Western Illinois (2-0) at Iowa State (2-0); 7 p.m., (Cyclones TV)

Series Record: First meeting.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Iowa State can get halfway to bowl eligibility with a win over Western Illinois. The Leathernecks will be seeking their first win over an FBS opponent in nine years.

KEY MATCHUP

Iowa State QB Steele Jantz vs. Western Illinois defensive line. Jantz has stayed mostly in the pocket this season, but Saturday could be the day the senior uses his feet to make plays.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Western Illinois: K Pat Smith. He’s 5-for-5 on field goals and drilled a 46-yarder last week. In a game where points could be at a premium for the Leathernecks, a kicker like Smith could keep them close.

Iowa State: RB James White. Iowa State’s leading rusher from 2011 has just 82 yards on the ground so far. This would seem to be an ideal game for White to break out of his early funk.

FACTS & FIGURES

The schools are just 244 miles apart but are meeting for the first time. Iowa State is 36-4-3 against current members of the Missouri Valley…Three Western Illinois coaches are Iowa natives, led by head coach Mark Hendrickson of Pekin High…Iowa State is 12th nationally in pass efficiency defense.