Cyclones can’t afford letdown against last-place Kansas

There are no such things as gimmes in college football.

“We proved that this past weekend,” said Iowa State safety David Sims.

The Cyclones' shocking upset at Texas was expected by no one, especially the Longhorns, who had beaten fifth-ranked Nebraska the previous Saturday and had everyone thinking they were back to their old selves after a slow start to the season.

This week, last-place Kansas (2-5, 0-3 Big 12) visits Jack Trice Stadium. The Jayhawks are on a three-game skid and have been outscored 159-24. No one is thinking they have a shot.

ISU (4-4, 2-2) is a 19-point favorite and should win the 1 p.m. game going away, right? Chalk it up?

“I'd love to get to the point where Iowa State should be expected to win,” Coach Paul Rhoads said.

Just like it was for ISU in Austin, the Jayhawks are coming in against all odds.

They are down to their third-string quarterback in junior transfer Quinn Meachem with their top two guys, Jordan Webb (shoulder) and Kale Pick (concussion), out with injuries.

Receiver Christian Matthews, who was recruited as a quarterback, worked at quarterback during practice this week.

KU Coach Turner Gill said this week that receiver/tailback/return specialist D.J. Beshears and running back Deshaun Sands would miss today's game while serving one-game suspensions.

“That's the beauty of this thing,” said tailback Alexander Robinson. “You never know what's going to happen on Saturdays. You have to go out there and play and prepare hard every week. This game is played on Saturdays. It's not played on paper.”

The Cyclones came into Memorial Stadium off two horrendous losses to top-10 opponents Utah and Oklahoma.They were up at halftime and led Texas, 28-6, in the fourth quarter before surrendering a pair oftouchdowns.

That's impressive, but something players insist won't get to their heads today.

“It's not going to be hard to keep our confidence in check,” linebacker Jake Knott said. “We know what happened the two weeks before. We got blown out. Kansas is a good team. They have playmakers that can do some things to beat us. We have to be ready.”