What’s the saying? When it rains, it pours.

Well ... it may be raining (and potentially pouring) when No. 15 Utah (3-0) takes on Iowa State (2-1) this weekend at 1:30 p.m. MDT in Ames, Iowa.

Utah head coach Morgan Scalley has spent the week preparing his players for those potential conditions and even got an assist from the recent storms that moved through Salt Lake City.

“We have to continue to be who we are,” Scalley said. “Ultimately it comes down to wearing the right cleats, good footing. We have grass that we practice on and practiced with the wet ball. [We’ll] do everything we can to prepare for that situation. Ultimately, it’s guys understanding the surface, and we’ll be prepared.”

The Utes have had their fair share of inclement-weather games over the last few years, too.

Just last season at West Virginia, the Utes played through some rain. The result? A 48-14 win over the Mountaineers.

Utah didn’t have any problems generating offense in that game, racking up 532 total yards, including 242 yards rushing.

Saturday’s game, though, could be different, especially if there’s a downpour.

The current forecast shows rain showers throughout Saturday in Ames, with the worst coming right around kickoff.

Protecting the football will become paramount. And so will running the ball efficiently.

Utah has turned the ball over twice this season, both by quarterback Devon Dampier — a fumble and an interception. The Utes have also run the ball efficiently this season, averaging 232.7 rushing yards per game, good for 23rd in the nation.

Can they replicate those numbers in soggy conditions?

“They have two running backs that probably start at most places in the country,” Iowa State head coach Jimmy Rodgers said. “They have two quarterbacks that would start at most places in the country, and they both step on the field at the same time. And then they have elite speed on the perimeter with good length.

“We’ve got to do a good job of not losing our eyes and playing sound option-type football because, at any moment, how they are playing right now is one guy gets it doesn’t mean that he’s ending with it, and so it makes you have to be sound.”

Utah’s defense has been taking extra precautions to prepare for the rain this week, too.

“The only real thing [we can do] is just simulate things that you can simulate,” Utah safety Nate Ritchie said. “Water on the ball. Grass cleats.”

“We’ll prepare for the worst and hope for the best.”

What is clear? The Cyclones will be the first real test for the Utes this season. Utah’s first three opponents this season have a combined 1-8 record so far.

Iowa State had a close contest with No. 17 Iowa two weeks ago when the Hawkeyes won on a 42-yard field goal.

“This is going to be a really good test for our guys,” Scalley said. “[There’s] probably going to be inclement weather. It’s probably going to be raining and on grass, so we have to bring our big boy cleats and make sure we’re not sliding around.”