Big Red likely to be angry bunch in Ames

AMES – Rashawn Parker couldn't believe what he was seeing.

The injured defensive end watched Iowa State's monumental upset of Nebraska in Lincoln a year ago from his apartment, days after surgery to repair torn ligaments in his knee.

The Cornhuskers turned the ball over eight times and an ISU offense playing without starting quarterback Austen Arnaud and tailback Alexander Robinson did just enough to make it out of Memorial Stadium with a 9-7 victory.

“I was shocked to say the least,” Parker recalled Monday. “But I was excited for the boys. It was fun watching it.”

Healthy now, Parker and the Cyclones (5-4, 3-2 Big 12) will try Saturday to achieve a pair of goals: because bowl eligible and earn consecutive victories over Nebraska (7-1, 3-1) for the first time since the 1976 and '77 seasons.

The visitors surely will come into Jack Trice Stadium confident after being previously unbeaten Missouri, and motivated to make up for last season's debacle.

“They'll be thinking of that game all week and I'm sure they are going to hear all about it,” Parker said. “But this is a new year and new Nebraska team.”

These Huskers come in ranked ninth nationally and tied with Missouri atop the North Division.

It will be ISU's fourth top-10 opponent this season. The previous three - Iowa, Utah and Oklahoma - won by a combined score of 155-34.

“All three of them have beaten us soundly,” Coach Paul Rhoads said. “I want to show up and play and be around for four quarters.”

The Cyclones didn't do much offensively in last year's game but controlled the clock, didn't turn the ball over and even converted a fake punt that led to their only touchdown, a 47-yard pass from Jerome Tiller to Jake Williams.

“We made our one big play when it was there and that was it,” said Arnaud, who was forced to sit out because of a bruised right hand. “I knew my role, and that was to help Jerome. We both were on the same page all day and we took what the defense gave us, which was not a lot.”

ISU's defense snagged three interceptions and fell on five fumbles.

Another couple takeaways on Saturday could lead to another surprising outcome. Oddsmakers favor Nebraska by 19 points.

“I'm not saying we have to get eight to win, but any time you can force turnovers that gives you a chance to win a football game,” said safety Mike O'Connell, who had one of the picks off Nebraska's Zac Lee.

ISU is likely to see freshman phenom Taylor Martinez under center this time around, assuming he recovers from sprained ankle.

The speedy Martinez ranks third in the Big 12 in rushing at 110.8 yards a game.

“He has great legs,” Parker said. “We have to keep an eye on him at all times.”

The Cyclones won't have to overcome the kind of odds they did a year ago.

In addition to being without Arnaud and Robinson, and losing defensive back Ter'ran Benton in the first half to a broken leg, some key players were affected by the H1N1 virus and traveled to Lincoln separate from the team bus.

Several of them were throwing up in trash cans at halftime.

“There were a lot of guys who were sick,” Arnaud said. “We were worn down, but it was an act of God and we came out with (the win)… We aren't thinking about last year at all. We know this is a different team. They are going to come in here hungry and ready to knock us off.