Tuftee will have to wait his turn to see the field

After 15 consecutive starts on the ISU offensive line, Ethan Tuftee will have to wait for his name to be called in the rotation for playing time.

The redshirt senior was relegated to second-string at the strong guard position behind redshirt sophomore Jamison Lalk.

“It’s more that Ethan missed some days with a charlie horse above his knee and didn’t get the practice opportunities to beat those guys out,” Rhoads said of why the change was made. “Jamison Lalk is right on pace with where a player would hopefully be in his third year in the program.”

Rhoads said he expects Tuftee to play against Northern Iowa.

Warm Iowa weather will be apparent Saturday

Typical Iowa weather in August will be ever-present at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday.

The weather forecast calls for a temperature of 91 degrees at kickoff with a slight wind. ISU coach Paul Rhoads said the warmer weather has been something the Cyclones have gotten used to in the week leading up to the game against Northern Iowa.

“We had a little burst of it last week so it’s not like this week is completely new to us,” Rhoads said of the heat. “The positive of a month like this is our first two opponents — which extends over a three week time period — have been practicing in the exact same weather. What I say to that to our football team is there is no advantage weather-wise to either program.”

Rhoads expects the weather to non-factor when his team takes the field.

Todd Blythe back on the sideline, but not for Iowa State

Todd Blythe will set foot on the field at Jack Trice Stadium once again Saturday, but will be sporting different colors.

Blythe, an ISU receiver from 2003-2007, will come to Ames as a member of the Northern Iowa coaching staff as the wide receivers coach. This will be his second season as a member of the Panthers’ staff.

“Going back to Ames, it will be a lot of fun. I’m excited just to get the first game going,” Blythe said of his return. “Obviously it will be a little different being on the other side compared to my playing days. It will be fun though. I have a lot of great memories from there, been a part of a lot of good football games and I’m thinking I’ll be a part of another one (on Saturday).”