West Virginia at Cincinnati (FS1) 12 p.m. ET
THE SERIES
All-Time Series …………………….. WVU leads 17-3-1
In Cincinnati………………………………WVU leads 8-1
In Morgantown……………………… WVU leads 9-2-1
At Neutral Site …………………………………………..0-0
First Meeting………………………1921, WVU 50-0 (H)
Last Meeting…………………….2023, WVU 42-21 (H)
Brown vs. UC……………………………………………..1-0
Brown vs. Satterfield …………………………………..2-2
Satterfield vs. WVU……………………………………..0-1
West Virginia Notes
NOTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
• The 2024 season marks West Virginia’s 132nd season of football. The Mountaineers are tied with Texas A&M as the 15th winningest program in college football • The 2024 year marks the 45th season of competition for West Virginia at Milan Puskar Stadium. WVU has a 199-79-4 (.713) all-time mark at the facility, which opened in 1980 • WVU is 11-6-1 in games played on Nov. 9, including 6-3 on the road. The last time WVU played on that date was in 2019 against Texas Tech (L 38-17) • Since 2002, the Mountaineers are 102-15 when winning the turnover battle • West Virginia has reached 100 yards on the ground 42 times in the Neal Brown era • Overall, the Mountaineers are 31-11 in the Neal Brown era when rushing for at least 100 yards • West Virginia has surpassed at least 140 rushing yards in 23 of the last 24 games, dating back to 2022 • The Mountaineers are ranked No. 5 nationally for fewest penalty yards per game and No. 12 in fewest penalties per game. • WVU’s offense is ranked No. 29 nationally for most possession time in 2024 (31.36) • West Virginia’s rushing attack is ranked No. 23 nationally in most yards per game (202.3) • The Mountaineers are tied for No. 2 nationally in fourth downs converted (17) in FBS football in 2024. Three of WVU’s touchdowns at Arizona came on fourth down • WVU’s defense also has recorded multiple sacks in 10 of the last 13 games • The Mountaineer defense has recorded at least four tackles for loss in 26 of the last 29 games • West Virginia has held 16 of its last 20 opponents to fewer than 300 yards passing • The Mountaineer rushing defense is ranked No. 39 nationally, holding its opponents to 121.5 yards per game. WVU has held its opponents to 130 yards rushing or fewer in six of eight games • WVU is ranked No. 25 in punt return defense (4.4), No. 26 nationally in kickoff return defense (16.96) and No. 39 in net punting (40.8) • Jahiem White has 32 missed tackles forced to lead WVU, CJ Donaldson Jr. has 23 and Garrett Greene has 21. • White is ranked No. 44 nationally for rushing yards per carry (5.8) • Greene is ranked No. 20 nationally for passing yards per completion (13.66), No. 26 nationally for rushing yards per carry (6.2) and No. 42 nationally for most total offense yards per game (260.4) • According to PFF College, Wyatt Milum is ranked as the No. 1 offensive tackle in the nation, grading out at 92.1%. His 90.1 run-blocking grade is No. 2 and his pass-blocking grade is No. 5. He has played 193 snaps and has not allowed a pressure, a sack or a quarterback hit • TJ Jackson II is ranked No. 11 nationally and No. 1 in the Big 12 for most tackles for loss per game (1.4) • Jackson is ranked No. 4 in the Big 12 for most sacks per game (0.56) • Michael Hayes II is ranked No. 18 nationally for field goal percentage (.900).
ON TURF
• Since 1980, West Virginia is 276-131-5 in games played on artificial turf surfaces. • WVU was 57-29 on turf in the 1990s, 66-21 on turf in the 2000s, 61-40 during the 2010s and 27-18 during the 2020s on turf.
SERIES HISTORY WITH CINCINNATI
• This marks the 22nd meeting in the series, with WVU leading, 17-3-1. WVU is 7-1 in games played in Cincinnati and 10-2-1 in games played in Morgantown. • WVU was 11-0-1 in the first 12 games in the series, winning 50-0 in 1921 and 34-0 in 1922. The two teams played again in 1936, 1939 and 1940, with WVU winning the first two, 40-6 and 7-0, and tying the third game, 7-7. • The Mountaineers won in 1969 (57-11), 1980 (41-27) and five more between 1987-2002. UC earned its first win in 2003 and also won in 2007 and 2008. WVU won all three between 2005-07 and in 2010, 2011 and 2023. • All the games played until 2005 were non-conference matchups. The two competed as members of the Big East from 2005-2011and faced as members of the Big 12 starting in 2023.
30 IS ENOUGH
• Since 1980, West Virginia is 216-30-1 when scoring 30 or more points in a game. During the 1990s, West Virginia was 43-4 when scoring 30 or more points in a contest and was 40-2-1 in the ‘80s when reaching that mark. WVU is 135- 25 since 2000 when scoring 30 points or more in a contest.
SCORING 40 OR MORE POINTS
• Since 2000, the Mountaineers are 71-7 when hitting the 40-point plateau. WVU is 201-7 all-time when scoring 40 or more points in a game.
OVERTIME GAMES
• The 55-42 overtime loss to Kansas in 2022 marked the 16th and most recent overtime game in West Virginia history. The Mountaineers own a 7-9 record in overtime games. • West Virginia played its first overtime game against Pitt in 1997, dropping a three-overtime thriller, 41-38.
AGAINST THE BIG 12
• West Virginia is 77-49-1 all-time against current members of the Big 12 Conference. WVU is 1-0 against Arizona; 1-1 vs. Arizona State; 8-4 against Baylor; 2-0 vs. BYU; 17-3- 1 against Cincinnati; 1-1 vs. Colorado; 0-1 against Houston; 6-6 against Iowa State; 11-2 vs. Kansas; 6-8 against Kansas State; 6-10 vs. Oklahoma State; 8-5 vs. TCU; 7-6 vs. Texas Tech, 3-0 against UCF and 0-2 vs. Utah.
ON GRASS
• Since 1980, West Virginia is 59-73 in games played on natural grass. The Mountaineers were 20-20 during the 2010 decade are 6-7 during the 2020s and are 46-46 since 2000.
AGAINST RANKED TEAMS
• Beginning with a 27-0 loss to Fordham on Oct. 18, 1941, West Virginia has played 174 games against nationally ranked teams. Of those, 51 have been Mountaineer victories. • Since 1999, WVU has posted 27 victories over ranked teams. Penn State was ranked No. 8/9 in the Associated Press and AFCA Coaches Polls when facing the Mountaineers in Morgantown in 2024. Iowa State was ranked No. 11/13 when WVU faced them in the “Coal Rush” game on Oct. 12. Kansas State was ranked No. 17/17 when the Mountaineers played host on Oct. 19.
Cincinnati Notes
BEARCATS WELCOME MOUNTAINEERS BACK TO NIPPERT FOR 100TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
• Cincinnati welcomes West Virginia for the 22nd meeting between the two schools who used to be BIG EAST rivals. The Bearcats (5-3) and Mountaineers (4-4) bring identical 3-2 Big 12 records into the game and are both coming off of a bye. • UC and WVU have played in several epic games, meeting every year from 2005 to 2011. These games featured big performances from legends from both teams, including Mardy Gilyard, Jason Kelce, Pat McAfee, Tony Pike, Isaiah Pead, Geno Smith and Pat White among several stars. • The last time Cincinnati beat WVU came in a 24-21 win on Nov. 13, 2009 inside Nippert Stadium. An injured Tony Pike threw two touchdowns off the bench while splitting time at quarterback with Zach Collaros, while Pead rushed for 175 yards. Both Travis (backup TE) and Jason Kelce (starting LG) played in the game for UC. The win kept UC perfect at 10-0.
MORE ON CINCY – WVU BATTLE
• Cincinnati QB Brendan Sorsby and West Virginia QB Garrett Greene are two of the best running QBs in the league. Sorsby leads all Big 12 QBs in rushing touchdowns (6), while Greene leads Big 12 QBs in rushing yards (443). • West Virginia won 42-21 in last season’s matchup in Morgantown as Greene rushed for 154 yards and three scores and Jaheim White added 204 yards on the ground. UC QB Brady Lichtenberg made his first career start, Xzavier Henderson caught a 55- yard pass and DB Ken Willis had a red-zone interception in the loss. • Cincinnati sixth-year LB Jared Bartlett ranks second in the Big 12 in sacks (5.5). He played five years for WVU, appearing in 50 games and tallying 21.0 TFLs. • West Virginia is coming off a 31-26 victory at Arizona on Oct. 26. With Greene out, backup QB Nicco Marchiol completed 18 of 22 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns in the win.
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF NIPPERT STADIUM
• Saturday’s game will be a continuation of a season-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of the dedication of Nippert Stadium. James Gamble Nippert Memorial Stadium was dedicated on Nov. 8, 1924 in memory of Jimmy Nippert, who tragically passed away on Dec. 25, 1923. • On Nov. 29, 1923, during a muddy game vs. Miami University, Jimmy sustained a severe leg injury from a cleat. Despite the injury, he continued to play the entire game. The injury led to septicemia due to the lack of antibiotics, and despite numerous blood transfusions from teammates, Jimmy’s condition worsened. • In his memory, his grandfather, James N. Gamble, funded the completion of the UC stadium, leading to its renaming as the James Gamble Nippert Memorial Stadium. • James N. Gamble was the son of the co-founder of Procter & Gamble and was a retired vice president at the time of Jimmy’s passing. P&G was founded in 1837 and is still headquartered in Cincinnati. • Today, Nippert Stadium stands as the centerpiece of the University of Cincinnati’s campus. Nippert Stadium’s turf is open to all students for recreation when not in use by the football or lacrosse teams for practices or games.
HOMETOWN HERO KINER PROVIDES THUNDER, TRANSFER PRYOR IS THE LIGHTNING
• Senior RB Corey Kiner is the Big 12’s second-highest-rated RB (84.7) according to PFF. He ranks fourth nationally in missed tackles forced with 55. Cincinnati is 4-1 when he rushes 20 times. He has 10 career 100-yard games. • The former Ohio Mr. Football ranks 12th in school history with 2,101 career yards at UC. • Evan Pryor is averaging 9.2 yards per rush this season, tied for first in the FBS among players with 35+ carries (Marshall’s A.J. Turner also at 9.2). Pryor has three rushing TDs of 50+ yards tied for the second most in the FBS.
BEARCATS BUILDING A RESUME
• Cincinnati has the Big 12’s most efficient offense and 11th best in the nation according to ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI). • ESPN’s FPI rates Cincinnati as the 38th-best team in the country and gives the Bearcats a 91% chance of reaching six wins. • QB Brendan Sorsby is one of three FBS players with 2000+ passing yards, 15+ passing touchdowns and 5+ rushing TDs this season, along with Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel and Washington State’s John Mateer. • Sorbsy has passed for 2,108 yards and 15 touchdowns with four interceptions. He also has six rushing scores. His 21 total TDs rank second in the Big 12. He is on pace for the seventh 3,000-yard-passing season in Cincinnati history. • Cincinnati ranks third in the Big 12 and 30th nationally in total offense (438.9) and keeps opposing defenses on the field longer than most, ranking second in the conference and 17th overall in time of possession (32:08).
BEARCATS ON THE BRINK OF BOWLING
• Cincinnati is now 5-3 this season, one win away from reaching bowl eligibility. • The Bearcats have appeared 22 bowls in school history and are 10-12 all-time in bowl games. • Their last bowl appearance was the 2022 Wasabi Fenway Bowl, a 24-7 loss vs. Louisville. • UC has been to a bowl game in 12 of the last 16 seasons, a stretch that includes four New Year’s Six bowls and a College Football Playoff appearance in 2021.
NIPP AT NOON
• Saturday will be Cincinnati’s fifth home game of the year and its fourth straight home game kicking off at noon. • All five home games have been day games for UC, as the season opener vs. Towson kicked off at 2:30 p.m. and games against Pitt, Houston, Arizona State, and now West Virginia all kicked or will kick off at noon.
BEARCATS AND BYE WEEKS
• Following the win at UCF on Oct. 12, Cincinnati improved to 12-5 coming off a bye week since the start of the 2015 season. • The Bearcats enter Saturday’s game vs. West Virginia coming off a bye week as well. Their last game was Oct. 26 at Colorado. • The Bearcats have won six straight road games coming off a bye, including two ranked wins. • Below is a look at Cincinnati’s last 10 regular season games coming off a bye week:
#17/18 Iowa State at Kansas (FS1) 2:30 p.m. CT
#17/18 Iowa State Notes
THE LEAD
No. 17 Iowa State looks to regain its winning ways as it travels to Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs, for a Big 12 Conference showdown against the Kansas Jayhawks. The Cyclones enter the game 7-1 overall and 4-1 in Big 12 Conference play
KEY STORYLINES
• Iowa State looks to win its seventh-straight Big 12 Conference road game … the Cyclones enter Saturday’s tilt with the nation’s fourth-longest conference road winning streak. • The Cyclones are bowl eligible for the seventh time in nine seasons under Matt Campbell. • Campbell became ISU’s winningest football coach earlier this season, surpassing Dan McCarney’s previous mark … he is in his ninth season leading the 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 McCarney (1995-2006) and Clay Stapleton (1958-67) enjoyed longer tenures. • ISU is 12-4 in its last 16 games, including 7-1 in road games (lone loss to Memphis in Liberty Bowl) … in regular season road games, ISU has won its last seven games and outscored opponents 215-111 (30.7-15.9). J ISU’s defense, under Jon Heacock’s direction, leads the Big 12 and ranks ninth nationally allowing just 15.5 points per game … its passing defense has been stout, yielding just 146.6 yards per game (3rd nationally) … overall, ISU is allowing just 311.8 yards of total offense, 20th nationally and second in the Big 12 … the longer the game goes, the stronger the defense gets … in the second half of games, ISU is allowing just 6.6 points and 135.0 yards … in the fourth quarter, opponents are scoring 3.3 points. • The Cyclone defense has a +9 turnover margin, which ranks 11th nationally and leads the Big 12 … seven different Cyclones have combined for 14 interceptions to rank among the nation’s top 5 … since the start of the 2023 season, ISU has 30 interceptions in 21 games, tied for the most nationally in that span. J Rocco Becht has thrown a TD pass in 12-straight games, tying Brock Purdy’s school record for consecutive games with a passing TD … the redshirt sophomore went over 5,000 career passing yards in ISU’s last game. J Becht’s favorite tandem has made it clear they are one of the nation’s best duos … Jayden Higgins has a TD in nine of his last 10 games … Noel (3) and Higgins (3) each have multiple 100-yard games this season … against Texas Tech, the duo combined for 15 catches for 184 yards and one TD … it was the sixth time in eight games they combined for at least 10 catches, 175 yards and a score, the most nationally by a set of teammates.
RUSHING ATTACK
• Iowa State has rushed for 16 TDs through eight games this season after having 16 in 13 games in 2023. • ISU has 1,457 rushing yards in 2024, compared to just 1,559 in 2023. • Carson Hansen’s seven rushing TDs are more than ISU’s leader from a season ago (Abu Sama, 6). • Hansen is the first Cyclone to have had 90+ rushing yards in three-straight games since Breece Hall did it in 2021. • The Cyclones rushed for 200+ yards in three-straight games (Arkansas State, Houston, Baylor) for the first time since 2021 … ISU has rushed for 230+ yards in four of the last six games. • Becht rushed for a career-high 97 yards against UCF, the most by a Cyclone QB since Brock Purdy rushed for 102 against TCU in 2019.
IN THE (RED) ZONE
• ISU has been in the red zone 35 times this season, scoring 23 touchdowns (65.7 percent) … last season, ISU scored touchdowns 60.7 percent of the time when in the red zone … opponents, meanwhile, have just nine touchdowns in 14 red zone trips this season … the 14 red zone trips by opponents are the fewest nationally. • Since the BYU game last season (11 games), ISU has converted 67 percent of its red zone opportunities into touchdowns (29-for-43) … since the Oklahoma State game last season (Sept. 23, 2023), ISU has converted all but four red zone chances into points (58-of-62) … one of the empty chances was a kneel down inside the opponent five-yard line. • ISU has topped 90 percent in the red zone in five of the first eight seasons under Campbell … opponents have only been above 90 percent in the red zone twice in his tenure.
TALKING TURNOVERS
• Iowa State has yet to lose the turnover battle this season, improving to 37-9 under Campbell when winning the battle. • The Cyclones have 14 interceptions through eight games this season and own a turnover margin of +9, which ranks among the nation’s top 10. • The Cyclones had 16 interceptions in 2023 and ranked 16th nationally with a +8 turnover margin.
VERY SPECIAL TEAMS
• Darien Porter’s career has been winding, switching from wide receiver to defensive back after his third season on campus … but one thing has been constant, his impact on special teams … in his sixth season, Porter has stood out on special teams the last four seasons and certainly is again this season. • Drawing his first career start at defensive back, Porter was still making special teams plays against UND … as gunner on the punt team, Porter downed Jace Gilbert’s punt at the 3-yard line. • The Bettendorf, Iowa, native blocked his fourth career punt against Arkansas State, becoming one of just seven players since 2012 to block at least four punts in their career. • In the Big 12 era (1996-present), only Porter and Nick Leaders (2 PAT, 2 FG) have four blocked kicks in their Cyclone career. • The Cyclones blocked another punt against Baylor with Myles Mendeszoon getting the credit … the punt was picked up and returned for a touchdown by walk-on Caden Matson for a touchdown, ISU’s first blocked punt for a TD since 2004. • ISU is one of 13 teams with two blocked punts this season … this is the first time the Cyclones have blocked two punts in a season since 2008.
Kansas Notes
JAYHAWK QUICK HITS
• Playing for his hometown Kansas Jayhawks, senior running back Devin Neal is approaching Kansas’ all-time rushing record (7 yards to pass), rushing touchdowns record (one rush touchdown to pass) and recently became Kansas’ all-time total touchdowns record holder with 44 career touchdowns. Entering Saturday, Neal has compiled 3,835 career rushing yards, which ranks second in Kansas school history, trailing only June Henley (3,841 yards; 1993-96). Last time out at Kansas State, Neal reached the endzone to surpass Henley’s all-time total touchdown record of 43 career touchdowns, which stood since 1996. Neal also moved into a tie for first place all-time in career rushing touchdowns, tying Henley’s 41 rushing touchdowns from 1993-96. Neal was recently named one of 20 semifinalists for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year awarded, given annually to the nation’s top leader both on and off the field. • Neal isn’t the only Jayhawk closing in on records, as senior cornerback Cobee Bryant tied the Kansas school record for interceptions in a game in the 42-14 win over Houston on Oct. 19, marking the first three interception performance since 1958 (Bill Crank vs. Tulane). Bryant was awarded the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, Paycom Jim Thorpe National DB of the Week, Reese’s Senior Bowl Co-Defensive Player of the Week and East-West Shrine Bowl Defensive Player of the Week for his performance. Bryant’s three interceptions brought up his career total to 13 career interceptions, which is tied for second all-time with Kansas great Aqib Talib (2005-07). Bryant trails only Ray Evans, who had 17 career interceptions from 1941-42 and 1946-47, while Bryant’s 13 career interceptions are tied for the most among all active FBS players (Nohl Williams – Cal). • Kansas’ offensive line has shown major strides throughout the 2024 season after losing three starters from a season ago. Anchored by redshirt senior left tackle Bryce Cabeldue, who has 46 career starts recorded, the Jayhawks have allowed the second fewest sacks, and second fewest tackles-for-loss allowed in the Big 12 Conference this season. Dating back to the 2022 season, Kansas has allowed the fourth fewest sacks (35) among power-four offensive lines. According to PFF, the Kansas offensive line has allowed just 80 pressures this season, which are the second fewest among Big 12 programs and 10th fewest among all power-four programs. • Kansas’ offense has been perfect in the red zone so far this season, scoring on 26-of-26 chances inside the red zone so far this season, which ranks first nationally. When in the red zone, Kansas has scored 21 touchdowns and five field goals to date.
IN THE ZONE
• When Kansas reached the red zone, the Jayhawks have been exceptionally efficient, converting 26-of-26 red zone trips for touchdowns, which ranks atop all of college football this season. • Of the 26 red zone scores, 21 have resulted in touchdowns, while five have been converted field goals. • In total, Kansas has scored 162 points in the red zone this season. Of the 21 touchdowns scored, 13 were through rushing touchdowns while eight were scored on passing touchdowns. • Kansas and Troy are the only two teams nationally to convert on 100% of their red zone chances, as Troy has converted 24-of-24.
A KANSAS WIN WOULD …
• Move Kansas to 609-685-58 all-time, including 20- 27 in the Lance Leipold era. Leipold’s career record would improve to 166-66 overall. • Improve Kansas’ all-time series record over Iowa State to 53-45-6, including 30-19-3 in home games against Iowa State. • Give Kansas three consecutive wins over Iowa State, marking Kansas’ first three game win streak over the Cyclones since 2007-09. • Give Kansas its third home win of the 2024 season, marking seven home wins in the Jayhawks’ last 11 games played at home. • Improve Kansas to 3-4 in Big 12 Conference play this season and 12-21 under head coach Lance Leipold. • Improve Kansas to 29-185-2 against AP ranked teams including 18-90-2 against AP ranked opponents at home.
#21/24 Colorado at Texas Tech (FOX) 3 p.m. CT/2 p.m. MDT
Colorado Notes
Texas Tech Notes
TECH WELCOMES BIG NOON KICKOFF FOR CU
Texas Tech will face its second top-25 team in as many weeks on Saturday with No. 21 Colorado visiting Jones AT&T Stadium for a 3 p.m. kickoff. The Red Raiders, fresh off a 23-22 victory at No. 10 Iowa State this past weekend, improved to 6-3 overall, clinching their 42nd bowl appearance in school history, which leads all Big 12 programs. Prior to the game on Saturday, Texas Tech will host Big Noon Kickoff for the first time before its nationally-televised game on FOX which will feature the Red Raiders wearing their Mahomes Strategy uniform for the first time.
NOVEMBER RUN STARTS WITH RANKED WIN
Texas Tech improved to an impressive 7-2 in the month of November under Joey McGuire with last weekend’s victory at Iowa State. The Red Raiders will now try to duplicate that in back-to-back weeks as Texas Tech has not defeated a ranked opponent in consecutive games since downing No. 4 West Virginia and No. 21 TCU midway through the 2012 season. Texas Tech will get the benefit of playing in the friendly confines of Jones AT&T Stadium where the Red Raiders are 14-4 during McGuire’s nearly three full seasons.
INSIDE THE COLORADO SERIES
• This will be the 11th all-time meeting between Texas Tech and Colorado and the first since 2010 when the two schools were both charter members of the Big 12 Conference. Colorado departed the Big 12 for the Pac-12 Conference a year later with the series tied at 5-5 following a 27-24 victory by the Red Raiders in Boulder. • Texas Tech was 3-4 against the Buffaloes during their first stint in the Big 12 with four of those games determined by only one possession. The home team won five of seven contests with the two exceptions being the last two meetings in the series. Colorado shocked the Red Raiders, 31-26, in Lubbock in 2007 before Texas Tech went to Boulder and delivered a 27- 24 victory behind a Matt Williams 36-yard field goal with 2:09 remaining in regulation. • Texas Tech is 4-1 at home all-time against Colorado with its lone loss coming in that 2007 setback where the Red Raiders threw four interceptions, including three to Colorado defensive back Terrence Wheatley. The Red Raiders had won the previous four meetings up to that point, including a 31-10 rout in 1999 and a 26-21 victory in 2003 as Big 12 members. • The two schools faced each other three times prior to being founding members of the Big 12 Conference in 1996. Texas Tech hosted two of those meetings, defeating the Buffaloes, 21-12, in 1962 and then 24-7 in 1976. Colorado topped the Red Raiders, 45-27, in 1981 in the only non-Big 12 trip to Boulder. • This will be the third time Texas Tech and Colorado have faced each other during the month of November as the Red Raiders are 2-0 in those games with wins in 1962 and again in 2013, both in Lubbock.
RED RAIDERS ARE BOWL-ELIGIBLE AGAIN
• Texas Tech secured its 42nd bowl appearance in its history and its fourth in as many years with a 23-22 victory at No. 11/10 Iowa State last weekend. The Red Raiders will continue to lead the Big 12 for total bowl appearances as Texas Tech has made 41 in its history, which ranked tied for 20th nationally entering this season. • Texas Tech is currently amid its longest bowl streak since its 2000-10 stretch, primarily under Mike Leach. Texas Tech has made a postseason appearance in four-consecutive seasons only twice in its history as, in addition to the run under Leach, the Red Raiders reached a bowl game four-straight years from 1993-96 under Spike Dykes. • Texas Tech topped Cal in the Independence Bowl for its third bowl victory in as many years to end the 2023 campaign. It marked only the second time in program history that the Red Raiders ended three consecutive seasons with a bowl win as Texas Tech will now look to make it four-straight for the first time. Texas Tech’s current run began with a 34-7 rout in the 2021 Liberty Bowl, which was followed by a 42-25 victory a year later over Ole Miss in the Texas Bowl to close the debut season under Joey McGuire. • Texas Tech is the lone Big 12 Conference member and one of only seven schools nationally to win a bowl game in each of the last three seasons, joining Georgia, Minnesota and Maryland from the power-four ranks as well as Air Force, Fresno State and Western Kentucky. Of that list, the Red Raiders are joined by only Georgia and Maryland who have also defeated a team from a power-four conference each year during that stretch. • Joey McGuire is only the second head coach in program history to lead the Red Raiders to a bowl appearance in each of his first three seasons, joining the late Mike Leach. Of those two, McGuire is the only head coach to push Texas Tech to a bowl victory in each of his first two seasons.
RED RAIDERS AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
• Texas Tech will be facing a top-25 foe for the second time in as many weeks Saturday as the Red Raiders are coming off a 23-22 victory at No. 11/10 Iowa State last weekend. The victory marked Texas Tech’s first road win over a top-10 team in either poll since shocking No. 1 Oklahoma, 41-38, midway through the 2011 season. The Red Raiders had not topped a top-10 opponent at home or on the road since routing No. 4 West Virginia, 49-14, in 2012. • The Red Raiders will be looking for back-to-back wins over ranked opponents in consecutive games for the first time since 2012 when Texas Tech knocked off No. 4 West Virginia at home and then followed with a three-overtime thriller over No. 21 TCU the next weekend in Fort Worth. • The Red Raiders are now 4-6 against ranked opponents under Joey McGuire, which includes a 2-1 mark at home. The majority of Texas Tech’s games against ranked opponents have come on the road under McGuire as the Red Raiders are now 2-5 in those games. Prior to Iowa State, Texas Tech’s other road win came via a strong defensive performance in a 16-13 victory at No. 16 Kansas a year ago. • Texas Tech will be searching for its first-ever victory over a ranked Colorado team Saturday as the Red Raiders previously faced the Buffaloes when they were ranked as high as No. 19 in the polls in 1998 and then No. 20 in 2002. Both games took place in Boulder as this will be the first time Texas Tech has welcomed a ranked Colorado program. • Texas Tech has one other previous opponent in the rankings this week in Washington State, which is at No. 20 in both polls. The Cougars were unranked when the Red Raiders traveled to Pullman on Sept. 7 but are 7-1 this season with their lone loss coming to a fellow-ranked Boise State program.
WHAT A WIN WOULD MEAN SATURDAY…
• A victory over Colorado would give the Red Raiders at least five Big 12 victories for the third consecutive season under Joey McGuire. In its history, Texas Tech has won five or more league games over three consecutive seasons only once previously from 1995-97 when the Red Raiders were transitioning from the Southwest Conference to the Big 12. That stretch coincided with a seven-year period with a winning conference record as Texas Tech finished above .500 in league play each year from 1991-97. • Texas Tech would improve to 7-3 overall this season with a win over the Buffaloes, marking its best start through 10 games since 2013. The Red Raiders started a perfect 7-0 during the 2013 season before ending the regular season with five consecutive losses. • Texas Tech would move to 5-2 in Big 12 play with a victory on Saturday, which marks the Red Raiders’ best start to their conference schedule since their historic 2008 season. The Red Raiders finished league play at 7-1 that season, matching their most conference wins in program history. • A win over Colorado would go a long way in allowing the Red Raiders to possibly secure eight victories in the regular season for the first time since 2009. Texas Tech has finished with seven wins prior to its bowl game five times since then in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2022
UCF at Arizona State (ESPN2) 7 p.m. ET/5 p.m. MST
Central Florida Notes
Arizona State Notes
Oklahoma State at TCU (FS1) 6 p.m. CT
The Series
Saturday’s game marks the 34th meeting between Oklahoma State and TCU, with the series dating to 1915. The 2024 season marks the 12th time the teams have met in the past 13 seasons after TCU joined the Big 12 in 2012. OSU owns a 17-14-2 all-time series advantage, while TCU holds a 9-5-2 advantage in games played in Fort Worth. OSU has won seven of the past 12 in the series, as well as six of the 11 games played as Big 12 Conference matchups. Mike Gundy is 6-5 against TCU and Sonny Dykes is 1-0 as a head coach against the Cowboys.
Oklahoma State Notes
The Basics
The Oklahoma State football team (3-6 overall; 0-6 Big 12) is back on the road this week, facing TCU (5-4 overall; 3-3 Big 12) on Saturday, November 9, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. CT at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
Oklahoma State from a Distance
Oklahoma State is 3-6 on the year and needs to win each of its three remaining regular season games to extend its school-record bowl streak to a 19th consecutive season. The Cowboys have dealt with more than their fair share of injuries during their recent skid, as preseason All-Americans Collin Oliver and Nick Martin, safety Trey Rucker, safety Dylan Smith, right tackle Jake Springfield, left tackle Dalton Cooper, safety Cameron Epps, quarterback Garret Rangel, defensive end Jaleel Johnson, linebacker Justin Wright, receiver Da’Wain Lofton and others have all missed time this season. The setbacks have had an impact on the team, but there have been standouts who have played well. Wide receiver Brennan Presley has been the most consistent star, and he might garner All-America consideration with a strong finish as he is the only player in the FBS this season with at least 500 receiving yards, 200 kickoff return yards and 50 rushing yards. He also needs just seven more catches to set the Oklahoma State record for career receptions. On the year, he ranks No. 8 in the FBS with 62 catches and leads the team with 862 all-purpose yards, seven receiving touchdowns, six punt returns, 11 kickoff returns and more. He has also rushed for a touchdown, thrown for a touchdown and caught three two-point conversions. His 227 all-purpose yards at Baylor are the most for any Cowboy in a game this season. Safety Trey Rucker has been the statistical standout of the year on defense, as his average of 9.6 tackles per game ranks fifth among all Power Four players.
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 …
• Make it 98-27 in its past 125 games vs. opponents outside of the AP Top 25, dating to 2010. • Give it wins in 13 of its past 22 and in 26 of its past 38 games following a loss. • Give it wins in 12 of its past 20 games. • Improve Mike Gundy’s record in November games to 42-32. • Improve Mike Gundy’s record in Big 12 games to 103-69 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. TCU to 18-14-2 and its record at TCU to 6-9-2. • Give it wins in eight of its past 13 matchups with TCU. • Improve Mike Gundy’s record against TCU to 7-5. • Make it 35-18 in its past 53 games overall, dating back to the 2020 season.
Success at Home
Oklahoma State has put together an impressive 25-6 record at Boone Pickens Stadium since the beginning of the 2020 season to rank among the best home performers in all of college football.
TCU Notes
ABOUT THE GAME
• TCU returns home Saturday to host Oklahoma State at 6 p.m. on FS1. • The Horned Frogs have won four of the last six games with the Cowboys, including a memorable 43-40 double-overtime victory in the last meeting in 2022 in Fort Worth. • Since beginning Big 12 Conference play in 2012, TCU is 5-6 against Oklahoma State with a 4-1 record in Fort Worth and 1-5 in Stillwater. • TCU’s Sonny Dykes is 1-0 as a head coach against Oklahoma State. • The Horned Frogs are playing their seventh night game in 10 contests this season.
HORNED FROGS TO WATCH
• Quarterback Josh Hoover ranks third nationally in passing yards (2,947) while tying for third with 21 touchdown passes and placing fifth with 42 completions of 20-plus yards. • Hoover has passed for at least two touchdowns in 12 of his 15 career starts while topping 300 yards in 11 games. • Wide receiver Jack Bech is tied for fourth in the FBS with nine touchdown catches while ranking fifth with 923 receiving yards. • Bech needs 77 yards to become the sixth Horned Frog in history with a 1,000-yard season. 4Bech’s 15 receptions of at least 20 yards tie for eighth in the FBS. • Wide receiver Savion Williams has led TCU in rushing each of the last three games and is the first Horned Frog with a rushing, receiving and passing touchdown in the same season since Kenny Hill in 2017. • Eric McAlister is third in the nation in yards per catch at 23.2 which also ranks No. 1 in TCU history for a player with at least 20 receptions.
A 2022 THRILLER
• Oklahoma State’s last visit to Fort Worth, in 2022, saw the Cowboys ranked eighth with the Horned Frogs at No. 13. It marked TCU’s first home game as a ranked team against a ranked opponent since Oct. 7, 2017, when the No. 8 Horned Frogs beat No. 23 West Virginia, 31-24, with ESPN’s College GameDay on site. • TCU rallied from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit for a 43-40 double-overtime victory. Kendre Miller’s 2-yard touchdown run provided the winning score. It came after the TCU defense forced the Cowboys into a 52-yard field goal on the first series of the second overtime. • TCU trailed by as many as 17 points before taking its first lead of the game in the first overtime when Max Duggan hit Quentin Johnston on a 25-yard scoring pass. • TCU beat a ranked opponent in three consecutive games for the first time in its history. • The attendance of 49,594, including a TCU record 6,224 students, was the largest since the rebuilt Amon G. Carter Stadium opened in 2012.
#9/9 BYU at Utah (ESPN) 8:15 p.m. MDT
THE SERIES.
BYU and Utah are meeting for the 96th time as the longstanding rivalry renews with both teams as conference foes for the first time since 2010. BYU trails in the series 32-59-4. The Cougars won the last meeting, a 26-17 win in Provo in 2021. The last time the two schools played in Salt Lake City was in 2018 when Utah came away with a 35-27 win. The last time the two schools met as members of the same conference was in 2010 in the Mountain West. Utah also won that contest, 17-16 after a fourth-quarter comeback.
BYU Notes
COMPETING AS A RANKED TEAM
BYU is No. 9 in both the Associated Press Top 25 and in the Coaches Poll. BYU is 26-7 under head coach Kalani Sitake when playing as a ranked team. The appearance in the AP poll is the 286th overall by the Cougars in program history, which is 35th among all teams. Overall, four Big 12 teams are currently ranked with BYU (9), Iowa State (17/18), Colorado (21/24) and Kansas State (22/21). SMU, BYU’s week two opponent, is up in the polls at No. 13/15 after beating previously unbeaten Pittsburgh. Arizona State and Texas Tech are both receiving votes in the polls.
UNDEFEATED STARTS
The 8-0 start is just the fifth 8-0 start in program history and second under Kalani Sitake. The Cougars started 9-0 in 2020. With a win, BYU would have just its 5th 9-0 start in school history and second under Sitake (2020). BYU also went 9-0 to start 2001, 1984 and 1979. BYU is one of just remaining undefeated teams in the FBS and the only left in the Big 12 without a loss.
THIS IS COUGAR COUNTRY
• Entering 2024, the Cougars rank tied for No. 9 in total wins over the past 50 seasons, winning 431 games. Only Ohio State, Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Nebraska, Penn State and Florida State have won more games. • BYU ranks No. 23 in bowl invitations with 40 games. • The Cougars have also spent 266 weeks in the Associated Press Top 25, tied for No. 36 overall in college football. • BYU boasts 23 total conference championships in its history, which ranks tied No. 16 in college football. • Players at BYU have won the Heisman Trophy (1), Maxwell Award (1), Doak Walker Award (1), Outland Trophy (2), Sammy Baugh (7) and Davey O’Brien Awards (4). • BYU has had 14 consensus All-Americans and touts seven College Football Hall of Fame members, including legendary head coach LaVell Edwards. • BYU won the 1984 National Championship, one of just 42 schools to claim a title. • The Cougars have 19 players currently on NFL rosters. Those 19 include wide receiver Puka Nacua (Rams), who recently set the NFL’s rookie records for receptions and receiving yards, and LB Fred Warner (49ers), regarded as one of the league’s best defenders and two-time Super Bowl Champion LB Kyle Van Noy (Ravens). • Kansas City head coach Andy Reid is also a BYU football alum (78-80), playing offensive line for the Cougars and getting his coaching start under LaVell Edwards. Reid is coming off of back-to-back Super Bowl rings, and three in the last five years. Reid is the NFL’s active leader with 262 career regular-season wins, 26 postseason wins and is No. 4 in all-time wins in the NFL.
Utah Notes
HOME SWEET HOME
Utah is 120-39 (.755) in Rice-Eccles Stadium (1998-present) and is 92-28 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 37 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 87 consecutive games, dating back to the 2010 season opener.
THE NUMBERS
• Head Coach Kyle Whittingham is set to coach in his 376th overall game at Utah and his 250th as head coach on Saturday. • The game on Saturday will be the 61st overall between the Utes and the Cougars in Salt Lake City (Utah leads its home series 40-17-3). • Utah has had either a 100-yard rusher or a 100-yard receiver in seven of the eight games this season. • BYU will be Utah’s second AP Top 25 ranked opponent this season.
UTAH FOOTBALL: NEED TO KNOWS
• Utah’s defense is only allowing opponents to convert on 25.4% of their third down attempts, which ranks first in the Big 12 and second in the FBS. • The Utes are also leading the Big 12 in first downs defense (114), red zone defense (70.6%) and total defense (303.5). • Through eight games, Utah leads the league in time of possession (33:29), also ranking seventh in the FBS. • The Utes rank third in the Big 12 and ninth in the FBS in passing efficiency defense (107.92), also only allowing 169.5 passing yards per game, which ranks second in the Big 12. • 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.
CONTROL THE BALL, CONTROL THE GAME
• It has been no secret that part of Utah’s success on both sides of the ball in recent history has been winning the time of possession battle with 2024 being no different. • Through eight games this season, Utah is holding the ball for an average of 33:29, which ranks first in the Big 12 and seventh in the FBS. • The Utes have won the time of possession battle in six of the eight games this season. • In the second and fourth quarters in 2024, Utah is holding the time of possession at 9:36 and 9:50 respectively. Utah has controlled the ball for 10+ minutes in eight quarters this season. • Against Oklahoma State, Utah had a season-high 42:26 TOP with the Cowboys only holding the ball for 17:31. • Utah has won the time of possession battle in six games this season, going over the 35:00 mark in two (42:26 at Oklahoma State, 37:18 at Utah State).
Bye Week
Arizona, Baylor, Houston, #22/21 Kansas State
CONFERENCE NEWS & NOTES
• Big 12 teams have a total of 12 go-ahead scores in the final minute of games in 2024, which is the most in the country. • The Big 12 leads the FBS with 21 lead changes in the fourth quarter in conference games this season. • Six Big 12 programs are bowl eligible through Week 10 with another three just one win away. • The Big 12 Conference has the second-highest Sagarin rating of all FBS conferences. • BYU is one of five undefeated FBS teams through Week 10. • BYU, Iowa State and K-State all rank in the top 20 in ESPN’s FPI Strength of Record. • Big 12 players have rushed for 175 yards or more in a game 9 times this season, which leads the nation. No other Power Four conference has more than four 175+ rushing yard performances. • The Conference has five teams in the top ten of Power Four in rushing yards per game; UCF (first), Kansas (fifth), Arizona State (sixth), K-State (seventh), West Virginia (ninth). • Conference players have eclipsed 100 yards receiving in a game 60 times this season, which leads the country. • Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo earned his fourth weekly award of the season after accounting for 274 all-purpose yards in ASU’s win at Oklahoma State, which were the most by an FBS running back in Week 10. The senior ran for 153 yards on 23 carries and a score while catching four passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns. Skattebo is just the sixth player in Big 12 history to rush for 150 yards and tally 100 yards receiving in the same game. • Shedeur Sanders is one of two quarterbacks in FBS to rank in the top 10 nationally in completion percentage, passing yards and touchdowns. • Earlier this season, Colorado’s Travis Hunter became the first player in Conference history to win an offensive and defensive weekly award. He has played nearly every snap on offense and defense and is the only FBS player with even more than 50 snaps on both sides of the ball. Hunter has now tallied over 350 snaps on each side of the ball this season. • Iowa State is tied with UNLV for the FBS lead for most interceptions since the start of the 2023 season with 30. • The Big 12 is home to three of the top four active career Power Four rushing yards leaders in Texas Tech’s Tahj Brooks (first; 4,099 yards), KU’s Devin Neal (second; 3,835 yards) and UCF’s RJ Harvey (fourth; 3,416 yards). • K-State signal caller Avery Johnson is the only Big 12 quarterback, and one of five nationally, with at least 1,800 yards passing and 350 yards rushing this season.
