To the rest of us, the Big 12 North is looking a little worse for wear, according to expectations for its fast-fading favorites, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska. But don't tell that to Iowa State or first-year coach Paul Rhoads, who could barely contain himself in the locker room after moving to 5-3 on the season with the first ISU win in Lincoln since 1977:

Spilling water all over the room isn't exactly the same as a proper champagne bath, but college kids on the plains will take whatever celebratory showers they can get, I guess. When you're one win from bowl-eligibility a year after losing your last 10 and watching your head coach bail for a more prestigious locale, it all tastes pretty sweet, anyway.