Statistically, Cris Love is the third-highest rated quarterback in the Big 12 Conference.

He’s rated higher than Kliff Kingsbury, Chris Simms and even higher than Cyclone Seneca Wallace.

Technically, his numbers don’t qualify towards the conference leader board, and in reality he’s only thrown four passes. However, two were completed and one was for a touchdown.

So where’s the love for Love?

Why isn’t he getting his shot?

Two words: Seneca Wallace.

It just so happens that the 6-foot-5, 210 pound redshirt sophomore from Round Rock, Texas, is stuck behind Wallace, one of the most gifted college athletes to grace a Big 12 football field.

However, don’t think he’s crying himself to sleep over it. The son of Melynda and Cris Love Sr. has been there before.

“Going into my junior year of high school, I was stuck behind another kid for the starting quarterback job,” said Love, an exercise and sports science major. “After a couple of good performances in some games, they decided to make me the starter.”

Now thinking about Seneca Wallace not playing is about as enjoyable to Cyclone fans as watching the Iowa Hawkeyes climb the rankings, but like both scenarios, anything is possible.

“Anything can happen out there, so you have to practice like a starter,” Love said. “Seneca could get nicked up for a couple of series, or he could go down for the rest of the year. It’s my job to be ready to step in.”

Love isn’t the only one confident in his abilities.

Steve Brickey, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, said if Wallace would happen to go down, Love could step in and lead this Cyclone team.

“He’s got a good feel for the game, and he’s a real tough kid,” Brickey said. “The coaching staff feels — as well as the other players — if the game was on the line, and Love stepped in, we’d have a good shot to win.”

Brickey should know. While at North Texas, he and his staff were actually looking at Love during the recruiting process, but the quarterback soon chose Iowa State.

So how did a Texas kid end up in Iowa?

“I visited with some of the Texas schools, and some Division II schools too, but I chose Iowa State,” Love said. “They were interested in me, and I get to stay in the Big 12 Conference, which means a trip or two back home every year.”

Love isn’t just biding his time until Seneca leaves. He’s learning from the Heisman Trophy hopeful.

“He does some things really well, and I look at that and try to do the same things,” Love said. “He plays at such a high level; it keeps everyone motivated to keep winning and keep playing well.”

Love, an aspiring guitar player, spends his down time just hanging out with friends, and hosting the occasional karaoke party.

That’s right. Karaoke.

“Every once in a while we’ll have karaoke night,” Love said. “We’ll get a couple people over to our house to mess around with it. It’s hilarious to see [freshman offensive lineman and roommate] Kory Pence sing along.”

With a work ethic that coach Brickey calls “tough and serious,” it won’t be long before Love has his chance to show his stuff on the Big 12 level.

So move over Doug Flutie, and step aside Kurt Warner. There’s a new backup quarterback waiting to make his move.