WEEK 12 GAME SCHEDULE
Friday, November 15 Time
Houston Cougars at Arizona Wildcats
(FS1) 9:15 p.m. CT/8:15 p.m. MST
Houston Cougars Notes
THE OPENING KICKOFF
• Houston and Arizona are meeting for the fifth time in the history of the programs and fourth in Tucson, Ariz. The Cougars are 3-1 against the Wildcats including sweeping both matchups of a two-game non-conference agreement with a 45-18 win on Sept. 18, 2018, at TDECU Stadium and a 19-16 victory on Sept. 9, 2017, in Tucson, Ariz.
• Houston has won three of its last four games, including two straight, following its 24-19 upset of #17/15 Kansas State on Saturday, Nov. 2. With three regular season games to play, UH (4-5, 3-3 Big 12) has matched its 2023-win total (4) and exceeded its 2023 Big 12 win total (2).
• Houston is 5-1 in its last six Friday contests including three straight victories. On Friday, Oct. 4, in Fort Worth, Texas, the Cougars defeated TCU, 30-19 for their first Big 12 win under Head Coach Willie Fritz. Houston’s last Friday loss came against Fritz’s Tulane Green Wave, a 27-24 overtime loss on Sept. 30, 2022.
• Houston’s 12 road victories since the start of the 2021 season rank 19th nationally and 10th among current Power Four programs. After playing just twice outside the state of Texas a season ago, Friday marks Houston’s fourth out-of-state trip this season. After hosting Baylor on Saturday, Nov. 23, the Cougars visit BYU in the regular-season finale.
• The Cougars defeated the Big 12’s top two in the league’s preseason poll in their last two contests. The Cougars used a 43-yard game winning field goal as time expired from Jack Martin to defeat preseason favorite Utah, 17-14, on Saturday, Oct. 26, and overcame a nine-point fourth quarter deficit to outlast preseason projected runner-up #17/15 Kansas State on Saturday, Nov. 2.
• Four of Houston’s five Big 12 wins since joining the conference a season ago have come down to the final play, with the only exception being the Cougars’ 30-19 win at TCU on Friday, Oct. 4.
• Houston’s defense ranks 24th nationally in total defense (318.9) and 25th in passing yards allowed (185.7). By comparison, through their first nine games a season ago, the Cougars ranked 104th in total defense (415.8) and 111th (255.4) in passing yards allowed.
TEAM NOTES
• Houston quarterback Zeon Chriss was named co-Big 12 Newcomer of the Week for his performance against #17/15 Kansas State last time out. Chriss, who led the Cougars to their highest ranked win since Oct. 29, 2017, at #17/14 South Florida, finished 11 of 11 passing – becoming the 23rd FBS quarterback since 1996 to complete all passes in a game (min. 10 attempts). For the sixth time in his career, Chriss passed and rushed for a score in a game.
• Houston’s defense has held opponents to just 10 rushing touchdowns on the season, a mark which ranks 21st in the Power Four. By contrast, a season ago, Houston opponents registered 19 rushing scores during the same time frame (Games 1-9). Last time out, UH held #17/15 Kansas State, which entered the day ranked eighth nationally with 223.3 rushing yards per game, to just 89. KSU’s rushing total was its fewest against a current Big 12 program since being held to 71rushing yards at Texas Tech on Oct. 23, 2021.
• Over its last four games, Houston has committed a combined 14 penalties, ranking sixth nationally. UH’s two penalties and 21 penalty yards last time out against #17/15 Kansas State marked the fewest since committing one penalty for 15 yards against Texas on Oct. 21, 2023. After averaging 7.4 penalties across their first five games, the Cougars have averaged just 3.5 over their last four games.
• Among UH’s top-13 leaders in all-purpose yards, six are underclassmen and 10 are projected to return for 2025. With at least three games to play, Re’Shaun Sanford II ranks 10th in UH single-season history among freshmen running backs with 300 rushing yards. Since 1956, nine Houston freshmen running backs have averaged 4.5 yards per carry (min. 60 carries) in a single season. Sanford II (4.5) would become the 10th. Zeon Chriss’s 645 yards of total offense ranks 17th among Houston underclassmen quarterbacks since 1956.
• Houston’s performance on special teams has been just that. Against #17/15 Kansas State, punter Liam Dougherty downed five of six punts inside the 20-yard line en route to becoming the first punter since Sept. 4, 2023, to earn Big 12 Special Teams weekly honors. UH ranks 16th nationally in punt return defense (3.38). Punt returner Mekhi Mews ranks 16th in the Power Four in punt return average (8.4). Kicker Jack Martin has made each of his last five field goal attempts, including a 22-yarder vs. #17/15 Kansas State last time out. He drilled the game-winning 43-yard field goal as time expired against Utah. The Cougars rank 18th nationally with two blocked kicks.
• Houston linebacker Michael Batton has made an immediate impact in his first season with the program. Batton, who ranks eighth nationally in fumbles recover (2), recorded a career high with 11 tackles last time out against #17/15 Kansas State. His interception with 1:48 to play helped solidify Houston’s upset victory. Batton has logged 6.0+ tackles in seven of nine games this season. His 5.79 career tackles per game rank fourth among current Big 12 linebackers.
• Houston Defensive Coordinator Shiel Wood, who was named 247Sports Big 12 Coordinator of the Week for the Cougars’ performance at TCU on Oct. 4, has put up strong numbers in his first season with the Cougars. Below is a look at how the Cougars have fared through the first nine games of a season in comparison to the same timeline in season’s past.
• Houston junior wide receiver Joseph Manjack IV has hauled in a reception in 24 consecutive games (Dec. 4, 2021-present). The Tomball, Texas, native boasts eight receiving touchdowns in his last 14 games. Fellow junior wideout Stephon Johnson ranks second among Big 12 wide receivers with 8.5 yards after catch per reception (min. 20 receptions).
• Houston junior wide receiver Mekhi Mews paces the Cougars with 24 receptions and is tied for the team lead with 224 receiving yards. Mews also serves as the Cougars primary kickoff and punt returner. Mews owns three of Houston’s seven 50+ yard plays this season including a 75-yard punt return touchdown vs. Rice, a 57-yard reception vs. UNLV and a 52-yard touchdown reception at Kansas. He is tied with tight end Maliq Carr and Joseph Manjack IV for the team lead in first down receptions (9).
• Houston has seen growth in the run game as the season has progressed. The Cougars have rushed for two touchdowns in two of their last four games – the most in a Big 12 game since joining the conference a season ago. Houston’s 228 rushing yards vs. Utah were its most in a league game since Nov. 6, 2021, as a member of the American Athletic Conference at USF (261 yards).
• Over its last seven games, Houston rushed for 1,208 yards (4.4 yards per carry), a mark which ranks 23rd in the Power Four. The turnaround represents a sharp contrast from Games 1-2 in which Houston rushed for just 96 total yards (15th among 16 Big 12 schools) at 1.6 yards per carry (last in the Big 12). Houston has rushed for 243 more yards through its first nine games compared to the same timeframe a season ago.
• For the first time in at least 20 years, the Cougars returned just one starting offensive lineman (right guard Tank Jenkins). The Cougars are among four Big 12 schools with one or no returning starters on the offensive line. Despite an influx of new faces, on Oct. 26 against Utah, Houston did not allow a sack for the first time in a conference game since Nov. 19, 2022, at East Carolina, as a member of The American. Three of Houston’s top five pass block grades on the season per PFF have come over the last five games.
• Houston’s 12-game schedule ranks as the fifth toughest nationally and the hardest in the Big 12, per Phil Steele, using the “NCAA Method” based on last season’s opponent records.
A VICTORY WOULD …
• Move Houston one win from bowl eligibility with two contests remaining. • Be the Cougars sixth Big 12 victory, and fourth in a five-game span, since joining the league a season ago. • Up Houston’s win streak to three games – its longest since Oct. 7-29, 2022. • Move Houston to 4-1 all-time against Arizona including 3-1 in Tucson, Ariz. • Give Houston its fourth straight win on Friday and move Houston to 6-1 in its last seven Friday games.
Arizona Wildcats Notes
• The Arizona Wildcats host the Houston Cougars for the fourth time in series history. Trent Rush (Play-by-play) and Petros Papadakis (Analyst) will be the broadcast team. Kickoff on FS1 is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. MST. • This is the fourth matchup in series history with the Wildcats trailing 1-3. The only win in the series was a 37-3 lopsided result in Tucson on Sept. 6, 1986. Arizona last faced Houston on Sep. 8, 2018, on the road. The Wildcats are 1-2 at home and 0-1 on the road against the Cougars. • Despite dropping their fifth straight game, quarterback Noah Fifita and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan continue to climb the program record charts. Fifita has thrown 39-career touchdowns which is 10th in program history. • Fifita is 11th in program history with 5,321-career passing yards. He is 104 yards from passing Ortege Jenkins (5,424 yards, 1997-00) for 10th in program history. • McMillan has 3,170-career receiving yards which is the fourth-most in program history. He is 62 yards away from passing Mike Thomas (3,231 yards, 2005-08) for third in program history. McMillan has 11 100-yard receiving games in his career. He is tied with Mike Thomas (2005-08) and Juron Criner (2008-11) for third all-time with 11-career 100-yard receiving games. • T-Mac is second the nation with 1,066 receiving yards this season, trailing only Nick Nash (1,156) with San José State. He is one of three receivers in FBS with over 1,000 receiving yards this season. McMillan is the first player in program history to record 1,000-plus receiving yards in back-to-back seasons.
AGAINST HOUSTON:
The Arizona Wildcats (3-5, 1-4 Big 12) host the Houston Cougars (4-5, 3-3 Big 12) for the fourth time in program history. Arizona is 1-3 all-time against Houston with the last matchup taking place in 2018. Arizona fell 45-18 in that matchup at Houston. In the 2018 defeat, Khalil Tate threw for 341 yards on 24-of-45 passing and rushed for one touchdown. Darrius Smith accounted for 55 yards on 11 carries and one touchdown rushing. The Wildcats only win of the series was 37-3 to open the 1986 season. A season that finished with a 9-3 record and included four straight wins to open the season, capped with a 30-21 win over North Carolina in the Aloha Bowl. During the 1986 season, Arizona was ranked as high as No. 10 nationally and finished the season ranked 11th by the AP Poll. That team was led by David Adams’ 1,175 rushing yards with seven rushing touchdowns and one TD reception. Chuck Cecil led the team with six interceptions for 142 yards and two touchdowns.
CONSECUTIVE LOSSES:
The Wildcats lost their fifth straight game and six of the last seven games since rattling off nine straight wins between 2023 and the start of 2024. This marks the longest losing streak since the Wildcats dropped five straight during the 2022 season and finished that year 5-7.
Saturday, November 16 Time
Utah Utes at #18/20 Colorado Buffaloes
(FOX) 10 a.m. MDT
Utah Utes Notes
NEW CONFERENCE, NEW CHALLENGE
Utah Football began a new era in 2024, joining the Big 12 Conference. The Utes have also been a part of the Rocky Mountain Conference (1910-1937), the Big Seven (1938-1947), the Skyline (1948-1961), the Western Athletic Conference (1962-1998), the Mountain West (1999-2010) and the Pac-12 (2011- 2023). • Utah is 446-265-19 all-time in conference games (.625), including its first win in the Big 12 against Oklahoma State (Sept. 21, 2024, W, 22-19). • Utah is 32-15 in conference games since 2019. • The Utes bring 28 conference championships with them to the Big 12.
THE NUMBERS
• Head Coach Kyle Whittingham is set to coach in his 377th overall game at Utah and his 251st as head coach on Saturday. • The game on Saturday will be the 71st overall between the Utes and the Buffaloes with Utah winning the last seven games in the all-time series. • Utah is only allowing 175.0 passing yards per game, which ranks second in the Big 12. • Utah’s game against Colorado on Saturday will be the Utes’ second-straight game against an AP Top 25 opponent.
UTAH FOOTBALL: NEED TO KNOWS
• Utah’s defense is only allowing opponents to convert on 23.8% of their third down attempts, which ranks first in the FBS. • The Utes are also leading the Big 12 in first downs defense (134), scoring defense (17.1) and total defense (307.4). • Through nine games, Utah leads the league in time of possession (33:07), also ranking seventh in the FBS. • The Utes rank third in the Big 12 and eighth in the FBS in passing efficiency defense (107.07), also ranking second in the league in red zone defense (.750). • 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 nine games this season, Utah is holding the ball for an average of 33:07, which ranks first in the Big 12 and seventh in the FBS. • The Utes have won the time of possession battle in seven of the nine games this season. • In the second and fourth quarters in 2024, Utah is holding the time of possession at 9:50 and 9:31 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). • Since 2019, Utah has finished the season leading its conference in time of possession.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
• The Utes also have a trio of transfer juniors in the tight end room in Dallen Bentley, Carsen Ryan and Landen King. • Bentley and King are in their second year with the Utes after transferring from Snow College and Auburn, respectively. Bentley has played in 16 games for the Utes with six starts this season while King has played in 22 games with four starts (all in 2023). • Ryan is in his first season with the Utes after playing in 17 games at UCLA from 2022-23, earning eight starts. He has played in all nine games at Utah in 2024, scoring his first touchdown as a Ute against Utah State. • A common theme in the tight end room this fall is newcomers finding a new niche with both Miki Suguturaga and Caleb Lohner finding their home at tight end. • Suguturaga had 25 starts on Utah’s defensive line before making the switch to tight end in 2023. • Lohner, who had not competitively played the sport of football prior to fall camp, joined the Utes after playing three seasons of Division I basketball at BYU (2020-22) and Baylor (2022-23). He has scored three touchdowns in 2024 on exactly three catches.
Colorado Buffaloes Notes
Five Things To Know
1 – With Kansas selected for FOX, CU will have nine regular season games on network television and all 12 on either the flagship ESPN or network TV. CU is the only team nationally that has all 12 games on network TV or the flagship ESPN this season.
2 – Colorado has won four straight road games, all by 14 points or more. That makes the most consecutive road wins in 22 years. Most consecutive road wins in one season since 1996 and most consecutive 14-plus point road wins since 1989.
3 – Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter were named Maxwell and Walter Camp Award Semifinalists. They are the only two from the same team for The Maxwell and one of only three schools to have two for the Walter Camp.
4 – Hunter is also a semifinalist for the Bednarik (defensive player of the year) award, the first player since Manti Teo to be a semifinalist for both awards (Bednairk and Maxwell).
5 – Tied for third in combined appearances on College Gameday and Big Noon Kickoff in the last two seasons appearing eight times, behind only Ohio State and Michigan.
After a 49-year dormancy, the series resumed on a permanent basis in 2011 when both schools joined the Pac-12 Conference and were placed in the same division (South); they were also designated to close the regular season against one another as well in the league’s standard rivalry weekend. Utah holds an 9-2 edge in the series since both joined the conference, which has enabled the Utes to take the all-time series at a 35-32-3 count. CU leads 17-14-1 in Boulder, Utah leads 20-15-2 in Salt Lake City and CU won the only game in Denver.
Despite not playing for a half-century, the 32 wins by the Buffs over the Utes are the fifth most over any Division I/FBS program, behind only Colorado State (67), Iowa State (49), Kansas State (45) and Kansas (42), and are sixth overall when including the defunct series with Colorado Mines (36).
The Pac-12 South Division has been decided three times in 10 years by this game. Utah needed to defeat CU at home in 2011 to capture the South Division title; when Colorado won, 17-14, it dropped the Utes to 4-5 and UCLA was crowned the division champ at 5-4 (USC, though 7-2, was ineligible to win it).
Fast-forward to 2016, the two met in Boulder with CU needing a win for its first Pac-12 division title; the Buffs won, 27-22, to finish at 8-1 in league play, holding off USC, which was 7-2 but held the tiebreaker over the Buffs. The two did not finish the season against each other in 2018, but in 2019, Utah needed to defeat the Buffs to hold off USC, which beat the Utes head-to-head; Utah won 45-15 after CU took a 7-0 lead and won the division with an 8-1 record, one game ahead of the Trojans.
A CLOSER LOOK
The Buffs and Utes have now played together in the same conference between the Pac-12 and Big 12 since 2011, before that game the previous matchup was in 1962. A look back on the year 1962…
The No. 1 song in the nation that year was Stranger by the Shore by Acker Bilk;
A few movies regarding history’s World Wars were on top at the box office; Lawrence of Arabia, The Longest Day, and In Search of the Castaways headlined the top-grossing movies;
In October, the Cuban missile crisis places the world on edge. The US – Russian crisis ends with Russia stopping shipments and removing existing missiles.
Jackie Robinson became the first African-American to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
CU VS. THE BIG 12 // UTAH VS. THE BIG 12
Colorado is 242-150-10 all-time vs. current Big 12 conference schools (402 games). In addition to the 32-33-1 vs. Utah, CU is 16-10 vs. Arizona, 4-10 vs. Arizona State, 10-7 vs. Baylor, 8-3-1 vs. BYU, 2-0 vs. Cincinnati, 49-15-1 vs. Iowa State, 42-25-3 vs. Kansas, 45-21-1 vs. Kansas State, 26-20-1 vs. Oklahoma State,1-1 vs. TCU, 6-5 vs. Texas Tech, 1-0 vs. UCF, and 1-1 vs. West Virginia.
Utah is 146-125-9 all-time versus Big 12 Conference schools: 26-20-2 vs. Arizona, 12-22 vs. Arizona State, 1-0 vs. Baylor, 62-35-4 vs. BYU, 35-32-2 vs. Colorado, 0-4 vs. Houston, 1-4 vs. Iowa State, 2-2 vs. Kansas, 0-1 vs. Oklahoma State, 5-3 vs. TCU, 0-2 vs. Texas Tech, and 2-0 vs. West Virginia.
Baylor Bears at West Virginia Mountaineers
(ESPN2) 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT
SERIES HISTORY
• West Virginia leads the all-time series with Baylor, 8-4, with the Bears owning all four of their wins in the series at McLane Stadium. • West Virginia has won all six meetings in Morgantown. • Last year, WVU used a late-game rally to thwart the upset bid, posting a 34-31 win in Waco. In 2022, the Bears rolled to a 17-7 lead before a targeting penalty knocked out Baylor starting QB Blake Shapen forced the Bears to rely on a freshman quarterback in relief. BU had 590 yards of total offense in the loss, including 421 yards through the air and 294 first-half passing yards for Shapen.
Baylor Bears Notes
STORY LINES
• Baylor looks to extend its winning streak to four games, traveling to face West Virginia in Morgantown on Saturday at 3 p.m. CT at Milan-Pusker Stadium. • Baylor is searching for its longest winning streak since 2021 after besting Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and TCU over the last three games, which marked just the third time in program history with wins over those three in a single-season. The Bears have rolled to 855 rushing yards and 10 TDs over the last three games. • The Bears are in the fifth year under Coach Dave Aranda, who in 2021 led the Bears to the best season in school history with a 12-2 record, a Big 12 Championship and the 2022 Sugar Bowl. Aranda directed the Bears to the Armed Force Bowl in 2022 and after a 3-9 season in 2023, has taken over defensive play calling duties. • Aranda taking over defensive play calling is his first time directing a defense since he established himself as one of the top defensive minds in football as the DC at LSU, Wisconsin and Delta State. He is also directing the inside linebackers. • Since 2011, combined with football, and men’s and women’s basketball, Baylor leads the nation in wins, owning 46 more wins than the next closest program (UConn). • QB Sawyer Robertson leads the Big 12 Conference in QB rating (84.7) and ranks seventh in the nation. He has had five of his seven starts in 2024 come with a QBR of at least 80. A native of Lubbock and a product of Coronado High School, Robertson was a former four-star recruit who opened his career playing for Coach Mike Leach at Mississippi State before joining the Bears for the 2023 season. • WR Josh Cameron has hauled in seven TDs in 2024, leading the team and ranking just shy of the single-season record books. Cameron has 29 catches for 424 yards and ranks second in the nation in punt returns, averaging 20.7 yards per return. He has 722 all-purpose yards through nine games in 2024. • BU ranks among the NCAA’s top-40 in 12 categories, including checking in No. 2 in punt returns, No. 4 in kickoff return defense, No. 5 in net punting, No. 14 in TFLs allowed, No. 27 in passing yards per completion, No. 28 in scoring offense, No. 28 in punt return defense and No. 31 in fewest sacks allowed and No. 38 in rushing offense. Robertson ranks 28th in passing TDs and No. 33 in passing efficiency. Cameron checks in 19th in receiving TDs and No. 2 in punt return average. Bryson Washington ranks No. 31 in yards per carry.
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
• West Virginia, coached by former Kentucky wide receiver Neal Brown, is coming off a 9-4 season that saw the Mountaineers go 6-3 in Big 12 play and 5-1 at home. In 2024, Brown has WVU off to a 5-4 start with a 4-2 mark in conference play, going 2-3 at home. WVU posted a 31-24 win at Cincinnati on Saturday. • WVU has played a strong schedule, fallowing in non-conference games vs. Penn State and at Pitt, owning a win over UAlbany. In league play, WVU has a win over Kansas, at Oklahoma State and Arizona, with losses vs. Iowa State and Kansas State. • Brown is assisted by assistant head coach Matt Moore, who has been with Brown since his days coaching Troy, offensive coordinator Chad Scott and defensive coordinator Jeff Koonz and co-defensive coordinator ShaDon Brown. Moore is the offensive line coach who comes from the Air Raid tree that saw him play at Valdosta State from 1991-94. He is a former high school head coach in Georgia, was the OC at powerhouse Hoover High School (Ala.) from 1999-04, and joined the collegiate coaching ranks at Troy in 2006, Texas Tech from 2007-11, MTSU in 2021, LA Tech from 2013-14, and Troy again from 2015-19. He has been at WVU since 2019, adding the AHC title in 2020. Scott is a former dynamic running back at Kentucky and North Carolina and has made coaching stops at Troy (2007-09), Texas Tech (2010-12), Kentucky (2013-15), North Carolina (2016-18), Louisville (2019) and WVU (2019-24). Koonz took over as the DC on Oct. 29 after serving as the special teams coordinator since 2020. He has coached at Texas (2006, 2009), Iowa State (2007-08), LA Tech (2010-13), Cincinnati (2014-16), North Texas (2017-18), Ole Miss (2019) and WVU (2020-24). ShaDon Brown is another state of Kentucky product, playing at Campbellsville College and serving as a former high school head coach in the Commonwealth. He has collegiate coaching stops at Wofford (2011-15), Army (2016), Colorado (2017-18), Louisville (2018-20) and WVU (2021-24). • WVU is averaging 29 points per game, allowing 27.9. Offensively, WVU averages 388.4 yards per game offensively, with 190 on the ground and 198.4 in the air. Defensively, opponents are averaging 388.4 yards per game with 263 passing and 125.4 rushing. • Josiah Trotter leads the team with 69 tackles, while TJ Jackson II has 12 tackles for a loss and 5.5 sacks. • Jahiem White has toted it 100 times for 572 yards and five TDs, QB Garrett Greene has 471 yards rushing and three scores, while former freshman star C.J. Donaldson has a team-high 104 rushes for 65 yards and six TDs. Greene has thrown for 1,353 yards with nine TDs and eight interceptions, while Nicco Marchiol, who started at UC on Saturday, has thrown for 434 yards on 37-of-55 passing with five TDs and two interceptions. Hudson Clement, Kole Taylor and Traylon Ray each have over 300 yards receiving.
LAST MEETINGS IN THE SERIES
• In the 2023 meeting to conclude Baylor’s season, WVU posted a 34-31 win over the Bears. Baylor rallied from down 27-14 at halftime to score 17 unanswered to take a 31-27 lead with 12:58 left in the game, using a TD pass from Sawyer Robertson to Ketron Jackson Jr. and a two-yard TD rush from Dominic Richardson. Isaiah Hankins pushed the lead to 31-27 with 12:58 left. The teams traded fourth quarter punts before the Bears took over with 4:20 left and a four-point lead. BU drove down to the WVU 14 and missed a 32-yard field goal attempt that would’ve given the Bears a seven-point lead with 1:14 left. WVU responded with a game-winning drive that saw Garrett Green find Jahiem White for a 29-yard TD with 23 seconds left and Baylor’s Hail Mary from its own 46-yard line was not completed. •The game marked a strong performance from Robertson, who was filling in for an injured Blake Shapen. Robertson threw for 215 yards on 17-of-19 passing with a score, also rushing for 33 yards. Richard Reese turned in a historic performance as well, returning two kickoffs for TDs and rushing six times for 42 yards. Jackson Jr. had three grabs for 88 yards and a score, while Richardson rushed for 25 yards on 10 carries. Defensively, Devyn Bobby had nine tackles and Matt Jones chipped in eight and 1.5 for a loss. Green threw for 269 yards and two scores and rushed 14 times for 104 yards and a TD for WVU, while White had 17 carries for 133 yards. • Baylor suffered the loss at West Virginia in 2022 on a Thursday night, 43-40 as the Mountaineers rallied past the Bears to erase an electric offensive outing. • The Bears rolled to 590 yards of total offense, including 421 through the air, but a key targeting penalty on an attempted slide from QB Blake Shapen led to a head injury for the signal caller and ended what was a historic outing for the sophomore. Shapen threw for 326 yards – including 294 in the first half – to lead the Bears to a 17-7 lead early and a 24-17 halftime lead despite a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown by WVU in the second quarter. Freshman QB Kyron Drones stepped up, throwing for 95 yards on 7 of 14 passing with a TD. • The loss dampened the historic outing from senior WR Gavin Holmes, who caught seven balls for 210 yards and a score. He was the first Baylor player with a 200+ yard receiving game since KD Cannon in the 2016 Cactus Bowl. • Richard Reese rushed for 57 yards on 13 carries, with Qualan Jones adding 44 yards and one TD on 10 totes. TE Drake Dabney had five catches for 66 yards. • The WVU offense went for 500 yards of total offense, including 223 on the ground and 163 and two TDs from Tony Mathis.
A BAYLOR WIN WOULD …
• Make Baylor 6-4 on the year and 4-3 in conference play. • Improve Coach Dave Aranda to 29-29 in his fifth year as the head coach of the Bears. • Make the Bears 636-626-44 all-time. • Improve BU to bowl eligibility for the 12th time in the last 15 years. • Mark Baylor’s first win at West Virginia and cut the series lead to 8-5. • Give Baylor a fourth straight win, it’s longest win streak since winning four straight twice in 2021. • Make Aranda 2-3 vs. West Virginia.
West Virginia Mountaineers Notes
• The 2024 season marks West Virginia’s 132nd season of football. The Mountaineers are 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 8-6-1 in games played on Nov. 16, including 4-3 at home. The last time WVU played on that date was in 2019 at Kansas State (W 24-20) • Since 2002, the Mountaineers are 103-15 when winning the turnover battle • 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 25 games, dating back to 2022 • The Mountaineers are ranked No. 5 nationally for fewest penalty yards per game and No. 10 in fewest penalties • West Virginia’s rushing attack is ranked No. 33 nationally in most yards per game (190.0)
• The Mountaineers are tied for No. 3 nationally among Power Four Football in fourth downs converted (17) in 2024. • WVU’s defense has recorded multiple sacks in 11 of the last 14 games and at least four tackles for loss in 27 of the last 30 games • West Virginia has held 17 of its last 21 opponents to fewer than 300 yards passing • The Mountaineer rushing defense is ranked No. 40 nationally, holding its opponents to 125.4 yards per game. WVU has held its opponents to 130 yards rushing or fewer in six of nine games • WVU is ranked No. 15 in punt return defense (3.3), No. 27 in net punting (41.4), No. 28 nationally in kickoff return defense (17.04) and No. 36 in kickoff returns (22.3) • Jahiem White has 34 missed tackles forced to lead WVU, CJ Donaldson Jr. has 22 and Garrett Greene has 21 • White is ranked No. 43 nationally for rushing yards per carry (5.7) • Greene is ranked No. 20 nationally for passing yards per completion (13.66) and rushing yards per carry (6.2) and No. 39 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 91.5%. His 90.1 run-blocking grade is No. 3 and his pass-blocking grade is No. 4. He has played 214 snaps and has not allowed a pressure, a sack or a quarterback hit • TJ Jackson II is ranked No. 1 nationally and No. 13 in the Big 12 for most tackles for loss per game (1.3) • Jackson is ranked No. 4 in the Big 12 and No. 36 nationally for most sacks per game (0.56) • Josiah Trotter is ranked No. 7 in the Big 12 in tackles per game (7.7) • Tyrin Bradley Jr. is ranked No. 8 nationally for fumbles recovered (2) • Michael Hayes II is ranked No. 13 nationally for field goal percentage (.909) • Preston Fox is ranked No. 32 nationally for punt return average per game
ON TURF
• Since 1980, West Virginia is 277-131-5 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 28-18 during the 2020s on turf.
AGAINST THE BIG 12
• West Virginia is 78-49-1 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; 18-3- 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, 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.
AVERAGE PER DOWN
• Here’s a breakdown of how the 2024 West Virginia offense is operating on first, second, third and fourth down: • On first down, the Mountaineers have run 257 plays and have gained 1,600 yards for a 6.2 average. On second down, the Mountaineers have run 186 plays for 997 yards and a 5.4 average. On third down, the Mountaineers have run 117 plays for 786 yards and a 6.7 average gain. West Virginia has run 26 plays on fourth down for 113 yards and a 4.3 average. • WVU’s touchdowns have come nine times on first down (5 rush/4 pass), 11 times on second down (8 rush/3 pass), seven times on third down (1 rush/6 pass) and four times on fourth down (3 rush/1 pass).
OFFENSIVE ANALYSIS
• Breaking down the West Virginia offensive numbers for the 2024 season shows that the Mountaineers have run 586 plays, 355 on the ground and 231 through the air. • The rushing game has totaled 1,710 yards, an average of 4.8 yards per carry and 17 touchdowns. The passing attack has totaled 1,786 yards, 14 touchdowns and an average of 13.1 yards per completion. • Combine the two and the Mountaineers have turned in 3,496 yards of total offense, 31 touchdowns, an average of 6.0 yards per play and an average of 29.0 points per game. • Deeper analysis shows that the Mountaineer offense has gained 92 first downs by the run and 82 via the pass. On average, West Virginia has totaled 190.0 yards per game on the ground, 198.4 yards per game passing and 388.4 yards per game of total offense
TAKEAWAYS
• Over the last 10 years, West Virginia has produced 175 takeaways. • Clemson has the most during the 10-year period with 235, while Alabama has 227 and Iowa has 225.
FOR STARTERS
• In 2024, 44 Mountaineer players have finished with at least one game of starting experience. • Tops on the list are Anthony Wilson Jr. (58), Brandon Yates (43) and Wyatt Milum (40).
NIGHT GAMES
• West Virginia is 90-79-3 all-time in games played after 5 p.m., including 45-49-1 on the road, 34-20-2 at home and 8-11 at a neutral site. • The first night game in WVU history was played at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh on Sept. 19, 1930, between WVU and Duquesne (W/7- 0).
Arizona State Sun Devils at #20/19 Kansas State Wildcats
(ESPN) 6 p.m. CT/5 p.m. MST
Arizona State Sun Devils Notes
Kansas State Wildcats Notes
THE TOP 5
1 Coming off its second bye week of the season, 19thranked Kansas State begins its fi nal three-game stretch of the regular season by hosting new Big 12 member Arizona State inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The game, which kicks off at 6 p.m. Saturday night, will be shown nationally on ESPN with Dave Flemming (play-by-play), Brock Osweiler (analyst) and Stormy Buonantony (sidelines) on the call.
2 Quarterback Avery Johnson is set to make his 11th career start as he has thrown for 1,892 yards and 17 TDs on 153-of-251 aim while adding 391 rushing yards and four scores. He is one of only six players in the country and the only Big 12 quarterback with at least 1,875 passing yards and 375 rushing yards. He is one passing TD shy of tying the K-State sophomore record and entering the overall top-10 list.
3 Junior running back DJ Giddens has rushed for 995 yards and fi ve touchdowns on 162 carries to go along with 17 receptions for 213 yards and another score. Giddens ranks 12th nationally by averaging 110.6 rushing yards per game, while he is ninth in the nation in scrimmage yards per game (134.2). He is looking to become the fourth player in school history with multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
4 Kansas State has eight players with 30 or more tackles this season, led by linebacker Austin Romaine, whose 69 tackles are tied for seventh in the Big 12. Senior defensive end Brendan Mott has 9.5 TFLs and 8.0 sacks, the latter ranking 11th in the nation. Five Wildcats have carded an interception this season in Marques Sigle (3), VJ Payne (2), Jacob Parrish, Jack Fabris and Keenan Garber.
5 Chris Tennant has been true on 14-of-16 fi eld goals, including a 51-yarder with 1:42 left to give the Wildcats a 29-27 win over Kansas. Simon McClannan ranks fourth in the Big 12 by averaging 41.6 yards per punt this season, while his 12 punts that have ended inside the opponent 20-yard line are tied for fifth in the Big 12. Dylan Edwards ranks fourth in the Big 12 with 310 total return yards.
HOME SWEET HOME
• Saturday’s contest will be just the second home game for the Wildcats in a span of 49 days. K-State hosted Oklahoma State on September 28 and Kansas on October 26, while during that time the Wildcats had three road games and two byes. • This weekend’s game against ASU is the first of two-straight home games and the final two home contests of the year. • Home games have been kind to K-State over the last three years as the Cats have 15 victories, tied for the 16th most home wins in the nation over that span. That figure is also the most among active Big 12 teams.
BACK ON THE BOWL SCENE
• With its sixth victory of the year at West Virginia, Kansas State will be playing in the postseason for a fourth-straight season and the 13th time in the last 15 years. • Entering the year, K-State was one of just 16 Power 4 programs to play in a bowl game at least 12 times in the previous 14 years.
AMONG THE NATION’S BEST
• K-State has a total of 229 victories since 1996, which ranks 22nd nationally. • Among active Big 12 teams, the Wildcats rank fourth behind BYU (237), TCU (235) and Utah (232). • Over the last 15 seasons – including 2024 – the Wildcats have won at least seven games on 13 occasions.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
GROUND AND POUND
• K-State enters this week’s matchup ranking 19th nationally by averaging 208.3 rushing yards per game, while the Cats are seventh in the country by averaging 5.8 rushing yards per carry. • K-State’s school record for average yards per rush is 5.27 yards in 2016. • The average is driven by 66 rushes of at least 10 yards to rank seventh in the nation, while K-State’s 20 rushing plays of 20 or more yards this season are tied for 11th in the country. • The Cats have rushed for at least 200 yards in six games this year, the most in the Big 12. The Wildcats have already equaled last year’s regular-season total, which was the most since doing so in eight regular-season games in 2016.
ONE OF ONLY TWO
• Four K-State players have had at least 20 rushing attempts and each average at least 5.4 yards per carry. • Headlining that group is Dylan Edwards, DJ Giddens and Avery Johnson at 6.8, 6.1 and 5.4 yards per rush, respectively. K-State is one of just two Power 4 programs to have three active players to average at least 5.4 yards on at least 50 attempts (Notre Dame: Jadarian Price, Jeremiyah Love, Riley Leonard). • Giddens and Johnson are the only Power 4 teammates to each record 22 or more rushes of at least 10 yards.
TOTAL OFFENSE
• K-State has totaled at least 375 yards of offense in 29 of the last 36 games dating back to the beginning of the 2022 season. • During that stretch, the Cats held a 10-game streak against Big 12 foes with 375 or more yards, the longest in school history.
TWENTY-EIGHT IS GREAT
• K-State has scored at least 28 or more points in 15 of its last 17 games, its most over a 17-game stretch since doing so nine times over the final 11 games of 2007 and each of the first six games of 2008.
RED ZONE SUCCESS
• The 2024 season is a continuation of red-zone success under Chris Klieman, as the Wildcats rank first among active Big 12 programs by scoring on 90.8% (257-of-283) of their overall red-zone trips since 2019 with 192 touchdowns (67.8%). • Last season, the Cats ranked second nationally by finding paydirt on 78.5% of their red-zone possessions (51-of-65), and they narrowly finished behind Oregon State by 0.11%. K-State would have led the nation last year had the Cats not been in the red zone when taking a knee to close out the Pop-Tarts Bowl win. • K-State enters play this week ranked ninth nationally and third in the Big 12 in red zone scoring at 93.8% (30-of-32) with one of those failed attempts being a kneel down at the end of the West Virginia game.
DEFENSIVE NOTES LIMITED POINTS PER GAME • Since the K-State defense switched from a four-man front to a 3-3-5 alignment at the beginning of the 2021 season (47 games), the Cats are allowing just 21.4 points per game, which ranks 21st nationally and is third among active Big 12 teams. • Additionally, the Wildcats have allowed 118 off ensive touchdowns over that time, which is tied for 24th in the nation. • The Wildcats have fi nished each of the three previous seasons by allowing less than 22.0 points per game, their longest streak since going 13-straight year from 1991 through 2003. • Since head coach Chris Klieman’s fi rst year of 2019, the Wildcats have held 38 of their 50 Big 12 opponents under their season average at the time it faces the Wildcats. BEHIND THE LINE • K-State enters this week’s game ranked 23rd nationally and second in the Big 12 with 2.78 sacks per game, while they are third in the conference with 6.6 tackles for loss per game. • The Wildcats have tallied at least 4.0 tackles for loss in seven games this year – including 11 TFLs in each of the fi rst two contests – while they have at least two sacks in fi ve contests – including a season-high six at Colorado.
HIGH SACK YARDAGE • Kansas State’s 31 sacks this season have resulted in 212 lost yardage, which ranks seventh in the nation and fi rst in the Big 12. • It is the most by the Wildcats since 2015 (214) and already the ninth most by K-State since 1996. • K-State’s six sacks at Colorado resulted in 74 yards of loss, the fourth-most ever by a Big 12 team in a conference game and second most by a Big 12 team in any game since 2012. • It was the most sack yardage accumulated by the Wildcats in a single game since at least 1995. Their previous best over that timeframe was 72 yards against Baylor in 2002. STINGY AGAINST THE RUN • K-State enters this week ranking eighth in the country by allowing only 99.4 rushing yards per game. • The Cats have limited opponents to under 100 rushing yards four times, including -29 at Colorado. • It is the second fewest rushing yards allowed by an FBS team this season, the fewest allowed in a Big 12 game since 2006 and the fourth-fewest allowed by any team in the nation over the last seven seasons. CREATING TURNOVERS • K-State has totaled 76 forced turnovers since the beginning of the 2021 season, which ranks second among active Big 12 teams and tied for the 13th among Power 4 teams. • Of the 76 turnovers, 48 have been via interceptions to tie for 13th among Power 4 teams and second among active Big 12 programs.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES SCORING IN THE THIRD PHASE • The Wildcats continue to lead the nation in total return touchdowns since 2005 with 62, which is 22 more than the next closest team in Alabama (40) and 28 more than the next closest Big 12 programs, Oklahoma State and TCU (34). • Of the 62 total returns, a nation-leading 31 are on kickoff returns, and the next closest team is Houston with 21. • The 2023 season marked the fi rst time since 2004 in which the Wildcats did not score via a kickoff or punt return, but the Wildcats got off the schneid with a blocked punt that was returned for a score against UT Martin and a 71-yard punt return touchdown against Arizona.
SEVEN STRAIGHT
• K-State has blocked a punt in seven-straight seasons, the longest streak in the nation. • San Diego State is second at six-straight years, while Oregon and Iowa State are tied for third at five-straight years.
TENNANT FROM DEEP
• Senior Chris Tennant connected on a game-winning 51- yard field goal against Kansas with 1:42 left in the game, sending the Wildcats to a 29-27 victory. • It was the longest game-winning field goal with under two minutes remaining in regulation in school history, while it was the third-longest game-winner in the nation this season. • Tennant, who had another field goal earlier in the fourth quarter, earned Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career. • A native of Shawnee, Kansas, Tennent now has three career field goals of 50 or more yards to rank fifth in school history. He also ranks in the top-10 in school history for a career in kick scoring (5th; 245), extra point percentage (5th; 97.0%), extra points made (5th; 128), extra points attempted (5th; 132), fi eld goals made (6th; 37), fi eld goals attempted (6th; 52) and overall in points scored (9th).
NEW MAN BACK DEEP
• Sophomore transfer Dylan Edwards made a splash on just his third punt-return attempt of the season as he took one 71 yards for a touchdown against Arizona en route to Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors. • It was the Wildcats’ first non-blocked punt-return touchdown since the second game of the 2022 season. • He became the first K-State running back to record a punt-return touchdown since Darren Sproles took one back 63 yards against Kansas in 2003, while it was the longest by a K-State running back since David Allen had a 74-yarder at Texas in 1999.
DEFENSE ON KICK RETURNS
• K-State has not allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown since the 2013 season, going the last 147 games and 441 returns without allowing its opponent to find paydirt. • The streak is the longest among the active Big 12 teams, 274 more than the next closest team (Arizona State – 167). • Since K-State allowed its last kickoff -return touchdown, the Wildcats have scored 14 of their own.
Cincinnati Bearcats at #25 Iowa State Cyclones
(FOX) 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT
Cincinnati Bearcats Notes
CINCINNATI TRAVELS TO AMES TO FACE IOWA STATE
• Cincinnati heads to Ames, Iowa, to face Iowa State at MidAmerican Energy Field at Jack Trice Stadium. Both teams will look to bounce back from two-game losing streaks. • Cincinnati is coming off a tough 31-24 home loss to West Virginia in which the Bearcats outgained the Mountaineers 435 to 248 and held a 24-10 edge in first downs, but turned the ball over three times, including a second-quarter pick-six and a fourth-quarter scoop-and-score. Workhourse RB Corey Kiner had a career-high 25 carries for 91 yards and TD in the loss, while backfield mate RB Evan Pryor caught an 80-yard touchdown and finished with 100 receiving yards and 118 total yards on nine touches. • With a win, Cincinnati (5-4 overall, 3-3 in the Big 12) will become bowl eligible for the sixth time in seven years. UC has played in 22 bowls all-time, including the 2021 Goodyear Cotton Bowl in the CFP Semifinals and 2020 Peach Bowl. • The Bearcats fell, 30-10, to the Cyclones at Nippert Stadium in the first-ever matchup between the two teams in 2023.
CYCLONES OPENED 7-0, BUT HAVE LOST TWO STRAIGHT
• Iowas State QB Rocco Becht ranks third in the Big 12 in passing (266 ypg), one spot above UC QB Sorsby (265.2 ypg). The reigning Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year also has 16 TDs and has thrown seven INTs. • The Cyclones began the season 7-0 for the first time in school history but dropped games to Texas Tech and Kansas. • ISU is second in the Big 12 in turnover margin (+8) and No. 17 overall in the nation. • Cincinnati defensive coordinator Tyson Veidt served on Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell’s staff as associate head coach and linebackers coach from 2016 to 2023, helping install the unique 3-3-5 defense that has led Iowa State to the top of every defensive metric in the conference. UC also now runs the 3-3-5 defense. • The Cyclones are first in the Big 12 and ninth overall in pass defense (163.1) and second in scoring defense (18.8). Teams are completing just 51% passing per game against ISU.
PLENTY OF TOP PERFORMANCES FROM THE BEARCATS THIS SEASON
• QB Brendan Sorsby’s 478 total yards on the road at Texas Tech on Sept. 28 are the most by a Big 12 player in a single game this season. He finished with four touchdown passes in the 44-41 loss. • K Nathan Hawk’s first game as the starting placekicker came on the road at Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 14. He drilled a 55-yard field goal and a 51-yarder in a 27-16 win. His 55-yarder is the longest by a Big 12 kicker this season. • The Cincinnati defense became the first team to shut out an FBS opponent when it routed Houston 31-0 on Sept. 21. • Sorsby is the only Big 12 QB and one of eight FBS players with 2,000 passing yards, 15 passing TDs and five rushing TDs. • S/Star Antwan Peek Jr. is the Big 12’s top-ranked safety (88.4) according to PFF. He has four forced fumbles this season, which is tied for the most in the nation. His father, Antwan Peek, a 2023 UC Hall of Famer and NFL veteran, holds the school records with seven forced fumbles in a season (2002) and forced fumbles in a career (17).
HOMETOWN HERO KINER PROVIDES THUNDER, TRANSFER PRYOR IS THE LIGHTNING
• Senior RB Corey Kiner needs just 217 yards to become the fourth Cincinnati running back to rush for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons, joining Michael Warren (2018-19), Isaiah Pead (2010-11), Reggie Taylor (1984-86) and James Bettis (1980-81). His 783 rushing yards and 87.0 ypg both rank No. 7 in the Big 12 this season. • Kiner has forced 59 missed tackles, which ranks first in the Big 12 and No. 2 in the P4 behind Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty (90). • The former Ohio Mr. Football at Roger Bacon High School ranks 12th in school history with 2,192 career yards at UC. He needs six yards to move into Top 10 in Bearcats history. • Evan Pryor is averaging 8.8 yards per rush this season, which ranks first in the Big 12 and first in the Power 4. Pryor has three rushing TDs of 50+ yards one 80-yard touchdown reception. His four 50+ TDs are tied for fourth-most in the nation.
BEARCATS BUILDING A RESUME
• UC has the Big 12’s third-most efficient offense and 21st-best in the nation according to ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI). • ESPN’s FPI rates Cincinnati as the 43rd-best team in the country and gives the Bearcats a 78% chance of reaching six wins. • In conference only games, UC ranks second in the Big 12 in scoring defense (22.67), third in pass defense (196.3) and fourth in total defense (359.8). LB Jared Bartlett is second in the Big 12 with 6.5 sacks. • Jake Golday, a Central Arkansas transfer, rates as the Big 12’s second-best and the nation’s ninth-best P4 linebacker (85.3) per PFF. • DT Dontay Corleone, a 2022 All-American and 2024 Preseason All-Big 12 pick, ranks as the Big 12’s top interior defender (80.5). • Joe Royer leads Big 12 TEs with 40 receptions. He also has 468 yards and three TDs. Travis Kelce’s TE school record of 45 catches set in 2012.
BEARCATS ON THE BRINK OF BOWLING
• Cincinnati is now 5-4 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.
FOURTH DOWN WARRIORS
• The Bearcats are tied for sixth in the country in fourth down defense. Opponents are just 5-of-17 (29.4%) when going for it on fourth down against UC, a figure that ranks first in the conference. • Additionally, Cincinnati is 8-for-12 on fourth down conversion attempts this season, which ranks 20th in the country and fourth in the Big 12
Iowa State Cyclones Notes
KEY STORYLINES
• Iowa State enters Saturday night’s game having dropped two-straight after matching the best start to a season in school history … at 7-2 overall, ISU looks to get to eight wins for the fourth time under Matt Campbell. • The Cyclones are bowl eligible for the seventh time in nine seasons under 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. • Rocco Becht has thrown a TD pass in 13-straight games, breaking Brock Purdy’s school record for consecutive games with a passing TD … he’s 421 yards shy of becoming just the fifth QB in school history to pass for 6,000 career yards … Becht completed a season-high 24 passes against Kansas for 383 yards, the second-best total in his career. • Becht has one of the best wide receiving duos in college football at his disposal in Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel … ISU has had a 100-yard receiver in a school-record tying five-straight games thanks to the pair … against KU, they combined for 15 receptions, 255 yards and two Noel TDs … it was the seventh time in nine games they combined for at least 10 catches, 175 yards and a score, the most nationally by a set of teammates. • First-year offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser has the offense clicking … ISU is averaging 31.1 points (fifth-most in school history), 439.6 yards (T-2nd most) and 6.3 yards per play (T-3rd most) … with Becht finding Higgins and Noel at a record clip, ISU is averaging 271.4 passing yards (third most). • ISU’s defense, under Jon Heacock’s direction, is second in the Big 12 and ranks 19th nationally allowing just 18.8 points per game … its passing defense has been stout, yielding just 163.1 yards per game (8th nationally). • The Cyclone defense has a +8 turnover margin, which ranks among the Top 20 nationally … seven different Cyclones have combined for 14 interceptions to rank among the nation’s top 10 … since the start of the 2023 season, ISU has 30 interceptions in 22 games, the second-most nationally in that span.
IN THE (RED) ZONE
• ISU has been in the red zone 39 times this season, scoring 25 touchdowns (64.1 percent) … last season, ISU scored touchdowns 60.7 percent of the time when in the red zone … opponents, meanwhile, have just 19 red zone trips this season (13 touchdowns) … the 19 red zone trips by opponents are tied for the second-fewest nationally. • Since the BYU game last season (12 games), ISU has converted 67 percent of its red zone opportunities into touchdowns (31-for-47) … since the Oklahoma State game last season (Sept. 23, 2023), ISU has converted all but four red zone chances into points (62-of-66) … 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 lost the turnover battle just once this season season, improving to 37-9 under Campbell when winning the battle. • The Cyclones have 14 interceptions through nine games this season and own a turnover margin of +8, which ranks among the nation’s top 20. • The Cyclones had 16 interceptions in 2023 and ranked 16th nationally with a +8 turnover margin.
Kansas Jayhawks at #7/8 BYU Cougars
(ESPN) 9:15 p.m. CT/8:15 p.m. MDT
THE SERIES
BYU and Kansas are meeting for the third time in the series. The Cougars trail in the series 0-2. BYU lost in Lawrence last season behind a second-half surge from the Jayhawks, falling 38-27. The two schools also matched up in the 1992 Aloha Bowl where Kansas beat the beat BYU 23-20.
Kansas Jayhawks Notes
• For the third-straight game, the Kansas Jayhawks will take on a top-20 opponent as the Kansas Jayhawks travel to Provo, Utah to take on the No. 7 BYU Cougars on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 9:15 p.m. CT at LaVell Edwards Stadium. The Big 12 Conference matchup will air on ESPN with Mark Jones (Play-by-Play), Roddy Jones (Analyst) and Quint Kessenich (Sideline) on the call. Saturday’s game at BYU marks the third in the all-time series history, after Kansas and BYU last met on Sept. 23, 2023 which resulted in a 38-27 Kansas victory at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. In that game, Kansas benefitted off two defensive touchdowns, one from senior Cobee Bryant and another from Kenny Logan Jr., to go along with three passing touchdowns from redshirt junior Jalon Daniels. The only prior meeting came in the 1992 Jeep Aloha Bowl on Christmas Day, which KU also won, 23-20. Saturday’s game will Kansas’ first played in Provo, Utah. • The Kansas Jayhawks (3-6, 2-4) enter Saturday’s game at BYU following an explosive 45-36 victory over No. 17 Iowa State on Saturday, Nov. 9, in which senior running back Devin Neal became Kansas’ all-time leading rusher (3,951 yards) surpassing June Henley’s 3,841 yards set from 1993-96. On the strength of 116 rushing yards on 18 carries and two touchdowns, Neal also became Kansas’ record holder for all-time rushing touchdowns with 43, surpassing Henley’s 41. Along with Neal, Daniels was in sync in Kansas’ 45-36 victory, completing 12-of-24 passing for 295 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 24.5 yards per completion. Daniels connected on plays of 62 yards to Quentin Skinner, 70 yards to Luke Grimm and 32 yards to Torry Locklin, among other big plays. Leading by 10 in the fourth quarter, senior cornerback Mello Dotson came up with a pivotal 25-yard interception return for a touchdown to help seal the Kansas win. Entering Saturday’s game, Kansas’ offense averages 31.7 points per game after scoring 40+ in two of its last three games. The Jayhawks have been strong on the ground, averaging 213.6 yards per game, which ranks second in the Big 12 Conference. The Jayhawks have also been highly efficient on third down, converting 57-of-110 (51.8%) on the season, which is a Big 12 best and ranks fourth nationally. Defensively, Kansas has capitalized on opponent mistakes, recording two defensive touchdowns and 22 total sacks, both of which rank in the top-three of the Big 12 Conference this season. • The No. 7 BYU Cougars (9-0, 6-0) enter week 12 of the college football season as one of four undefeated FBS programs, following a final second field goal to defeat in-state rival Utah, 22-21 on Nov. 9. Trailing 21-19 with 1:56 remaining, BYU marched down the field to set up a 44-yard game winning field goal by Will Ferrin with three seconds remaining. BYU outgained Utah, 339 to 259, while also finding success in special teams with a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Keelan Marion, his second kickoff return touchdown this season. As a team, BYU leads the Big 12 Conference in passes intercepted (16), while ranking second in scoring offense (33.7).
JAYHAWK QUICK HITS
• A hometown product of Lawrence, Kansas, Devin Neal, is now Kansas’ all-time time rusher. Neal broke June Henley’s career rushing yards mark of 3,841 (1993-96) in the 45-36 win over No. 17 Iowa State on Nov. 9, as he enters Saturday’s game with 3,951 career rushing yards. Not only did he become Kansas’ all-time leading rusher, Neal broke Henley’s career rushing touchdowns mark of 41 set from 1993-96 and became the only Jayhawk in school history with 18+ career 100+ yard rushing games. Entering Saturday’s game at BYU, Neal has 689 career carries for 3,951 rushing yards and 43 touchdowns. This season alone, Neal has rushed 148 times for 874 yards and 10 touchdowns. If Neal were to reach the 1,000-yard mark this season, he would become the only Jayhawk to ever rush for 1,000+ yards in three seasons. Not only is he the “Real Deal” on the field, but Neal was also 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. • On the opposite side of the ball, Kansas’ cornerback duo of Cobee Bryant and Mello Dotson have closed in on records of their own. In Kansas’ 45-36 win over No. 17 Iowa State, Dotson, of Daytona Beach, Fla., intercepted quarterback Rocco Becht and returned it 25-yards for his fourth-career interception return for a touchdown. Dotson already owned Kansas’ school record for interceptions returned for a touchdown following his third career return vs. TCU earlier this season. Dotson’s four career interception returns for a touchdown are the most among any player in FBS. Meanwhile, Bryant is tied for second in school history with 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. Bryant and Dotson’s 24 career combined interceptions are the most among any duo in FBS. • Kansas has also been strong in the trenches, as the Jayhawks lead the Big 12 in sacks allowed per game, averaging 0.89 sacks allowed per game. Dating back to the start of the 2022 season, the Kansas offensive line has allowed just 36 sacks, which are the third fewest among power-four offensive lines over that span. The KU offensive line has paved the way for 213.6 rushing yards per game this season, which ranks second in the Big 12 and 13th nationally.
OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER
• Kansas’ offense has found its spark over the last several games, as the Jayhawks have scored 40+ points in two of their last three games, including 45 points against an Iowa State team that allowed an average of 15.5 points prior to the matchup, which led the Big 12. Kansas’ 45 points scored against Iowa State were the most the Cyclones allowed all season and the most since Oklahoma scored 50 against Iowa State on Sept. 30, 2023. • Offensively, Kansas has gone over 400 yards in each of their last four games, including a season-high 532 yards against Iowa State on Nov. 9. Kansas’ 532 yards of offense were the most by the Jayhawks against a Big 12 Conference opponent since totaling 562 at Cincinnati on Nov. 25, 2023. • Kansas has been especially strong on third down, converting a Big 12 leading 51.8% (57-of-110) on third downs this season. While leading the Big 12, it also ranks fourth nationally. • The Jayhawks have made the most of their opportunities while in the red zone, as Kansas has converted red zone trips into scores 96.8% (30- of-31) of the time, which is the highest conversion percentage in the Big 12 Conference and fourth highest nationally. Of those 31 trips to the red zone, 25 have resulted in touchdowns while five have resulted in field goals. • Over the second half of the season, Kansas has done a good job of limiting mistakes, turning the ball over just three times over the last five games. In Kansas’ first four games, the Jayhawks turned the ball over 10 times to its opponent’s 4. Over the last five games, Kansas owns a plus-eight turnover differential, including a +1.3 turnover margin over its last three games. • Since head coach Lance Leipold took over in 2021, Kansas has gone o
KANSAS VS. RANKED OPPONENTS
• Saturday’s game between Kansas and BYU marks the Jayhawks’ third-straight game against a ranked opponent after falling to No. 16 Kansas State, 29-17 on Oct. 26, and defeating No. 17 Iowa State, 45-36 on Nov. 9. • The three-game stretch against ranked opponents marks the first time since 2020 that Kansas has played three-straight ranked opponents. • With BYU ranked at No. 7 in the week 12 AP Poll, it will be Kansas’ highest ranked road opponent since taking on No. 3 Texas on Sept. 30, 2023. • The win over No. 17 Iowa State marked Kansas’ third win over a ranked opponent under head coach Lance Leipold, previously defeating No. 8 Oklahoma, 38-33 on Oct. 28, 2023 and No. 18 Oklahoma State, 38-17 on Nov. 5, 2022. • Prior to Leipold’s arrival in 2021, Kansas was 0-43 against top-25 foes between 2010-2021 with its last win coming against No. 15 Georgia Tech on Sept. 11, 2010. • The Jayhawks are 29-184-2 all-time against ranked opponents, including 10-96-2 against opponents ranked in the top-10 all-time.
A KANSAS WIN WOULD …
• Move Kansas to 610-685-58 all-time, including 21- 27 in the Lance Leipold era. Leipold’s career record would improve to 167-66 overall. • Improve Kansas to 3-0 over BYU all-time, including 1-0 in games played in Provo. • Move Kansas to 3-4 in Big 12 Conference play this season and 8-8 since the start of the 2023 season. Prior to Leipold’s arrival, Kansas was 8-98 in Big 12 Conference games from 2009-2020. • Be Kansas’ first win over a top-10 opponent on the road since defeating No. 4 Colorado on Oct. 7, 1995, 40-24. • Give Kansas back-to-back wins over ranked opponents for the first time since 1995, when Kansas defeated No. 4 Colorado on Oct. 7, 1995, followed by a 38-17 win over No. 15 Oklahoma on Oct. 21, 1995. It would be Kansas’ first back-to-back ranked wins in consecutive weeks for the first time in program history. • Improve Kansas to 30-185-2 against AP ranked teams including 11-96-2 against opponents ranked in the top-10 all-time.
BYU Cougars Notes
FROM 2023:
BYU only had two repeat conference games in 2024 from its inaugural 2023 Big 12 schedule. Oklahoma State visited Provo and BYU beat the Cowboys 38-35 after falling to Oklahoma State last year in Stillwater. The Cougars will hope to avenge a loss to its only other 2023 repeat with Kansas coming to Provo after losing to the Jayhawks in 2023.
COMPETING AS A RANKED TEAM:
BYU is No. 7 in the Associated Press Top 25 and No. 8 in the Coaches Poll. The Cougars were ranked No. 9 in the first College Football Playoff rankings. BYU is 27-7 under head coach Kalani Sitake when playing as a ranked team. The appearance in the AP poll is the 287th overall by the Cougars in program history, which is 35th among all teams. STRENGTH OF RECORD. BYU leads the Big 12 and is No. 2 nationally in the ESPN Football Power Index strength of record metrics. The Cougars have wins over two teams currently ranked in the Top 25 and are one of four unbeaten teams remaining in the FBS.
UNDEFEATED STARTS:
The 9-0 start is just the fifth 9-0 start in program history and second under Kalani Sitake. The Cougars started 9-0 in 2020. With a win, BYU would have just its 4th 10-0 start in school history. The Cougars also went 10-0 to start 2001, 1984 and 1979. BYU is one of just four remaining undefeated teams in the FBS and the only left in the Big 12 without a loss
Bye Weeks: UCF, Oklahoma State, TCU and Texas Tech
CONFERENCE NEWS & NOTES
• BYU is one of four remaining unbeaten teams in FBS, making the Big 12 one of two Power Four conferences with an undefeated team through Week 11. • The Big 12 Conference will enter Week 12 with the second-highest Sagarin ranking in FBS behind only the SEC. • Five Big 12 teams rank in the top 30 of ESPN’s FPI Strength of Record, led by BYU in second place (Arizona State, BYU, Colorado, Iowa State and Kansas State). • The Conference has seven teams that are bowl-eligible with three others that are one win away. • The Big 12 leads all FBS leagues with 24 lead changes in the fourth quarter in Conference play. • The Big 12 Conference will host FOX Big Noon Kickoff for a Conference-record fifth time this season when the pregame show heads to Boulder on Saturday. • Entering Week 12, Arizona State and BYU are two of only four FBS teams this season with a perfect 4-0 record in games decided by seven or fewer points. • Shedeur Sanders, the reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, continues to rank among the national leaders as one of three FBS quarterbacks in the top 10 nationally in completion percentage (72.9%), passing yards (2,882) and passing touchdowns (24). • 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; 4,236 yards), KU’s Devin Neal (second; 3,951 yards) and UCF’s RJ Harvey (fourth; 3,543 yards). • Iowa State is one of five FBS schools with 30 interceptions in the last two seasons, entering Week 12. • Colorado’s average margin of victory of 17.2 points in Big 12 play is the most of any team in the top half of the Big 12 standings. • 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 400 snaps on each side of the ball this season. • The Conference has four teams in the top ten of Power Four in rushing yards per game: UCF (first), Kansas (third), Kansas State (fifth) and Arizona State (ninth). • 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 five 175+ rushing yard performances.
