Iowa State’s battle at quarterback has come down to the two most experienced players. Sophomore Grant Rohach and junior Sam Richardson are competing to become ISU’s starting signal caller when the Cyclones open against North Dakota State. “They don’t tell us who is in the lead or who is behind..we just go out there and they say who is up and we play. That’s our job and that’s all we do,” according to Rohach.

He has the advantage in terms of momentum. He started the final four games of 2013 and led the Cyclones to wins over Kansas and West Virginia. Rohach says that allowed him to get the first snaps of spring, but that doesn’t mean he has the job as the competition is open.

Rohach says the key to earning the job will be limiting mental mistakes. “Small minor things that could cost drives, that could ruin the momentum of the offense,” Rohach says. He says he also can’t try to force things.

Junior Sam Richardson started the first eight games of 2013 and says consistency is the key. “We both have our days, all the guys have their good days and their bad days and the main thing is just consistency right now,” Richardson says. Richardson struggled with injuries during a 3-9 campaign and views this season as a chance to start over. He says most of the players can say that as he says last year was a bit of a “nightmare” for the team.

One person no longer in the race is redshirt freshman Joel Lanning. The former Ankeny standout says he is running with the third team.