Following the World Series-type celebration after beating Nebraska last Saturday, Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads said that the win in Lincoln wouldn’t beat Texas A&M.

With 1000 miles of traveling ahead and four days of practice behind them, the Cyclones (5-3, 2-2 in Big 12) are staring their next opponent straight in the eyes. Not exactly a championship layoff.

The Aggies (4-3, 1-2) made sure the Cyclones wouldn’t coast into College Station, putting 52 points on the board against Texas Tech in a little upset of their own Oct. 24.

Expending energy and adrenaline at substantial levels during the Nebraska game and its subsequent celebration, the Cyclones may be in need of some motivation and pep before meeting Texas A&M. Unlike baseball, the college football season is too short to have “dog days,” but heading into week nine without a bye, Iowa State is piling up injuries and a little bit of exhaustion.

“We’re noticeably tired, which is not uncommon for the ninth game in the season; especially battling through sickness, and coming off of sickness,” Rhoads said. “It doesn’t surprise me that practice is a little less enthusiastic.”

The health of running back Alexander Robinson and Austen Arnaud are topics for concern, even though the two marquee backfield names were absent from the Nebraska upset. No conclusive statement will be made on either player until game time, but practice schedules and the amount of work they can put in with a strained groin and sore hand, respectively, will be tested.

“A-Rob was out there doing everything that we asked him to do,” Rhoads said.

Robinson still remains the Big 12’s leading rusher in yards per contest, but no longer heads the total yardage column. The junior would provide the Cyclones with a quick spark against the four linebacker set-up Texas A&M lists on their depth chart.

Arnaud’s status is a bit more up in the air, as the swelling has gone down in his hand but remains an issue with his abilities on the field.

“Austen is still limited. He was still out there and did a few things but not too much,” offensive coordinator Tom Herman said after practice Tuesday.

Rhoads said Wednesday night that Arnaud was out doing somethings, but was reserved about putting any quarterback in the starting spot on Saturday.

“(Jerome Tiller) will prepare all week like he’s going to be the starter, if he isn’t, he’ll help Austen when he comes to the sideline. If he is, he’ll go out there and execute the offense,” Rhoads said. Tiller, the backup quarterback, was an effective game manager against Nebraska, and the coaching staff feel more than capable of running the offense with him, especially against a defense that isn’t as heralded as the “Blackshirts”.

“You get that many reps in live action — you consider the second the second half against Baylor and the game against Nebraska — that’s more live reps than he’s had since high school. And that can only help his game and his confidence,” Herman said.

If Tiller gets the start, he’ll be fighting against the 12th Man at raucous Kyle Field, his second conference road stadium of more than 80,000 fans in as many career starts.

“That’s not something that I would have scripted,” Rhoads said.

While his stat lines may not be impressing Heisman voters this week, Tiller won his first start, and if he can come through for the Cyclones in another difficult road trip, his term as the starter has to be considered very successful.

The match-up provides some Big 12 intrigue, as the roller coaster conference looks for some stability in the middle of the pack. The Aggies sit at the record Iowa State was at before the Nebraska game, and while they started the year 3-0, they followed it up with three straight losses, and an unexpected win in Lubbock on the Red Raider homecoming parade.

“Their skilled athletes are very dangerous; and for us, defensively speaking, that’s not a good match-up,” Rhoads said.

“We play together as 11, but we don’t have great skill out in the open field, so we’ll have to play very cohesive.”

Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman has been the buzz of hot seat talk, as his tenure in Aggieland hasn’t gone according to expectations. Certain Texas A&M performers haven’t let him down though, and they will be the players to watch for in Saturday’s game.

Quarterback Jerrod Johnson officially took over the reins full-time this season, and is doing what they expected out of the 6’5”, 243 pound junior: Make plays. Leading the Big 12 in total offense per game at 337.7 yards, Johnson has put the ball in the endzone 22 times, topping the conference.

Assisting Johnson in the Aggies’ current 36 points per game pace are running backs Cyrus Gray and Christine Michael, and wide receiver Uzoma Nwachukwu. The running backs pair up and split time for 132 yards per game and nine rushing touchdowns. Nwachukwu is Johnson’s favorite target, catching 25 balls for 524 yards and six touchdown this season.

Defensively, Von Miller is a defensive end/linebacker hybrid player for the Aggies, and leads the Big 12 in sacks with 12.5 already this year. Add three forced fumbles into those stats and Miller is someone the offense will be keeping an eye on.

The offensive line has been standout all season, still leading the nation in fewest sacks allowed, and the game plan will be to protect whomever is behind the line of scrimmage and keep Miller away from them.

“We really won’t alter our protections too much, but we will make sure that [Miller] is accounted for,” Rhoads said.

Iowa State is 1-8 all-time against Texas A&M, but their one victory came at Kyle Field. Before the Nebraska road win last Saturday, that 42-14 win against A&M in 2005 was their last conference road win. Seven members of the coaching staff intended on traveling to the Houston area Thursday evening to recruit the rich football base, and attend Friday night games around East Texas. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. in College Station.