AMES - It's been a season of spectacular highs and a few irritating lows for Iowa State football fans.

When the regular season ended with a 10-point loss at Missouri last week, the Cyclones appeared to be ascending, as a whole.

First-year head coach Paul Rhoads spurred one of the nation's biggest turnarounds this season, upping Iowa State's win total by four. Rhoads is now the frontrunner for Big 12 Coach of the Year. And, according to Iowa State officials and insiders, there's a high likelihood the Cyclones end up in either the Insight, Texas or Independence Bowls.

But, before we peer ahead, let's look back on a memorable regular season:

Sight of the season

Rhoads, on the road at Nebraska.

Yes, it has to be Rhoads emphatically pumping his fist in front of a smattering of Iowa State fans in Lincoln after the Cyclones pulled off the unthinkable, scoring a 9-7 upset. It was the Cardinal and Gold's first road win over the Huskers since 1977.

Iowa State won by creating a jaw-dropping eight turnovers - four deep in the red zone. Rhoads' squad also defied logic by winning without its star tailback, Alexander Robinson, and starting signal-caller, Austen Arnaud. Several Cyclones had flu-like symptoms, too.

"You come into a stadium like this," said a misty-eyed Rhoads afterward, "without the Big 12's leading rusher, or your starting quarterback, or a number of guys who were sick - we had guys puking in a bucket - it was just a phenomenal effort.

"It's big," the coach added. "This is a (Nebraska) program that has as much tradition as anyone in college football."

TEAM MVP: Rhoads.

Robinson, who churned up 1,058 rushing yards, did the most to make the Cyclones look bowl-worthy from a player perspective.

But let's be honest: This team's whole was greater than the sum of its individual parts. And, most of those same pieces made up a team that went 0-8 in league play a year ago. It was Rhoads' passion, persistence, and keen coaching eye that boosted Iowa State back to respectability this season.

Iowa State is clearly a destination rather than a steppingstone for the 42-year-old, and it shows.

The Cyclones "came to play every single week," the Ankeny native said proudly last Saturday.

"(Rhoads) just did an outstanding job with their program," said Missouri coach Gary Pinkel, "and all that they have been through the past few years."

Defensive coordinator Wally Burnham - who guided a unit that led the Big 12 in red zone defense and had a league-leading 30 takeaways- deserves honorable mention.

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Receiver Josh Lenz.

Little was expected of this 5-foot-11, 184-pounder before the season. Yet, Lenz's impact grew as the year went on and during significant stretches in which Iowa State's offense struggled, the Dubuque native was the Cyclones' sparkplug. He produced a 56-yard kickoff return in a late-season loss to Oklahoma State, for instance, and had a 44-yard punt return in a win over Army.

When the dust settled, Lenz was Iowa State's fifth-leading receiver, registering 20 receptions at a 16.9-yard clip. He also averaged 28.3 yards per kickoff return. After starting two games in his freshman campaign, Lenz's ability to create yards after catches could earn him plenty of playing time next year in the Cyclones' spread offense.

"He has an ability to make people miss and turn five yards into 15-yard plays," Rhoads noted. "We've gotta get that kind of production on the field more."

MOST PUZZLING DISAPPOINTMENT: Receiver Sedrick Johnson.

Despite playing in 11 games this fall, the 6-4, 205-pounder appeared to be absent without leave on most Saturdays. To date, Johnson has seven total receptions for 36 yards and zero touchdowns. He scored three times as a true freshman in 2008.

Remember, Johnson was a highly regarded, four-star recruit swiped from under Texas A&M's nose on signing day three years ago. He has admitted to not fully grasping Iowa State's offense in the past and has failed to develop into the imposing red-zone target he looks like he would be when you see him boarding the team bus.

Sophomore teammate Darius Darks, who caught just 26 passes after hauling in a freshman-record 49 a year ago, was also a candidate for this dubious distinction.

ON THE HOT SEAT: Offensive coordinator Tom Herman.

Herman was a heralded addition to Rhoads' coaching staff last winter, praised for his intelligence (he's a Mensa member) and his innovative, spread offense. Yet, the Cyclones' offense was largely inconsistent this season, particularly in the last five regular-season games during which it averaged just 13.6 points.

Iowa State was 0-6 this fall when its opponents scored 24 or more points. Herman's scheme, which established countless school records at his last stop, Rice, was expected to average far more than the Big 12-worst 21.1 points per game it produced for the year.

"When the game is beginning to be a shooting match," said Rhoads, "you've gotta be able to match ‘em."

To be fair, Arnaud's late-season hand injury and slight regression as a passer didn't help Herman, and the coordinator's Texas ties could improve his attack through recruiting.

RECRUITING OUTLOOK: If recruiting websites like rivals.com are to be believed, Iowa State has made recruiting upgrades under Rhoads' watch. Currently, nearly two-thirds of the Cyclones' 2010 commits grade out as three-star or better recruits. Of Rhoads' 20 known commitments for next year, 12 are three-star prospects, and one - receiver Chris Young from Athens, Texas - has been tabbed as a four-star recruit by rivals.com.

In 2008, Iowa State landed just seven three-star prospects.

The Cyclones still need more speed, judging by their overall inability to stop the Big 12's spread offenses. That deficiency was apparent in losses to Texas A&M and Oklahoma. However, four 2010 commits run the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds or faster.

Six of Iowa State's known commits are Texas natives, while eight others hail from either California or Florida. Those three states, of course, are considered major recruiting hotbeds.