Iowa State at Kansas State on Dec. 3? In football? Brrrr!

Just a guess here, but I'll bet the wind whips off the prairie in Manhattan, Kan., in early December. Here's hoping it's at least a day game.

Iowa State's longest regular-season in football is in 2011. The Cyclones open the year at home on Sept. 3, against Northern Iowa. Exactly three months later, they'll be at Kansas State. Yes, December 3.

The Big 12, thanks to losing two members, no longer has two divisions or enough teams for a conference-title game. The first Saturday night in December used to be the time slot for the Big 12 title game. Nebraska-Oklahoma was fourth in television ratings for the 2010 season, not counting the bowls.

Now, the Big 12 is the league on the outside looking in that day. But it's taking an aggressive approach by stretching its schedule. Three games will be on Dec. 3. The others are Oklahoma at Oklahoma State and Texas at Baylor.

The Cyclones will also play on Nov. 26, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, when they are at Oklahoma. ISU's home-finale is Friday night, Nov. 18, against Oklahoma State.

Yes, ISU will also play games in September and October.

Iowa State will have two bye weeks in '11 after having none in '10.