BIRTHDAY LUCK FOR IOWA STATE QB?

Iowa State has been rotating its two sophomore quarterbacks this season, with mixed results.

Austen Arnaud has apparently established himself as the throwing quarterback for the Cyclones.

He is 41-for-60 for 488 yards and two touchdowns. Phillip Bates is just 11-for-20 for 137 yards and two scores.

Bates, however, is the team’s leading rusher with 140 yards in three games. He also will celebrate his 19th birthday on Saturday when the teams take the field.

The Rebels hope that doesn’t bring Bates and his teammates any luck on the scoreboard.

While Iowa State outgained Iowa 325-244 last week, they had all kinds of trouble scoring. Iowa State came up with just one field goal in six trips inside Iowa’s 30-yard line.

The Cyclones signal-calling duo also has had trouble converting on third downs. They have led the offense to convert on just 39 percent of their attempts, placing them last in the Big 12.