The last five seasons have brought five losses against Kansas State, and each one has come a little bit different.

In one instance, it was a blocked extra point. Others have come on slightly missed big plays. Last season is was Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein rushing for three touchdowns on the ground.

When Iowa State (1-6, 0-4 Big 12) searches this Staruday, Nov. 2, for its first win against Kansas State (3-4, 1-3 Big 12) since the 2007-08 season, the latest challenge will be figuring out the Wildcats’ dual-quarterbacks in Jake Waters and Daniel Sams.

“I know one can run a little bit more than the other, but at the end of the day, they both can do the same thing,” said ISU linebacker Jeremiah George. “Our focus won’t be stopping one for passing, stopping one for running — it’ll be trying to contain both of them at what they both do well.”

Sams and Waters have both appeared in all seven games for Kansas State this season and will split time against the Cyclones in Manhattan, Kan., where Iowa State hasn’t won since 2004.

The two have both established different identities early on.

Waters has established himself as the passer among the two with 135 passing attempts and seven touchdowns through the air compared to Sams’ 40 passing attempts. Sams has carried the ball a team-high 100 times this season for 538 yards, while Waters has 63 rushing attempts.

That difference in tendencies, said ISU coach Paul Rhoads, won’t change the Cyclones’ game plan.

“I don’t think they’re drastically different, because they’re both running the ball and both throwing it,” Rhoads said. “It’s not like we’ve got a two-sided game plan with Sams and Waters when they’re in there that you switch to the other.”

ISU defensive coordinator Wally Burnham compared Sams to Klein.

“He’s not quite as patient, but he does the same things,” Burnham said. “It’s the same offense as they ran last year.”

In addition to his three touchdowns last season, Klein also rushed for 116 yards against the Cyclones and passed for 187 yards.

Sams brings that same style for the Cyclones to prepare for, and Waters adds a second element. Each quarterback also brings a different set of personnel, which is where Burnham said his defense will adjust.

“It’s kind of like a chess game,” Burnham said. “Who is No. 4 in there with at running back? Who is No. 15 in there with at running back? We’ve got to do a good job with those kind of things.”

Iowa State has two quarterbacks of its own to worry about, too. Rhoads said the Cyclones’ starter — Sam Richardson or Grant Rohach — will be a game time decision on Saturday.

The Cyclones’ five consecutive losses to the Wildcats have come by an average of 5.8 points per game. ISU running back Jeff Woody, who has been a part of four of those losses, knows that defeat all too well.

“Every single time it’s just one thing that sinks your heart at the end of the game,” Woody said.