Iowa State has a 1-59 record against teams nationally ranked sixth or higher. That lone win came last year against No. 2 Oklahoma State.

On Saturday, the Cyclones (4-2, 1-2 Big 12) will travel to Stillwater, Okla., to try for a second straight road victory against the Cowboys (3-2, 1-1).

The major topic of conversation for both teams leading up to the game has been injuries. ISU coach Paul Rhoads said it’s just part of the game.

“Every week teams have those issues, including us right now without our starting tailback,” Rhoads said. “You don’t change a whole lot in what you’re doing offensively or defensively. You just have to plug the next guy in and go from there.”

Rhoads said establishing a scheme and having the players execute it physically would be essential to win.

James White, the starting running back for Iowa State, did not play in the loss to Kansas State last weekend after having a knee procedure and will be out this weekend when the team travels to Stillwater.

Running backs Jeff Woody, Shontrelle Johnson, DeVondrick Nealy and Rob Standard have all been seeing action during practice without White this week leading up to the game.

“We’re going to have to play more than we have been,” Woody said. “As a player, if you said you didn’t want to play more, you’d be lying. But you also don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

Injuries have also plagued the OSU team, none more important than quarterback Wes Lunt. 

Lunt injured his left knee on Sept. 15 in the game against Louisiana-Lafayette. He is not expected to play against Iowa State.

For its second road game, the ISU offense will see a backup quarterback. TCU’s Trevone Boykin failed to lead his team to a victory at home on Oct. 6 when the Cyclones traveled to Fort Worth, Texas. 

The Cowboys will instead be starting J.W. Walsh at quarterback Saturday against the Cyclones.

Rhoads said the team has been compensating for the loss of White.

“[With Woody] being healthier and getting more reps … Standard [has been] filling in and taking more of the practice reps and taking the burden off the [other running backs],” Rhoads said.

Quarterback Jared Barnett said he will be missing White, but believes the other running backs will do an adequate job in picking up the slack for the team.

“It’ll be good to get … Nealy in the game, and of course getting [Woody] back with his knee hurting a little bit, just get him back and get him a couple carries here and there and see what he can do,” Barnett said.

Rhoads also said the 27-21 loss to Kansas State at home last weekend took a toll on his team. 

“You can tell it was a physical game, this last one,” Rhoads said. “So you’ve been seeing that on the practice field.”

As far as White goes, Rhoads said on Wednesday after talking to him that the swelling was down and it was a better day.

The Cyclones will kick off in Stillwater at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20. The game will be broadcast on FX.