CFB-FBS: Big 12 Conference Week 14 Release and Previews

WEEK 14 GAME SCHEDULE

Friday, November 29, 2024 Time

Oklahoma State Cowboys at #23 Colorado Buffaloes

(ABC)11 a.m. CT/10 a.m. MT

The Series

Oklahoma State visits Colorado for the first time since 2008 this week. It renews a series with 47 games already played between the programs, including a stretch of games in 38 consecutive seasons from 1960 through 1997 as members of the Big Eight and Big 12. The first meeting between the teams was played in Oklahoma City in 1920 and the latest was played in San Antonio in 2016 – the only two neutral site matchups in series history. This year’s matchup marks the first time the teams have played as conference opponents since 2009. Colorado leads the all-time series 26-20-1, but Oklahoma State has won each of the past three games. The Buffaloes also hold a 13-8 edge in Boulder, but the Cowboys have won each of the past two on the road, including a 42-14 win in 2004 and a 30-17 triumph in 2008. Coach Mike Gundy is 3-1 in his career against Colorado and Deion Sanders has not faced Oklahoma State during his coaching career.

Oklahoma State Cowboys Notes

The Basics

The Oklahoma State football team (3-8 overall; 0-8 Big 12) plays its first Black Friday game in school history this week, closing out its 125th season at Colorado (8-3 overall; 6-2 Big 12) on November 29, with kickoff at Folsom Field set for 11 a.m. CT/10 a.m. MT.

The Day After Thanksgiving

While Oklahoma State does have some history of playing on Thanksgiving Day (31 games from 1901- 1943), the Cowboys have never played a game on Black Friday, so this week will mark the first time that OSU has seen the field on an unofficial holiday. The last time the Cowboys played on Thanksgiving was also in the state of Colorado, as the then-named Oklahoma A&M College Aggies won, 7-6, at Denver on Thanksgiving Day of 1943, defeating the Pioneers “in a snowstorm that at times reached near blizzard proportions” according to an AP recap of the game.

That Friday Feeling

Oklahoma State has a record of 58-47-7 in Friday games, but the Cowboys have only played 16 Friday games since 1959 and just seven of those matchups occurred in the regular season. The last one was earlier this season against BYU, and 2024 marks OSU’s first season with multiple regular-season Friday games since 1951. The complete list of OSU’s Friday regular-season matchups since the end of Dwight D. Eisenhower’s tenure as President of the United States.

Oklahoma State from a Distance

Oklahoma State is 3-8 on the year and wraps up its 2024 campaign with a trip to Colorado to close out OSU’s 125th season of college football. 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 the only Oklahoma State player ever to surpass 300 career receptions. He was already OSU’s all-time leader in catches and had 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 700 receiving yards, 200 kickoff return yards and 50 rushing yards. He is 15th in NCAA history with 307 career catches. On the year, he ranks No. 5 in the FBS with 82 catches and he needs just eight yards to becoming the first player in school history to record four seasons with 1,000 all-purpose yards. Safety Trey Rucker has been the statistical standout of the year on defense, as his average of 4.9 solo tackles per game ranks 18th among all FBS players.

An Oklahoma State Win Would …

• Mark Mike Gundy’s 41st career win vs. an AP Top 25 opponent. No other active coach has more. • Make it 6-1 in its last seven and 12-4 in its last 16 games when playing as an unranked team against AP Top 25 opponents. • Make it 3-4 in its past six road games against AP-ranked teams. • Make it 11-7 in its past 18 and 20-12 in its past 32 games vs. AP-ranked teams. • Make it 11-11 in its past 22 road games. • Give it wins in 13 of its past 24 and in 26 of its past 40 games following a loss. • Improve Mike Gundy’s record in November games to 42-34. • Improve Mike Gundy’s record in Big 12 games to 103-71 and move him to one game away from tying Bill Snyder for the second-most Big 12 wins in conference history. • Give it four straight wins over Colorado and three straight wins in Boulder. • Improve its all-time record vs. Colorado to 21-26-1 and its record vs. CU in Boulder to 9-13. • Improve Mike Gundy’s record against Colorado to 4-1. • Make it 35-20 in its past 55 games overall, dating back to the 2020 season.

Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game

• Brennan Presley has multiple catches in 41 straight games, the second longest active streak in the FBS. • Trey Rucker has recorded at least 10 tackles in four of his 10 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 13 of the past 22 games. • OSU’s offensive line has not allowed a sack in 11 of its past 21 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 51 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 69 games. • OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50% third down conversion rate in 52 of its past 63 games. • OSU is 40-19 in its past 59 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.

Colorado Buffaloes Notes

Game notes unavailable.

Utah Utes at Central Florida Knights

(FOX) 8 p.m. ET/6 p.m. MT

SERIES HISTORY

Series History………………………………………………………………First Meeting

In Salt Lake City………………………………………………………………………………0-0

In Orlando…………………………………………………………………………………………0-0 Neutral……………………………………………………………………………………………….0-0

Utah Utes Notes

THE GAME

The University of Utah Football team is set for its final game of the season, traveling to Orlando, Fla., to take on the UCF Knights on Friday, Nov. 29. The game is set for a 6 p.m. MT kick on FOX.

THE NUMBERS

• Head Coach Kyle Whittingham is set to coach in his 379th overall game at Utah and his 253rd as head coach on Friday. • The game on Friday will be the first game played between the two teams in both programs’ histories. • With a win, Utah will have 261 victories on the road all-time (current record is 260-267-12). • Utah will be traveling 2,314 miles for the game on Friday in Orlando.

UTAH FOOTBALL:

NEED TO KNOWS

• Heading into the final game of the season, Utah leads the Big 12 in third down (26.8%) and first down (188) defense. Utah’s third down defense also ranks second in the FBS. • The Utes are leading the Big 12 in time of possession, holding the ball for an average of 32:31, which ranks 10th in the FBS. • Utah’s special teams unit has blocked four kicks this season, which leads the Big 12 and ranks sixth in the FBS. • The Utes are only allowing 21.3 points and 325.2 yards per game, which ranks third in the Big 12. • Utah currently has seven players that have started all 11 games this season (Lander Barton, LB; Micah Bernard, RB; Spencer Fano, RT; Jaren Kump, C; Caleb Lomu, LT; Dorian Singer, WR; Zemaiah Vaughn, CB).

THE LEADERS

Each season, both the team captains and the leadership council are voted on by the team during fall camp. This season, the Utes picked two offensive and two defensive captains, along with a 12-person leadership council. • Seniors Cameron Rising (QB), Brant Kuithe (TE), Junior Tafuna (DT) and Karene Reid (LB) were voted as captains during camp, with senior Micah Bernard (RB) being named a captain in October. • Utah’s leadership council includes Bernard, Rising, Kuithe, Tafuna, Reid, Connor O’Toole (DE), Lander Barton (LB), Keanu Tanuvasa (DT), Zemaiah Vaughn (CB), Money Parks (WR), Levani Damuni (LB) and Miki Suguturaga (TE).

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 446-267-19 all-time in conference games (.622), including its first win in the Big 12 against Oklahoma State (Sept. 21, 2024, W, 22-19). • Utah is 32-17 in conference games since 2019. • The Utes bring 28 conference championships with them to the Big 12.

OFFENSIVE DRIVES

Through 11 games in 2024, Utah has scored 26 offensive touchdowns with the scoring drives ranging from 0-9 yards to 90-99. • Out of Utah’s 26 offensive touchdowns, 16 have come on drives of 60 yards or longer, including 10 that have been 70+. • The Utes have five touchdown drives this season that were just one-play drives, which ties for the lead among all Power football schools. • Against Southern Utah, Utah’s offense notched touchdowns on its first five drives, the first time they’ve accomplished that feat since they scored TDs on their first six possessions on Sept. 20, 1997 against UTEP.

Central Florida Knights Notes

FIRST AND 10

• UCF will host Utah in its season finale Friday night at 8 p.m. from FBC Mortgage Stadium. Trent Rush (play-by-play) and Robert Smith (analyst) will have the call on FOX. • The game marks the first meeting between the programs, as UCF completes its slate of games against each of the Big 12 newcomers this season – the only team in the league to play all four. • UCF is looking for its 300th win in program history against Utah, as the Knights look to close out the season with a victory and earn three conference wins for a second consecutive season. • In UCF’s last outing, the Black and Gold couldn’t overcome a slow start at West Virginia and fell 31-21. The Knights outgained the Mountaineers, but WVU’s 37:50 to 22:10 edge in the time of possession proved to be the difference. • Friday’s game features UCF’s high-powered offense against Utah’s stout defense. The Knights rank among the top five of the conference in total offense (first), rushing offense (first) and scoring offense (fifth), while the Utes are top five in total defense (third), scoring defense (third), fourth in rushing defense and fifth in passing defense. • The Knights have now rushed for 2,804 yards with 32 touchdowns on the ground this season. UCF’s rushing yards average of 254.9 is nearly 30 more than the next-closest Power Four Conference team (Tennessee 227.5). The 254.9 rushing yards per game mark is 40 more than the next conference opponent (Kansas 211.5). • UCF is second in the nation in explosive running plays, as the Knights have recorded 93 rushing plays of at least 10 yards. Additionally, the Black and Gold lead the league and rank seventh nationally in most offensive plays of 20 or more yards with 67. • Running back RJ Harvey, a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award for the second consecutive season, leads the nation with 49 rushing plays of at least 10 yards, which is 12 more than the next Big 12 player. His 21 rushing touchdowns are the most in the conference and tied for the fourth most nationally. • Harvey enters Friday’s game with 46 total touchdowns scored, tied with UCF Hall of Famer Kevin Smith for the program record. With a score against Utah, Harvey will stand alone as UCF’s record holder for career touchdowns scored. Harvey has 42 career rushing scores and four receiving TDs, while Smith had 45 rushing touchdowns and one receiving TD. To that end, Harvey is just three rushing touchdowns shy of tying Smith for career rushing touchdowns as well. 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. • Since the start of the 2017 season, UCF has accumulated 69 wins, the 13th-most nationally by an FBS program and the most by a team from the state of Florida. The Knights join Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Michigan, Appalachian State, LSU, Oregon, Penn State and Boise State as the only programs to win at least 69 games since 2017.

THE OPPONENT

• Utah heads into this weekend’s matchup with an identical overall record as UCF at 4-7 and 1-7 in conference action. The Utes came up short against 22nd-ranked Iowa State, 31-28, on senior day in their last game. • Now in his 20th season as a head coach overall and at Utah, Kyle Whittingham has compiled a 166-86 overall record during his tenure in Salt Lake City. Saturday’s contest will be the first meeting between Whittingham and Gus Malzahn as head coaches. • Heading into the final game of the season, Utah leads the Big 12 in third down (26.8%) and first downs (188) defense. Utah’s third down defense also ranks second in the FBS. • The Utes lead the Big 12 in time of possession, spending nearly 32:31 on offense to rank 10th nationally

A WIN WOULD… –

Give UCF its 300th all-time win as a program. – Give the Knights their third Big 12 win of the season. – Give UCF its first win against Utah in program history – Give UCF head coach Gus Malzahn his first win against Utah in his first meeting against the program. – Be better than a loss

HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE

UCF’s all-time record of 85-29 (.746) ranks in the top 15 in the nation for best win percentage in a current home stadium. The Knights earned win No. 80 against Villanova in 2023. Since 2017, the Knights are 42-9 in home games at FBC Mortgage Stadium. The Knights finished last season with a 4-2 home record and were undefeated at home in 2021, marking the seventh time in UCF’s FBS era, the ninth overall, and the fourth time in five years.

Saturday, November 30, 2024 Time

West Virginia Mountaineers at Texas Tech Red Raiders

(FS1) 12 p.m. ET/11 a.m. CT

SERIES HISTORY

• Texas Tech and West Virginia will meet for the 14th time Saturday and the 13th time as Big 12 Conference members in a back-and-forth series that has West Virginia with a slight 7-6 all-time lead. The series is tied 6-6 since West Virginia joined the Big 12 prior to the 2012 season. • West Virginia snapped a four-game losing streak to the Red Raiders a year ago with a 20-13 victory in Morgantown to open Big 12 play for both teams. It was previously the longest winning streak of all-time in the series for the Red Raiders, who lost then-starting quarterback Tyler Shough for the season in the first quarter in the loss. His replacement in Behren Morton was also injured on his first drive leading this offense, which lingered for the remainder of the season. The Red Raiders were stopped at the West Virginia 11-yard line on their final drive to try to tie the game in the final minutes. • Texas Tech has protected Jones AT&T Stadium in each of West Virginia’s last two visits to Lubbock as the Red Raiders topped the Mountaineers, 34-27, in 2020 and then 48-10 in 2022. West Virginia had won three-straight in Lubbock until Texas Tech’s victory in 2020 as the Red Raiders’ only other home win in the series came via a 49-14 rout of the then No. 4 Mountaineers in 2012. The Red Raiders are 3-3 overall at home all-time in the series versus West Virginia. • Since the Mountaineers joined the Big 12 in 2012, Texas Tech and West Virginia have traditionally played several close games with seven of those 12 decisions determined by one possession and one more by only 11 points. The Red Raiders are 3-4 against West Virginia in one-possession games with wins in two of the last three occurrences. • This will be the third time the two schools have faced each other in the month of November as the Red Raiders are 1-1 in those games historically. This will be the first time Texas Tech has hosted the Mountaineers during the month of November. It will be the latest date on the calendar that the two schools met during the regular season in history. • The only other meeting between the two schools outside the Big 12 era came in the 1938 Sun Bowl where West Virginia edged the Red Raiders, 7-6, in front of 12,000 fans in El Paso. It was the first of 41 bowl appearances for the Red Raiders, who rank among the top 25 teams all-time in postseason trips.

West Virginia Mountaineers Notes

NOTING THE MOUNTAINEERS

• 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 200-80-4 (.711) all-time mark at the facility, which opened in 1980 • West Virginia has won 11 Big 12 Conference games over the past two years, ranking No. 2 during that time. • Since 2002, the Mountaineers are 104-15 when winning the turnover battle • Overall, the Mountaineers are 32-12 in the Neal Brown era when rushing for at least 100 yards • West Virginia has surpassed at least 140 rushing yards in 25 of the last 27 games, dating back to 2022 • The Mountaineers are ranked No. 4 nationally for fewest penalty yards per game and No. 6 in fewest penalties • West Virginia’s rushing attack is ranked No. 22 nationally in most yards per game (197.5) among FBS schools and No. 7 in Power Four • WVU ranks No. 38 nationally in first-down offense (243). • The Mountaineers are tied for No. 1 nationally among FBS schools and No. 1 in Power Four in fourth downs converted (23) in 2024 • WVU’s defense has recorded multiple sacks in 11 of the last 16 games and at least four tackles for loss in 27 of the last 32 games • West Virginia has held 18 of its last 23 opponents to fewer than 300 yards passing • WVU’s defense is ranked No. 23 nationally for most defensive touchdowns this season (2) • The Mountaineer rushing defense is tied for No. 38 nationally among Power Four, holding its opponents to 135.3 ypg. WVU’s opponents have been held to 130 yards or less in seven of 11 games • WVU is ranked No. 15 in punt return defense (3.9), No. 27 nationally in kickoff return defense (17.27) and No. 28 in kickoff returns (23.4) • Jahiem White has 40 missed tackles forced to lead WVU, Garrett Greene has 31 and CJ Donaldson Jr. has 28. Greene is ranked No. 11 among FBS quarterbacks • Greene is ranked No. 31 nationally for passing yards per completion (13.03) and most total offensive yards per game (261.8) and No. 45 nationally in rushing yards per carry (5.59). • According to PFF College, Wyatt Milum is ranked as the No. 3 offensive tackle in the nation, grading out at 90.1. His (85.2) run-blocking grade is No. 5 and his pass-blocking grade (88.8) is No. 5. He has played 289 snaps and has not allowed a sack, or a quarterback hit and six pressures • According to PFF College, TJ Jackson II has a 90.8 grade against the run, ranking No. 1 nationally and an overall grade of 83.1, ranking No. 20 • Jackson is ranked No. 4 in the Big 12 and No. 38 nationally for most sacks per game (0.59) • Tyrin Bradley Jr. ranks No. 8 nationally for most fumble recoveries (2) • Josiah Trotter (5) and Anthony Wilson Jr. (9) rank in the top 10 in the Big 12 in tackles per game (7.8) • Michael Hayes II is ranked No. 12 nationally for field goal percentage (.917) • Preston Fox is ranked No. 26 nationally for most combined kick return yardage (409).

ON TURF

• Since 1980, West Virginia is 278-131-5 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 29-18 during the 2020s on turf.

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.

30 IS ENOUGH

• Since 1980, West Virginia is 218-30-1 when scoring 30 or more points in a game. During the 1990s, West Virginia was 43-4 when scoring 30 or more points in a contest and was 40-2-1 in the ‘80s when reaching that mark. WVU is 137- 25 since 2000 when scoring 30 points or more in a contest. SCORING 40 OR MORE POINTS • Since 2000, the Mountaineers are 71-7 when hitting the 40-point plateau. WVU is 201-7 all-time when scoring 40 or more points in a game.

OVERTIME GAMES

• The 55-42 overtime loss to Kansas in 2022 marked the 16th and most recent overtime game in West Virginia history. The Mountaineers own a 7-9 record in overtime games. • West Virginia played its first overtime game against Pitt in 1997, dropping a three-overtime thriller, 41-38.

AGAINST THE BIG 12

• West Virginia is 79-50-1 all-time against current members of the Big 12 Conference. WVU is 1-0 against Arizona; 1-1 vs. Arizona State; 8-5 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, 4-0 against UCF and 0-2 vs. Utah.

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.

OFFENSIVE ANALYSIS

• Breaking down the West Virginia offensive numbers for the 2024 season shows that the Mountaineers have run 749 plays, 458 on the ground and 291 through the air. • The rushing game has totaled 2,172 yards, an average of 4.7 yards per carry and 23 touchdowns. The passing attack has totaled 2,141 yards, 17 touchdowns and an average of 12.7 yards per completion. • Combine the two and the Mountaineers have turned in 4,313 yards of total offense, 40 touchdowns, an average of 5.8 yards per play and an average of 29.7 points per game. • Deeper analysis shows that the Mountaineer offense has gained 122 first downs by the run and 97 via the pass. On average, West Virginia has totaled 197.5 yards per game on the ground, 294.6 yards per game passing and 392.1 yards per game of total offense.

TAKEAWAYS

• Over the last 10 years, West Virginia has produced 176 takeaways. • Clemson has the most during the 10-year period with 239, while Alabama has 231 and Iowa has 227. FOR STARTERS • In 2024, 46 Mountaineer players have finished with at least one game of starting experience. • Tops on the list are Anthony Wilson Jr. (60), Brandon Yates (44) and Wyatt Milum (42). 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).

WEST VIRGINIA OFFENSE

• This season’s offensive roster includes 19 true freshmen, seven redshirt freshmen, three sophomores, 10 redshirt sophomores, one junior, nine redshirt juniors, four seniors and three redshirt seniors • The WVU offense scored on its opening drive against UCF for the sixth time this season • WVU has scored at least three rushing TDs in four games this season • Running back CJ Donaldson Jr. scored two rushing touchdowns, marking his seventh career multi-TD performance and third this season • Donaldson has scored a rushing TD in back-to-back games for the second time this season • OL Brandon Yates made his 59th career appearance for WVU, tying Dante Stills for the program record in career games played • West Virginia finished with 200 yards on the ground, marking the second straight game with 200 or more rushing yards • It also was the third time in the last four games and fifth time this season with at least 200 yards rushing • Greene leads all Big 12 quarterbacks with 649 yards on 116 carries • The Mountaineers average 197.5 rushing yards per game, ranking No. 22 in the country • West Virginia is the only team in the nation with three players to have 620 or more rushing yards (Donaldson, Garrett Greene, Jahiem White) • The Mountaineer offense has scored at least 30 points in 15 of the last 19 games, dating back to Oct. 12, 2023 • WVU has reached 100 yards on the ground 44 times under Neal Brown • Overall, the Mountaineers are 32-12 in the Brown era when rushing for at least 100 yards • West Virginia has surpassed at least 140 rushing yards in 25 of the last 27 games, dating back to 2022 • West Virginia has scored at least one rushing touchdown in 44 of its last 49 games • Since 2012, WVU has thrown for 300 or more yards 52 times, 350 or more 31 times, 400 or more 10 times and 500 or more four times • The Mountaineers have thrown for 300 or more yards 12 times under Brown • West Virginia is 36-17 when passing for 300 or more yards since 2012 • West Virginia also has produced 32 games with 400 or more yards of total offense under Brown • WVU has gained at least 500 yards of total offense 14 times under Brown, most recently on Oct. 5, 2024, at Oklahoma State • West Virginia is ranked No. 23 in FBS in fourth down conversion rate (65.7%) • WVU has only committed 45 penalties for 347 total yards this season, tying it sixth in FBS for fewest penalties committed • WVU is tied for sixth in fewest penalties per game (4.09), ranked fourth for fewest penalty yards (347) and fewest penalty yards per game (31.55) • WVU is tied No. 38 in FBS in first downs with 243 this season • West Virginia possesses the ball 31:36 per game, ranking it No. 29 in the country this season • Greene is tied for No. 9 in WVU football history with 27 career rushing touchdowns • Donaldson is tied for No. 7 in WVU football history with 28 career rushing touchdowns • Greene has thrown for 200 or more yards in 11 of the last 17 games • Greene has rushed for at least 85 yards in five of the last six games • Greene has five career games with at least 100 rushing yards • Greene is the fourth WVU quarterback in school history to throw for at least 3,500 yards and rush for at least 1,500 yards for his career • At Pitt, Greene became the 12th player in WVU history to account for more than 5,000 yards • Greene ranks No. 13 in WVU football history with over 4,770 passing yards in his career • Tight end Kole Taylor ranks sixth all-time in career receiving yards for a tight end (840) • Taylor also ranks fourth all-time in career receptions for a tight end with 73 • Against Cincinnati, the Mountaineers failed to eclipse 100 yards on the ground, marking the team’s first win when not rushing for 100 yards since it defeated Army in the Liberty Bowl (Dec. 31, 2020)

WEST VIRGINIA DEFENSE

• This season’s defensive roster includes 20 true freshmen, nine redshirt freshmen, two sophomores, nine redshirt sophomores, one junior, eight redshirt juniors, 10 seniors and two redshirt seniors • This season’s defensive personnel includes 11 cornerbacks, one defensive back, 21 defensive linemen, 12 linebackers, 10 safeties, three spears and three spurs • West Virginia held UCF to 172 passing yards, the lowest total it has allowed all season • This also marked the third game WVU held an opponent below 200 yards passing this year • The West Virginia defense has recovered a fumble in three of the last four games, while Saturday’s recovery was its sixth of the season • WVU is tied No. 21 in FBS with two defensive touchdowns this season • West Virginia is tied No. 50 in FBS in rush defense, allowing 135.3 yards per game • Safety Anthony Wilson is ranked fifth in the Big 12 in tackles and linebacker Josiah Trotter is ranked ninth • Wilson has recorded 10 or more tackles in each of the last three games (Cincinnati, Baylor, UCF) • Defensive lineman TJ Jackson leads the Big 12 in tackles for loss with 13 • Jackson is ranked fourth in the conference and No. 38 in FBS in sacks with 6.5 this season • Eleven players have eclipsed 30 tackles this season: Wilson (89), Trotter (84), Trey Lathan (62), Bradley (49), Reid Carrico (44), Fatorma Mulbah (42), Garnett Hollis (41), Jackson (35), Jaheem Joseph (35), Kekoura Tarnue (33), Ben Cutter (31) • WVU is one of two teams in the Big 12 with two players ranked in the top 10 in total tackles • West Virginia has held six of 11 opponents to less than 130 rushing yards this season • The West Virginia defense has held 18 of its last 23 opponents to fewer than 300 yards passing • WVU has recorded at least four tackles for loss in 27 out of the last 32 games. • WVU’s defense also has recorded multiple sacks in a game in 12 of the last 16 games • In 71 games under Neal Brown, the Mountaineers have recorded at least one sack 63 times • Under Brown, the Mountaineers also have held their opponents to fewer than 300 yards of total offense 18 times • West Virginia has held its opponents to fewer than 300 yards passing in 54 of its last 68 games • Since 2019, WVU has held opposing teams to fewer than 250 yards passing 41 times, fewer than 200 yards 25 times and fewer than 150 yards 11 times • WVU is 104-15 since 2002 when winning the turnover battle • The West Virginia defense scored two touchdowns off Cincinnati (Nov. 9, 2024) turnovers, a 79-yard interception return by Anthony Wilson Jr. and an 8-yard fumble return by Tyrin Bradley Jr., marking the first time that WVU has scored two non-offensive touchdowns in a game since Oct. 28, 2017, against Oklahoma State • West Virginia’s two defensive touchdowns against UC were its first since Nov. 3, 2001, when it scored on an interception (50) and a fumble return (10) against Rutgers, both by Shawn Hackett • West Virginia has scored two defensive touchdowns in a game three times since 2000 and the eighth time it has scored two non-offensive TDs in a game since 2000

WEST VIRGINIA SPECIAL TEAMS

• This season’s special teams roster includes two true freshmen, two redshirt freshmen, two redshirt sophomores, one junior, one redshirt junior, one senior and two redshirt seniors • Michael Hayes II converted a 35-yard field goal against UCF • For the year, Hayes is 11-for-12 on field goal attempts • Hayes is tied for No. 1 in the Big 12 with a 100% conversion rate on extra points • For his career, Hayes is 129-for-130 on PATs • Hayes is 2-for-2 on field goals from 20-29 yards, 4-for-5 on kicks from 30-39 yards and 5-for-5 on field goals from 40-49 yards • For his WVU career, Hayes is 9-for-9 on kicks from 20-29 yards, 9-for-10 on field goals from 30-39 yards and 10-for-11 on kicks from 40-49 yards • WVU is ranked No. 27 in FBS in kick return defense, allowing 17.27 yards per return • West Virginia is ranked No. 28 in kickoff returns, averaging 23.41 yards per return • The Mountaineers are also ranked No. 2 in the Big 12 in kick returns • Wide receiver Preston Fox is ranked No. 1 in the Big 12 in kick returns, averaging 27.6 yards per return • Oliver Straw punted four times for 200 yards, averaging 50 yards per punt against UCF • This season, Straw has punted 31 times for 1,345 yards, averaging 43.39 yards per punt • For the year, Straw has pinned 14 punts inside the 20-yard line • Straw has had four punts travel at least 50 yards this season • Straw’s longest punt of the year traveled 57 yards (vs. Pitt Sept. 14, 2024 and vs. UCF Nov. 23, 2024) • West Virginia is ranked No. 32 in net punting in FBS (40.56) • WVU is ranked No. 2 in the Big 12 and No. 15 in FBS in punt return defense, allowing 3.86 yards per return • Fox is ranked No. 6 in the Big 12 in punt returns, averaging 8.1 yards per return

Texas Tech Red Raiders Notes

STILL A LOT ON THE LINE FOR RED RAIDERS

While Texas Tech remains in the mix to play in its first Big 12 Championship in school history, it will need a lot of help to get there this weekend. Should that window close before Saturday, the Red Raiders still have plenty to play for. With a win, Tech can secure its first season with at least eight regular-season victories since 2009 and its third season in program history with six or more Big 12 victories. Tech will be looking to snap a two-game home losing streak at home, where the Red Raiders are a combined 14-5 under head coach Joey McGuire.

BROOKS CONTINUES TO BE MR. CONSISTENT

Tahj Brooks continues to prove why he’s one of the top players in college football this season as he recorded 198 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns last weekend in Texas Tech’s win at Oklahoma State. Brooks remains one of two players in the country to rush for at least 100 yards in every game he’s played this season (minimum 7 games) and the only one to do so from a power conference. The consistency for Brooks has him sixth in the FBS with 131.7 rushing yards per game and 148.1 all-purpose yards a contest.

RED RAIDERS BY THE NUMBERS

1 – Tahj Brooks is the lone Big 12 player in history and one of 19 FBS players since 1956 to record 4,000 rushing yards and at least 100 receptions in a career. He caught a career-high nine passes in the win at Oklahoma State

6 – Of the 18 takeaways created by Texas Tech this season, Jacob Rodriguez has had his hand in six of those after he recovered a fumble for a key touchdown and intercepted a pass last weekend at Oklahoma State.

135 – This weekend’s matchup places two of the nation’s most-aggressive teams against each other as Texas Tech (71) and West Virginia (64) have combined for 64 fourth-down conversions since 2022 alone.

SO YOU’RE SAYING THERE’S A CHANCE…

• Texas Tech will need some help from across the league this weekend in order to advance to its first Big 12 Championship in school history. The Big 12 has a four-way tie currently atop the standings with the likes of Arizona State, BYU, Colorado and Iowa State all 7-2 in league play entering this weekend. The Red Raiders, at a minimum, will need to top West Virginia and then have at least three of those four teams take a loss. • The final week on the Big 12 schedule has Arizona State playing at rival Arizona, Houston traveling to BYU, Oklahoma State making the trip to Colorado and then Iowa State hosting Kansas State. The Red Raiders will know the result of only one of those games prior to kickoff Saturday against West Virginia as the Oklahoma State and Colorado matchup will take place at 11 a.m. Friday morning.

TECH SECURES ANOTHER WINNING SEASON

• Texas Tech’s victory over Oklahoma State guaranteed the Red Raiders will finish with 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. • McGuire is now 15-11 in Big 12 play during his nearly three complete seasons leading the Red Raiders. Dating back to Texas Tech’s acceptance into the Southwest Conference in 1960, McGuire is one of only three head coaches in history to win 15 or more league games in his first 26 games, joining the likes of Jim Carlen and Steve Sloan. Carlen was also 15-11 at the same point in his tenure, which spanned the 1970-74 seasons. Sloan, meanwhile, finished 15-8 overall in Southwest Conference play during his three seasons from 1975-77.

WHAT A WIN WOULD DO THIS WEEKEND…

• With a victory over West Virginia this weekend, 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 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. n 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’s win at Oklahoma State solidified a 3-2 road record this season with all three wins coming in Big 12 play. The Red Raiders had not won three or more true road games in a season previously since 2008.

RED RAIDERS IN REGULAR-SEASON FINALES

• Texas Tech enters this weekend’s tilt at Texas with a 48- 48-4 all-time record in regular-season finales, which includes a 15-13 mark during the Big 12 era (1996-present). • The Red Raiders are a combined 10-2 as a Big 12 member when closing the regular season at home with wins in each of the last eight occurrences. In fact, Texas Tech’s last loss in a regular-season finale played in front of its home fans came in 2003 when No. 1 Oklahoma trounced the Red Raiders, 56-25. The Sooners are the only team to top Texas Tech at home to close the regular season as Oklahoma also delivered a 32-21 victory in 1997. • This will be the first time Texas Tech has closed the regular season all-time against West Virginia. In recent years, Since 2008, Texas Tech has closed the regular season against Baylor eight times and then Texas five times, all in Austin.

Kansas Jayhawks at Baylor Bears

(ESPN2) 11 a.m. CT

SERIES HISTORY

• Baylor leads the all-time series with Kansas, 18-4, including a 11-0 mark in games played in Waco. • The Bears have won 13 straight meetings with KU, with the last loss coming in 2007 in Lawrence, a 58-10 Kansas win. • During the 13-game win streak vs. KU, BU has outscored Kansas 603-159, or an average score of 46.4-12.2.

Kansas Jayhawks Notes

JAYHAWK QUICK HITS

• Last week’s Cheez-It National Team of the Week, Kansas has defeated three-straight ranked opponents, becoming the first school in FBS history with a sub .500 record to defeat three-straight AP ranked opponents. Kansas also became the third team since 1980 that has defeated three-straight AP Top-25 opponents while unranked. Kansas joins 2006 Georgia and 2023 Arizona as the only three schools to accomplish such a feat. Needing one more win for bowl eligibility, Kansas has defeated three-straight Big 12 Conference opponents for the first time since the 2007 season. Head Coach Lance Leipold now has five wins over a ranked opponent while at Kansas (vs. No. 16 Colorado, 2024; at No. 7 BYU, 2024; vs. No. 17 Iowa State, 2024; vs. No. 6 Oklahoma, 2023; vs. No. 18 Oklahoma State, 2022) joining Bud Moore (1975-78) as the only Kansas coach with five or more wins over ranked opponents. • Kansas senior running back Devin Neal is the “real deal”. Lawrence, Kansas native is Kansas’ all-time leading rusher with 4,210 career rushing yards and Kansas’ all-time leading touchdown scorer with 48 career rushing touchdowns and 52 total touchdowns. In the win over Colorado, Neal surpassed 1,000 rushing yards on the season, becoming the first Jayhawk in program history to rush for 1,000+ yards in three or more seasons. Entering Saturday’s game, Neal has the second-most career rushing yards among all-power four running backs, trailing only Texas Tech’s Tahj Brooks (4,369). Neal is also tied for the FBS career lead with 48 career rushing touchdowns, tying Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty. • On the defensive side of the ball, Kansas’ cornerback duo of Cobee Bryant and Mello Dotson is among the best cornerback tandems in the country. Both Preseason All-Big 12 selections, Dotson and Bryant lead the country in career interceptions by a duo (25), while Dotson is tied for the Big 12 Conference lead and is tied for third 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

• For the first time in school history, Kansas defeated three-straight Top-25 opponents, as the Jayhawks defeated No. 16 Colorado, 37-21 on Nov. 16, No. 7 BYU in Provo, 17-13, on Nov. 16 and No. 17 Iowa State, 45-36 on Nov. 9. Kansas became the first team in FBS history with a sub .500 record to defeat three-straight AP Top-25 opponents. • Kansas’ win over BYU gave the Cougars their first loss of the season, while Kansas recorded its 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 is now 3-1 against ranked opponents this season, marking the first time 1995 that Kansas had three or more ranked wins in a season, something KU has only done twice (2024, 1995). • The Jayhawks are 31-184-2 all-time against ranked opponents, including 12-96-2 against opponents ranked in the top-10 all-time.

RED HOT IN THE RED ZONE

• On Saturday vs. Colorado, the Jayhawks scored on seven-straight possessions, marking the first time since 2011 that Kansas has scored on its first seven possessions. • The Jayhawks have made the most of their opportunities in the red zone this season, as Kansas ranks third nationally and first in the Big 12 in red zone conversions. Kansas has converted 95.1% (39- of-41) in the red zone. • Of Kansas’ trips to the red zone, the Jayhawks have scored touchdowns on 30 occasions and converted on field goals nine times. • Only Troy (96.9%) and Texas A&M (95.6%) have a higher red-zone conversion percentage this season.

OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER

• Kansas’ offense has found its spark over the last several games, as the Jayhawks have scored 35+ points in three of their last five 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. • In the win over No. 16 Colorado, Kansas went for 520 yards of offense marking the third game this season with at least 500 yards of offense. Kansas has gone over 400 yards in five of their last six 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 51.5% (70-of-136) on third downs this season. While leading the Big 12, it also ranks third nationally. Against Colorado, Kansas converted on 9-of-14 (64.2%), a season-high. • 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 seven games. In Kansas’ first four games, the Jayhawks turned the ball over 10 times to its opponent’s 4. • The Jayhawks have made the most of their opportunities in the red zone this season, as Kansas ranks third nationally and first in the Big 12 in red zone conversions. Kansas has converted 95.1% (39- of-41) in the red zone. • Since head coach Lance Leipold took over in 2021, Kansas has gone over the 500+ yard mark in a single game 15 times.

Baylor Bears Notes

STORY LINES

• Winners of five consecutive games, Baylor wraps up its regular-season slate by facing off with red-hot Kansas on Saturday at McLane Stadium, with KU coming off three consecutive ranked wins to vault into bowl contention. • The Bears won their fifth straight by besting Houston on Saturday on the road, using a strong defense to hold the Coogs to just three points offensively. • 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 is bowl eligible for the 12th time in the last 15 years. • The Bears are looking to extend their Big 12 win streak to six games, the longest streak since 2019. • Keaton Thomas reached the 100-tackle mark on Saturday at Houston and Matt Jones needs just six stops to reach the mark. It would be the first 100-tackle duo from linebackers in the same season since 2012. • QB Sawyer Robertson leads the Big 12 Conference in QB rating (83) 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 36 catches for 541 yards and ranks second the nation in punt returns, averaging 20.7 yards per return. He has 839 all-purpose yards through nine games in 2024. • Freshman RB Bryson Washington ranks third in the nation among freshmen in rushing yards and rushing TDs. Washington set the program freshman record with his fifth 100+ yard game of the year at Houston.

SCOUTING THE JAYHAWKS

• Kansas comes into the game with the Bears seeking to earn bowl eligibility while amid one of the best stretches in college football in 2024. The Jayhawks have won three-straight to get to 5-6 and 4-4 in Big 12 play, with its wins coming vs. No. 17 Iowa State (45-36), at No. 7 BYU (17-13) and vs. No. 16 Colorado (37-21). This matchup snaps a stretch of four straight KU games against a ranked opponent. • Kansas averages 30.8 points per game, averaging 413.7, with 211.5 yards rushing and 202.3 yards passing per game. Defensively, KU averages 24.3 points per game allowed, surrendering 373.5 yards per game, allowing 232.6 passing and 140.8 rushing. KU ranks third in the country in third-down conversion percentage (51.5), also ranking 16th in fewest penalties, third in red-zone offense, 14th in rushing offense, and 24th in passes intercepted. • JB Brown leads the team with 66 tackles, 8.5 for a loss and four sacks. Mello Dotson has five interceptions, and Cobee Bryant has four. RB Devin Neal is one of the nation’s best running backs, toting the rock 199 times for 1,133 yards with 15 TDs. QB Jalon Daniels is an elite dual threat, rushing for 402 yards and six TDs, while throwing for 2,174 yards on 156-of-277 passing with 14 TDs and 10 interceptions. Luke Grimm has 48 catches for 617 yards with six TDs. Neal ranks 17th in the nation in rushing yards and 10th in rushing TDs. • After going 2-10 and 1-8 in 2022 in Coach Lance Leipold’s first season, the Jayhawks have put together three consecutive competitive seasons. KU went 6-7 with a loss in the Liberty Bowl in 2022, 9-4 in 2023 with a win in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, before going 5-6 in 2024. KU is 22-27 under Leipold, who went 37-33 in six years with Buffalo, following a historic career at his alma mater Wisconsin-Whitewater from 2007-14. Leipold grew as a coach over stints at Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1987, 88 and 90, before a three-year tenure as the GA at Wisconsin (1991-93) and time at Nebraska-Omaha (1994-2000, 2004-06) and Nebraska (2001-03). While at Wisconsin-Whitewater, Leipold was a six-time national coach of the year, leading the team to the 2007, 2013 and 2014 Division III National Championship. His squad went 45-0 over a three-season span. • OC Jeff Grimes is the assistant head coach and is in his first season after leading Baylor’s offensive attack the last three years. Jim Zebrowski is the co-offensive coordinator, and Brian Borland is the defensive coordinator. Taiwo Onatolo is the special teams coordinator and DK McDonald is the co-defensive coordinator. Chris Simpson is the assistant head coach.

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.

FIVE-GAME WIN STREAK

• Baylor is riding a five-game winning streak, its most since 2021, entering the Houston matchup, seeking its first six-game streak since 2019. The five-game win streak vs. Big 12 teams is its most since 2019. • The five-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 five-game win streak.

LAST MEETING

• Baylor used a powerful running game to post a 2022 homecoming win over upstart Kansas, stretching BU’s win streak to 13 straight against the Jayhawks. The Bears owned a 28-3 lead at halftime behind TDs from Monaray Baldwin, Richard Reese, Kyron Drones and Jordan Nabors. • Making his first-career start, Reese rolled to career highs in rushes (31) and yards (186), while finding paydirt twice. He capped a seven-play, 69-yard drive with a two-yard tote to push Baylor’s lead to 12 points with 2:37 left in the fourth quarter, solidifying the win after Kansas had scored 20 unanswered to open the second half. • Shapen threw for 164 yards and a score on a windy day that made passing a challenge. BU also got 71 yards rushing on nine carries from Qualan Jones.

#14/15 Arizona State Sun Devils at Arizona Wildcats

(FOX) 2:30 p.m. CT/1:30 p.m. MT

THE 98TH TERRITORIAL CUP:

The Arizona Wildcats (4-7, 2-6 Big 12) hosts Arizona State (9-2, 6-2) for the 98th matchup in Territorial Cup series history. Jason Benetti (Play-by-play), Brock Huard (Analyst), and Allison Williams (Sideline) are the broadcast crew with kickoff at 1:30 p.m. MST on Fox. This is the 98th matchup in series history with the Arizona Wildcats holding a 51-45-1 lead all-time. Arizona has won the last two matchups while scoring 97 points combined against its rival to the north. Arizona defeated ASU 59-23 in last season’s clash in Tempe and 38-35 in 2022 in Tucson. The Wildcats hold a 32-21 record in Tucson, including a 25-20 record in Arizona Stadium. Arizona and ASU play for the nation’s oldest rivalry trophy. In summer 2001, officials at Arizona and Arizona State received NCAA Division I-A designation for the 1899 Territorial Cup as the oldest trophy for a rivalry game in America. The annual Arizona-Arizona State winner obtains possession of the Cup for its Hall of Fame, a replica goes to the winning school’s president’s office, and two later trophies used over the years in the hard-fought rivalry are awarded to the winning coach and the Most Valuable Player

Arizona State Sun Devils Notes

THE GAME

#16 (CFP)/#14 (AP) Sun Devil Football will conclude the 2024 regular season on the road on Saturday, Nov. 30 as the team travels down the I-10 to Tucson to take on rival Arizona at Arizona Stadium in the 98th Territorial Cup. Scheduled for a 1:30 p.m. AZT kickoff, the contest will be broadcast nationally on FOX (Jason Benetti, Brock Huard, and Allison Williams). The game will also be available over the local airwaves in Arizona on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (Tim Healey, Jeff Van Raaphorst, Kevin Turner, Jeff Munn).

ON THE TERRITORIAL CUP

This will be the 98th Duel in the Desert, with Arizona leading the all-time series 51-45-1. A majority of those Wildcat wins came prior to 1950, however. Since 1949, ASU holds a 44-31-1 record in the series. The winner of the game will receive (or retain) the Territorial Cup Trophy, and the game is recognized by the NCAA as the nation’s oldest rivalry trophy game. After the Sun Devils had a five-game winning streak in the rivalry – tied for the second longest for either school in the series – ended in 2022, ASU is looking to ensure the Wildcats don’t post their first three-game winning streak in the series since the 1993-95 campaigns.

KICKING OFF

• Saturday will mark the first time the Sun Devils have played a the Territorial Cup while ranked since being No. 13 in the 2014 edition a decade ago. • ASU’s 9-2 record already marks a six-win improvement – at minimum – over the team’s 3-9 record a season ago. The six-win improvement is the most in program history and trails only Indiana’s seven-win improvement this season among FBS programs. • The Sun Devils are looking to become just the 10th Power 4/5 team since 2012 to increase their win total by 7 games from one season to another (8 – TCU, ‘21-22/7 – Mizzou ‘12-13, UCF ‘16-17, Syracuse ‘17-18, Cincinnati ‘17- 18, USC ‘21-22, UW ‘21-22, Northwestern ‘22-23, Indiana ‘23-24). • With ASU vacating its wins in the 2021 season, the nine wins this season surpasses the team’s combined win tally from 2020-2023 (8 wins). • Since Week 6, no FBS wide receiver has as many yards as Jordyn Tyson’s 749 – second behind only Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin Jr.. His 481 receiving yards in the month of November leads all FBS players. • Sam Leavitt is the nation’s highest-graded freshman player on offense OR defense with his overall offense grade of 88.2 (min. 400 snaps) – 4.3 points higher than Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith (83.9). He is 6.3 points better than the next closest quarterback, South Alabama’s Gio Lopez (81.9) and 12.6 points better than the next closest Power Four freshman quarterback, Tennessee’s Nico Iamaleava (75.6). • Leavitt’s 88.2 grade for the season is the eighth-best among all FBS freshman quarterbacks in the PFF era since 2015 (min. 400 snaps played). Of the seven players ahead of him, six have started an NFL game this season (Brock Purdy, Trevor Lawrence, Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, C.J. Stroud and Spencer Rattler). • ASU is 5-0 in games decided by a touchdown or less and 6-1 in games decided by one score (8 points or less). The 5-0 record is second behind Arkansas State’s 6-0 mark in games of seven points or less and the six wins is tied with Arkansas State for the most overall in one score games.

AN ASU VICTORY WOULD…

• Match ASU’s best record through 11 games since also going 9-2 in 2014. • Give ASU 10 wins for the first time since the 2013 and 2014 seasons. • Give ASU 10 wins in the regular season for just the 10th time in program history but only the 4th time since 1975. • Guarantee at least a tie for first in the Big 12 conference standings and potentially a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game. • Give ASU its best regular season conference record (7-2) since going 8-1 in 2013. • Give ASU a winning record on the road (4-2) for the first time since going 4-2 in 2014. • Be just the 10th time a Power 5 team increased its win total by seven games from one year to another since 2012-13 (not counting 2020 due to COVID year). • Keep the Wildcats from winning three games in a row in the series for the first time since 1993-95.

Arizona Wildcats Notes

• The Arizona Wildcats hosts Arizona State for the 98th matchup in Territorial Cup series history. Jason Benetti (PxP), Brock Huard (Analyst), and Allison Williams (Sideline) are the broadcast crew with kickoff at 1:30 p.m. MST on Fox. • This is the 98th matchup in series history with the Arizona Wildcats holding a 51-45-1 lead all-time. Arizona has won the last two matchups while scoring 97 points combined against its rival to the north. • Arizona defeated ASU 59-23 in last season’s clash in Tempe and 38-35 in 2022 in Tucson. The Wildcats hold a 32-21 record in Tucson, including a 25-20 record in Arizona Stadium. • Arizona and ASU play for the nation’s oldest rivalry trophy. In summer 2001, officials at Arizona and Arizona State received NCAA Division I-A designation for the 1899 Territorial Cup as the oldest trophy for a rivalry game in America. • The annual Arizona-Arizona State winner obtains possession of the Cup for its Hall of Fame, a replica goes to the winning school’s president’s office, and two later trophies used over the years in the hard-fought rivalry are awarded to the winning coach and the Most Valuable Player. • Tetairoa McMillan became Arizona’s all-time receiving yards leader with his 115-yard performance at TCU last Saturday. He now has 3,355 career receiving yards. • QB Noah Fifita threw for 284 yards at TCU, moving him to 8th in program history with 5,289-career passing yards in 26 games played. • Arizona is led by six captains this season, three on offense and three on defense. QB Noah Fifita, OL Jonah Savaiinaea, OL Josh Baker, DB Treydan Stukes, LB Jacob Manu, and DB Gunner Maldonado.

LAST GAME:

Arizona fell for the seventh time this season, dropping to 4-7 overall and out of traditional bowl eligibility. Josh Hoover threw for 252 yards and a touchdown and JP Richardson had 149 all-purpose yards and a 38-yard touchdown reception to lead TCU over Arizona 49-28 on Saturday. On the first play from scrimmage, Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita was intercepted by Bud Clark. TCU scored five plays later on Trent Battle’s 4-yard run. The Horned Frogs scored touchdowns on five straight drives, going at least 75 yards on nine or more plays on three of the possessions. TCU (7-4, 5-3 Big 12) drove 75 yards in 12 plays in the final 1:55 of the first half to take a 21- 13 lead on Savion Williams’ 20-yard run. Hoover completed five passes on the drive, including gains of 24, 19, and 24 yards to set up Williams’ score with 20 seconds left in the half. The Horned Frogs took the second-half kickoff and drove 76 yards in nine plays to build a 28-13 lead on Battle’s 1-yard run. Richardson’s 33-yard punt return to the Arizona 34 set up a third touchdown in three possessions. He caught a short pass over the middle from Hoover and raced untouched 38 yards for the score and a 35- 13 lead. Richardson led TCU with six catches for 107 yards. Four TCU running backs scored a touchdown, including Williams, who rushed for 80 yards and two scores. Battle also rushed for 28 yards and two scores. Fifita was 29 of 44 for 284 yards with two touchdowns and an interception for Arizona (4-7, 2-6). Tetairoa McMillan made nine catches for 115 yards.

ARIZONA NOTEBOOK

• Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita was selected by the media as the recipient of the Bob Moran MVP Award. He’s the first Arizona quarterback to win the award since Brandon Dawkins in 2016. • With 527 passing yards, QB Noah Fifita set Arizona’s single-game passing record, surpassing Anu Solomon who threw for 520 yards versus California in 2014. His 527 passing yards are also the most ever recorded in Territorial Cup history, surpassing the 511 compiled by ASU QB Ryan Kealy in 1998. • WR Tetairoa McMillan finished the game with 266 receiving yards, the most by any player in Territorial Cup history. The previous high-water mark was ASU’s Gerrell Robinson, who tallied 199 receiving yards in 2011.

TCU Horned Frogs at Cincinnati Bearcats

(ESPN+) 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT

SERIES HISTORY

• Cincinnati holds a 2-1 series lead over TCU with all three previous meetings (2002- 04) taking place when both schools were in Conference USA. • The Bearcats won the last game, 21-10, at Nippert Stadium in 2004. Cincinnati took a 36-29 overtime decision in 2002 in the first meeting in the Queen City. • TCU’s lone victory in the series was a memorable 43-10 win in Fort Worth in 2003. The Horned Frogs improved to 10-0 for the first time since their national championship season of 1938 when they were led by Heisman Trophy winner Davey O’Brien. TCU was No. 6 in the BCS rankings. At the time, it was the highest appearance ever by a team from a non-BCS conference.

TCU Horned Frogs Notes

ABOUT THE GAME

• Still alive for a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game, TCU closes the regular season Saturday with a 6 p.m. EST game at Cincinnati. • At 5-3 in Big 12 play, the Horned Frogs need a victory over the Bearcats and losses by at least three of the four teams (Arizona State, BYU, Colorado, Iowa State) who are 6-2 to remain in contention for a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game. 4With 25- and 21-point wins over Oklahoma State and Arizona, respectively, the Horned Frogs have won two straight games and four of their last five. • TCU and Cincinnati are playing for the first time since 2004 and just the fourth time overall. The previous three meetings (2002-04) took place when both schools were members of Conference USA. 4TCU has four players with at least 500 yards receiving (Jack Bech, 1,007; Eric McAlister, 639; JP Richardson, 630; Savion Williams, 596) for the first time since 2015. • With 4 yards by Williams, TCU will have its first season in history with four 600-yard receivers. • Bech (59), Williams (57) and Richardson (50) give TCU three players with at least 50 catches in the same season for the first time. • The 20.1 receptions per game by TCU wide receivers lead the nation for Power Four Conference programs and rank second in the FBS (North Texas, 21.5).

Cincinnati Bearcats Notes

NOTING THE HORNED FROGS

• TCU has won four of five games, including a 49-28 victory over Arizona on Senior Day in Fort Worth, Texas last weekend. • TCU is led by QB Josh Hoover, who ranks second in the Big 12 in passing (3,485 yards) and has tossed 23 TDs and nine interceptions. The Horned Frogs have several prolific receivers led by Jack Bech (59 receptions, 1,007 yards) and Savion Williams (10 total TDs rushing and receiving). TCU ranks second in the Big 12 in scoring (34.6 ppg). • Cincinnati and TCU have played three times before, facing off every year from 2002 to 2004 as Conference USA opponents. The Bearcats won 21-10 in the last meeting in 2004 with QB Gino Guidugli tossing a touchdown pass to TE Brent Celek and RB Richard Hall rushing for 143 yards at Nippert Stadium. • The first-ever matchup between the Bearcats and Horned Frogs came in the 2002 season opener. UC trailed 29-14 in the fourth quarter but came back to win 36-29 in overtime. The win began a home-opener win streak that continues to this day. Guidugli passed for 284 yards and two touchdowns with four interceptions and had the game-winning 14-yard rushing touchdown.

CINCINNATI’S RESUME

• The Bearcats’ best win was a 24-14 victory over Arizona State at Nippert Stadium on Oct. 19. The Sun Devils (9-2 overall, 6-2 in Big 12) are currently ranked No. 14 by the AP and are tied for first in the Big 12. • Cincinnati ranks fifth the Big 12 in total offense (424.9), sixth in rushing (181.45) and seventh in passing (243.5). • DT Dontay Corleone, a 2022 All-American and 2024 Preseason All-Big 12 pick, ranks as the Big 12’s top interior defender (78.8) per PFF. • RB Corey Kiner ranks sixth in the Big 12 in rushing (94.8) yards per game. He has 12 career 100-yard games, including five this season. His 1,043 yards this season made him the first back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher for the Bearcats since Michael Warren in 2018-19. His 74 missed tackles forced this season rank first in the Big 12, second in the Power 4 and third in the FBS. • Former walk-on safety Antwan Peek Jr. leads the Big 12 with four fumbles forced. He is the Big 12’s No. 4-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 43 catches. Travis Kelce’s TE school record of 45 catches was set in 2012.

SORSBY DOES IT WITH HIS ARM AND HIS LEGS

• Cincinnati QB Brendan Sorsby has completed 228-of-355 attempts (64.2%) for 2,653 yards and 18 TDs with just six interceptions and added 354 rushing yards and eight TDs on the ground. • Sorsby is the only Power 4 quarterback 2,500 passing yards, 15 passing TDs and eight rushing TDs. He is also the only FBS quarterback with a 425+ yard passing performance and a 125+ yard rushing performance. • 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. • He rushed for 143 yards at Iowa State – the fifth-best rushing performance by a UC QB in school history. Six of his eight rushing TDS have come at Nippert Stadium this season.

BEARCATS ON THE BRINK OF BOWLING

• Cincinnati is 5-6 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 SNAP LOSING STREAK VS. TCU

• Cincinnati brings a four-game losing streak into Saturday’s game vs. TCU, having faced tough tests in all four defeats. • In fact, UC has faced one of the toughest conference slates of any Big 12 team this season. • Entering the final week of the regular season, nine Big 12 teams are still in contention for the Big 12 Championship game, and the Bearcats have faced seven of them. Arizona, Kansas, and Oklahoma State have also faced seven. • Of the seven, UC faced four of them on the road in night game environments: Texas Tech, Colorado, Iowa State, and Kansas State.

Kansas State Wildcats at #17/17 Iowa State Cyclones

(FOX) 6:30 p.m. CT

Kansas State Wildcats Notes

THE TOP 5

1 – Coming off a convincing 41-15 win over Cincinnati in the home finale, Kansas State will close out the 2024 regular season on the road as the Wildcats travel to face 17thranked Iowa State at Jack Trice Stadium. The game, which kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Saturday night, will be shown nationally on FOX with Connor Onion (play-by-play) and Mark Helfrich (analyst) on the call.

2 – Quarterback Avery Johnson is set to make his 13th career start as he has thrown for 2,297 yards and 19 TDs on 190-of-314 aim while adding 484 rushing yards and six scores. He is one of only four players in the country and the only Big 12 QB with at least 2,275 passing yards and 475 rushing yards. His 19 passing touchdowns are a new K-State record for a sophomore as he passed Josh Freeman (18 in 2007).

3 – Junior running back DJ Giddens has rushed for 1,271 yards and seven touchdowns on 191 carries to go along with 21 receptions for 258 yards and another score. Giddens ranks ninth nationally in rushing yards, while he is sixth in the nation with 1,529 scrimmage yards thanks to his 258 receiving yards. He is the fourth player in school history with multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons.

4 – K-State has seven players with 40 or more tackles this season, led by linebacker Austin Romaine, whose 77 tackles rank 13th in the Big 12. Senior defensive end Brendan Mott has 10.5 TFLs and 8.5 sacks, the latter ranking 16th in the nation and tops int he Big 12. Six Wildcats have carded an interception this season, led by Marques Sigle’s three to rank sixth in the Big 12.

5 – Chris Tennant has been true on 16-of-19 field goals, including a 51-yarder with 1:42 left to give the Wildcats a 29-27 win over Kansas. Tennant ranks in the top 10 in school history in eight career categories. Simon McClannan is tied for sixth in the Big 12 with 14 punts that have ended inside the opponent 20-yard line. Dylan Edwards has recorded 336 total return yards to rank sixth in the Big 12.

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 230 victories since 1996, which ranks 22nd nationally. • Among active Big 12 teams, the Wildcats rank fourth behind BYU (237), TCU (236) and Utah (232). • Over the last 15 seasons – including 2024 – the Wildcats have won at least seven games on 13 occasions.

EIGHT IS GREAT, BUT…

• K-State has now won at least eight games in each of the last four seasons, including 2024. It is the Wildcats’ longest streak since doing so over the 2011 (10), 2012 (11), 2013 (8) and 2014 (9) seasons. • The Wildcats are tied for the fifth in the country with their four-straight seasons of at least eight wins. • K-State has 35 wins since 2021, which is tied for 14th nationally and first among active Big 12 teams.

… NINE WOULD BE DIVINE

• Kansas State is looking for its ninth regular-season win this Saturday at Iowa State. • It would be the second time in the last three seasons that K-State won nine regular season games (2022). • Kansas State has produced 14 years with at least nine regular seasons wins: 1910 (10), 1994 (9), 1995 (9), 1996 (9), 1997 (10), 1998 (11), 1999 (10), 2000 (10), 2002 (10), 2003 (10), 2011 (10), 2012 (11), 2014 (9) and 2022 (9).

A WINNING TRADITION

• Kansas State has totaled 144 Big 12 victories since the conference’s formation in 1996, which stands as the most among active Big 12 programs. • The Cats are also second among active Big 12 members in winning percentage since non-divisional play began in 2011. They sit at 60.0% (75-50), trailing only Oklahoma State (61.6%; 77-48). • During that stretch, the Wildcats are 42-21 (66.7%) at home in Big 12 play and 33-29 (5.32%) on the road.

REGULARLY IN THE AP POLL

• K-State fell out of the Associated Press Top 25 last week as the Wildcats were ranked in the previous 12 polls. • It was the first time K-State had been ranked in the first 12 AP polls of a season since appearing in all 17 polls in 2014. • K-State has been ranked in the AP Top 25 on 243 occasions since 1993, the most among active Big 12 teams and ranked 22nd nationally.

NOCTURNAL CATS

• Kansas State is playing its ninth night game this Saturday, including six that will have kicked off after 7 p.m. local time. • It is the most night games in a season since the 2012 season saw the Wildcats also play in nine-night games, but one of those was the Fiesta Bowl. • This is the first time the Wildcats will have played nine-night games during the regular season in the Big 12 era (1996).

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).

Iowa State Cyclones Notes

KEY STORYLINES

• Iowa State has reached nine wins for the fourth time in the program’s 133-year history and just the second time in the regular season (1906). • The Cyclones are bowl eligible for the seventh time in nine seasons under Campbell. J 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 … Campbell owns 50 percent of ISU’s all-time Big 12 wins (44-of-88). J Rocco Becht has thrown a TD pass in 15-straight games … he’s just the fifth QB in school history to pass for 6,000 career yards … against Utah, Becht led the Cyclones on his third, fourth quarter game-winning drive … in his career, he’s rallied the Cyclones from a fourth quarter deficit four times. • Becht has one of the best wide receiving duos in college football at his disposal in Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel … in eight of 11 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 24 yards to surpass 1,000 this season, joining Higgins as the first set of Cyclone teammates to top the mark in the same season … they are one of just two pairs nationally with both players over 900 receiving yards this season (San Jose State). • First-year offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser has the offense clicking … ISU is averaging 31.4 points (fourth-most in school history) and has topped 30 points in five of eight Big 12 games … with Becht finding Higgins and Noel at a record clip, ISU is averaging 269.0 passing yards. J ISU’s defense, under Jon Heacock’s direction, is first in the Big 12 and ranks 19th nationally allowing just 19.5 points per game … it is the fewest points allowed by a Cyclone defense since 2005 … its passing defense has been stout, yielding just 151.2 yards per game (third nationally) … ISU has held a nation’s best four opponents to under 100 yards passing … in seven games, opponents have had less than 100 yards either rushing or passing. • The Cyclone defense has a +7-turnover margin, which ranks among the Top 25 nationally … seven different Cyclones have combined for 14 interceptions to rank among the nation’s top 10.

Houston Cougars at #19/20 BYU Cougars

(ESPN) 9:15 p.m. CT/8:15 p.m.

THE SERIES

BYU and Houston are meeting for the fourth time in a series that BYU leads 3-0 The two schools last met in 2020 at TDECU Stadium Trailing 26-14 in the third quarter, BYU rattled off 29 unanswered points to win 43-26 The last time in Provo in 2014, BYU won 33-25, with a rushing attack of 323 yards led by Taysom Hill and Jamaal Williams

Houston Cougars Notes

THE OPENING KICKOFF

• Houston and #19/20 BYU are meeting for the fourth time in the history of the programs – all coming in the last 12 seasons (2013- present). BYU leads the all-time series, 3-0, including winning the lone matchup in Provo, Utah, 33-25 on Sept. 11, 2014. • Houston and BYU last met on Oct. 16, 2020, in TDECU Stadium, with the visiting #14/13 Cougars, defeating the host Cougars, 43-26. The tilt was originally slated for Provo, Utah. A change was made after Houston officials consulted with local medical professionals and team doctors regarding travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. • #19/20 BYU is the fourth ranked opponent Houston has faced this season. In its last matchup against a ranked foe, Houston knocked off #17/15 Kansas State, 24-19, earning its highest ranked victory since defeating #17/14 South Florida, 28-24, on Oct. 29, 2017. • Saturday marks the final game for 21 senior student-athletes. The group has been part of a transformational era in Houston Football, helping lead the Cougars to back-to-back bowl victories (2021-22) and an American Athletic Conference Championship Game appearance (2021) while ushering in a new era of Houston Athletics in the Big 12 (2023-present). • Despite 36 first-year transfers on this year’s roster, Fritz’s emphasis will be to sign 20-25 high school players each year while using the transfer portal to fill in needs. According to 247Sports, Houston’s 2025 signing class ranks 42nd nationally, right behind West Virginia (40) and Arizona State (41). Early signing day is set for Wednesday, Dec. 4. Houston’s 2026 class ranks No. 25 nationally and second in the Big 12. • UH can look at its current roster for brighter days ahead. Seven of UH’s top eight all-purpose leaders are projected to return for the 2025 season and five of Houston’s top 12 in all-purpose yardage are underclassmen. Redshirt freshman running back Re’Shaun Sanford II, who paces the Cougars with 566 all-purpose yards, is one of five freshmen nationally averaging 5.0 yards per carry (min. 75 attempts). • Houston looks to play spoiler for BYU’s Big 12 hopes on Saturday night – and end the month of November with the same result as November’s beginning – with a win against a nationally-ranked opponent. Houston snapped a four-game losing streak against ranked opponents with a 24-19 victory over #17/15 Kansas State on Nov. 2 inside TDECU Stadium. A win on Saturday would mark Houston’s first against a ranked opponent on the road since defeating #17/14 South Florida, 28-24, on Oct. 29, 2017. • Houston defensive back Jeremiah Wilson put on a clinic last Saturday against Baylor. Wilson became the sixth Big 12 defender this season with 2+ INTs in a conference game highlighted by a 41-yard pick-six. His 91.3 defensive grade and 92.2 coverage grade led all cornerbacks during Week 13 according to PFF. Wilson allowed just one reception on three targets and matched the national lead among cornerbacks with two picks on the week and was one of two Power Four cornerbacks to accomplish the feat. • Houston opens its 2025 schedule on Saturday, Aug. 30, against Stephen F. Austin, inside TDECU Stadium. The contest will take place 274 days following Saturday’s season finale. Houston’s 2025 slate, with dates for conference games still to-be-announced, includes: Home: Stephen F. Austin (Aug. 30), Arizona, Colorado, TCU, Texas Tech and West Virginia Away: Rice (Sept. 6), Oregon State (Sept. 27), Arizona State, Baylor, Oklahoma State and UCF • Saturday’s game is expected to mark a stark difference in climate compared to Houston’s first 11 games. The average kickoff temperature for Houston’s first 11 games has been 80.5 °F. Houston has seen just one game this season with a kickoff temperature below 65°F (58°F at Arizona on Friday, Nov. 15) and none below 55°F.

TEAM NOTES

• The Cougars are 47-30-1 all-time in regular season finales but have dropped five of their last six (2018-present) including five straight in conference play. Houston caps its regular season on the road for the fourth time in the last five seasons. • After winning consecutive games against Utah (Oct. 26) and #17/15 Kansas State (Nov. 2), Houston has dropped its last two matchups. Last Saturday’s 20-10 loss to Baylor eliminated Houston from bowl contention. The Cougars will miss a bowl game for the first time in back-to-back seasons since 1997-02 (six straight). • 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 inside TDECU Stadium earlier this season. 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 has started the last six games, completing 63.2% of his passes (67 of 106) for 668 yards while adding 376 rushing yards. Chriss, who is one of four Power Four underclassmen with 600+ passing and 375+ rushing yards this season, surpassed 1,000 total yards last Saturday against Baylor. He’s the first Houston underclassman quarterback to hit 60% passing and 1,000+ total yards since D’Eriq King in 2019. • Houston’s defense has held opponents to just 11 rushing touchdowns on the season. By contrast, a season ago, Houston opponents registered 24 rushing scores during the same time frame (Games 1-11). Houston’s 11 rushing scores allowed are tied for the fewest by the program since 2000. The Cougars have held opponents to one or no rushing touchdowns in nine of 11 games this season including none last time out against Baylor. • Over its last six games, Houston has committed a combined 23 penalties, ranking as the 11th fewest nationally and fifth fewest in the Power Four. After averaging 7.4 penalties across their first five games, the Cougars have averaged just 3.8 over their last six games. • 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 on Nov. 2 en route to becoming the first punter since Sept. 4, 2023, to earn Big 12 Special Teams weekly honors. The Cougars rank 12th nationally in punt return defense (3.53). Junior punt returner Mekhi Mews ranks 17th in the Power Four in punt return average (6.9). Senior kicker Jack Martin has made seven of his last eight field goal attempts, including a career-long 49-yarder at Arizona on Nov. 15. Martin drilled the game-winning 43-yard field goal as time expired against Utah on Oct. 26. The Cougars rank 22nd nationally with two blocked kicks. • Houston linebacker Michael Batton made an immediate impact in his first season with the program. Batton ranks eighth nationally in fumbles recovered (2) and seventh in the Big 12 in tackles per game (7.8). The senior, playing in his final game Saturday at BYU, owns 31.0 tackles over his last three games including a career high 12.0 stops against Baylor last Saturday. Batton has logged 6.0+ tackles in nine of 11 games this season. • 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 11 games of a season in comparison to the same timeline in season’s past.

BYU Cougars Notes

BIG 12 SCENARIOS

BYU is in contention to earn a spot for the Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship game with a win over Houston AND a loss by either Arizona State (vs Arizona) or Iowa State (vs Kansas State) Both a BYU win and one of those two teams must lose to clinch a berth in the title game in Arlington, Texas For additional Big 12 tiebreaker scenarios, visit Big12Sportscom

LOOKING FOR 10

BYU is in search of its 19th 10-win season as a program, entering the Houston game at 9-2 Kalani Sitake has coached the Cougars to two previous double-digit win campaigns (2021, 2020)

COMPETING AS A RANKED TEAM

BYU is No 19 in the Associated Press Top 25 and No 20 in the Coaches Poll BYU is 27-9 under head coach Kalani Sitake when playing as a ranked team The appearance in the AP poll is the 289th overall by the Cougars in program history, which is 35th among all teams

STRENGTH OF RECORD

BYU leads the Big 12 and is No 13 nationally in the ESPN Football Power Index strength of record metrics (SOR) Arizona State is second in the conference with a SOR of 15, with Iowa State 17, Kansas State 23 and Colorado at 26 The ESPN SOR reflects chance that an average Top 25 team would have team’s record or better, given the schedule

CONFERENCE NEWS & NOTES

Entering Week 14, nine teams are still in contention for the Dr Pepper Big 12 Football Championship. The following details tiebreaking scenarios for ties among teams with 7-2 Big 12 records:

Two-team tie scenarios:

• The two tied teams at 7-2 will be the Championship game participants.

Three-team tie scenarios:

• Colorado loss: Arizona State vs. Iowa State • Arizona State loss: Iowa State vs. BYU • Iowa State loss: Arizona State vs. BYU • BYU loss: If Texas Tech defeats West Virginia, then If Baylor beats Kansas & Cincinnati beats TCU: Colorado vs. Iowa State Otherwise: Colorado vs. Arizona State If West Virginia defeats Texas Tech: Arizona State vs. Iowa State

• Four-team scenario: Arizona State vs. Iowa State

• For teams who are 5-3 entering the week, they must win & see at least three of the four 6-2 teams take a loss.

• Of the Big 12’s 99 wins this season, 71% have been against Power Four teams. This is the highest mark of all FBS Conferences. • 82% of Big 12 games have been against Power Four opponents, which is tied for most with Big Ten nationally. • Nine Big 12 teams are now bowl-eligible with two more just one win away. • Five Big 12 programs rank in the top 30 in Strength of Record in ESPN’s FPI ratings with BYU (13), Arizona State (15) and Iowa State (17) all in the top 20. • Both the Big 12’s 27 fourth-quarter lead changes and its nine go-ahead scores in the final minute of games during conference play are the most in FBS. • According to ESPN’s FPI, eight Big 12 teams are in the nation’s top 40 for overall efficiency, which ranks tied for second nationally. • The Sun Devils have increased their win total by six from last season, which is the largest single-season turnaround in program history. • Shedeur Sanders is the only quarterback in FBS to rank in the top 10 nationally in completion percentage, passing yards and touchdowns entering Week 14. • ISU wide out Jaylin Noel has caught a pass in 43 consecutive games, which is the second-longest streak in program history and the fourth-longest active streak in the nation. • Texas Tech leads the nation with seven games featuring both a 100-yard rusher and 100-yard receiver. No other program has more than four games of both instances. • BYU’s defense is among the nation’s best at disrupting opposing quarterbacks with a Team Passing Defense Efficiency of 102.9, which is the fifth-best mark in FBS. • Arizona State leads the FBS as the winningest team in one-score games in Power Four football with a perfect 5-0 record.

Dr. Pepper Big 12 Football Championship

Saturday, December 7 – 11 a.m. CT on ABC

AT&T Stadium – Arlington,

• Texas with three-time Grammy award-winning hitmaker NE-YO performing at halftime alongside both schools’ marching bands

• Tickets on sale exclusively through SeatGeek

• Premium ticket and hospitality packages for the Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship are available through REVEL at REVELxp.com/Big-12-Championship