Base offense: Pro set

This is a unit that allows the scoreboard operator an occasional snooze, as the Cyclones' scoring average ranks a dismal 106th in  NCAA Division I-A . After using a two-quarterback system for the first five games, they settled on redshirt freshman Bret Meyer. With him, they've become more reliant on the option game — hardly a surprise considering former NU offensive coordinator Barney Cotton now calls the shots. Sophomore tailback Stevie Hicks, graduate of Omaha Creighton Prep, has topped 100 yards rushing twice in the past three weeks (108 against Colorado and 110 against Kansas), while he and freshman Jason Scales combined for 103 against Baylor. ISU's ground attack still ranks just 84th. Meyer, meanwhile has completed 90 of 166 passes for 1,027 yards, which shows the Cyclones are short on receivers that allow them to throw it vertically. The lone exception is redshirt freshman Todd Blythe, who's averaging 20.8 yards per catch and has eight of the team's nine TD receptions to tie the school single-season record. Papillion-La Vista graduate Jon Davis has a team-high 33 catches and the other TD. 

Base defense: 4-3

ISU's toughness against the run — along with the fact the Cyclones have produced a school-record five defensive TDs — sets the table. The  highest rushing total ISU has allowed is 189 yards, and Oklahoma State needed 55 attempts (an average of 3.4 yards per carry). Though the Cyclones have recovered just five fumbles, tackle Brent Curvey has scored on returns each of the last two weeks. Curvey is hard to miss at 6-foot and 300 pounds. You'll also notice weakside linebacker Brandon Brown, who is tied with strong safety Nik Moser for the team lead in tackles, and in the past two games has forced and recovered two fumbles and recorded both of his sacks. End Tyson Smith also has been heating up, as he has three of his five sacks over past two weeks. The Cyclones can afford to play a lot of man coverage, because they're solid at cornerback. DeAndre Jackson has seven breakups, while Ellis Hobbs is tied for the team lead with three interceptions. Iowa State's 13 interceptions are five more than they had last season. The Cyclones have been extremely fortunate with injuries, as they've made just one change to their starting defensive lineup all year.

Special teams

Who knows what Iowa State's record would be if Tony Yelk had been healthy this year? Yelk was expected to handle all kicking duties but has been shelved by a hip injury. ISU lost a seven-point game to Iowa, in which it missed three field goals, and a five-point contest at Colorado, where it missed two more from inside 30 yards. Walk-on freshman Bret Culbertson now has that responsibility, and last week against Kansas, he went 2-for-2. At Colorado the week before, Culbertson's first kickoff went for a touchback, one of just three all season by ISU kickers. Punter Troy Blankenship is averaging 39.3 yards per kick and has landed 14 of his 47 kicks inside the opponent's 20-yard line. The Cyclones like to put pressure on opposing kickers — they've blocked two field goals, two punts and a PAT.

Game breakers

TYSON SMITH, DE: Smith has regained the form that led to him being regarded as ISU's top playmaker last year before he broke his leg in the second game of the year. More than one-fourth of his 42 tackles have been behind the line of scrimmage.

NIK MOSER, SS: Like Smith, Moser hasn't missed a beat after missing the final six games of 2003. He's tied for the team lead in tackles (58) and interceptions (3).

TODD BLYTHE, WR: He's well on his way to establishing himself as the Cyclones' next difference-maker. The lone offensive player with more than one touchdown, Blythe also has an impact on special teams, as he blocked a punt last week.

Scouting report

Baylor lost to Iowa State 26-25 two weeks ago, giving up an 80-yard TD drive in the final minutes. The Bears racked up 450 yards of offense, the highest total against the Cyclones this year, but were victimized by four lost fumbles. Here are some thoughts from Baylor offensive coordinator Brent Pease about that game:

"I think we found a formation that was good for us, where they were playing more for a pass and were light in the box. There's a point in time where we kind of jumped to another formation and ran the ball inside on them more. We made them defend about three different adjustments out of that (first) formation.

"They were ranked pretty high (as a defense). We knew they'd been tough against the run and made plays with interceptions. … When they stop the run is when teams keep them in tight with a lot of two-back stuff. We decided we were going to get them out of space. I thought we matched up with them, physically.

"(Brent Curvey's) active. No. 1 (Tyson Smith), that's the guy that hit us. No. 33 (Brandon Brown) is good inside."

Baylor limited Iowa State's offense to 257 yards. That's the fewest the Bears have given up in a league game this year. Here's how coach Guy Morriss saw the Cyclones:

"They run all forms of the option, different formations, so it's tough. The No. 1 thing in our mind is we've got to stop the option, and then the play-action and all that comes with it.

"(Bret) Meyer is the same kind of quarterback we've seen before. He's the kind of guy that if we let him get cranked up and get going, we're going to have trouble with him. The best thing we can do is just not let him get into that finite rhythm. … I'm telling you, he doesn't like to get hit. I don't know any quarterback that does, and if we can hit him. … You would think it would rattle him and take him out of the rhythm of his game."