Ames, Iowa ? Iowa State coach Gene Chizik doesn’t like to complicate matters. To him, teams that force turnovers and protect the football always have a chance to win.

The Cyclones have been dismal on both counts this season, and Chizik believes that is a big reason why Iowa State is 1-4 heading into today’s game with Texas Tech (4-1, 0-1 Big 12).

The Cyclones are minus-8 in turnover margin and have been outscored a mind-boggling 51-3 in points off turnovers. They rank a dismal 111th nationally in turnover margin and have yet to get more takeaways than their opponent through five games.

“That tells the whole tale. One word can really describe every loss, turnovers,” Chizik said. “They’ve played a huge role in why we’re 1-4.”

That problem reared its ugly head again Saturday against Nebraska. Iowa State had three takeaways, but four turnovers helped the Cornhuskers turn a 10-0 deficit into a 35-17 win.

“That’s 200-year old football right there. You turn it over four times, you won’t win,” Chizik said.

Perhaps the toughest turnover Iowa State committed came late in the third quarter. The Cyclones, who were down 21-10, had driven the ball to the Nebraska 12. On third-and-goal, quarterback Bret Meyer was picked off by Bo Ruud, who went 93 yards for a touchdown that took the life out of Iowa State.

Meyer was intercepted again late in the fourth quarter, with Iowa State down 28-17, leading to the Huskers’ final touchdown.

Two weeks ago, a botched snap on a punt try rolled into the end zone and led to the game-winning score for Toledo. Chizik said Monday that he and the coaching staff have reviewed the tape of all 15 turnovers the Cyclones have committed this season to try and figure out why Iowa State has suddenly become so mistake-prone.

“If you look at the games we’ve lost, we’ve had way too many turnovers,” wide receiver Todd Blythe said. “We really need to value the football and capitalize when our defense gets the ball for us.”