As Iowa State prepares for its season opener against Northern Iowa on Saturday, ISU head coach Paul Rhoads is getting ready to end Iowa State’s two-game losing streak against FCS teams in season openers.

Northern Iowa came to Jack Trice Stadium two seasons ago and beat Iowa State, 28-20. North Dakota State did much of the same last season, dropping the Cyclones, 34-14.

How does Iowa State stop the streak?

“We need to play better,” Rhoads said. “When adversity comes, which it will, we need to be able to handle it and respond to it …. It’s one of the things that we’ve challenged our football team both on the field and off the field.”

Rhoads added that Northern Iowa is a team that can reload each season and contend, even when it loses some of its best players, making it a difficult opponent.

“[Northern Iowa] is a team that reloads,” Rhoads said. “We expect a very talented and reloaded football team.”

Junior college players

Iowa State has seen a large shift in recruiting this season, particularly defense, taking a larger interest in junior college transfers.

In the recently released depth chart, Iowa State lists two junior college transfers as starters — defensive lineman Demond Tucker and linebacker Jordan Harris — and multiple others in the reserve roles.

Defensive lineman Bobby Leath, who started his career during fall camp, isn’t listed on the depth chart at the three-deep tackle position.

Rhoads said Leath is still catching up to Division I football and has been dealing with a shoulder injury in fall camp but is still making strides.

“[Leath] has been a little bit ahead,” Rhoads said. “He’s not taking every practice rep. Even with that being the case, I think he’s picked up well of what it is we are asking of him out of the position.”

Rhoads added that Leath is impressive physically, and with more reps, his play will take off just like many of the junior college players.

“It’s all about reps,” Rhoads said. “It’s about reps on the practice field leading up to reps during games. That’s what we are trying to do. We have a lot of [transfers] and have done a good job at dispersing those reps …. Guys that are playing well are going to get more snaps.”

Notes

– Redshirt sophomore walk-on Trever Ryen has moved from receiver to running back, Rhoads said. Ryen is contending for the starting punt and kick return job.

– Reserve tight end Cole Anderson will undergo surgery to repair an ACL injury he sustained during fall camp.

– If possible, Rhoads would like to limit all of his defensive players to 40 snaps or fewer per game to keep them fresh. 

– Rhoads said he doesn’t feel the need to name a second-string quarterback, saying instead that the team has two backups in Joel Lanning and Grant Rohach.