Oklahoma State is No. 3 in the country in rushing yards. Junior tailback Vernand Morency has run wild so far, averaging a nation’s best 187 yards per game.

The Cowboys have completed only 15 passes in three games and have committed no turnovers. Iowa State hasn’t recovered a single fumble this season.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what ISU needs to do to win in Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday.

“We need to do a better job of [forcing fumbles],” said ISU head football coach Dan McCarney. “We haven’t forced any fumbles or recovered any through three games. I’ve never been on defense where that’s happened; it’s almost unheard of.”

Of course, Iowa State will have to do a lot more than just force a few fumbles to take down the No. 25 Cowboys. This week, McCarney challenged senior offensive lineman Cale Stubbe and the rest of the offense to get better at running the ball.

“We’re not as bad as we were last year, but it’s something we need to pick up, and that starts with being physical up front,” Stubbe said. “It’s something we need to work on because we can’t always hang our hat on the pass.”

Though Iowa State has struggled running the football so far — the Cyclones average only 128 yards per game to Oklahoma State’s 333 — OSU head coach Les Miles said the Cyclone running attack is underestimated.

“They’re a really strong running football team,” Miles said. “They have good concepts of how to move the football in terms of the throw as it matches the run, and they have a very capable athletic quarterback.”

Miles said Iowa State’s strongest asset lies in its defense, currently No. 2 in the Big 12.

“Their defense is maybe their most accomplished piece of football,” Miles said. “I like their front; I think their ends are good, and they have big, strong linebackers. It’s going to be a heck of a contest.”

Oklahoma State counts on an outstanding running attack, but McCarney said his Cyclones must respect the pass and Cowboy quarterback Donovan Woods.

“They’re very capable [of passing], and Woods is a really good quarterback and athlete,” McCarney said. “He’s got a gun and good receivers; about the time we decide to put 10 guys on the line of scrimmage and forget about the pass, they’ll burn us all day throwing the ball.”

The Cowboy attack doesn’t stop with its offense, as the OSU special teams feature one of the top return men in the country with senior cornerback Darrent Williams.

“You watch Darrent Williams on tape, and you can see why he’s going to be an extremely high draft pick,” McCarney said. “He’s one of the best corners in college football and return guys. Come April, his name will be called early; he’s the real deal.”

Defensively, the Cowboys have struggled early in the season allowing 340 yards per game, good enough for 10th in the Big 12. The Cyclones will try to exploit that statistic with freshman wideout Todd Blythe. Blythe has five receiving touchdowns on the season.

“We feel like he’s one of our best playmakers we have in our offense, and we have to find ways to get him the ball,” McCarney said. “Even if there is coverage and guys right there with him, he still feels like he can go make a play.”

Stubbe, however, said rankings can be deceiving and that he is ready to face a strong Oklahoma State defense.

“Just because they’re ranked 10th, doesn’t mean they’re not going to have a great defense,” Stubbe said.