Road remains rough with Texas up next for ISU

NORMAN, Okla. - After being outscored 120-27 by Top 10 opponents the last two weeks, Iowa State looks to rebound in time for its road trip to Austin, Texas, to face the Texas Longhorns this Saturday.

Freshman running back Jeff Woody admitted the Cyclones did not have a good week of practice leading up to their game in Norman, Okla., against the No. 3 Sooners. He said it's something the team has to work on to move forward.

“We have too much talent and too much desire to let it slide,” he said.

Woody said head coach Paul Rhoads wasn't angry with his team after its 52-0 defeat at the hands of Oklahoma. However, he said Rhoads made it apparent that the result wasn't acceptable and the Cyclones were better than how they played Saturday.

The Cyclones will have their hands full with Texas, which upset No. 5 Nebraska this week in Lincoln, Neb., to break its two-game losing streak. The Longhorns are also the only Big 12 team the Cyclones have never beaten. Iowa State has dropped all seven of its games against the Longhorns.

Senior quarterback Austen Arnaud, who was pulled from the game against Oklahoma after the first drive of the second half, said he expects to see Texas' best shot this weekend.

“They'll be on a high,” he said. “They're going to be excited and riled-up to play us.”

Woody said the key for the Cyclones will be not allowing the last two weeks to affect how they prepare for and play against Texas. After a thrilling home win against Texas Tech, Iowa State has been brought back to earth by its last two games.

Now at 3-4 and 1-2 in the Big 12, the Cyclones have to win three of their last five games to become bowl eligible. In addition to Texas, Iowa State also will face ranked teams in Nebraska and Missouri down the stretch.

That's something that's not lost on Rhoads.

“Our schedule is tough. We just talked about that it won't get any easier,” he said after Saturday's loss. “You go back to work, you practice and you prepare.”

Iowa State fans have now seen the Cyclones arguably at their best in the win against Texas Tech and arguably at their worst in the debacle in Norman. What team they'll see against the Longhorns will likely depend on their ability to move on from Saturday's loss.

By Ryan McGhee, Correspondent