So far this season I've had interesting things to say about Iowa State's opponents. Would I possibly have something interesting to say about our opponent, Kansas, this time around?

Of course.

To set the story, however, let's rewind a bit to November 27, 2004 (Yes, this has absolutely nothing to do with Kansas - yet). The 2003 season was one of the worst and most disappointing seasons during Dan McCarney's tenure at Iowa State, and most of the experts, and fans, for that matter, didn't expect much better in 2004. However, as November 27th rolled around, Iowa State had compiled a very surprising 6-5 record and was still actually in the running for the Big XII North title (any Cyclone fan will openly admit to the fact this had more to do with the overall weakness of the North division at that time and less to do with any real strength Iowa State had as a team). Next up on our docket was Missouri in a must-win situation for the Cyclones, as Colorado did Iowa State a huge favor by going into Lincoln and losing to a pretty poor Nebraska team the day before. Missouri played us tough the entire game, and in the waning seconds of the game Bret Culbertson would try to break a 14-14 tie by kicking the game-winning field goal. In an all-too-familiar effort that was one of the reasons he was nicknamed "Shaggy," he pushed the attempt wide right, and the game went into overtime. After a Missouri field goal, Iowa State pushes the ball into the Missouri 10 yard line. Four plays later, QB Bret Meyer throws up a fade pass in the direction of John Davis that gets picked off - game over. Iowa State fans have to bitterly split the North title with Colorado and watch them get pounded by Oklahoma a week later in the Big XII Championship game (all the while thinking "That should be US that Oklahoma's wiping the walls with...").

Fast forward a year later (now we start talking about Kansas). Iowa State had compiled a 7-3 record and were heading down to Lawrence, Kansas for another shot at winning the Big XII North title. Most Iowa State fans actually viewed this season as a disappointment up to this point, as had it not been for a three game losing streak in the early parts of October (a 27-20 overtime loss at Nebraska, a demoralizing 23-13 home loss to Baylor, and yet another overtime loss to Missouri), Iowa State quite possibly could have been looking at 9-1 or 10-0 heading into this game. Meanwhile, Kansas was looking to become bowl-eligible for the first time since only God and Kansas fans know when. Most Iowa State fans were thinking before the game "Fate can't be THAT evil to us..."

Apparently us Iowa State fans have yet to learn that fate don't like us too much.

Iowa State watches an 11-point lead go up in smoke as Kansas ties the game at 21 all and pushes the game into overtime. Long story short, Shaggy misses yet another field goal, Kansas kicker makes his, Colorado once again goes on to get humiliated in the Big XII Championship game while Cyclone fans are left to cry in their Cheerios. And as most Iowa State fans know, this was the beginning of the end of the Dan McCarney era at Iowa State (he would have a underwhelming 4-8 season with an experienced returning class with high expectations in 2006 which would lead to his "forced resignation").

Most other Iowa State-Kansas run-ins have occurred on the basketball court (ask almost any Iowa State fan what "missed FT - made 3 point FG - missed FT" means and watch us get bitter right before your very eyes), and I'll share some of those during the basketball season.

But what does this have to do with "turnabouts are fair play?" Quite simply, role reversal.

Kansas is the team with recent success, just missing the Big XII Championship game last season, although going on to win the Orange Bowl. Iowa State is the young, promising team this time around. Kansas is looking to overcome a season that includes the terrible threesome (Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas Tech). Iowa State is looking to take advantage of the "soft" Big XII schedule (ISU flip-flops their South schedule every two years with Kansas) and make a name for itself early in Chizik's tenure.

What's going to happen? Quite honestly, I don't know. Since this game is at Jack Trice, I expect Iowa State to at least be able to hang with Kansas. Ultimately it will depend on whether the very young Iowa State defensive line can get any kind of pressure on Reesing, and whether it can take advantage of his shortness by batting down a few balls. Also, a very young offense is going to have to keep up with a veteran offense that will want to to run and throw up and down the field all over us the entire day. That's asking a a lot out of a very young team.

Then again, a very young Kansas team did the very same thing to us back in 2005. Maybe turnabouts are fair play...