The Big 12 Conference slate gets underway for a pair of undefeated teams this weekend, as the 17th-ranked Texas Longhorns come calling on the Iowa State Cyclones. Both teams were idle last week, giving them ample time to prepare for this matchup.

Texas is 3-0 on the young season, having disposed of Rice (34-9), BYU (17-16) and UCLA (49-20) in succession. It marks the fifth straight year and ninth time in the 14 years under coach Mack Brown that the Longhorns have opened the season with at least three consecutive wins. It is a great start for a team that had a disappointing 2010 campaign in which it went just 5-7 and won only two of its eight conference games. Unfortunately the fast start hasn’t come without a price as starting QB Garrett Gilbert recently underwent surgery on his right shoulder and is expected to miss the remainder of the season. Despite the team’s impressive beginning, Brown knows his team still has work to do to make a run at the Big 12 title.

The Cyclones have been a pleasant surprised to many so far this season but the level of competition gets a serious upgrade when the Longhorns comes to town. Finally a wake up a call for the Cyclones as the Longhorns should have their way.