KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Let the debate begin.

Just days after losing the No. 1 tailback spot to teammate Michael Wagner, Hiawatha Rutland rushed for 93 yards on 17 carries and caught four passes for 22 yards in Iowa State’s 38-31 loss to the Florida Seminoles Saturday in the Eddie Robinson Classic.

Rutland’s performance included a 36-yard touchdown run with 14:03 left in the second quarter, putting the Cyclones on the board for the first time in the game and cutting Florida State’s lead to 24-7. Adam Benike added the extra point.

“When I found out I wasn’t going to start, that motivated me to say to myself, `The first time I touch it, I’m going to score,'” said Rutland, who came out of spring practice as Iowa State’s No. 1 back. “It happened to be the third time I touched it that I got it in.”

Wagner earned Iowa State’s No. 1 tailback spot in practice this month, but was largely ineffective against the Seminoles, finishing with 19 yards on eight carries.

His only other start for the Cyclones came in 2000 when he set the rushing record for ISU freshmen with 170 yards and two touchdowns while subbing for injured starter Ennis Haywood in a 33-26 victory at Oklahoma State.

Although Rutland’s running stood out, ISU head coach Dan McCarney said he was happy with the performances of both his running backs.

“I thought Hiawatha ran hard. Wags did [too],” he said. “Those are two new backs in there. Those kids played well.”

Going into the season, both Rutland and Wagner had limited experience in the backfield.

Rutland had been used primarily as a special teams standout the past two seasons, earning special teams MVP honors in 2001. Before Saturday the 6-foot, 202-pound junior had only carried the ball 29 times for 158 yards.

Wagner had racked up a little more experience, rushing for 539 yards on 138 carries in two years. The 5-7, 188-pound junior also averaged 10.7 yards on 15 punt returns last season.

ISU wide receiver Lane Danielsen said the success the team experiences this season will depend largely on Rutland and Wagner.

The Cyclones have had a tailback run for over 1,000 yards in each of the last seven seasons. Only Wisconsin can top that mark, rushing for over 1,000 in nine straight seasons.

Danielsen would like to see that continue.

“We feel that to be successful, we have got to run the ball,” he said. “That’s Iowa State football and that’s the way it’s always been.”

As far as who will secure the No. 1 spot for Saturday’s game against Kansas, Rutland said he’s not going to worry about it.

“I’ve thought about it and it will all work itself out,” he said. “I’m just here to play ball. Whoever I line up against, I just want to beat my guy.”

ISU quarterback Seneca Wallace isn’t worried either.

“That’s Coach’s decision,” he said. “Any one of those guys can come in and play well for us.”

If Wallace was given his way, the backfield might get crowded.

“For me, I wouldn’t mind if both of them started at the same time,” he said.