ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE NOTES:
INSIDE THE SERIES
Overall: First Meeting
In New Orleans: N/A
Current Streak: N/A
Last Meeting: N/A
Series Notes: Alabama and Kansas State will meet for the first time in the history of the two programs. The Crimson Tide has squared off with eight of the current 10 programs that make up the Big 12, missing only Kansas and the Wildcats. In 27 games against Big 12 opponents, the Tide holds an 11-14-2 (10-14-2 NCAA) record. Alabama head coach Nick Saban has never faced the Wildcats during his career and holds a 5-2 overall record against Big 12 opponents, including a 4-1 mark at UA. Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman has not faced Alabama during his head coaching career
NCAA RECORD FOR 10-WIN SEASONS: Alabama’s Iron Bowl victory against Auburn on Nov. 26 was the Crimson Tide’s 10th of the 2022 campaign. The win over the Tigers secured the Tide’s 15th consecutive 10-win season, setting the NCAA record for the most 10-win seasons in a row. It broke Alabama’s tie with Florida State and head coach Bobby Bowden for the longest such record in college football history. In the Tide’s previous 10-plus win seasons, UA finished with a 12-2 record in 2008 and 2014; 14-0 in 2009; 10-3 in 2010; 12-1 in 2011; 13-1 in 2012 and 2017; 11-2 in 2013 and 2019; 14-1 in 2015, 2016 and 2018; and 13-0 in 2020.
SUGAR BOWLING: Alabama’s matchup with No. 9/11/9 Kansas State on Dec. 31 will be the Crimson Tide’s 17th in the Sugar Bowl. The 17 appearances are the most by UA in any bowl and eight better than the Cotton, which holds second place at nine. Alabama owns a 9-7 all-time mark in the Sugar Bowl with the most recent contest coming in the 2017 College Football Playoff Semifinal against Clemson on Jan. 1, 2018. That pairing finished in favor of the Crimson Tide, 24-6, on the way to the program’s eventual 17th national championship.
NEUTRAL SITES: Alabama is 97-51-4 (.651) all-time in 152 neutral site contests. The list includes all Alabama-Auburn games not played on campus, including Legion Field from 1948-88. Under head coach Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide is 29-7 (.806) in neutral site games.
DOME SWEET DOME: The Crimson Tide is 33-8-1 (.798) all-time in domed stadiums. Under head coach Nick Saban, Alabama owns a 25-5 (.833) record in domes, including a 24-2 (.889) mark since 2009. Saban’s record under an enclosed roof includes a 16-5 mark in postseason contests (SEC Championship, bowl, BCS Championship, CFP Championship).
EARLY BIRD GETS THE WIN: Since head coach Nick Saban’s arrival in 2007, Alabama has played in 25 games that kicked off at 11:30 a.m. CT or earlier. The Crimson Tide is a perfect 25-0 in those matchups, including a 2-0 mark this season. Alabama first secured a 20-19 win at then-No. 22 Texas on Sept. 10 before defeating Austin Peay, 34-0, on Nov. 19 in the Tide’s final non-conference matchup of the regular season.
ALABAMA vs. THE BIG 12: Alabama holds an 11-14-2 (10-14-2 NCAA) record across 27 games against current Big 12 teams. The Crimson Tide has squared off with eight of the 10 member teams, missing only Kansas and Kansas State.
SABAN vs. NON-CONFERENCE FOES: Alabama head coach Nick Saban owns a 102-20 (.836) career record against non-conference opponents in the regular season and postseason across his four stops as a collegiate head coach. His record against non-conference opponents in both the regular season and postseason at the Capstone is 71-7 (.910). Saban has only two losses to non-conference opponents during the regular season, both of which came in 2007 (21-14 vs. Florida State [in Jacksonville] and 21-14 vs. ULM). Under his direction, the Crimson Tide currently holds a 56-game winning streak against non-conference foes in the regular season, including a 42-game home winning streak at Bryant-Denny Stadium as part of a 44-1 mark at home.
SABAN vs. AP TOP 25 OPPOSITION: The Crimson Tide’s 30-24 win over then-No. 11 Mississippi State on Nov. 12 was Nick Saban’s 99th career win, and 77th at Alabama, against the Associated Press Top 25. Saban moved past Joe Paterno (86) for the most career wins against the AP Top 25 when he defeated thenNo. 22 Auburn on Nov. 28, 2020. The late Florida State legend Bobby Bowden ranks third all-time (82), while Alabama’s Paul “Bear” Bryant is fourth (66). Former Duke, Florida and South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier is fifth (64). Saban’s winning percentage against AP ranked teams (99-46, .683) tops Bryant (.592), Bowden (.557), Spurrier (.529) and Paterno (.512).
BEATING THE BEST: The Crimson Tide is 75-20 (.790) against the Associated Press Top 25 since the start of 2008. That record includes a 3-2 mark this season with the Tide’s 49-26 win at then-No.20 Arkansas on Oct. 1; a loss at then-No. 6 Tennessee on Oct. 15; a 30-6 win over then-No. 24 Mississippi State on Oct. 22; an overtime loss at then-No. 15 LSU on Nov. 5; and most recently a 30-24 win at then-No. 11 Ole Miss on Nov. 12.
DOMINATING THE AP TOP 25: Alabama’s win over then-No. 14 Miami in the 2021 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game last season was head coach Nick Saban’s 22nd career win by 25-plus points against a ranked opponent. Saban is the all-time leader for the most wins by 25-plus points in the Associated Press Poll era (since 1936), sitting just ahead of Bobby Bowden’s previous record of 20. Saban is also the NCAA record holder with 24 career wins of 20-plus points against AP top-15 opponents, including Alabama’s 27-6 win against No. 4 Cincinnati in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Dec. 31. An astounding 21 of Saban’s 24 career 20-plus point wins against AP top-15 opponents have come while at Alabama.
50-PLUS vs. RANKED OPPONENTS: Under head coach Nick Saban, Alabama has posted 50-plus points against Associated Press Top 25 teams on seven occasions, while three of those seven occasions came in 2020. The most recent instance came on Jan. 11, 2021 at the College Football Playoff National Championship Game when the Crimson Tide defeated then-No. 3/3/3 Ohio State, 52-24. Below is a look at Saban’s 50-plus point games vs. ranked teams.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
YOUNG ON THE ALABAMA CAREER LISTS: Despite being the starter for only 26 games, Bryce Young has made his mark on the Crimson Tide’s career passing lists. Below is a look at where Young ranked after the regular-season finale against Auburn.
TWO IN A ROW WITH 3K: Bryce Young has put together one of the most impressive stretches by an Alabama starting quarterback across the 2021-22 seasons. In his first campaign as the Crimson Tide’s starter in 2021, Young set the single-season record for passing yards at UA with 4,872. He followed that up by throwing for 3,007 yards across 11 starts during the 2022 regular season, one that saw him miss 1.5 games due to injury. The 3,007 yards marks just the eighth 3,000-plus yards passing season by a Crimson Tide quarterback and made Young the first signal-caller in Alabama history to produce multiple, and back-to-back, 3,000-plus yard seasons.
STARTING WITH A TOUCHDOWN: Junior quarterback Bryce Young has thrown for at least one touchdown pass across all 26 games that he has started for the Crimson Tide. Young’s touchdown pass to Jermaine Burton in the second quarter of the Tide’s Nov. 19 matchup with Austin Peay pushed him past Tua Tagovailoa for the most consecutive games with at least one touchdown pass in Alabama history.
BRYCE AGAINST THE BEST: Since stepping into the starting quarterback role to start the 2021 season, quarterback Bryce Young has elevated his game each time a ranked opponent has appeared on the Crimson Tide’s schedule. In 12 games against ranked teams, Young has posted an NCAA passer rating of 152.79 with an NFL rating of 106.33. He has thrown from 3,769 yards in 12 games for an average 314.1 yards per game with 30 touchdowns and six interceptions. Young is averaging 8.3 yards per attempt in the 12 games while completing 63.5 percent of his passes (287-452).
BRYCE MOVING THE CHAINS AS A RUSHER: Bryce Young has been credited with 46 rushes on the season for 195 net yards. Included in those 46 ‘rushes’ are the 16 times the junior quarterback has been sacked. On Young’s 30 carries where he has tucked the ball and run, he has accounted for 11 first downs and four touchdowns. He has accumulated 303 rushing yards on those 30 carries for 10.1 yards per carry average.
JALEN MATCHES MAC, NAMATH: Jalen Milroe made his first career start on Oct. 8 against Texas A&M and finished 12-of-19 for 111 yards and three touchdowns. His three touchdown passes matches Mac Jones (vs. Arkansas, 2019) and Joe Namath (vs. Georgia, 1962) for the second-most touchdown passes in the starting debut by an Alabama quarterback (since 1958). Only Bryce Young (vs. Miami, 2021) had more with his four against the Hurricanes last season.
RUSHING AGAINST THE AGGIES: Jalen Milroe rushed for 83 yards on 17 carries in his starting debut against Texas A&M on Oct. 8. Milroe’s 83 rushing yards are the most by a Crimson Tide quarterback in their starting debut since 1958. The previous high for rushing yards in a starting debut was 79 by Steadman Shealy at Georgia Tech to open the 1979 campaign.
MILROE STEPS IN: Redshirt freshman Jalen Milroe took over the reins at quarterback following an injury to Bryce Young early in the matchup at then-No. 20/19 Arkansas on Oct. 1. Milroe led the Tide to five touchdowns and 35 total points across his eight drives (not including drives at the end of each half). He finished his day 4-of-9 passing for 65 yards and a touchdown while adding six rushes for 91 yards and a score on the ground.
OPENING DRIVE TOUCHDOWNS: The Crimson Tide has won 50 of its last 51 games when scoring a touchdown on the first offensive possession of the game. The most recent instance came against Austin Peay on Nov. 19 when Jase McClellan found the end zone from one-yard out to open the day’s scoring. The Tide’s lone loss when scoring a touchdown on the opening drive during that stretch came at Texas A&M on Oct. 9.
SCORING STREAK CONTINUES: Alabama extended its school record for consecutive games with a score to 295 thanks to a five-yard rush by Bryce Young in the first quarter of the Iron Bowl on Nov. 26. The Tide was last held off the scoreboard in a 9-0 loss to Auburn on Nov. 18, 2000. Alabama owns a 237-58 (.803) record over the course of the current streak.
BALL PROTECTION: In the last 206 games (dating back to the start of the 2008 season), Alabama has turned the ball over only 222 times (120 fumbles, 102 interceptions) for an average of 1.08 turnovers per game. Since 2009, the Tide has turned the ball over only 204 times in 193 games (1.06/game). The 204 turnovers since 2009 includes 82 interceptions in 5,220 attempts (one interception every 63.7 attempts) by UA starting quarterbacks and 32 lost fumbles in 5,128 carries (one fumble lost every 160.3 carries) by the Tide’s top two running backs.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
KEEPING THE GROUND GAME IN-CHECK: The Crimson Tide defense limited Vanderbilt to a season-low 14 yards rushing in their Sept. 24 matchup and has kept seven of 11 total opponents below 80 yards in 2022. The Alabama defensive unit has limited 17 of its last 27 opponents (dating back to the 2021 season) to less than 100 yards rushing. The impressive stretch comes after the 2020 campaign that saw seven opponents go over 100-plus and the 2019 season where 11 opponents eclipsed the 100-yard marker. Both the 2020 and 2019 schedules were 13 games long.
THIRD DOWN DEFENSE: The Tide ranks second in the SEC and eighth nationally in third-down conversion defense at 29.4 percent (53-of-180). Below is a look at how each opponent has fared against the Alabama defense on third down this season.
TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS: Alabama has forced at least one turnover in 100 of the last 112 contests (dating back to the start of the 2015 season). During the current run, Alabama has forced 175 turnovers (111 interceptions, 64 fumbles) and returned 40 of those miscues for touchdowns.
HOLDING OPPONENTS UNDER 200: Alabama’s defense limited Vanderbilt to 129 yards of total offense on Sept. 24. That impressive effort marked the 58th time in the last 206 games (since the start of the 2008 season) that the Crimson Tide defense has held the opposition to fewer than 200 yards of total offense. Alabama has limited three opponents to sub-200 yards so far in 2022, including the season-low of 129 by the Commodores.
SHUTOUTS SINCE 2007: Since head coach Nick Saban arrived in 2007, Alabama has recorded 26 shutouts, including 12 in Southeastern Conference play. With its 34-0 win over Austin Peay on Nov. 19, the Crimson Tide defense has 12 more shutouts than its nearest competitor over that span. Ranking second in shutouts during that time is Ohio State with 14.
HARD TO FIND THE END ZONE AGAINST THE TIDE: Since the start of the 2009 season, no team has allowed fewer touchdowns than the Crimson Tide. Alabama has surrendered only 334 touchdowns over the last 193 games. That is 57 fewer than the second most in the nation (Wisconsin with 391).
TOUGH SLEDDING ON THE GROUND: Alabama’s defense has been a force in the run game since head coach Nick Saban’s arrival on campus. More recently, the Tide has given up just 78 rushing scores in the last 112 games (dating to the start of the 2015 season). Since Saban arrived in 2007, the Tide has allowed the fewest rushing touchdowns in the nation at 136, a total that is 36 fewer than second-place Iowa.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
50-PLUS FOR REICHARD: A 50-yard field goal from Will Reichard closed out the first-half scoring in Alabama’s 30-6 win over then-No. 24/24 Mississippi State on Oct. 22. The three-point make was the fifth for Reichard from 50 yards or better during his career and third this season. Reichard is tied with Leigh Tiffin (2006-09) for the second-most 50-yarders in an Alabama career. The Crimson Tide record holder is Van Tiffin
(1983-86) at seven, with the elder Tiffin using a kicking tee for the entirety of his career.
PATs FOR REICHARD: Will Reichard owns the Crimson Tide’s career record for made PATs. Entering this weekend’s Iron Bowl, Reichard has made 234-of-236 career PATs. The senior recorded nine PATs against ULM on Sept. 17 to move past the former record of 186 (188 attempts) by Adam Griffith from 2013-16.
REICHARD MOVING UP THE CAREER LISTS: Placekicker Will Reichard has been a consistent presence in the kicking game for Alabama during his time at the Capstone. Reichard ranks among the top-five with 61 made field goals and a school-record 417 kicking points. Below is a look at where Reichard currently ranks.
OPPOSING MARKSMEN: Opposing kickers have been near perfect against the Crimson Tide in 2022, hitting 14-of-17 field goals. Over the last four seasons, opponents are hitting 65-of-73 (89.0 percent) of their field goals against the Crimson Tide. That total includes a perfect 20-of-20 season in 2019.
McKINSTRY THE RETURNER: Kool-Aid McKinstry took on the Crimson Tide’s punt returner responsibilities this season and has excelled so far. The sophomore has totaled 317 yards on 20 punts to average 15.8 yards per return. His yardage total and 17.3 yards per return average each rank second among all Division I returners.
RACKING UP RETURN YARDS: Alabama’s punt return game has been an effective weapon for the Crimson Tide this season. The unit has amassed 420 return yards to lead the nation while averaging 16.8 yards per return, good for sixth in Division I.
SERIES NOTES
THE ALABAMA-KANSAS STATE SERIES: Alabama and Kansas State will meet for the first time in the history of the two programs. The Crimson Tide has squared off with eight of the current 10 programs that make up the Big 12, missing only Kansas and the Wildcats. In 27 games against Big 12 opponents, Alabama holds an 11-14-2 (10-14-2 NCAA) record. The Tide’s most recent pairing against a Big 12 team came on Sept. 10 of this season when UA traveled to Austin to take on then-No. 22 Texas. A late field goal by Will Reichard secured the 20-19 win for the Crimson Tide.
SABAN vs. KANSAS STATE: Alabama head coach Nick Saban has never faced Kansas State across his four stops as a collegiate head coach. Saban has only squared off with three current Big 12 programs – Oklahoma (2-1), Texas (2-1) and West Virginia (1-0). He holds a 5-2 overall record against those three schools, including a 4-1 mark during his time at Alabama.
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS NOTES:
Coming off a Big 12 Championship for the first time in 10 years, No. 9 Kansas State (10-3) sails into the Allstate Sugar Bowl seeking a school record-tying 11 wins when it meets No. 5 Alabama (10-2) for an 11 a.m. kickoff on December 31 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl marks the 24th bowl game for the Wildcats, who are advancing to a bowl for a third time in four years under head coach Chris Klieman, whose team is making its the New Year’s Six appearance in school history outside of appearances in the Cotton and Fiesta Bowls under the previous BCS format. The Sugar Bowl will mark K-State’s first trip to the Big Easy as the Wildcats face the Crimson Tide for the first time in history. K-State is looking to post back-to-back bowl victories in consecutive seasons for the third time in school history and the first since it won the 2016 Texas Bowl and 2017 Cactus Bowl. K-State is 10-13 in bowl games and comes off a 42-20 win over LSU in the 2021 Texas Bowl. The Wildcats are 3-2 all-time against SEC teams in bowl games. That includes a 35-21 win over Tennessee (2000), a 29-16 loss to Arkansas (2011) and a 45-23 loss to Arkansas (2015), a 33-28 win over Texas A&M (2016) and last year’s victory over LSU.
A LOOK AT THE WILDCATS
K-State reached double-digit victories for the first time since 2012 with a thrilling 31-28 overtime victory against No. 3 TCU in the Big 12 Championship Game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on December 3. That earned the Cats their third win over a top-10 opponent this season for the first time in school history. K-State overcame adversity and injuries during a season in which its was picked fifth in the Big 12. The Wildcats tossed outside expectations aside to record one of the most memorable regular seasons ever in Manhattan. K-State’s three losses were all against teams that finished ranked in the Top 25 of the College Football Playoff Poll. That included an early season 17-10 loss to eventual American Conference Champion Tulane. The Wildcats responded with a 41-34 win at then-No. 6 Oklahoma, then scored a 37-28 win over Texas Tech before posting a hard-earned 10-9 win at Iowa State. Although transfer quarterback Adrian Martinez and running back Deuce Vaughn emerged as the top quarterback-running back threat in the FBS, adversity struck when Martinez suffered an injury during a 38-28 loss at TCU on October 22. Junior quarterback Will Howard stepped in and didn’t miss a beat the remainder of the regular season, throwing 15 touchdowns and just two interceptions. Howard threw a school record-tying four touchdowns in a 48-0 win over then-No. 9 Oklahoma State, which marked the most-lopsided win ever by a ranked team over a higher ranked squad. The Wildcats bounced back from a 34-27 loss to then-No. 24 Texas to win their final three contests at Baylor (31-3) at West Virginia (48-31) and against Kansas (47-27) to clinch a berth in the program’s first Big 12 title game since 2003. Howard, who stepped in for injured Skylar Thompson in both 2020 and 2021, is slated to make his fourth start of the season against the Crimson Tide. He has completed 61.6% of his passes for 1,423 yards and 15 touchdowns and two interceptions to go along with three rushing touchdowns. Vaughn, who ranks second all-time in rushing (3,471 yards) in K-State history, heads into bowl season as the only active player in the FBS with 3,000 rushing yards and 1,200 receiving yards. Vaughn has 217 carries for 1,425 yards and eight touchdowns and ranks second on the team with 42 catches for 378 yards and three scores this season. He is one of just two players in the last 15 years to record 1,300 rushing yards and 300 receiving yards in multiple seasons. K-State has the luxury of three senior wide receivers who have taken turns generating big plays. Malik Knowles has 47 catches for 719 yards and two touchdowns, Phillip Brooks has 41 catches for 543 yards and four touchdowns, and Kade Warner has 41 catches for 408 yards and five touchdowns. The Wildcats have a valuable piece in All-Big 12 First Team tight end Ben Sinnott, who has 28 catches for 399 yards and four scores. Defensively, K-State held every FBS opponent under their season scoring average at the time that they played. Linebacker Austin Moore leads five defenders with at least 50 tackles – Moore (85 tackles), safeties Drake Cheatum (65), Josh Hayes (65) and Kobe Savage (58), and linebacker Daniel Green (56). However, the Wildcats’ biggest defensive threat is Walter Camp All-American defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, who has 44 tackles, including 11 tackles for loss, with 8.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Additionally, eight different players have recorded at least one interception for the Wildcats, who are tied for sixth nationally with 16 picks this season. Knowles averages 27.9 yards per kickoff return in his career to rank No. 1 in the FBS among all active players with at least 50 kickoff returns. Brooks averages 14.9 yards per punt return in his career to rank No. 1 nationally among all active plays with at least 50 punt returns. One of the Wildcats most valuable players this season has been senior Ty Zentner, who has handled punts, kickoffs and field goals. Zentner’s average of 44.72 yards per punt ranks second in school history. He averages 62.8 yards per kickoff with 49 touchbacks. He has made all nine of his field-goal attempts, including the 31-yard game-winner in overtime to lift the Wildcats to their Big 12 title.
A LOOK AT THE CRIMSON TIDE
No. 5 Alabama has appeared in the Sugar Bowl 16 times with a 9-7 record in those contests. Nick Saban, is 283-69-1 in his 16 seasons. He is 15-6 in postseason games at Alabama. Alabama won four of its last six games in the regular season with its two losses at Tennessee (52-49) and at LSU (32-31) coming on the final play. The Crimson Tide rank fourth in the FBS in scoring offense (40.8) and ninth in scoring defense (18.0). Bryce Young has completed 64.1% of his passes for 3,007 yards and 27 touchdowns and five interceptions. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs leads the team in both rushing attempts (136) and receptions (42). Gibbs has rushed for 805 yards and seven touchdowns and has 378 yards receiving and three scores. Linebacker Will Anderson Jr., won the Lombardi Award and Nagurski Trophy after recording 51 tackles, including 17.0 tackles for loss and 10 sacks with one interception and 12 quarterback hurries.
WILDCATS HEADED TO
ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL
• Fresh off a 31-28 victory over No. 3 TCU in the 2022 Big 12 Championship, Kansas State received its 24th bowl berth all time and third under head coach Chris Klieman as the ninth-ranked Wildcats will face No. 5 Alabama in the 89th annual Allstate Sugar Bowl on Saturday, December 31.
• Of K-State’s 24 total bowl appearances all-time, 22 of those have come in the last 30 seasons.
• The Wildcats hold a 10-13 record in bowl games and are looking to win their fourth bowl game in their last five appearances. It would be the first time in school history the Wildcats won four bowls in five tries.
• This will mark the eighth different state in which K-State has traveled to bowl games. The most frequent are Arizona (4-Copper/Insight/Buffalo Wild Wings/Cactus, 3-Fiesta) and Texas (3-Cotton, 3-Texas, 2-Alamo).
K-STATE IN LOUISIANA
• Kansas State is looking to turn around its fortune in the Pelican State as the Wildcats are 0-4 all-time in games played in the state of Louisiana.
• Included in that stretch is a 0-1 mark in New Orleans having lost at Tulane, 20-16, in 1988 inside the Superdome.
• K-State’s last game in the state of Louisiana came in 2009 when it lost to Louisiana, 17-15, on a last-minute field goal in Lafayette.
CATS AND CRIMSON TIDE
• Kansas State and Alabama will meet for the first time ever on the gridiron in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
• It will be just the sixth time the Wildcats have faced a team from the state Alabama, going 1-4 in the previous five games.
• The Wildcats defeated Troy at home in 2003, while they are 0-4 all-time against Auburn. The Tigers are the last team from the state of Alabama the Wildcats have faced, which came in a 20-14 setback at home in 2014.
K-STATE AND THE SEC
• K-State will be playing its 139th game all-time against current members of the SEC, but 107 of those meetings were against either Missouri or Texas A&M as Big Eight/12 foes.
• It marks the second-straight season the Wildcats will face an SEC team in bowl play and the fourth in the Wildcats’ last six bowl games. K-State has won each of its last two bowl meetings with SEC teams, defeating LSU in last year’s Texas Bowl (42-20) and Texas A&M in the 2016 Texas Bowl (33-28).
• Under head coach Chris Klieman, Kansas State is 3-0 against SEC opponents. The Wildcats won at Mississippi State, 31-24, in 2019, defeated LSU in last year’s Texas Bowl, and took down Missouri, 40-12, earlier this season.
BOWLING AGAIN
• In an era of college football where over 80 teams play in bowl games each year, K-State is one of just 19 Power 5 schools to advance to a bowl in 11 of the last 13 years.
• The Wildcats are one of four Big 12 teams to accomplish the feat, joining Baylor, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.
• Since 1993, Kansas State has advanced to 23 bowl games, which is tied for 16th nationally and fourth in the Big 12.
BIG 12 CHAMPS
• Kansas State earned its third Big 12 title with a 31-28 overtime victory over No. 3 TCU in the 2022 Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship on December 3.
• The victory was the second for the Wildcats in a conference championship game as they took down No. 1 Oklahoma, 35-7, in 2003.
• Kansas State earned its first conference title since finishing with an 8-1 record in 2012 as there was no conference championship game conducted that year.
• It was the fourth ever conference title for the Wildcats, who also won the Big Six in 1934 with a 5-0 record.
ONE OF THE BIG 12’S BEST
• Kansas State has been one of the best Big 12 teams since the inception of the conference in 1996. The Wildcats are third with 134 victories, trailing only Oklahoma and Texas.
• The Wildcats are also third in the conference in winning percentage since round-robin play began in 2011. They sit at 59.3% (64-44), trailing only Oklahoma (77.6%; 83-25) and Oklahoma State (64.8%; 70-38).
SEVEN CONFERENCE WINS
• K-State finished the regular season with a 7-2 mark in Big 12 play. It was the seventh time the Wildcats won seven conference games and the first time they hit that mark since 2014.
TRYING TO TIE A RECORD
• Kansas State will be in search of its 11th victory this season during the Sugar Bowl, which would tie a school record.
• The Wildcats have won 11 games on seven occasions, most recently in 2012. The Wildcats also won 11 games in 1997, 1998, 199, 2000, 2002 and 2003.
• Kansas State has already clinched its 11th season with double-digit victories. The other campaigns with 10 or more wins other than those listed above include 1910, 1995 and 2011.
QUICK STARTS
• Kansas State enters bowl season leading the Big 12 in first-half scoring (276 points) and ranking second in league in first-half scoring differential (+126).
• Second on the list in first-half points is TCU with 256, while Texas is close behind with 255.
• The Wildcats and Texas are the only two Big 12 teams with a first-half scoring differential of over 100 points.
TAKING DOWN TOP-10s
• K-State earned its third victory over an AP Top-10 team this season when it knocked off No. 3 TCU in the Big 12 Championship. It is the first time in school history the Wildcats have taken down multiple AP Top-10 teams in one season.
• Kansas State also defeated then-No. 6 Oklahoma, 41-34, in Norman on Sept. 24, while they shut out then-No. 9 Oklahoma State, 48-0, at home on Oct. 29.
• The Wildcats are now 6-3 in their last nine games against top10 teams dating back to Nov. 18, 2017, a span that began with a 45-40 victory at No. 10 Oklahoma State. Prior to that, the Cats were just 1-15 in their previous 16 tries.
• Under head coach Chris Klieman, the Wildcats have defeated five teams ranked in the top 10 by the Associated Press.
A WINNING HISTORY
• A proven winner with a championship history, Chris Klieman holds a 102-32 career record, as his 76.1% career winning percentage ranks third among current FBS coaches that are in at least their 10th season. He is also one of just 16 current Power 5 head coaches with at least 100 victories.
• Klieman, who is 30-19 since arriving at K-State, came to Manhattan after capping his fi ve-year stint as head coach at North Dakota State by winning his fourth national championship in 2018. He guided the 2018 Bison to a perfect 15-0 record.
• Klieman is 7-6 in his career against teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 with six of the victories coming at K-State.
TAKING CARE OF THE BALL
• A staple of K-State football over the past decade has been committing very few turnovers, as the Wildcats are second in the nation among Power 5 teams in fewest turnovers since 2012 (164).
• That figure leads the Big 12 as the Wildcats are 17 better than the next closest program (Oklahoma, 181).
• The Wildcats enter the bowl season ranked fifth nationally and tops in the Big 12 in turnover margin (+1.08 / game). They are plus-14 on the year with 24 takeaways and 10 turnovers.
• K-State has not finished in the top 10 nationally in turnover margin since 2016 when it finished fourth (+1.00 per game). The current turnover margin would be K-State’s best since it finished at +1.46 per game in 2012 to rank third nationally.
TOP-NOTCH DISCIPLINE
• K-State has been one of the most disciplined teams in the Big 12, ranking third with 43.2 penalty yards per game.
• The Wildcats have been under 40 penalty yards in eight contests and 30 yards or fewer four times.
CATS TOPS IN NON-OFFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS
• K-State is the nation’s best in non-offensive touchdowns over the last 23 seasons as it has 129 since 1999, seven more than the next closest team (Alabama – 122).
• Kansas State has three non-offensive scores this year. The Wildcats began the year with a blocked punt return touchdown by Desmond Purnell.
• The next week against Missouri, Phillip Brooks took a punt 76 yards for a score.
• Then, at West Virginia, Cincere Mason returned an interception 37 yards for a touchdown, the Wildcats’ first pick-6 since 2020.
• Of the 129 non-offensive scores since 1999, 43 have been punt returns, 40 interception returns, 33 kickoff returns, 11 fumble
returns and 2 missed/blocked field goal returns.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
SCORING SURGE
• K-State has averaged 38.7 points per game over the last six games, a mark that ranks fi rst in the Big 12 and ninth nationally among Power 5 schools.
• When looking at Big 12-only games, K-State ranked second in the league in scoring, averaging 35.2 points per Big 12 game.
• The Wildcats have scored at least 34 points seven times this season, their most since the 2015 campaign.
• K-State topped 45 points each of the final two weeks of the regular season – scoring 48 points at West Virginia and 47 points against Kansas. It was the fi rst time the Wildcats totaled at least 45 points in consecutive Big 12 games since scoring 55 in back-to-back games against West Virginia and Texas Tech in 2012.
TOTAL OFFENSE
• K-State totaled at least 375 yards in all nine conference games in addition to the Big 12 Championship. It marked the first time ever in Big 12 play (since 1996) that the Wildcats totaled at least 375 yard in every league game.
• Overall, the Wildcats have averaged 420.2 yards of offense, which currently ranks fifth in school history.
• With 280 yards in the Sugar Bowl, the Wildcats will rank second in school history in total offensive yards.
• K-State averaged 6.57 yards per play in Big 12 games, which was just 0.02 yards per play shy of first.
EFFICIENCY ON THE GROUND…
• The Wildcats enter the Sugar Bowl ranked 17th nationally and 11th among Power 5 teams with 209.6 rushing yards per game.
• This year’s squad has 2,725 rushing yards to rank fifth in school history, while their 5.14 yards per rush ranks third.
• The Wildcats had a season-high 343 rushing yards against Texas Tech, their most in a Big 12 game since posting 345 yards against Oklahoma State in 2016.
…AND THROUGH THE AIR
• Although the Cats do not air it out as much as their Big 12 brethren, they are efficient and have some explosive plays.
• K-State’s current 63.3% completion percentage ranks sixth in school history, while the Wildcats have thrown only four interceptions this season to rank fourth nationally. K-State’s current 1.13% interception clip is the lowest in school history.
• Additionally, K-State holds a team passing efficiency mark of 145.5 to rank eighth in school history.
• Since the Oklahoma State game in Week 9, the Wildcats hold a 156.8 passing rating to rank sixth among Power 5 teams and first in the Big 12.
WHERE THERE’S A WILL…
• Quarterback Will Howard has thrown for 15 touchdowns in his last six games played, tied for the most in five-consecutive games by a Wildcat in which they played (Ell Roberson, 2003).
• He enters bowl season ranked sixth in the Big 12 in passing touchdowns (15), tied for seventh in touchdowns responsible for (18) and 10th in total passing yards (1,423) despite only playing in six contests.
• Impressively, two of Howard’s games have come in relief, throwing for two scores at TCU and three more at Baylor.
• In Howard’s first start of the season – a 48-0 win at Oklahoma State – he tied the school record with four touchdown passes while also setting a career high with 296 passing yards.
• It was the first time a Wildcat had four passing touchdowns in a game since Jesse Ertz in the 2017 season opener against Central Arkansas, while it was the first against a Big 12 opponent since Jake Waters against Kansas in 2014.
• Each of his scoring strikes against the Cowboys came in the first half, marking the third time in school history a player had four in a half. The other two were by Michael Bishop (1997 vs. Northern Illinois) and Paul Watson (1988 vs. Louisiana Tech).
VERY EFFICIENT
• Will Howard enters the Sugar Bowl with a season passing efficiency mark of 162.2, which is currently the top mark in school history (minimum 100 attempts).
• Second on the list is Michael Bishop, who had a 159.6 mark in 1998.
• Howard’s 134.5 career pass efficiency rating is seventh in school history. That number has been given a big boost this year as he entered the season with a 114.1 mark.
VAUGHN BACK AT IT
• A First Team All-American, Deuce Vaughn ranks 11th nationally and second in the Big 12 with 1,425 rushing yards.
• Vaughn also ranks 10th nationally and second in the Big 12 in scrimmage yards (rushing plus receiving) per game at 136.9.
• A threat virtually every time he touches the ball, Vaughn has gone for at least 10 yards on 139 of his 745 career scrimmage touches (18.7%) and at least 20 yards 51 times (6.8%).
DEFENSIVE NOTES
A BIG TURNAROUND
• The K-State defense switched from a four-man front to a 3-3-5 alignment in 2021, and the change has paid off .
• In the 25 games since the defensive switch, the Cats are allowing just 20.5 points per game, which ranks 21st nationally and second in the Big 12. Additionally, they are allowing only 355.4 yards per game over that time, which ranks second in the league.
• Over the 2019 and 2020 seasons, K-State allowed 26.1 points per game and 401.6 yards.
LOCKDOWN DEFENSE
• K-State has held its opponent out of the end zone on four occasions this season, including three in Big 12 play.
• The last time the Wildcats did not surrender a touchdown in four games overall was 2002 (Western Kentucky, Louisiana-Monroe, Kansas and Missouri).
• The last time the Wildcats did give up a touchdown in three Big 12 games was 2001 (Kansas, Iowa State, Missouri).
STOUT IN THE SECOND HALF
• Kansas State’s second-half adjustments on defense have been masterful over the last six games as the Wildcats have only surrendered a combined 33-second half points against Oklahoma State (0), Texas (3), Baylor (0), West Virginia (6), Kansas (6) and TCU (18).
• For the season, K-State is allowing an average of just 8.5 points in second halves.
UNDER AVERAGE
• K-State held all of its Big 12 opponents this year under their season averages coming into the game.
• Since head coach Chris Klieman’s first year of 2019, the Wildcats have held 30 of their 37 Big 12 opponents under their season average at the time it faces the Wildcats.
PICK ME, PICK ME
• K-State has recorded 16 interceptions to rank sixth in the nation and tops in the Big 12. They have multiple interceptions in six games this year, carding four against Missouri and two apiece against Tulane, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Baylor and West Virginia.
• Five of the 16 interceptions have come from linebackers, the most from that position group for a season since 1998 when Jeff Kelly (3) and Mark Simoneau (2) combined for five.
THIRD/FOURTH DOWN DEFENSE
• A year after ranking 78th nationally and sixth in the Big 12 by allowing a 35.4% conversion rate on third down, K-State enters bowl season ranked 25th in the country and third in the conference with a 33.7% rate.
• The Wildcats have allowed their opponents to convert on third down under 50% of the time in 10 of 13 games this season, including the Big 12 Championship game when TCU was just 2-of15 on third downs.
• On fourth downs, K-State ranks 20th nationally by allowing a 39.4% clip, which is its lowest rate allowed since 2018 (37.5%).
KING FELIX
• After making a name for himself in 2021, Felix Anudike-Uzomah has kept things going in 2022 as he was named an All-American by multiple outlets and was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year by both the coaches and the Associated Press.
• A Lott IMPACT Trophy fi nalist and semifi nalist for the Bednarik and Rotary Lombardi awards, Anudike-Uzomah has 8.5 sacks this season to lead the Big 12 in total sacks, while he has a pair of forced fumbles to tie for third in the Big 12.
• A product of Kansas City, Missouri, Anudike-Uzomah has 20.5 career sacks to tie for sixth in school history. He also has eight career forced fumbles, as he is just one shy of the school record currently held by three others.
• Anudike-Uzomah is ranked 21st on the Pro Football Focus 2023 NFL Draft Big Board, which is impressive considering he came to K-State in 2020 ranked as the 114th-best weakside defensive end and 2,421st overall player (247Sports).
OLD FACE, NEW PLACE
• Safety Josh Hayes is in his sixth year of college football and third school after transferring in the spring from Virginia.
• However, Hayes, a product of Lakeland, Florida, reunited with head coach Chris Klieman and defensive coordinator/safeties coach Joe Klanderman in Manhattan after the trio were together at North Dakota State. Hayes played as a true freshman and sophomore in 2017 and 2018 under Klieman before he became the K-State head coach for the 2019 season.
• Hayes has played in 67 career games, which is tied for second in the nation among active FBS players and tops in the Big 12.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
SCORING IN THE THIRD PHASE
• One of the main reasons the Wildcats have been a successful program the last three decades is a knack for momentum-swinging plays in the return game.
• Since 2005 (18 seasons), the Wildcats have a combined 60 kickoff – and punt-return touchdowns, 21 more than second-place Alabama (39) and 26 more than the next closest Big 12 team (Oklahoma State – 34).
• Of the 60 total returns, a nation-leading 31 are on kickoff returns. The next closest team is San Diego State with 20.
• With two punt-return touchdowns this season, K-State has now tallied a punt-return score in every season since 2014, as the nine-year stretch is the longest in school history.
DEFENSE ON KICKOFF RETURNS
• Kansas State has not allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown since the 2013 season, going the last 380 returns without allowing opponents to find paydirt on a kickoff return.
• The streak is the longest in the Big 12, 31 more than the next closest team (TCU – 349).
• Since K-State allowed its last kickoff -return touchdown, the Wildcats have scored 14 of their own.
A TRIPLE THREAT
• Senior Ty Zentner handled both punting and kickoff duties for the Wildcats throughout the season, while he has been the primary place kicker in the last six games.
• Zentner is one of only three players in the nation – and the only one at a Power 5 school – to handle all three disciplines. The other two are Ryan Coe (Cincinnati) and Jack Browning (San Diego State).
ZENTNER GREAT AT PUNTING…
• Ty Zentner has taken advantage of his second senior season in 2022 as the 2022 All-Big 12 Second Team performer is trying to leave K-State near the top of multiple top-10 lists.
• A product of Topeka, Kansas, Zentner was named a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award. He enters bowl season ranked 17th nationally, second in the Big 12 and second in school history with a 44.7-yard average this season. Additionally, he is second in K-State history in career average (43.4).
• Those averages are held up by eight career games with an average of at least 45.0, including a 54.2-yard average against Missouri, which ranked as the second-highest punting average game in school history (minimum 4 attempts).
• Zentner, who held a 62.7-yard average on three punts against Kansas, boomed a career-long 72-yard punt. It is the longest punt in the Big 12 this season and the longest by a Wildcat since James Garcia hit a 78-yarder at Texas in 1998.
… AND PLACEMENTS
• Ty Zentner’s prowess as a punter is impressive considering that he has also handled placements over the last six games and continued to kick off .
• Since taking over placements starting with the Oklahoma State game, Zentner has gone 9-for-9 on field goals and 29-for-29 on extra points.
• His latest field goal will be remembered in K-State lore as it was a 31-yarder in overtime to send K-State to a 31-28 victory over No. 3 TCU in the Big 12 Championship.
• At West Virginia, Zentner hit a 53-yarder right before halftime, which was tied for the 10th-longest field goal in school history and one yard shy of the longest in the Big 12 this season.
• On kickoff s, Zentner has totaled 49 touchbacks on 82 attempts this year (59.8%), while he is 129-for-217 (59.4%) in his career.
KNOWLES WITH A KNACK
• Malik Knowles is the latest Wildcat with a knack for kickoff returns as he is tied for fourth in school history in career kickoff return touchdowns thanks to scores last year in back-to-back weeks at Oklahoma State and against Oklahoma in addition to one at Mississippi State in 2019.
• A product of Mansfield, Texas, Knowles currently ranks second in school history in career kickoff -return yards (1,674), tied for third in attempts (60), tied for fourth in touchdowns (3) and sixth in average (27.9).
BROOKS BACK IN THE END ZONE
• Phillip Brooks recorded his fourth career punt-return touchdown against Missouri, a 76-yarder en route to Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
• His 76-yard return is the 12th longest in the nation and second longest in the Big 12 this year.
• His four punt-return touchdowns rank second in school history and are tied for sixth in Big 12 history. He also ranks fifth in both punt-return yards (640) and average (15.2), while he is tied for ninth in attempts (42).
