San Jose State @ Iowa State preview

Iowa State will attempt to put a halt to its worst start since 1997 when the Cyclones host San Jose State in a late-morning kickoff Saturday. Iowa State has dropped its first three games by a combined score of 108-43 with two of the defeats coming against in-state opponents Iowa and Northern Iowa, putting first-year coach Matt Campbell on the hot seat early.

The Cyclones still haven't settled on a No. 1 quarterback, as junior Joel Lanning and Georgia transfer Jacob Park have been trading off, though Lanning has thrown 69 passes this season to Park's 30. There's no debate who's the top receiver for Iowa State, as Allen Lazard has accounted for 248 of the team's 638 receiving yards and has caught at least one pass in a school record 26 straight games. He should be motivated to play well after catching just one pass for 8 yards in last week's 41-20 loss to TCU, which propelled the Horned Frogs back into the top 25 at No. 21. San Jose State stayed with No. 23 Utah for the first 21 minutes of Saturday's game, but was outscored 28-7 the rest of the way in the 34-17 loss in Salt Lake City.

TV: 12 p.m. ET, FOX Sports Net. LINE: Iowa State -6.5.

ABOUT SAN JOSE STATE (1-2): Four different players have scored rushing touchdowns for the Spartans this season, but there's no doubt running back Deontae Cooper is the No. 1 ball carrier. Cooper is 25 years old and in his seventh year of college football after suffering three separate ACL tears in his knees, costing him two medical redshirts after using a regular redshirt during his first year at Washington in 2010. He transferred to San Jose State for this season and has put up 214 yards on 49 carries, highlighted by a 126-yard performance two weeks ago in a 66-35 victory against Portland State.

ABOUT IOWA STATE (0-3, 0-1 Big 12): Mike Warren got off to a slow start for the second consecutive season with the Cyclones, but showed what he could bring in the third game both years. After totaling 58 yards on 19 carries through the first two games, he exploded for 95 yards on 23 carries in the loss to TCU. As a freshman last season, he was limited to 28 yards the first two games before rushing for 126 in Week 3 against Toledo, the first of six games with at least 126 yards on the ground.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Iowa State PK Cole Netten has made his last 11 field goal tries to tie the school record and remains the most accurate kicker in program history at 75.9 percent.

2. Iowa State passing game coordinator Jim Hofher faced off against San Jose State the last three seasons as the assistant head coach and wide receivers coach at Nevada.

3. The Cyclones have forced just one turnover this season and have gone nine straight games without forcing multiple turnovers.

PREDICTION: Iowa State 44, San Jose State 21