AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State coach Gene Chizik isn’t too worried about the Cyclones overlooking South Dakota State in Thursday’s season opener. If any of them think they can take the upstart Jackrabbits lightly, Chizik knows just what to say.

“One word. Northern Iowa,” Chizik said.

That’s two words, Gene. But the Cyclones get the point.

The Panthers thumped Iowa State at home last season, and they were just one of a number of Championship Subdivision teams to upset a Bowl Subdivision opponent. So when Chizik talks up South Dakota State, which will travel to Ames on Thursday night for its first-ever game against a Bowl Subdivision program since joining the Championship Subdivision, the Cyclones are all ears.

After all, they’ve got a lot to prove themselves.

“We have no right to overlook anybody. Look at our record last year. It was 3-9,” sophomore quarterback Austen Arnaud said.

This season might not be much better if the Cyclones don’t get strong play from the quarterback positions. Arnaud earned the right to open the season as the starter, but fellow sophomore Phillip Bates will also get a chance to play against the Jackrabbits.

Chizik has been tightlipped on when or how much Bates will play, but he reiterated this week that Bates still has a chance to wrestle the starting job away from Arnaud.

“We’re looking for them to make plays,” Chizik said. “Making plays is what moves your football team.”

The position battles don’t end behind center. Chizik has vaulted a number of youngsters into the two-deep roster, including true freshmen wide receivers Sedrick Johnson and Darius Darks, who are listed third and fourth on the depth chart respectively.

Sophomore running back Alexander Robinson, who ran for 391 yards and six TDs over the final four games in 2007, will start over a pair of seniors, Jason Scales and J.J. Bass.

Iowa State will also have a true freshman at kicker, with Grant Mahoney listed ahead of Zach Guyer on the depth chart. Both have looked good so far, Chizik said, but he knows there’s a big difference between kicking in practice and lining up with the lights on.

The matchup with Iowa State is a big deal for the Jackrabbits, who’ve been waiting a long time for the 2008 season. They’ve completed the long transition from Division II and, as new members of the Missouri Valley Conference, are eligible for the playoffs for the first time.

South Dakota State coach John Stiegelmeier, now in his 12th season with the Jackrabbits, has overseen the transition to full Championship Subdivision status. Unlike most coaches who preach the one-day-at-a-time mantra to their teams, Stiegelmeier has been talking about the trip to Ames for weeks.

“I didn’t want our guys to be like tourists, like spectators, like ’Wow, this is neat,”’ Stiegelmeier said.