ISU wrestling has a tradition of excellence, but no win may be as large as the one the Cyclones will try to land on Thursday night.

Head coach John Smith will lead top-ranked Oklahoma State into Ames to try to remain perfect on the season and ruin the Cyclones’ chance of their best season in school history.

“This is one of the better Oklahoma State teams, and obviously we have to get points on the board,” said head coach Bobby Douglas. “In each match, our game plan is to score first and score often.”

The Cowboys recorded their third-consecutive National Duals title on Jan. 2, and they are the two-time defending national champions. They haven’t lost in more than two years and defeated No. 2 Illinois 22-15 in the finals of the National Duals on Sunday.

“It’s going to be big,” said assistant coach Chris Bono. “They’re the No. 1 team in the land. We haven’t been beaten here in a long, long time. We’re going to try to upset them.”

Head to head, the Cyclones match up well with the Cowboys. At the Cowboys’ weakest weights — 125, 141, 157 and 184 pounds — Iowa State has four wrestlers ranked in the top 10, including top-ranked 141-pounder Nate Gallick and No. 2 Kurt Backes at 184 pounds.

“We all believe,” Gallick said. “We’re training hard and we believe we can win.”

Gallick, fifth-ranked 157-pounder Trent Paulson and Backes will all try to score bonus points for the team. Grant Nakamura, ranked eighth at 125 pounds, will face highly touted freshman Coleman Scott.

Scott has struggled much of the year, but doesn’t give up many points. He recently wrestled second-ranked Kye Ott of Illinois, losing 6-4.

“I’m definitely going to be trying to get bonus points for our team,” Gallick said. “I’m one of the wrestlers who are favored to win. It wouldn’t surprise me if it is a close match, but I’m definitely going to be trying to get a major [decision].”

Although the Cowboys have substantial holes in those four weight classes, they are nearly unstoppable at four more — 149, 174, 197 and 285.

Zach Esposito, Chris Pendleton, Jake Rosholt and Steve Mocco have combined for 81 victories this season. Mocco is the only one still undefeated, but the other three each have only one loss on their records.

Sixth-ranked Nick Passolano will try to slow down top-ranked Pendleton at 174 pounds. The two wrestlers have never faced each other, and both pinned their last opponent. Passolano pinned Lock Haven’s Carlos Ponce in 39 seconds, and Pendleton pinned fifth-ranked Pete Friedl of Illinois in 1:04.

“I have nothing to lose,” Passolano said.

“He’s the No. 1 guy, he’s the top, he’s the defending national champ. I’m going to have to wrestle hard to keep up with him.

“He’s a great athlete, a great wrestler, probably pound-for-pound the best wrestler in the country.”

After dropping four straight matches, 133-pound junior Jesse Sundell has rattled off three consecutive victories, the last two coming by pin.

Sundell will face freshman Nathan Morgan who has lost three straight. Morgan, ranked No. 11, started the season 19-0, including a win over No. 3 Mack Reiter of Minnesota. At the National Duals, he lost three matches to top-five opponents.

Two sophomores, Travis Paulson and Johny Hendricks will grapple at 165 pounds.

Paulson, ranked fifth, has never beaten third-ranked Henricks.

The dual begins at 7 p.m. at Hilton Coliseum on Thursday night.