No. 1 Oklahoma State is a perfect 12-0 this season, but Iowa State’s Nick Passolano said he doesn’t envy their position.

He’d rather be the underdog team and pull some off some surprises.

“No one’s really counting on us to do much,” Passolano said. “It takes a lot of pressure off of us.”

The 15th-ranked Cyclones are 5-7 and will get a chance to shock the nation Saturday when they grapple with the Cowboys at 2 p.m. at Hilton Coliseum.

For the team, Passolano said it doesn’t matter too much which school is ranked where, as long as the Cyclones are wrestling their best when the Big 12 meet rolls around. “We’re training right now for the end of the season,” said Passolano, who will match up with Tyrone Lewis in the 165-pound weight class. “This is just to get matches and get experience.”

Experience was earned in last weekend’s meet against Northern Iowa. The Cyclones dropped a 22-16 decision, but knew beforehand the Panthers were the more experienced squad.

Personally, Passolano knows the challenge he has on his hands this weekend. Lewis is a two-time all-American and is ranked No. 2 nationally. Passolano is ranked seventh. “He’s quick and he’s the top guy in the country,” Passolano said. “He’s going to give me a real tough match and I have to be ready for him.”

The sophomore said he’s not the only one with a tough matchup. Passolano said every OSU wrestler will be tough, right down the line. “[Zach] Roberson has a really tough match, [Aaron] Holker’s got a tough match and all throughout the whole lineup we’re going to have tough matches,” Passolano said. “You could go through the whole lineup and there will be good matches.”

Passolano wasn’t kidding.

Oklahoma State’s Johnny Thompson is No. 2 in the 133-pound class, 141-pounder Zack Esposito is No. 3 and Jerrod Sanders is No. 5 at 149 pounds.

Fifth-ranked Shane Roller anchors the 157-pound slot for the Cowboys, Chris Pendleton is No. 2 at 174 pounds and 184-pounder Josh Lambrecht is ranked third nationally.

But Muhammed Lawal might be the best Cowboy of them all. He is top-ranked at 197 pounds.

“I don’t think we’re going to be intimidated, but they’re going to be tough,” Passolano said. “They’re the team to beat.”

After upending No. 3 Minnesota in the National Duals two weeks ago, the Cyclones hope for some deja vu Saturday.

“We’re going to come in as underdogs with nothing to lose and we’re going to just go out there and wrestle,” Passolano said. “Whatever happens, happens.”