This Week in the Big 12
Saturday, September 18
Nebraska at No. 3/3 Oklahoma (FOX) 11:00 a.m.
Series: OU 45-38-3
Last Meeting: OU 23-20 at the Big 12 Championship on 12/4/10.
No. 15/15 Virginia Tech at West Virginia (FS1) 11:00 a.m.
Series: WVU 28-23-1
Last Meeting: VT 31-24 in Landover, Maryland on 9/3/17.
Nevada at Kansas State (Big 12 Now on ESPN+) 1:05 p.m.
Series: First Meeting
Baylor at Kansas (Big 12 Now on ESPN+) 2:30 p.m.
Series: BU 16-4
Last Meeting: BU 47-14 in Waco on 9/26/20.
Florida International at Texas Tech (Big 12 Now on ESPN+) 6:00 p.m.
Series: TTU 1-0
Last Meeting: TTU 56-3 in Lubbock on 9/10/05.
Rice at Texas (LHN) 7:00 p.m.
Series: UT 73-21-1
Last Meeting: UT 48-13 in Houston on 9/14/19.
RV/No. 22 Oklahoma State at Boise State (FS1) 8:00 p.m.
Series: OSU 1-0
Last Meeting: OSU 44-21 in Stillwater on 9/15/18.
No. 14/14 Iowa State at UNLV (CBSSN) 9:30 p.m.
Series: ISU 4-1
Last Meeting: UNLV 34-31 (OT) in Las Vegas on 9/20/08.
All Times are listed as Central. Rankings are listed as AP/USA Today Coaches.
Conferences News & Notes
The first conference matchup of the season is scheduled this week with Baylor traveling to Kansas. Additionally, two non-conference storied rivalries are on tap with Nebraska traveling to No. 3/3 Oklahoma while West Virginia hosts No. 15/15 Virginia Tech.
Through two weeks of play, the Big 12 is 16-4 (.800) in nonconference games with three of the losses to other autonomy leagues and two to ranked opponents.
No. 3/3 Oklahoma and No. 14/14 Iowa State are ranked in both national polls. Oklahoma State is at No. 22 in the coaches ledger. TCU, Kansas State, Texas and Texas Tech received votes.
Sixty percent of Big 12 teams are ranked in the top 42 nationally for total defense, allowing less than 300 yards a game – 8. Iowa State (224.0), 15. K-State (254.5), 16. Baylor (258.0), 34. Oklahoma (287.0), 37. TCU (289.5) and 42. West Virginia (295.5).
The Big 12 is second among FBS conferences in scoring with an average of 34.2 points per game and is also second in fewest yards allowed to opponents with an average of 303.9.
The Big 12 has the toughest strength of schedule in the FBS based on the combined win percentage of its FBS opponents (.762). Big 12 players of the week were awarded to Zach Evans, TCU (offense), JT Woods, Baylor (co-defense), Malcolm Rodriguez, Oklahoma State (co-defense), LD Brown, Oklahoma State (special teams) and Felix Anudike-Uzomah, K-State (newcomer).
JT Woods set a school record with a 97-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of Baylor’s home opener, marking the first time since 2013 that the Bears scored a defensive touchdown in consecutive games.
Iowa State running back Breece Hall rushed for a touchdown for the 14th-straight game which is a school record, the best active streak in the nation and one shy of the Big 12 record (Corby Jones, Missouri, 1997-98).
Jason Bean became the first Kansas signal caller in 19 years to rush for more than 100 yards in a game (Bill Whittemore vs. Colorado, 2002). Bean rushed for 102 yards on 13 carries and scored two touchdowns against Coastal Carolina.
K-State converted on 5-of-6 of its red zone attempts against Southern Illinois. The Wildcats are 89-of-93 on red zone attempts under head coach Chris Klieman, and are the only team to rank in the top five in red zone efficiency in the previous two seasons (2019-20).
Oklahoma kicker Gabe Brkic made a 56-yard field goal (tied careerlong) for the second straight game. It was his school-record ninth career field goal of 50 or more yards (next most is four) and nation-leading eighth since the start of the 2020 season. It also marked his school record-setting 15th career field goal of 40 or more yards (broke a tie with R.D. Lashar).
Oklahoma State limited Tulsa to 4-of-13 on third down and has now held its opponent to less than 50 percent on third-down conversion rate in 13 straight games.
At 357 straight games, TCU has the second-longest current scoring streak and fourth all-time in NCAA history.
This Saturday against Rice will mark the first time Texas has played consecutive former SWC foes (Arkansas last week) in nonconference games since 2008. Texas Tech extended its non-conference home winning streak to 13 games and 38 out of 39 dating back to 2002. The Red Raiders have won 22 consecutive home openers.
West Virginia’s 66-0 win was its largest margin of victory since Nov. 3, 2001, and the most points scored in a game since Sept. 29, 2012. It was the first shutout for the Mountaineers since Nov. 21, 2015.
The 2021 Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship is scheduled for Saturday, December 4 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Over the summer, the Big 12 and Dallas Cowboys announced a two-year extension that will keep the Championship game at AT&T Stadium through the 2023 season. Tickets to this year’s contest are on sale through SeatGeek.com
