Iowa State making up for lost time

DALLAS (AP) _ Iowa State is making up for a lost decade or two. <br><br>The Cyclones (5-1, 2-1 Big 12), who didn't have a winning record in the 1990s, clinch their first winning regular season since

Friday, October 20th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

DALLAS (AP) _ Iowa State is making up for a lost decade or two.

The Cyclones (5-1, 2-1 Big 12), who didn't have a winning record in the 1990s, clinch their first winning regular season since 1989 if they can win at home Saturday against Texas A&M (4-2, 2-1).

A winning record will virtually clinch a bowl appearance for Iowa State, which made its last postseason appearance in the 1978 Hall of Fame Bowl, a 28-12 loss to Texas A&M.

In other Big 12 games Saturday, top-ranked Nebraska (6-0, 3-0) plays Baylor (2-4, 0-3); No. 10 Kansas State (6-1, 2-1) is home against Texas Tech (5-2, 1-2); Missouri (2-4, 1-2) plays at Texas (4-2, 2-1); and Colorado (1-5, 1-2) goes to Kansas (3-3, 1-2).

Last Saturday, for the first time in Big 12 history, all six road teams in conference games won during the same weekend.

No. 3 Oklahoma (6-0, 3-0), after impressive wins over Texas and at Kansas State, has the weekend off before its Oct. 28 showdown at Nebraska that could be a preview of the Big 12 championship game. Oklahoma State (2-4, 0-3) also has an open date.

Iowa State has lost all four previous meetings against Texas A&M, including a 56-17 loss when the two teams last met in 1997. But this isn't the same Iowa State team that hasn't had a winning season since going 6-5 in 1989.

After being held scoreless its last two games, things get no easier for Baylor.

The Bears, starting 10 freshmen or sophomores, have to play at Nebraska after being unable to score against Texas Tech and Texas A&M. Among the young starters is freshman Kerry Dixon, the third Baylor quarterback this season, who threw four interceptions in his first start.

The two teams played only three times in the 1990s, Nebraska winning the first two by shutout before a 49-21 victory in the last meeting at Baylor three years ago.

Kansas State tries to start a new home winning streak against Texas Tech. The Wildcats had their 25-game home winning streak snapped by Oklahoma last weekend, while the Red Raiders suffered their worst loss ever, 56-3 to Nebraska.

Texas, which bounced back from its embarrassing 63-14 loss to Oklahoma with a 28-14 victory at Colorado last weekend, is home against Missouri in the first meeting of the two teams since 1997 when the Tigers snapped a 10-game, 81-year losing streak in the series.

Major Applewhite has seemingly re-established himself as the Longhorns starting quarterback, throwing for 308 yards against Colorado in the first game in which he hasn't shared time with Chris Simms. Missouri is coming off a pitiful 10-yard rushing effort.

Kansas returns home after winning on the road in the Big 12 for the first time ever and plays struggling Colorado for homecoming. The Buffaloes, however, have won three straight in the series and 13 of the last 15.