Ames, Iowa — Sometimes, all it takes is a single shining moment to save a football team's season.
Iowa State's happened a month ago at Baylor.
Stuck in a 13-game Big 12 Conference losing streak, the Cyclones drove 80 yards to score the winning touchdown with 41 seconds left in a 26-25 victory. They haven't lost since and now are alone in first place in the Big 12 North.
"Before the Baylor game, I think we were all in a slump," linebacker Tim Dobbins said. "We couldn't find a way to win. But then after the Baylor game, we saw that we could win close games. We all got focused and knew we had what it takes to win in the Big 12."
So where would the Cyclones be if they hadn't won that game?
"I don't know," safety Nik Moser said. "I don't know if I want to know. It could be a whole different story right now."
As it is, Iowa State is on the verge of becoming one of the more amazing stories in college football. A year after going 0-8 in the Big 12, Iowa State has a chance to play in the conference championship game.
Victories in their last two games would give the Cyclones (5-4, 3-3 Big 12) the North title. They're the only team among the four still in contention that controls its own destiny.
"The kids understand right now there's some opportunities that lie ahead in the next 11 days that every kid in the history of Iowa State football would love to have had," coach Dan McCarney said.
McCarney also hopes his players understand they have a difficult road.
First up is today's game at Kansas State, which has defeated Iowa State 10 straight times -- by an average of 33 points. The Cyclones finish the regular season Nov. 27 at home against Missouri and its elusive quarterback, Brad Smith.
"We've done a lot of real good things nobody expected us to, but the best is yet ahead," McCarney said. "The best rewards and the things the kids really deserve are in front of them right now. Are they good enough to go take them or are we going to make excuses and talk about 2005?"
What's certain is the Cyclones are going into the final two weeks full of confidence. And that goes back to the Baylor game.
With red-shirt freshman Bret Meyer at quarterback, Iowa State started at its own 20 with just under five minutes remaining and scored in 10 plays, sophomore Stevie Hicks going the final 5 yards after taking a pitchout from Meyer.
"That was a big stepping stone for the whole offense and especially for him," Todd Blythe said of Meyer. "He stepped it up on that drive. He made some great throws, made some great decisions. He's really improved in every game since."
Meyer did just enough to help Iowa State beat Kansas 13-7 the following week, then threw for a season-high 345 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-27 victory over Nebraska.
"It's night and day difference," Moser said. "We have a ton of confidence on our team. We might have had a little confidence before Baylor, but we've got so much more confidence than we ever did."
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