After redshirt freshman quarterback Jared Barnett relieved junior starter Steele Jantz for the entire fourth quarter, ISU coach Paul Rhoads told reporters following Saturday’s 52-17 loss at Missouri not to bother asking questions about the quarterback situation this week.

At Rhoads’ weekly press conference on Monday, however, the media decided not to heed his warning and did ask whether the starting quarterback position was up for grabs heading into Saturday’s home game against Texas A&M.

“I think we’re going to practice through and see by the end of the week who we think has the best chance to lead our team to victory against Texas A&M,” Rhoads said.

As a passer, Jantz’s numbers aren’t much worse than they were during the team’s 3-0 start but three fumbles that have been converted into touchdowns for the opposing team stand out as key plays among Iowa State’s recent offensive struggles.

“You just have to have an understanding that not everything is going to go right, and it doesn’t matter how much goes wrong it’s all about the next play, and so we try and have that mentality,” Jantz said.

Since Iowa State’s week three victory at UConn, Jantz has also battled a sore left foot which kept him out at the end of the first half against the Huskies.

“To Steele’s credit he’s been playing on a very sore foot. I haven’t talked about it [and I] don’t want to talk about it and he wouldn’t use it as an excuse but he’s been playing on a very sore foot since that UConn game and I think it has affected his performance,” Rhoads said.

Jantz’s feet have been quite active in the last three games as he’s been sacked 11 times versus only four times over the season-opening trio of wins.

“It just slows me down, I can’t run as fast as I’d like to but it’s getting better it’s just a slow process,” Jantz said.

Behind Jantz on the depth chart at quarterback is Barnett who took every fourth quarter snap on Saturday. The Garland, Texas, native threw an interception on his first play but rebounded to finish 3-of-8 passing for 25 yards and also ran the ball four times for 21 yards.

“Getting the chance to be on the field, I think that helped me take a lot of strides toward being a successful quarterback,” Barnett said.

Rhoads said that Barnett played “admirably” and “effectively,” admitting that Barnett probably would have liked a few throws back, but on the throws he did complete, he hit receivers on time and in stride.

“I think that’s maybe the best thing he does right now as a very young quarterback, but all in all I think he played pretty good,” Rhoads said.

Since playing the entire fourth quarter on Saturday, Barnett has not gotten the sense from his teammates that they are taking sides when it comes to who should be the starter on Saturday.

“Our guys really want on the field who is going to win and who is going to put our team in the best situation,” Barnett said. “Our guys are really good about being loyal to both of us because they know the type of players that we both are so I don’t feel like they’re one-sided.”

Barnett admitted that he feels like his chances of playing on Saturday are higher than they have been at any point this season but that his weekly preparation will not change as he prepares for Texas A&M’s defense.

“Right now my role is still the backup quarterback, and every week I always build myself up like I’m going to start and like I’m going to play, so I have to build myself up like that this week,” Barnett said.

The Cyclones will play host to the Texas A&M Aggies (4-2, 2-1 in Big 12) on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.