Ames, Iowa ? In two months, Cris Love has gone from forgotten man among Iowa State’s quarterbacks to possible starter against one of the most storied teams in college football.

Love stuck it out through a demotion and suspension and now he’s seeing the benefits. ISU’s offense needs a spark and Love might get a chance to provide it in today’s home game with No. 20 Texas.

Love is grateful just to be competing for the job with Austin Flynn, the starter in the first six games this season.

“I’m very fortunate,” Love said. “With what happened, the coaches could easily have thrown me out.”

Love came out of spring practice as the No. 1 quarterback and was ready to take charge of the offense in the fall. Then he was arrested for drunken driving in July, and coach Dan McCarney demoted Love to third team and suspended him for the season opener against Northern Iowa.

“That was obviously a rough time,” he said. “But I think it strengthened me individually. It made other areas of my life better, improved some things and taken away some things that weren’t right. I think overall it has made me a better person.”

The demotion stung because Love had bided his time as Seneca Wallace’s little-used backup the last two seasons. This, finally, was to have been his year and he messed it up.

But he never considered quitting or leaving for another school.

“I knew there would be chances. You never know what will happen,” Love said. “I just felt really honest that this is where God wanted me, to stay here.”