Ames, Iowa ? Players and coaches alike spout the same line, week after week. Every game is a big game. No one game is more important than another, right?

Well, not always. Last year, a loss at Northern Illinois put Iowa State in a tailspin from which ISU never recovered.

Today the two teams meet again, this time in Iowa State’s Jack Trice Stadium.

It’s the final nonconference game for Iowa State (1-1), a chance to build a little momentum before Big 12 play. Plus, there’s the little matter of last week’s game at Iowa, a 17-10 loss that still rankles the Cyclones.

“It’s been tough going to sleep at night after that loss,” linebacker Erik Anderson said. “We’re excited to get back out at practice, and we’re obviously excited to get back out on the field on Saturday.”

Iowa State is off next week, giving coach Dan McCarney and his team some extra time to get ready for their Big 12 opener Oct. 2 at Oklahoma State. He’d rather not spend that time trying to regroup from a loss.

“It’s a real, real important game,” McCarney said. “Can it be the defining game or will it be the defining game of our season? I don’t know. As far as I’m concerned, it’s the most important game on our schedule right now. We’ve got to do everything we can to try and win this football game going into an open week and then get ready for the Big 12.”

A case could be made that ISU’s 24-16 loss to Northern Illinois defined 2003.

Running back Hiawatha Rutland tore up his right knee in that game, and defensive lineman Jordan Carstens twisted his left knee. The Cyclones had more injury problems after that and lost their last 10 games.

“You definitely want to have a good feeling going into the Big 12 Conference,” quarterback Bret Meyer said.