AMES - These aren't the glory days for the Huskers - who, in 1997, hung 63 points on Iowa State before halftime.

Nonetheless, it is Nebraska.

These Huskers still have talent. They still have size. And, they still play with passion - for a team that is deified statewide in Nebraska.

As a result, on Saturday Nebraska reminded Iowa State of the one-sided nature of their series, doling out a sound, 35-7 beatdown.

Spurred by quarterback Joe Ganz's pinpoint passing (27-for-37, 328 yards), Nebraska rolled up 548 total yards of offense to hand the Cyclones their fifth straight loss.

"We're out of synch offensively. We're not consistent at all," said Cyclone head coach Gene Chizik. "Then, defensively … they're trying hard.

"Bottom line," Chizik noted, "we're not catching any sort of spark to get us going. It's very disheartening. … Since the first half of the Kansas game (Oct. 4), we've gone backward."

The day started with soupy weather you needed a ladle to wade through. And, fittingly, the Cyclones started in a fog.

In a game that featured two teams that entered the day with a combined seven straight losses, Nebraska ran 180 degrees in the other direction from the slumping Cyclones.

In the first half alone, the visitors gained 19 first downs to Iowa State's two. Nebraska (4-3, 1-2) also outgained the Cyclones (2-5, 0-3) 283-33 in the first 30 minutes.

Ganz played pitch and catch with his teammates up and down the field, completing 21 of 26 passes for 283 yards by halftime.

"It's frustrating," said Iowa State defensive end Kurtis Taylor. "This isn't what we work for, or what we expect.

"We allowed them to get comfortable and make plays."

The visitors had an advantage from the outset Saturday, apparent along their offensive line. Nebraska's "big uglies" held an unsightly, 34 pounds-per-man advantage (303-269) over the Cyclones lined up across from them.

Nebraska, averaging 39.7 points per game, took advantage, and receiver Nate Swift (eight catches) and I-back Marlon Lucky (two touchdowns) often looked like they were running against air.

Swift cut the Cyclones the deepest, scoring on a short, 15-yard crossing route early, which ended with him spinning out of a tackle in jaw-dropping fashion before taking flight on a Superman-style plunge into the end zone.

"We are hard to defend right now," said first-year Nebraska coach Bo Pelini, "because we're keeping the defense off balance."

"They were executing better than we were," sighed Chizik. "As a whole team, everywhere across the board was poor."

The Cyclones' lone bright spot came on the second play of the second half as tailback Alexander Robinson rolled off-tackle 67 yards for a score.

That run was 22 yards more than the Cyclones' offense had accumulated in the entire first half.

"We're getting (execution) 50 percent of the time or less," said Chizik.

Chizik's squad had its chances in Saturday's second half. Yet, Iowa State's inability to produce points off Nebraska's three turnovers simply magnified a mounting, season-long problem.

With 20 total takeaways, Iowa State is among the nation's leaders. Yet, the boys in cardinal and gold have scored just 17 total points the past two weeks.

"We can't capitalize on any of those turnover advantages," Chizik acknowledged. "We've gotta score more than seven points, that's the bottom line."

"A loss like this really hurts," said quarterback Austen Arnaud, who was limited to just 113 yards passing, his worst total since the season opener.

"We," Arnaud added, "need to find that even keel, where, during hard times, you can ride through it."

Essentially, this day was ugly from the outset - not what Iowa State wanted after getting embarrassed, 38-10, at Baylor eight days ago.

"I'm proud of our guys for fighting," Chizik concluded, "but at some point that's not good enough. … I've never had patience for losing.

"As coaches, we need to make sure this isn't a downward spiral."

Contact Kelly Beaton at (319) 291-1456 or kelly.beaton@wcfcourier.com