Cyclones hoping to follow Austen Arnaud's lead

AMES (AP) - The Insight Bowl victory over Minnesota last season felt like a major victory to Iowa State.

Senior quarterback Austen Arnaud didn't spend much time celebrating.

Arnaud struggled at times with Iowa State's new spread offense in 2009. So shortly after returning from Arizona, Arnaud took it upon himself to study his play from all 13 games in 2009.

It was a dramatic shift in focus for Arnaud, who threw 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 2009. The touchdowns will have to go up and the picks will have to go down if the Cyclones are to surprise anyone again in 2010.

Iowa State's been picked to finish last in the Big

12 North. Iowa State has the potential to score like few Cyclones teams in recent memory, but it's inexperienced on defense and faces a brutal schedule.