Iowa State football heads into another Big 12 matchup this weekend with plenty still left to prove. Saturday's meeting with Cincinnati poses a challenge, however, for a team to find its footing after a tough road loss and make a statement in front of the Cyclone faithful. 

Ahead of kickoff, here are the biggest do's (things Iowa State should do to win) and don'ts (things the Cyclones should avoid) for Iowa State heading into Saturday.

The ground game is where Iowa State outshines its opponents, and that's no coincidence. Starting running back Aiden Flora has been a force in the backfield this season, putting together multiple 200-yard performances that have each played a major role in the Cyclones' offensive successes.

Against a Cincinnati defense that's equally as unpredictable and one of the best in the conference at stopping the ground game, establishing the run could become the make-or-break factor for Iowa State. If last week's game against Baylor offered any insights, getting Flora going early could be the difference between setting the tone or spending the afternoon catching up.

Flora isn't the only player of making things happen with his legs, either. Starting quarterback Jaylen Raynor has become another threat on the ground in recent weeks. Against the Bears, he rushed on 12 attempts, but just couldn't quite make space. 

But that combination of a dual-threat quarterback and an explosive, oftentimes record-setting ground game is exactly what Iowa State needs to lean on Saturday. If they Cyclones establish that identity early, they're already in a much better position to come away with another home victory. 

Defense has been a struggle for Iowa State this season. From a scoring standpoint, opponents have put up 30+ on the Cyclones on four separate occasions, a number that leads the conference in points against. 

The Halloween contest against Oklahoma State was a clear indication of that. Sure, the Cyclones came away with the win, but allowing a season-high 49 points scored against raised more questions than it did provide answers. The late-game heroics made for an entertaining finish, but the defensive performance was ultimately left in shambles. 

It's been a struggle for Iowa State in recent home games, too, not just against the Cowboys. Earlier on against West Virginia, they allowed Mountaineers' quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. to throw for 227 yards, and gave up another 291 yards on the ground. 

One almost has to wonder: how hard is the offense ultimately working to make up for its lost ground on the defensive side of the ball? And if the saying rings true and defense really does win championships at this level, what needs to be done in order to turn it around? 

Hopefully those are questions that we'll have answers for on Saturday.