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Any chance that Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads was going to have an easy time turning the Cyclones into Big 12 contenders have been painfully put to rest over the past two weeks.
Iowa State (3-4, 1-2 Big 12) has allowed 120 points - yes, 120 points - in its past two games, blowout losses to Utah and Oklahoma.
Though the Cyclones were at least able to move the ball a bit and create some turnovers in a 68-27 loss to the ninth-ranked Utes, nothing went right against the No. 3 Sooners.
Iowa State was manhandled on both sides of the ball in a 52-0 loss in Norman, which served as a stark reminder of the gap between a team such as Oklahoma and the Cyclones.
It probably won't get much easier this Saturday when Iowa State travels to face No. 22 Texas, another top-notch program with superior size, speed and depth.
''We don't go into any game just desiring to be competitive. We certainly go into every game wanting to win,'' Rhoads said about the Oklahoma game. ''There were no surprises. Our kids knew what to expect. When you're playing a team as good as that, and they're operating that efficiently, it makes it a challenge.''
Iowa State has had encouraging moments this season, most notably when it beat Texas Tech 52-38 a few weeks ago.
But the Cyclones haven't been very competitive against top-notch competition - and that's a problem when your schedule is one of toughest in the country.
Size and depth are two of the bigger challenges facing Iowa State these days. The Cyclones don't have a defensive end bigger than 250 pounds on their depth chart, and injuries have forced 207-pound linebacker Matt Morton into a starting role.
Though the secondary has played well at times, all but one of their four starters is under 6-feet tall.
Size isn't always paramount to success, but a team that's undersized at a number of positions often finds it difficult to get anything going against bigger opponents.
''You can only take this size and this shape so far. The more you give the strength coach to work with, the more he's going to give you back. The guys we have, we're excited about their growth. We think we're on pace with where we want to be at this point,'' Rhoads said. ''Everyone always wants it to be faster. You have to keep it in perspective and keep doing what you know is right to build a program.''
Throw in an early 35-7 loss at No. 13 Iowa that could have been worse, and Iowa State has been outscored a staggering 155-34 in three games against ranked opponents this season.
The Cyclones still have to face Texas, Nebraska and Missouri before the end of the season, leaving the notion of a return trip to a bowl game a precarious one at best.
Despite its recent struggles, Rhoads has proven to be a good fit for Iowa State. His enthusiasm, charm and passion for his hometown Cyclones have endeared him to a very patient fan base, which carries realistic expectations for a program that's never reached the Big 12 title game.
This three-game stretch of Utah, Oklahoma and Texas loomed ominously all summer, and now it's clear why.
''It's a numbers game. We certainly aren't without athletic and speedy players. We just don't have them at the numbers that opponents like this (Oklahoma, Utah, Texas) do. Recruiting philosophy is a part of it. Development is another part of it,'' Rhoads said. ''When you look at all 22 positions on the field, it's hard to get certain players at certain positions because there's less numbers of them available. You have to identify those players, locate them, and then have success in recruiting them, and then develop them once they get here.''
