This Week in the Big 12
Saturday, September 28 Time
#22/22 BYU at Baylor
(FS1) 11 a.m. CT/10 a.m. MDT
THE SERIES:
BYU and Baylor are meeting for the fifth time and first time as members of the same conference. The series is even at 2-2. The Cougars won the last game, a 2022 contest in Provo that went to double overtime before BYU came out on top 26-20 in a defensive battle. In the last game in Waco, Baylor won 38-24 in 2021. BYU’s Gerry Bohanon was the quarterback of the Bears in 2021 and went 18 of 28 for 231 yards with one touchdown and one interception against the Cougars. Bohanon led the Bears to a Big 12 title and No. 5 final ranking in 2021 before transferring to USF and eventually to Provo.
BYU NOTES
CONFERENCE PLAY:
BYU is off to a 1-0 start in the Big 12. Last year, BYU finished 2-7 in league play so the Cougars have an opportunity to match their win total in the conference with a win at Baylor. The Bears also finished at 2-7 in the Big 12 in 2023.
COMPLETE GAME:
Against Kansas State, BYU scored touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams with a fumble return for a touchdown, a punt return for a touchdown and three offensive touchdowns. It was only the 7th time in school history for that to happen. The last time was Nov. 2, 1996 against the UTEP Miners when the Cougars had a picksix, a kick return for a touchdown and four other offensive touchdowns.
BAYLOR NOTES
STORY LINES:
• Baylor returns to McLane Stadium on Saturday to host No. 22/22 BYU at 11 a.m. on FS1. • The Bears are coming off a 38-31 loss at Colorado in a thrilling game that saw the Buffs use a hail mary to end regulation and force overtime and then featured BU fumbling while crossing the goalline with the game-tying OT touchdown, allowing Colorado to escape with the win. • The Bears are in the fifth year under Coach Dave Aranda, who in 2021 led the Bears to the best season in school history with a 12-2 record, a Big 12 Championship and the 2022 Sugar Bowl. Aranda directed the Bears to the Armed Force Bowl in 2022 and after a 3-9 season in 2023, has taken over defensive play calling duties. • Aranda taking over defensive play calling is his first time directing a defense since he established himself as one of the top defensive minds in football as the defensive coordinator at LSU, Wisconsin and Delta State. He is also directing the inside linebackers. • Baylor ranks among the NCAA’s top-40 in several categories, including punting (No. 1), pass defense (No. 20), sacks (No. 14) and total defense (No. 27). • Palmer Williams had the best game in program history for a punter, booting it six times at Utah – all over 50 yards – for a 62.7 yard average, including longs of 79 and 76 yards. He leads the nation with a 57.9 yard average. • The Bears have added several key members to its coaching staff, including new offensive coordinator Jake Spavital, associate head coach/running backs coach Khenon Hall, tight ends coach Jarrett Anderson, defensive line coach Inoke Breckterfield, inside linebackers coach Jamar Chaney and offensive line coach Mason Miller. • Since 2011, combined with football, and men’s and women’s basketball, Baylor leads the nation in wins, owning 46 more wins than the next closest program (UConn). • Baylor returns Caden Jenkins, who was named a second-team Freshman All-America cornerback in 2023 by The Athletic. Jenkins ranked second in the nation in freshman interceptions a year ago. He and safety Carl Williams IV both finished their 2023 seasons ranked among the nation’s top freshman corners by PFF. • Junior RB Richard Reese ranks 31st in program history in rushing yards and sits just three TDs shy of cracking the top-10 in rushing TDs in Baylor career history.
SCOUTING THE COUGS:
• BYU is led by Kilani Sitaki, a 2000 alum of the program who played in 1994, 1997-2000, who is in his ninth year leading the Cougs. Sitaki took over in 2016 after spending the 2015 season as the Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator at Oregon State. He previously worked in the same role at Utah from 2005-14, which followed two years at Southern Utah – working on the offensive side of the ball – and a year as the graduate assistant at BYU and working with DBs at Eastern Arizona in 2001. Sitake played for legendary BYU coach LaVell Edwards as a running back. He has led BYUU to winning seasons in six of his eight previous seasons, inclduing an 11-1 mark in 2020 and a 10-3 record in 2021. The Cougs have four bowl wins under Sitaki. • Jay Hill is the BYU Associate Head Coach, DC and safeties coach and came to BYU after serving as the head coach at Weber State from 2014-22. He previously was at Utah from 2005-13, which featured time as the tight ends, running backs and cornerbacks coach. Aaron Roderick is the OC and QB coach since 2021, is a former BYU WR that saw him serve as the passing game coordinator in 2018-20. Fesi Sitake is the passing game coordinator and WR coach, Kelly Poppinga is the special teams coordinator and coaches the DEs and TJ Woods coaches the offensive line and coordinates the run game. • Tom Holmoe has been the BYU AD since 2005 and has led the Cougs to an average Directors’ Cup finish of 36 during his 17 years. The 2020-21 NACDA AD of the Year, Holmoe played defensive back for BYU from 1978- 82 and returned to BYU as Associate AD for Development in 2001. A native of La Crescenta, Calif., he was an All-WAC player who went in the fourth round of the 1983 NFL Draft to the 49ers, playing seven years in the NFL with three Super Bowl Championships. He worked as a graduate assistant coach under Edwards in 1990-91, then went on to coach the defensive backs for Bill Walsh at Stanford for two seasons and the 49ers for two seasons. He was the defensive coordinator at Cal and later was the head coach from 1997-2001. Brian Santiago is the BYU Deputy AD, overseeing game management for football and basketball and marketing, communications and camps. He is the sport program admin for basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, tennis and golf. • BYU opened its conference schedule with a matchup at No. 13 Kansas State on Saturday in Provo. The Cougs opened up a 31-6 lead after a fumble and punt return for a touchdown midway through the third quarter, totaling 14 first downs, 92 rushing yards, 149 passing yards and 241 yards of total offense. • The Cougs started the season strong with a 41-13 win over Southern Illinois, an 18-15 win over SMU and a 34-14 win at Wyoming. • QB Jake Retzlaff has thrown for 990 yards with nine TDs and three interceptions, while former BU QB Gerry Bohanon has thrown for 27 yards off the bench. Retzlaff leads the team with 103 rushing yards, with Sione I Moa ranking second with 93 yards. Chase Roberts has caught 17 balls for 310 yards and a score. Defensively, Harrison Taggart has 25 tackles, Jack Kelly has three sacks and five Cougs have an interception each. • As a team, BYU is averaging 32.8 points per game, allowing only 12.8. BYU averages 390.5 yards of total offense, 254.3 yards passing and 136.3 rushing. Opponents are only gathering 269 yards of offense, with 136.3 on the ground and 132.8 passing.
LAST MEETING:
• Baylor hit the road for its first test away from McLane Stadium in 2022 and fell in a two-overtime thriller at No. 21/25 BYU, in front of 63,470 at a rocking LaVell Edwards Stadium. • The Bears battled the Cougars in a matchup of two future Big 12 Conference foes in an electric atmosphere in Provo. BU took its first lead on a Qualan Jones TD rush – his first of two on the night – but after a missed PAT, the Cougars used an eight-play, 75-yard drive to conclude the half with a 10-6 lead. BU answered with a second-half opening drive of 77 yards for a 13-10 lead, and the teams traded TDs in the third and fourth quarters to take a 20-20 game into the final seconds, where BYU kicker Jakye Oldroyd missed a potential game-winning field goal. • Both teams missed field goals – including the potential walk-off winner from Oldroyd – in the first OT period and BYU punched it in to open the second OT but missed the two-point conversion try. Baylor then used 11 plays in its game-tying or game-winning bid on its possession, with Blake Shapen’s fourth-down throw sailing high to allow the Cougars to escape with the win. • BYU threw for 283 yards and rushed for 83, while Baylor rushed for 152 yards and threw for 137 in the loss but were handcuffed by 14 penalties for 117 yards. Craig Williams totaled 68 yards rushing on 17 carries, Jones had 67 yards on 16 carries and Shapen threw for 137 yards and a score to Ben Sims.
LAST MEETING IN WACO:
• In the matchup in 2021, the Bears posted a 38-24 win over No. 19/20 BYU in Waco to improve to 6-1 on the year, earning bowl eligibility for the 10th time in the last 12 years. BU owned a 31-14 lead after three quarters, rolling to 534 yards of total offense, including 303 on the ground and 231 through the air. The Bears fell behind 7-3 before scoring 14-straight to take an advantage that wouldn’t be relinquished. • Baylor was led by a unique game from linebacker Dillon Doyle, who came in on offense to catch and rush for a touchdown, while also recording a sack, becoming the first player in program history to accomplish that feat. BU also got 231 yards passing from now-BYU QB Gerry Bohanon, 188 yards over 17 carries from Abram Smith and 95 yards on 11 carries from Trestan Ebner. Jaren Hall threw for 342 yards and rushed for 25 yards on eight carries for BYU. • Baylor did not have a penalty that was accepted for the first time in program history, stretched its win streak to six games in non-conference play and totaled five sacks for a second straight game.
#20/20 Oklahoma State at #23/25 K-State
(ESPN)11 a.m. CT
The Series:
Saturday’s game marks the 71st overall meeting between Oklahoma State and Kansas State in a series that dates to 1908. The 2024 season also marks the 15th consecutive year the teams have played. OSU holds a 43-27 all-time advantage in the series, including a 19-18 edge in games played in Manhattan. The Cowboys have won 10 of the past 15 meetings in the series, as well as four of the past five. OSU has also won two of the past four games played in Manhattan. Coach Mike Gundy is 10-6 in his career against K-State, while KSU coach Chris Klieman is 1-4 against the Cowboys.
OKLAHOMA STATE NOTES
The Basics:
The Oklahoma State football team (3-1 overall; 0-1 Big 12) travels to Manhattan, Kansas, this week to face Kansas State (3-1 overall; 0-1 Big 12) in the Cowboys’ first conference road game of 2024. Kickoff at Bill Snyder Family Stadium is set for 11 a.m. CT on ESPN.
On the Air:
The game will be televised on ESPN with Bob Wischusen, Louis Riddick and Kris Budden on the call. It will also be carried live on the Cowboy Radio Network, with Dave Hunziker handling play-by-play, John Holcomb providing analysis and Robert Allen reporting from the sideline. Fans outside of the Cowboy Radio Network can listen to the OSU broadcast for free through The Varsity Network app. The game will also be broadcast live on national radio via Westwood One, with Nate Gatter and Derek Rackley on the call.
In the Rankings:
The Oklahoma State football team is ranked No. 20 in the Associated Press poll and No. 20 in the US LBM Coaches Poll. It continues a run of OSU being ranked in every season since 2008. Including the 2024 season, Oklahoma State has been ranked in the top 15 of the Associated Press poll in 15 of the past 17 seasons and has reached the top 10 in 11 of those 17 years. Although the first College Football Playoff rankings won’t be released until November 5, it’s worth noting that OSU has been part of the CFP rankings in eight of the past nine seasons entering 2024. The Cowboys have also been included in 43 of the 60 all-time CFP Rankings, which is tied for the eighth-most appearances in the country. Kansas State is ranked No. 23 in the AP poll and No. 25 in the coaches poll.
Oklahoma State from a Distance:
Oklahoma State is 3-1 after its first setback of the 2024 season, falling by three points in a top 15 matchup against Utah last week. Now the Cowboys look to bounce back while facing another AP Top 25 team in their first Big 12 road game of the 2024 season. It marks the first team OSU has faced back-to-back ranked teams since the midway point of the 2022 season. The biggest standout of the season so far has been safety Trey Rucker, who leads all Power Conference players in both total tackles (53) and solo tackles (29) and is sixth in that group with two total interceptions. Preseason All-America linebacker Nick Martin ranks sixth among Power Conference players with 6.5 tackles for loss this season and his 39 total tackles are also sixth in that group. They lead an OSU defense that leads the Big 12 in red zone defense, tackles for loss, turnovers gained and interceptions. Nationally, the Cowboys rank 13th, 14th, 15th and 18th in those statistics, respectively. Oklahoma State is led offensively by wide receiver Brennan Presley, who has a receiving touchdown in every game this season; quarterback Alan Bowman, who ranks among the FBS top 15 in passing yards, passing touchdowns and points responsible for; and running back Ollie Gordon II, who won the 2023 Doak Walker Award and received more votes for the Heisman Trophy than any other back last season. As a team, OSU is No. 15 in the FBS in passing offense and No. 6 in sacks allowed with just one. On special teams, kicker Logan Ward is 8-for-10 on field goal attempts this season with a long of 52 yards and his 2.0 made field goals per game rank No. 9 in the nation. Punter Wes Pahl would also rank second in the nation in yards per punt if he had enough punts to qualify for the NCAA rankings.
Continued Success:
• Entering 2024, Oklahoma State has made 18th consecutive bowl appearances and secured 18 consecutive winning seasons, both school-record streaks. OSU’s bowl streak is the sixth-longest active streak in the FBS, and the is longest active streak for any school with the same head coach. • Mike Gundy has coached the Cowboys to five New Year’s Six bowl games since the 2009 season. The Pokes appeared in the 2010 Cotton Bowl, the 2012 Fiesta Bowl, the 2014 Cotton Bowl, the 2016 Sugar Bowl and the 2022 Fiesta Bowl. • Since 2010, Oklahoma State has eight seasons with at least 10 wins, an outright Big 12 title (2011), a share of the Big 12 South title (2010) and two more appearances in the conference championship game. OSU reached the top 10 of the Associated Press poll in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021 and 2022. • Oklahoma State is one of only four teams to post a winning season every year since 2010, joining Alabama, Boise State and Wisconsin. It is one of only two Power Five teams with winning seasons each of the past 18 years, joined by Wisconsin. • Including 2024, Oklahoma State has been ranked in the top 15 of the Associated Press poll in 15 of the past 17 seasons and reached the top 10 in 11 of those 17 years. • Entering 2024, OSU has finished in the top three of the Big 12 in four of the past five seasons and has finished in the top three 10 times in the 13 seasons since the conference moved away from divisions.
An Oklahoma State Win Would …
• Give it wins in 13 of its past 17 and in 26 of its past 33 games following a loss. • Mark Mike Gundy’s 41st career win vs. an AP Top 25 opponent. No other active coach has more. • Make it 3-2 in its past five road games against AP-ranked teams. • Make it 11-7 in its past 18 road games. • Make it 4-1 or better for the seventh time in the past eight years and for the 14th time in the Mike Gundy era. • Give it wins in 12 of its past 15 games. • Make it 11-5 in its past 16 and 20-10 in its past 30 games vs. AP-ranked teams. • Make it 11-7 in its past 18 games when both teams are ranked in the AP Top 25. • Make it 161-75 in its history when playing as an AP-ranked team. • Improve Mike Gundy’s record in September games to 59-15. • Improve Mike Gundy’s record in Big 12 games to 103-64 and move him to one game away from tying Bill Snyder for the second-most Big 12 wins in conference history. • Improve its all-time record vs. Kansas State to 44-27 and its record vs. KSU in Manhattan to 20-18. • Give it wins five of the past six and 11 of its past 16 games against K-State. • Give it wins in three of its past five trips to Manhattan. • Improve Mike Gundy’s record against Kansas State to 11-6. • Make it 35-13 in its past 48 games overall, dating back to the 2020 season.
KANSAS STATE NOTES
THE TOP 5
K-State is looking to bounce back from a tough road defeat at BYU as the 23rd-ranked Wildcats return home to face No. 20 Oklahoma State on Saturday inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The Wildcats’ Big 12 home opener will kick at 11 a.m., and be broadcast on ESPN with Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Louis Riddick (analyst) and Kris Budden (sideline) on the call.
In the midst of his first season as the starting quarterback, Avery Johnson has completed 61.1% of his passes (58-of-95) for 620 yards and six touchdowns. He has rushed for 261 yards on 39 carries, including a 110-yard eff ort against Arizona. He was the fifth sophomore signal caller – and just the second true sophomore – to start a season opener since 1990 when he did so against UT Martin.
Alongside Johnson in the backfield is running back DJ Giddens, who has rushed for 417 yards and a touchdown on 68 carries to go along with seven receptions for 69 yards and another score. Sophomore Dylan Edwards has also burst onto the scene, averaging 8.5 yards per carry on 21 attempts. Edwards has two rushing touchdowns, one receiving score and a 71-yard punt return score in four games.
The experience of the Wildcats resides on defense as the unit brought back eight starters from last year, including five of its top six tacklers from a year ago. Ten Wildcats have recorded 10 or more total tackles through four games led by Austin Romaine’s 27. Brendan Mott has 4.0 sacks to tie for 12th nationally and second in the Big 12. As a unit, the Cats have 31 tackles for loss and 12 sacks on the year.
Kicker Chris Tennant is back for his senior campaign and enters this week’s contest in the top 10 in school history in six career categories. The Wildcats’ new punter, Simon McClannan, has averaged 43.4 yards per punt this season and landed three inside the 20-yard line. Additionally, a plethora of options are available at both kickoff and punt return, including Edwards.
BIG 12 HOME OPENERS:
• K-State holds a 17-11 record all-time in its initial Big 12 home game of the season. • Under head coach Chris Klieman, K-State is 3-2 in Big 12 home openers, including wins in each of the last two seasons. • Last year in its Big 12 opener, running back DJ Giddens ran for 207 yards and four touchdowns in addition to catching eight passes for 86 yards in K-State’s 44-31 victory over UCF.
ON A GOOD RUN:
• K-State is riding a streak of three-straight years of at least eight wins, its longest since 2011 (10), 2012 (11), 2013 (8) and 2014 (9). • The Wildcats are the only returning Big 12 team with at least eight wins in each of the last three seasons and one of 13 Power 4 programs to claim that feat. • K-State has 30 wins since 2021, which ranks third among active Big 12 teams behind Oklahoma State and Utah with 32 wins apiece.
NEW OPPONENTS:
• K-State was more busy than usual scouting the opponents on its schedule during the spring and summer months as the Wildcats are only playing four foes from last year’s schedule – Houston, Iowa State, Kansas and Oklahoma State – in 2024. • It is the Wildcats’ fewest amount of carryover opponents from one year to the next since only three rematches from the 1918 season to the 1919 season (Baker, Kansas and Iowa State). • Additionally, half of the Wildcats’ schedule is against teams in which they have not faced in at least 10 years, if ever. Those are UT Martin (First Meeting), Arizona (1978), BYU (1997), Colorado (2010), Arizona State (2002) and Cincinnati (1996).
OFFENSIVE NOTES
NEW OFFENSIVE STRUCTURE:
• K-State’s offense has new faces at the front of room as Conor Riley, the offensive line coach the last five seasons, will call plays for the first time in his career, while K-State hired former Utah State and Texas Tech head coach Matt Wells to serve as co-offensive coordinator, QB coach and associate head coach. • Riley was the interim offensive coordinator in K-State’s 28-19 victory over NC State in the 2023 Pop-Tarts Bowl, a game in which the Wildcats amassed 257 rushing yards and 435 total yards on a Wolfpack defense that entered bowl season ranking No. 16 and No. 25 in those categories, respectively. • Wells, who boasts nine years of head coaching experience, came to Manhattan after spending the last two years at Oklahoma as an advisor to head coach/offensive analyst. In addition to coaching quarterbacks during his 27-year coaching career, Wells has also spent time tutoring wide receivers and tight ends.
TOTAL OFFENSE:
• K-State has totaled at least 375 yards of offense in 25 of the last 31 games dating back to the beginning of the 2022 season. During that stretch, the Cats held a 10-game streak against Big 12 foes with 375 or more yards, the longest in school history.
TWENTY-EIGHT IS GREAT:
• K-State had scored 28 or more points in 11-straight games dating back to last season prior to last week’s loss at BYU. It was the longest streak of 28-point games since the 1998-99 seasons when the Cats did so in 16 consecutive games.
RUSHING ATTACK:
• Kansas State is averaging 240.3 yards per game on the ground this season, a figure that ranks 15th nationally and second in the Big 12 Conference. • The Cats have rushed for 215 yards or more in each game this season, including 283 yards in the opener against UT Martin. • Four players have had at least 10 rushing attempts and each average at least 5.0 yards per carry.
RED ZONE SUCCESS:
• K-State was one of the nation’s leaders in turning red-zone trips into touchdowns during the 2023 season, as the Cats ranked second nationally by finding paydirt on 78.46% percent of their red-zone possessions (51-of-65). • K-State just narrowly finished behind Oregon State by 0.11% and would have led the nation had the Cats not been in the red zone when taking a knee to close out the Pop-Tarts Bowl win. • The 2024 season opened with a continuation of red-zone success under Chris Klieman, as the Wildcats rank first among active Big 12 programs by scoring on 90.6% (240-of-265) of their overall red-zone trips since 2019 with 177 touchdowns.
GROUND AND POUND:
• DJ Giddens produced the 19th 1,000-yard rushing season in school history last year and did so on 223 carries to rank eighth in school history in yards per rush (5.50). • It was the third-straight season K-State had a 1,000-yard rusher, the first time doing so since 2009-11 and the first time by running backs since 2001-04. • A native of Junction City, Kansas, Giddens holds a career rushing average of 5.69 yards per carry to rank third in school history behind Darren Sproles (6.11; 2001-04) and Alex Barnes (5.71; 2016-18).
DEFENSIVE NOTES DEFENSIVE SWITCH PAYS OFF:
• Since the K-State defense switched from a four-man front to a 3-3-5 alignment at the beginning of the 2021 season (44 games), the Cats are allowing just 21.1 points per game, which ranks 22nd nationally and is third among active Big 12 teams. • After allowing 21.0 points per game in 2021 and 21.9 points per game in 2022, K-State surrendered only 21.0 points per game in 2023. It was the first time the Wildcats strung together three-straight seasons allowing less than 22.0 points per game since going 13-straight years from 1991 to 2003. • The Wildcats currently are allowing 19.5 points per game this season, which is tied for 46th nationally.
BEHIND THE LINE:
• K-State recorded 11 tackles for loss in each of the first two games this season and currently ranks tops in the Big 12 and 14th nationally averaging 7.8 per game through four games. • The Wildcats have also totaled 12 sacks over the first four contests as they are tied for the Big 12 lead and tied for 14th nationally. • The leader in the sack department is Brendan Mott, who is tied for 12th nationally and second in the Big 12.
UNDER AVERAGE:
• K-State held each of its Big 12 opponents in 2022 and six of nine in 2023 under its season averages. • Since head coach Chris Klieman’s first year of 2019, the Wildcats have held 35 of their 45 Big 12 opponents under their season average at the time it faces the Wildcats. • Arizona came to Manhattan averaging 42 points per game, and, after scoring on its opening drive of the game, Arizona did not score again as the Cats took a 31-7 win.
CREATING TURNOVERS:
• K-State has totaled 67 forced turnovers since the beginning of the 2021 season, which is the second most among active Big 12 teams and tied for 12th among Power 4 teams. • Of the 67 turnovers, 42 have been via interceptions to rank first among active Big 12 programs and 15th among Power 4 teams.
THIRD DOWN STOPS:
• K-State did not allow any of its 13 opponents in 2023 to convert on greater than 47% of its third-down attempts, while the Wildcats have held opponents under 50% in 27 of the last 30 games dating back to the beginning of the 2022 season. • K-State finished the 2023 campaign ranked 11th nationally by allowing opponents to convert on just 30.0% of its third downs. • The Cats surrendered five or fewer third-down conversions in each of their final seven regular-season games against Texas Tech (4), TCU (2), Houston (3), Texas (2), Baylor (4), Kansas (5) and Iowa State (3). • K-State’s 54 third-down conversions allowed last year tied for the 12th fewest in the nation and ranked second in the Big 12.
DEFENSIVE RED ZONE SUCCESS:
• The Cats were stingy when opponents entered the red zone in 2023 as they allowed touchdowns just 39.39% of the time (13- of-33), the second-best mark in the nation. The 13 touchdowns allowed also tied for the second fewest in the nation. • It was a dramatic improvement from the previous season when K-State ranked 108th with 67.5% of opponents’ red-zone trips resulting in touchdowns (27-of-40).
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP:
• Kansas State’s third phase this season is now under the direction of special teams quality control coach Nate Kaczor, who has served as an NFL special teams coordinator for 11 years. • A native of Scott City, Kansas, Kaczor is a 33-year coaching veteran who coached return and coverage units in addition to specialists for Tennessee, Tampa Bay and Washington. • The addition of Kaczor took on an added importance as, in June, the NCAA adopted a new rule in which any staff member may provide technical and tactical instruction to student-athletes during practice and competition.
SCORING IN THE THIRD PHASE:
• The Wildcats continue to lead the nation in total return touchdowns since 2005 with 62, which is 22 more than the next closest team in Alabama (40) and 27 more than the next closest Big 12 program in Oklahoma State (34). • Of the 62 total returns, a nation-leading 31 are on kickoff returns, and the next closest team is Houston with 21. • The 2023 season marked the first time since 2004 in which the Wildcats did not score via a kickoff or punt return, but the Wildcats got off the schneid with a blocked punt that was returned for a score against UT Martin and a 71-yard punt return touchdown against Arizona.
BLOCK PARTY:
• K-State totaled three blocked kicks in 2023 to rank 10th in the nation and added one in the 2024 season opener. • Last year was the second time under head coach Chris Klieman that the Wildcats had at least three blocks as they had four in 2020 to tie for fourth nationally. • K-State blocked an extra point last year at Kansas that was returned 91 yards for a defensive extra point by Keenan Garber, Marques Sigle blocked a fi eld goal at Oklahoma State, and the Wildcats also blocked a punt at Texas.
SEVEN STRAIGHT:
• Kansas State’s blocked punt against UT Martin marked the seventh-straight season the Wildcats blocked a punt, the longest streak in the nation. • San Diego State is second at six-straight years, while Oregon and Iowa State are tied for third at five-straight years.
NEW MAN BACK DEEP:
• Sophomore transfer Dylan Edwards made a splash on just his third punt-return attempt of the season as he took one 71 yards for a touchdown against Arizona. • It was the Wildcats’ first non-blocked punt-return touchdown since the second game of the 2022 season. • He became the first K-State running back to record a punt-return touchdown since Darren Sproles took one back 63 yards against Kansas in 2003, while it was the longest by a K-State running back since David Allen had a 74-yarder at Texas in 1999. • For his effort against Arizona, Edwards was named the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week.
DEFENSE ON KICK RETURNS:
• K-State has not allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown since the 2013 season, going the last 131 games and 431 returns without allowing its opponent to find paydirt. • The streak is the longest among the active Big 12 teams, 274 more than the next closest team (Arizona State – 157). • Since K-State allowed its last kickoff -return touchdown, the Wildcats have scored 14 of their own.
TCU at Kansas
(ESPN+) 2:30 p.m. CT
SERIES HISTORY:
• Since beginning Big 12 play in 2012, TCU is 10-1 versus Kansas. • The last meeting took place in 2022 with ESPN’s College GameDay in Lawrence. Max Duggan hit Quentin Johnson on a 24-yard scoring pass with 1:36 to play to give TCU a 38-31 victory. • The Horned Frogs hold a 26-9-4 lead over the Jayhawks in a series that began with a 41-6 TCU win in Fort Worth in 1942. • TCU is 2-0-2 in the four games (1944-47) played against the Jayhawks in Kansas City, 12-7 in Lawrence and 12-2-2 in Fort Worth. • A 20-6 victory at Kansas in 2012 marked the Horned Frogs’ inaugural Big 12 game.
TCU NOTES
THE DYNAMIC DUO
• TCU quarterback Josh Hoover ranks third in the FBS in passing yards (1,418) while tying for seventh in touchdown passes (11). • Hoover’s 68.5 completion percentage is on pace to break TCU’s season record. 4Hoover has passed for at least two touchdowns in seven consecutive games. • Hoover had a streak of 147 passes without an interception, ranking second all-time at TCU. • Wide receiver Jack Bech leads the Big 12 and is fourth nationally with 516 receiving yards. He has topped 100 yards in three of four games, including a 200-yard effort against UCF that ranks third among Power Four Conference players this season. • Bech is on pace for 1,548 receiving yards which would shatter TCU’s season record of 1,327 set by Biletnikoff Award finalist Josh Doctson in 2015.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
THE PICKLESS STREAK:
• Josh Hoover began the season with 143 pass attempts before throwing his first interception. It was the longest streak in the nation. • Dating back to his final four passes in 2023, Hoover’s 147 attempts without a pick was second-longest in TCU history (154, Jeff Ballard, 2006).
THE TD MAKER:
• Josh Hoover has passed for at least two touchdowns in seven consecutive games and in eight of 10 career starts. During that span, Hoover has four games with three or more touchdowns and three contests of four scoring tosses. • Hoover’s four touchdown passes against UCF tied a career-high set last year against BYU in his first career start and at Oklahoma.
ON TARGET:
• Josh Hoover’s 14 consecutive completions against LIU tied a TCU single-game record set by Jeff Ballard against San Diego State in 2006. • Hoover’s 14 straight completions also tie for second overall at TCU, behind only the 16 by Casey Pachall spanning the 2011 Poinsettia Bowl win over Sonny Dykes and Louisiana Tech and the 2012 season opener versus Grambling State.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
STRONG STARTS:
• TCU is allowing 326.8 yards per game defensively, an improvement of 81.5 over last season: Year Yards Per Game Allowed 2023 408.3 2024 326.8
• The 326.8 yards per game is the lowest total allowed by a TCU defense through the opening four games since 2019, when it surrendered 246.0 over the same period.
• TCU is on pace for its best overall defensive performance since 2012, when it allowed 323.9 yards per game for the season.
THE PICK ARTISTS:
• Nose tackle Tymon Mitchell and linebacker Namdi Obiazor are tied for the team lead in interceptions with one. They also represent the first career picks for both.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
BLOCK THAT KICK:
• TCU is tied for the national lead in blocked kicks
• TCU blocked three kicks against UCF, the most on record for a game in program history. 4 Caleb Fox and LaMareon James blocked field goals, while Bud Clark got his hands on an extra-point attempt versus the Knights.
• The last previous school to block three kicks in a game was Oklahoma State (2 field goals, 1 PAT) in its 2023 season opener against Central Arkansas. Before OSU, it was Miami (Fla.) blocking three field goals at Clemson in 2020.
• TCU blocked kicks in each of its opening two games last season.
• Against Nicholls, a block by Trent Battle and 24-yard return by Blake Nowell gave TCU its first blocked punt for a touchdown since Antonio Graves against New Mexico in 2011.
• Battle had TCU’s first blocked punt since Carter Ware versus Texas Tech in 2020.
• In last year’s Colorado game, Namdi Obiazor recorded TCU’s first blocked field goal since Ochaun Mathis against West Virginia in 2021.
KANSAS NOTES
The Kansas Jayhawks return home and will take on the TCU Horned Frogs on Saturday, Sept. 28 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The game is the first of four to be played at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium for the Jayhawks, after playing their home non-conference slate at Children’s Mercy Park, home of the MLS’ Sporting KC. Saturday’s game vs. TCU serves as Kansas’ first matchup against a Big 12 Conference opponent at home this season, while also serving as Family Weekend.
Saturday’s game vs. TCU is Kansas’ third home game of the season and first at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, as Kansas gets set to host TCU (Sept. 28), Houston (Oct. 19, Homecoming), Iowa State (Nov. 9) and Colorado (Nov. 23) during the 2024 season. All six of Kansas’ home games during the 2024 season are being played in the Kansas City area while construction continues on the transformational University of Kansas Gateway District.
Kansas (1-3, 0-1 Big 12) enters Saturday’s matchup following a 32- 28 defeat at West Virginia on Saturday, Sept. 21 in Morgantown. In the loss, Kansas rushed for 247 yards and three rushing touchdowns, including scores from senior running back Devin Neal, redshirt junior running back Daniel Hishaw Jr., and senior wide receiver Luke Grimm. Defensively, the Jayhawks forced two takeaways with interceptions by All-Big 12 Conference cornerbacks senior Cobee Bryant and Mello Dotson. Kansas held an 11-point lead late in the fourth quarter before West Virginia mounted a pair of touchdown drives to defeat Kansas in its Big 12 Conference opener.
TCU (2-2, 0-1 Big 12) is coming off a 66-42 defeat at the hands of SMU in the Battle for the Iron Skillet on Saturday, Sept. 21 in Dallas. The Horned Frogs passed for 415 yards, including 396 yards and three touchdowns from sophomore quarterback Josh Hoover. Hoover connected with wide receivers Jack Bech and Eric McAlister for over 100 yards a piece, while SMU benefitted from three rushing touchdowns from running back Brashard Smith. TCU has dropped each of its last two games, including a 35-34 loss in its Big 12 Conference opener vs. UCF on Sept. 14.
Saturday’s game between Kansas and TCU will be the 40th meeting between the two schools and the first since Oct. 8, 2022, when the schools met in Lawrence at the site of ESPN College Gameday. TCU holds the overall series advantage at 26- 9-4, including a 12-7 mark in games played at Kansas. Kickoff between the Jayhawks and Horned Frogs is slated for 2:30 p.m. on ESPN+ with Lowell Galindo (Play-by-Play) and Fozzy Whittaker (Analyst) on the call.
JAYHAWK QUICK HITS:
• The Kansas Jayhawks (1-3, 0-1 Big 12) are among the most experienced teams in the Big 12 Conference and the country, with 30 total seniors, including 14 redshirt seniors listed on the roster. A team that was once the youngest in college football when head coach Lance Leipold arrived in 2021, the Jayhawks return seven offensive starters and eight defensive starters from a season ago, along with 494 career starts among both units.
• Among Kansas’ returners is running back Devin Neal, who has cemented himself as one of the Kansas greats in his four seasons as a Jayhawk. Neal, a hometown product of Lawrence, Kansas, has been spectacular throughout his KU career and is among Kansas’ all-time great leading rushers. Neal currently sits fourth all-time in KU career rushing yards with 3,520, trailing only James Sims (3,592, 2010-13), Tony Sands (3,788, 1988- 91) and June Henley (3,841, 1993-96). Neal also sits in sole possession of second in KU career rushing touchdowns with 36, trailing June Henley’s 41 rushing touchdowns scored from 1993- 96. Along with his success in the Kansas record books, Neal is also the power-four leader in both career rushing yards (3,520) and career rushing touchdowns (36). Over his past four games, Neal has surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark in each of them (112 vs. Lindenwood; 101 at Illinois; 120 vs. UNLV; 110 at West Virginia), marking the first stretch of his career with four 100+ yard rushing games in a row.
• Kansas’ defense is anchored by its pair of All-Big 12 Conference cornerbacks, Cobee Bryant and Mello Dotson, who are among the most experienced and productive cornerback tandems in the country. The Jayhawk duo has combined for 72 starts over their careers (Dotson 38, Bryant 34), while combining for 19 career interceptions, the most among any power-four cornerback duo in the country. The Kansas duo now ranks in the top-10 in KU school history for interceptions, with Bryant’s 10 career interceptions tied for fifth and Dotson’s nine career interceptions tied for ninth.
• Kansas’ defense has shown major signs of improvement over the last two years, as Kansas is allowing 20.3 points per game and allowing just 295.8 yards per game this season. Kansas has outgained its opponent in three of four games this season, averaging 408.0 yards of offense, while allowing just 295.8. During the 2023 season, the Kansas defense held opponents to 378.2 yards per game and 26.5 points per game, both of which were the fewest allowed in a single season by a KU defense since 2007. Kansas’ defense ranked fourth in the Big 12 Conference in total defense in 2023 (378.2), compared to 12th in 2022 (469.3).
A KANSAS WIN WOULD …
• Move Kansas to 608-682-58 all-time, including 19-24 in the Lance Leipold era. Leipold’s career record would improve to 165-63 overall and he would move to 1-2 against TCU all-time. • Give Kansas its first win at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium since Nov. 28, 2009, when Kansas defeated No. 12 Missouri, 40-37. • Give Kansas its first win over TCU since Oct. 27, 2018, when the Jayhawks defeated the Horned Frogs, 27-26 in Lawrence. • Kansas would improve its all-time record against TCU to 26-10-4, in favor of the Horned Frogs. • Kansas would improve to 8-14 in day games under head coach Lance Leipold, with the last win during a day game coming on Oct. 28, 2023 in the 38-33 win over No. 6 Oklahoma. • Kansas would improve to 6-4 in games played on ESPN+ under Leipold, including 2-0 this season following the season-opening win over Lindenwood on Aug. 29.
Colorado at UCF
(FOX) 3:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. MDT
COLORADO NOTES
Five Things To Know
This is the fifth time appearing on Big Noon Kickoff on FOX under Coach Prime and the Buffaloes are 3-1 record in previous appearances.
The last time Colorado won a game 38-31 was in 2004 when Joel Klatt threw a 64-yard touchdown pass to Ron Monteilh with six seconds left in the game.
Last weeks win against Baylor was the Buffs first Big 12 win since defeating Kansas State 44-36 on Nov. 20, 2010.
Colorado ranks ninth in the country in second-half points allowed per game at 4.3.
The Buffaloes forced overtime on a 43-yard touchdown from Shedeur Sanders to LaJohntay Wester with no time left in regulation. It is the third known time in CU history a touchdown was scored with no time left in regulation of a game that the Buffaloes ultimately won. The other two had touchdowns that ended the game are famous plays in college football history, the Miracle at Michigan when Kordell Stewart threw a 64-yard touchdown to Michael Westbrook to beat Michigan 27-26 in 1994, and the other when Charles S. Johnson scored on a 1-yard touchdown to beat Missouri 33-31 in 1990 on what was believed at the time to be fourth down.
CENTRAL FLORIDA NOTES
FIRST AND 10
• For the fourth consecutive game, UCF will play a first-time opponent, as the Colorado Buffaloes head to Orlando this weekend. Saturday’s game is slated for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff from FBC Mortgage Stadium. The game will air live on FOX with Jason Benetti as play-by-play, Brock Huard analyst and Allison Williams sideline reporter. • FOX also announced Sunday that its popular pregame show will be broadcasting live from UCF’s campus at 10 a.m. Saturday (location TBD). It marks the first time in program history that the star-studded show will be broadcasting from Orlando. The two-hour pregame show will be hosted by Rob Stone and analysts Mark Ingram II, Matt Leinart, Urban Meyer and Brady Quinn along with reporters Bruce Feldman and Tom Rinaldi and wagering expert, Chris ‘The Bear’ Fallica. • In its last time out, UCF rallied from a 21-point deficit to earn a 35-34 victory at TCU on Saturday, Sept. 14, to open Big 12 Conference play with a win for the first time. The 21-point comeback win is tied for the largest in program history along with the 2013 Louisville and 2021 Boise State games. • The Knights’ balanced approach against the Horned Frogs featured 289 rushing yards and 230 passing to surpass 500 yards of total offense for the third time in as many games. The Knights’ high-powered offense ranks third in the country with 570.7 yards per game, the only team in the Big 12 averaging better than 500. • UCF has now rushed for 1,127 yards with 13 touchdowns on the ground through the first three games of the season. The Knights lead the nation with 375.7 rushing yards per game, which is nearly 100 more than the next-closest Power Four Conference team (Tennessee 290.0). UCF has ranked among the nation’s top 10 in rushing offense each of the past two seasons. • UCF is the only team in the nation that has rushed for at least 140 yards in each of the last 16 games, dating back to last season. During that span, the Knights have rushed for 200 or more yards 12 times and 250 plus six times. • After earning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors on Monday, Sept. 16, UCF running back RJ Harvey was selected as the Doak Walker Award National Running Back of the Week on Tuesday, Sept. 17. Last season, Harvey was a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation’s top running back, and was on the 2024 preseason watch list. Harvey’s standout performance helped lead UCF to a win in its conference opener at TCU, as he rushed for 180 yards on 29 carries with two touchdowns in the Knights’ 35-34 win against the Horned Frogs in Fort Worth, Texas. Orlando’s Hometown Hero also scored his second career receiving touchdown to end the day with 209 all-purpose yards and three total touchdowns. • In contrast, UCF’s defense has been stout against the run, allowing just 64.0 rushing yards per game. That mark leads the Big 12 and is the fifth-fewest nationally. The Black and Gold have not allowed more than 67 rushing yards in its first three games and have not allowed a rushing touchdown, one of only seven FBS teams to accomplish the feat. • Since the start of the 2017 season, UCF has accumulated 68 wins, the ninth-most wins by an FBS program. The Knights went 13-0 in 2017, 12-1 in 2018, 10-3 in 2019, 6-4 in the Covid-shortened 2020 season, 9-4 in 2021, 9-5 in 2022 and 6-7 last season. The Knights join Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Michigan and Appalachian State as the only programs to win at least 67 games since 2017. • UCF earned its 200th victory as an FBS program (since 1996) in the win against Sam Houston, as the Knights are the youngest Power Four Conference program with the University founded in 1963.
THE OPPONENT
Colorado owns a 3-1 record heading into Saturday’s Big 12 Conference matchup against UCF. The Buffaloes rallied to defeat Baylor, 38-31, on Saturday, after a last-second Hail Mary forced the game into overtime. • Now in his second season with the program, head coach Deion Sanders has a 7-9 record at CU and a 33-15 overall record in his fifth season as a head coach. Sanders makes his return to the Sunshine State, where he was an All-American at Florida State. • Buffs two-way player Travis Hunter was voted the Preseason Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and was recently named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, Sept. 16. • Colorado is averaging 26.8 points per game, while opponents have scored 23.5 ppg. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders leads the offense passing for 335 yards per game and has thrown 11 touchdowns with only two interceptions. Hunter, who plays wide receiver and defensive back, leads the Big 12 with 9.25 receptions per game and 118 receiving yards per contest.
KNIGHT NOTES
A WIN WOULD…
– Give the Knights a 4-0 start to the season for the first time since 2018 – Give UCF head coach Gus Malzahn a 4-0 start to the season for the third time in his career (first since 2019) and first time as Knights head coach – Give UCF a win in its Big 12 home conference opener for the first time in program history – Give UCF a 2-0 start to Big 12 play and a 3-0 record at home this season – Be better than a loss
MALZAHN AFTER BYE WEEKS
Throughout his 13-year head coaching tenure, Gus Malzahn’s teams have been very difficult to beat coming off a bye week, as Malzahn has compiled a 10-2 mark in the first game following the bye week. He was a perfect 9-0 during his time at Arkansas State and Auburn and is 1-2 with UCF.
#18/19 Iowa State at Houston
(FS1) 6 p.m. CT
IOWA STATE NOTES
THE LEAD
No. 18 Iowa State looks to win its fifth-straight Big 12 Conference road game Saturday when it travels to Houston for the first meeting between the schools. Head coach Matt Campbell can become the school’s winningest coach with a victory as ISU hopes to start 4-0 for the first time since 2000.
KEY STORYLINES
• Iowa State is 3-0 for the second time in the last three seasons and looks to win its Big 12 opener for the second-straight year … ISU checks in at No. 18 in the Associated Press Top 25, its highest ranking since week four in 2021 (No. 14). • Campbell is in his ninth season leading the Cyclone program, the third-longest tenured coach in ISU history and tied for the third-longest active tenure in the Big 12 Conference … in school history, only Dan McCarney (1995- 2006) and Clay Stapleton (1958-67) had longer tenures. • Campbell has led the Cyclones to 56 wins, tying him with McCarney for the school record … among Big 12 coaches at their current schools, Campbell’s 56 wins are the fourth-most. • The Cyclones moved to 3-0 with a dominant 52-7 win against Arkansas State, a team that earned bowl eligibility a year ago and fell at Michigan by just 10 points the weekend before. • Iowa State’s defense, under the direction of Jon Heacock, leads the Big 12 and ranks ninth nationally allowing just 9.7 points per game … its passing defense has been stout, yielding just 112.7 yards per game and leading the nation in pass efficiency defense (74.01) … overall, ISU is allowing just 260 yards of total offense, 18th nationally and tops in the Big 12 … the Cyclones are the only team to rank in the league’s top five for rushing and passing defense. • Rocco Becht has at least two TD passes in seven-straight games dating back to last season, the nation’s second-longest streak (Kyle McCord, Syracuse, 8) … he’s among the nation’s Top 30 and second in the Big 12 with a 68.4 completion percentage. • Becht’s favorite tandem has made it clear they are one of the nation’s best duos … Jayden Higgins extended his streak with a touchdown reception to five-straight games, matching the school record and the nation’s active lead … Jaylin Noel saw his streak snapped at four games last weekend, but the senior has seven TDs in his last seven games … dating back to last season, Noel has at least 100 all-purpose yards in nine of 10 games. • DB Darien Porter had two INTs at Iowa and against ASU blocked his fourth career punt making him the nation’s leader … he has one block in four-straight seasons, something that hasn’t been done dating back to at least 2012.
IN THE (RED) ZONE:
• ISU has been in the red zone 11 times this season, scoring 10 touchdowns … last season, ISU scored touchdowns 60.7 percent of the time when in the red zone … opponents, meanwhile, have just one touchdown in five red zone trips this season.
HOUSTON NOTES
THE OPENING KICKOFF
• Houston and Iowa State meet for the first time in the history of the programs Saturday. The Cougars are in the midst of their 79th season of football (1946-present). Iowa State Football is in its 133rd season of existence (1892-present). The Cyclones are the Cougars’ lone firsttime opponent on the 2024 schedule. • While Saturday’s marks the first meeting on the gridiron between the two schools, the new conference mates have competed head-tohead across six sports as co-Big 12 members including Men’s Basketball, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Volleyball and Women’s Basketball. • During his 32-year head coaching career, Head Coach Willie Fritz is 67-39 in games immediately (occurred during same season) following a loss. Dating to the final month of Tulane 2021 season, Fritz coached teams are 4-1 in games immediately following a loss. • Houston’s 12-game schedule ranks among the hardest in the country according to Phil Steele who utilized the “NCAA Method” to rank schedules, compiling each team’s opponent’s records from the previous season. The Cougars are facing the nation’s fifth-toughest schedule and toughest schedule in the Big 12. Iowa State earned seven victories a season ago and is currently 3-0 for the fourth time since 2010. • #20/19 Iowa State is the second ranked opponent the Cougars have faced through their first five games. Houston fell 16-12 at #15/13 Oklahoma, on Sept. 7. Houston is in search of its first win against a Top 25 opponent since knocking off #19/16 SMU, 44-37, on Oct. 30, 2021, inside TDECU Stadium. Houston is 6-8 against Top 25 opponents inside TDECU Stadium since the facility opened in 2014. • UH wide receiver Joseph Manjack IV has hauled in a reception in 20 consecutive games (Dec. 4, 2021) including all 19 games as a Cougar (Sept. 3, 2022-present). The junior paces the Cougars in receiving yards (146) and touchdown receptions (2) through four games. • Houston is 12-4 in conference home openers since the start of the 2008 season. The Cougars are looking for their second Big 12 win inside TDECU Stadium with the last, and only, coming by way of a Hail Mary, walk-off, 41-39, victory against West Virginia on Oct. 12, 2023. • UH ranks 24th nationally in total defense (269.5 yards per game). In all four prior seasons as Defensive Coordinator or co-Defensive Coordinator, Shiel Wood’s units have ranked inside the Top 35 nationally in the category including within the Top 25 in rushing defense. • Fritz is no stranger to turning around programs. After going 6-3-1 at Blinn College in 1993, the Buccaneers captured back-to-back NJCAA National Championships with perfect 12-0 records (1994-95). Fritz went 5-6 at Central Missouri during Year 1 (1997) en route to back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2001-02. During his first season at Sam Houston (2010), the Bearkats went 6-5. They advanced to the NCAA FCS Championship in each of the next two seasons. Following a two-year stint at Georgia Southern, which included a pair of 9-win seasons, he helped Tulane improve from 4-8 in Year 1 to a combined 23-4 during his final two seasons, including a Cotton Bowl Classic victory. • Houston’s 63 newcomers are tied with Colorado for the most among Power Four members. The Cougars’ 36 first-year transfers are the second most among the Power 4 behind only Colorado’s 44. It is tied with New Mexico State and North Texas for the fifth most in all FBS. • Despite 36 first-year transfers on this year’s roster, Fritz’s emphasis will be to sign 20-25 high school players each year while using the transfer portal to fill in needs. According to 247Sports, Houston’s 2025 signing class ranks 45th nationally, right behind Utah (43) and Kansas State (44). Houston’s 2026 class ranks No. 31 nationally.
Cincinnati at Texas Tech
(ESPN2) 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT
INSIDE THE CINCINNATI SERIES
Texas Tech and Cincinnati will meet on the gridiron for only the second time in history as the two schools previously ended in a 10-10 tie to start the 1968 season. Texas Tech led for the duration of that game thanks to a two-yard touchdown run from quarterback Joe Mautlich early in the first quarter. Cincinnati tied the game, however, in the closing minutes on a 53-yard touchdown pass from Greg Cook to Jim O’Brien. The Red Raiders had previously led 10-3 to that point after a Kenny Vinyard 23-yard field goal in the second quarter.
CINCINNATI NOTES
TWO OF BIG 12’S TOP OFFENSES FACE OFF IN TEXAS
• Texas Tech also enters at 3-1 after beating Arizona State 30-22 in Lubbock behind two touchdown passes from QB Behren Morton and 117 rushing yards on 27 carries from workhorse RB Tahj Brooks. • The Red Raiders (487.5) and the Bearcats (467.5) rank 2-3 in the Big 12 in total offense. • The matchup will feature two of the league’s most prolific quarterback and running backs. • Morton is averaging 293.8 pass ypg with a conference-best 12 TDs and two INTs, while UC’s Sorsby is averaging 263.8 ypg with eight TDs and zero INTs. Morton (one) and Sorsby (two) combine for 3 of the Top 5 QBR games in the Big 12 this season. • Red Raiders RB Brooks ranks fourth nationally among active running backs with 3,431 career rushing yards and fifth with 30 rushing TDs. Brooks is second in the league in rushing (126.3) in 2024. UC running back Corey Kiner joined Brooks as a 1,000- yard rusher last year (1,047 yards). He ranks seventh in the conference with 101.00 yards per game in 2024.
BEARCATS BUILDING A RESUME
• Cincinnati ranks ninth in the country in the ESPN CFB Power Index metric, “Game Control,” which is defined as: “Reflects chance that an average Top 25 team would control games from start to end the way this team did, given the schedule.” • Led by S Jiquan Sanks (four starts), 10 true freshmen have played a total of 336 snaps on offense or defense, which is already more than the 2021, 22 and 23 seasons combined (260). Sanks and classmate LB Simeon Coleman both have 13 tackles. • TE Joe Royer (Ohio State transfer) leads all Big 12 tight ends in receptions (12), and is second in yards (206) and TDs (2). • P Mason Fletcher leads the Big 12 in punting average (46.8). The single-season UC record is 46.9 by Kevin Huber in 2007. • DT Dontay Corleone, a 2022 All-American, returned to the starting lineup Week 2 after blood clots were discovered this summer. • Corleone (2022), Fletcher (2022) and RG Luke Kandra (2023) are all AP Third Team All-Americans. • RB Corey Kiner has two 100-yard games in 2024 and nine career 100-yard games. UC is 3-1 when he has 20+ carries. • Gavin Gerhardt is PFF’s highest-rated C in the Big 12 (77.2) and Luke Kandra is the league’s top-rated right guard (79.8). • Derrick Canteen (84.8) and Josh Minkins (81.3) rank 1-2 among Big 12 safeties in PFF grades.
SORSBY LEADS UNDER CENTER
• Sorsby has completed 77 of 118 attempts (65%) for 1,055 yards and 8 TDS with 0 interceptions this season. He has thrown the most passes (118) without an interception among FBS quarterbacks in 2024 and he has gone 130 pass attempts without an interception dating back to last season. His 95.5 Week 4 QBR ranks No. 1 in Big 12, No. 4 in the Power 4 and No. 9 in the FBS. • His overall 79.0 QBR ranks second in the Big 12 and 19th in the FBS ahead of players like Dillon Gabriel, Jalen Milroe, Nico Iameleava. His 794 passing yards in the first half are the third-most in the nation. He is 55 of 78 (70.5%) with 7 TDs in the 1H.
AN ELITE PROGRAM BY THE NUMBERS
• Cincinnati, which started playing football in 1885, is in its 137th season and owns an all-time record of 665-609-50. • 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of the dedication of James Gamble Nippert Memorial Stadium. • Cincinnati is 59-21 (.738) since the start of the 2018 season, which ranks among the Top 15 best FBS records during the stretch. • Cincinnati (2021) was the first G5 team and one of just 15 teams to make the College Football Playoff in the four-team era (2014-23) and one of just two current Big 12 teams (TCU, 2022) to make it. • Recent NFL stars with Cincinnati degrees include: Jason and Travis Kelce, Sauce Gardner, Jerome Ford and Alec Pierce . • Since the start of the 2015 season, the Bearcats are 44-17 (72%) at Nippert Stadium and did not lose a home game from 2018- 21. Overall, UC is 88-29 (75%) when playing at Nippert since the start of the 2000 season.
TEXAS TECH NOTES
TECH CLOSES HOMESTAND WITH CINCINNATI
Texas Tech will look to wrap its three-game homestand a perfect 3-0 on Saturday when welcoming Cincinnati for a night contest under the lights at Jones AT&T Stadium. Fans are encouraged to wear black for the sellout, which was previously announced on Sept. 10, for what will be the second all-time meeting, and first since 1968, between the Red Raiders and Bearcats. Tech enters Saturday night riding a five-game winning streak at home, dating back to the 2023 season, and a 13-3 record at Jones AT&T Stadium under Joey McGuire.
DEFENSE CONTINUES TO MAKE STRIDES
Texas Tech has made a steady jump defensively since its season-opening win over Abilene Christian as the Red Raiders are surrendering only 26.7 points and 381.7 yards of total offense over the past three games. Texas Tech limited Arizona State to only 99 rushing yards last weekend against a Red Raider defense that will face another tough test Saturday against a Cincinnati offense that is averaging 467.5 yards of total offense and 197.5 rushing yards per game. Arizona State came into the Big 12 opener averaging 229.3 yards per game on the ground.
BROOKS POSTS ANOTHER 100-YARD GAME
Tahj Brooks moved into the top five all-time in Texas Tech history against Arizona State as the senior reached the 100-yard mark for the 15th time in his career and the 11th time in his last 14 games. Brooks, who has rushed for at least 95 yards over that entire 14-game stretch, enters this weekend ranked second in the Big 12 and sixth in the FBS as he is averaging 126.3 yards per game. He totaled 117 rushing yards last weekend against an Arizona State defense that was allowing only 65.3 yards per game on the ground.
RED RAIDERS LOOKING FOR 2-0 START
Texas Tech will be searching for its first 2-0 start to Big 12 play since 2013 on Saturday against the Bearcats. The Red Raiders have kicked off their Big 12 slate with a 2-0 record six times previously with five of those seasons resulting in a bowl appearance. The lone exception was 1997 when the Red Raiders withdrew from postseason bowl eligibility due to NCAA violations within the program.
Texas Tech has finished with at least eight wins the last four times it started 2-0 in conference play. The Red Raiders have also been at least .500 overall in league play in all but one of those years as well (2013).
RED RAIDERS AT NIGHT
Texas Tech will host its second kick of 6 p.m. or later at home this season versus Cincinnati as the Red Raiders previously opened with a 52-51 overtime victory over Abilene Christian. Night games inside Jones AT&T Stadium have become quite the scene over the past two decades as Texas Tech is 57-24 since 2000 in 6 p.m. kicks or later at home, which includes a 6-3 mark under Joey McGuire.
Arizona at #10/10 Utah
(ESPN) 8:15 p.m. MDT/7:15 p.m. MST
CATS VS. UTES:
The Arizona Wildcats travel to No. 10 Utah for their second road game of the 2024 season at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. ESPN will have the broadcast with Dave Flemming (Play-by-play), Brock Osweiler (Analyst), and Stormy Buonantony (Sideline) providing the commentary. It is the 23rd visit to Utah for Arizona in program history, holding a 9-14 record on the road in the series. The Wildcats open Big 12 Conference play against a familiar foe playing their first season in the Big 12. Arizona trails the all-time series 20-26-2 dating back to 1924. The Wildcats won the most recent matchup 42-18 in 2023. That win snapped a six-game losing skid against the Utes dating back to 2016. It was the first win over Utah for Arizona since 2015 when the Wildcats defeated the Utes 37-30 in Tucson. Arizona’s last road win against Utah was on Nov. 22, 2014, a 42-10 rout as a part of a four-game winning streak over Utah.
ARIZONA NOTES
• The Arizona Wildcats travel to No. 10 Utah for their second road game of the 2024 season at RiceEccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. ESPN will have the broadcast with Dave Flemming (Playby-play), Brock Osweiler (Analyst), and Stormy Buonantony (Sideline) on the call.
• It is the 23rd visit to Utah for Arizona in program history, holding a 9-13 record in Salt Lake City, Utah in the series. The Wildcats open Big 12 Conference play against a familiar foe also playing their first season in the Big 12.
• Arizona trails the all-time series 20-26-2 dating back to 1924. The Wildcats won the most recent matchup 42-18 in 2023. That win snapped a six-game losing skid against the Utes dating back to 2016. It was the first win over Utah for Arizona since 2015 when the Wildcats defeated the Utes 37-30 in Tucson. Arizona’s last road win against Utah was on Nov. 22, 2014, a 42-10 rout as a part of a four-game winning streak over Utah.
» Arizona is led by six captains this season, three on offense and three on defense. QB Noah Fifita, OL Jonah Savaiinaea, OL Josh Baker, DB Treydan Stukes, LB Jacob Manu, and DB Gunner Maldonado. » In the season-opening 61-39 win over New Mexico, Tetairoa McMillan became the first player in FBS history to have a game with 10-plus receptions, 300-plus receiving yards, 30.0-plus yards per reception, and 4-plus receiving TD.
• McMillan set Arizona’s single game record against UNM with 304 receiving yards, marking the second-most in a single game in Big 12 history
MATCHUP HISTORY:
Arizona trails the all-time series 20-26-2 dating back to 1924. It is the 23rd visit to Salt Lake City, Utah in Arizona football history, holding a 9-13 record on the road in the series. The Wildcats open Big 12 Conference play against a familiar foe playing their first season in the Big 12. The Wildcats won the most recent matchup 42-18 in 2023. That win snapped a six-game losing skid against the Utes dating back to 2016. It was the first win over Utah for Arizona since 2015 when the Wildcats defeated the Utes 37-30 in Tucson. Arizona’s last road win against Utah was on Nov. 22, 2014, a 42-10 rout as a part of a four-game winning streak over Utah. The Wildcats opened the 2023 matchup against Utah with 21 unanswered points in the first quarter and never looked back on their way to a 42-18 victory at home. Arizona won its fourth straight game against ranked opponents at that time with the win over No. 16 Utah. The win gave Arizona an 8-3 record overall and a 6-2 Pac-12 record. It was the fifth of seven straight wins to cap the 2023 season. In last year’s contest, Arizona had three different players throw a touchdown pass including Noah Fifita, Jayden de Laura, and Tetairoa McMillan. It was the first time in the StatsPass (OptaStats) Era (1996-current) that Arizona has three different players throw touchdown passes in one game. Former linebacker Anthony Ward blocked a Utah punt attempt in the first quarter and returned it for a touchdown. It was the first time an Arizona player returned a blocked punt for a score since Rhedi Short accomplished that feat, also against Utah, on Nov. 13, 2021. Linebacker Jacob Manu nabbed his first-career interception in the second quarter becoming the first Arizona linebacker since Anthony Pandy and Kenney Hebert both had interceptions in 2021.
UTAH NOTES
THE GAME
The University of Utah Football team will host a familiar foe on Saturday, Sept. 28 when they take on the Arizona Wildcats in Rice-Eccles Stadium for its first Big 12 game at home. The game will kick off at 8:15 p.m. MT on ESPN.
HOME SWEET HOME
Utah is 120-37 (.764) in Rice-Eccles Stadium (1998-present) and is 92-26 in RES during the Kyle Whittingham era. • Utah has five undefeated home seasons under Whittingham (2022, 6-0; 2021, 6-0; 2019, 7-0; 2009, 6-0; 2008, 6-0) with the Utes winning 33 of their last 35 home games, which included a streak of 18 in a row from Dec. 5, 2020 – Oct. 14, 2023. • It was the second-longest streak in the Whittingham era with the longest streak taking place Sept. 15, 2007 – Oct. 23, 2010 (21 games). • Utah has sold out Rice-Eccles Stadium in 85 consecutive games, dating back to the 2010 season opener.
THE NUMBERS
• Head Coach Kyle Whittingham is set to coach in his 372nd overall game at Utah and his 246th as head coach on Saturday. • Through four games, Utah is controlling the ball for an average of 36:21, which ranks first in the Big 12 and fourth in the FBS. • Utah is leading the Big 12 in sacks per game with 3.0. • Entering the game Saturday, Utah and Arizona will be facing off for the 49th time.
NEED TO KNOWS
• Utah enters the week ranked No. 10 in both the AP and the Coaches polls, the 28th time the Utes have been ranked in the top-10 in the AP during the regular season since 2005. • Utah currently leads the league in third down defense (.233), first downs defense (46), passes intercepted (5), team sacks (3.00) and time of possession (36:21). • The Utes are averaging 206.3 rushing yards per game while also holding opponents to just 93.8. Utah is one of just three teams in the Big 12 (UCF, Kansas State) that is rushing for 200+ yards a game while holding its opponents to under 100. • The Utes have posted a winning record in 10 straight seasons, dating back to 2014. Utah has also finished with a winning season in 17 of Whittingham’s 19 years as head coach. • In its first year in the Big 12, Utah was voted to win the conference in the preseason media poll with the most first place votes.
CONFERENCE NEWS & NOTES
• Five Big 12 teams are ranked in this week’s AP Top 25. It’s the fourth time in five polls this season that five Big 12 programs have been ranked.
• Big 12 programs are 14-4 this season when ranked in the Top 25.
• Big 12 players have rushed for 100 or more yards in a game 26 times this season, which leads all FBS conferences.
• The top 12 active coaches in AP Top 25 wins since 2000 include three from the Big 12 Conference. OSU’s Mike Gundy ranks first at 40, Utah’s Kyle Whittingham is fifth with 23 and ISU’s Matt Campbell ranks 11th with 14 victories.
• UCF continues to lead the nation in rushing yards per game at 375.7 with Kansas and Kansas State also ranking in the top 10 among P4 schools.
• Three of the nation’s top 10 leaders in rushing yards per game are from the Big 12 (RJ Harvey, UCF; Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech; Micah Bernard, Utah).
• Colorado’s Travis Hunter is one of only two FBS players in the country to surpass 100 yards receiving in four different games this season. Hunter is one of five Big 12 players in the top 20 in the nation in receiving yards per game, joining Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan, UCF’s Kobe Hudson, TCU’s Jack Bech and Texas Tech’s Josh Kelly.
• Four of six Big 12 games were decided by one score last Saturday, the most one-score games of any conference in Week 4.
• Oklahoma State’s Trey Rucker leads the Power Four in total tackles with 53 as four other Big 12 defenders join Rucker in the top 12, including Bay- lor’s Matt Jones, OSU’s Nick Martin, ASU’s Myles Rowser and Baylor’s Keaton Thomas.
• FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff will stop at a Big 12 school for the second time this season with a visit to Orlando on Saturday for the UCF-Colorado
• The Big 12 boasts three of the nation’s top 10 in passing touchdowns (Shedeur Sanders, Colorado; Josh Hoover, TCU; Behren Morton, Texas Tech), each of who threw multiple touchdowns last week.
• With five 100-yard receiving performances last Saturday, the Big 12 is tied with the ACC for most 100-yard receiving games in FBS with 28.
• Cincinnati is the only school to shutout an opponent from a Power 4 conference this season.
• BYU is one of two P4 schools to not allow a passing touchdown in its first four games this season, which marks the first time the Cougars have achieved the feat in modern history.
• For the first two weeks of the season, the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week was also the AP National Player of the Week. Arizona wideout Tetairoa McMillan achieved the feat in week one with 10 catches, 304 receiving yards and four touchdowns in a win over New Mexico before Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo amassed 297 yards of offense (262 rushing yards) in his team’s victory over Mississippi State in week two.
• The Big 12 Conference and Raycom Sports announced the launch of Big 12 Studios in September, a new programming and content venture designed to expand and enhance the league’s storytelling efforts. Big 12 Studios will create and deliver original programming and content to fans as a FAST (Free Ad-Supported Television) channel across multiple major platforms, including planned launches on leading platforms early this Fall that will be announced soon, as well as major VOD platforms such as YouTube.
• The 2024 season will be the Big 12 Conference’s first as a 16-team league. The Big 12 footprint now spans 10 states, four time zones and 90 million people as it begins its 29th football season.
• The Conference partnered with TuneIn, the world’s leader in live audio, to launch Big 12 Radio prior to week one. The new 24/7 Conference-branded audio station, is now streaming to fans across the United States. The station includes Big 12 weekday sports talk, extensive Saturday game-day coverage, Big 12 school content and music programming. Additionally, listeners can access a ‘Game of The Week’ featuring gameday coverage from their Big 12 school’s local play-by-play broadcast team.
Big 12 Conference Awards
Week Four
Offensive Player of the Week:
RB Micah Bernard (Utah)
Defensive Player of the Week:
SPUR Tyrin Bradley Jr. (West Virginia)
Special Teams Player of the Week:
Returner Parker Kingston (BYU)
Newcomer of the Week:
B Isaac Wilson (Utah)
