Texas (2-2, 1-0 Big 12) at Iowa State (1-2, 0-0); 6:30 p.m., (ESPN)

Series record: Texas leads 9-1; Line: Texas by 8 ½

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Texas and coach Mack Brown would be in rough shape if they lost to the Cyclones — who appear to be among the weaker teams in the league — since they already have a pair of defeats on their resume. A win would bring the Cyclones back to .500 and give them a ton of confidence heading into a touch stretch of Big 12 play.

KEY MATCHUP

Iowa State QB Sam Richardson vs. the Longhorns defense. Texas’s defense improved under new defensive coordinator Greg Robinson by allowing just 21 points in a win over Kansas State, and they’ve had nearly an extra week to prepare for the Cyclones. Richardson’s ability as a dual-threat quarterback has been compromised by an ankle injury, but he still had 255 yards passing and 2 TDs last week in a win over Tulsa.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Iowa State: RB Aaron Wimberly. He had 137 yards rushing last week and is now the starter. But he’s never seen a defense like the Longhorns. Texas: WR/RB Daje Johnson. He might the most explosive playmaker Texas has, and he’s expected back after missing the past two games with an ankle injury.

FACTS & FIGURES

Iowa State hasn’t won a Big 12 opener since pounding Kansas 45-3 in 2002…Texas’s win over Kansas State on Sept. 21 snapped a five-game losing streak against the Wildcats…The Longhorns are 4-0 in Ames and beat the Cyclones on the road 37-14 in the 2011 league opener…The Cyclones are one of just three teams nationally that hasn’t lost a fumble.