“Whether you’re 5-2, 4-3 or 7-0,” he said, “it kind of goes out the window because the reality is you’re defined by how you play in November.”

The Cyclones (7-0, 4-0 Big 12) open the month Saturday with a game against Texas Tech (5-3, 3-2) at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames. A win would move them to 8-0 for the first time and put them in a tie for first place in the conference with No. 9 BYU, which is inactive this week.

Iowa State made it to the Big 12 championship game in 2020, but has never won a major conference title in its 133-year history.

“We know we have five games left and we know there are still so many things ahead of us that we can accomplish,” quarterback Rocco Becht said. “Coach Campbell always brings it to us because it gives us momentum to go out and play our best game. We really need to focus on Texas Tech achieving that goal because if we don’t, we will fall behind.”

Texas Tech has lost two in a row after a 5-1 start and is tied for fifth place. The Red Raiders blew a 17-point lead midway through the third quarter in a 35-34 loss at TCU last week. Backup quarterback Will Hammond fumbled at the Horned Frogs’ 27 as they attempted a go-ahead goal with 1:38 remaining.

The Red Raiders entered this week with a grumbling fan base and as 13 1/2-point underdogs, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. They haven’t lost three games in a row since 2020.

“There’s no one who wants to win for this fan base more than me,” third-year coach Joey McGuire said. “It bothers me that people are angry. Not that they’re mad at me; again, say what you want. It bothers me because we couldn’t take care of business on Saturday (and) that people feel this way about being Red Raiders.

Tech QB situation

Tech quarterback Behren Morton injured his left (non-throwing) shoulder in the second quarter against TCU, and his availability was uncertain. McGuire said tests revealed no structural damage. If Morton can’t play, Hammond would make his first start. Hammond played 50 snaps against TCU. His only other appearance was clearing duties in a lopsided win over North Texas.

Go for 3 in a row

Texas Tech has won two straight against Iowa State after losing five straight in the series. Last year the teams did not meet.

The Red Raiders won 14-10 in Ames in 2022, while the Cyclones went 1 for 5 in the red zone. In 2021, Tech won 41-38 in Lubbock on Jonathan Garibay’s school-record 62-yard field goal as time expired. Both wins earned Bowl eligibility for Tech. Another win on Saturday would do the same.

4,000 in sight

Big 12 rushing leader Tahj Brooks needs 23 yards to become the third Texas Tech player and ninth from the Big 12 to rush for 4,000 in a career. Brooks is averaging 132.1 yards per game, which ranks third in the nation, and he and national leader Ashton Jeanty of Boise State are the only rushers with at least 100 yards in every game this season.

Getting the detour

Brooks gives Texas Tech a favorable matchup against Iowa State’s defense, which has struggled against the run. ISU is allowing an average of 170 yards rushing per game to rank second-to-last in the Big 12.

The Cyclones gave up 354 in a 38-35 win over UCF two weeks ago, the most since Campbell’s freshman season (2016). Opponents have broken four runs of more than 40 yards, including three that went more than 50 yards.

8 would be great

The Cyclones have had eight seasons with at least eight wins since 1929. Earle Bruce (1976-78) and Campbell (2017-18, 2020) were coaches for three seasons each. Dan McCarney (2000) and Johnny Majors (1971) each had one eight-win season.