Iowa State Cyclones
2001 record: 7-5 (4-4)
Coach: Dan McCarney (7th season, 29-50)
Starters returning: 6 offense, 7 defense, 1 kicker

Outlook: To hype their quarterback for the Heisman Trophy the Cyclones hung a huge banner of his image from the Eiffel Tower. And they've got the picture to prove it.

It's the product of a fertile marketing imagination -- and a good photo editing computer program -- but the Cyclones are adamant that Seneca Wallace is no media creation. Three years ago he wasn't even the starting quarterback at Sacramento City Junior College, but the mobile, play-making senior will be the main reason if ISU survives a difficult schedule that features five of the top eight teams in the preseason ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll.

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Wallace may have to carry the load on his own behind an offensive line that must replace three starters and with a running back corps that appears to lack the standout that's been the program's mark recently. It will help if the Cyclones, who committed only 14 turnovers last year while forcing 26, again win the turnover battle.

An experienced linebacker unit, led by Jeremy Loyd on the strongside and Matt Word inside, will compensate from a young front four that has five freshmen or sophomores among the top eight. A special teams unit that had four field goals blocked and ranked 113 out of 115 Division I-A teams last year must improve.

Key game: The Cyclones' recent turnaround has coincided with a four-game win streak over rival Iowa. But the Hawkeyes under Kirk Ferentz went 7-5 last year and edged Texas Tech in the Alamo Bowl. ISU must visit Iowa City on Sep. 14 in a matchup that has nothing to do with the Big 12 race and possibly everything to do with the Cyclones' future.

Keep an eye on: The Wolfpack. That's the name the Cyclones' running backs have given themselves and it's proven to be well earned. ISU is one of three schools to have produced a 1,000-yard rusher in each of the last seven seasons and replacing the last in that line, Ennis Haywood, won't be easy. Juniors Hiawatha Rutland, Michael Wagner and JaMaine Billups each have a smattering of experience and may have to share the job, putting the streak in jeopardy.

It's a good year if . . . The Cyclones can hold onto third place in the North and/or go to a bowl for a school-record third straight year. Unfortunately for them, they begin a two-year schedule rotation with three of the toughest South Division opponents: Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech.

Mark Wangrin covers the Big 12 for the San Antonio Express-News