Iowa State and Texas fans can pack away their sunscreen and sunglasses and bring their blankets and sweatshirts.

This week, it’s under the lights.

The Cyclones will take on the Longhorns at 7 p.m. in Jack Trice Stadium, but not on Saturday. It’ll be a Thursday night game.

This will be the second straight season that Iowa State has hosted a Thursday night game, as Oklahoma came and defeated the Cyclones 34-24 last season. The Cyclones are hoping for a better outcome this upcoming Thursday.

“It’s the beginning of the Big 12 season,” said redshirt senior linebacker Joel Lanning. “What a way to start off on a Thursday night with a national televised game. Nothing better than a game under the lights.”

This game has two focal points that will determine who starts the Big 12 season 1-0 and 0-1.

Iowa State’s offense vs. Texas’ defense

This is going to be the biggest matchup for the game. Two powerhouses that know how to control the tempo of the game.

Iowa State has shown its dominance over the past three games with 40-point games each week. Redshirt junior quarterback Jacob Park has many targets as the wide receiver position starting with Allen Lazard and then going to Hakeem Butler, Trever Ryen, Marchie Murdock and Deshaunte Jones.

Texas is going to need a deep secondary to stop all these targets throughout the game. Fortunately for the Longhorns, they do have that depth.

“[The Texas] defense is strong and quick,” Park said. “We just need to stick to the game plan and play our game.”

Along with the strong secondary, Texas’ front seven on defense is nearly unstoppable. Besides week one’s performance against Maryland where the front seven gave up 263 rushing yards, they’ve bounced back in a big way.

Against San Jose State in week two, the Texas front seven gave up 42 rushing yards and in week three against then-No. 4 USC, the defense gave up 98 rushing yards.

The Longhorns front seven have a challenge this Thursday when David Montgomery steps onto the field. He’s rushed for 321 yards and four touchdowns and an average of 5.7 yards per carry this season.

“Creating a running game is certainly important because 32 [Montgomery] is a really good football player for us,” Campbell said. “Getting the ball in his hands and allowing him to have success is going to be important.”

Whichever side can handle the tempo will win this football game.

Texas’ offense vs. Iowa State’s defense

Iowa State has shown its defense throughout each week with two pick-sixes in the first week against UNI, a strong first half against Iowa and a pick-six by Lanning against Akron. This week they get to face a Big 12 team that could potentially have their starting quarterback back.

Sophomore Shane Buechele, for the Longhorns, has been out since the beginning of the season with a shoulder injury. He was able to play in the USC game, but coach Tom Herman allowed freshman Sam Ehlinger to play the entire game.

Now, with the bye week last week, it’s unknown whether Buechele or Ehlinger will be under center to start the game, but whoever is will more than likely be the starting quarterback all game.

“This Texas team is good at all positions,” said defensive lineman J.D. Waggoner. “We need to be ready for anything to come our way.”

It seems simple with the two key matchups, but these two are the most even matched teams regarding offense and defense in the Big 12.

As for health, Iowa State had an entire week and weekend to regain its health. D’Andre Payne will be back on the field after suffering a hamstring injury against Akron.

The only injury up in the air is safety Kamari Cotton-Moya who suffered an elbow injury near the end of the Iowa game. Campbell didn’t have Cotton-Moya suit up against Akron because he knew the team had the bye week and it would be the best decision to make him ready for Big 12 season.

He came back to practice this week, but hasn’t been cleared to play. He’ll be a game time decision, but, if he suits up, Campbell knows he’s going to play to his fullest and hold nothing back.

“For the Big 12 season, I just take it week by week and focus on each opponent when we play them,” Campbell said. “I’m just excited to see our fans on Thursday night.”