They are missing an All-American, another has been hobbled all year with an injury and it is coming off a sound beating from No. 2 Texas at home last week, but Oklahoma State is still one of the toughest games on the Cyclones’ schedule this season.

Iowa State (5-4, 2-3 in Big 12) returns home after playing four of its last five games on the road, but things will not be any easier in Jack Trice Stadium this week as No. 19 Oklahoma State (6-2, 3-1) comes to town for a 2:30 kickoff Saturday afternoon.

The Cowboys will be missing All-American receiver Dez Bryant, who lost his final appeal to the NCAA on Thursday and must sit out the remainder of the season.

Their All-American running back is questionable with a nagging injury that has kept him out for most of the season, but despite these problems Oklahoma State is scoring more than 34 points per game.

A big reason for the continued success of the Cowboys’ offense has been the play of quarterback Zac Robinson.

Robinson is known for his athletic ability, but he is a solid passer as well, ranking 20th in the country in passing efficiency.

“All of the spread offenses in this league are better served with a quarterback who is dangerous with his feet as well as dangerous with his arm,” ISU coach Paul Rhoads said. “Zac is that. He’s an experienced leader in this league. He’s won six football games. He’s taken his team to a top 20 ranking. He does that because he’s an outstanding football player.”

Although Robinson has been the leader of the Cowboys’ offense this season, he struggled last week against Texas. He threw for just 147 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions against the Longhorns as the offense managed just 14 points in the lopsided 41-14 loss in Stillwater, Okla.

Defensive coordinator Wally Burnham does not expect a repeat performance by the OSU quarterback, however.

“They got pressure on him, made him throw it, and when you start getting behind, you are going to take more chances,” Burnham said. “I think that was part of it.”

Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy expressed similar faith in his quarterback at his weekly press conference in Stillwater, Okla. Gundy blamed a combination of a fluke game by Robinson and an excellent Texas defense for last weekend’s results.

“Zac will be fine,” Gundy said. “Zac pressed. I’ve done that myself, so I have a pretty good feel for what he did. We have complete confidence in his ability. When you’re a good player at any level and you don’t play well, there will always be a question come up, but he’s a proven player for us.”

If Robinson is back to his old self this weekend, Iowa State will have to find a way to slow him down.

With a reemergence of tackling troubles against Texas A&M last week, it will be important for the Cyclones to get back on track defensively.

“We really are going to have to make a lot of plays,” said senior linebacker Jesse Smith. “We are going to have to beat one-on-one blocks and make tackles in the open field.”

When the Cyclones have the ball, it will be a match-up of both units’ strengths: the run game.

Iowa State is currently leading the Big 12 and is 18th in the nation in rushing, gaining just more than 200 yards per game. Oklahoma State’s defense is equally as staunch against the run, giving up 99 yards per game, ranking fourth in the Big 12 and 16th nationally in run defense.

“They are fast. Really, really fast,” said offensive coordinator Tom Herman. “They are big and athletic up front, so they keep your offensive lineman off the linebackers who run and hit really well. Not only are they fast, but they are not out-of-control fast. They are good tacklers; they will strike you when they hit you.”

The Cyclones hope that getting senior center Reggie Stephens back in the line-up after an appendectomy last Wednesday, will give the running game a little bit of a boost Saturday.

“When you switch it up like we have had to the last couple weeks, where a tackle becomes a guard, a new guy is in the lineup, somebody else is making the calls — and with the last two crowds, where they had to do the snap count as well — that can create some difference,” Rhoads said.

Iowa State will also welcome junior quarterback Austen Arnaud back into the starting line-up against Oklahoma State.

Arnaud is coming off of an injury to his throwing hand and the coaches say he still struggled with recovering his accuracy and velocity throughout the week, but they believe he will be ready to go on Saturday.