Week 6 Previews
Sat., Oct. 9 @ 11:00 am CT
West Virginia Mountaineers at Baylor Bears
THE SERIES
All-Time Series …………………………..WVU leads 6-3
In Waco………………………………………. BU leads 3-1
In Morgantown………………………….WVU leads 5-0
At Neutral Site …………………………………………..0-0
First Meeting…………………….2012, WVU 70-63 (H)
Last Meeting…………….. 2020, WVU 27-21 (OT) (H)
Brown vs. BU……………………………………………..1-1
Brown vs. Aranda……………………………………….1-0
Aranda vs. WVU …………………………………………0-1
SERIES HISTORY WITH BAYLOR
• The series between West Virginia and Baylor started in 2012 with a 70-63 WVU win in Morgantown.
• The last meeting took place in 2020 in Morgantown with WVU winning a close 27-21 double-overtime decision.
• WVU has won four of the last five games in the series and is 5-0 in games played in Morgan- town.
2020, home, West Virginia, 27-21 2OT
2019, away, Baylor, 17-14
2018, home, West Virginia, 58-14
2017, away, West Virginia, 38-36
2016, home, West Virginia, 24-21
2015, away, Baylor, 62-38
2014, home, West Virginia, 41-27
2013, away, Baylor, 73-42
2012, home, West Virginia, 70-63
West Virginia Mountaineers
NOTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
• The 2021 season marks West Virginia’s 129th season of football. The Mountaineers are the 15th winningest program in college football
• The 2021 year marks the 42nd season of competition for West Virginia at Milan Puskar Stadium. WVU has a 187-71-4 (.721) all-time mark at the facility, which opened in 1980
• Since 1980, West Virginia is 257-118-4 in games played on artificial turf surfaces. WVU was 57-29 on turf in the 1990s, 66-21 on turf in the 2000s and 62-40 during the 2010s. In the 2020s, the Mountaineers are 7-5 on turf
• WVU has made a bowl appearance in 17 of the past 19 years. The Mountaineers are 16-22 all-time in bowl games
• WVU is 9-6 in games played on Oct. 9, including 3-6 on the road. Having won six in a row on Oct. 9, the last time WVU played on that date, was against UNLV in Morgantown in 2010 (W 49-10). The last time WVU played on the road on Oct. 9 was in 1976 at Temple (W 42-0)
• West Virginia is 24-21-1 against schools from the state of Texas
• The Mountaineers are 92-14 since 2002 when winning the turnover battle
• The WVU defense has registered 45 tackles for loss, averaging 9.0 tackles for loss per game. The defense is ranked No. 1 in the Big 12 and No. 2 nationally in tackles for loss
• The Mountaineer defense also has registered 17 sacks this season, averaging 3.4 per game. That number is No. 1 in the Big 12 and No. 12 nationally
• The WVU offense is ranked No. 2 in the Big 12 and No. 19 nationally in fewest tackles for loss allowed (4.0)
• The Mountaineer defense is ranked No. 11 in red zone defense (.650), No. 12 in rushing defense (88.4), No. 27 in scoring defense (18.0) and No. 34 in total defense (315.8)
• Junior receiver Winston Wright Jr. is ranked No. 4 in the nation in kickoff returns, averaging 33.9 yards per return. Wright Jr. scored a touchdown on a 90-yard return against LIU and had a season-long, 98-yard return at Maryland. He is No. 3 in the Big 12 and No. 18 nationally in all-purpose yardage, averaging 136.4 yards per game
• Senior running back Leddie Brown is No. 3 in the Big 12 and No. 23 nationally in touchdowns (7) and No. 4 in the Big 12 in scoring (8.4)
• Brown is No. 3 in the Big 12 and No. 21 nationally in rushing touchdowns (6). He also is No. 10 in the Big 12 in points responsible for and No. 11 in points responsible for per game
• Junior receiver Sam James is No. 2 in the Big 12 in receiving touchdowns (3)
• Senior linebacker Josh Chandler-Semedo is No. 4 in the Big 12 and No. 41 nationally in tackles (8.6)
• Redshirt junior defensive lineman Taijh Alston is No. 1 in the Big 12 and No. 9 nationally in tackles for loss (1.6) and No. 1 in the Big 12 and No. 14 in sacks (1.0)
OFFENSIVE ANALYSIS
• Breaking down the West Virginia offensive numbers for the 2021 season shows that the Mountaineers have run 334 plays, 165 on the ground and 169 through the air.
• The rushing game has totaled 560 yards, an average of 3.4 yards per carry and 10 touch- downs. The passing attack has totaled 1,323 yards, seven touchdowns and an average of 12.1 yards per completion.
• Combine the two and the Mountaineers have turned in 1,883 yards of total offense, 17 touch- downs, an average of 5.6 yards per play and an average of 30.0 points per game.
• Deeper analysis shows that the Mountaineer offense has gained 40 first downs by the run and 59 via the pass. On average, West Virginia has totaled 112.0 yards per game on the ground, 264.6 yards per game passing and 376.6 yards per game of total offense.
AGAINST RANKED TEAMS
• Beginning with a 27-0 loss to Fordham on Oct. 18, 1941, West Virginia has played 163 games against nationally ranked teams. Of those, 49 have been Mountaineer victories.
• Since 1999, WVU has posted 25 victories over ranked teams. The last time the Mountaineers beat a ranked team was on Sept. 18, 2021, against No. 15 Virginia Tech (27-21).
Baylor Bears
STORY LINES
• Baylor hosts West Virginia for the first of 3-straight games at McLane Stadium over the next 4 weeks.
• Baylor is 3-6 all-time against West Virginia, but the Bears are 3-1 vs. the Mountaineers in Waco.
• Four of the last five series meetings have been decided by 6 or fewer points, including Baylor’s 17-14 win the last time in Waco in 2019, and WVU’s 27-21 double-overtime win last season in Morgantown.
• Baylor looks to improve to 5-1 or better at the halfway point for the 6th time in the last 9 seasons since 2013 (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019). Prior to that stretch, the last time BU was 5-1 was 1994.
• BU lost 24-14 at No. 19 OSU on Saturday, suffering its first defeat of the season despite forcing 3 turnovers and not committing any turnovers. BU had two possessions trailing 17-14 in the 4th quarter.
• BU beat No. 14 Iowa State in its last home game on Sept. 25, its first ranked win since 2015.
• Baylor leads the Big 12 in turnover margin (+1.0), most interceptions (7) and fewest interceptions thrown (0). BU is 1 of 5 FBS teams without an interception thrown (Auburn, WMU, Ole Miss, Liberty).
• Baylor is 1 of 4 Power-5 teams ranked top-25 nationally in scoring offense and scoring defense (Auburn, BU, Georgia, Michigan). BU is 23rd in scoring defense (17.4) and 22nd in scoring offense (37.0).
• BU is 12th nationally (7th in P5) with 238.2 rushing ypg after ranking 123rd last season (90.3 ypg).
• Baylor ranks 10th nationally with 7 interceptions. BU is 1 of 6 Power-5 teams to have 6 different players with an interception (Baylor, Iowa, Notre Dame, Georgia, Ohio State and Oregon State).
• BU’s defense ranks 11th nationally (6th in P5) with only 155.6 passing yards allowed per game.
• BU has forced twice as many turnovers (26) as its has allowed (13) in 14 games under Dave Aranda.
• Baylor is tied for 7th nationally with 9 fourth-down conversions, including 4 times in its own territory.
• Gerry Bohanon is 1 of 5 QBs with 1,000+ passing yards and 0 interceptions thrown this season. He’s 1 of 4 FBS players with 5+ rushing TDs and 7+ passing TDs, and he leads the Big 12 with 12 total TDs.
• Trestan Ebner ranks 7th nationally with 147.2 all-purpose yards per game. He’s playing his 53rd career game on Saturday, tying Jerod Monk (2009-13) for 2nd-most in BU history behind Chris Platt (57).
• Dillon Doyle (15), Matt Jones (14) and Cole Maxwell (6) all set career-highs in tackles Saturday at OSU
ADDITIONAL STORYLINES
• Baylor returned 17 of 22 starters and 54 of 68 letterman from last season’s team.
• The Bears welcomed four new assistant coaches for 2021 – Jeff Grimes (Offensive Coordinator/TEs), Eric Mateos (Offensive Line), Chansi Stuckey (Wide Receivers) and Kevin Curtis (Cornerbacks).
• The Bears added a pair of experienced O-Line transfers with Jacob Gall (13 starts at Buffalo) and Grant Miller (16 starts at Vanderbilt). Four members of the O-Line have a combined 95 career starts.
• BU returned 7 starters on offense, led by OL Connor Galvin and Xavier-Newman Johnson with 28 starts apiece.
• Baylor’s defense returned 10 starters from a unit which allowed only 203.0 passing yards per game last season, second-best in the Big 12. BU has allowed 155.6 passing ypg in 5 games this year (11th-fewest in FBS).
• Baylor’s five starting defensive backs have a combined 201 career games played and 101 career starts. CB Raleigh Texada leads all BU returners with 34 career starts (28-consecutive).
• Baylor is 1 of 4 Power-5 teams ranked top-25 nationally in scoring offense and scoring defense (Auburn, BU, Georgia, Michigan). BU ranks 23rd in scoring defense (17.4) and 22nd in scoring offense (37.0).
• BU is playing its 120th season of football and holds a 613-585-44 (.511) all-time record. Baylor has scored in a school-record 179 straight games – doubling the previous record of 89 games from Dec. 31, 1979 – Oct. 23, 1987.
SEEKING 5-1 RECORD AT HALFWAY POINT
• Baylor looks to improve to 5-1 or better at the halfway point for the 6th time in 9 seasons since 2013. BU started
6-0 in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2019. Prior to that stretch, the last time the Bears were 5-1 was 1994.
• Baylor is also looking to win at least 3 of its first 4 games in Big 12 play for the 6th time in the last 9 seasons
since 2013 (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019). Prior to 2013, BU was 3-1 in Big 12 play only twice (2006, 2010).
FOURTH DOWN SUCCESS
• Baylor leads the Big 12 with 9 fourth-down conversions this season. The Bears are 9-of-12 on fourth downs, and the only failed fourth-down attempts were 4th-and-17 at Texas State and 4th-and-4 and 4th-and-10 at OSU.
• BU has gone 4-for-5 on fourth downs in its own territory, converting 4th-and-1 from own 34 at TXST, 4th-and-3 from own 37 vs. TXSO, 4th-and-3 from own 46 at Kansas and 4th-and-2 from own 45 at Oklahoma State.
• BU’s only failed attempt in its own territory was 4th-and-4 from own 36 at OSU, but the defense forced a 3-and-out punt.
• BU has punted only three times when facing 4th-and-4 or less this season, and those were when facing 4th-and-3 from its own 43 while leading 24-13 in the 4th quarter at Texas State and twice inside its own 15 at OSU.
RANKED IN 9 OF LAST 12 SEASONS
• With its No. 21 ranking in the Sept. 26 AP Top 25, Baylor has now been ranked in the AP Top 25 in 9 of 12 seasons since 2010, after going 17 years between national rankings (1993-2010).
• The Bears climbed from receiving no votes in the AP poll in any of the first three weeks to No. 21 after their win over No. 14 Iowa State on Sept. 25. The win was Baylor’s first over a ranked opponent since 2015.
BEARS AMONG BIG 12’S BEST DEFENSES
• Baylor’s defense leads the Big 12 passing defense efficiency (101.1), interceptions (7). The Bears also allow only 155.6 passing yards per game, which ranks 11th nationally and 2nd in the Big 12.
• Baylor’s defense has allowed only 186.1 passing yards per game in 14 games under head coach Dave Aranda.
• BU’s defense has had 3 interceptions in a game twice this season – Sept. 4 at Texas State; JT Woods, Jalen Pitre and Jairon McVea and Oct. 2 at Oklahoma State; Raleigh Texada, JT Woods and Dillon Doyle.
• The Bears held Kansas to 57 passing yards, the 2nd-fewest by a BU defense in Big 12 play in the last 20 seasons, eclipsed only by the 54 passing yards allowed to Texas in the 2013 de-facto Big 12 Championship game.
WEST VIRGINIA SERIES HISTORY
• Baylor and West Virginia are meeting for the 10th time – every year since WVU joined the Big 12 in 2012.
• Five of the first nine series meetings have been one-score games, including four of five matchups since 2016.
• Baylor is 3-6 all-time against WVU, but the Bears are 3-1 in home games in the series.
• Matchups in Waco: BU 73-42 (2012), BU 62-38 (2014), WVU 38-36 (2017), BU 17-14 (2019).
• Last season’s game went to double overtime in Morgantown, and WVU prevailed 27-21.
• This is the ninth time in 10 series meetings the teams have met in the month of October (2016 was December)
Sat., Oct. 9 @ 11:00 am CT
Oklahoma Sooners at Texas Longhorns
Oklahoma Sooners
OPENING KICK
• In a matchup of the Big 12’s two most successful programs, No. 6/5 Oklahoma (5-0, 2-0) meets No. 21/23 Texas (4-1, 2-0) for the 117th time on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT. The AT&T Red River Showdown, played in Dallas for the 93rd straight year, will be televised by ABC with Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Holly Rowe announcing. OU is the designated visiting team.
• This is the third season in the last four both OU and Texas enter their October matchup ranked in the AP poll (prior to 2018 it had not been done since 2012). Including this season, the Sooners have been ranked in the AP poll at the time of the October meeting 15 of the last 16 years and in 20 of the last 22 seasons (OU was also ranked in the 2018 Big 12 Championship vs. Texas). UT was unranked when playing the Sooners from 2013 to 2017.
• This marks the 12th time in the last 13 matchups that OU is ranked higher in the AP poll than Texas (UT was 22nd last year while OU was not ranked).
• The Sooners are 15-7 against Texas since the start of the 2000 season and have outscored the Longhorns by 182 points in those 22 matchups.
• Dating back to the start of the 2012 season, Oklahoma is 44-8 (.846) in regular season games away from home. OU has scored at least 30 points in 45 of those 52 contests.
• OU has won 13 games in a row, which represents the 10th winning streak of at least 13 games in program history and the Sooners’ longest since winning 14 straight over the 2016 and ’17 seasons (last 10 games of 2016 and first four of ’17). The 13-game streak is also the second-longest in the country, with only Alabama (19) owning a longer active streak. Just one other Power Five program (Iowa at 11) has a winning streak longer than nine games. OU’s last loss came more than a full year
ago (Oct. 3, 2020, at Iowa State).
• Oklahoma has won 14 Big 12 titles in the first 25 years of the league, with no other program winning more than three. All 14 of OU’s Big 12 titles have come in the last 21 years, with no other program winning more than two during the span. Texas ranks second with three Big 12 titles (last one in 2009; OU has won eight since then).
• The Sooners have as many Big 12 titles the last six seasons (six) as they have lost games against Big 12 opponents (54-6 record; includes four Big 12 Championship games).
• Come Saturday, Oklahoma will have been Big 12 champion for 2,143 consecutive days.
• OU is 148-31 (.827) in regular season Big 12 play since the start of the 2000 season. That’s 26 more wins than the program with the next most victories during that period (Texas; 122-57) and 46 more than the program with the third most (Oklahoma State; 102-78).
• Lincoln Riley picked up his 50th head coaching win Saturday at Kansas State against just eight losses. Only Barry Switzer (56) reached 50 victories at OU faster than 58 games (Bud Wilkinson also did it in 58 games while Bob Stoops did it in 59). Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian also notched his 50th win as a head coach Saturday at TCU. He owns a 50-36 career mark.
• Riley is 12-1 as OU head coach in games against AP-ranked Big 12 opponents. The only defeat came in 2018,
KEY STORYLINES
• Texas is the only Big 12 program with a winning record against the Sooners. Oklahoma trails 62-49-5 in the series but owns a 28-20-3 advantage since 1971. In the Big 12 era, OU is 16-10 against the Longhorns and has won nine of the last 12 meetings and 15 of the last 22. The only other period Oklahoma won at least nine Red River matchups in a 12-or-fewer-game span was in the 1940s and ’50s when Bud Wilkinson’s Sooners won nine out of 11 meetings from 1948-58.
• Oklahoma has lost only six games against Big 12 opponents since the start of the 2015 season and two of the defeats have come to Texas (OU is 5-2 during the stretch against UT). The Longhorns downed No. 10 OU 28-20 in 2015 and kicked a late field goal for a 48-45 win over the No. 7 Sooners in 2018. OU’s other Big 12 losses the past seven seasons came to Iowa State in 2017 and 2020 and to Kansas State in 2019 and 2020. None of the six defeats were by more than seven points.
• During their three-game winning streak over Texas, the Sooners have permitted only 329 rushing yards on 102 attempts for an average of 3.2 per carry. UT averaged 2.8 yards per rush in the 2018 Big 12 Championship and in the 2019 meeting, and 4.1 last year (1.7 through three quarters).
• Over the last two Red River Showdowns, OU has registered 15 sacks (for a loss of 87 yards) and 25 tackles for loss (104 yards). It limited Texas to 4.2 yards per play in 2019 and 4.9 in 2020. Sooners outside linebacker Nik Bonitto has 3.0 sacks and 3.5 TFLs over the last two matchups.
• Saturday’s game will feature an Oklahoma run defense that has held all five opponents this season to 100 or fewer ground yards (79.4 average). Over OU’s last 18 games, only one running back has rushed for 100 yards in a game against the Sooners (Iowa State’s Breece Hall had 139 yards in the third game of last season). Meanwhile, Texas running back Bijan Robinson ranks second nationally with his 130.4 rushing yards per contest and ranks second in the Big 12 with seven rushing touchdowns. OU ranked 19th nationally last year by allowing 3.5 yards per rush and this year is permitting just 2.7 per carry to rank 12th in the country.
• The Sooners have committed only four turnovers through five games and rank 13th nationally with their +5 turnover margin on the season. Oklahoma has yet to lose a fumble (has only fumbled twice) this season while its opponents have fumbled 14 times and lost six. OU has also registered three interceptions.
• Oklahoma’s defense has spent a lot of time in the opponent backfield this season. OU ranks 20th nationally with its 3.0 sacks per game and is 11th in the country with 8.0 tackles for loss per contest. Defensive linemen Perrion Winfrey and Isaiah Thomas are tied for fourth in the Big 12 with their 3.5 sacks while outside linebacker Nik Bonitto ranks 10th with 2.5. The Longhorns are permitting 1.8 sacks per outing.
LAST YEAR VS. TEXAS
• Oklahoma held a 31-17 lead and limited Texas to 238 offensive yards through the game’s first 55 1/2 minutes but needed four overtimes to win the highest-scoring Red River Showdown matchup in history, 53-45, on Oct. 10, 2020, in Dallas. Quarterback Spencer Rattler connected with receiver Drake Stoops on a 25-yard touchdown pass in the fourth overtime and then cornerback Tre Brown registered a game-ending interception in the end zone.
• The game was just the third involving at least one Big 12 team that went to four overtimes, and the first since 2011. It was the longest contest in OU history in terms of overtimes and duration (4:43).
• Junior running back T.J. Pledger registered career highs of 22 rushes, 131 rushing yards and two rushing TDs to earn Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors. He also caught two passes for 24 yards. Redshirt freshman Marcus Major ran 12 times for 43 yards and recorded his first career touchdown, a 7-yard rush in the second quarter.
• OU had four rushes of at least 20 yards in the game. Entering the day, the Sooners had only two rushes of at least 20 yards on the season.
• Rattler became just the third OU freshman quarterback starter to beat Texas, joining Justin Fuente in 1996 and Sam Bradford in 2007. He completed 23 of 35 passes for 209 yards and three touchdowns (one interception) while rushing 14 times for 51 yards and a 1-yard score.
• Marvin Mims (30-yarder in first quarter) and Austin Stogner (11-yarder in first overtime) registered OU’s other TD catches. Theo Wease, who entered the game with seven receptions on the season and 15 for his career, caught a team-high eight passes for 56 yards. He also reeled in a two-point conversion pass in the last overtime for the game’s final points.
• Texas entered the game allowing 0.7 sacks and 3.7 tackles for loss per game, but OU registered six and 10 on the day. Outside linebacker Nik Bonitto paced the team with 2.0 sacks.
• The Sooners recorded three takeaways on the day, their most since the second game of the 2019 season vs. South Dakota. Sophomore defensive back Woodi Washington logged his first career interception with 5:02 left in the fourth quarter and redshirt junior defensive end Isaiah Thomas recovered a fumble on Texas’ second play of the game.
• For the first time since Bob Stoops’ debut game as OU head coach vs. Indiana State in 1999, the Sooners blocked a punt (David Ugwoegbu in second quarter) and a field goal (Perrion Winfrey in third overtime).
DEFENSE PLAYS BIG HAND IN 13-GAME WINNING STREAK
• Oklahoma’s defense has figured prominently in the program’s 13-game winning streak that started on Oct. 10, 2020, against Texas. Here are some notes pertaining to the stretch:
• OU has held 12 of its last 13 opponents below a 50% third-down conversion rate (Kansas State converted 53% of its tries Saturday; the next highest during the 13-game stretch was 43% by Nebraska three games ago while the third highest was 36% by Texas Tech last year). Eight of the Sooners’ last 10 opponents have failed to convert more than 31% of third downs. OU ranks sixth nationally during the time period with its 30.9 opponent third-down conversion rate. In fact, OU ranks third nationally in the category since the start of the 2019 season (defensive coordinator Alex Grinch’s first year in Norman) with its 31.0% figure.
• The Sooners have totaled 46 sacks over their last 13 games to tie for first nationally since Oct. 10, 2020 (a total of 291 lost yards). In the same time frame, OU has registered 101 tackles for loss for an average of 7.8 per game and a total of 427 lost yards.
• Oklahoma has registered at least one takeaway in 11 straight games and in 12 of the last 13. It has multiple takeaways in eight of the last 13. OU is plus-14 in turnover margin (26 takeaways to 12 turnovers) during the 13-game winning streak and is plus-9 over its last eight contests.
• OU has 18 interceptions over its last 13 games to rank sixth nationally since Oct. 10, 2020.
Texas Longhorns
SERIES HISTORY
Overall Record ………………………………………………..Texas leads, 62-48-5
In Austin …………………………………………………………….Texas leads, 7-2-1
In Norman…………………………………………………………….. Texas leads, 4-2
At Netural ………………………………………………………Texas Leads, 51-43-4
Riley vs. Texas……………………………………………………………………….. 4-1 Sarkisian vs. Oklahoma…………………………………………………. Never Met
Current Streak ………………………………………Oklahoma, Won 2 (2018-20)
Last Meeting …………………………… Oklahoma 53, Texas 45 (4OT) (2020)
Longest Texas Streak……………………………..Won 8, twice (last 1958-65)
Longest Oklahoma Streak………………………………..Won 6 (last 1952-57)
Largest Texas Win……….Texas 40, OU 7 (1941)/Texas 45, OU 12 (2005)
Largest Oklahoma Win ……………………… Oklahoma 65, Texas 13 (2003)
GAME NOTES
THE OPENING KICKOFF
• The University of Texas continues its 129th season of football on Saturday when the No. 21/23 Longhorns meet No. 6/5 Oklahoma for the 117th time on Saturday in a matchup of the Big 12’s two most successful programs. The AT&T Red River Showdown, played in Dallas for the 93rd consecutive year, will kick off it the Cotton Bowl at 11 a.m. CT on ABC.
• Last week, Texas (4-1, 2-0) defeated TCU, 32-27, snapping a two-game losing streak to the Horned Frogs and winning in Fort Worth for the first time since 2013.
• Oklahoma improved to 5-0 on the year and 2-0 in conference with a 37-31 victory at Kansas State, the Sooners’ first road contest of the year.
• Saturday’s matchup in Dallas will be Texas’ third consecutive 11 a.m. kickoff, with the Longhorns winning both of the previous games. In all, the Longhorns have
played three day games this season with a 3-0 mark heading into Saturday’s game.
• UT has scored 32 or more points in four of five games this season and in six of the last seven games overall.
• Texas currently boasts 927 all-time wins, the fourth-most in college football history. UT holds an all-time record of 927-379-33 (.705).
SERIES HISTORY VS. OKLAHOMA
• There is no rivalry quite like the Texas-Oklahoma series, which is being played for the 117th time on Saturday. Texas is the only Big 12 program with a winning record against Oklahoma and leads the series, 62-49-5.
• The series, which began in 1900, has been played in Dallas since 1912 and at the State Fair since 1929. Saturday marks the 99th time the game will be played at a neutral site in Dallas.
• The first matchup between the two teams in 1900 ended with a 28-2 Longhorns’ victory. Texas is the only Big 12 Conference team that holds an all-time series lead
against the Sooners.
• Only Texas A&M (118 times) has played the Longhorns on more occasions. Since 1900, the only years Texas and Oklahoma have not played were 1918, ‘20, ‘21 and 1924-28.
RESULTS VS. OU (LAST 11 MEETINGS)
Year Location Result Score
2011 ……….Dallas……………………………….L …………17-55
2012 ……….Dallas……………………………….L …………21-63
2013 ……….Dallas………………………………W…………36-20
2014 ……….Dallas……………………………….L …………26-31
2015 ……….Dallas………………………………W…………24-17
2016 ……….Dallas……………………………….L …………40-45
2017 ……….Dallas……………………………….L …………24-29
2018 ……….Dallas………………………………W…………48-45
2018 ……….Arlington+…………………………L………….27-39
2019 ……….Dallas……………………………….L …………27-34
2020 ……….Dallas……………………………….L . 53-45 (4OT)
+Big 12 Championship Game
A TEXAS WIN WOULD …
• Be Texas’ 928th victory all-time, keeping UT as the fourth-winningest program in college football history.
• Improve the Longhorns to 63-49-5 all-time against Oklahoma.
• Give Steve Sarkisian his 51st victory as a head coach and fifth at The University of Texas.
• Give Texas a 5-1 mark under Steve Sarkisian, making Sarkisian the first Texas head coach to win five of his first six games since Fred Akers started 6-0 in 1977.
• Equal Sarkisian’s best start to a season as a head coach at 5-1.
• Improve Sarkisian’s record against programs representing the Big 12 to 4-2 and bring his record against teams currently in the Big 12 to 3-1.
TRACKING THE RED RIVER RIVALRY
• The higher-ranked team in the AP Top 25 has won 18 of the last 29 matchups (18-10-1) when at least one of the programs are ranked in the AP Top 25. Texas is responsible for eight of the 10 victories when the lowerranked team pulls off the Red River upset.
• Texas has won the turnover battle in six of the last seven meetings with OU, with the two teams tying at one turnover apiece in the 2018 Big 12 Championship Game. The team that wins the turnover battle between Texas and OU is 13-6 since 2000.
• The last eight meetings between the Longhorns and Sooners have been decided by eight points or less after 15-straight years in which the annual matchup was decided by at least two scores (1999-2013). Texas leads the all-time series, 29-20-5, when the rivalry game is decided by one possession (eight points or less).
• The Longhorns have scored at least 20 points against Oklahoma 27 times since 1980, posting a 14-13-1 record in those instances. Texas is 8-2 during that stretch when scoring 30-plus points, and 3-2 when scoring at least 40 points against the Sooners. Conversely, UT is 16-9-2 when holding Oklahoma to under 30 points or less since 1980, and 12-3-1 when limiting the Sooners to no more than 20 points.
• The Longhorns are 5-3 since 2000 when averaging at least four yards per carry on offense vs. Oklahoma. UT is 3-0 when rushing for at least 200 yards and 0-7 when
rushing for less than 100 yards against OU during that stretch.
• Since 1990, the team with a returning quarterback that has prior experience in the Red River Showdown is 14-4-1 against a team with a quarterback making his first start in the rivalry game.
RED RIVER RANKINGS
• Saturday’s matchup will pit the No. 21/23 Longhorns against the 6/5 Sooners. It marks the 23rd consecutive Red River Showdown in which at least one of the teams
has been ranked and the 15th time in that span in which both teams will be ranked heading into the game.
• Before the 2018 AT&T Red River Showdown, when Texas was ranked No. 19/20 and Oklahoma No. 7/5, the two teams had not met as ranked foes since 2012.
• Since 2000, the two teams have met as ranked foes 15 times. Oklahoma owns an advantage in such matchups, having won 11-of-15 contests against Texas.
• Before the 2018 Big 12 Championship Game, when No. 9/9 Texas met No. 5/5 Oklahoma, the last time the two teams were both ranked inside the Top 10 for a meeting was in 2008, when No. 5/5 Texas defeated No. 1/1 Oklahoma, 45-35.
AND WE’RE COMING TO YOUR CITY
• This year’s AT&T Red River Showdown game will once again have the spotlight shining brightly on it by ESPN and the College GameDay crew. Details on the set location and other information will be available throughout the week on TexasSports.com and all of the Longhorn social media platforms, but it will mark the seventh time the GameDay set and its show have been a prominent fixture at the game. The last time was the 2018 thriller when Cameron Dicker’s 40-yard field goal with 14 seconds remaining sealed a 48-45 Longhorn victory.
• Saturday’s game will mark the 18th time that College GameDay will be on hand for a Longhorn Football game. The last time the hit ESPN show made an appearance in Austin was2019 when Texas hosted LSU.
• Texas is 10-7 all-time when the Horns are one of the teams in College GameDay’s featured matchup, highlighted by a 5-2 mark when the show comes to the Forty Acres. The Horns and Sooners have split the previous six appearances at three apiece.
PUTTING UP POINTS
• In the victory over Texas Tech, the Longhorns scored 70 points in a game for the first time since 2005 Big 12 Championship Game against Colorado.
• It was only the second time since 1977 and 11th time in school history that UT has scored 70 points in a game.
• The 70 points tied for the second most scored against a Big 12 opponent in conference play, while the 42 points scored in the first half were also the second most in a Big 12 contest.
• Texas has scored at least 32 points in four of five games this season.
• It was the fifth time in six games the Longhorns had scored 35 or more points.
• The Longhorns have surpassed 50 points in four of the last seven games.
• Texas scored at least 40 points in the first half against Rice (44 on Sept. 18) and Texas Tech (42 on Sept. 25), marking the first time since 2003 (41 vs. Rice/49 vs. Tulane) that the Longhorns tallied at least 40 first-half points in back-to-back games.
• Texas has outscored opponents 123-55 in the first half this season.
FULL STEAM AHEAD
• The running backs ran wild in Texas’ 58-0 win over Rice with three Longhorns breaking runs for over 60 yards, the first time in program history that three different players have registered rushes of over 60 yards in the same game.
• Junior Roschon Johnson started things off with a 72-yard jaunt for a score in the first quarter and sophomore Bijan Robinson followed with a 62-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Not to be out done, sophomore Keilan Robinson added a 65-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
• Texas finished the game with a program-single-game record 10.4 yards per carry (41 carries for 427 yards).
• The last time Texas had three different players with a run of 60 yards or more in a season was 2004. Romance Taylor had a 74-yard touchdown run in the season opener against North Texas and Cedric Benson busted a 60-yard run at Arkansas the following week. Vince Young added one of his own with a 60-yard run in the Rose Bowl against Michigan.
• Texas’ previous season with at least three runs of 60 yards took place in 2015, when D’Onta Foreman had three (Kansas – 93 yards, Oklahoma – 81 yards, West Virginia – 65 yards) and Chris Warren III had one (Texas Tech – 91 yards).
• The last time there were three plays of 60 or more yards in a single game occurred against Oklahoma in 2005 when Jamaal Charles ran 80 yards for a touchdown, Rodrique Wright scored on a 67-yard fumble return and Vince Young connected with Billy Pittman for a 64-yard touchdown pass.
• In addition to three players busting 60-plus yard runs, four different players rushed for touchdowns against Rice, with freshman Jonathon Brooks joining the trio with a 17-yard score in the fourth quarter.
BREAKING BIG PLAYS
• Texas registered 600 yards of offense in each game against Rice and Texas Tech (620 vs. Rice/639 vs. Tech). That’s just the second time in school history that the Longhorns had back-to-back 600-yard games. UT had 3-straight 600-yard games in 2005 (606 vs. Oklahoma State/645 vs. Baylor/617 vs. Kansas). The 1,259 yards over two games were the second-most yards in a two-game stretch in UT history.
• Texas rushed for 427 yards against Rice and 346 against Texas Tech, the first time rushing for more than 300 yards in back-to-back games since 2016 against Cal (307) and Oklahoma State (329).
• The Longhorns surpassed 300 yards passing and 300 yards rushing on the day, which was last accomplished against Colorado in the 2020 Alamo Bowl.
Sat., Oct. 9 @ 6:00 pm CT
TCU Horned Frogs at Texas Tech Red Raiders
TCU Horned Frogs
ABOUT THE GAME
• After opening a season with four consecutive home games for just the second time in its history, TCU makes its first road trip of 2021 when it travels to Lubbock to face Texas Tech on Saturday at 6 p.m.
• Since TCU began Big 12 play in 2012, the road team has won six of nine games in the series.
• TCU’s last three trips to Jones AT&T Stadium (2015, 55-52; 2017, 27-3; 2019, 33-31) mark the only time in program history it has won consecutive games in Lubbock.
• TCU Head Coach Gary Patterson and Texas Tech Head Coach Matt Wells first crossed paths in Logan, Utah. Patterson was the secondary coach at Utah State from 1992-94. It overlapped with Wells’ first three seasons as an Aggies’ quarterback (1992-96).
• The game marks a Homecoming for TCU sophomore wide receiver Blair Conwright, who totaled 105 receptions for 1,540 yards and 25 TDs as a senior at Lubbock’s Coronado High School.
ROAD WARRIORS
• Since 2009, TCU is tied for fifth nationally with 44 road wins. The Horned Frogs are 44-20 (.688) in that stretch.
• TCU’s 52-26 record (.667) in road and neutral-site games since 2009 is seventh-best nationally.
• TCU’s 34-19 mark (.635) in conference road games since 2009 is tied for 11th-best in the FBS.
• TCU is 22-19 on the road in its Big 12 history.
SERIES HISTORY
• Texas Tech holds a 32-28-3 edge over TCU in the all-time series which began with a 28-16 Horned Frogs’ win in Fort Worth in 1926.
• TCU is 8-18-3 versus the Red Raiders in Lubbock but on a three-game winning streak. The Horned Frogs are 20-14 against Texas Tech in Fort Worth.
FAMILIAR FACES
• Texas Tech Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach Sonny Cumbie served in an OC role at TCU the previous seven sevens (2014-20).
• TCU Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach Chad Glasgow was Tech’s DC in 2011.
• Texas Tech Associate Head Coach/Special Teams coordinator Mark Tommerdahl was TCU’s tight ends/special teams coach from 1998-00, Gary Patterson’s three seasons as the Frogs’ defensive coordinator.
• Jake Brown, offensive quality control at Texas Tech, was at TCU four years in two different stints (2014-16, 2018) under Patterson.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Texas Tech Offensive Coordinator Sonny Cumbie has been on both sides of scoring history in the TCU-Texas Tech series.
• As TCU’s Co-OC, he helped lead the Horned Frogs to single-game TCU and Big 12 scoring records with an 82-27 victory over the Red Raiders in 2014.
• The most points ever allowed by TCU under Gary Patterson was in 2004, when Cumbie was the starting quarterback for Texas Tech in its 70-35 win.
TCU NOTABLES
• Over the last seven seasons, TCU has the Big 12’s third-best conference record (38-26) and overall mark (60-32).
• TCU is one of just seven programs nationally to finish with an Associated Press Top-10 final ranking in at least three of the last seven seasons (2014, 2015, 2017). The others are Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Penn State.
• TCU Head Coach Gary Patterson, at 21 seasons, is the nation’s second-longest tenured head coach, trailing only Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz (23rd year).
• During Patterson’s time at TCU, all other FBS programs in Texas have had at least four head coaches.
• Patterson has released two music singles in which he wrote and provided lead vocals on, “Take A Step Back” and “Game On.”
v TCU’s 34-32 win over Cal improved its record to 8-0 under Patterson against Pac-12 opponents.
• Zach Evans has topped 100 yards rushing in three straight games and leads all active players nationally in career yards per carry average at 7.7.
SADDLE TROPHY
• A longtime tradition was renewed in 2017 when TCU and Texas Tech battled for the Saddle Trophy. The teams used to compete annually in the West Texas Championship for the Saddle Trophy, before it went away in the early 1970s.
• Thanks to M.L. Leddy’s Boots & Saddlery of Fort Worth, the Saddle Trophy returned and headed to Fort Worth after TCU’s 27-3 victory in Lubbock.
• The Saddle Trophy sits on a stand and includes the logos for TCU and Texas Tech. Scores for 60-plus years of the rivalry are represented on the stand.
FROG OFFENSIVE NOTES
DUGGAN VERSUS THE RED RAIDERS
• Max Duggan is 2-0 against Texas Tech.
• As a true freshman in 2019 in Lubbock, Duggan totaled a career-high 398 yards of offense, including a career-best 323 passing, in a 33-31 win. He also had a personal-best 25 completions with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He added 75 yards rushing on 18 carries, including a 20-yard touchdown.
• In last year’s 34-18 win over the Red Raiders, Duggan’s 81-yard touchdown run was the longest by a quarterback in TCU history and tied for 10th-longest overall. He rushed for a career-high and team-best 154 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries. He had scoring runs of 81, 3 and 48 yards.
SHOWING OFF THE LEGS
• Max Duggan ran for a team-best 526 yards last season, making him the first quarterback to lead TCU in rushing since Gil Bartosh in 1950 (710 yards).
• Duggan’s 10 rushing touchdowns in 2020 were the most by a Horned Frogs quarterback since Kenny Hill’s 10 in 2016. Hill now serves as TCU’s QB coach.
• Duggan is the first TCU quarterback with multiple 100-yard rushing games in a season in the 21-year Gary Patterson head coaching era. His three career 100-yard rushing games tie the TCU quarterback record (Trevone Boykin, 2012-15).
TOTING THE ROCK
4Below is a look at TCU’s percentage of running plays
since 2014:
Year Pct. of Run Plays
2014 49.0
2015 52.0
2016 49.2
2017 55.3
2018 54.6
2019 56.4
2020 60.1
2021 58.9
• The 2020 campaign saw TCU with its highest percentage of running plays in its nine seasons in the Big 12. It was TCU’s most since 2011 (60.3 percent), its last year in the Mountain West Conference.
•The Horned Frogs have had more runs than passes in 24 of their last 29 games.
IT’S A RUSH
• TCU ran for 271 yards against Cal and is 102-8 under Head Coach Gary Patterson with 200 yards rushing.
NUMERO UNO
• Quentin Johnston is second on TCU with 12 receptions, while his 170 receiving yards rank first.
• He closed the 2020 campaign by becoming the first TCU true freshman in at least the last 25 years with back-to-back 100-yard receiving games. He was also the first TCU player with consecutive 100-yard receiving games since Josh Doctson had a school record six straight in 2015.
• Johnston was one of three FBS true freshmen last season with back-to-back 100-yard receiving games. The others were Mississippi State’s Jaden Walley and LSU’s Kayshon Boutte. Johnston was the first Big 12 true freshman with consecutive 100-yard receiving games since Baylor’s K.D. Cannon in 2014.
• Johnston’s 22.1 yards per catch average set a TCU season record (min. 20 receptions) and was the highest by a true freshman in Big 12 history. It was also second nationally since 2008 for a true freshman at a Power 5 program.
• In his spare time, Johnston is an accomplished graphic design artist.
THE STREAK
• JD Spielman has the second-longest active streak in the nation for consecutive games with a reception:
Name Consecutive Games w/ a Catch
Justin Hall, Ball State 48 JD Spielman, TCU 40
Jake Ferguson, Wisconsin 38
Emeka Emezie, NC State 37
• The streak covers every game of Spielman’s career. He played his first three seasons at Nebraska and was a three-time All-Big Ten selection.
• Spielman had an 11-yard touchdown catch against Texas and had TCU career-highs with three receptions and 54 yards versus SMU.
BARBER, NOT DIGGS
• Taye Barber, who was named after actor Taye Diggs, had three receptions for 37 yards against Texas to push him over the 100 career mark in catches. He’s at 102.
• Barber posted his second career 100-yard receiving game with 114 yards on five catches against SMU. Included in his total was a 21-yard touchdown and a career long 60-yard reception.
FREAKS
• TCU wide receiver Derius Davis and offensive guard Wes Harris appeared on Bruce Feldman’s annual College Football Freaks list.
• TCU Assistant Athletics Director for Strength and Conditioning Don Sommer called Davis, “pound-forpound the strongest guy on the team.” At 5-foot-9 and 162 pounds, Davis has a 550 squat, 370 bench and 350 clean while being clocked at 4.3 in the 40.
• Harris is called “stupid strong” by Sommer and is cut off after reaching a bench of 530 pounds, squat of 705 and 470 hang clean.
IN THE ZONE
• TCU has scored on all 18 red-zone possessions, including 13 touchdowns, this season. 4The Horned Frogs are the only Big 12 member and one of nine teams nationally at 100 percent on red-zone scoring efficiency.
FROG DEFENSIVE NOTES
• Hodges-Tomlinson, who made his debut at safety against Texas after starting the game at cornerback, had a career-high in tackles for the second straight game with nine stops. He also forced a fumble.
• Horton totaled a TCU career-best nine tackles, equaling his combined total of stops for the season entering the game. The nine tackles also surpass his season total of eight in 2020.
HONORABLE-MENTION TACKLERS
• While not leading the team in tackles against Texas, safety Nook Bradford and linebacker Jamoi Hodge both totaled eight stops.
• Bradford, who also recorded his first career interception, made his first start of the season and second of his career.
• Hodge’s eight tackles topped his career total of six stops entering the game.
SUPER SENIOR
• Defensive tackle Corey Bethley has returned for his super senior season.
• Bethley’s 31 career starts top all current Horned Frogs. The two-time Honorable-Mention All-Big 12 selection started the opening four games last year before a season-ending injury. It snapped his streak of 29 consecutive starts.
KEEPING THEM OFF THE FIELD
• TCU has forced its opponent into a 3-and-out on 11-of-44 (25.0 percent) offensive series this season:
Opponent 3-and-outs
Duquesne 5-of-9
Cal 4-of-11
SMU 0-of-12
Texas 2-of-12
4Over the final six games in 2020, TCU held its
opponents to a 3-and-out on 46.6 percent (41-of-88) of
their possessions.
PBU WATCH
• Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson led the Big 12 last season and was second nationally with his 13 pass breakups:
Name PBUs
Shemar Jean-Charles, Appalachian State 16
Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU 13
Steven Gilmore, Marshall 12
Jarron Morris, Texas State 11
Damarcus Fields, Texas Tech 11
• Hodges-Tomlinson had a career-best three pass breakups versus Texas, Texas Tech, West Virginia and Oklahoma State.
• Pro Football Focus ranked Hodges-Tomlinson No. 1 in the nation in coverage grade at 89.1, allowing only 12 catches on 45 targets over the last nine games.
Name PFF Coverage Grade
Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU 89.1
Marcus Jones, Houston 88.9
Patrick Surtain II, Alabama 88.6
Zech McPhearson, Texas Tech 85.7
THE DYNAMIC DUO
• Defensive ends Ochaun Mathis and Khari Coleman were as productive as any duo in the nation last year, combining for 29.0 tackles for loss and 12.0 sacks.
• Mathis was second in the Big 12 and tied for fifth in the nation last season with 9.0 sacks:
Player Sacks
Will McDonald, Iowa State 10.5
Jordan Strachan, Georgia State 10.5
Patrick Johnson, Tulane 10.0
Cade Hall, San Jose State 10.0
Ochaun Mathis, TCU 9.0
Patrick Jones II, Pittsburgh 9.0
Leighton McCarthy, FAU 9.0
• The 9.0 sacks from Mathis were the most by a Horned Frog since Mat Boesen had 11.5 in 2017.
MR. TURNOVER
• La’Kendrick Van Zandt tied for the TCU lead by taking part in three takeaways in 2020.
• Van Zandt was the Jim Thorpe Award Player of the Week for his performance in the 33-31 win at Texas.
• Van Zandt made a game-saving tackle when he caught a Texas player from behind who was racing to the end zone for a go-ahead score with three minutes left in the contest. Two plays later, the Horned Frogs forced a turnover to help preserve the victory. Van Zandt totaled a team-high and career-best seven tackles, including one for loss, while adding an interception and 37-yard return to set up a TCU score.
• Van Zandt caught a backwards pass by Iowa State that he returned 24 yards for a touchdown.
SACK WATCH
• Since beginning Big 12 play in 2012, TCU leads the conference in most games with at least three sacks:
Team 3+ Sack Games (Since 2012)
TCU 54
Texas 53
Oklahoma State 50
Oklahoma 48
4The Horned Frogs have at least one sack in 89 of
their last 95 contests.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
SERIES HISTORY
Overall Tech leads 32-28-3
In Lubbock Tech leads 19-9-3
In Fort Worth TCU leads 19-13
At Neutral Site None
Current Streak Lost 2
Last Meeting TCU 34, Tech 18 (2020)
TECH LOOKS TO BRING BACK THE SADDLE
• Texas Tech, fresh off a 23-20 victory at West Virginia this past weekend, returns to Jones AT&T Stadium this Saturday to host TCU in the annual Battle for the Saddle game. The Red Raiders will look to return the saddle trophy to West Texas as TCU has won each of the last two games in the series as well as each of the last three in Lubbock.
• This is the fifth year since Texas Tech and TCU renewed the Battle for the Saddle Trophy, which was originally presented to the winning team from 1961-70 before it suddenly disappeared. The two schools created a replica trophy prior to the 2017 meeting, which was a 27-3 TCU victory in Lubbock.
SATURDAY NIGHT IN THE JONES
• There are few better environments in college football than a night game at Jones AT&T Stadium, and add in the fact it’s Homecoming, it should provide an electric atmosphere with a 4-1 team returning from back-toback weeks on the road. Dating back to the 2002 season, Texas Tech is 43-16 in night games at home, an impressive 72.8 winning percentage during that span. Fans are encouraged to wear black for the primetime contest.
• During the Big 12 era, the Red Raiders are a notable 42-16 against unranked conference opponents at home with wins in each of their last three contests. Texas Tech is 1-1 when hosting an unranked TCU team during its tenure in the Big 12 and 15-7-3 all-time in the series.
SCHOOLER POWERING STEADY DEFENSE
• Colin Schooler is coming off possibly his best performance as a Red Raider as the senior notched 15 tackles and forced a key fumble on a stripsack in the win over West Virginia. For his effort, he was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week on Monday.
• Schooler, the FBS active leader in career tackles and tackles for loss, has helped power a Red Raider defense that is allowing only 21.0 points, 64.2 rushing yards and 323.8 yards of total offense per game in its four wins this season. He currently ranks 32nd in the FBS in total tackles per game, chipping in 8.8 per game and leads the team with 44 stops this season.
TEAM NOTEBOOK
RED RAIDERS, TCU SET FOR 64TH MEETING BETWEEN FORMER SWC FOES
• Texas Tech and TCU will meet for the 64th time in history Saturday as the Red Raiders lead the all-time series with a 32-28-3 advantage. This will be the ninth meeting between the two former Southwest Conference foes since the Horned Frogs joined the Big 12 prior to the 2012 season.
• TCU snapped a five-year run where the visiting team prevailed in 2020 as the Horned Frogs topped the Red Raiders, 34-18, in Fort Worth. Texas Tech had previously gone on the road to defeat the Horned Frogs in its previous two trips, using a Clayton Hatfield game-winning field goal from 37 yards out in 2016 and then a steady defense for a 17-14 victory in 2018.
• The Red Raiders will be looking to snap a three-game home losing streak to the Horned Frogs as Texas Tech’s last win inside Jones AT&T Stadium over TCU was a 20-10 victory to start league play in 2013. Since then, TCU has won the last three meetings, including a pair of close outcomes such as a 55-52 victory in the closing seconds of the 2015 meeting and a 33-31 win in its last visit to Lubbock in 2019.
• Texas Tech is hoping to avoid its first three-game losing streak to the Horned Frogs since the 1958-60 seasons under then head coach Dewitt Weaver. The final loss for the Red Raiders in that stretch came in 1960, the first year as Southwest Conference members for both Texas Tech and TCU.
• Texas Tech and TCU were previously members of the Southwest Conference from 1960-95 where the Red Raiders held a 21-12-3 advantage in those games. The two schools met twice as non-conference foes in 2004 and 2006 prior to TCU joining the Big 12 in 2012.
CAREER NOTABLES VERSUS THE HORNED FROGS
• Henry Colombi threw for 234 yards and two touchdowns a year ago against the Horned Frogs, which marked only his third start of his career at the time. Both touchdowns were of at least 50 yards as he found both Ja’Lynn Polk and Erik Ezukanma on explosive plays.
• Erik Ezukanma has caught seven passes for 151 yards and a pair of touchdowns over his career against TCU as he had four grabs for 91 yards and a score in 2019 and then three receptions for 60 yards a year ago, which included a 57-yard scoring strike in the second half. Ezukanma has broken loose for a 50-yard catch in each of the last two meetings with TCU.
• Riko Jeffers notched his first game with 10 or more tackles against the Horned Frogs in 2019 as he recorded 11 knockdowns (8 solo), including one that went for a 10-yard sack. He followed with nine stops a year ago, giving him 22 tackles over his career versus TCU, which includes 2.0 tackles for loss.
• DaMarcus Fields owns 11 career tackles against the Horned Frogs to go along with two pass breakups in the secondary. Both pass breakups came during the 2020 battle between the two schools.
RED RAIDERS IN BIG 12 HOME OPENERS
• Texas Tech enters this weekend with a 15-10 record all-time in Big 12 home openers despite dropping eight of its last 12, including a 63-56 overtime loss a year ago to in-state rival Texas. TCU has served as Texas Tech’s conference home opener twice previously as the Red Raiders welcomed the Horned Frogs to the Big 12 with a 20-10 victory in 2013 before falling 55-52 two years later in 2015.
• TCU is the first unranked opponent to serve as Texas Tech’s conference home opener since the Red Raiders hosted Kansas in a Thursday night battle in 2016. The Red Raiders have opened their Big 12 home slate with a ranked opponent in nine of the past 11 years. Texas Tech is 12-2 all-time against unranked foes in Big 12 home openers.
• Matt Wells is 1-1 thus far in Big 12 home openers as the Red Raiders surprised No. 21 Oklahoma State, 45-35, in his debut season in 2019 before falling in overtime to Texas, 63-56, a year ago.
RANDOM TIDBITS HEADING INTO TCU GAME
• Texas Tech received four points in this week’s Associated Press top-25 poll and two points in the AFCA Coaches poll. It is the second time the Red Raiders have received votes in the AP poll this season and the first time in the coaches poll.
• A victory over TCU would improve the Red Raiders to 5-1, marking their best start to a season since 2013 when the Red Raiders opened the Kliff Kingsbury era with seven-consecutive wins.
• Texas Tech was missing eight members of its preseason depth chart in the win over West Virginia, a list that included two of its three All-Big 12 preseason selections in wide receiver Erik Ezukanma and center Dawson Deaton. The Red Raiders were also without quarterback Tyler Shough (broken collarbone), defensive backs Marquis Waters (out for season), DaMarcus Fields and Malik Dunlap, wide receiver J.J. Sparkman and running back Tahj Brooks.
• The win over West Virginia improved Matt Wells to 8-1 over his career in the week immediately after suffering a loss by 30 or more points. That includes a 2-1 mark while at Texas Tech as the Red Raiders previously overcame an early loss at No. 6 Oklahoma to defeat No. 21 Oklahoma State at home just a week later in 2019.
• The 6 p.m. start time against TCU gives the Red Raiders three-consecutive night starts to open a home slate for the first time since 2016. Dating back to the 2002 season, Texas Tech is 43-16 in night games inside Jones AT&T Stadium, an impressive 72.8 winning percentage during that span.
• TCU represents the sixth-consecutive unranked opponent to start the season for the Red Raiders. Texas Tech had not previously opened a season with six-straight unranked foes since 2008 when the Red Raiders opened with seven opponents outside the top-25, going a perfect 7-0 in those contests. Matt Wells is 52-37 over his career against unranked opponents.
• This will be the second-consecutive week the Red Raiders will face an elite kick returner as TCU returner J.D. Spielman ranks sixth in the FBS with a 33.6 average. Texas Tech previously limited West Virginia returner Winston Wright to only 36 yards on his three attempts this past weekend. Wright also ranks among the top-10 players nationally for kick return average this season.
• Colin Schooler was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week on Monday following his 15-tackle performance at West Virginia. It marked the second weekly award of Schooler’s career as a Red Raider as he was previously recognized following Texas Tech’s victory over Baylor last season (Nov. 15).
• Texas Tech committed only two penalties in its win over West Virginia, marking its fewest in a game since the Red Raiders were called for the same amount in their 2017 win at Kansas. The Red Raiders were penalized for only 20 yards against West Virginia, which was the third time already under Matt Wells where Texas Tech had 20 or less penalty yards (2020 at West Virginia and 2020 at Texas). Under Wells, Texas Tech is averaging 5.9 penalties and 53.2 penalty yards per game, a drastic improvement from the 7.8 penalties and 69.4 penalty yards per game the Red Raiders averaged from 2000-18.
