The time is officially here. It is Houston week.

Perhaps the biggest game on Iowa State’s schedule all season is steadily approaching, and this game has huge implications whether a win or loss comes following Saturday’s contest.

But first, we should look at where the Cyclones sit, both in conference and nationally, ahead of Saturday’s game.

After taking down Colorado for the third time this season Tuesday night, Iowa State sits third in the Big 12 with an 11-4 record and holds a 21-5 overall record.

From the latest bracketology, the Cyclones moved up from a three-seed to a two-seed, as they are currently projected to be in the South bracket with No. 1 Auburn as the head honcho.

If this result does hold going into the NCAA Tournament, it can play to Iowa State’s advantage, if they make it there, of course, because they had the Tigers on the ropes late until Auburn willed its way to a comeback win at the buzzer.

However, this placement could change depending on how Iowa State finishes its season, including how it performs in the Big 12 Tournament in a couple of weeks.

That starts with a game against the conference kings in their own home. The Cougars have shown to be a dominant force all season long and show no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

On the season, Houston sits at a 22-4 overall record and a 14-1 Big 12 record, with its only loss coming in a close overtime loss at home to now-No. 9 Texas Tech, who just lost in Fort Worth, Texas, to TCU.

Like the Cyclones, the Cougars also fell to Auburn earlier this year, as well as now-No. 4 Alabama. They also suffered a loss to unranked San Diego State.

Granted, those three losses came during early-season tournaments, but still play a huge factor in Houston’s season.

Now, what could a win over the Cougars do for Iowa State? Well, it could mean a lot.

For starters, it would give the Cyclones a head-to-head advantage, even though it’s unlikely that Iowa State will end the season as conference champions heading into the conference tournament, but still would be nice to have.

While it won’t mean that the Cyclones can end the regular season as conference champions, they have the opportunity to take second in the conference with a potential win over Houston. 

And there’s a chance to win at home over No. 19 Arizona, who currently holds the second spot with a game in hand and a head-to-head win over Iowa State.

While it would be tricky to get while hoping the Wildcats lose another game, it still lies as a possibility for the Cyclones.

Now, jumping into the potential implications of what a win over the Cougars could look like for Iowa State nationally, it could give the Cyclones a bigger cushion on remaining a two-seed, with a one-seed potentially still in play. 

Of course, this is assuming that Iowa State does finish the regular season winning out in its final five games, including Houston, and makes it to at least the championship game at the Big 12 Tournament, along with having some losses occur at the top of the mountain.

It does seem like a lot, and that is true. The Cyclones did lose their grip on the one-seed following that three-game losing streak, and it’ll be very difficult to attain again.

But holding a two-seed isn’t something to complain about, so all that’s left to do is to see whether Iowa State can go into the Lone Star State and play spoiler.