourth ranked team Iowa State has faced this season. Texas doesn't have the kind of dominant team it is used to having, but showed against the Huskers it isn't to be taken lightly.

“Texas is always going to be Texas. They are going to have great athletes,” said quarterback Austen Arnaud, who was pulled in the second half last week. “This week is going to be another tough game for us.”

Arnaud and Jerome Tiller combined to go 15 of 27 passing for 124 yards.

The offense has been slumping and ranks 114th nationally out of 120 Division I teams in total offense at 307.6 yards per game.

“We are not executing. At all,” said tailback Alexander Robinson, who played against the Sooners despite an injured foot and ankle. “Any time you don't put any points on the board you are struggling.”

As one of four team captains, Robinson has helped motivate and encourage his teammates during this rough patch.

It can't only come from the coaches.

“I was walking up and down the sidelines (during the OU game) telling everybody to keep their heads up,” Robinson said. “We can't go in the tank on ourselves. We know we have a good team. We have to keep getting out there and keep fighting.”

ISU plays host to Kansas and Nebraska the following two weeks, then goes to Colorado and faces Missouri at Jack Trice Stadium to finish the season.

Three more wins are needed to qualify for the postseason.

The last couple weeks have been ugly, and this week might be as well, but there are winnable games left against the rest of the North Division.

“I'm pretty sure there's a lot of people in the locker room that's doubting that we are going to make a bowl game,” Benton said. “I'm not. It was two good teams we played against.”