WEEK 13 GAME SCHEDULE
Saturday, November 23, 2024
Arizona Wildcats at TCU Horned Frogs
(ESPN+) 2 p.m. CT/1 p.m. MT
SERIES HISTORY
• TCU and Arizona are tied at 1-1 in their all-time series. • The No. 15 Wildcats won 35-31 at TCU in 1999, before the 19th-ranked Horned Frogs took a 13-10 overtime decision in Tucson in 2003.
Arizona Wildcats Notes
NOTES & NUMBERS
• The Arizona Wildcats travel to TCU for the third matchup in series history. Richard Cross (PxP) and Barrett Brooks (Analyst) are the broadcast crew on ESPN+. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. MST. Arizona looks to win two straight for the second time this season. • This is the third matchup in series history, with the series tied 1-1. Arizona and TCU last matched up on Sep. 27, 2003, in Tucson. The Wildcats fell 13-10 to the Horned Frogs in overtime. Arizona won its previous road contest against TCU, 35-31 on Sep. 5, 1999, in Fort Worth. • QB Noah Fifita has thrown 41-career touchdowns which is 10th in program history. He is one touchdown away from tying Keith Smith and Ortege Jenkins (42 TD) for eighth in Arizona football history. • Fifita is also 10th in program history with 5,545-career passing yards, moving past Ortege Jenkins (5,424 yards; 1997-2000). He is 178 passing yards away from tying Dan White (5,723) for ninth in program history. • WR Tetairoa 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 is second the nation with 1,136 receiving yards this season, trailing only Nick Nash (1,282) 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. • DB Genesis Smith was named Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after recording a career-high seven tackles, grabbing one interception, and forcing a fumble in Arizona’s 27-3 victory over Houston.
62 – K Tyler Loop’s 62-yard field goal vs. Houston set a program record and is tied for the second-longest made FG in the history of the Big 12 Conference.
3 – Arizona’s defense held Houston to three points, marking the fewest allowed since holding NAU to three points to open the 2023 season (38-3).
1,136 – WR Tetairoa McMillan ranks third in the nation and leads the Big 12 Conference with 1,136 receiving yards this season.
112 – McMillan enters this weekend with 3,240 career receiving yards, putting him 112 yards shy of breaking the Arizona program record.
10th – QB Noah Fifita threw for 224 yards against Houston and is now 10th in career-passing yards in program history with 5,545.
318 – K Tyler Loop has tallied 318 career points, the third most in program history. He is 20 points shy of moving into second place.
41 – QB Noah Fifita’s 41 career passing touchdowns 41 are 10th most in program history.
TAKING ON TCU:
The Arizona Wildcats (4-6, 2-5 Big 12) travel to TCU (6-4, 4-3 Big 12) for the third matchup in series history. Richard Cross (Play-by-play) and Barrett Brooks (Analyst) have the broadcast on ESPN+ ($). Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. MST. Arizona looks to win two straight for the first time this season after dropping five consecutive games prior to the 27-3 win over Houston last week. This is the third matchup in series history with the series tied 1-1. Arizona and TCU last matched up on Sep. 27, 2003, in Tucson. The Wildcats fell 13-10 to the Horned Frogs in overtime. Arizona won its previous road contest against TCU, 35-31 on Sep. 5, 1999, in Fort Worth.
LOSING STREAK SNAPPED:
The Wildcats took down Houston 27-3 to snap their five-game losing skid and get back in the win column for the first time since Sep. 28, 2024, at Utah (23-10). Arizona has yet to surpass the 30-point plateau since a 61-39 win over New Mexico to open the season. It marked the second win in Big 12 play and kept the program’s bowl game hopes alive with a 4-6 record with two games to play.
TCU Horned Frogs Notes
ABOUT THE GAME
• After an open week, TCU is home Saturday to host Arizona at 2 p.m. on Senior Day. • When last in action, the Horned Frogs became bowl eligible after a 38-13 win over Oklahoma State on Nov. 9. TCU built a 24-0 halftime lead. • TCU has won three of its last four games. • TCU and Arizona are meeting for just the third time in their history and the first since a 13-10 Horned Frogs’ overtime win in 2003. • TCU has four players with at least 500 yards receiving (Jack Bech, 982; Savion Williams, 580; Eric McAlister, 552; JP Richardson, 523) for the first time since 2015. • The 20.5 receptions per game by TCU wide receivers lead the nation for Power Four Conference programs and rank second in the FBS (North Texas, 21.1). • TCU wide receivers have caught 13 touchdown passes in the red zone, placing third nationally behind Indiana (15) and Texas (14).
Central Florida Knights at West Virginia Mountaineers
(ESPNU) 3:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. CT
SERIES HISTORY WITH UCF
• West Virginia leads the series with UCF, 3-0. • The series began in 2003 with a 36-18 WVU win in Morgantown. The return game in Orlando, Florida, took place in 2004, with the Mountain- eers also winning, 45-20. • The last meeting took place in 2023, in Orlando, with both teams competing as members of the Big 12, with WVU winning, 41-28.
Central Florida Knights Notes
FIRST AND 10
• UCF will make its second trip to Morgantown, West Virginia, this weekend in search of its 300th win in program history, as the Knights battle the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon on ESPNU with Mike Monaco (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (analyst) and Dawn Davenport (sideline) on the call. • The game marks the fourth all-time meeting between the programs, as WVU has won each of the previous three matchups. UCF last traveled to Morgantown on Oct. 31, 2003 when the Mountaineers earned a 36-18 victory. • Last season, West Virginia led 17-14 at halftime but outscored UCF 24-14 in the second half to earn the 41-28 victory. The Mountaineers rushed for 286 yards that game, headlined by CJ Donaldson with 121 while RJ Harvey had 100 for UCF. • In UCF’s last outing, despite recording nearly 150 more yards offensively and limiting Arizona State to its fewest yards of the season, a few big defensive plays proved to be the difference as UCF came up short against ASU 35-31 at Mountain America Stadium. • Saturday’s matchup will feature two of the nation’s best rushing attacks, as UCF leads the league and ranks second nationally with 262.8 rushing yards per game, while the Mountaineers are fourth in the conference and No. 28 in the nation averaging 197.2 rushing yards per game. • The Knights have now rushed for 2,628 yards with 30 touchdowns on the ground this season. UCF’s rushing yards average of 262.8 is nearly 40 more than the next-closest Power Four Conference team (Tennessee 226.2). The 262.8 rushing yards per game mark is 60 more than the next conference opponent (Kansas 202.9). • UCF is second in the nation in explosive running plays, as the Knights have recorded 86 rushing plays of at least 10 yards. Additionally, the Black and Gold are tied with Baylor for the lead league and tied for 10th nationally in most offensive plays of 20 or more yards with 61. • Running back RJ Harvey, a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award for the second consecutive season, leads the nation with 44 rushing plays of at least 10 yards, which is 10 more than the next Big 12 player. His 19 rushing touchdowns are the most in the conference and fifth most nationally. • Harvey enters this weekend’s game with 1,328 rushing yards, the third most among FBS running backs and the most in the Big 12, and 3,543 career rushing yards. His 43 total touchdowns scored are the third most in program history, just three shy Kevin Smith’s program record 46. Harvey’s 40 rushing TDs are second in the UCF record books behind Smith’s 45. • UCF was the only Big 12 Conference newcomer to make a bowl game last season, as the Knights finished with six wins and earned an invitation to play in the Gasparilla Bowl. It marked a program-record eighth consecutive postseason bowl appearance, 11th in the last 12 seasons and the 15th in 19 years. UCF’s streak of eight consecutive bowl game appearances is tied for the 10th longest streak nationally with one of the teams ahead of the Knights already eliminated from the postseason this year.
THE OPPONENT
• West Virginia heads into this weekend’s matchup with a 5-5 overall record and a 4-3 mark in conference action. The Mountaineers were defeated by Baylor, 49-35, in their last outing at home. • Now in his sixth season as a head coach at West Virginia, Neal Brown has a 36-34 overall record during his tenure in Morgantown and a 71-50 overall career record. Saturday’s contest will be the second meeting between Brown and Gus Malzahn as head coaches. • West Virginia is averaging 29.6 points per game, while opponents have scored 30.0 ppg. • The Mountaineers are ranked No. 5 nationally for fewest penalty yards per game and No. 7 in fewest penalties. • WVU’s defense is ranked No. 17 nationally for most defensive touchdowns this season (2).
KNIGHT NOTES
A WIN WOULD…
– Give UCF its 300th all-time win as a program. – Give the Knights their third Big 12 win of the season and second on the road. – Give UCF its first win against West Virginia in program history – Give UCF head coach Gus Malzahn his first win against West Virginia in his second meeting against the program. – Be better than a loss
BEST AMONG FBS
UCF’s Jacoby Jones has graded out at 92.2 on third and fourth down, which is the best among FBS wide receivers, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). Jones has reeled in 20 catches this season with 12 of them on third and fourth down. In his last three games, Jones has 18 catches for 277 yards, including consecutive 100-yard receiving games. Against Arizona, Jones secured five passes for 106 yards with a touchdown and he had six catches for a season-high 116 yards against BYU.
RUNNING WILD
After ranking among the nation’s top 10 in rushing offense the past two seasons, UCF is in the midst of achieving that mark again in 2024. UCF has now rushed for 2,628 yards with 30 touchdowns on the ground this season. UCF’s rushing yards average of 262.8 is nearly 40 more than the next-closest Power Four Conference team (Tennessee 226.2). The 262.8 rushing yards per game mark is 60 more than the next conference opponent (Kansas 202.9). The Black and Gold rushed for 454 yards in the season opener against New Hampshire, the second most in program history. Additionally, UCF’s 8.4 rushing yards per carry were the second most in a single game in program history. The Knights were fourth nationally in rushing offense with 228.2 rushing yards per game last season. UCF rushed for 200 or more yards in nine of its 13 games in 2023 and has picked up where it left off.
PROLIFIC OFFENSE
The Knights’ prolific offense ranks seventh nationally and leads the conference with 464.6 yards per game. UCF has recorded 400 or more yards in seven games this season, including 602 in the 56-12 victory against Arizona, the most in a Big 12 Conference game. Additionally, the Black and Gold’s 240 first downs this season lead the conference and rank 15th nationally. UCF has achieved 141 by rushing, 85 from passing and 14 from penalties by the opponent. In contrast, the Black and Gold’s defense has allowed 200 first downs.
West Virginia Mountaineers 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 199-80-4 (.710) all-time mark at the facility, which opened in 1980 • WVU is 6-9 in games played on Nov. 23, including 4-2 at home. The last time WVU played on Nov. 23 was in 2019 against Oklahoma State (L/20-13) • Since 2002, the Mountaineers are 103-15 when winning the turnover battle • Overall, the Mountaineers are 31-12 in the Neal Brown era when rushing for at least 100 yards • West Virginia has surpassed at least 140 rushing yards in 24 of the last 26 games, dating back to 2022 • The Mountaineers are ranked No. 5 nationally for fewest penalty yards per game and No. 7 in fewest penalties • West Virginia’s rushing attack is ranked No. 28 nationally in most yards per game (197.2) • WVU ranks No. 31 nationally in first-down offense (223). • The Mountaineers are tied for No. 1 nationally among Power Four Football in fourth downs converted (19) in 2024. • WVU’s defense has recorded multiple sacks in 11 of the last 15 games and at least four tackles for loss in 27 of the last 31 games • West Virginia has held 17 of its last 22 opponents to fewer than 300 yards passing • WVU’s defense is ranked No. 17 nationally for most defensive touchdowns this season (2) • The Mountaineer rushing defense is tied for No. 37 nationally among Power Four, holding its opponents to 131.2 ypg. WVU’s opponents have been held to 130 yards rushing or less in six of 10 games • WVU is ranked No. 14 in punt return defense (3.3), No. 31 nationally in kickoff return defense (17.41) and No. 38 in kickoff returns (21.95) • Jahiem White has 39 missed tackles forced to lead WVU, Garrett Greene has 28 and CJ Donaldson Jr. has 25 • Greene is ranked No. 21 nationally for passing yards per completion (13.47), No. 24 nationally in rushing yards per carry (6.2) and No. 28 nationally for most total offense yards per game (273.6). • According to PFF College, Wyatt Milum is ranked as the No. 1 offensive tackle in the nation, grading out at 91.3%. His 89.6 run-blocking grade is No. 2 and his pass-blocking grade (88.2) is No. 4. He has played 264 snaps and has not allowed a sack a quarterback hit and five pressures • According to PFF College, TJ Jackson II has a 90.5% grade against the run, ranking No. 2 nationally • Jackson is ranked No. 4 in the Big 12 and No. 46 nationally for most sacks per game (0.55) • Tyrin Bradley Jr. ranks No. 8 nationally for most fumble recoveries (2) • Josiah Trotter and Anthony Wilson Jr. rank No. 2 in the Big 12 in tackles per game (7.8) • Michael Hayes II is ranked No. 15 nationally for field goal percentage (.909) • Preston Fox is ranked No. 30 nationally for punt return average per game. He also is No. 32 nationally for most combined kick returns (333)
Texas Tech Red Raiders at Oklahoma State Cowboys
(ESPN+) 2:30 p.m. CT
INSIDE THE SERIES
• This will be the 51st all-time meeting between Texas Tech and Oklahoma State; the Red Raiders will look to tie the all-time series on Saturday after the Cowboys took the lead in the series in their last meeting in 2022. • The 2022 meeting between Tech and OSU was the last time the two schools faced each other. The break in 2023 snapped a streak of meetings spanning 27 consecutive seasons, which was every year since the Big 12 was formed in 1996. • This weekend’s matchup breaks a streak of 15-consecutive meetings where Oklahoma State has entered the game ranked in the top-25 polls. The Cowboys have not entered a matchup with Texas Tech unranked since 2007 when Oklahoma State outlasted the Red Raiders, 49-45, in Stillwater. Texas Tech is 6-3 since joining the Big 12 Conference in 1996 when facing an unranked Oklahoma State team. • The Red Raiders are 11-16 all-time against the Cowboys during the Big 12 era despite winning seven of the first nine meetings after the league formed prior to the 1996 season. Oklahoma State returned the favor, winning 12 of the last 14 meetings with Texas Tech’s two wins during that stretch coming in a 41-17 road win in 2018 and then a 45-35 victory at home a year later. • The Red Raiders snapped a nine-game losing streak to Oklahoma State in their 2018 visit to Stillwater following a 41-17 victory in 2018. It marked the first time Texas Tech had topped Oklahoma State away from home since the 2001 season. Texas Tech is only 3-10 in Stillwater during the Big 12 era with its lone other win coming via a 27-3 victory in 1997. • The victory over Oklahoma State in 2019 marked Texas Tech’s first at home against the Cowboys since the 2008 season as the Red Raiders created five takeaways and totaled seven sacks, their most in a game at the time since 2009. • Texas Tech and Oklahoma State have produced several high-scoring shootouts in recent years as the two schools have combined for at least 70 points in nine of the past 11 meetings. The two schools have combined for 50 or more points in 12 of the past 13 meetings and in 20 of the past 24 contests overall. • The lone exception to the high-scoring tendency between the two schools was Oklahoma State’s 23-0 victory in 2021 The shutout marked the first time the Red Raiders had been blanked since falling at No. 2 Nebraska, 29-0, on Oct. 18, 1997, snapping a streak of 302-consecutive games with points. Texas Tech was shut out at home for the first time since a 31-0 loss to Arkansas on Oct. 10, 1987.
Texas Tech Red Raiders Notes
TEXAS TECH, OSU SET FOR 51ST MEETING
Texas Tech will be on the road for the final time this season on Saturday, traveling to face Oklahoma State at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. with coverage provided nationally on ESPN+. The Red Raiders will be searching for their third Big 12 road win of the season against the Cowboys, marking Texas Tech’s most since its memorable 2008 campaign. Texas Tech is only 3-10 all-time in Stillwater with only one win since 2001, which came via a 41-17 rout in 2018.
THE REMAINING GOALS
• Texas Tech’s loss to Colorado just over a week ago greatly decreased its odds of reaching the Big 12 Championship. The Red Raiders, now 6-4 overall and 4-3 in Big 12 play, will look at the following goals over the final two regular-season games and then a future bowl appearance. • A victory over Oklahoma State 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. • With a victory against both Oklahoma State and then West Virginia a week later, Texas Tech would finish with eight regular-season wins for the first time since 2009. A victory afterward in a bowl game would also mark Texas Tech’s first nine-win season since that same 2009 campaign. • Likewise, a victory over both Oklahoma State and West Virginia would also give Texas Tech six conference wins for only the third time as a Big 12 member. The Red Raiders were 6-2 in league play in 2005 and then 7-1 in 2008 with both seasons resulting in trips to the Cotton Bowl. • When the Red Raiders reach their bowl game, Texas Tech will be looking to secure a win for a fourth-consecutive season for the first time in school history. The Red Raiders have won four straight bowl games once in their history (2009-13) but never in consecutive seasons.
TEXAS TECH FOLLOWING OPEN DATES
• Texas Tech is 20-14 during the Big 12 era in the week following an open date with wins in nine of the last 13 contests dating back to the 2015 season. Three of Texas Tech’s four losses during that span came against ranked opponents with two of those being in road games. • Texas Tech had won eight-consecutive games following an open date versus unranked foes until following to Baylor on Oct. 19 at home. The Red Raiders are 17-7 over the course of their time in the Big 12 when coming off an open week against an unranked opponent.
RED RAIDERS ARE BOWL-ELIGIBLE AGAIN
• Texas Tech secured its 42nd bowl appearance and its fourth in as many years with a 23-22 victory at No. 11/10 Iowa State. 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 in the midst of its longest bowl streak since its 2000-10 stretch, primarily under then head coach 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 over 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.
Oklahoma State Cowboys Notes
Oklahoma State from a Distance
Oklahoma State is 3-7 on the year and returns to action for Senior Day this week after taking its second bye week of the season last week. The Cowboys have dealt with more than their fair share of injuries this year, 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, receiver Talyn Shettron 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. Last week he became Oklahoma State’s all-time leader in career receptions and joined College Football Hall of Famers Barry Sanders, Thurman Thomas and Terry Miller as the only players in school history to reach 5,000 career all-purpose yards. He is the Power 4 active career leader in all-purpose yards and the only player in the FBS this season with at least 600 receiving yards, 200 kickoff return yards and 50 rushing yards. On the year, he ranks No. 8 in the FBS with 72 catches and leads the team with 937 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 5.3 solo tackles per game ranks 10th among all FBS players.
Continued Success
• Entering 2024, Oklahoma State made 18 consecutive bowl appearances and secured 18 consecutive winning seasons, both school-record streaks. OSU’s bowl streak was the sixth-longest active streak in the FBS and was the 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 was one of only four teams to post a winning season every from 2010-23, joining Alabama, Boise State and Wisconsin. It was 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 98-28 in its past 126 games vs. opponents outside of the AP Top 25, dating to 2010. • Give it wins in 13 of its past 23 and in 26 of its past 39 games following a loss. • Improve Mike Gundy’s record in November games to 42-33. • Improve Mike Gundy’s record in Big 12 games to 103-70 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. Texas Tech to 25-23-3 and its record vs. TTU in Stillwater to 15-8. • Give it wins in 13 of the past 15 games against TTU and in 10 of the past 11 games vs. TTU in Stillwater. • Improve Mike Gundy’s record versus Texas Tech to 15-4. • Make it 35-19 in its past 54 games overall, dating back to the 2020 season.
Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
• Brennan Presley has multiple catches in 40 straight games, the second longest active streak in the FBS. • Trey Rucker has recorded at least 10 tackles in four of his nine games played this season. • Oklahoma State is 5-for-6 on two-point conversion attempts this season and the five successful two-point conversions are tied for the most in the FBS. • Ollie Gordon II has rushed for more than 100 yards in 12 of the past 21 games. • OSU’s offensive line has not allowed a sack in 11 of its past 20 games. • OSU is 13-2 in the past 15 games when winning or tying the turnover battle. • Dating back to 2008, OSU is 82-10 when winning the turnover battle. • Dating back to 2005, OSU is 49-4 when not committing a turnover. • OSU has held 35 of its past 50 Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average entering the game. • OSU has won 86 consecutive games when holding its opponent to fewer than 20 points, dating back to Sept. 13, 2003 – the longest active stretch of time in the FBS, the longest since at least 1980 and likely the longest in college football history. Including games when opponents have scored 20 points or fewer, the streak begins at the same date and includes 94 games. • OSU has held its opponent scoreless on its game-opening drive in 45 of its past 68 games. • OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50% third down conversion rate in 52 of its past 62 games. • OSU is 40-18 in its past 58 games decided by fewer than 10 points. • OSU is 51-9 in its past 60 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016. • OSU has won five of its past seven overtime games. • Over the past 58 games, OSU has held opponents to 300-for-907 (33.1%) on third down.
#14/15 BYU Cougars at # 21/22 Arizona State Sun Devils
(ESPN)2:30 p.m. CT/1:30 p.m. MT
THE SERIES:
BYU an Arizona State are meeting for the 29th time. The Cougars trail in the series 8-20 and the two schools spent time together in the Western Athletic Conference from 1965 to 1977. BYU won the last meeting 27-17 in Provo in 2021. Jaren Hall threw for 214 yards and two touchdowns while running back Tyler Allgeier ran for 69 yards and another score but his most memorable play was forcing a fumble after an interception to get the ball back for the Cougars in the fourth quarter. Like the 2024 matchup, both schools were ranked in the Top 25 (ASU 19, BYU 23). The last time the teams played in Tempe, BYU won 13-10 on a fourth-quarter field goal back in 1997.
BYU Cougars Notes
TOP 25 MATCHUP:
BYU and Arizona State are meeting as ranked teams with the Cougars at 14/15 and ASU at 21/22. The two schools were both ranked the last time they matched up as well in 2021. BYU was No. 23 and the Sun Devils No. 19 in the AP Poll. This is the first ranked on ranked matchup for the Cougars this year.
FLIPPING THE SCRIPT:
Arizona State was picked last in the Big 12 media preseason poll, while BYU was picked 13th out of 16 teams. BYU leads the conference after 10 weeks of the season, tied with Colorado, who was picked 11th at 6-1 and Arizona State right behind at 5-2 at the top of the standings. Of the teams picked in the top 5 in the preseason poll, only Kansas State (picked 2nd) has a winning record in Big 12 play at 4-3. Utah is 1-6 (1st), Oklahoma State (3rd) 0-7 and Arizona (5th) 2-5. All received first-place votes in the preseason poll.
COMPETING AS A RANKED TEAM:
BYU is No. 14 in the Associated Press Top 25 and No. 15 in the Coaches Poll. BYU is 27-8 under head coach Kalani Sitake when playing as a ranked team. The appearance in the AP poll is the 288th overall by the Cougars in program history, which is 35th among all teams.
STRENGTH OF RECORD:
BYU leads the Big 12 and is No. 8 nationally in the ESPN Football Power Index strength of record metrics (SOR). Arizona State is second in the conference with a SOR of 18, with Colorado at 21, Iowa State 22 and Kansas State at 24. The ESPN SOR reflects chance that an average Top 25 team would have team’s record or better, given the schedule.
Arizona State Sun Devils Notes
#16/18 Colorado Buffaloes at Kansas Jayhawks
(FOX) 2:30 p.m. CT/1:30 p.m. MT
KANSAS VS. COLORADO HISTORY
• Saturday’s showdown between Kansas and Colorado reignites a series that has been played 70 times all-time, while marking the first game played between the two teams since 2010. • In a series that dates back to 1903, Colorado holds the series advantage over Kansas at 42-25- 3, including a 17-16-3 advantage in games played in Lawrence. Saturday’s game between Kansas and Colorado will be the second game played not on either school’s campus, as Kansas and Colorado met in Denver in 1905. • The two teams last met in 2010 as members of the Big 12 Conference, before Colorado left for the Pac12 Conference in 2011. Kansas won the last meeting between the two teams in 2010, 52-45, and was winners of the last four-of-five meetings.
Colorado Buffaloes Notes
Kansas Jayhawks Notes
Coming off back-to-back ranked wins for the first time in program history, the Kansas Jayhawks return home to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium to host the No. 16 Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 2:30 p.m. CT for Senior Day. The matchup will air on FOX with Jason Benetti, Brock Huard and Allison Williams on the call. Saturday’s matchup reignites a series that has been played 70 times in its history, most recently in 2010, while the series dates back to 1903. Colorado leads the all-time series against the Jayhawks, 42-25-3, while Saturday’s game will be the first between the two teams as members of the Big 12 Conference since 2010. The Kansas Jayhawks (4-6, 3-4 Big 12) enter Saturday’s game vs. Colorado following back-to-back wins over ranked opponents, marking the first time in program history Kansas has defeated ranked opponents in consecutive weeks. Kansas handed No. 7 BYU its first loss of the season on Nov. 16, in a tightly contested 17-13 Jayhawk win at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah. In the win, Kansas controlled the turnover battle, forcing BYU into two turnovers while only allowing one. Kansas’ all-time leading rusher Devin Neal, a hometown product of Lawrence, Kansas, became the first Jayhawk in school history to surpass 4,000 career rushing yards, while he is just one of four FBS players nationally to accomplish the feat. Defensively, Kansas benefitted off of strong play from redshirt senior Marvin Grant, who notched double-digit tackles for the second time in his career, while senior Mello Dotson recorded his fifth interception of the season, the most in the Big 12 Conference. The Kansas offense remains efficient in key moments, leading the Big 12 Conference and is seventh nationally in third down conversion percentage (50%, 61-of-122) and leads the Big 12 and is sixth nationally in red zone offense (97.1%, 33-of-34). Kansas’ ranked wins this season have come against No. 17 Iowa State (45-36, Nov. 9) and at BYU (17-13, Nov. 16), while No. 16 Colorado and a Baylor road trip on Nov. 30 remain on the Jayhawks’ schedule. The No. 16 Colorado Buffaloes (8-2, 6-1 Big 12) come into Saturday’s matchup playing some of their best football, winning four straight games to put the Buffaloes in a tie for the lead in the Big 12 Conference Standings. Colorado dominated Utah in its last outing on Nov. 16, defeating the Utes, 49- 24, marking a season-high in scoring. In the win, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders went 30-for-41 for 340 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, while two-way star Travis Hunter caught five passes for 55 yards and recorded an interception. Defensively, the Buffs recorded four sacks and produced four takeaways — three interceptions and a fumble recovery. Hunter, Nikhai Hill-Green and DJ McKinney all recorded interceptions while Keaten Wade had a fumble recovery, with two of those takeaways leading to Colorado touchdowns. Colorado is a team that has been efficient through the air, leading the Big 12 Conference in completion percentage (72.2%) and passing efficiency (161.28). Under head coach Deion Sanders, the Buffaloes are bowl-eligible for the first time since 2020. Following Saturday’s game at Kansas, Colorado will host Oklahoma State for Senior Day on Nov. 29.
JAYHAWK QUICK HITS
• With wins over No. 7 BYU and No. 17 Iowa State in consecutive weeks, Kansas has defeated ranked opponents in back-to-back weeks for the first time in program history. Saturday’s game against Colorado marks the fourth-straight game against a ranked opponent for the Jayhawks, marking the first four-game stretch against ranked opponents since 2011. With the pair of ranked wins, Kansas has defeated two or more ranked opponents in the same season for the first time since 2007. The win over No. 7 BYU marked Kansas head coach Lance Leiopld’s fourth win over a ranked opponent while at Kansas (at No. 7 BYU, 2024; vs. No. 17 Iowa State, 2024; vs. No. 6 Oklahoma, 2023; vs. No. 18 Oklahoma State, 2022) as Leipold is now just one more ranked win shy of Bud Moore’s five wins over ranked opponents from 1975-78. • Of the seniors playing their last game at home for KU, senior running back Devin Neal will do so as Kansas’ all-time leading rusher with 4,003 career rushing yards. In the Nov. 9 win over No. 17 Iowa State, Neal surpassed June Henley’s all-time rushing mark of 3,841, which stood from 1993-96. Last week at BYU, Neal became the first Jayhawk to ever surpass 4,000 career rushing yards, while he is just one of four active FBS running backs to accomplish such a feat. Neal also holds Kansas’ school records for career rushing touchdown (45), career scrimmage touchdowns (48) and 100+ yard rushing games (18). • On the opposite side of the ball, Kansas’ cornerback duo of Cobee Bryant and Mello Dotson have closed in on records of their own. Bryant and Dotson, both Preseason All-Big 12 cornerbacks, lead the country in career interceptions by a duo (15) while Dotson leads the Big 12 Conference and ranks tied for second nationally with five interceptions this season. In the win over No. 7 BYU on Nov. 16, Dotson recorded his 12th career interception and fifth interception of the season. A week prior, Dotson recorded his fourth interception of the season in the 45-36 win over No. 17 Iowa State, which he returned for his fourth-career interception return for a touchdown, which is a KU school record. 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 25 career combined interceptions are the most among any duo in FBS.
KANSAS VS. RANKED OPPONENTS
• Saturday’s game between Kansas and No. 16 Colorado marks the Jayhawks’ fourth-straight game against a ranked opponent, as Kansas had defeated ranked opponents in back-to-back weeks for the first time in program history. • Last week, Kansas defeated No. 7 BYU in Provo, 17- 13, handing the Cougars their first loss of the season. The win over BYU marked Kansas’ first win over a top-10 opponent on the road since defeating No. 4 Colorado in Boulder on Oct. 7, 1995, 40-24. • The week prior, Kansas took down No. 17 Iowa State at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, marking Kansas’ first ranked win of the season. Kansas previously fell to No. 17 Kansas State, 29-27 on Oct. 26, 2024. • With the pair of ranked wins, Kansas has defeated two or more ranked opponents in the same season for the first time since 2007. The Jayhawks have defeated two or more ranked opponents in a season just six times in program history (2024, 2007, 1995, 1983, 1975, 1968). • The four-game stretch against ranked opponents marks the first time since 2011 that Kansas has played four-straight ranked opponents. • The win over No. 7 BYU marks head coach Lance Leipold’s fourth win over an AP ranked opponent while at Kansas (at No. 7 BYU, 2024; vs. No. 17 Iowa State, 2024; vs. No. 6 Oklahoma, 2023; vs. No. 18 Oklahoma State, 2022). Prior to head coach Lance Leipold’s arrival in 2021, Kansas was 4-47 against ranked opponents, dating back to the 2006 season. 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 30-184-2 all-time against ranked opponents, including 12-96-2 against opponents ranked in the top-10 all-time.
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 four 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 four of their last five 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 50% (61-of-122) on third downs this season. While leading the Big 12, it also ranks seventh nationally. • The Jayhawks have made the most of their opportunities while in the red zone, as Kansas has converted red zone trips into scores 97.1% (33-of34) of the time, which is the highest conversion percentage in the Big 12 Conference and second highest nationally, behind only Ohio State’s 97.4% conversion. Of those 34 trips to the red zone, 27 have resulted in touchdowns while six 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 four times over the last six games. In Kansas’ first four games, the Jayhawks turned the ball over 10 times to its opponent’s 4. Over the last six games, Kansas owns a plus-nine turnover differential. • Since head coach Lance Leipold took over in 2021, Kansas has gone over the 500+ yard mark in a single game 14 times.
Baylor Bears at Houston Cougars
(FS1) 6 p.m. CT
SERIES HISTORY
•The series with Houston is even, 14-14-1, with Houston leading 7-6 in games played in Houston. • The Bears have won three of the last four in the series and an overtime loss to the Cougs in 2023 marked the first meeting in the series since 1995. The two teams met every year from 1976-1995 as members of the Southwest Conference.
Baylor Bears Notes
STORY LINES
• Winners of four straight, Baylor travels to Houston to face of with the Cougars on Saturday. • Baylor is riding its first four-game win streak since 2021, claiming road wins at Texas Tech and West Virginia, and home wins over TCU and Oklahoma State. • 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). • Baylor reached bowl eligibility for the 12th time in the last 15 seasons with the win. • The Bears are seeking a five-game winning streak for the first time since 2019. • QB Sawyer Robertson leads the Big 12 Conference in QB rating (84.9) and ranks sixth 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 eight TDs in 2024, leading the team and ranking tied for 12th in single-season BU history. Cameron has 34 catches for 525 yards and ranks second the nation in punt returns, averaging 20.7 yards per return. He has 823 all-purpose yards through nine games in 2024. • BU ranks among the NCAA’s top-40 in 13 categories, including checking in No. 2 in punt returns, No. 5 in kickoff return defense, No. 4 in net punting, No. 7 in TFLs allowed, No. 23 in scoring offense, No. 28 in fewest sacks allowed, No. 32 in passing yards per completion, No. 34 in punt return defense and No. 37 in rushing offense. Robertson ranks 21st in passing TDs and No. 24 in passing efficiency. Cameron checks in 15th in receiving TDs and No. 2 in punt return average. Bryson Washington ranks No. 23 in yards per carry and No. 30 in rushing TDs.
SCOUTING THE COUGS
• Houston is coached by Willie Fritz, who is in his first year leading the Cougs after a decorated coaching career that includes head coach stops at Blinn College, Central Missouri, Georgia Southern and Tulane. He has an overall collegiate coaching record of 212-121 that includes a 4-1 mark in bowl games, a 7-3 mark in FCS playoffs and a pair of NJCAA National Championships. After winning 40 games in four years at Sam Houston, and 17 in the first two years of Georgia Southern’s transition to FBS, Fritz took over at Tulane and saw the Green Wave go 23-4 over his last two years, including a 15-1 mark in conference play, leading the team to five bowl games, including the Cotton Bowl in 2022. • Ken Barbay is the OC at Houston and was the OC/QB Coach at Mississippi State in 2023, after a similar role at App State in 2022, Central Michigan from 2019-21, SFA in 2018, and came up in the business at the FBS level as the Director of Player Development/Personnel at Florida and Colorado State. He was a GA at Baylor from 2005-06. Shiel Wood is the DC and was in the same role for Fritz at Tulane in 2023, Troy in 2022, Army in 2020-21, also coaching at Georgia State, Georgia Tech and Wofford. Derek Sherman is the assistant head coach at WR coach after coaching wide outs at Tulane in 2023, RBs in 2022 and WRs at Georgia Southern in 2021. He was the OC at Samford in 2020, which followed a WR gig at Samford, and previous coaching stops at Pittsburg State, Georgia Southern, West Virginia State and Southwest Baptist. • Houston opened the year with losses to UNLV and No. 15/13 Oklahoma, before routing Rice. The Cougs lost at Cincinnati 34-0 and 20-0 vs. No. 18/19 Iowa State, before winning three of their last four games, including results vs. TCU, Utah and on Nov. 2, vs. No. 17/15 Kansas State. The Cougs had an idle week before traveling to Arizona on Friday, falling 27-3. • Houston averages 14 points per game, surrendering 22.5 points per game. Offensively, UH averages 296.8 yards per game, with 152.9 passing and 143.9 rushing, and opponents collect 320.7 yards per game with 189.5 passing and 131.2 rushing. Nationally, Houston ranks No. 132 in scoring offense among the 136 FBS teams, also checking in No. 126 in passing offense, No. 133 in red-zone offense and No. 126 in total offense. • Re’Shaun Sanford II has rushed 75 times for 376 yards and a score, Zean Chriss has rushed for 349 yards on 89 carries with two TDs. QBs Donovan Smith and Chriss have each played in nine games, with Smith throwing for 867 yards with four TDs and eight interceptions, while Chriss has thrown for 542 yards with four TDs and four interceptions. WR Mekhi Mews caught 27 balls for 240 yards, Stephon Johnson has 24 catches for 294 yards and Joseph Manjack IV has 19 catches for 326 yards and three TDs. Defensively, Michael Batton has 74 tackles with 7.5 for a loss. AJ Halcy has four interceptions.
GOING BOWLING
• The win at West Virginia marked a bowl eligibility milestone for the Bears, giving Baylor bowl berths in 12 of the last 15 seasons and in three of five seasons under Coach Dave Aranda. • The 2024 bowl game will be the 27th all-time for the Bears, with its bowl history starting in 1948 at the Dixie Bowl. It will be Baylor’s first bowl since the 2022 Armed Forces Bowl, with Aranda also leading the Bears to the 2021 Sugar Bowl win over Ole Miss.
FOUR-GAME WIN STREAK
• Baylor is riding a four-game winning streak, its most since 2021, entering the Houston matchup, seeking its first five-game streak since 2019. • The four-game streak includes a furious offensive attack that ranks among the nation’s leaders. • Below is a breakdown of the offensive stats in the first six games, a 2-4 start, and the four-game win streak.
Houston Cougars Notes
THE OPENING KICKOFF
• Houston and Baylor are meeting for the 30th time in the history of the programs (1950-present) and second as co-Big 12 Conference members (2023-present). The series is deadlocked at 14-14-1 all-time. Houston’s 29 all-time meetings against Baylor entering Saturday are the second most against current Big 12 programs (Texas Tech, 35). • Despite 29 all-time meetings against Baylor, dating to 1950, Saturday marks the first against the Bears on the campus of the University of Houston. UH hosted Baylor three times at Rice Stadium from 1951-1962 and 10 times at the Astrodome from 1977-95. Saturday marks the first between the programs in the City of Houston since Baylor defeated Houston, 47-7 on Oct. 14, 1995, inside the Astrodome. • Saturday marks the Cougars inaugural “Houston Blue Out” Football game. On Nov. 1, UH introduced “Houston Blue” with athletic teams to wear special uniforms against an in-state opponent on select occasions. The color has been woven into the fabric of the City’s identity for over a century, seen most notably in the city’s flag, adopted in 1915, and iconic white-and-blue mosaic curb tiles marking intersections and addresses beginning in the late 1920s. The Houston Police Department also drove blue cruisers and wore light blue uniforms previously. • Following its 27-3 loss last time out at Arizona, Houston will need to win its final two games to reach bowl eligibility. The Cougars are searching for their first bowl berth since the 2022 Independence Bowl and are looking to avoid missing a bowl game in back-to-back seasons for the first time since going six straight seasons without a bowl appearance from 1997-02. • Houston earned its second Big 12 victory, and first league road victory, on Nov. 4, 2023, at Baylor. Houston quarterback Donovan Smith ran for a game-winning 2-point conversion after his 1-yard touchdown run in overtime. After a called timeout, Houston decided to go for the win instead of trying to force a second extra period. The win was the first against the Bears since Oct. 2, 1993, in the Astrodome. • On Saturday, UH recognizes 21 seniors prior to kickoff. The group led the Cougars to back-to-back bowl victories (2021-22), an American Athletic Conference Championship Game appearance (2021) and ushered in a new era of Houston Athletics in the Big 12 (2023-present).
TEAM NOTES
• The Cougars are 55-22-1 all-time in regular season home finales but are looking to snap a two-game losing streak on Senior Day. The Cougars are 10-3 on Senior Day since 2011 and 15-4 since 2005. • Houston’s current staff has no shortage of ties with Baylor. Offensive Coordinator Kevin Barbay worked as a graduate assistant at Baylor from 2005-06 where he earned his Master of Science in education-sport management in 2007. Quarterbacks Coach/Passing Game Coordinator Shawn Bell spent seven seasons (2017-23) coaching at Baylor where he was a record-setting quarterback from 2003-06. At the conclusion of his career, Bell owned 28 school records. His younger brother, Brian Bell, currently serves as Houston’s Offensive Analyst. He joined Houston after two seasons as Baylor’s Quality Control Coach. • Among other notable history against Baylor, UH’s Byron Beaver set an NCAA record, still standing today, with five interceptions as part of legendary Head Coach Bill Yeoman’s first victory as the Cougars defeated the Bears, 19-0, on Sept. 22, 1962. UH’s inaugural Southwest Conference victory came at Baylor as the Cougars defeated the Bears, 23-5, in Waco, on Sept. 11, 1976. Houston wideout Manny Hazard’s five touchdown receptions against Baylor on Oct. 7, 1989, rank tied for the most in program history. • After a 1-4 start, Houston has won three of its last five games, and two straight at TDECU Stadium including a 24-19 upset of #17/15 Kansas State on Saturday, Nov. 2. With two regular season games to play, the Cougars (4-6, 3-4 Big 12) have matched their 2023 win total (4) and exceeded their 2023 Big 12 win total (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. • The Cougars defeated the Big 12’s top two in the league’s preseason poll in their last two contests inside TDECU Stadium. The Cougars used a 43-yard game winning field goal as time expired from Jack Martin to defeat preseason favorite Utah, 17-14, on Oct. 26, and overcame a nine-point fourth quarter deficit to outlast preseason projected runner-up #17/15 Kansas State on Saturday, Nov. 2. • Houston quarterback Zeon Chriss, who has started each of the last five games under center, has completed 65.9% of his passes (54 of 82), throwing for 542 yards and rushing for another 349 yards. Chriss is looking to join Case Keenum (2007-08) and Greg Ward Jr. (2014) as the only UH underclassmen quarterbacks to complete 65% of passes (min. 75 attempts) in a season since 2000. Chriss is one of five Power Four underclassmen quarterbacks this season to complete 65% of his passes (min. 75 attempts). • Houston’s defense has held opponents to just 11 rushing touchdowns on the season. By contrast, a season ago, Houston opponents registered 21 rushing scores during the same time frame (Games 1-10). Last time out at TDECU Stadium, Houston held #17/15 Kansas State, which entered the day ranked eighth nationally with 223.3 rushing yards per game, to just 89 yards on the ground. The Wildcats’ rushing total was their fewest against a current Big 12 program since being held to 71rushing yards at Texas Tech on Oct. 23, 2021. • Over its last five games, UH has committed a combined 18 penalties, ranking 10th in the Power Four. The Cougars’ two penalties and 21 penalty yards last time out at home vs. 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 3.6 over their last five games. • Among UH’s top-13 leaders in all-purpose yards, six are underclassmen and 10 are projected to return for the 2025 season. With 2+ games to play, Re’Shaun Sanford II ranks 10th in UH single-season history among freshmen running backs with 376 rushing yards. Since 1956, seven Houston freshmen running backs have averaged 5.0 yards per carry (min. 75 carries) in a single season. Sanford II (5.0) would become the eighth. Zeon Chriss’s 891 yards of total offense ranks 14th among UH underclassmen quarterbacks since ’56. • Houston’s performance on special teams has been just that. Freshman punter Liam Dougherty downed five of six punts inside the 20-yard line vs. Kansas State en route to becoming the first punter since Sept. 4, 2023, to earn Big 12 Special Teams weekly honors. The Cougars rank 16th nationally in punt return defense (3.53). Junior punt returner Mekhi Mews ranks 22nd in the Power Four in punt return average (7.1). Senior kicker Jack Martin has made each of his last six field goal attempts, including a career-long 49-yarder at Arizona. Martin drilled the game-winning 43-yard field goal as time expired vs. Utah. UH ranks 20th 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 recovered (2) and ninth in the Big 12 in tackles per game (7.4), owns 19 tackles over his last two games including a career high 11.0 tackles vs. #17/15 Kansas State. His interception with 1:48 to play against the Wildcats helped solidify Houston’s upset victory. Batton has logged 6.0+ tackles in eight of 10 games this season. • Junior wideout Stephon Johnson is coming off a breakout game last Friday at Arizona. Johnson, who leads the Cougars with 11 first down receptions, ranks third among Big 12 wide receivers with 7.6 yards per catch following a reception (min. 20 receptions). Against the Wildcats, Johnson set a single-game season high in receiving yards (70) highlighted by a season-best 22-yard catch. He has hauled in a catch in 10 consecutive games (Nov. 25, 2023-present). • Houston’s defense ranks 26th nationally in total defense (320.7) and 30th in passing yards allowed (189.5). By comparison, a season ago, the Cougars finished ranked 112th in total defense (423.9) and 114th (255.3) in passing yards allowed.
A VICTORY WOULD …
• Move Houston one win from bowl eligibility with one contest remaining. • Be the Cougars sixth Big 12 victory, and fourth in a six-game span, since joining the league a season ago. • Up Houston’s record to 15-14-1 all-time against Baylor including 8-6 in Houston. • Move Houston’s record to 56-22-1 in regular season home finales.
#22/21 Iowa State Cyclones at Utah Utes
(FOX) 6:30 p.m. CT/5:30 p.m. MT
Iowa State Cyclones Notes
THE LEAD
No. 22 Iowa State plays its final regular season road game Saturday evening at Utah as it looks to win its ninth game for just the fourth time in school history and second under head coach Matt Campbell. ISU has only won nine games in the regular season once (1906) and never in the modern era (1928-present)
KEY STORYLINES
• Iowa State faces Utah in Salt Lake City for the first time since 1975 in the initial meeting between the two schools as Big 12 Conference foes … ISU has reached eight wins for the 12th time in the program’s 133-year history and fourth under Campbell’s direction. • 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 14-straight games, breaking Brock Purdy’s school record for consecutive games with a passing TD … he’s 187 yards shy of becoming just the fifth QB in school history to pass for 6,000 career yards. J Becht has one of the best wide receiving duos in college football at his disposal in Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel … in seven of 10 games they have combined for at least 10 catches, 175 yards and a score, the most nationally by a set of teammates … Noel needs just 65 yards to surpass 1,000 this season … they are one of just two teams with a pair of receivers with 800 receiving yards. • First-year offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser has the offense clicking … ISU is averaging 31.4 points (fourth-most in school history), 434.2 yards (fourth most) and 6.2 yards per play (fourth most) … with Becht finding Higgins and Noel at a record clip, ISU is averaging 267.7 passing yards (third most) … ISU is better than 90 percent in the red zone, tied for third in Big 12 J ISU’s defense, under Jon Heacock’s direction, is first in the Big 12 and ranks 17th nationally allowing just 18.6 points per game … its passing defense has been stout, yielding just 153.4 yards per game (third nationally) … ISU has held a nation’s best four opponents to under 100 yards passing, including just 66 from Cincinnati last weekend. • 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.
Utah Utes Notes
THE GAME
The University of Utah Football team is set to host the Iowa State Cyclones on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 5:30 p.m. MT on FOX. Saturday’s game will be Utah’s final game in Rice-Eccles Stadium this season and will be the Utes’ Senior Night with fans encouraged to arrive early. FOLLOW ALONG Fans can get behind the scenes views and live updates on social media and online at www. UtahUtes.com throughout the 2024 season. The Utes are active on Twitter (@Utah_Football), Instagram (@UtahFootball), Facebook (search Utah Football) and TikTok (@Utah_Football).
HOME SWEET HOME
Utah is 120-40 (.750) in Rice-Eccles Stadium (1998-present) and is 92-29 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 38 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 88 consecutive games, dating back to the 2010 season opener.
THE NUMBERS
• Head Coach Kyle Whittingham is set to coach in his 378th overall game at Utah and his 252nd as head coach on Saturday. • The game on Saturday will be the sixth game in the all-time series against the Cyclones and the first since 2010 (Utah 68, Iowa State 27). • Utah will honor 24 student-athletes for Senior Night on Saturday. • Utah’s game against Iowa State on Saturday will be the Utes’ third-straight game against an AP Top 25 opponent and the fourth overall this season.
UTAH FOOTBALL
NEED TO KNOWS
• With two regular season games remaining, Utah’s defense is leading the Big 12 in third down (24.1%) and first down (151) defense, along with ranking second in red zone defense (78.3%) and total defense (317.2 yards per game). • The Utes are also leading the Big 12 in time of possession, holding the ball for an average of 33:22, which also ranks sixth in the FBS. • Utah is only allowing 125.7 rushing yards and 191.5 passing yards per game, which ranks in the top-five in the league in both. • Senior running back Micah Bernard has 880 total rushing yards this season, needing 120 to become Utah’s 21st all-time 1,000-yard rusher. • Utah currently has eight players that have started all 10 games this season (Lander Barton, LB; Micah Bernard, RB; Spencer Fano, RT; Jaren Kump, C; Caleb Lomu, LT; Dorian Singer, WR; Tanoa Togiai, LG; Zemaiah Vaughn, CB).
Cincinnati Bearcats at Kansas State Wildcats
(ESPN2) 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT
Cincinnati Bearcats Notes
CINCINNATI CONTINUES ROAD SWING LOOKING TO GET BACK ON WINNING TRACK
• Cincinnati heads to Kansas State looking to stop a three-game losing streak after starting the season 5-2. • The Bearcats rushed for 289 yards and trailed 20-17 with under five minutes remaining at Iowa State in their last game, but the Cyclones scored two late touchdowns en route to the 34-17 win. UC committed a season-high 13 penalties in the loss. • QB Brenday Sorsby (143) and RB Corey Kiner (120) both reached the 100-yard mark for the Bearcats – the fourth time UC has had two different 100-yard rushers in the same game under head coach Scott Satterfield. • A victory by Cincinnati on Saturday night will make the Bearcats 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. • Cincinnati is facing a ranked team for the first time all season and its the first time UC has faced a ranked opponent on the road since opening the 2022 season at No. 19 Arkansas. The last time UC beat a ranked team on the road came in a 24-13 victory over No. 9 Notre Dame on Oct. 2, 2021 in South Bend, Ind.
BEARCATS BUILDING A RESUME
• UC has the Big 12’s fifth-most efficient offense and 26th-best in the nation according to ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI). • ESPN’s FPI rates Cincinnati as the 47th-best team in the country and gives the Bearcats a 67% chance of reaching six wins. • The Bearcats’ best win was a 24-14 victory over Arizona State at Nippert Stadium on Oct. 19. The Wildcats (7-3 overall, 4-3 in Big 12) are currently ranked No. 25 in the Coaches Poll are two games out of first-place in the league. • Cincinnati ranks fifth in the Big 12 in total offense (430.0 ypg). • In conference-only games, UC ranks third in pass defense (201.71) and fourth scoring defense (24.3). • DT Dontay Corleone, a 2022 All-American and 2024 Preseason All-Big 12 pick, ranks as the Big 12’s top interior defender (79.1) per PFF. • RB Corey Kiner ranks sixth in the Big 12 in rushing (90.5) yards per game. He has 11 career 100-yard games, including four this season. He needs 97 yards to reach 1,000 for the season, making him the first back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher for the Bearcats since Michael Warren in 2018-19. His 67 missed tackles forced this season rank second in the Power 4. • Former walk-on safety Antwan Peek Jr. leads the Big 12 with four fumbles forced. He is the Big 12’s No. 1-rated safety per PFF (84.2). He is the son of UC Hall of Famer Antwan Peek Sr, who holds the single season (7) and career (17) records for forced fumbles. • Joe Royer leads Big 12 TEs with 42 catches. Travis Kelce’s TE school record of 45 catches was set in 2012.
MATCHING UP WITH KANSAS STATE
• Ranked as high at No. 15 in the Coaches Poll, Kansas State has since lost back-to-back games to Houston and Arizona State – both teams that Cincinnati defeated in October. The Wildcats have the No. 1 rushing defense in the Big 12 (101.8). • Led by RB DJ Giddens (1,128 yards and five TDs), KSU is averaging 202.9 rush ypg – No. 2 in the Big 12 and No. 18 in the FBS. • Like UC QB Brendan Sorsby, KSU signal-caller Avery Johnson is among the nation’s best dual threats. Johnson has completed 177-of-291 attempts for 2,190 yards and 17 TDs with nine interceptions. He has rushed for 412 yards and five scores. • The matchup will feature players ranked 1-2 in the Big 12 in sacks with Kansas State senior DE Brendan Mott (8.0 sacks) a half sack ahead of Cincinnati senior LB Jared Bartlett (7.5). • Kansas State ranks second in the Big 12 in sacks (2.6 per game) and third in TFLs (6.6 per game). • KSU has the best fourth-down defense in the Big 12 (36.8%), while UC is converting 69.2% of its fourth down attempts (No. 4 in Big 12, No. 16 nationally). The Wildcats have scored TDs on a blocked punt, a punt return, a fumble recovery and an INT return. • Cincinnati holds a 4-2 record all-time against Kansas State, picking up home-and-away sweeps in 1951-52 and 1965-66 before falling twice in 1995-96.
SORSBY DOES IT WITH HIS ARM AND HIS LEGS
• Cincinnati QB Brendan Sorsby has completed 207-of-316 attempts (65.2%) for 2,453 yards and 16 TDs with just five interceptions and added 335 rushing yards and eight TDs on the ground. • Sorsby is the only Big 12 QB and one of three FBS players with 2,000 passing yards, 15 passing TDs and eight rushing TDs. • Sorsby’s 478 total yards, including 426 passing 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. • Sorsby is a two-time winner of the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week Award. He passed for 383 yards and recorded four total touchdowns in his Bearcats’ debut, a 38-20 victory over Towson on Aug. 31. • In his last game, Sorsby rushed for 143 yards an one score in a 35-17 loss at Iowa State. It’s the second-best rushing performance by a Big 12 QB this season (Chriss, Houston, 152, also against ISU). It’s also the most rushing yards by a Bearcats’ QB since.
BEARCATS ON THE BRINK OF BOWLING
• Cincinnati is now 5-5 this season, one win away from reaching bowl eligibility. • The Bearcats have appeared in 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.
CINCINNATI LOOKING TO STOP SKID AT KANSAS STATE
• Cincinnati brings a three-game losing streak into Saturday’s game at Kansas State, having faced three tough tests each of the last three weeks. • UC lost at Colorado on Oct. 26, lost at home vs. a West Virginia team coming off a bye week on Nov. 9, and fell to Iowa State in Ames this past Saturday. • WVU has played well on the road this season, sporting a 3-1 record, and Colorado and Iowa State are a combined 9-2 when playing at home. • UC has tough tests coming up at Kansas State (4-1 at home) and vs. TCU on Nov. 30.
Kansas State Wildcats Notes
HOME SWEET HOME
• Saturday’s contest serves as the first time this season the Wildcats will have consecutive home games and marks the final home game of the season. • After going 6-1 at home last year, the Wildcats are 4-1 inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium this season. They are looking for one or fewer home losses in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2011 (1) and 2012 (0). • Home games have been kind to K-State over the last three years as the Cats have 15 victories, tied for the 19th 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.
NEW OPPONENTS
• K-State is only playing four opponents from last year’s schedule – Houston, Iowa State, Kansas and Oklahoma State – in 2024. • It is the fewest amount of carryover opponents from one year to the next since only three rematches from 1918 to 1919. • Additionally, half of the Wildcats’ schedule is against teams in which they have not faced in at least 10 years, if ever. Those are UT Martin (First Meeting), Arizona (1978), BYU (1997), Colorado (2010), Arizona State (2002) and Cincinnati (1996).
TOTAL OFFENSE
• K-State has totaled at least 375 yards of offense in 30 of the last 37 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.
STINGY AGAINST THE RUN
• K-State enters this week ranking ninth in the country by allowing only 101.8 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 77 forced turnovers since the beginning of the 2021 season, which ranks second among active Big 12 teams and tied for the 11th among Power 4 teams. • Of the 77 turnovers, 48 have been via interceptions to tie for 15th among Power 4 teams and second among active Big 12 programs.
COFERENCE NEWS & NOTES
• Eight Big 12 teams are now bowl-eligible with another pair just one win away. In total, 15 teams in the Big 12 remain in the hunt for bowl eligibility. • According to ESPN’s FPI, BYU maintains a top-10 strength of record (8), entering Week 13. The Cougars lead five Big 12 teams in the top 25 for SOR, joined by Arizona State (18), Colorado (21), Iowa State (22) and Kansas State (24). • According to ESPN’s FPI, nine Big 12 teams are in the nation’s top 40 for overall efficiency, which ranks second among all conferences. • The Big 12 Conference remains the second-highest rated conference in the Sagarin rankings in FBS, trailing only the SEC. • The Conference leads the nation with 13 Go-Ahead Scores in the final minute of games this season and is tied for the most fourth-quarter lead changes in FBS this season. • In Colorado’s win over Utah last week, Travis Hunter became the first FBS or NFL player to have a game with 50+ receiving yards, a rushing touchdown and an interception since Champ Bailey for Washington against Arizona in an NFL game on December 24, 2000. • UCF’s RJ Harvey, TTU’s Tahj Brooks, ASU’s Cam Skattebo and K-State’s DJ Giddens give the Big 12 four of the top eight leaders in Power Four in rushing yards per game. • With the trio of Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona), Travis Hunter (Colorado) and Jack Bech (TCU), the Big 12 Conference is the only FBS league with three Biletnikoff Award semifinalists. • Arizona State, BYU and Colorado have all increased their win totals by four or more victories from a year ago. • Iowa State is one of two programs in the nation to hold four opponents to less than 100 yards passing this season. • BYU’s defense is among the nation’s best at disrupting opposing quarterbacks with a Team Passing Defense Efficiency of 99.04, which is the third-best mark in FBS. • 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; 4,003 yards) and UCF’s RJ Harvey (fourth; 3,543 yards). • ISU wide receiver Jaylin Noel has caught a pass in 42 consecutive games, which is the second-longest streak in program history. It is also the fourth-longest active streak in the nation. • Arizona State leads the FBS as the winningest team in one-score games in Power Four football with a perfect 4-0 record. • 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 450 snaps on each side of the ball this season.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Week 12
Offensive Player of the Week: WR Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State)
Co-Defensive Player of the Week: DB Genesis Smith (Arizona)
Co-Defensive Player of the Week: DL Amari McNeill (Colorado)
Co-Defensive Player of the Week: LB Reid Carrico (West Virginia)
Special Teams Player of the Week: WR LaJohntay Wester (Colorado)
Newcomer of the Week: QB Sam Leavitt (Arizona State)
