This Week’s Schedule
Friday, September 29 CT
Cincinnati at BYU* (ESPN) 9:15 p.m.
Saturday, September 30
Baylor at UCF* (FS1) 2:30 p.m.
No. 24/24 Kansas at No. 3/5 Texas* (ABC) 2:30 p.m.
Houston at Texas Tech* (FS2) 2:30 p.m.
Iowa State at No. 14/14 Oklahoma* (FS1) 6:00 p.m.
West Virginia at TCU* (ESPN2) 7:00 p.m.
- Denotes Big 12 game.
All times listed as Central.
Rankings listed as AP/Coaches.
Conference News & Notes
The Big 12 has six conference contests this week including a Friday night ESPN matchup between Cincinnati and BYU, which is just the third game in history between the new league members. K-State and Oklahoma State each have a bye week.
For the third consecutive week, “Big 12 Homecoming” will take place on the campus of a new member. UCF is this week’s location Thursday-Saturday with three days of entertainment and community engagement as the Knights host Baylor.
The Big 12 is recognizing National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15-October 15 in celebration of the achievements, culture and diversity of the Hispanic community.
No. 3/5 Texas and No. 14/14 Oklahoma were joined by No. 24/24 Kansas and RV/No. 25 K-State in this week’s national polls. KU is ranked for the first time this season while K-State moved back into the coaches poll and was just one spot outside of the AP Top 25.
Big 12 defenses are allowing just 20.0 points per game, second among all leagues.
Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas are among the 27 undefeated teams.
TCU has a 10-game win streak in regular season conference games, dating back to Oct. 1, 2022, and is tied for second nationally with a seven-game unbeaten streak in overall road games.
The Big 12 had five sellouts in seven home games this past Saturday. Baylor Cincinnati, Kansas, K-State and TCU reached stadium capacity.
The Big 12 is tied for the nation’s lead with six of the 19 teams that are averaging 100% or over in home stadium capacity. TCU is second among all teams at 108.37 capacity followed by 5. Oklahoma (104.46), 6. K-State (103.95), 10. Cincinnati (101.85), 14. Baylor (100.56) and T19. Oklahoma State (100.0). All Big 12 teams are averaging over 88 percent capacity.
Oklahoma is the only team in the country that is in the top five in scoring offense (4. 46.8 ppg) and defense (2. 8.5 ppg).
Big 12 teams have scored nine non-offensive touchdowns through four weeks, led by Kansas and Oklahoma with two each. BYU, Houston, Iowa State, Texas and Texas Tech have one apiece.
Five Big 12 players are among the top 25 in rushing yards a game: 7. Emani Bailey (TCU), 120.8; 11. DJ Giddens (K-State), 105.8; 12. Tahj Brooks (TTU), 103.0); 18. Devin Neal (KU), 98.5; and 21. Jonathon Brooks (UT), 94.8.
The Big 12 finished regular season non-conference play at 30-12 (.714).
K-State RB DJ Giddens (offensive), Kansas CB Cobee Bryant (defensive), Houston RB Parker Jenkins (newcomer) and Iowa State kicker Chase Contreraz (special teams) picked up Big 12 football awards for Week 4. All
are first-time honorees.
Sophomore PK Isaiah Hankins has scored 135 points in his career, tied with Ryan Havens (2003-06) for 10th in Baylor program history.
BYU is one of eight teams nationally, including Oklahoma State, who are perfect on the season in red zone scoring. The Cougars are 15-of-15 with 12 touchdowns and three field goals.
UCF’s Kobe Hudson has surpassed 100 or more receiving yards in three consecutive games and five times in his career. He is the fifth player in program history to accomplish the feat and the only player in the Big 12 to have three consecutive 100+ receiving-yard performances this season.
UC’s Carter Brown recorded the first points for the Bearcats in a Big 12 conference game with a 40-yard field goal before hitting a career-long 54-yarder in the third quarter.
UH freshman running back Parker Jenkins matched a school record, becoming the 15th Cougar to rush for three touchdowns in a half and the first
since Alton McCaskill (Oct. 1, 2021).
Iowa State is one of five FBS programs (Mississippi State, Texas Tech, Washington, Washington State) with three players with 100 career receptions (Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, Dimitri Stanley).
Kansas held BYU to nine rushing yards on 22 attempts, an average of 0.4 yards per attempt. It’s the fewest rushing yards allowed by the Jayhawks since Sept. 12, 2009, when KU held UTEP to four rushing yards.
K-State registered 536 yards against UCF to mark the first time it has had two 500-yard games in the same season since 2019.
The Sooners held Cincinnati to 3-of-15 on third downs (20%) and 1-of-4 on fourth downs (25%) for a combined 4-of -19 (21%). OU has held each of its four opponents to a 42% or lower third-down conversion rate and has held three of four opponents below a 25% conversion rate.
Jaden Nixon’s 60-yard catch was the longest by a Cowboy running back since Joseph Randle’s 63-yard reception against Arizona on September 8, 2011.
Sonny Dykes is the fastest TCU head coach to 16 wins since Francis Schmidt was 16-0-2 in his opening 18 contests from 1929-30.
Texas has allowed only one touchdown and four field goals in the red zone this season, to tie for the second-best red zone defense percentage in the NCAA through four games.
CB Malik Dunlap became the first Red Raider to combine for three interceptions over a two-game stretch since Douglas Coleman III had the same total versus Oklahoma State and Baylor in 2019.
West Virginia posted a season-high 10 pass breakups, led by CB Beanie Bishop Jr. and S Marcis Floyd who each tallied three.
