Ames, Iowa ? The Big 12 schedule doesn’t allow for baby steps. Nobody knows that better than Iowa State.

The Cyclones, fresh off a 42-17 blowout loss to Texas Tech, open a two-game homestand against the Big 12’s marquee programs when they face 23rd-ranked Texas (4-2, 0-2 Big 12) today.

Iowa State entertains No. 6 Oklahoma the following week, then travels to face No. 11 Missouri, the early favorite in the Big 12 North.

Whether the Cyclones will be ready to challenge any of those teams is up for debate. At 1-5 and 0-2 in the Big 12, Iowa State has been the worst team in the conference this season.

And Saturday’s effort against Texas Tech offered little hope that that’s about to change.

“We were never in it, and I thought we were a bad football team in every way, shape and form,” coach Gene Chizik said. “I don’t think we made any progress.”

The Red Raiders used their pass-happy offense and re-energized defense to put the game out of reach by halftime. It was 42-3 before the Cyclones could get anything going offensively, and Chizik said that for the first time this season, he didn’t see any improvement.

For a program focused as much on growth as wins and losses, that wasn’t a good sign.

The Cyclones had just two first downs by halftime and needed 46 rushes to gain 100 yards. Both Iowa State touchdowns came long after the game had been decided.

“I’m real frustrated by the last game, because it felt like, as an offense, we did kind of take a step back,” wide receiver Todd Blythe said. “We had been making improvements each week executing the offense…Saturday night, we didn’t run very effectively, and we didn’t throw very effectively and that’s something we have to get fixed.”