Ames, Iowa ? With a difficult season winding down, Iowa State’s practices are still competitive, even if the Cyclones have rarely been that way in games.

Coach Dan McCarney said several positions were being contested as Iowa State (2-6, 0-4 Big 12) prepared for today’s home game with Kansas State, and quarterback Austin Flynn is among those being pushed.

Flynn lost his starting job to Cris Love for the Oct. 18 game with Texas, then regained it the following week. Now he’s being challenged by Waye Terry, who has re-emerged after playing well late in the Cyclones’ last game, a 28-0 loss Oct. 25 at Nebraska.

“That’s more because of Waye’s improvement and his grasp of the offense, more so than a real falling apart by Austin Flynn,” McCarney said. “I’m proud of Waye in a tough situation. He missed some time with injury in the spring. But he’s been very patient and still stayed on top of things even though at one time in the season he was a (third-stringer).

“All of a sudden, he’s in the hunt for more playing time with that No. 1 offense.”

Flynn beat out Terry for the starting job in preseason practice. Terry got back in the picture after directing Iowa State on its best drive of the day against Nebraska, a 10-play, 60-yard march that ended with an interception.

“That’s how it’s always been,” Flynn said. “He’s always competed against me. He’s always brought out the best in me. I don’t expect anything less from him.

“It’s good competition. It’s something that will help out this team more than anything.”

Terry transferred to Iowa State after playing at two junior colleges and sat out last season. He was competing for the starting job last spring until he broke his right thumb, which slowed his development.

Before the Nebraska game, Terry had not thrown a pass for Iowa State. He finished that game 6-of-11 for 57 yards.

“I just like the way he’s practiced. He’s had a good look in his eye,” McCarney said. “He wants to play. He doesn’t lack for confidence. His confidence has never wavered. He believes in himself. I think you saw that over there in the fourth quarter at Lincoln.”

McCarney said he’ll also rotate players in the offensive line, at linebacker and at cornerback. Michael Wagner and Stevie Hicks continue to compete at running back.

Iowa State has lost six straight games. The Cyclones’ last victory was Sept. 6, a 48-20 win over Ohio.

“We’re not going to go out there and turn the depth charts upside down,” McCarney said. “But we’ve got to look for guys that are the most consistent, that practice the best, that want it the most, that are the hungriest, that want to put our team in position to win these last few weeks.

“I just like the way these kids have competed.”

Offensive guard Aaron Brant, a freshman who has started every game, said competition in practice is good for everyone.

“You’ve got to show you’re the one that belongs out there,” he said. “You’ve got to reprove yourself. It puts a little more fire in you.”