Coming off its first win in nearly a month, the ISU football team hits the road in search of a winning streak.

Texas A&M and the 12th Man will provide a stiff test at Kyle Field in College Station as the Cyclones (4-3, 1-3 Big 12), try to notch their first victory over the Aggies in seven tries.

Both teams are coming off victories last week, with Iowa State snapping a three-game losing streak with a 37-10 Homecoming victory over Oklahoma State.

Texas A&M held off a late charge from Kansas State and picked up a 30-28 road victory.

“It’s a lot better going to team meetings and practice after a victory,” coach Dan McCarney said. “I think these kids have come back very resilient.”

Texas A&M quarterback Reggie McNeal heads the attack for the Aggies as both a dangerous runner and passer, making it imperative the ISU defense comes up with a big performance.

McNeal is second in the Big 12 in rushing, averaging 89.1 yards per game and nearly nine yards per carry. Combine that with more than 200 yards passing each game and there’s a recipe for trouble for the Cyclones.

“The dangerous thing about him is he can get you either way,” McCarney said. “He is a really outstanding football player and he’s the guy on offense, no doubt about it. He’s really, really special.”

This will be the second time in three weeks the Cyclones have faced a dual-threat quarterback. The last time was against the Big 12’s leading rusher, Missouri quarterback Brad Smith.

The Cyclones held Smith to 84 yards of total offense before knocking him out of the game in the fourth quarter, and said they hope to have the same success limiting production from McNeal this week.

On the offensive side of the ball, McCarney had good news for the ISU ground attack when he announced – barring any setbacks in practice – Stevie Hicks would start the game at running back for the Cyclones.

“Hicks is available, so we’ll see how he practices and go from there,” McCarney said.

The durability of Hicks isn’t the only thing the Cyclones have been missing. In each of the past three weeks, the Cyclones have fumbled inside the 5-yard line – twice on the goal line and once at the 2-yard line.

“He is a tremendous redzone back,” McCarney said. “[Red zone ball security] is something we’ve been terrible at. It’s sickening some of the turnovers we’ve had in the red zone.”

Turnovers anywhere, let alone the red zone, will be something the Cyclones will have to avoid inside the raucous environment of Kyle Field, which is one of college football’s most famous stadiums and is overflowing with tradition.

“We’re going down into a real tough environment,” McCarney said. “We’re going to have to be at our best on Saturday. The atmosphere is pretty unique with the cheers and the cadets and the marching. The decibel level is about as loud as you get.”