By Wendell Barnhouse | wendell@big12sports.com
Big12Sports.com Correspondent

2009: 7-6 overall, 3-5 in North Division, 4th.
Bowl game: Defeated Minnesota, 14-13, in Insight Bowl.
Coach: Paul Rhoads, 7-6, second season.
Returning starters: 6 offense, 5 defense.

Key players returning
Senior QB Austen Arnaud, senior RB Alexander Robinson, junior WR Darius Darks, junior WR Darius Reynolds, junior OT Kelechi Osemele, senior center Ben Lamaak, junior CB Ter'ran Benton, junior CB Leonard Johnson, junior CB Anthony Young, junior LB Matt Tau’fo’ou, senior WR Jake Williams, senior DE Rashawn Paker, senior S David Sims.

Impact newcomers
Junior OG Jon Caspers, redshirt freshman OT Kyle Lichtenberg, junior CB Anthony Young, freshman LB Jeremiah George, junior TE Ricky Howard, freshman OL Bob Graham, freshman OL Shaban Dicka.

Offensive outlook
Austen Arnaud is a veteran quarterback with considerable skill. He should benefit from a second season in the playbook of offensive coordinator Tom Herman. If he can improve his accuracy, the spread attack should improve. Last season, Iowa State managed just 20 points a game and that must improve. Running back Alexander Robinson is underrated but he needs to stay healthy. The wide receivers have potential, particularly if Darius Darks and Darius Reynolds return to form. The offensive line, anchored by Kelechi Osemele, should be solid.

Defensive outlook
Last season the Cyclones had a bend-but-don’t-break philosophy that helped produce a winning season. Iowa State’s overall defensive numbers weren’t good but it was adept at forcing turnovers and keeping teams out of the end zone once they got inside the Cyclones’ 20. If that is to continue this season, a number of young players need to come through. All the linebackers, including last season’s leading tackler Jesse Smith, must be replaced. Safety David Sims was the Big 12’s defensive newcomer of the year but he’s suspended for the season opener following offseason legal problems.

Player on the spot
Austen Arnaud. The senior quarterback needs to have a big season running an offense that should be able to generate points. He needs to avoid the type of five-interception melt downs that he had against Iowa last year.

Player on the rise
Michael O’Connell. The senior safety is a starter (and a co-captain) for the first time. Pretty impressive for a former walk on who wanted to walk on at Iowa but was rejected academically despite a 3.3 grade-point average in high school. O’Connell has worked his way up from a special teams contributor to a part-time defensive back to starting safety.

Number of note
The Cyclones went 0-6 in 2009 when allowing 24 points or more and have gone 3-34 over the last five years when allowing that many or more.

Quote to note
Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads: “Somebody asked me if this could be a breakout year for Iowa State,” Rhoads said. “I think it could be a breakout year and we could not win as many games, and how do you say that? Because we are going to be a better football team, but we play the toughest schedule in America this year, so we can have a breakout year; I mean everything about it jumps forward, but we can’t show it on paper.”

This and that
Since the first season of the Big 12 in 1996, Iowa State has faced Texas and Oklahoma in the same season six times. Only once (a 7-6 finish in 2002) did the Cyclones finish with a winning record. … The Cyclones are 0-12 against the Longhorns and the Sooners in Big 12 play. … Only four of Iowa State’s opponents - Kansas State, Northern Iowa, Kansas and Colorado – didn’t play in a bowl game last season. And Northern Iowa plays in the Football Championship Subdivision, not the Football Bowl Subdivision. … The Cyclones were 99th nationally in total yards allowed (415.9) and 101st in first downs allowed per game (22) but they allowed just 21.8 points per game, which was 34th in Division I-A. … Senior running back Alexander Robinson averaged 99.6 yards rushing per game last season, second in the Big 12. …

Date book
The Cyclones must have done something to anger the scheduling gods. Iowa State’s schedule is considered the nation’s most difficult. There are four preseason top 10 teams – Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas – on the slate. Even the one game that looks like a week off will be a dog fight. Division I-AA Northern Iowa visits Ames and the Panthers are always fired up to face an in-state Big Brother. After facing two Big 12 foes in its first five games, Iowa State closes out nonconference play when Utah – No. 24 in the coaches’ preseason poll – visits on Oct. 9. That’s followed by back-to-back road trips to Oklahoma and Texas. November features three teams that could/should finish in the top half of the North Division. Nebraska (Nov. 6) and Missouri (Nov. 20) visit Ames sandwiching a Nov. 13 game at Colorado.

2010 Schedule

Sept. 2	Northern Illinois
Sept. 11	at Iowa
Sept. 18	Kansas State* (Kansas City, Mo.)
Sept. 25	Northern Iowa
Oct. 2	Texas Tech*
Oct. 9	Utah
Oct. 16	at Oklahoma*
Oct. 23	at Texas*
Oct. 30	Kansas*
Nov. 6	Nebraska*
Nov. 13	at Colorado*
Nov. 20	Missouri*

* - Big 12 Conference game.