The Cyclones travel to Boulder, Colo., on Saturday to take on the only Big 12 team that has a worse offense than they do in the standings — the Colorado Buffaloes.

The Big 12 has seen an offensive explosion like no season before, but it’s the Buffaloes who are the lone Big 12 team averaging fewer than 20 points per game.

The main reason for Colorado’s stagnate offense has been the inconsistency at the quarterback position. The coach’s son, Cody Hawkins, started the first seven games of the season before getting benched for true freshman Tyler Hansen. Hansen will make his third career start Saturday, against the Cyclones.

“I think he’s a good quarterback. I think he gets himself out of trouble. They’ve got some designed runs for him,” said coach Gene Chizik.

One reason Colorado made the switch to Hansen was because of his mobility. He has rushed for more than 80 yards in two of the three games he’s seen action in.

Colorado will need the legs of Hansen because its starting tailback, Rodney Stewart, broke his leg last week and is out for the season.

“That’s part for the course for us. [Injuries] have kind of been our lot in life this year. We’re getting our Ph.D. in dealing with adversity,” said Colorado coach Dan Hawkins in the Big 12 press conference.

The Buffaloes will now turn to true freshman Darrell Scott to carry the running game. Scott has rushed for 257 yards this season, coming off the bench.

“He’s a physical guy; he’s a good looking Big 12 tailback. You can see him getting better and more comfortable in the Big 12,” Chizik said.

Scott was tabbed as the top running back recruit coming out of high school last season and will likely be the star tailback for Colorado for years to come.

Colorado’s defense has played well this season in an effort to try and overcome the ineptness of the Buffaloes’ offense.

The Buffaloes have the best pass defense in the Big 12, allowing under 214 yards to get through the air per game.

The passing game has been the only way the Cyclones have been able to move the ball this season, and Chizik said that despite going against the league’s best pass defense, they will still try and stretch the field with the pass.

If Iowa State can’t throw the ball, it might be pressed for luck when trying to run the ball against Colorado’s stout defensive line.

The Buffaloes are led by senior defensive tackle George Hypolite, who was just named as a quarterfinalist for the Ronnie Lott award, which recognizes defensive accomplishments.

“If you don’t control the interior, starting with him [Hypolite], you’re going to have issues,” Chizik said. “He’s very quick off the ball; he’s very physical. He’s great with his hands.”

Iowa State’s last Big 12 win came last year, against Colorado. The Cyclones trailed 21-0 at halftime, before orchestrating an improbable comeback and winning 31-28.

“It was huge, at that point in time, simply because it showed us that when we were down 21-0 that we could come back and win, which at that point in the season, I wasn’t sure that our football team believed that they could,” Chizik said.

Hawkins said Colorado certainly hasn’t forgotten about that game and has been reminded of the Cyclones while watching film on other Big 12 teams.

“We’ve sort of followed them in the film sequence of opponents all season,” Hawkins said. “They’ve got the makings of a good team, they just haven’t had things go their way.”

If the Cyclones lose Saturday, it will be their eighth straight loss, which would be the third longest losing streak in school history.