BIG 12 PREVIEW
Sat., Sep. 10 @ 11:00 am CT
Alabama Crimson Tide at Texas Longhorns
Alabama Crimson Tide
Notes
INSIDE THE SERIES
Overall: 10th meeting (Alabama trails, 1-7-1)
In Austin: Alabama trails, 0-2
Current Streak: Alabama, Won 1
Last Meeting: Jan. 7, 2010 – BCS National Championship Game (W, 37-21)
Series Notes: Alabama and Texas will meet for the 10th time in series history when the two storied programs square off on Saturday morning in Austin. The Longhorns hold the all-time advantage in nine previous meetings at 7-1-1, including a 2-0 mark in Austin. This is Alabama fi rst trip to Austin since 1922. Alabama head coach Nick Saban is 1-1 for his career against Texas with a loss at LSU in 2003 and a victory in the most recent meeting between the two programs on Jan. 7, 2010, in Pasadena, Calif. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian has never faced Alabama during his nine-year head coaching career
SABAN vs. FORMER ASSISTANTS: Alabama head coach Nick Saban is 25-2 all-time against his former staffers during his tenure at the Capstone. The Crimson Tide head coach’s most wins against a former assistant is four, which have come against Kirby Smart (4-1) and Jimbo Fisher (4-1).
SABAN’S ROAD RECORD: Head coach Nick Saban owns an 82-33-1 (.711) mark in road games across his four career stops, including a 54-10 (.844) record while at Alabama. Saban has notched eight perfect road records (2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2020) and has lost more than one game on the road in only two seasons (2007, 2010). The Tide has won 40 of its last 45 road games dating back to the 2011 campaign.
SABAN vs. AP TOP 25 IN TRUE ROAD GAMES: With Alabama’s win over then-No. 11 Florida on Sept. 18 of last season, head coach Nick Saban ranks third in all-time for road wins against teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 with 25 victories. Bobby Bowden is the all-time leader (33), followed by Joe Paterno (27).
SABAN vs. NON-CONFERENCE FOES: Alabama head coach Nick Saban owns an impressive 99-20 (.832) career mark against non-conference opponents in the regular season and postseason across his four stops as a collegiate head coach. While at Alabama, Saban has only two losses to non-conference opponents during the regular season, both of which came in 2007 (14-21 vs. Florida State [in Jacksonville] and 14-21 vs. ULM). His record against non-conference opponents in both the regular season and postseason at the Capstone is 68-7 (.907). Saban also owns an impressive 42-1 mark at Bryant-Denny Stadium and is currently riding a 40-game home winning streak against non-conference foes.
NON-OFFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS IN THE SABAN ERA: Alabama recorded its 86th non-offensive touchdown in the Nick Saban era on Dec. 4 when Jordan Battle returned an interception 42 yards for a score against then-No. 1/1/1 Georgia in the 2021 SEC Championship Game. It marked his second touchdown of the season and the third pick-six of his career. Battle’s pick-six was also the Crimson Tide’s sixth non-offensive touchdown of the season, moving past last season’s total of five across 13 games. Since Saban’s arrival in 2007, no team in college football has totaled more non-offensive scores than the Crimson Tide. During Saban’s tenure, Alabama recorded a single-season record 15 in 2016, which led the Football Bowl Subdivision and was the most in a season by any FBS team in the last 20 years. The Crimson Tide also scored a non-offensive touchdown in 10 consecutive games dating from to the CFP Semifinal against Michigan State on Dec. 31, 2015 to the Texas A&M game on Oct. 22, 2016 for 14 non-offensive touchdowns in that span – four interceptions, four punt returns, five fumble recoveries and a kickoff return.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
RETURNING HEISMAN: Crimson Tide signal-caller Bryce Young returned for his junior season after capturing the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore in 2021. Of Alabama’s four Heisman winners, Young is the second to return to the Tide after winning the coveted award, joining Mark Ingram II, who won the 2009 Heisman. Young threw for 4,872 yards, 47 touchdowns and set school records for attempts (547) and completions (366).
RETURNING STARTERS: Alabama returned five starters on the offensive side of the ball in 2022, led by quarterback Bryce Young. The Tide features three returners on the offensive line with center Darrian Dalcourt and guards Emil Ekiyor Jr. and Javion Cohen, while tight end Cameron Latu rounds out the group of starters.
BALANCED START: Alabama’s 2022 offense got off to a fast start in the opener, scoring on its first nine possessions and all eight possessions with the starters in. The balance of the offense was impressive, with the Crimson Tide passing for 281 yards on 40 attempts while rushing for 278 yards on 32 attempts.
FIRST-HALF 100s: Crimson Tide wideouts totaled 100-plus yards in the first half on 18 occasions in UA’s last 42 games, including four times during the 2021 campaign.
500+ YARDS OF TOTAL OFFENSE: Alabama has recorded 500-plus yards of total offense 49 times in the last 101 games (dating to the start of the 2015 season), including seven instances in 2021 and the first game of the 2022 campaign. Alabama went over the 500-yard marker in eight of 13 games during the 2020 national championship run and nine of 13 total contests in 2019. The 2018 roster set the Alabama single-season record with 500-or-more yards in 12 of 15 games.
400+ YARDS OF TOTAL OFFENSE: Alabama has gained 400-plus yards of total offense in 52 of its last 57 games, a stretch that began on Sept. 1, 2018 in the season opener against Louisville. The only five instances in which the Crimson Tide did not eclipse the 400-plus yards of total offense mark during that span was against Tennessee on Oct. 19, 2019 (373), at then-No. 11/9 Florida on Sept. 18, 2021 (331), against LSU on Nov. 6, 2021 (308), at Auburn on Nov. 27, 2021 (388) and against then-No. 3/3/3 Georgia in the CFP National Championship Game on Jan. 10, 2022 (399). Alabama went 4-1 in those five games.
30-OR-MORE IN 50 OF THE LAST 57: Alabama’s offense has scored 30-or-more points in 50 of the last 57 games, dating back to the start of the 2018 season. Included in that stretch is a streak of 34 consecutive games with 30-plus points that set the FBS record. The Crimson Tide’s streak started with a 42-3 win over Duke on Aug. 31, 2019 and ended with a 20-14 win over LSU on Nov. 6, 2021. UCF previously held the record of scoring 30-or-more points in 31 straight games from 2017-19.
40-OR-MORE SINCE 2018: Alabama has scored 40-or-more points in 41 of the last 57 games. Forty-one leads the nation for scoring 40-or-more points since the start of the 2018 season. Ohio State has the second-most instances of scoring 40-or-more points in that time frame (32-of-51), while Oklahoma follows in third (31-of-53).
OPENING DRIVE TOUCHDOWNS: The Crimson Tide has won 48 of its last 49 games when scoring a touchdown on the first offensive possession of the game. The most recent instance came in the College Football Playoff Semifinal against then-No. 4/4/4 Cincinnati thanks to Slade Bolden’s eight-yard touchdown reception. The Tide’s lone loss when scoring a touchdown on the opening drive during that stretch came at Texas A&M on Oct. 9.
SCORING STREAK CONTINUES: Alabama extended its school record for consecutive games with a score to 284 thanks to Will Reichard’s 45-yard field goal on the first possession of last Saturday’s home opener against Utah State. The Tide was last held off the scoreboard in a 9-0 loss to Auburn on Nov. 18, 2000. Alabama owns a 227-57 (.799) record over the course of the current streak.
BALL PROTECTION: In the last 195 games (dating back to the start of the 2008 season), Alabama has turned the ball over only 207 times (112 fumbles, 95 interceptions) for 1.06 turnovers per game. Since 2009, the Tide has turned the ball over only 189 times in 182 games (1.04/game). The 189 turnovers since 2009 includes 76 interceptions in 4,861 attempts (1 INT every 64.0 attempts) by UA starting quarterbacks and 31 lost fumbles in 4,878 carries (one fumble lost every 157.4 carries) by the Tide’s top two running backs.
SIX IN THE OPENER: Alabama quarterback Bryce Young accounted for six total touchdowns in the Crimson Tide’s home opener against Utah State on Sept. 3. The junior threw for a career-high tying five touchdowns while also rushing for a score. Young’s six touchdowns were the most by a UA signal-caller since Tua Tagovailoa’s school-record seven scores against Ole Miss on Sept. 28, 2019. In that game, Tagovailoa finished with six
passing touchdowns while also rushing for one against the Rebels.
BRYCE AGAINST THE BEST: Quarterback Bryce Young elevated his game each time a ranked team appeared on the Crimson Tide’s schedule a season ago. In six games against teams ranked in the final iteration of the College Football Playoff Top 25, Young posted an NCAA passer rating of 157.56 with an NFL rating of 107.36. He threw for 2,140 yards in those six games, which averaged out to 356.7 yards per game, with 17 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Young averaged 8.8 yards per attempt in those six games while completing 64.6 percent of his passes (157-243).
BRYCE AGAINST THE BEST DEFENSES: In 2021, Bryce Young’s passing numbers came against some of the best pass defenses in the nation. In seven games against the nation’s top 50 pass defenses (then-No. 1 Georgia, then-No. 2 Georgia, then-No. 4 Cincinnati, then-No. 9 Texas A&M, then-No. 39 Florida, then-No. 40 Ole Miss, then-No. 50 Tennessee), Young accounted for 2,192 yards (313.1 ypg), 17 touchdowns, just five interceptions and a completion percentage of 63.7.
GIBBS STARTING HOT: Running back Jahmyr Gibbs made an instant impact for Alabama in his first career start last Saturday against Utah State. The junior transfer finished with nine rushes for 93 yards for an average of 10.3 yards per carry while adding one reception for five yards. Gibbs’ 10.3 yards per carry average is the highest by a Tide back in his debut since Siran Stacy averaged 12.1 ypc in his UA debut on Sept. 16, 1989. Stacy carried 14 times for 169 yards and four touchdowns against Memphis as a junior.
THE TRANSITION TO TIGHT END: Cameron Latu transitioned from defensive end to tight end after his redshirt season at the Capstone and worked his way into the Crimson Tide’s starting tight end spot in 2021. In 15 games, including 14 starts last season, Latu had 26 receptions for 410 yards, an average of 15.8 yards per catch, and tied for second on UA with eight receiving touchdowns. His patience in transition paid off in the final game of the season against then-No. 3/3/3 Georgia in the CFP National Championship Game on Jan. 10. The Salt Lake City, Utah, native, set the record for the most receiving touchdowns by a tight end in a single season in school history (8), after he hauled in a three-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Bryce Young in the fourth quarter. He trumped tight end Irv Smith Jr.’s seven touchdown receptions in 2018.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
SEVEN RETURNERS ON DEFENSE: Alabama returned seven starters on the defensive side of the football in 2022. Junior linebacker Will Anderson Jr. headlines the group after taking home the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation’s top defender and registering 34.5 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks as a sophomore. The Tide’s defensive front also welcomed back linemen DJ Dale and Byron Young while the linebacker corps returned mike linebacker Henry To’oTo’o (113 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks). The secondary sees safety Jordan Battle back for his senior year after leading the team with three interceptions while recording 86 tackles and three pass breakups. Fellow senior safety DeMarcco Hellams is also back and joins the versatile Brian Branch in the Tide’s veteran defensive backfield.
NO-FLY ZONE: The Crimson Tide defense put together an impressive effort in the home opener against Utah State on Sept. 3. Alabama held the Aggies to just 57 yards through the air, the fewest passing yards in a game by a Tide opponent since Nov. 16, 2019, when Mississippi State threw for only 82 yards. The 57 yards allowed to USU were the fewest in a game since Nov. 17, 2018, when the Citadel did not record a single passing yard. The Bulldogs attempted two passes in that matchup.
HELD UNDER 10: Alabama’s defensive unit allowed Utah State to record only seven first downs in the season opener on Sept. 3. The seven first downs allowed were the fewest by a Tide defense since Nov. 10, 2018, when Mississippi State had just six.
KEEPING THE GROUND GAME IN-CHECK: The Crimson Tide defense limited Utah State to only 79 yards rushing in the Sept. 3 home opener. Alabama’s defensive unit has held 11 of its last 16 opponents (dating back to the 2021 season) to less than 100 yards rushing. The impressive stretch comes after the 2020 campaign that saw seven opponents go over 100-plus and the 2019 season where 11 opponents eclipsed the 100-yard marker. Both the 2020 and 2019 schedules were 13 games long.
TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS: Alabama has forced at least one turnover in 92 of the last 101 contests (dating back to the start of the 2015 season). During the current run, Alabama has forced 163 turnovers (106 interceptions, 57 fumbles) and returned 38 of those miscues for touchdowns.
HOLDING OPPONENTS UNDER 200: Alabama’s defense limited Utah State to only 136 yards of total offense in UA’s season opener on Sept. 3. That impressive effort marked the 56th time in the last 195 games (since the start of the 2008 season) that the Crimson Tide defense has held the opposition to fewer than 200 yards of total offense.
HARD TO FIND THE END ZONE AGAINST THE TIDE: Since the start of the 2009 season, no team has allowed fewer touchdowns than the Crimson Tide. Alabama has surrendered only 309 touchdowns over the last 182 games. That is 52 fewer than the second most in the nation (Wisconsin with 361).
SHUTOUTS SINCE 2007: Since head coach Nick Saban arrived in 2007, Alabama has recorded 25 shutouts, including 12 in Southeastern Conference play. With its 55-0 win over Utah State on Sept. 3, the Crimson Tide defense has 11 more shutouts than its nearest competitor over that span. Ranking second in shutouts during that time is Ohio State with 14.
TOUGH SLEDDING ON THE GROUND: Alabama’s defense has been a force in the run game since head coach Nick Saban’s arrival on campus. More recently, the Crimson Tide gave up just 65 rushing scores in the last 101 games (dating to the start of the 2015 season). The Crimson Tide allowed 11 rushing touchdowns in 2018 after giving up only nine rushing touchdowns in 2017. The Tide defense led the nation in 2016 with fi ve rushing touchdowns allowed, one year after giving up just seven rushing scores through 15 games in 2015, the second-lowest total in the country. Since Saban arrived in 2007, the Crimson Tide has allowed the fewest rushing touchdowns in the nation at 123, a total that is 45 fewer than second-place Iowa.
RUSHING DEFENSE: UA has surrendered only 29 individual 100-yard rushing performances dating back to the 2005 season, a mark that is the fewest in the nation. Since head coach Nick Saban’s arrival in 2007, the Tide has allowed 24 players to rush for more than 100 yards in a game.
10 POINTS OR LESS: Alabama’s trademark has been its defense ever since head coach Nick Saban’s arrival on campus. Since that fi rst season in Tuscaloosa, Saban-coached defenses have held the Crimson Tide’s opponents to 10 points or less on 98 occasions. Dating back to the start of the 2015 season, UA’s defense has limited the opposition to 10 or fewer points 42 times across 101 total contests
ANDERSON JR. IN 2021: Linebacker Will Anderson Jr. recorded at least one tackle for loss in 13-of-15 games in 2021, while posting a career-high 4.0 (-35 yards) at Mississippi State on Oct. 16 and against LSU (-13 yards) on Nov. 6. He recorded sacks in 11 of the Tide’s 15 games last season and had at least 1.5 sacks in four straight contests starting with the Mississippi State matchup on Oct. 16 and ending with the New Mexico State contest on Nov. 6. His four sacks at Mississippi State on Oct. 16 matched Derrick Thomas for the second-most in a game in school history (Thomas also had a five-sack game).
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
PATs FOR REICHARD: Senior Will Reichard enters Saturday’s matchup in Austin with 183 made point after touchdowns (185 attempts) for his career to rank second on the Alabama all-time list. He trails only Adam Griffith (2013-16) who recorded 186 career made PATs on 188 attempts.
REICHARD MOVING UP THE CAREER LISTS: Placekicker Will Reichard has been a consistent presence in the kicking game for Alabama during his time at the Capstone. Reichard has made 42 field goals for his career and has totaled 309 kicking points. Both numbers have placed Reichard on the top-10 lists for Crimson Tide kickers. Below is a look at where Reichard currently ranks.
SERIES NOTES
THE ALABAMA-TEXAS SERIES: Alabama and Texas will meet for the 10th time in series history when the two storied programs square off on Saturday morning in Austin. The Longhorns hold the all-time advantage in nine previous meetings at 7-1-1, including a 2-0 mark at home. The Crimson Tide came out on top in the last pairing between the schools which came on Jan. 7, 2010 in the BCS National Championship Game. That matchup saw UA come away with a 37-21 victory to claim the first of Nick Saban’s six national titles at Alabama.
Texas (Alabama trails, 1-7-1)
Date Result Site Score Total
Nov. 11, 1902 L H 0-10 0-10
Nov. 13, 1915 L A 0-20 0-30
Oct. 28, 1922 L A 10-19 10-49
Jan. 1, 1948 L N* 7-27 17-76
Dec. 17, 1960 T N# 3-3 20-79
Jan. 1, 1965 L N@ 17-21 37-100
Jan. 1, 1973 L N& 13-17 50-117
Jan. 1, 1982 L N& 12-14 62-131
Jan. 7, 2010 W N$ 37-21 99-152
*—Sugar Bowl (New Orleans, La.)
—Bluebonnet Bowl (Houston, Texas)
@—Orange Bowl (Miami, Fla.)
&—Cotton Bowl (Dallas, Texas)
$—BCS National Championship Game (Pasadena, Calif.)
Texas Longhorns
Notes
GAME NOTES
THE OPENING KICKOFF
• The University of Texas continues its 130th season of football on Saturday when the Longhorns face No. 1 Alabama for the 10th all-time meeting.
• Texas will host the top-ranked team in the nation for the third time in program history.
• The Longhorns are 1-1 in previous home matchups against the No. 1 team in the nation, defeating SMU, 23-20, in 1950 and falling to Ohio State, 24-7, in 2006.
• The Horns have played the No. 1 team 16 times in program history, sporting a 5-11 record in those games, including a 2-2 mark over the last four games.
• Texas has an all-time home record of 50-47-4 (.515) against ranked opponents.
• Texas currently boasts 929 all-time wins, tied for the fourth-most in college football history. UT holds an all-time record of 929-385-33 (.702).
SERIES HISTORY VS. ALABAMA
• Texas holds a 7-1-1 advantage over Alabama in the all-time series and will face the Crimson Tide for the first time since the 2010 BCS Championship Game.
• Texas and Alabama will play just their fourth regular-season game and the first since 1922. The last two meetings took place in Austin (1915, 1922), with the first taking place in Tuscaloosa in 1902.
• Of the nine previous games between the Horns and Tide, five have taken place in the Lone Star State with Texas holding a 4-0-1 advantage.
VS. ALABAMA (ALL TIME)
Year Location/Event Result Score
1902……….Tuscaloosa…………………….W………….10-0
1915……….Austin……………………………W………….20-0
1922……….Austin……………………………W………..19-10
1947……….Sugar Bowl ……………………W………….27-7
1960……….Bluebonnet Bowl……………..T…………….3-3
1965……….Orange Bowl ………………….W………..21-17
1972……….Cotton Bowl …………………..W………..17-13
1982……….Cotton Bowl …………………..W………..14-12
2010……….BCS Championship ………….L…………21-37
A TEXAS WIN WOULD …
• Be Texas’ 930th victory all-time, the fourth-winningest program in college football history.
• Give Steve Sarkisian his 53rd victory as a head coach.
• Mark the Longhorns’ sixth all-time win versus the No. 1-ranked team in the AP Poll and the first since defeating Oklahoma in 2008.
• Improve UT’s all-time record against teams currently in the SEC to 192-93-9.
• Give Texas a 13-4-1 all-time record versus the teams from the state of Alabama. Texas has faced Alabama (7-1-1) and Auburn (5-3).
SARKISIAN ERA ENTERS SECOND SEASON
• Texas Football Head Coach Steve Sarkisian begins his second season at the helm of the Longhorns and his ninth season as a head coach overall.
• Last season, the Texas offense ranked 18th in the nation and second in the Big 12 Conference with 35.5 points per game, the third-straight top-18 scoring output for a Sarkisan-led offense.
• The offensive showing also marked the eighth top-30 scoring offense in Sarkisian’s career.
• Bijan Robinson rushed for 1,127 yards in 2021, marking the 10th consecutive year a Sarkisian coached offense has had a 1,000-yard rusher.
FINDING THE END ZONE
• In the Longhorns’ season opener against ULM, Keilan Robinson returned a blocked punt for a touchdown, D’Shawn Jamison returned an interception for a score and the Texas offense scored three rushing and two passing touchdowns.
• It marked the first time since the season opener against Maryland in 2017 that Texas scored a touchdown on offense, defense and special teams.
• In the 2017 game, Holton Hill had a 31-yard interception return and returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown, and Reggie Hemphill-Mapps scored on a 91-yard punt return. Shane Buechele added a pair of touchdown passes to Armanti Foreman and Collin Johnson and ran in for another score.
SCORE BIG AND SCORE OFTEN
• In last season’s victory over Texas Tech, the Longhorns scored 70 points in a game for the first time since 2005 Big 12 Championship Game against Colorado.
• It marked only the second time since 1977 and 11th time in school history that UT had scored 70 points in a game.
• The 70 points tied for the second most scored against a Big 12 opponent in conference play, while the 42 points scored in the first half were also the second most in a Big 12 contest.
• Texas scored at least 32 points in six of 12 games in 2021 and had four games of 48 points or more.
• Texas scored at least 40 points in the first half against Rice (44 on Sept. 18) and Texas Tech (42 on Sept. 25), marking the first time since 2003 (41 vs. Rice/49 vs. Tulane) that the Longhorns tallied at least 40 first-half points in back-to-back games.
• Texas scored 28 points in the first quarter against Oklahoma, the third time this season the Longhorns had scored 28 points in a quarter.
• The 28 points in a quarter are the most by UT against Oklahoma since at least 1942.
STARTING STRONG
• It was a complete team effort from the Longhorns in the season-opening 52-10 victory over the ULM Warhawks.
• Texas tallied seven touchdowns in the winning effort and scored in variety of fashions with the offense, defense and special teams all finding the end zone via a blocked punt return, an interception return, two receiving touchdowns and a trio of rushing scores.
• The 52-point output was the fifth game of 48 points or more in the last 11 contests for the Longhorns. Texas has begun each of the last five seasons with a win, topping besting Tulsa in 2018, Louisiana Tech in 2019, UTEP in 2020, Louisiana in 2021 and ULM in 2022.
NON-OFFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS
• Texas has made scoring non-offensive touchdowns a habit, registering at least one in 13 of the last 14 seasons.
• The Horns wasted no time this season when Keilan Robinson scored on a D’Shawn Jamison blocked punt to close out the first drive of the season opener by ULM.
• Jamison secured a defensive score with a third-quarter, 69-yard interception return against ULM, giving UT multiple non-offensive touchdowns in a season for the fourth time in six years.
• Josh Thompson tallied a 27-yard interception return against Texas Tech last season that marked the fifth-straight season in which the Longhorns had a non-offensive touchdown.
• D’Shawn Jamison’s 100-yard kickoff return against Oklahoma State in 2020 was the second of his career and fueled the Longhorns comeback from an 11-point deficit at the sixth-ranked Cowboys.
• Texas has scored a non-offensive touchdown in 15 of the last 16 seasons.
• Thompson’s touchdown was the first for the Texas since defense since Anthony Wheeler’s 38-yard fumble return in the 2017 Texas Bowl.
• It was the first interception returned for a touchdown since DeShon Elliott’s 43-yard return at Baylor, also in 2017.
• The score was the 79th interception returned for a touchdown in UT history.
• UT finished 2017 with eight non-offensive touchdowns, tied for the most in the country. It was their most since registering 11 in 2009
Sat., Sep. 10 @ 11:00 am CT
Missouri Tigers at Kansas State Wildcats
Missouri Tigers
Notes
SERIES vs. KANSAS STATE
KANSAS STATE (Mizzou Leads 60-32-5)
Last Six Matchups (Mizzou leads, 5-1)
2011 — Kansas State, 33-10 at Manhattan
2010 — Mizzou, 38-28, at Columbia
2009 — Mizzou, 38-12, at Manhattan
2008 — Mizzou, 41-24, at Columbia
2007 — Mizzou, 49-32, at Manhattan
2006 — Mizzou, 41-21, at Columbia
STORY LINES
NOTING WEEK 2
• University of Missouri football will face a familiar foe from its Big 12 days in Kansas State on Sat., Sept. 10, in Manhattan, Kan. MU last faced a Big 12 team in 2019 (West Virginia).
• The Tigers and the Wildcats will tangle for the 98th time in Week 2. Mizzou holds a 60-32-5 edge over K-State with the first meeting in 1909 and the most recent in 2011. MU’s last win in the Little Apple was 2009 (W, 38-12).
BY THE NUMBERS
• With a Week 1 win, Mizzou advances to 85-42-5 in season openers (including 22 of the last 26), 96-32-4 in home openers (including 23 of the last 26), and 168-71-8 in home in non-conference matchups.
• The 52 points scored by the Tigers against Louisiana Tech are the most since October 20, 2018 in a 65-33 win over Memphis. Thursday’s 28-point margin of victory is the largest for Mizzou since a 41-point victory over Vanderbilt in 2020.
• Mizzou saw 64 student-athletes play Thursday night with 18 making their Tiger debut.
LAST TIME OUT: MIZZOU
Newcomers Luther Burden III, Joseph Charleston, Cody Schrader, Ty’Ron Hopper and Nathaniel Peat, among others, made significant contributions as the Tigers beat Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, 52-24, to open the 2022 football season. Schrader, Charleston and Burden each scored their first touchdowns at Mizzou, propelling the Tigers to a 24-10 halftime lead. Schrader scored first on a five-yard run to put MU up 7-3, capping a 41-yard drive that was kept alive by a 18- yard reception by Barrett Bannister on a third-and-10. It made him just the third Tiger to catch a pass in five seasons, joining Lamont Downer (1974-78) and George Shorthose (1980-84). Moments later, Charleston intercepted a Matthew Downing pass and returned it 29 yards for a score. Hopper and Jaylon Carlies also intercepted passes in the first half – the first time Missouri had three picks in the first half of a game since 1982 vs. Colorado State. Hopper led the MU defense with six solo tackles including a nine-yard quarterback sack on a third-down play that snuffed out a Louisiana Tech drive in the second quarter. Missouri’s defense limited Louisiana Tech to 337 total yards – just 11 of which came on the ground – and 176 of its yards came on three plays. On their other 64 plays, the Bulldogs averaged just 2.7 yards.
LAST TIME OUT: KANSAS STATE
Wide receiver Malik Knowles took a handoff and darted 75 yards for a touchdown on the very first play from scrimmage, the fastest opening score in K-State history, and Deuce Vaughn rushed for 126 yards and one touchdown, as the Wildcats rolled to a 34-0 victory over South Dakota. K-State outgained South Dakota, 393 to 270 overall, and stormed to a 27-0 halftime lead with three rushing touchdowns and another off a blocked punt. A total of 66 different K-State players saw action as the Wildcats substituted as the game wore on over the final two quarters. Adrian Martinez completed 11 of 15 passes for 53 yards and added 39 yards on 13 carries and a six-yard touchdown on the ground in his debut in the Wildcats’ offense under first-year offensive coordinator Collin Klein.
THE ROCK
• Nine Tigers recorded carries against the Bulldogs, marking the first time they accomplished the feat since a win over Iowa State on October 15, 2011.
• Of the nine, five rushed in for scores (Nathaniel Peat, Cody Schrader, Brady Cook, Luther Burden III, BJ Harris). Peat led the squad in total yards with 72 as Schrader was the leader in carries with 17. Peat, Schrader and Cook all totaled 60+ yards on the ground.
• Peat and Schrader had their first touchdowns as Tigers while Burden III and Harris each had their first collegiate scores.
• MU racked up its most total rushing yards in a game (323) since a victory over Tennessee on November 11, 2017 (433 yards).
TAKE YOUR PICK
• The Tiger defense snagged three picks in the first half vs. Louisiana Tech, the first time this feat has been accomplished since the 1982 season opener against Colorado State. The most recent game with three total picks for the Tigers is West Virginia in 2019.
• Junior defensive back Jaylon Carlies snagged his fifth career interception on the opening drive of the game.
• In his debut game in Columbia, Joseph Charleston – a transfer from Clemson – returned a 29-yard interception to the house, the first pick of his career. He’s the only SEC defender to return an interception for a score in the first two weeks of play.
• Florida transfer Ty’Ron Hopper also snagged the first interception of his career in his first game in Black and Gold.
• From six different players, Mizzou’s secondary snagged an interception in nine of the 13 contests played in 2021. Carlies led the way with four INTs while Kris AbramsDraine had three.
AIR IT OUT
• On Thursday night, nine Tigers caught 20 receptions, including one touchdown from Luther Burden III. Six of the nine had multiple catches.
• 16 receivers hauled in 302 receptions while 10 Tigers hauled in 19 receptions for touchdowns a year ago. Five Tigers had multiple TD receptions.
• Mookie Cooper was the 10th Tiger to haul in a touchdown reception in 2021 with his 60-yard bomb against South Carolina. The 10 players with a TD grab are the most by the Tigers since 2016.
LBIII
• The first true freshman starter on offense in the season opener since Evan Boehm (2012), wide receiver Luther Burden III earned his first collegiate score on a five-yard reception after making a pair of defenders miss and splitting another pair.
• He punched in a second score early in the third quarter, this time a one-yard rush off a direct snap. He’s the only SEC freshman with two scores in the first two weeks of play.
• He’s one of just five Tigers all-time to score twice in their collegiate debut (Jeremy Maclin, 2007; Devin West, 1995; Tracey Mack, 1980; Johnny Roland, 1962).
• On the ground, he had three carries for 26 yards and a score with a long of 17. He hauled in three receptions for 17 yards – including 21 yards after catch – with one touchdown and a long 16.
COOK GETS THE CALL
• On August 9, head coach Eliah Drinkwitz named Brady Cook the starting quarterback for the Tigers’ season opener.
• Against LA Tech, Cook finished 18-of-27 for 195 yards and an interception. He also picked up 61 yards on seven carries, including a 20-yard touchdown rush.
• The St. Louis native threw 89 pass attempts before throwing his first career interception, ranking third in Mizzou history, and only six behind Brad Smith (95).
• He earned his first career start in the 2021 Armed Forces Bowl vs. Army West Point, completing 27-of-34 passes for 238 yards and a score. He also rushed for a career-high 53 yards and a touchdown against the Black Knights.
• Cook ran in a 30-yard touchdown on the opening drive of the game, the longest rush by a Mizzou quarterback in 2021, and his first career rushing TD.
COOK CONT.
• His second score of the bowl game was a go-ahead touchdown pass to Keke Chism with just over a minute remaining.
• Also in 2021, he was a perfect 5-of-5 for 29 yards with one passing touchdown against Southeast Missouri State. Cook finished the season 47-of-59 for 350 yards and two scores while rushing for 92 yards and a score.
• As a true freshman in 2020, he played in three games, completing 6-of-7 passes for 72 yards. His first career touchdown came on a 25-yard pass in Mizzou’s 41-0 win over Vanderbilt in 2020.
THE THICCER KICKER
• Harrison Mevis, a first-team preseason All-SEC selection by the coaches, enters his third season as arguably the nation’s top kicker. His 19 field goals from at least 30 yards last year are the most by a returning kicker, as are the 14 of those that came from at least 40 yards out. His 88.9% career accuracy rate is the best by an active kicker with at least 40 career attempts.
• A two-time Lou Groza Award finalist, he was named preseason All-America teams by the Associated Press, The Athletic, Phil Steele, Action Network and Pro Football Network.
• He is one of just two Tigers in program history to make five or more kicks of 50+ yards, joining Tom Whelihan (6, 1984-87).
• In 2021, Mevis went 23-for-25, good for a 92-percent field goal percentage, setting a new single-season school record (min. 20 att.)
• Mevis totaled 109 points a year ago, taking sole possession of ninth on the Mizzou all-time single-season scoring list.
CODY’S AT HOME
• Cody Schrader is living the Tiger tale. A transfer from Division II Truman State and native of St. Louis, he joined the Missouri program in January, 2022.
• In 2021, Schrader lead all of Division II with 2,074 rushing yards on 300 carries and 24 touchdowns. He played in 29 career games.
• Schrader earned his first DI start on Sept. 1, making the most of his opportunity with a five-yard touchdown to open up the second quarter.
DOUBLE DUTY
• Graduate kicker Sean Koetting is now handling fulltime punt duties for the Tigers, in addition to kickoffs.
• He totaled four punts for 184 yards and an average of 46.0 ypp with a long of 57 and one inside the 20 in Game 1.
• He also had nine kickoffs for 555 yards, averaging 61.7 ypk with eight touchbacks.
FIRST DOWN BANISTER
• Sixth-year receiver Barrett Banister has played in 45 career games and has hauled in 27+ receptions in three-straight seasons. He’s made catches in four straight games, dating back to Florida in 2021.
• Banister’s three receptions in Game 1 made him the third Tiger in history with a reception in five seasons, joining Lamont Downer (1974-78) and George Shorthose (1980-84).
Kansas State Wildcats
Notes
THE TOP 5
1 – K-State welcomes a familiar foe to Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Saturday as long-time Big 8 and Big 12 member Missouri visits Manhattan for an 11 a.m., ESPN2-televised showdown. It is the first time the two teams have squared off since the 2011 season as the Collin Klein-led
Wildcats held off the Tigers, 24-17, in Manhattan. A sellout crowd has been announced for Saturday’s game.
2 – Coming off a Consensus All-America season, running back Deuce Vaughn picked up right where he left off in the 2022 opener, rushing for 126 yards and a touchdown against South Dakota. It was his seventh-straight game with more than 100 rushing yards, which ranks second in school history to Darren Sproles, who had a 10-game streak spanning over the 2002 and 2003 seasons.
3 – A transfer from Nebraska, Adrian Martinez earned the start at quarterback for the Wildcats last week as he became the first signal caller to start a season opener after transferring from a Division I school since Matt Miller (Texas A&M) started the 1994 opener. However, he is the first ever to come straight from one Division I school and start the next year’s season opener as Miller redshirted the 1993 season.
4 – With seven returning starters on defense a year ago, the Wildcats returned to form against South Dakota as they pitched a shutout, their first since the 2019 Bowling Green game. It was one of just nine shutouts nationally during the opening weekend of the season and the only one in the Big 12. South Dakota only converted on 5-of-16 third down attempts, while the Coyotes were 0-of-4 on fourth down.
5 – Known for its special teams prowess, K-State brings back both of its primary returners in Malik Knowles (kickoff s) and Phillip Brooks (punts), each of whom have garnered All-America status in their disciplines during their careers. However, it was a blocked punt by Seth Porter and a 17-yard return for a score by Desmond Purnell that got the Wildcats their first special teams touchdown of the season.
NON-CONFERENCE NOTABLES
• Since 1990, K-State holds a 93-18 (83.8%) record in regular-season non-conference games.
• That stretch includes a 79-8 (90.9%) mark at home. During those 30 years (excluding the one-game non-conference schedule in 2020), the Wildcats have had perfect regular season non-conference ledgers 17 times and unblemished marks at home on 24 occasions, which included last season.
A WINNING TRADITION
• Kansas State has been one of the best Big 12 teams since the inception of the conference in 1996. The Wildcats are third with 127 victories, trailing only Oklahoma and Texas.
• The Wildcats also rank third in the conference in winning percentage since round-robin play began in 2011. They sit at 57.6% (57-42), trailing only Oklahoma (81.6%; 80-18) and Oklahoma State (66.7%; 66-33).
• During that stretch, the Wildcats are 32-18 (64.0%) at home in Big 12 play and 25-24 (51.0%) on the road.
AMONG THE NATION’S BEST
• K-State has a total of 204 victories since 1996, tying for 24th (with Oklahoma State) among all FBS teams. The Wildcats are one of just 25 schools to reach the 200-win mark over the last 26 seasons.
• Among current Big 12 teams, the Wildcats rank fourth behind Oklahoma (257), Texas (222) and TCU (212).
• More recently, the Wildcats rank 25th in wins among current Power 5 teams since 2010 with 94.
WINNING THE FINAL FRAME
• Kansas State was strong in the fourth quarter of games in 2021, as the Wildcats outscored their opponents, 112-56.
• The 56-point difference was the second highest in the Big 12 last season, while it was the most by a Wildcat squad since the 2012 team held an 80-point difference (152-72).
• The Wildcats won 10 of their 13 fourth quarters in 2021. The only three they did not were against Oklahoma State (0-0), Baylor (3-0) and Texas (3-0).
A WINNING HISTORY
• A proven winner with a championship history, Chris Klieman holds a 93-29 career record, as his 76.2% career winning percentage ranks fourth among current FBS coaches that have led programs for at least nine years.
• Klieman, who is 21-16 since arriving at K-State, came to Manhattan after capping his five-year stint as head coach at North Dakota State by winning his fourth national championship in 2018. He guided the 2018 Bison to a perfect 15-0 record.
TAKING CARE OF THE BALL
• Another staple of K-State football over the past decade has been committing very few turnovers, as the Wildcats rank third nationally among current Power 5 teams since 2012 in fewest turnovers per game at 1.21.
• That figure leads the Big 12 as the Wildcats’ 154 total turnovers over the last 11-plus seasons are 13 better than the next closest program (Oklahoma, 167).
• In the season opener last week, the Wildcats did not commit a turnover while forcing one (interception).
CATS TOPS IN
NON-OFFENSIVE TDs
• K-State is the nation’s best in non-offensive touchdowns over the last 23 seasons as it has 127 since 1999, nine more than the next closest team.
• Kansas State tallied three non-offensive scores in 2021 as Malik Knowles returned a kickoff for a touchdown at Oklahoma State and against Oklahoma, and Marvin Martin returned a block punt for a score against West Virginia.
• Last week, Seth Porter blocked a punt which was then scooped up and taken into the end zone by Desmond Purnell.
MORE DEPTH
• K-State’s initial two-deep of 2022 included 58 names, which was the most since the fi rst depth chart of 2014 (58).
• Over Chris Klieman’s first three seasons at K-State, the initial two-deep in 2021 listed 56 names, the first one of 2020 listed 54, and the first two-deep under Klieman listed 52.
• Last week, with the ultimate goal of building more depth, a
total of 66 players saw the fi eld against South Dakota.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
KLEIN TAKES OVER AS OC
• A 2012 Heisman Trophy finalist and one of the best signal callers in school history, Collin Klein is in his first season as K-State’s offensive coordinator.
• Klein is one of just four Power 5 offensive coordinators to play quarterback at the school in which they work. The other three are Brandon Streeter (Clemson), Tommy Rees (Notre Dame) and Tavita Pritchard (Stanford).
• Klein was promoted to interim offensive coordinator for the TaxAct Texas Bowl, and all he did was direct the Wildcats to 42 points – their highest output of the season and third highest in school bowl history – while their 442 yards of total offense was the second-best output of the 2021 season and ranked fifth in K-State bowl history.
• Klein was a co-offensive coordinator for one season at K-State (2018), as he begins a run as the Wildcats’ sole offensive play caller for the first time in his career.
OFF AND RUNNING
• K-State opened the season with 297 yards on the ground, led by Deuce Vaughn’s 126 yards and Malik Knowles’ 75-yard touchdown run on the first play of the season.
• The 297 yards on the ground were the most by a Wildcat team since recording 342 in the 2019 KU game.
• Knowles’ score 10 seconds into the game was the fastest score in school history. It topped an 11-second score against Louisiana Tech in 1988.
POINTS PER GAME GOING UP?
• One area in which K-State may improve this season in points per game. The Wildcats averaged 27.5 points per game in 2021, but they have two of the top scorers in the nation on their roster.
• Running back Deuce Vaughn currently ranks first nationally among all active non-kickers in career points per game (8.0), while quarterback Adrian Martinez is fourth (5.6).
• K-State opened the season with 34 points against South Dakota, which included rushing touchdowns by both players.
AN EXPERIENCED QB
• One of the top transfer quarterbacks in the 2022 cycle landed at Kansas State in Adrian Martinez, who spent the previous four seasons at Nebraska.
• A career 38-game starter for the Huskers, Martinez set 17 school records, including career total offense (10,792) and completions (670).
• Martinez is one of only two active quarterbacks in the nation with 8,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a career. He is tops among active quarterbacks in career rushing attempts (521), second in rushing touchdowns (36) and rushing yards (2,340) by a quarterback, and third in total offense (10,884).
DEFENSIVE NOTES
A BIG TURNAROUND
• The K-State defense switched from a four-man front to a three-man front in 2021, and the change paid off in spades as the Wildcats trimmed 11.2 points and 100.0 yards per game allowed off their averages from the year prior.
• Those categories were just some of the major improvements from years past.
FEWER EXPLOSIVES
• One area of emphasis for the Wildcat defense in 2021 was to limit opponents’ explosive plays, and the Wildcats made headway in that area by allowing 3.5 plays per game of 20 or more yards.
• It was the lowest per game mark allowed by K-State since the 2014 squad surrendered 3.3 plays per game of 20 or more yards (43 plays in 13 games).
• K-State’s 48 total plays allowed of 20 or more yards last year tied for the 18th fewest in the nation last season and ranked second in the Big 12.
• Last week, the Cats just gave up two total plays of 20 or more yards (1 rush/1 pass).
FEW FIRST DOWNS
• The Wildcats also ranked highly in the nation last season in fewest first downs allowed, surrendering 17.9 per game to rank 20th in the nation.
• K-State allowed 20 or fewer first downs in 10 of its 13 games in 2021, including five contests with 15 or fewer.
• It was the second time under head coach Chris Klieman that K-State ranked in the top 20 in that category having placed 17th at 17.2 first downs allowed per game in 2019.
• Since the NCAA made first downs an official statistic in 2008, the Wildcats have only been under 20 first downs allowed per game on four occasions.
• South Dakota had just 13 fi rst downs last week.
PLAYING BEHIND THE LINE
• K-State tallied 90 tackles for loss last year to rank 10th in school history and 26th in the nation. It was the second most by a K-State team since 2004 (2006 squad had 91) and was the Wildcats’ best national ranking since placing 18th in 2006.
• The Wildcats return 56 of those 90 TFLs from last year (62.2%), a majority coming from the top two in the category last year in linebacker Daniel Green (16.0) and defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah (14.5).
• K-State tallied at least six tackles for loss in 10 games last year, which included each of the final six regular-season contests.
• The Wildcats tallied a season-high 10 TFLs against Baylor and TCU, while they had nine against West Virginia and Texas.
• K-State recorded 10.0 TFLs last week against South Dakota, including 2.0 from Anudike-Uzomah.
FINDING A NEW HOME
• K-State brought in eight transfers from either Division I or community college on the defensive side of the ball, including six that could see significant time early in the season.
• Transfers that are listed on the initial depth chart include safeties Drake Cheatum (Prairie View A&M), Josh Hayes (Virginia/North Dakota State) and Kobe Savage (Tyler JC), linebackers Gavin Forsha (Tyler JC) and Shawn Robinson (Missouri/TCU), and cornerback Jordan Wright (Fullerton College).
KING FELIX
• After making a name for himself in 2021, junior defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah is looking to improve off an All-American campaign in which he was also named the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year.
• A Preseason All-American by multiple outlets in addition to being named to the Nagurski Trophy, Bednarik Award and Lombardi Award watch lists, Anudike-Uzomah finished the 2021 season tied for the national lead in forced fumble per game (0.46), while he ranked 11th nationally and second among sophomores in sacks per game (0.85).
• Anudike-Uzomah has seven forced fumbles in his career, just two shy of tying the school record.
• A product of Kansas City, Missouri, Anudike-Uzomah is tied for the national lead among active player in career forced fumbles per game (0.37), while he is fifth in sacks per game (0.68).
• After carding a sack in the opener vs. South Dakota, Anudike-Uzomah is now 5.5 sacks shy of entering K-State’s career top-10 list.
GREEN MEANS GO
• Linebacker Daniel Green is back for his senior season after leading the team in both tackles (89) and tackles for loss (16.0) last year en route to All-Big 12 honors.
• He ranked 18th nationally and fourth in the Big 12 with 5.3 solo tackles per game last season. He also finished eighth in the Big 12 with 6.85 tackles per game, the highest ranking by a Wildcat since 2017.
• During the 2021 season, Green totaled at least nine tackles five times, including a season high 11 against Baylor.
• Green now has 163 career tackles, which is 87 shy of becoming the 27th player in school history with 250 career stops. He would be the first one to accomplish that feat since 2014.
• Of his 163 career tackles, 116 are solo stops as he is 53 shy of entering the school’s top-10 list.
OLD FACE, NEW PLACE
• Safety Josh Hayes is in his sixth year of college football and third school after transferring in the spring from Virginia.
• However, Hayes, a product of Lakeland, Florida, is reuniting with head coach Chris Klieman and defensive coordinator/ safeties coach Joe Klanderman in Manhattan after the trio were together at North Dakota State. Hayes played as a true freshman and sophomore in 2017 and 2018 under Klieman before he became the K-State head coach for the 2019 season.
• Hayes saw time in all 15 games in 2017, including his first-career start in NDSU’s national championship win over James Madison.
• He went on to play 37 more games with 24 more starts for the Bison before transferring to Virginia for the 2021 season, playing in three games before utilizing his redshirt and transferring to K-State.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
SCORING IN THE THIRD PHASE
• One of the main reasons the Wildcats have been a successful program the last three decades is a knack for momentum-swinging plays in the return game.
• Since 2005 (17-plus seasons), the Wildcats have a combined 59 kickoff – and punt-return touchdowns, 22 more than second-place Alabama (37) and 27 more than the next closest Big 12 team (Oklahoma State – 32).
• Of the 59 total returns, a nation-leading 31 are on kickoff returns. The next closest team is San Diego State with 19.
• With the Wildcats’ blocked punt-return touchdown last week against South Dakota, K-State has now tallied a punt-return score in every season since 2014, as the 10-year stretch is the longest in school history.
DEFENSE ON KICK RETURNS
• On the flipside, K-State has excelled in kickoff -return defense, as the Wildcats have gone 112-consecutive games and 358 kickoff returns defended without allowing a score. The last team to take one to paydirt on K-State was Louisiana in 2013.
• K-State’s 112-game streak is tied for sixth in the nation with New Mexico behind Florida State (235), Memphis (170), Akron (134), Virginia Tech (118) and UTEP (116).
• The Wildcats have tallied 14 kickoff -return scores since surrendering their last one.
KNOWLES WITH A KNACK
• Malik Knowles is the latest Wildcat with a knack for kickoff returns as he was a 2021 Second Team All-American by Phil Steele and a 2022 Preseason All-American by multiple outlets.
• Knowles was the 2021 First Team All-Big 12 kick returner, marking the 15th time in the 26-year history of the Big 12 that K-State had a First Team All-Big 12 returner. The next closest team is former Big 12 member Colorado with four.
• Knowles is tied for fourth in school history in both career and single-season kickoff return touchdowns, thanks to scores last year in back-to-back weeks at Oklahoma State and against Oklahoma.
• Knowles, who also had a 100-yard return in 2019 at Mississippi State, is tied for second nationally among active players with three career kickoff -return scores.
• Knowles currently ranks ranked fourth in school history in career kickoff -return average and touchdowns, while he is tied for second nationally among active players in touchdowns and ranks third in average.
ZENTNER BACK FOR SENIOR SEASON
• Another All-Big 12 performer returns at punter, as Ty Zentner is taking advantage of a second senior season in 2022 after averaging 43.5 yards per punt a year ago to tie for fifth in school history.
• His average would have ranked second in the Big 12 had he punted eight more times to reach the required minimum of attempts.
• Zentner’s career average of 42.39 would rank fourth in school history if he had four more kicks to qualify.
• Zentner was also the Wildcats’ primary kickoff man last year, totaling 36 touchbacks on his 67 kickoff s (53.7%), the most by a Wildcat since at least 2004.
• He got his season off to the right start in that discipline as he tallied fi ve touchbacks on his six kickoff s against South Dakota.
TAKING A STEP FORWARD
• After serving as the primary place kicker each of the final five regular-season contests last season, Chris Tennant looks to hold down the spot during his second season in Manhattan.
• A true freshman in 2021, Tennant connected on 5-of-8 field goals and all 16 extra-point attempts as he became K-State’s first true freshman to make a field goal since 2001 (Joe Rheem).
• One of those makes was a 51-yarder at Texas, which tied for the longest by a true freshman in school history (Jaime Rheem, 1996 vs. Nebraska) and tied for the seventh longest by a true freshman during the 2021 season.
Sat., Sep. 10 @ 3:00 pm CT
Iowa State Cyclones at Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa State Cyclones
Notes
THE LEAD
Iowa State heads East to Iowa City as it faces Iowa in the annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series showdown. Kickoff from Kinnick Stadium is set for 3 p.m. with the game being televised by the Big Ten Network. ISU hasn’t played at Kinnick Stadium since 2018 after the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the 2020 meeting.
KEY STORYLINES
Iowa State started the season with an impressive 42-10 win against Southeast Missouri on Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium … the Cyclones look to start 2-0 for the first time since 2012 … the Cyclones last win in Kinnick Stadium was in 2014.
Four Cyclones made their first career starts against SEMO, including QB Hunter Dekkers … Dekkers was nearly flawless, finishing 25-for-31 for 293 yards and four touchdowns … the four touchdown passes were the most-ever by a Cyclone QB in their first career start.
Dekkers and star wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson showed just how strong their connection is, hooking up for three first-half touchdowns … Hutchinson finished with eight catches for 128 yards and the three scores … he was the first Cyclone receiver to register three TD grabs in the same game since Quenton Bundrage did it against Iowa in 2013.
This marks the seventh season of the Matt Campbell era … his .558 winning percentage is the best by a Cyclone coach since the Big Six was formed in 1928 … he’s got 43 wins, behind only Dan McCarney (56), who coached and played at Iowa before coming to Iowa State.
Campbell is the second-longest tenured coach in the Big 12 Conference (Mike Gundy, OSU) … his seven-year tenure equals the fourth-longest in program history.
ISU has produced five consecutive winning seasons, matching the longest streak in school history (1923-1927).
LAST TIME OUT
Iowa State defeated Southeast Missouri, 42-10, in the season opener at Jack Trice Stadium … it was ISU’s biggest offensive outburst in an opener since 2017 (vs. UNI) and largest margin of victory (+32) in the first game since 2001 (45-0 vs. UNI).
Hunter Dekkers completed 81 percent of his passes and threw for 293 yards and four touchdowns in his first career start … the four passing TDs are the most by any ISU QB in his first career start and only Kyle Kempt (2017 vs Oklahoma) threw for more yards (dating back to 1999) … in fact, his four touchdown passes were the most by any Cyclone QB in a season opener.
Jirehl Brock rushed for 104 yards, including 99 in the second half, to become just the second Cyclone in the last 10 years to rush for 100 yards in a season opener (Breece Hall, 2020) … his total rushing yardage was the most for an ISU player on opening day since Shontrelle Johnson had 120 yards against Tulsa in 2012.
Xavier Hutchinson was the main recipient of Dekkers’ passing last Saturday … he was targeted 10 times and finished with eight receptions for 128 yards and three touchdowns … the three TD receptions were the most by a Cyclone since Quenton Bundrage against Iowa in 2013 … he’s just the sixth Cyclone receiver with three TD catches in a game since the turn of the century … the 128 receiving yards were the fourth-most in a season opener in ISU history … he’s one of four receivers nationally with three touchdowns in a game this season.
Redshirt junior DeShawn Hanika, who has had to bide his time behind a pair of NFL tight ends, got into the end zone for the first time on a nine-yard pass from Dekkers.
The Cyclone defensive unit allowed 320 yards of total offense and just one score on a drive that didn’t start on their half of the field … ISU had one takeaway as defensive lineman Tyler Onyedim caught a ball that was deflected at the line of scrimmage by LB Colby Reeder, stymying
an opening drive that had marched into the ISU red zone.
The Cyclones were 4-for-4 in the red zone, with a pair of rushing TDs and passing TDs.
Isaiah Lee blocked a SEMO FGA in the second quarter, ISU’s first since 2020 (Enyi Uwazurike).
Freshman Jace Gilbert made all six of his PATs … ISU did not attempt a FG.
Freshman Tyler Perkins’ first career punt went for 50 yards and he averaged 46.7 yards on three tries (one I20)
MAKING AN IMPACT
Iowa State had a number of players that were either new to the team or hadn’t seen much time because of who was in front of them last year that made an impact on Saturday.
Dekkers headlined the bunch after limited action his first two seasons, which included just 43 pass attempts … he now has seven career TD passes after his four TD showing.
True freshman RB Cartevious Norton was the first back off the bench for the Cyclones and had three carries for 21 yards before leaving the game due to injury.
Redshirt freshman Tyler Onyedim picked off a SEMO pass in the first quarter that thwarted an early drive.
Jace Gilbert made all six PATs, one of six true freshman nationally to knock in at least six PATs last weekend.
Delaware transfer Colby Reeder matched the team high with five tackles and also had three QB hurries and two pass breakups.
True freshman DB Jeremiah Cooper started his first collegiate game and finished with three tackles and a PBU … he was the first true freshman defensive player to start the season opener since Mike Rose in 2018
LB Myles Mendeszoon didn’t play last year for the Cyclones and got his redshirt season started with a five-tackle game.
DB Trevon Howard made four tackles as a true freshman.
TE DeShawn Hanika caught the first two passes of his career after playing mostly on special teams his first two seasons.
ISU VS. RANKED OPPONENTS
Iowa State is 10-12 vs. ranked opponents since 2017.
ISU head coach Matt Campbell is 12-20 vs. ranked opponents in his head coaching career, including a 10-16 mark with the Cyclones.
Campbell owns 37.0 pct. (10-of-27) of ISU’s all-time wins over rated opponents, 40.0 pct. (4-of-10) of ISU’s all-time wins over ranked foes on the road and 75.0 pct. (3-of4) of the school’s all-time victories against Top 6 rated teams.
Campbell is 4-4 vs. Top 10 opponents at ISU. The Cyclones were 8-98-2 vs. Top 10 opponents prior to his arrival.
CAMPBELL IS ISU’S GREATEST COACH
Head coach Matt Campbell, a three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year (2017, 2018, 2020) honoree, has turned Iowa State into a winner in his tenure.
Campbell has a 43-34 overall record for a .558 winning percentage, the best winning percentage by a Cyclone coach since the Big Six was formed (1928) and the second-most wins in school history.
Campbell began his ISU career with a 1-8 mark, but is 42-26 since.
21 of Campbell’s 34 losses at Iowa State have been one-score games.
Campbell is the only coach in school history to defeat every league team during their tenure and is 31-16 in regular-season conference games in the last 47 games.
He has defeated every Big 12 school on the road and at home, both program firsts.
Campbell’s 31 league victories rank first in school history among Cyclone coaches.
Campbell owns 31 of ISU’s 75 all-time wins vs. Big 12 teams (41.3 pct.).
ISU’s Big 12 win season average from 1996-2015 (2.2). ISU’s Big 12 win season average from 2016-present (5.2).
Campbell is 14-11 coaching the Cyclones as a ranked team. The 25 games coached as a ranked team are the most in school history.
First coach in school history to defeat Oklahoma and Texas in the same season (2020).
Led ISU to a first-place finish in the 2020 regular-season Big 12 standings at 8-1. It marked the first time in school history ISU ended the conference regular-season in sole possession of first place.
In Big 12 history (1996-2021), ISU has had only six winning conference seasons. Campbell has produced five of them (2017-21).
Posted two perfect home seasons vs. Big 12 competition (2020; 5-0; 2021; 4-0). ISU has had only four perfect home seasons vs. league competition in school history (1931, 2002).
Won four conference coach of the year awards since 2015: 2015 (MAC-Toledo), 2017, 2018, 2020 (Big 12-Iowa State).
DEFENSIVE NOTES
The Cyclone defense has improved dramatically since 2017 and it has continued to shine.
ISU has ranked among the Big 12’s top three in scoring defense since 2017.
The Cyclones have limited opponents to under 300 yards of total offense 20 times since 2017, including 12 vs. Big 12 teams.
ISU held SEMO to under 350 yards of total offense and has now held 12 of its last 14 opponents under that mark.
Since the start of the 2021 season, ISU has allowed just 105 points in the second half of games, an average of 7.5 points.
ISU ranked third in the Big 12 in sacks (33) last year, equaling the school record … the Cyclones were held without a sack
against SEMO.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
Iowa State was second nationally in red zone offense (95.9%) last season, converting on 47-of-49 trips, and got off to a good start this season, going 4-for-4 in the opener with four touchdowns.
Reached 400 yards of total offense in 13 of its last 18 games dating back to 2020.
Tallied the fourth-best scoring average (31.3) and the fifth-best total offensive average (424.5) in school history a year ago.
MCDONALD IV AN ELITE PASS RUSHER
Will McDonald IV was named first-team All-American by the FWAA and was an All-Big 12 first-team choice for the second-straight season in 2021.
2021 Big 12 Co-Defensive Lineman of the Year.
Iowa State’s career sack leader with 29.0, fifth-most in Big 12 history.
Led the Big 12 and ninth nationally in sacks per game (0.88) last year. His 11.5 sacks broke the single-season school record he set in 2020.
Has the second-most sacks in the NCAA the last two seasons with 22.0.
In his last 30 games (since Nov. 16 of 2019), McDonald has 27.0 sacks, tallying at least a 0.5 sack in 20 of them.
Tied the school record for forced fumbles in a season (5) in 2021, ranking second in the Big 12 and fifth nationally.
Has nine forced fumbles in his career, tying for second in school history.
Seven career games with 2.0 sacks or more.
Ranks third in career TFL (34.5) at ISU.
Ranks first among active FBS players in career sacks (29.0).
X GONNA GIVE IT TO YA
Senior WR Xavier Hutchinson is a two-time All-Big 12 first-team selection (2020, 2021).
Hutchinson has caught a pass in all 26 games of his Cyclone career, the fifth-best streak in school history.
Led the Big 12 in receptions (83) for the second consecutive season a year ago, breaking ISU’s season mark in the process.
Ranks 14th in receptions per game after his eight-catch game against SEMO.
Has seven 100-yard receiving efforts and three double-digit reception games in his 26-game Cyclone career.
His seven career 100-yard receiving games ranks sixth on ISU’s record list.
Most Receptions In NCAA FBS Since 2020
- Jordan Addison, Pittsburgh/USC 165
- Xavier Hutchinson, Iowa State 155
PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT SINCE 2017
Iowa State has registered school-records of five-straight winning seasons and five-straight bowl berths for the first time in school history (modern era, 1928-present).
Iowa State has finished above .500 in conference play in five-straight seasons for the first time in the modern era (1928-present). ISU has just six winning league seasons in the Big 12 era (2000, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021).
Iowa State has finished fourth or better in the Big 12 standings in each of the last five seasons.
Tallied 10 wins over AP Top 25 opponents since 2017. ISU has just 27 victories over AP Top 25 opponents in the 131 years of the program.
Recorded four victories over teams rated in the nation’s Top 10 since 2017.
Tallied nine victories since 2017 where ISU trailed or was tied in the fourth Q. Has 14 road victories since 2017.
ISU was 12-47 on the road from 2006-16, but is 14-13 since 2017.
Recorded four of ISU’s 10 all-time road wins over ranked opponents since 2017.
Iowa State has a victory over every opponent in the Big 12 since 2017, marking the first time in school history that an ISU head coach (Matt Campbell) has beaten every league team during their tenure.
ISU has beaten every Big 12 team at home and on the road since 2017.
Produced 11 All-Americans (Joel Lanning, David Montgomery- twice, Hakeem Butler, Brian Peavy, Charlie Kolar- three times, Breece Hall- twice, Mike Rose, JaQuan Bailey, Kene Nwangwu, Will McDonald IV, Andrew Mevis) since 2017. ISU had just three All-Americans from 1997-2016.
Has 29 Big 12 wins since 2017, the second-most in the league during that span.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Iowa State’s improvement since 2017 has produced plenty of wins at Jack Trice Stadium.
Since 2018, Iowa State is 22-5 at Jack Trice Stadium.
The Cyclones tied a school record for home wins in a season with six in 2018.
Iowa State has registered back-to-back perfect seasons at home vs. league opponents (2020: 5-0; 2021: 4-0).
ISU has only had four undefeated seasons at home vs. conference teams (1931, 2002, 2020, 2021).
Iowa State currently owns a school record for consecutive wins at home over Big 12 opponents with 11, the league’s best active streak.
It’s been over two years since Iowa State’s last loss at home vs. a Big 12 team (Oklahoma State, Oct. 26, 2019).
Iowa State has won 16 of its last 17 Big 12 games at Jack Trice Stadium.
BEATING THE BEST
Iowa State’s has seen sustained success against ranked teams since 2017.
Since 2017, Iowa State has 10 wins vs. Top 25 teams, four vs. Top 10 teams and four vs. Top 25 teams on the road.
ISU’s 10 victories over Top 25 opponents since 2017 ranks in the Top 20 nationally during that span.
Ten of ISU’s 27 all-time wins over ranked opponents have occurred since 2017.
ISU has 10 wins in school history over ranked teams on the road with four occurring since 2017 (Oklahoma, Memphis, Oklahoma State, Texas).
ISU owns just four wins over Top 6 opponents in school history with three of them occurring since 2017 (Oklahoma, TCU, West Virginia).
Four of Iowa State’s 12 all-time wins over Top 10 teams have occurred since 2017.
KEEPING IT CLOSE
With Matt Campbell at the helm, Iowa State has had a chance for victory every time it takes the field.
Since 2017, ISU has been defeated by over 14 points just twice (Notre Dame in 2019, Louisiana in 2020).
In 10 of ISU’s 24 losses since 2017, the Cyclones have led or were tied in the 4th quarter.
ISU has played in 31 one-score games since 2017 with a 14-17 record.
In the Campbell era (2016-present), ISU has played in 36 one-score games with a 15-21 record.
21 of Campbell’s 34 losses at Iowa State were one-score games.
ISU’s last six Big 12 losses were ones-core games and 13 of ISU’s 17 losses vs. Big 12 teams since 2017 were by
seven points or fewer.
ISU has played in 17 games decided by three points or less in the Matt Campbell era (2016-present), going 7-10 in those games.
The Cyclones have accumulated nine victories since 2017 where the game was tied or ISU trailed in the 4th quarter.
ROAD WARRIORS
From 2006-16, ISU was 12-47 on the road … since 2017, ISU has a 14-13 record in road games.
ISU has 11 road wins vs. conference opponents since 2017. ISU had four Big 12 road victories from 2012-16.
Four of ISU’s 10 all-time wins vs. ranked opponents on the road have occurred since 2017
INSIDE THE SERIES
Home: UI leads 21-8
Road: UI leads 25-14
Neutral: 0-0
Current Streak: 6 by UI
Longest ISU win streak: 5 (1998-2002)
Overtime: Tied 1-1
Campbell vs. UI: 0-5
Largest Iowa State
Winning Margin: 31 in 1978 (31-0)
ISU-IOWA NOTES
The Cyclones and Hawkeyes meet for the 69th time in series history and 40th time in Iowa City … ISU has five wins in Iowa City since 1998.
Outside of the 2020 season when the game wasn’t played due to COVID-19 scheduling, the two teams have met annually since 1977 after the series went dormant from 1935-76. The teams will play for the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Trophy.
Iowa leads the all-time football series vs. Iowa State, 46-22. In the last 23 years, Iowa has a 13-10 edge in the series.
Iowa won 15-straight games in the series from 1983-1997. The Cyclones ended the streak in 1998 and the series is slightly in favor of Iowa (13-10) since. Iowa has won six-straight games in the series, but the last four have been decided by a total of 24 points.
Iowa State’s last series win was in 2014 when Cole Netten kicked the game-winning FG with 0:02 seconds left for a 20-17 Cyclone win in Iowa
City.
ISU-IOWA NOTES
Cyclone backup QB Ashton Cook’s father, Marv, was an All-American at Iowa and played seven years in the NFL as a tight end, earning two Pro Bowl nods and a first-team All-Pro selection in 1991 with the New England Patriots.
Iowa State redshirt freshman Quincy Wiseman’s brother, Dominic, is a member of the Iowa football team.
Iowa State assistant director of player personnel Colby Kratch is the son of former Iowa OL Bob Kratch, who was a two-time All-Big Ten selection (1986 and 1988) and an eight-year NFL veteran.
Iowa hasn’t committed a turnover in the series since a fumble in the fourth quarter in 2015. Its last interception in the series occurred in 2014.
Last season, ISU’s defense held the Hawkeyes to 173 yards … the Hawkeyes scored 20 of their 27 points off turnovers.
Iowa State has defeated a ranked Iowa team one time in the series, beating No. 8 Iowa, 23-3, in Ames in 2005.
The two teams have met in September every season except in 2001 when the September 11 terrorist attacks forced the postponement and rescheduling of the game to November that season.
Iowa Hawkeyes
Notes
1st & 10
1 – The Hawkeyes have won six straight games in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series against Iowa State – the longest streak in the series since winning 15 consecutive games from 1983-97. The Hawkeyes are outscoring the Cyclones, 175-98, during the six games.
2 – Iowa’s seven points against South Dakota State came via a field goal and two second-half safeties. The Hawkeyes are the first Big Ten team to win a game without scoring a touchdown since Nebraska in 2018. Iowa’s last such win? The 6-4 victory at Penn State in 2004.
3 – Iowa had two safeties in the 7-3 win over the Jackrabbits. It was the first time since 2018 at Penn State that the Hawkeyes had two safeties in the same game. The Hawkeyes have three safeties over their last two regular season games (vs. South Dakota State, at Nebraska, 2021).
4 – Senior TE Sam LaPorta is three receptions shy of 100 for his Iowa career. LaPorta has 97 catches for 1,138 yards, which ranks 37th in program history.
5 – Iowa’s defense surrendered just 120 yards in the 7-3 win over South Dakota State. The 120 yards are the fewest in a season-opening game since 2004 (110 vs. Kent State), the fewest allowed by the Hawkeye defense since 2018 (115 vs. Maryland) and the fifth fewest all-time in the Ferentz era.
6 – LB Jack Campbell finished with 12 tackles to record his sixth career game with 10 or more tackles. Campbell also had 1.5 TFL, which included Iowa’s first safety that gave Iowa the 5-3 lead. Campbell has 10+ tackles in three of his last four games dating back to last season.
7 – P Tory Taylor had a career-high 10 punts for 479 yards against SD State with seven punts pinning the Jacks inside their own 20. He had six inside the 12 and two punts pinned SD State deep in its own territory and led to both Hawkeye safeties. The Australia native, who is the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week, currently ranks eighth in the NCAA with a 47.9 punting average.
8 – Really, punting is winning. The Hawkeyes have six wins since 2020 when punting eight or more times in a game. Eight other FBS teams have two wins when punting eight or more times.
9 – Iowa’s defense ranks in the top 12 nationally in six categories. The Hawkeyes are second in first-down defense (6), seventh in total defense (120), ninth in sacks (4) and rushing defense (33), 10th in scoring defense (3.0) and 12th in passing yards allowed (87.0). Iowa leads the Big Ten in fewest first downs allowed (6).
10 – Clean football… the Hawkeyes committed just two penalties for 15 yards in the season-opening win over South Dakota State. Iowa is second in the Big Ten and third nationally in fewest penalties through Week 1.
HAWKEYE HISTORY
Iowa has played 1,282 games since beginning football in 1889. Iowa’s overall record is 677-566-39 (.543). That includes a 421-224-16 (.647) record in home games, a 256-342-23 (.431) record in games away from Iowa City, a 348-385-25 (.476) mark in Big Ten games and a 305-189-15 (.612) record in Kinnick Stadium.
THE SERIES
Saturday’s game will mark the 69th meeting in the series and the first in Iowa City since 2018. Iowa holds a 46-22 advantage in the series that began with a 16-8 ISU win in 1894. Iowa has won six straight in the series — the longest streak since winning 15 in a row from 1983-97. The Hawkeyes have won the last two meetings in Iowa City; Iowa State’s last win was in Kinnick, winning 20-17 in 2014. Head coach Kirk Ferentz is 13-9 all-time against Iowa State, including winning six straight (and 10 of the last 13) over the Cyclones, dating back to the 2008 season.
The teams did not meet between 1935-1976, or 2020. The teams played 43 straight seasons from 1977-2019 before the Big Ten announced in 2020 that it would not play nonconference games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Iowa held a 29-14 advantage in the series from 1977-2019.
IOWA CORN CY-HAWK SERIES
The Cy-Hawk Series is in its 18th season in 2022-23, being sponsored for the 10th time by Iowa Corn. Iowa’s corn farmers are proud to sponsor the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series to celebrate our great state and the sports rivalry that unites us all. The Iowa Corn Growers Association and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board partner with Learfield on behalf of both Iowa State University and University of Iowa Athletics Departments for the title sponsorship of the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series.
The Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series tracks the head-to-head match-ups between the Cyclones and Hawkeyes with each victory earning points toward the overall series championship. The series awards two points (except football, which is worth three) to the winning school in each head-to-head match-up between the two institutions. Additionally, one point is awarded to an institution if the graduation rate of its student-athletes is greater than the national average as reported each fall by the NCAA. The 2022-23 Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series begins Thursday with women’s soccer and a Friday volleyball match in Ames.
CREATIVE SCORING
Senior LB Jack Campbell has found ways to put points on the scoreboard for the Iowa football team. In his Hawkeye career, Campbell has scored via a safety (vs. South Dakota State, 2022), interception return for a touchdown (vs. Illinois, 2021) and a fumble return for a touchdown (vs. Iowa State, 2021).
2 X 2
Iowa took the unconventional path to seven points via a field goal and two second-half safeties during the 7-3 victory over South Dakota State on Sept. 3. Following Tory Taylor’s punt that pinned the Jacks at the 1, Jack Campbell’s tackle for loss gave the Hawkeyes a 5-3 third-quarter lead. Taylor pinned SD State deep again in the fourth and Joe Evans’ sack accounted for Iowa’s final two points.
• It was the first time since 2018 at Penn State that the Hawkeyes had two safeties in the same game.
HOW ‘BOUT THE D
Iowa’s defense limited South Dakota State to 120 yards of total offense in the Hawkeyes’ 7-3 season-opening victory on Sept. 3. The 120 yards are the fewest allowed in a season opener since 2004 (110 vs. Kent State) and the fewest by the Hawkeye defense since 2018 (115 vs. Maryland.
• The 120 yards are the fifth fewest allowed during the Kirk Ferentz era.
• The Hawkeyes allowed just 33 yards on the ground, the fewest in 23 games, dating back to the 2019 Holiday Bowl victory over Southern California. Iowa gave up just 22 rushing yards to the Trojans.
• Iowa’s pass defense was nearly as good, allowing just 87 yards passing – the fewest since 2019 against Rutgers (a span of 34 games). The Hawkeyes limited the Scarlet Knights to 41 yards.
• In that same game against Rutgers, Iowa gave up just five first downs. The Hawkeyes surrendered six first downs against South Dakota State last Saturday.
• The Hawkeyes gave up just three points against the Jackrabbits – the fewest since shutting out Northwestern in 2019.
• Iowa’s defense surrendered just six first downs against South Dakota State, which ranks first in the Big Ten and second nationally heading into Week 2. The six first downs are tied for the third fewest allowed during the Kirk Ferentz era.
• The defensive unit also is seventh in total defense (120.0), ninth in sacks (4) and rushing defense (33.0), 10th in scoring defense (3.0) and 12th in passing yards allowed (87.0).
JACK ATTACK
Senior LB Jack Campbell finished with 12 tackles against South Dakota State on Sept. 3. It was his second straight and sixth career game with 10 or more tackles, tying him with Seth Benson for the most on the current roster. The Cedar Falls, Iowa, native also had 1.5 tackles for loss, one which came on Iowa’s third quarter safety that gave the Hawkeyes the 5-3 lead.
• Campbell is 11 tackles shy of reaching the 200-career tackle mark.
• Campbell’s six double digit tackle games: vs. Kent State (11), vs. Colorado State (18), vs. Minnesota (17), at Nebraska (16), vs. Kentucky (14) and South Dakota State (12).
UNCONVENTIONAL 7 WAS ENOUGH
• The Hawkeyes’ seven points are the fewest for a Big Ten team in a win since Iowa’s 6-4 win at Penn State in 2004.
• Iowa is the first Big Ten team to win a game without scoring a touchdown since Nebraska in 2018 (beat Michigan State, 9-6). The Hawkeyes’ last such win? The 6-4 win at Penn State in 2004.
FRESH FACES
Five true freshmen saw their first career action against South Dakota State on Sept. 3. They included DB T.J. Hall, RB Kaleb Johnson, DB Xavier Xwankpa, TE Addison Ostrenga and K Drew Stevens.
OH MY TORY
Junior Tory Taylor showed why he is one of the nation’s top punters in Iowa’s season-opening victory over South Dakota State. The Australia native punted a career-high 10 times for 479 yards, averaging 47.9 yards per attempt. Taylor had punts downed at the 1, 2, 6, 8, 8 and 12 yard lines and seven of his punts were inside the 20.
• Taylor currently is third in the Big Ten and eighth nationally with his 47.9 punting average and Iowa’s net punting average of 43.10 is 28th.
• Taylor was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week on Sept. 5 for his efforts. It is his second career weekly honor as he earned his first distinction last season following Iowa’s 27-17 win at No. 9 Iowa State.
FIRST TIMERS
• Senior Riley Moss made his debut as a kickoff returner against South Dakota State with two returns for 41 yards. His 20.5 average is third in the Big Ten and 30th nationally.
• Sophomore Arland Bruce VI fielded five Jackrabbit punts and returned them 17 yards (with a long of 9).
GETTING ARLAND THE ROCK
Sophomore WR Arland Bruce VI had a team-high 10 targets and finished with five receptions for a career-high 68 yards in Iowa’s 7-3 win over South Dakota State. The Olathe, Kan., native also had one rush for 11 yards and 17 punt return yards, giving him a team-best 96 all-purpose yards in the game.
P & P
The Hawkeyes return their top two quarterbacks from the 2021 Big Ten West Division-winning team in senior Spencer Petras and junior Alex Padilla. Petras started 11 games, completing 165-of-288 passes for 1,880 yards with 10 touchdowns, while Padilla went 55-of-112 for 636 yards and two touchdowns in three starts.
THE CALIFORNIA KID
• Spencer Petras owns a 14-6 record (.700) as Iowa’s starting quarterback, the ninth-best percentage by a starting quarterback in program history. Iowa has scored 24.2 points per game in Petras’ 20 starts.
• He started 17 straight games from the 2020 season through Week 9 of 2021 before missing the Nov. 13 game against Minnesota because of injury in 2021.
• Petras led Iowa to 12 consecutive victories from 2020-21, winning the final six games of 2020 and the first six games of 2021. He went 194-of-324 for 2,226 yards with 17 touchdown passes, four interceptions during the winning streak.
• The Hawkeyes averaged 31.8 points per game in 2020, Petras’ first year as the starting quarterback. It marked Iowa’s highest point per game total since 2002 (36.5). The Hawkeyes won their final six games in 2020, outscoring their opposition, 214-83.
• Petras matched his career high with three touchdown passes and set a career high with two rushing touchdowns Week 5 at Maryland. He became the first Iowa quarterback with multiple passing touchdowns and multiple rushing touchdowns in a game since Brad Banks at Minnesota in 2002.
THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE
Senior linebacker Jack Campbell returns as the anchor of the Iowa defense after earning second-team All-America honors by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Phil Steele in 2021. The Cedar Falls, Iowa, native led the country with 143 tackles, including 57 solo and 86 assists. The total ranks fifth in a single season in school history and were the most by a Hawkeye since Pat Angerer had 145 in 2009.
• Campbell was the first Hawkeye to record 100 tackles in a single season since Josey Jewell, who had 100+ tackles each year from 2015-17. He posted five double-digit tackle performances (11, 18, 17, 16, 14) in 2021. Campbell opened the 2022 season with 12 tackles and 1.5 TFL against South Dakota State.
• This season, Campbell is a preseason All-American by Athlon Sports, Phil Steele and The Sporting News. He has also been named to the Butkas Award, Nagurski, Bednarik and Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch Lists.
WHAT A TRIO…
The Hawkeye defense returns all three of its starting linebackers in Jack Campbell, Seth Benson and Jestin Jacobs. All three players are on the Butkus Award Watch List, making Iowa the only team in the nation to have three linebackers on the list.
• The trio combined for 301 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and four interceptions during the 2021 season. Campbell also scored two defensive touchdowns (fumble recovery at Iowa State; interception return TD vs. Illinois).
BALL HAWKS
• Iowa led the country with a school-record 25 interceptions in 2021. The Hawkeyes have 89 interception since 2017, more than any team in the country.
• Eleven Hawkeyes had at least one interception in 2021 — the most for the program since 1997 (14). Four players finished with at least three interceptions for the first time since 2008. Riley Moss and Jermari Harris had four interceptions apiece.
• Moss had two interceptions returned for a touchdown, both in Week 1 against Indiana. LB Jack Campbell returned an interception 32 yards for a touchdown against Illinois in Week 11.
• Iowa combined for 10 interceptions in consecutive games against Maryland and Penn State in 2021, which tied Miami (2001) for second most over a two-game span over the last 25 years. Mississippi State had 11 in 2002.
• Six different Hawkeyes intercepted a pass in Iowa’s 51-14 win at Maryland, tying a school record for most players with an interception in a single game (vs. Wisconsin in 1982). The six interceptions are the most in a game since Iowa had a school-record seven interceptions vs. Wisconsin in 1982.
• Iowa turned 31 turnovers into 92 points in 2021. The Hawkeyes’ defense scored 28 points (4 TDs and 2 safeties). Iowa’s special teams had two touchdowns (one kickoff return, one blocked punt return).
• Iowa has had at least one interception return for a touchdown in each of the last 14 seasons and 19 of the last 21.
A SPECIAL SPECIAL TEAMER
Melbourne, Austrailia, native Tory Taylor returns for his third season as Iowa’s punter after ranking fourth in the Big Ten, averaging 46.1 yards per punt in 2021. The two-time Ray Guy Award semifinalist led the Big Ten and ranked second nationally with 80 punts. He had 27 punts of 50 or more yards, including a career-long 69-yard punt at Iowa State in Week 2. Thirty-nine of his punts were downed inside the 20.
• Taylor is a preseason All-American by Athlon Sports and a Ray Guy Award Watch List honoree leading into the 2022 season.
• Last season, Iowa owned the field position battle in each of its 10 wins. The Hawkeyes averaged 20-plus yards better in field position three times (+20 vs. Penn State; +22 at Maryland; +22 at Iowa State).
• Taylor recorded three of the top nine single-game punting averages in the Ferentz era. Iowa’s Week 2 punting average of 51.1 ranked No. 3 all-time in the Ferentz era. Its Week 1 punting average of 49.5 ranked No. 7 and the 49.0 average Week 8 tied for ninth.
• Taylor was Big Ten Co-Special Teams Player of the Week following Iowa’s win at Iowa State. He averaged 51.1 yards on eight punts. Five of his punts were downed inside the 20, while Iowa State had just one punt return.
• In Iowa’s 23-20 win over No. 4 Penn State, Taylor punted nine times, dropping six inside the 20, five inside the 10 and three punts inside the five.
Sat., Sep. 10 @ 3:00 pm CT
Houston Cougars at Texas Tech Red Raiders
Houston Cougars
Notes
THE OPENING KICKOFF
• Houston and Texas Tech are meeting for the 34th time in the history of the programs. The Cougars lead the all-time series, which began in
1951, 18-14-1 but have dropped four straight (2010-present). Saturday marks the sixth contest between the teams in the last 14 seasons.
• Houston opened the season in style, snapping UTSA’s 10-game home win streak with a thrilling 37-35 three-overtime victory. The result marked the Cougars first win in three-or-more overtimes since defeating Memphis, 33-30, in three overtimes on the road on Oct. 21, 2000. Prior to last Saturday, the Cougars last played in three overtimes against Hawai’i in the Hawai’i Bowl on Dec. 25, 2003 (54-48 loss).
• Last Saturday’s win at UTSA marked Houston’s 12th-biggest comeback in school history. The Cougars trailed 21-7 with 14:55 remaining in the fourth quarter. It was the largest come-from-behind win since trailing 24-7 in the third quarter during a 42-37 win over Tulane on Oct. 8, 2020, inside TDECU Stadium.
• Houston entered the season nationally ranked for the first time since 2016. With the win in San Antonio last Saturday, the Cougars improved to 118-43-2 all-time when competing as an AP Top 25 team including wins in six of their last seven.
• Houston has outscored teams 147-52 in the first quarter and shut out opponents in the opening frame during 10 of its last 15 contests dating to the beginning of the 2021 season. In the first quarter of last Saturday’s season opener at UTSA, the Cougars held the Roadrunners without a first down, limiting their offense to 22 total yards.
• Houston is the preseason favorite to win The American Athletic Conference for the first time since 2016. The Cougars are in search of their second American Athletic Conference title and first since 2015. A season ago, the Cougars posted an 8-0 record in league play, marking just the second undefeated conference season in program history.
• The Cougars are coming off a 12-2 season, appearance in The American title game and victory in the Birmingham Bowl against Auburn. After losing to Texas Tech during Week 1 a season ago, the Cougars ran off 11 consecutive victories. Houston is looking to make some history in 2022. The Cougars have never won 10-plus games in consecutive years.
• Houston has won seven consecutive regular season road games. The win streak is the longest for the Cougars since running off nine straight between Nov. 14, 1987-Sept. 23, 1989. In 2021, the Cougars went undefeated in road regular season games for the fifth time in program history (2021, 2011, 1988, 1979, 1952).
• The Cougars shined in all three phases of the game in 2021. Houston led the nation in third down conversion percentage defense (.257) and was sixth in total defense (301.2). Its offense ranked 15th in scoring (35.9) and its special teams paced the country in blocked kicks (6) while ranking eighth in average punt return yardage (14.62).
• Houston returns 13 starters between its offense (7) and defense (6). The Cougars return 61.4% of receiving yards and 62% of tackles. Fourteen players, all returners, were named to Athlon Sports’ preseason 2022 American All-Conference Team including six First Teamers.
• Houston’s coaching staff remains almost entirely intact from 2021. Nine of Houston’s 10 assistant coaches return with the lone new face entering the season being Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs Coach Mike Jinks who brings 25-plus years of coaching experience, including 20 in the state of Texas, to Cullen Blvd. Jinks spent the last three seasons as USC’s running backs coach.
TEAM NOTES
TIES WITH TECH
While Houston has been competing against Texas Tech since 1951, the current class of Cougars is not short on ties with Texas Tech.
Three projected Houston starters transferred from Texas Tech: Running back Ta’Zhawn Henry, wide receiver KeSean Carter and cornerback Alex Hogan. In 2018, against Houston, Henry registered a career-high 111 rushing yards on 24 carries and four touchdowns, while adding a career-best seven receptions and 42 receiving yards. Carter finished tied for eighth in the Big 12 Conference in receiving touchdowns in 2020 and was named All-Big 12 honorable mention. Hogan appeared in 18 career games with the Red Raiders including three starts at cornerback in 2020.
Houston Head Coach Dana Holgorsen was a member of the coaching staff at Texas Tech from 2000-07, serving as the inside receivers coach (2000-04), before being elevated to co-offensive coordinator (2005) and offensive coordinator (2006-07).
Houston Associate Head Coach and Running Backs Coach Mike Jinks spent three seasons (2013-15) as running backs coach at Texas Tech, adding the associate head coach title in 2015.
Houston Running Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Brandon Jones joined Houston in Jan. 2019 after two seasons as offensive line coach at Texas Tech. Jones was an offensive assistant in 2007-08. The 2006 Texas Tech graduate started 22 games mainly at center including earning honorable mention All-Big 12 accolades as a junior.
LAST DANCE
The 2022 season will be Houston’s final in The American Athletic Conference before leaving for the Big 12 Conference. The Big 12 will be the seventh league in which Houston Athletics competes during its award-winning history.
The 2022 season marks the 10th year of competition in The American for the Cougars. Houston has reached the league’s title game twice in the nine-year span including winning the 2015 American title. The Cougars are 45-25 all-time in American competition.
Houston is joined alongside BYU, Cincinnati and UCF among Big 12 Conference newcomers for 2023. The four schools will compete against current Big 12 members Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas Tech and West Virginia.
INSIDE THE SCHEDULE
For the first time since 2007, Houston opens its schedule with two true road games (at UTSA; at Texas Tech). The Cougars began the 2007 season with visits to Oregon on Sept. 1 (48-27 loss) and Tulane on Sept. 15 (34-10 victory).
Houston’s American Athletic Conference slate features the same opponents as its 2021 schedule with the home sites reversed. The Cougars avoid matchups against Cincinnati and UCF but face several challenges including visits to Memphis (Oct. 7), Navy (Oct. 22), SMU (Nov. 5) and East Carolina (Nov. 19).
SINGLE DIGITS
Each season, Houston Football players vote to determine who will wear, or retain, single-digit jersey numbers. Outside of being a team captain, those who wear single digits garner the highest respect from their teammates.
New single-digit honorees for the 2022 season include No. 2 Gervarrius Owens, who previously wore No. 32; No. 6 Jayce Rogers, who previously wore No. 16; No. 8 KeSean Carter, who previously wore No. 20 and No. 9 Nelson Ceaser, who wore No. 96.
A VICTORY WOULD …
Improve Houston to 119-43-2 when competing as a ranked team.
Move Houston to 19-14-1 all-time against Texas Tech including a 9-7 mark in Lubbock.
Be Houston’s eighth consecutive regular season road win (Sept. 11, 2021 – present).
SACK AVE.
Cougars’ Head Coach Dana Holgorsen has declared “Sack Ave.” his favorite street in Houston.
The Cougars led The American and ranked 14th nationally with 3.14 sacks/game in 2021 while 17 different players registered a sack.
On Oct. 7, 2021, at Tulane, Houston notched eight sacks, its highest single-game sack total since posting 11 sacks in a 36-10 win over #3/3 Louisville inside TDECU Stadium on Nov. 17, 2016.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS VS. TEXAS TECH
Record: 18-14-1
In Houston: 10-5-1
In Lubbock: 8-7
In San Antonio: 0-2
Most points scored by Houston: 51 (1990)
Most points scored by Texas Tech: 63 (2018)
Largest margin of victory by Houston: 38 (1977)
Largest margin of victory by Texas Tech: 51 (1993)
SERIES HISTORY VS. TEXAS TECH
HOUSTON LEADS 18-14-1
Houston is 8-1-1 their L10 meetings against Texas Tech
OFFENSIVE OVERVIEW
Houston averaged 35.9 points per game in 2021 and has provided senior quarterback Clayton Tune with additional weapons in 2022. In the season opener, Tune connected with eight different receivers for 206 yards passing and three touchdowns while leading the Cougars with 51 yards rushing and a score. The Cougars went out and added four-star freshman wide receiver Matthew Golden, USC transfer wide receiver Joseph Manjack IV and West Virginia transfer Sam Brown among others. Tune’s top two targets in wide receiver Nathaniel Dell and tight end Christian Trahan also return. A season ago, Houston ranked 23rd nationally in passing offense (271.6).
After losing running back Alton McCaskill IV to a knee injury in the spring, Houston expects to rely heavily on a host of backs including senior Ta’Zhawn Henry. USC transfer Brandon Campbell and Stacy Sneed are also expected to see significant time, among others. Houston is not short on experience up front, led by left tackle Patrick Paul who started all 14 games a season ago. Jack Freeman, who appeared in 13 games on the line a season ago, has made the transition to center.
PLAYER PROFILES
QUARTERBACK
• Clayton Tune (Sr.) – Team captain and preseason All-American … was responsible for 28 of Houston’s 37 points in the season opener at UTSA … finished as an Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Semifinalist … set career highs and jumped up on program record books in numerous areas in 2021 … recorded single season career-highs in games played (14), completions (287), passing yards (3,550), passing touchdowns (30) and completion percentage (68.3) … finished second in The American in completions, passing yards and touchdowns.
RUNNING BACK
• Ta’Zhawn Henry (Sr.) – Rushed for 25 yards on eight carries last weekend at UTSA … appeared in 13 games as a running back in his first season at Houston in 2021 … finished second on the team in rushing yards setting a new career-high in the process with 524 yards … finished second on the team with seven rushing touchdowns … with the loss of Alton McCaskill IV for the season, Henry leads group as the most experienced.
• Brandon Campbell (R-Fr.) – Spent one season at USC before transferring to Houston … recorded 12 rushes for 53 rushing yards and one reception for 16 yards in three games for the Trojans.
TIGHT END
• Christian Trahan (Sr.) – Started in 11 games as the team’s every day tight end in 2021 … appeared in all 14 games, recording single-season career highs in receptions (37) and receiving yards (398) … finished second on the team in receptions (37) and fourth on the team in receiving yards (398) … recorded career-high six receptions in two games (vs. Texas Tech, ECU) … scored touchdowns in back-to-back games against Tulane and ECU.
WIDE RECEIVER
• KeSean Carter (Sr.) – Appeared in nine games as a wide receiver in first season at Houston in 2021 … set a new career high in receiving yards with 331 … set a single-game best in receptions with six against Tulane (Oct. 7) … caught his lone touchdown of the season against SMU (Oct. 30) … set a season-high with 123 receiving yards against South Florida (Nov. 6).
• Nathaniel Dell (Jr.) – Tremendous sophomore season earned him a spot on All-American Athletic Conference First Team … became one of the top receiving threats in college football … led the team in receptions (90), receiving yards (1,329), and receiving touchdowns (12) as well leading the entire American Athletic Conference … the 12 receiving touchdowns placed him eighth in the nation … posted six 100+ yard and four 150+ yard performances in 2021, including a career-high 165 receiving yards and three touchdowns against SMU (Oct. 30) … recorded career-high 10 receptions for 150 yards in Birmingham Bowl victory over Auburn.
• Matthew Golden (Fr.) – Four-star prospect by 247Sports, rated as No. 26 wide receiver in state of Texas and No. 155 overall player nationally … dual threat as wide receiver and kick returner … unanimous selection as the Texas District 15-6A Special Teams Player of the Year during junior season … a Texas District 15-6A first-team selection at both WR and KR as a sophomore.
• Joseph Manjack IV (So.) – His one-handed game-tying catch in the fourth quarter last weekend at UTSA was the No. 1 play on SportsCenter … spent one season at USC before transferring to Houston … recorded seven receptions for 67 yards including a 42-yard catch at Washington State in 2021.
• Samuel Brown (R-Fr.) – Spent two seasons at West Virginia before transferring to Houston … played in nine games over two seasons at West Virginia (10 receptions for 108 yards).
OFFENSIVE LINE
• Jack Freeman (Jr.) – Appeared in 13 games on the offensive line in 2021 … paved the way for Houston to rank fourth in The American in passing offense (271.4) and third in offensive efficiency (154.5).
• Tank Jenkins (Jr.) – Started all 14 games as team’s everyday right guard in 2021 … role increased after seeing no playing time in 2020 … played role in Houston ranking fourth in The American in passing offense (271.4).
• Cam’Ron Johnson (So.) – Appeared in 13 consecutive games on the offensive line, mostly at left guard in 2021 … made one defensive appearance in the Birmingham Bowl against Auburn, recording one solo tackle (Dec. 28).
• Patrick Paul (So.) – Started all 14 games at left tackle in 2021 … named to All-American Athletic Conference First Team … earned spot on Dave Campbell All-State First Team … paved the way for Houston to rank fourth in The American in passing offense (271.4) and third in offensive efficiency (154.5).
• Reuben Unije (Jr.) – Appeared in one game against Grambling (Sept. 18) in 2021 … has played nine games in two seasons including making the start at right tackle at UTSA … was a part of an offensive line that helped Houston rank fourth in the American in passing offense (265.8) and sixth in total offense (408.9) in 2020.
DEFENSIVE OVERVIEW
With Defensive Coordinator Doug Belk at the helm, Houston’s Third Ward Defense allowed 20.4 points per game and held opponents to 3.4 yards a rush alongside 45 sacks a season ago. The unit, which will look to reload following key losses of defensive lineman Logan Hall and cornerback Marcus Jones, among others, has heightened expectations heading into 2022.
Senior Gervarrius Owens, a first-team all-conference selection a season ago, and Donavan Mutin, who led the team in tackles a season ago, are back with sights set on an American title. The duo highlights a unit returning 62% of tackles and 82% of fumbles forced from 2021.
The Cougars defense also added immediate impact players in transfers Jamal Morris (Oklahoma) and Trimarcus Cheeks (Samford) who will contend for time at linebacker. Overall, Houston returns 19 lettermen defensively and six starters.
DEFENSIVE PROFILES
DEFENSIVE LINE
• Nelson Ceaser (So.) – Recorded a key 32-yard interception in the fourth quarter of the season opener at UTSA … appeared in 12 games on the defensive line in 2021, lining up at nose tackle … set single season career-highs in tackles (22), tackles for loss (3.5) and sacks (3) … recorded a career-high 5.0 tackles in the Birmingham Bowl against Auburn (Dec. 28) … finished fifth on the team in sacks with three.
• Latrell Bankston (Sr.) – Appeared in 10 games and started five on the defensive line in first season after transferring from Iowa State in 2021 … member of exclusive “Sack Ave.” defensive line group … finished the season fifth in sacks for the Cougars with four … recorded a career-high seven tackles on the road against Rice (Sept. 11) … opened the season with three multi-tackle games (Sept. 4-18) … recorded sacks in back-to-back games against Rice (Sept. 11) and Grambling (Sept. 18).
• Sedrick Williams (Jr.) – Appeared in two games along the defensive line in 2021 … recorded five tackles including half a sack against Texas Tech (Sept. 4) … appeared again in the season finale, recording 2.0 tackles in the Birmingham Bowl against Auburn (Dec. 28).
• Chidozie Nwankwo (So.) – Appeared in 11 games and made nine starts including each of the final eight games of 2021 … registered 22 tackles including 2.0 sacks … produced multiple tackles in four of final five games … logged season high four tackles on three occasions.
• D’Anthony Jones (Sr.) – Appeared in 12 games on the defensive line in 2021 … finished the season with career-highs in tackles (17), tackles for loss (2), sacks (7), forced fumbles (4) and fumbles recovered while finishing third in The American in sacks (7.0) … member of exclusive “Sack Ave.” defensive line group in 2021 … recorded and all-out defensive effort with two tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in a road victory against Tulane (Oct. 7) … recorded three tackles, and career-highs with two tackles-for-loss, two sacks, and one forced fumble against UConn (Nov. 27).
LINEBACKER
• Donavan Mutin (Sr.) – The team captain started in 13 games at linebacker in 2021 … named to the All-American Athletic Conference Second Team … led the team in total tackles with 77 … second on the team with three forced fumbles … had 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble against Grambling State (Sept. 18) … set a single game career-high for forced fumbles with two in addition to a season-high nine tackles against East Carolina (Oct. 23).
• Malik Robinson (Sr.) – Appeared in 14 games as a linebacker in 2021 … collected 0.5 sacks and three tackles against Texas Tech (Sept. 4) .. grabbed his lone fumble recovery and five tackles against Navy (Sept. 25) … matched his season-high in tackles with six tackles in which five of them were solo against Memphis (Nov. 19).
• Mannie Nunnery (So.) – Appeared in 13 games emerging as a key special teams contributor … blocked two punts and blocked three kicks to earn the National Special Teams Player of the Year Award, presented annually to top non-specialist … after a Week 2 performance that saw him record six tackles and block two punts against Rice he was named The American Special Teams Player of the Week (Sept. 11).
• Trimarcus Cheeks (Jr.) – Spent two seasons at Samford before transferring to Houston … in 2021, saw action in six games, starting five contests at linebacker … finished second on the team with 48 tackles, including 23 solo stops … also tallied 5.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks … contributed one interception, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
DEFENSIVE BACK
• Jayce Rogers (Sr.) – Appeared in all 14 games at cornerback including making 10 starts in 2021 … set new single-season career highs in tackles (21) and recorded his first fumble forced and recovered … against Grambling he recovered a fumble in addition to making two tackles (Sept. 18) … for the first time in his career he forced a fumble against East Carolina (Oct. 23) … made a season-high six tackles including one for loss against SMU (Oct. 30) … in The American Championship against Cincinnati made a tackle for loss (Dec. 4).
• Alex Hogan (Jr.) – Appeared in all 14 games in 2021 … scored the first touchdown of career on a 91-yard interception return against Rice (Sept. 11) … finished season with 27 tackles, two interceptions and eight passes broken up.
• Gervarrius Owens (Sr.) – Appeared in all 14 games of the season at defensive back, started 13 games in 2021 … named to All-American Athletic Conference First Team and Dave Campbell All-State First Team … finished fifth on the team in total tackles (52) … finished tied for second on the team in interceptions (2), including a 45-yard pick six against Tulsa (Oct. 1) … finished the season with seven or more tackles in each of the final three games against Uconn, Cincinnati and Auburn … recorded back-toback games with five tackles against Tulane (Oct. 7) and East Carolina (Oct. 23).
• Hasaan Hypolite (Jr.) – Team captain who appeared in 12 games at safety in 2021 … set new single-season career highs in tackles (44.0) and tackles for loss (3.0) … recorded his lone interception of the season to go along with four tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss against Rice (Sept. 11) … had season-high five solo tackles against East Carolina (Oct. 23) … put up his only pass breakup of the season to go along with five tackles against Memphis (Nov. 19) … had his season-high tackles for loss with 1.0 against UConn (Nov. 27).
• Art Green (Sr.) – Appeared in all 14 games as a defensive back in 2021 … grabbed his first career interception and broke up a pass against Rice (Sept. 11) … set his season high in tackles with four against Tulsa (Oct. 1) … finished season with 19 tackles, one interception and three passes broken up.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
Houston arguably housed the nation’s top special team’s unit a season ago. The Cougars led the nation in blocked kicks (6). Marcus Jones was the only player nationally with multiple punt return touchdowns and multiple kick return touchdowns while Dalton Witherspoon capped his historic career by tacking on 16 field goals while connecting on 59 of 60 extra points and punter Laine Wilkins averaged 41.8 yards per punt including 13 of 50-plus yards. The Cougars will be in search of a new threat in the return game. Wide receiver Nathaniel Dell contributed 201 kick return yards on 13 attempts and Ta’Zhawn Henry added 111 yards on 13 attempts, but no returning Cougar returned more than one punt.
PLACEKICKER
• Bubba Baxa (Sr.) – Appeared in 14 games as a kickoff specialist in 2021 … recorded 77 kickoffs for 4,790 yards and posted 44 touchbacks in 77 attempts … made 16 of 24 field goals and 63 of 66 extra points at Miami (2018-19).
PUNTER
• Laine Wilkins (So.) – Appeared in all 14 games as the team’s punter in 2021 … named an All-American Athletic Conference Honorable Mention … had an average punt yardage of 41.8 and 13 punts of 50-plus yards.
LONG SNAPPER
• Gavin Gately (Jr.) – Appeared in all 14 games for the Cougars as the team’s primary long snapper in 2021 … has played 22 games over three seasons.
KICK RETURN
• Nathaniel Dell (Jr.) – Appeared in 14 games in 2021, returning 13 kicks back for 201 yards … has returned 18 kickoffs for 330 yards including the 2022 season.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Notes
FUTURE BIG 12 FOES TO MEET SATURDAY
Texas Tech and Houston will meet for the 34th time and the final time as non-conference opponents Saturday afternoon at Jones AT&T Stadium as
the Cougars are set to join the Big 12 Conference prior to the 2023 season.
Texas Tech has won four-straight in the series and nine of the last 10 meetings, including a come-from-behind 38-21 victory a year ago to start the 2021 campaign at the Texas Kickoff in NRG Stadium. The Red Raiders rallied behind four takeaways and 134 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground from Tahj Brooks to score 31-unanswered points to erase a 21-7 halftime deficit in the win.
MCGUIRE ERA KICKS OFF WITH A BANG
There might not have been a more ideal start to the Joey McGuire era than Texas Tech’s 63-10 rout over Murray State last weekend that marked the largest margin of victory for a head coach making his debut in school history. Texas Tech’s 63 points were also easily the most for a debuting head coach in program history.
Texas Tech utilized 71 players in the rout, giving McGuire the opportunity to utilize many of his younger developmental athletes on both sides of the ball in the second half. The win matched the largest margin of victory all-time for Texas Tech in a season opener.
DEEP QB ROOM PROVES TRUE IN OPENER
Joey McGuire said prior to the season he believed he had the deepest quarterback room in the country. The opener versus Murray State might have further proved that notion as the trio of Tyler Shough, Donovan Smith and Behren Morton combined to throw for 472 yards and six touchdowns in the rout.
Dating back to the start of its spread passing attack in 2000, Texas Tech has never had three different quarterbacks throw a touchdown in the
same game. It marked the most passing touchdowns for the Red Raiders in a game since totaling the same amount versus Arizona State in 2017.
0 – Number of first downs allowed by the Texas Tech defense during the second half of its win over Murray State. The Red Raiders currently rank in the top30 nationally for both scoring defense and total defense.
6 – Number of consecutive offensive scoring drives that resulted in touchdowns after Donovan Smith entered the game at the start of the second quarter against Murray State.
12 – Number of offensive plays that went at least 20 or more yards in Texas Tech’s season-opening win over Murray State. The Red Raiders enter this weekend tied for the most explosive plays per game nationally.
TEAM NOTEBOOK
RED RAIDERS LOOKING FOR FIFTH-STRAIGHT WIN OVER COUGARS
Texas Tech and Houston will meet for the 34th time in program history Saturday as the Cougars lead the all-time series with an 18- 14-1 advantage. The Red Raiders enter this weekend having won nine of the last 10 games versus the Cougars, including each of the past four meetings. A win over Houston on Saturday would match the longest winning streak for Texas Tech all-time in the series.
This will be the sixth meeting between the Red Raiders and Cougars since the Southwest Conference disbanded following the 1995 season. Texas Tech is 4-1 in those games with wins in 2010 at home (35-20), in 2017 at Houston (27-24), in 2018 at home (63-49) and in 2021 in the Texas Kickoff at NRG Stadium (38-21).
This is the final contest in a four-game contract between Texas Tech and Houston that started with the 2017 season. The two schools will meet more regularly in years to come as the Cougars will become Big 12 Conference members starting with the 2023 season.
TEXAS TECH, HOUSTON CONNECTIONS
There will be several noticeable ties between the two schools this weekend, none greater probably than Houston head coach Dana Holgorsen, who was the inside receivers coach for the Red Raiders from 2000-04 and then co-offensive coordinator from 2005-07. Holgorsen departed the Texas Tech coaching staff prior to the 2008 season to take the offensive coordinator position at Houston. This will be the ninth time the Red Raiders have faced Holgorsen as the head coach on the opposing sideline as Texas Tech is 3-5 in those games between his time at Houston and West Virginia.
Texas Tech offensive line coach Stephen Hamby is more than familiar with Holgorsen as he was an offensive lineman with the Red Raiders during the final three years of Holgorsen’s tenure. Their time together was capped by a memorable come-from-behind victory in 2007 Gator Bowl against Virginia. Texas Tech Associate A.D. for football administration Antonio Huffman was also a standout on the other side of the ball during Holgorsen’s tenure as a three-year starter in the secondary from 2003-06.
Holgorsen also has another Red Raider great on his staff in co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Brandon Jones, who starred at Texas Tech from 2003-06 before beginning his coaching career as an offensive assistant from 2007-08. He returned to Texas Tech as the offensive line coach from 2017-18 before moving to Houston where he is in his fourth season overall.
The Houston staff has another former Red Raider one-time assistant in assistant head coach and running backs coach Mike Jinks, who served in a similar role at Texas Tech from 2013-15 under Kliff Kingsbury. Jinks, who was Texas Tech’s associate head coach during his final season, departed the Red Raiders in 2016 to accept the head coaching position at Bowling Green. Jinks was the running backs coach at USC last season where he worked alongside current Texas Tech outside linebackers coach C.J. Ah You, who was a defensive quality control assistant for the Trojans.
Texas Tech, likewise, has a University of Houston alumnus on its staff in associate head coach Kenny Perry, who was a four-year letter-winner for the Cougars from 1988-91. Perry was a cornerback his first two seasons at Houston before moving to safety for his final two years. He also served as a graduate assistant for his alma mater from 1992-94, working with the special teams and defensive backs.
TEXAS TECH AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
The Red Raiders will be looking to knock off a top-25 opponent for the first time since the 2019 season Saturday against No. 25 Houston. Texas Tech’s last win over a top-25 team came early in the 2019 campaign when the Red Raiders surprised No. 21 Oklahoma State with a 45-35 victory inside Jones AT&T Stadium. Houston was ranked 25th in the preseason Associated Press and are receiving votes (28th-most) in the AFCA coaches’ poll.
With the Cougars in the national rankings, it will mark the first time Texas Tech has faced a top-25 foe in non-conference play since falling at No. 17 Houston, 29- 28, early in the 2009 season (bowls not included). A victory over the Cougars would mark Texas Tech’s first over a ranked non-conference opponent since defeating No. 20 Arizona, 24-14, at home to start the 1989 season. Texas Tech has lost 13-consecutive regular-season games against ranked non-conference opponents since the Arizona win in 1989.
This will be the first time Texas Tech has hosted a ranked non-conference opponent inside Jones AT&T Stadium since 2002 when a Philip Rivers-led N.C. State program edged the Red Raiders, 51-48, in overtime. N.C. State entered that game ranked at No. 16 nationally in the polls.
For Joey McGuire, he is looking to become only the second head coach in program history to defeat a top-25 team in his first game against a ranked opponent. Kliff Kingsbury is the only other head coach to do so after edging No. 24 TCU, 20-10, in what was only the third game of his tenure in 2013.
MCGUIRE VICTORIOUS IN DEBUT
Texas Tech head coaches are now 11-5-1 when making their debut on the Red Raider sideline after the Joey McGuire era kicked off with a 63-10 rout last weekend. He is the fifth-consecutive head coach to win his debut game leading the Red Raiders, joining the likes of Matt Wells, Kliff Kingsbury, Tommy Tuberville and Mike Leach. This century, Texas Tech head coaches are now 5-0 in their respective debuts.
The win was easily the most dominant one for a debuting head coach in school history as the Red Raiders routed Murray State by a 53-point margin. It marked the largest margin of victory all-time by a debuting head coach, topping the previous mark of 39 points that was set by DeWitt Weaver in 1951 in a 46-7 victory over West Texas State.
McGuire is one of 13 power-five head coaches making their respective debuts for their programs. Along with McGuire, that list includes: Mike Elko (Duke), Billy Napier (Florida), Brian Kelly (LSU), Mario Cristobal (Miami), Marcus Freeman (Notre Dame), Brent Venables (Oklahoma), Dan Lanning (Oregon), Lincoln Riley (USC), Sonny Dykes (TCU), Tony Elliot (Virginia), Brent Pry (Virginia Tech), Kalen DeBoer (Washington) and Jake Dickert (Washington State).
HOUSTON STAT NOTABLES
Adrian Frye, a Houston native, is the only current Red Raider who has faced Houston multiple times in his respective career as he saw action in Texas Tech’s wins over the Cougars in 2018 and 2021. Frye has three career tackles versus Houston, including one for a loss, as well as an interception, which came in the 2021 victory. SaRodorick Thompson, meanwhile, faced Houston in 2018, carrying four times for one yard as a true freshman, while catching a pass for 12 yards as well. He was forced to miss the 2021 meeting due to a preseason injury.
Tahj Brooks hit the 100-yard mark for the first time in his career in last year’s meeting against Houston as the then-sophomore carried 15 times for 134 yards and a pair of touchdowns. That total remains Brooks’ career high as he reached the 100-yard mark two more times last season against Stephen F. Austin (103) and in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl win versus Mississippi State (107).
Texas Tech will be looking to repeat its success in forcing takeaways in previous meetings against Houston as the Red Raiders have caused at least three turnovers in three of the last four meetings. The Red Raiders picked off Houston quarterback Clayton Tune four times a year ago, two of which were from returners in Reggie Pearson Jr. and Adrian Frye.
The Red Raiders also had success reaching Tune in the backfield a year ago with a 2021 season-high 11.0 tackles for loss, and 4.0 sacks, including ones from returners Jaylon Hutchings, Tony Bradford Jr. and Tyree Wilson. Texas Tech has seven returning Red Raiders on its current roster that recorded at least a share of a TFL versus Houston in that game.
NON-CON SUCCESS FOR THE RED RAIDERS
Texas Tech enters this weekend having won each of its last 15 non-conference games at home and 40 of its last 41 contests dating back to the 2002 season. The Red Raiders are an impressive 47-2 overall in non-conference home games since moving to a spread offense in 2000.
Texas Tech’s success against non-conference opponents from either the FCS level or a Group of Five conference is even more impressive as the Red Raiders have won each of their last 31 regular-season contests at home or on the road against non-power five members.
In fact, Texas Tech has not dropped a non-conference game against a Group of Five opponent since falling at No. 17 Houston, 29-28, early in the 2009 season. In addition, Tech has not lost to an unranked, Group of Five opponent since New Mexico surprised the Red Raiders, 27-24, in 2004.
THE LAST MEETING
TEXAS TECH 38, HOUSTON 21
Date: Sept. 4, 2021
Location: Houston, Texas | Attendance: 43,478
Recap: Texas Tech erased a 21-7 halftime deficit with 31 unanswered points in the second half to open the 2021 season. Tahj Brooks found the end zone twice as part of a breakout game on the ground where he finished with 134 rushing yards for the first 100-yard performance of his career. The Red Raider defense, meanwhile, forced four Houston turnovers en route to tossing its first second-half shutout since topping No. 15 Oklahoma State in 2018.
RUSHING: Texas Tech-Brooks, Tahj 15-134; Price, Myles 2-8; White, Xavier 4-4; Geiger, Kaylon 1-1; Shough, Tyler 6-minus 2. Houston-Car, Mulbah 13-37; Tune, Clayton 13-28; Dell, Nathaniel 1-5; McCaskill, Alton 4-5; Jones, Marcus 2-4; Henry, Ta’Zhawn 2-minus
2.
PASSING: Texas Tech-Shough, Tyler 17-24-0-231. Houston-Tune,- Clayton 27-38-4-174.
RECEIVING: Texas Tech-Ezukanma, Erik 7-179; Koontz, Travis 4-28;
Geiger, Kaylon 3-11; Cleveland, Trey 1-6; Rigdon, Dalton 1-4; White,
Xavier 1-3. Houston-Dell,Nathaniel 7-80; Trahan,Christia 6-42;
Henry,Ta’Zhawn 4-24; Jones,Marcus 3-0; Car,Mulbah 2-7; Carter,KeSean 1-9; Green,Seth 1-9; Erwin,Jaylen 1-5; McCaskill,Alton
1-0; Herslow,Jake 1-minus 2.
Sat., Sep. 10 @ 6:00 pm ET
Kansas Jayhawks at West Virginia Mountaineers
Kansas Jayhawks
Notes
KANSAS TRAVELS TO WEST VIRGINIA FOR BIG 12 OPENER
Fresh off a 56-10 win over Tennessee Tech in the season opener Sept. 2, Coach Lance Leipold and the Kansas Jayhawks will travel to Morgantown,
West Virginia to tangle with the Mountaineers in both teams’ conference opener. Kansas was efficient and dominant in its season opener against Tennessee Tech. The 56 points scored by the Jayhawks were the most in a season opener since 1912 and the most at home since scoring 76 against Nebraska in 2007. Defensively, Kansas recorded five sacks – its most in a season opener since 2004 – and held Tennessee Tech to 4 of 17 on third downs. The Jayhawks didn’t punt in the win, while forcing seven punts from the Golden Eagles. Kansas now turns its attention to West Virginia. The Mountaineers topped Kansas in a tight 34-28 affair in Lawrence to end the 2021 season last November. The matchup will be a rare back-to-back conference matchup for the two schools.
JAYHAWK QUICK HITS
• It was a complete performance for the Jayhawks as Kansas posted 502 yards of total offense, while allowing just 190 yards of total defense. The last time Kansas posted more than 500 yards of total offense, while allowing less than 200 came on Sept. 8, 2007 against Southeastern Louisiana.
• Not only did the Kansas offense gain 502 yards, the unit did it on just 49 plays. The 10.2 yards per play were the best by a Jayhawk team since at least 1995. Since 1996, the previous high for yards per play by a Kansas team was 8.6, which came on Oct. 11, 2003 at Colorado.
• Kansas was one of two teams in the nation – Air Force being the other – to average more than 10 yards per play during the opening weekend of college football. Air Force gained 691 yards on 68 plays.
• The Jayhawks had just three incompletions in the game, meaning Kansas averaged 10.9 yards per touch against Tennessee Tech. The 10.9 yards per touch were the best by any team in the nation in Week 1. Texas Tech was second at 10.8.
• The Kansas defense held Tennessee Tech to 97 passing yards and 190 total yards of offense. The last time the Jayhawk defense kept an opponent under 100 yards of passing and under 200 yards of total offense came on Sept. 4, 2010 against North Dakota State.
• Tennessee Tech rushed for 93 yards on 43 carries. The 2.2 yards per carry mark the fewest allowed by a Kansas defense since Sept. 12, 2009 against UTEP.
• Defensive end Lonnie Phelps, who transferred to Kansas in December from Miami (OH), led the defense with seven tackles, four tackles-for-loss and three sacks. His three sacks were the most by a Jayhawk since Cameron Rosser had three against TCU in 2016.
• Offensively, Devin Neal rushed for his fourth-career 100-yard game, needing just four carries to do so. He finished with 108 yards and two
touchdowns on four totes. Neal is the first player nationally to have 105+ yards and two touchdowns on four or less carries since Kendrick Foster of Illinois rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns on four carries against Murray State on Sept. 3, 2016.
• Kansas scored six rushing touchdowns in the win over Tennessee Tech with five different Jayhawks – Devin Neal, Daniel Hishaw, Sevion Morrison, Jalon Daniels and Jason Bean – all reaching the end zone. It’s the first time since at least 1996 the Jayhawks had five or more players with a rushing touchdown.
A KU WIN WOULD …
• Move Kansas to 592-667-58 all-time, including 4-10 under head coach Lance Leipold. Leipold’s career record would improve to 150-49.
• Bring the all-time series to 10-2 in favor of West Virginia, including Kansas’ first win in Morgantown.
• Be Kansas’ first win over West Virginia since Nov. 16, 2013, when KU defeated the Mountaineers, 31-19, in Lawrence.
• Make Kansas 2-0 for the first time since 2011.
• Be Kansas’ first win in a Big 12 opener since 2009, when Kansas defeated Iowa State at home, 41-36. It would be Kansas’ first win in a Big 12 conference opener on the road since 2008 (at Iowa State).
• Make Kansas 4-4-1 in games played on September 10 all-time.
GAME NOTES
SKY’S THE LIMIT
• Returning nine offensive starters, the Jayhawks opened with a bang against Tennessee Tech, continuing to show offensive progress. In 2021, the Kansas offense took great strides under offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki as outlined below.
• That progress continued Friday against Tennessee Tech in a big way. The Jayhawks started four returning offensive linemen, along with quarterback Jalon Daniels, running back Devin Neal, wide receiver Lawrence Arnold and tight end Mason Fairchild.
• Daniels completed 15 of 18 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for a touchdown and adding 29 rushing yards. Neal scored twice, while Fairchild also reached the end zone. Arnold led all receivers in the game with four catches for 56 yards.
THE DANIELS DEBUT
• After a brilliantly strong finish to the 2021 season, quarterback Jalon Daniels picked up right where he left off in Friday’s season opener.
• Daniels started on fire, completing 14 of 15 passes in the first half for 182 yards and a touchdown. He hit Quentin Skinner on a 56-yard deep ball in the first quarter that established a new career long completion for the quarterback from Lawndale, California.
• Daniels finished with 189 yards on 15 of 18 passing, after exiting in the second half to get Jason Bean into the game.
LOVIN’ LONNIE
• Defensive end Lonnie Phelps transferred to Kansas in December after totaling 13.5 tackles-for-loss and 9.5 sacks for Miami (OH) in 2021. Those numbers netted him a Second Team All-MAC selection.
• He didn’t waste anytime getting to work for the Jayhawks in the opener. After a tackle-for-loss in the first quarter, he picked up the first sack of his season in the second quarter.
• He totaled two more sacks in the second half to finish with three sacks and four tackles-for-loss to go with a team-leading seven total tackles.
• Phelps wasn’t the only defensive end to wreak havoc on Friday. Jereme Robinson, finished with 1.5 tackles-for-loss and a half of a sack, as did fellow end Hayden Hatcher. Robinson also blocked a field goal attempt that led to a touchdown return for the Jayhawks.
THE STABLE
• Kansas showed off its impressive depth at running back in the opener against Tennessee Tech. Not only did the Jayhawks start three running backs in Devin Neal, Torry Locklin and Ky Thomas, Kansas spread the love to its running backs all game.
• Neal led the team with 108 yards and two touchdowns on four carries, which included an 80-yard touchdown run. He also scored on a 19-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
• Later in the first quarter, Daniel Hishaw, who missed the entire 2021 season with an injury, after a strong debut in 2020, scored on his first touch in nearly two years when he reached the end zone on a nine-yard carry. Hishaw finished with 56 yards and that touchdown on five carries.
• Sevion Morrison, a transfer from Nebraska, also reached the end zone. In his Jayhawk debut, Morrison rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown on eight carries with a long rush of 30 yards.
• Minnesota transfer Ky Thomas, a Topeka High School product, made his Jayhawk debut and finished with 15 yards on seven carries.
• All total, Kansas rushed for more than nine yards per carry, going for 297 rushing yards on 30 carries with quarterbacks Jalon Daniels and Jason Bean getting in on the action as well.
• Locklin and Hishaw are both returning from injuries that either eliminated or shortened their 2021 season. Locklin, who had one carry for three yards Friday, rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns last season, before suffering a season-ending injury against Kansas State. His best game of the season came at Duke, where he rushed for 47 yards and a touchdown on seven carries and also caught a 20-yard touchdown pass.
• Morrison, who made a splash Friday, rushed 30 times last season for the Huskers, totaling 116 yards and three touchdowns, before opting to transfer to Kansas. He had a pair of scores against Fordham and also reached the endzone against Northwestern.
• A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Morrison was a four-star recruit out of Eddison High School, where he set the school rushing yards record, previously held by Spencer Tillman.
HE’S BAAAAAAAAACK
• Safety Kenny Logan Jr., is settling in for his fourth season with the Jayhawks and brings as accomplished of a resume as any safety in the Big 12 Conference.
• An All-Big 12 Second-Team pick last season, Logan led the conference with 113 tackles, which also led all safeties nationally. The St. Augustine, Florida native had 79 solo stops, which also led the Big 12 and ranked third nationally among all players.
• In his season debut against Tennessee Tech, Logan didn’t have to be as involved as he was last year and finished with four solo tackles. He had one kickoff return for 38 yards, that he nearly broke for more.
• Last year, Logan proved how valuable and diverse he can be. He was the only player in the country to have at least 113 tackles, six pass breakups and multiple forced fumbles on the season.
• Like several of his teammates, Logan finished the 2021 season strong, creating momentum for his 2022 campaign.
• The safety had double-digit tackles in each of the last three games of the season, stringing together the first three-game streak of his career.
• He made plays all over the field in those game, collecting three of his four tackles-for-loss on the season in the final two games of the season. He had two tackles-for-loss at TCU and then another one in the season finale against West Virginia.
• Against TCU in the second-to-last game of the season, Logan became the first Kansas defensive back since Chris Harris Jr., in 2009 to register 15 tackles and two tackles-for-loss in the same contest.
• Logan is also a threat every time he touches the ball on a kick return. He averaged 27.9 yards per return last year, which ranked 13th in the country and third in the Big 12 Conference.
REAL DEAL DEVIN NEAL
• After a true freshman season that saw Devin Neal rush for 707 yards on 158 carries – an average of 4.5 yards per carry – the Lawrence native is back, eager to improve on his impressive rookie season.
• He did just that in the season opener with his 108-yard effort and two touchdowns on just four carries.
• Neal posted six games last year where he received 15 or more carries. He posted three 100-yard games and scored the first touchdown of his career in the team’s first road test of the season at Coastal Carolina.
• Neal finished the season with eight rushing touchdowns, marking the most by a Kansas freshman since James Sims in 2010. His career total is up to 10 after the two touchdowns Friday.
• The running back also became the first Kansas player since at least 2000 to have three rushing touchdowns and a receiving touchdown in a game when he did that at Texas in a November win.
• Perhaps the most impressive and encouraging sign for Neal last year was his success against big-time opponents. The freshman rushed for 143 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries against Texas. Against No. 3 Oklahoma, he went for 100 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. He also rushed for 83 yards on 15 carries at Iowa State.
REAL DEAL DEVIN NEAL
• Center Mike Novitsky is back for his second season with the Kansas, but good luck getting him to respond, if you call him “Mike.” Nicknamed “Dirk” after the former Dallas Mavericks star, Novitsky, who transferred to Kansas from Buffalo following the 2020 season, was named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List for the third straight season this year.
• Novitsky was consistently stellar for Kansas last season. According to PFF, Novitsky played 799 total snaps last year and did not commit a penalty or allow a sack.
• Taking it further, Novitsky has played 2,302 career snaps in college and has not allowed a sack.
• According to PFF, Novitsky graded out at 96% or better in all 12 games in 2021. He was named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention by the league’s coaches at the completion of the season.
• Novitsky helped transform the Kansas offensive line into one that drastically improved its pass protection. Kansas allowed 47 sacks in just nine games in 2020, while surrendering just 16 last year in 12 games. Novitsky started all 12 games for the Jayhawks at the center spot.
• Novitsky and Kansas didn’t allow a sack in the opening game, and paved the way for 297 rushing yards and 205 passing yards.
• A native of Victor, N.Y., Novitsky was a standout lacrosse player at Victor High School and had a scholarship offer from Maryland. He opted instead to commit to Coach Lance Leipold at Buffalo, where he redshirted in 2018 and played for current Kansas Offensive Line Coach Scott Fuchs in 2019 and 2020.
A RICH SITUATION
• The Jayhawks return three linebackers to their roster who ranked one, two and three in tackles for linebackers on the team last year.
• Rich Miller led the way with 79 tackles and five tackles-for-loss, while adding two sacks and two pass breakups. He had six tackles in the season opener, finishing one behind team-leader Lonnie Phelps.
• Gavin Potter finished just one tackle behind Miller in 2021, totaling 78 tackles on the season, while adding five tackles-for-loss like Miller and an interception he returned 28 yards for a touchdown in the season finale against West Virginia. Potter played in a reserve role against Tennessee Tech.
• Potter had one of the better games of his career – perhaps the best – in last year’s finale against the Mountaineers. On top of his interception return for a touchdown, Potter finished with 10 tackles and 1.5 tackles-for-loss. The 10 tackles marked the first time on the season he reached double-digit tackles.
• Also back is Taiwan Berryhill, who played in all 12 games and finished with 31 tackles. He has been lauded by head coach Lance Leipold and linebackers coach Chris Simpson as one of the most improved players on the team entering the season. Berryhill backed that up Friday against Tennessee Tech with three tackles, including one for a loss.
• Not only does Kansas return impressive production at the linebacker position, they also added Ohio State transfer Craig Young, Central Florida transfer Eriq Gilyard and Louisiana transfer Lorenzo McCaskill.
• Young started for Kansas and had two tackles. Gilyard had five tackles, one tackle-for-loss and an interception in his Jayhawk debut. McCaskill also saw extended time and had three stops.
LEFTOVERS FROM TENNESSEE TECH
• First-time starters: Dominick Puni (OG), Ky Thomas (RB), Torry Locklin (RB), Lonnie Phelps (DE), Craig Young (LB)
• Kansas’ 56 points were the most scored in a season opener since 1912 when the Jayhawks shutout St. Mary’s 62-0 on Oct. 5, 1912.
• Kansas’ 56 points were the most scored at home since the Jayhawks defeated Nebraska, 76-39, on Nov. 3, 2007.
• Kansas’ season opener drew a crowd of 34,902 fans, the largest in a season opener since 2014, when Kansas drew 36,574 against Southeast Missouri State.
• Kansas’ 46-point margin of victory is its largest since Sept. 3, 2016 vs. Rhode Island (+49).
• Kansas improved to 76-51-7 in season openers all-time, including to 7-3 over the last 10 years.
• Leipold improved to 14-2 in season openers all-time, including 6-2 at the Division I level.
• Kansas moved to 5-0 against the Ohio Valley Conference all-time, while the Jayhawks win the first meeting in the series.
• Kansas totaled 502 yards, the most yards in a game since totaling 530 at Duke on Sept. 25, 2021, and the most in a season opener since Sept. 3, 2016 vs. Rhode Island (570 yards). The 502 yards were also the most in a home game since Oct. 26, 2019 vs. Texas Tech (527 yards).
• Kansas rushed for 297 yards, which were its most at home since Sept. 15, 2018 vs. Rutgers (405 yards).
• Kansas’ 21 first quarter points were the most in a Jayhawks’ season-opener since 2014, when Kansas scored 24 in the first quarter against SEMO.
• Kansas’ 35 points in the first half was its most in the first half of a season opener since scoring 35 against Central Michigan on Sept. 1, 2007.
• Kansas’ six rushing touchdowns were the most in a game since Nov. 1, 2008 vs. Kansas State (six touchdowns).
• Kansas’ defense recorded five sacks which were its most in a season opener since Sept. 4, 2004 vs. Tulsa (six sacks) and its most in a home game since Oct. 22, 2016 vs. Oklahoma State (five sacks).
• In the first quarter, defensive end Jereme Robinson blocked a Tennessee Tech field goal attempt, which was returned 61 yards for a touchdown by Cobee Bryant. The blocked field goal return was the first by a Jayhawk since 1996, when Patrick Brown returned a field goal 56 yards against Oklahoma.
• The touchdown return was the second-career touchdown for Bryant, after returning an interception for a touchdown (31-yards) against Texas in 2021.
• The blocked field goal was Robinson’s first of his career.
• Senior Kenny Logan Jr. recorded a 38-yard kickoff return in the second quarter to mark the sixth time in his career he has posted a return of 30 yards or more.
West Virginia Mountaineers
Notes
THE SERIES
All-Time Series………………………….. WVU leads 10-1
In Morgantown…………………………… WVU leads 6-0
In Lawrence ……………………………….. WVU leads 4-1
First Meeting ………………………. 1941, WVU 21-0 (H)
Last Meeting……………………… 2021, WVU 34-28 (A)
Brown vs. Kansas………………………………………….3-0
Brown vs. Leipold …………………………………………2-0
Leipold vs. WVU……………………………………………0-1
NOTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
• The 2022 season marks West Virginia’s 130th season of football. The Mountaineers are the 15th winningest program in college football
• The 2022 year marks the 43rd season of competition for West Virginia at Milan Puskar Stadium. WVU has a 189-72-4 (.721) all-time mark at the facility, which opened in 1980
• WVU is 7-1 in games played on Sept. 10, including 7-0 in games played at home. The first time that WVU played on Sept. 10, was in 1977
when the Mountaineers defeated Richmond, 36- 0. The last time WVU played on that date was in 2016 vs. Youngstown State at home (W 38-24)
• In home openers, West Virginia is 101-20-6, including winning 18 in a row. WVU is 38-4-1 in home openers since 1980, including 21-1 since 2000
• WVU has won all six meetings against Kansas in Morgantown, outscoring the Jayhawks, 237-84, an average of 39.5 – 14
• West Virginia is 16-7 against schools from the state of Kansas, 10-1 against Kansas and 6-6 against Kansas State
• The Mountaineers are 94-14 since 2002 when winning the turnover battle
• West Virginia finished the Pitt game, going 5-for-5 in the red zone. WVU is currently tied for No. 1 nationally in red zone offense. WVU’s
best performances in the red zone in 2021 were 5-for-5 vs. Iowa State and 7-of-9 against LIU.
• WVU finished with five sacks at Pitt, marking the most in a game since having six against Virginia Tech on Sept. 18, 2021. The Mountaineers are No. 5 nationally in sacks
• The WVU defense held Pitt to 76 yards rushing, the fewest rushing yards allowed since giving up only 57 yards at Oklahoma on Sept. 25, 2021.
The Mountaineers are ranked No. 27 nationally in rushing defense
• The Mountaineers finished with two punt returns for 25 yards at Pitt, averaging 12.5 yards per return. WVU ranks No. 19 nationally in punt
return average
• In his WVU debut, quarterback JT Daniels, completed 23 passes, had two passing touchdowns and accounted for a game-high three touchdowns. He is ranked No. 31 nationally in completions per game, No. 33 in points responsible for per game and No. 41 in points responsible for
• Wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton finished with nine catches for a game-high 97 yards, two touchdowns, all of which were game-highs. He is ranked No. 6 nationally in receiving touchdowns, No. 9 in receptions per game, No. 20 in total TDs, No. 21 in scoring, No. 36 in total points and No. 43 in receiving yards per game
• In his collegiate debut at Pitt, running back CJ Donaldson finished with seven carries for a game-high 125 yards, one touchdown and a long of 44 yards., his first career carry. He also blocked a punt in the third quarter, which resulted in his 5-yard TD on the next play
• Defensive lineman Dante Stills had six tackles, including 1.5 sacks and two tackles for loss in the Pitt game. He now has 45.5 career tackles for loss, good for No. 2 in program history, and is now just 2.0 tackles for loss away from tying Grant Wiley for the school career record (47.5). He also has 20.5 career sacks, which rank No. 6 in program history
ON TURF
• Since 1980, West Virginia is 259-121-4 in games played on artificial turf surfaces.
• WVU was 57-29 on turf in the 1990s, 66-21 on turf in the 2000s, 62-40 during the 2010s and 10-8 during the 2020s on turf
AT HOME
• The 2022 season marks the 43rd season of competition for West Virginia at Milan Puskar Stadium. WVU holds a 189-72-4 (.721) all-time mark at the facility, which opened in 1980.
• The Mountaineers finished with a 4-2 home mark in 2021, winning games against LIU, Virginia Tech, Iowa State and Texas.
SERIES HISTORY WITH KANSAS
• The series between West Virginia and Kansas started in 1941 with a 21-0 WVU win in Morgantown.
• The last meeting took place in Lawrence, in 2021, with West Virginia winning, 34-28. The Mountaineers lead the series, 10-1.
• West Virginia has a 6-0 series advantage in games played in Morgantown and 4-1 series advantage in games played in Lawrence.
2021, away, West Virginia, 34-28
2020, home, West Virginia, 38-17
2019, away, West Virginia, 29-24
2018, home, West Virginia, 38-22
2017, away, West Virginia, 56-34
2016, home, West Virginia, 48-21
2015, away, West Virginia, 49-0
2014, home, West Virginia, 33-14
2013, away, Kansas, 31-19
2012, home, West Virginia, 59-10
1941, home, West Virginia, 21-0
AVERAGE PER DOWN
• Here’s a breakdown of how the 2022 West Virginia offense is operating on first, second, third and fourth down:
• On first down, the Mountaineers have run 32 plays and have gained 174 yards for a 5.4 average. On second down, the Mountaineers have run 24 plays for 89 yards and a 3.7 average. On third down, the Mountaineers have run 16 plays for 141 yards and an 8.8 average gain. West Virginia has 1 play on fourth down for 0 yards and a 0.0 average.
• WVU’s touchdowns have come two times on first down (1 rush/1 pass), two times on second down (1 rush/1 pass), zero times on third down (0 rush/0 pass) and zero times on fourth down (0 rush/0 pass).
OFFENSIVE ANALYSIS
• Breaking down the West Virginia offensive numbers for the 2022 season shows that the Mountaineers have run 73 plays, 33 on the ground and 40 through the air.
• The rushing game has totaled 190 yards, an average of 5.8 yards per carry and two touch- downs. The passing attack has totaled 214 yards, two touchdowns and an average of 9.3
yards per completion.
• Combine the two and the Mountaineers have turned in 404 yards of total offense, four touch- downs, an average of 5.5 yards per play and an average of 31.0 points per game.
• Deeper analysis shows that the Mountaineer offense has gained seven first downs by the run and 11 via the pass. On average, West Virginia has totaled 190.0 yards per game on the ground, 214.0 yards per game passing and 404.0 yards per game of total offense.
AGAINST RANKED TEAMS
• Beginning with a 27-0 loss to Fordham on Oct. 18, 1941, West Virginia has played 166 games against nationally ranked teams. Of those, 50 have been Mountaineer victories.
• Since 1999, WVU has posted 26 victories over ranked teams. The Mountaineers defeated two ranked opponents in 2021: No. 15 Virginia Tech and No. 22 Iowa State.
WEST VIRGINIA OFFENSE
• This season’s offensive roster includes 13 true freshmen, 16 redshirt freshmen, seven sophomores, seven redshirt sophomores, three juniors, four redshirt juniors, one senior and one redshirt senior
• The 2022 offensive personnel include six quarterbacks, four running backs, one fullback, 13 wide receivers, eight tight ends and 20 offensive linemen
• West Virginia returned 16 offensive letter-winners and lost eight off last year’s team
• Three players – QB JT Daniels, TE Brian Polendey and OL Jordan White – all earned their first starts for the Mountaineer offense at Pitt
• Daniels now has 20 career starts under center at three schools. He started 12 career contests (6-6 record) at USC from 2018-19, before going 7-0 as a starter at Georgia from 2020-21
• The Mountaineers ran 73 offensive plays in the season opener at Pitt, tied for the most in the
Big 12
• Following the Pitt game, the Mountaineers have averaged 34.6 points per game in season openers since 2012
• West Virginia is averaging 47.3 points per game in home openers under Neal Brown
• Since 2012, WVU has tallied 46.7 points per game in home openers
• In all, the Mountaineers have scored at least 40 points in seven of the last 10 home openers • In 11 all-time meetings, WVU has averaged 38.5 points per game against Kansas
• The Mountaineers have scored at least 30 points against the Jayhawks eight times, at least 40 points four times and at least 50 points twice
• In the Big 12 era, the Mountaineers have averaged 534.6 yards per game against KU, including 600+ yards four times in that span
• The Mountaineers have thrown for 300 or more yards eight times during the Brown era
• Since 2012, WVU has thrown for 300 or more yards 49 times, 350 or more 29 times, 400 or more 10 times and 500 or more four times
• West Virginia is 34-15 when passing for 300 or more yards since 2012
• Daniels became the first Mountaineer quarterback to record three total touchdowns in his debut since Will Grier on Sept. 3, 2017, against Virginia Tech
• WVU returns 47% of its receiving touchdowns, 46% of its receiving yards and 44% of its receptions from last season’s production
• In all, the Mountaineers welcome back eight of 14 players who caught a pass last season
• Following Bryce Ford-Wheaton’s two touchdowns at Pitt, WVU has now had a receiver catch multiple touchdowns eight times in the Brown era
• Ford-Wheaton is one of four Big 12 receivers with multiple touchdown grabs
• Ford-Wheaton (9) and Sam James (5) rank No. 1 and No. 8, respectively, in the Big 12 in receptions
• Tony Mathis is one of three Mountaineers with a 100-yard rushing performance in his career. He ran for 118 yards on 22 carries at Kansas on
Dec. 4, 2021
• In his collegiate debut at Pitt, CJ Donaldson ran for 125 yards on seven carries with two scores
• With the performance, Donaldson became the first Mountaineer to rush for 100 yards in his first career game since Martell Pettaway on Nov. 16, 2016, at Iowa State
• Garrett Greene also has reached the century mark on the ground in his career. He rushed 13 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns against LIU on Sept. 11, 2021
• Overall, the Mountaineers are 13-1 in the Brown era when rushing for at least 100 yards
• The squad also has eclipsed the 200-yard plateau on the ground four times under Brown
• WVU has produced six 1,000-yard rushers since joining the Big 12 in 2012, including five times in the last seven years (2015-21)
• WVU has gained at least 500 yards of total offense four times under Brown, most recently on Sept. 11, 2021, against LIU
• West Virginia also has produced 14 games with more than 400 yards of total offense under Brown, most recently in the 2022 season opener
at Pitt (404)
• WVU has now gained at least 400 yards of total offense in eight of the last 11 season openers
AGAINST THE BIG 12
• West Virginia is 53-48 all-time against current members of the Big 12 Conference. WVU is 6-4 vs. Baylor; 6-4 against Iowa State; 10-1
against Kansas; 6-6 vs. Kansas State; 2-10 vs. Oklahoma; 4-9 vs. Oklahoma State; 6-5 vs. Texas; 7-4 vs. TCU and 6-5 vs. Texas Tech.
ON NETWORK TELEVISION
• The Big 12 Now telecast of the Kansas game marks the 299th network television game for WVU.
• All-time, the Mountaineers are 155-142-1 in nationally televised games.
WEST VIRGINIA OFFENSE
• WVU ranked No. 18 nationally in red zone offense last fall and went 5-for-5 in that area at Pitt
• Zach Frazier led the WVU offensive line with 60 knockdown blocks last season, helping him earn multiple All-America accolades
• Doug Nester had a team-leading six knockdown blocks at Pitt
• Four members of the Mountaineer offensive line have recorded at least 20 starts in their collegiate career
ON GRASS
• Since 1980, West Virginia is 55-69 in games played on natural grass. The Mountaineers were 20-20 during the 2010 decade, are 1-5 during the
2020s and are 41-42 since 2000.
Sat., Sep. 10 @ 6:00 pm CT
Kent State Golden Flashes at Oklahoma Sooners
Kent State Golden Flashes
Notes
The Opening Kick
• The Golden Flashes set numerous records in 2021, setting the program record for plays (1,052), yards (6,907), first downs (362), rushing yards (3, 482) and passing yards (3425)
• The Flashes return their top rusher (Marquez Cooper ) and top receiver (Dante Cephas) for 2022
• Cooper became the Flashes’ first 1000 yard rusher since both Traylon Durham and Dri Archer topped 1k in 2012
• Cooper’s 1,205 yards are the eighth-most in a single season in Kent State history
• Cooper was named to the Maxwell Award Watch List, the award is given annually to the Nation’s top all-around football player
• Cephas was the Flashes’ first 1000 yard receiver since Eugene Baker in 1997
• Cephas’ 1,240 yards are second most ever in a season as are his 82 receptions, his nine touchdowns last season are third-most all time
• Cephas earned a spot on the Biletnikoff Award watch list for the second-straight year, the award goes to the nation’s top receiver
• Collin Schlee takes over as the starting quarterback after Dustin Crum’s graduation, Schlee has appeared in eight game at Kent, completing 65 percent of his passes for 351 yards and three TDs and rushed for 212 yards and four TDs
• Schlee led Oakdale to the 2018 state title and 13-0 record and he was named to USA Today’s All-Maryland first-team
• Schlee was also a standout basketball player and received offers from Bucknell and Mount St. Mary’s for hoops
• Kent State brings back its top tackler (Dean Clark), top pass rusher (CJ West) and its interception leader (Montre Miller) for new defensive coordinator Jeremiah Johnson
• Johnson brought along cornerbacks coach Keelon Brookins from Northern Iowa, who consistently boasted a top-20 defense in the FCS’s toughest conference, the Missouri Valley, the UNI duo are the only coaching changes from last season
• The Golden Flashes have won nine-straight home games, the 10th longest streak in the FBS and ties the program record set from September 1949 through October of 1951 and again October of 2011 through August of 2013
• Kent State was picked first in the MAC East by the MAC coaches and second in the East by the media in pre-season polls
KENT STATE
Kent State University respectfully requests that the Institution and its intercollegiate athletics teams be referred to as “Kent State” or “KSU” in shortened reference, as opposed to “Kent.” Thank you.
KEEPING IT 100
The Golden Flashes are celebrating their 100th season of football in 2022. The Flashes won their first collegiate football game in 1925, a 7-6 win over West Liberty. Throughout the season, the Flashes will be wearing a patch to honor the historic year.
THE JAMES GANG COACHING TREE
Two players from Don James’ 1972 squad (he himself a member of the College Football Hall of Fame) have gone on to find great coaching success of their own. Current Alabama head coach Nick Saban (defensive back, 1970-73) won a national championship with LSU in 2003 and five more with Alabama, while Gary Pinkel (tight end, 1971-73) directed Missouri to a school-record 12 victories in 2007, finishing the season fourth in the final Associated Press poll after being ranked No. 1 earlier in the year, and is on this year’s ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame. Dan Dorazio, who was a student assistant under James, has coached for over 40 years in the CFL, and Dom Capers (graduate assistant, 1972-74) who recently retired as Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator, also worked under James.
OTHER FAMOUS TIES TO KENT STATE
Furthermore, Bob Stoops — who led Oklahoma to the 2000 national title — got his full-time coaching start as an assistant at Kent State in 1988. In addition to College Football Hall of Fame inductee Lou Holtz, the list also includes former head coach Glen Mason (1986-87), who went on to find success at Minnesota, Long-time NFL coordinator Dean Pees served as the Kent State head coach from 1998 to 2003 before leaving to start that lengthy NFL tenure.
GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
Coincidently, the 100th season of Kent State football aligns with the 50th anniversary of the 1972 team, the last Golden Flashes’ team to win the Mid-American Conference. That team was led by the legendary hall of famer Don James and featured Jack Lambert, Gary Pinkel and Nick Saban on the roster.
FLASH FAST OFFENSE
Kent State’s high tempo offense (ranked 11th in plays/game) produced some lightning quick drives last year. The Flashes have 32 touchdown drives that have been under two minutes that is 56 percent of all TD drives this year (57 TDs total). Of those 32 under two-minute touchdowns, 25 were four or more plays and over 50 yards, tops in the FBS. In week one, both of Kent State’s touchdowns were on drives that were
sub three minutes.
RUSH HOUR
The Flashes ranked third in the FBS at 248.6 yards per game on the ground in 2021 and were the top non service academy. In 2021, the Flashes ran for 226 yards vs Texas A and M (most allowed by Aggies since 2019)…ran for 494 yards against VMI (most in program history since 1954)… and own the top two rushing totals against MAC rush defense leading Buffalo since 2019 (Army). Against NIU, the Flashes ran for 360 yards, their second-highest total this season.
HANGING WITH MR COOPER
Marquez Cooper was named to the Maxwell Award Watch List, given annually to the College Football Player of the Year. He was one of five running backs in the Mid-American Conference to top 1000 yards in 2021, finishing with a team-best 1,205. He was the first Kent State back to top 1,000 yards on the ground since 2012. Cooper also found the end zone 11 times last year. He added 10 grabs and nearly 100 yards receiving, putting him over 1,300 all-purpose yards last season. Cooper’s addition to the Watch List makes it three-straight years for a Golden Flash to be named to the list as Cooper joins former quarterback Dustin Crum.
DANTE’S PEAKING
Wide receiver Dante Cephas had a breakout year in 2021. He became the first Golden Flash to top 1,000 yards receiving since 1997. His 82 catches and 1,240 yards were third in the Mid-American Conference . His 1,240 yards last year are eighth-most in the FBS for a receiver returning for the 2022 season. For the second-straight season, Cephas was named to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List, given annually to the best receiver in college football, regardless of position. Cephas picked up where he left off in week one, grabbing six passes for 106 yards against Washington.
RAISE YOUR GLASS
Kicker Andrew Glass went from walk-on to all-conference place kicker last season for the Flashes. Glass hit 21 field goals in 2021, good for second-most in program history. He also hit on all 50 of his extra points, his 115 points accounted for were third-most in program history. Glass was put on full scholarship following the annual spring showcase. Glass went 2-2 (42, 39) in week one.
TEAM IMPACT
This offseason, the Golden Flashes’ signed Kingston Woods, the toughest, most resilient kid in northeast Ohio through the university’s partnership with Team IMPACT. Team IMPACT is a non-profit organization that pairs kids with chronic and serious illnesses and pairs them with college teams. Kingston signed his letter of intent at the annual spring showcase, then closed out the afternoon with the ringing of the victory bell.
OFFENSE
Cameron Golden | Fort Pierce, Fla | Fort Pierce Central
(Georgia State) | Offensive Line
Backup offensive lineman who played in two games off the bench in 2020 … Saw action at right tackle against ULM and South Alabama … Took a red-shirt year in 2019… First-team All-Area selection for the Treasure Coast … Three-time state qualifier in wrestling.
Nolan Rumler |Kent, Ohio | Archbishop Hoban (Michigan) |
Offensive Line
Saw action in parts of two seasons with the Wolverines. At Archbishop Hoban, he was named All-Ohio three times and a Max Preps All-American twice. He earned an invite to play in the 2019 Under Armour All-American game and helped Hoban win four state titles including an undefeated season in 2018.
Kevin Toth |Hudson, Ohio | Hudson (Rutgers) | Offensive Line
Transfer from Rutgers where he redshirted last season… Played along the offensive line for the Hudson Explorers … Helped Hudson to a 9-1 record and an appearance in the OHSAA Division II-Region 5 state semifinal … Blocked for an offense that rushed for more than 2,600 yards and passed for more than 1,900 yards … First Team Ohio Prep Sportswriters Division II All-Ohio
DEFENSE
A.J. Campbell | Copley, OH | Copley (UCLA)| Defensive Line
Campbell saw action in one game for the Bruins in 2021. He was considered a three-star recruit and a top-50 edge rusher coming out of high school.
Jo Jo Evans | Palm Beach Gardens, FL| Palm Beach
Gardens (Marshall) | Safety
Joins Kent State after two seasons at Marshall…Totaled 21 tackles including 10 in 2021…Ranked 23 in West Palm Beach top-63 in advance of his senior year in high school.
Lavonte Gater| Palmer Park, MD| Ballou (Maryland) |Defensive Back
Appeared in 30 games over three seasons with the Terrapins… Totaled 59 tackles on defense and special teams to go along with two pass breakups and a forced fumble…Consensus threestar recruit among the recruiting outlets … Rated as the 10th overall player in the District of Columbia (247Sports & ESPN) … Scored 17 touchdowns while notching six interceptions during his junior season … Also played basketball at Ballou High School
CJ Harris | Macon, GA | Warner Robbins (Arkansas State) |
Linebacker
Started six of 16 games played at Arkansas State, recording 37 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two pass break-ups and one forced fumble..Played at Highland CC prior to Arkansas State, helped lead Highland to a 6-4 record and to a final No. 20 NJCAA ranking…Prepped at Warner Robins High School… Earned first team all-region recognition and was an honorable mention all-state selection as a senior
Najee Jones | Camden, NJ | Timber Creek (Rutgers) | Safety
Played in parts of three seasons with the Scarlet Knights and appeared in 27 games…Totaled 38 tackles including 22 solo in his Rutgers’ career with an interception, three passes defended and a forced fumble…A two-time Academic All-Big 10 honoree…Played on both sides of the ball in high school at Timber Creek, helping them to an undefeated 12-0 season and a NJSIAA South Jersey, Group 4 Championship…Third Team AllGroup 4 by the Newark Star-Ledger … Third Team All-South Jersey by the Courier-Post
DJ Miller Jr | O’Fallon, MO | John Burroughs (Iowa State) |
Defensive Back
Played in 28 games over three seasons for the Cyclones…Recorded 18 tackles, four pass deflections, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery…Three-star recruit by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN … Rated as the No. 74 cornerback nationally by Rivals … A top-25 player in the state of Missouri by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN … Three-time all-district choice … First-team allstate pick in Class 3A as a senior … Posted 42 tackles, 5.0 TFL, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries in 2018
Khali Saunders | Elmhurst, IL | Immaculate Conception
(Purdue) | Linebacker
Appeared in 14 games for the Boilermakers, making eight solo tackles…Three-star linebacker by 247Sports, Rivals, and ESPN…According to MaxPreps, finished his 2018 senior season with 81 total tackles, 61 solo, with 3.0 tackles for loss….Helped Immaculate Conception go 14-0 and win a state title during senior season
Bryce Sheppert | Stow, OH | Stow-Munroe Falls
(Notre Dame College) | Defensive Back
Played defensive back and returned kicks and punts for Notre Dame College…Averaged over 20 yards per kick return and 10 per punt return in 2021with a pair of scores…Totaled over 120 tackles during his NDC career…Named Mountain East Conference Freshman of the Year and was a 3x All-Conference selection… Named All-Ohio, All-Islands and All-Suburban League in high school
RETURNING PRODUCTION
While the Flashes brought in 11 transfers to the squad in 2022, the Golden Flashes returned their top rusher in Marquez Cooper and top receiver, Dante Cephas. The Flashes also welcome back major contributors Xavier Williams and Ja’Shaun Poke, both have proven to be difference makers in the run and passing game. In total, 50 letter-winners return from last year’s teams. Defensively, the Golden Flashes welcome nine of the 11 transfers to the defensive side of the ball under new defensive coordinator Jeremiah Johnson. Dean Clark returns as the leading tackler from last season with 112 stops in 2021. The Flashes also welcome back their top pass rushers from last year in CJ West, Saivon Taylor-Davis and Adin Huntington, all three had at least three sacks a season ago. Both specialists return from a season ago. Andrew Glass hit 21 field goals and all 50 extra points a season ago. Punter Josh Smith allowed a paltry two yards per punt return last year, forced 18 fair catches and placed 14 punts inside the 20. The sophomore has the ability to punt with both his left and right foot thanks to his Australian rules football background.
Oklahoma Sooners
Notes
OPENING KICK
No. 9/9 Oklahoma (1-0) plays its second game of the Brent Venables era when it hosts Kent State (0-1) on Saturday at 6 p.m. CT at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman. The game will be televised by ESPN+ with Mike Morgan, Ryan Leaf and Alex Chappelle announcing.
Saturday’s matchup will mark the first between the two programs.
Oklahoma has won its last 10 home games and 28 of its last 29.
The game will mark the 1,313th in OU history. The Sooners rank fifth in college football annals with their .728 all-time winning percentage (928-331-53). They trail Ohio State (.732), Alabama (.731), Notre Dame (.729) and Michigan (.729). Since the end of World War II (1946 season to present), OU leads all programs with 685 wins (38 more than Alabama, the program with the next most) and with its .771 winning percentage. The Sooners also lead the country with their 240 wins since the start of the 2000 season.
OU was ranked No. 9 in the preseason AP poll, marking the 23rd straight year it was ranked by the AP to start the season. The Sooners have been ranked 10th or better in 20 of the last 22 preseason polls. They have also ended each of the last seven seasons ranked in the AP top 10, its first time to accomplish the feat since 1971-80 under head coaches Chuck Fairbanks and Barry Switzer.
The Sooners are coming off a 45-13 season-opening home win over UTEP on Saturday, a game in which they led 21-0 with 6:43 left in the first quarter after scoring on their first three possessions. Dillon Gabriel threw for 233 yards and two touchdowns (no interceptions) and ran for a 12-yard score. Eric Gray rushed for a game-high 102 yards while Marcus Major ran for 54 and two TDs. Brayden Willis caught both TD passes and Reggie Grimes logged a career-high 2.5 sacks as OU held the Miners to 28 rushing yards on 31 carries.
Kent State opened its season with a 45-20 loss at Washington on Saturday. The Golden Flashes, who are under fifth-year head coach Sean Lewis, were outgained 525 yards to 340 and by an average of 6.7 yards per play to 5.0. Quarterback Collin Schlee completed 12 of 24 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown (two interceptions). He also ran for 47 yards. Receiver Dante Cephas caught six passes for a game-high 105 yards.
KEY STORYLINES
Oklahoma has never faced Kent State in football. The Sooners are 3-0 against teams currently in the Mid-American Conference, with all three games played under former head coach Bob Stoops in Norman. OU was ranked No. 2 when it beat Bowling Green 40-24 in the 2004 season opener and Ball State 62-6 in 2011. In 2015, the No. 19 Sooners downed Akron 41-3 to start the season.
OU’s hurry-up offense under coordinator Jeff Lebby was on full display in the season opener against UTEP. The Sooners possessed the ball for just 21:27, the second-lowest figure nationally through one game played. Despite the low possession time, OU ranked 34th nationally last week (there are 128 FBS teams) with its 492 yards. It averaged 8.1 yards per play. Lebby served as Mississippi’s offensive coordinator the last two years. Last season, the Rebels ranked 122nd out of 130 teams with their 27:19 average time of possession and in 2020 ranked 105th out of 127 teams (27:51).
Saturday’s game is the second of a challenging four-game Kent State non-conference schedule that includes Washington, LIU and reigning national champion Georgia.
With UCF transfer Dillon Gabriel taking the reins of the OU offense, the Sooners debuted a new starting quarterback in the season opener for the fifth time in the last six years (Baker Mayfield in 2017, Kyler Murray in 2018, Jalen Hurts in 2019 and Spencer Rattler in 2020 and ’21). Despite missing UCF’s final 10 games last season due to injury, Gabriel ranks third in the nation since the start of the 2019 season with his 72 touchdown throws. In his 27-game career (he has started his last 26 games), he has completed 60.8% of his passes for 8,270 yards while rushing for 392 yards and nine TDs. He has thrown at least one touchdown pass in all 27 games, at least two in 21 contests and at least four in seven outings.
Kent State was picked by league coaches to win the Mid-American Conference East Division this season. Last year, the Golden Flashes posted a 7-7 record and went 6-2 in conference play before falling to Northern Illinois in the MAC Championship (41-23) and to Wyoming in the Famous
Idaho Potato Bowl (52-38). KSU set program records last season for offensive yards (6,907), first downs (362), rushing yards (3,482) and passing yards (3,425). It returned its top rusher (Marquez Cooper; 241 carries for 1,205 yards and 11 TDs) and top receiver (Dante Cephas; 82
receptions for 1,240 yards and nine TDs). Redshirt sophomore quarterback Collin Schlee is in his first year as the starter. Last year, he completed 17 of 24 passes (no interceptions) for 238 yards and a score.
Forty-seven of OU’s 115 players (41%) are new to the program this season, while 60 players (52%) had never played in a game for the Sooners prior to last Saturday. Of the 47 new players, 23 are on offense, 21 are on defense and three are special-teamers (one kicker, one punter and one long snapper).
RECAPPING THE WIN OVER UTEP
Oklahoma made Brent Venables’ first game as a head coach a memorable one as it raced to a 21-0 lead in the first 8:17 and beat UTEP 45-13. The Sooners outgained the Miners by 176 yards (492-316) and showcased a balanced offensive attack with 259 rushing yards and 233 passing yards.
OU operated quickly and efficiently in the first quarter, scoring touchdowns on its first three possessions. The drives covered 75 yards on five plays (1:17 time of possession), 93 yards on six plays (1:48) and 55 yards in two plays (0:30). Through the first quarter, the Sooners averaged 17.6 yards per play to UTEP’s 3.6.
OU’s run defense was stout, allowing the Miners just 28 yards on 31 carries (0.9 average). The 28 yards allowed were the Sooners’ fewest since a 2014 game against Kansas when they gave up just 19.
In his OU debut, redshirt junior quarterback Dillon Gabriel completed 15 of 23 passes (65.2%) for 233 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed six times for 20 yards and scored on a 12-yard burst for the game’s first points.
Redshirt senior tight end Brayden Willis caught both of Gabriel’s touchdown throws, scoring from six yards on OU’s second possession and from 28 yards with 55 seconds left in the second quarter to give OU a 28-10 lead. It marked Willis’ first-career multiple-touchdown game.
Junior receiver Marvin Mims paced the Sooners with 81 yards on three catches. Redshirt junior Theo Wease returned to a starting role after missing all but one game last year due to injury and finished with three receptions for 37 yards, including a 33-yarder. Willis’ four catches went for 40 yards.
Senior Eric Gray rushed a team-high 16 times for 102 yards, marking his sixth-career 100-yard game on the ground and first as a Sooner. He averaged 6.4 yards per carry and registered a long of 35. Redshirt junior Marcus Major ran seven times for 54 yards (7.7 average) and scored from one and six yards in the third quarter.
On his second-career play and first touch, freshman receiver Gavin Freeman scored on a 46-yard end-around rush in which he broke multiple tackles to give the Sooners a 21-0 lead. Freeman’s dad, Jason, was an OU tight end from 1995-98.
Sophomore safety Billy Bowman and sophomore linebacker Danny Stutsman led OU with nine tackles apiece, career highs for both. Each also registered two pass breakups while, Stutsman, who made his first career start, also logged a QB hurry. Bowman also made his kickoff returning debut, registering runbacks of 25 and 26 yards.
Junior defensive end Reggie Grimes finished with a career-high 2.5 sacks, which is more than he had all of last season (2.0). He also forced a fumble and had a QB hurry.
Freshman cornerback Gentry Williams recorded an interception in the end zone on UTEP’s final possession. It as the only takeaway for either team on the day.
OU registered six passing plays of at least 15 yards (five of at least 24) and seven rushing plays of at least 10 yards.
Serving as OU’s primary placekicker for the first time, redshirt sophomore Zach Schmit converted his lone field goal attempt (22-yarder) and all six of his PAT tries.
OU possessed the ball for just 21:27 out of 60 minutes.
NOTING THE NEWBIES
Twenty-four players and 21 first-year Sooners made their first appearance in an OU uniform Saturday. The 21 newcomers were redshirt seniors Jeffery Johnson (DL), C.J. Coldon (DB) and Jonah Laulu (DL), senior Trey Morrison (DB), redshirt juniors Davis Beville (QB), Dillon Gabriel (QB) and McKade Mettauer (OL), redshirt sophomores LV Bunkley-Shelton (WR), Tyler Guyton (OL) and J.J. Hester (WR), sophomore Tawee Walker (RB) and freshmen Jovantae Barnes (RB), Gavin Freeman (WR), Jayden Gibson (WR), Gracen Halton (DL), Jaren Kanak (LB), Jason Llewellyn (TE), Jacob Sexton (OL), Jake Taylor (OL), R Mason Thomas (DL) and Gentry Williams (DB).
FIRST-TIME STARTERS
Seven players made their first OU starts on Saturday. They were redshirt senior transfer Jeffery Johnson (DL; started 44 games at Tulane), redshirt senior Jordan Kelley (DL), redshirt junior transfers Dillon Gabriel (QB; started 25 games at UCF) and McKade Mettauer (OL; started 28 games at Cal), redshirt sophomore transfer Tyler Guyton (OL; started one game at TCU as an H-back) and sophomores Ethan Downs (DE) and Danny Stutsman (LB).
BALANCED OFFENSE NOTHING NEW
Oklahoma totaled 259 rushing yards and 233 passing yards in its season-opening win over UTEP. It was the 47th time in 93 games since the start of the 2015 season the Sooners have gained at least 200 rushing yards and 200 passing yards in a game (51% of its games over the last seven-plus seasons). It was also the 36th time in the same span that OU has rushed for at least 250 yards.
Running a balanced offense has also been common for first-year offensive coordinator Leff Lebby. In his three previous years as an offensive coordinator at Ole Miss (2020-21) and UCF (2019), Lebby’s offenses totaled at least 200 passing yards and 200 rushing yards 15 times in 36 games.
HOME IS WHERE THE “W” IS
Oklahoma is 131-11 (.923) at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium since the start of the 1999 season, giving the Sooners three more Big 12 championships over the last 23 years (14) than home defeats. It is the best home winning percentage among Power Five schools over the last 23 seasons (Ohio State is next at .893). OU has outscored its opponents by an average of 43-17 in those games.
The Sooners have posted 141 straight sellouts of originally scheduled home games dating back to the start of the 1999 season (Bob Stoops’ first as head coach). Only Nebraska (FBS-record 382) has a longer current streak nationally.
OU has recorded 41 unbeaten seasons at home, including 15 in the last 23 years.
MARVELOUS MARVIN
Junior wide receiver Marvin Mims has made 13 career receptions of at least 40 yards (registered a 42-yard catch in the season opener against UTEP). CeeDee Lamb (2017-19) holds the school record with 24 receptions of 40 or more yards.
Mims led the Sooners in receiving yards each of his first two seasons. He has made 72 receptions for 1,396 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushed three times for 32 yards in 25 games (13 starts). He has also returned 25 punts for 248 yards (9.92 average) and three kickoffs for 70 yards (23.3 average).
Mims registered 32 receptions for 705 yards and five TDs as a sophomore last season. As a freshman in 2020, he led the team with 610 yards and nine touchdowns on 37 receptions. His nine TD catches tied for most in the Big 12, matched the Big 12 record for a true freshman and established a new OU freshman record. He also became the first Oklahoma wide receiver to earn FWAA Freshman All-America honors, and was a second-team All-Big 12 selection by the league’s coaches and media.
Mims set the Texas high school state record for receiving yards in a career (5,485) and in a season (2,629 to go along with 32 touchdowns on 117 catches as a senior). He played at Lone Star High School in the city of Frisco.
TURK’S KEY LEG
Ray Guy Award semifinalist Michael Turk did things last season that no other punter in program history had. In his first year at OU, Turk set a single-season record by averaging 51.2 yards per punt, smashing the previous record of 47.8 yards by Jack Jacobs in 1940. In fact, entering 2021, the NCAA single-season record for punting average (min. 30 punts) was 51.0 by Texas A&M’s Braden Mann in 2018. Turk surpassed that figure in 2021, but at 51.17 yards per punt he finished just behind San Diego State’s Matt Araiza, who averaged 51.19 yards per punt on the year.
Twenty of Turk’s 35 punts in 2021 (57.1%) went at least 50 yards, and eight went at least 60. His 85-yarder vs. Texas was the FBS’ second longest of the season and tied for the fourth longest over the last 10 years, and tied for the third longest in Oklahoma history.
Turk holds five of the top 14 single-game punting averages (min. three punts) in OU annals, including the best and third-best marks (59.7 vs. TCU and 58.0 vs. Texas).
Turk transferred to Oklahoma from Arizona State in August 2021 and promptly earned the starting job. No other punter played for the Sooners last season.
The 2019 and ’20 first-team All-Pac-12 selection averaged 46.2 yards per punt over the last two seasons at ASU and totaled 28 boots that went at least 50 yards. In 2019, he set the FBS single-game record by averaging 63.0 yards (on five punts) vs. Kent State in the season opener.
Combining his time at ASU and OU, Turk is averaging 45.9 yards per punt (8,397 yards on 183 punts). The FBS career record (min. 150 punts) is 46.3 yards by West Virginia’s Todd Sauerbrun (1991-94).
Sat., Sep. 10 @ 6:30 pm CT
Arizona State Sun Devils at Oklahoma State Cowboys
Arizona State Sun Devils
Notes
THE GAME – Sun Devil Football hits the road for the first time this Saturday, Sept. 10 against the #11/#10 Oklahoma State Cowboys at at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla. The game is slated for a 4:30 p.m. AZT/6:30 p.m. Local kickoff on ESPN2 (Dave Flemming, Rod Gilmore and Tiffany Blackmon on the call) and will be carried over the airwaves on ESPN 620 AM/98.7 FM-2 (Tim Healey, Jeff Van Raaphorst, Kevin Turner).
ON THE COWBOYS/RANKED OPPONENTS- ASU leads the all-time series against the Cowboys, 2-1. The two squads last played in 1993 – a 12-10 victory for the Sun Devils in Tempe. ASU won the only contest in Stillwater in 1991, 30-3. This marks the fourth-straight season that ASU’s first road game of the year is taking place against a ranked opponent (#23 BYU in 2021, #20 USC in 2020, #18 Michigan State in 2019). ASU is 6-6 under Herm Edwards against AP-Ranked opponents, including three road wins against ranked teams – notable as the Sun Devils had just three total from 2003-17. The three wins are tied for the fifth-most in the FBS since 2018.
KICKING OFF
ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 31 of 44 games under Herm Edwards, notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of 43 previous games dating back to a span from 2013-17.
ASU has rushed for at least 100 yards as a team in 19 straight regular season games. It is the longest streak of rushing for over 100 yards as a team since the last 10 games of 1995, all 11 in 1996 and the first two of 1997 – a 23-game stretch over three seasons. The 19-game streak is the eighth-longest active streak in the nation.
The Sun Devils were the only team in the FBS to not allow a 50-yard play last season, and extended the program’s active streak of games without a 50-yard play allowed to an FBS-leading 16 games against NAU. The next closest team in Ole Miss at 12 games.
ASU is one of just three FBS teams to rank in the Top-35 nationally in fewest plays over 30 yards allowed in EACH of the last four seasons. Coincidentally, the other two teams in the category are the Pac-12’s Cal and Utah.
Under Herm Edwards, ASU has held opponents to 400 total yards of offense or less on 26 occasions over 44 games (59.1 percent of the time). For comparison, ASU accomplished the feat just 24 times in the 65 previous games (36.9 percent) from 2013-2017.
The 120 yards of total offense by Northern Arizona were the fourth-fewest by an ASU opponent since 1996. It was just the seventh time since 1996 that ASU has held an opponent to under 100 passing AND rushing yards.
Carter Brown’s four field goals in the opener were tied for the fourth-most in a single game since 1996 and are the most for any Sun Devil kicker in their debut performance in program history.
AN ASU VICTORY WOULD…
• Move ASU to 7-6 against AP-ranked teams under Herm Edwards.
• Be the fourth road win over an AP-ranked team in the Edwards era – notable as ASU had just three total from 2003-17.
• Give ASU a 9-2 record in regular season non-conference games since 2018.
• End Oklahoma State’s nine-game winning streak at Boone Pickens Stadium and keep the Cowboys from tying their school record for consecutive home victories.
• End OSU’s 10-game non-conference game winning streak.
• Be just the third loss for the Cowboys in its their last 23 nonconference games.
• Be just the third loss for OSU in its last 18 games overall – dating to 2020.
SMART DEVILS
• Arizona State University recorded a multiyear Academic Progress Rate (APR) average of 995 over a four-year period (2017-18 to 2020-21), an all-time ASU high and first in the Pac-12, the first time leading the conference. ASU’s single year overall APR score for 2020-21 is 994, which is the highest score in Arizona State history. Sun Devil Football earned a multiyear APR of 983, which is an all-time high for the program.
• The Sun Devils saw nine players (four draftees and five undrafted free agents) sign NFL contracts after last season. All nine of those players earned their undergraduate degrees while at ASU.
• The 2022 roster will feature 14 Sun Devils who are working toward graduate degrees.
RUSH HOUR
ASU has rushed for at least 100 yards as a team in 19 straight regular season games. It is the longest streak of rushing for over 100 yards as a team since the last 10 games of 1995, all 11 of 1996 and the first two of 1997 – a 23-game stretch over two seasons. The 19-game streak is the eighth-longest active streak in the FBS.
ASU had four rushing touchdowns in its opener. Despite playing significantly fewer games than the teams ahead of it, ASU’s 54 rushing touchdowns since the beginning of 2020 are 19th among all FBS teams. ASU has accomplished the feat in 18 games, where none of the 20 teams ranked ahead of ASU have fewer than 24 games over the last three years.
Since 2020, ASU has been stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage on just 5.5 percent of its rushes – the third-lowest tally in the FBS.
Since 2020, ASU has picked up a first down or touchdown on 32.0 percent of its rushes – 11th-most in the FBS and sixth in the Power Five.
Since the start of last year, ASU has 101 explosive runs (10+ yards) – 13th-most in the FBS. It had nine in the opener against NAU – 12th most in the FBS last week.
ASU has gone over the 200-yard mark on the ground in 11 of its last 20 games dating back to 2019. ASU has gone over 250 yards rushing in 8 of the last 17 games. In the Herm Edwards era, ASU has rushed for 200 or more yards 16 times and 250+ yards 13 times.
Last season, ASU finished the regular season 24th nationally with 202.3 yards per game.
TAKING OFFENSE
During the 2021 regular season against FBS opponents in non-garbage time, ASU had a +1.09 yards per play advantage between its offensive yards gained per play and defensive yards allowed per play. The net positive was 20th-highest in the nation.
ASU’s offense average 6.30 yards per play on the regular season (against FBS opponents in non-garbage time) – good for 34th in the FBS.
Against FBS opponents in the regular season, the Sun Devils pick up at least four yards per play on 61.3 percent of plays (18th in the FBS) and gained at least seven yards on 35.8 percent of plays (20th in the FBS).
ASU’s offense earned 53.2 percent of the total yards available during last regular season – the 33rd-best tally in the FBS.
According to CFB-Graphs.com, ASU’s Expected Points Added (EPA) per offensive play average was .158 – good for 14th in the FBS in the regular season. ASU’s .234 EPA on rushing plays were second in the country. The analytic site credits ASU’s offense with a positive play 49.0 percent of the time – the fifth-best ratio in the nation.
ASU was 18th in the nation in averaging 9.4 points per fourth quarter against FBS teams. in the regular season
ASU earned at least one first down on 80.2 percent of its drives during the regular season against FBS teams in non-garbage time – good for 9th in the FBS.
The team had a drive earn zero or negative yards just 5.7 percent of the time during the regular season, the sixth-lowest total in the nation.
THIRD TIMES THE CHARM
ASU had a third-down conversion rate of 44.0 against FBS opponents in the regular season, good for 29th in the country.
With Southern Utah included, ASU’s third-down conversion rate still sat at 43.8 percent – good for 31st in the FBS during the regular season.
This was a marked improvement for the Sun Devils over the past decade-plus. ASU was also 21st in the shortened season in 2020 (46.67). For perspective, ASU finished in the Top-25 in third-down conversions just once from 2009-2019 (23rd in 2017). It finished 47th or worse in every other year in that span at 75th or worse in six of those.
The team was especially deadly on third-and-short, converting 84.0 percent of its opportunities (21-of-25) with one or two yards to go on third down – third in the FBS during the regular season.
A HAND IN THE COOKIE JAR
ASU has forced 61 offensive turnovers overall since 2019, 17th among all FBS teams despite playing significantly fewer games than most schools in 2020.
ASU has outscored opponents 857-454 in points off takeaways since 2012.
Since 2012, ASU has scored 64.0 percent of the time following an opponent turnover (144 of 225) while finding the end zone 106 times in that span (47.1 percent).
Conversely, opponents have scored just 48.7 percent of the time following an ASU turnover since 2012 (77 of 158) with 58 touchdowns (36.7 percent).
ASU had two interceptions in the opener a year removed from finished eighth in the FBS with 16 interceptions.
GETTING DEFENSIVE
The Sun Devils didn’t allow a play longer than 15 yards in the opener against NAU.
ASU was the only team in the FBS to not allow a 50-yard play last year and extended its streak to 16 games without allowing a 50-yard play against NAU, the longest active streak in the FBS – four more than Ole Miss (12).
Last season, ASU was the final team in country to not allow an opponent play over 40 yards last year, a streak that came to a close against Washington State. Still, ASU’s four total 40-yard plays were the second-fewest in the nation.
The team had the third-fewest 30+ yard plays allowed with just 13.
ASU has allowed just seven plays over 50 yards to opponents since the 2018 season over 44 games. The .16 50+ yard plays per game allowed are second-fewest in the FBS in that time behind only Washington (.11 per game on 5 plays over 44 games). ASU ranked in the bottom 10 nationally in 50+ yards played allowed each year from 2014-17.
The last time ASU gave up a 50-yard play was a rush by UCLA’s Britain Brown in 2020.. It last gave up a 50-yard passing play in the 2019 Sun Bowl against Florida State, marking 18 straight games without a passing play over 50 yards.
Last season, the Sun Devils were 13th in the FBS and tops in the league in allowing just 326.0 yards of offense per game. ASU gave up just 120 to NAU in the opener – the fourth-lowest tally for any ASU opponent since 1996.
The Devils held NAU to under 100 yards passing AND rushing in the opener. Last season, ASU had nine occurrences last season in which it held an opponent to less than 100 yards rushing AND/OR less than 100 yards passing (6 games under 100 yards rushing/3 games under 100 yards passing). The nine total sub-100 stat lines in one category or the other were the most since 1996 (also 9 – 5 games under 100 yards rushing, 4 under 100 yard passing).
The three games holding opponents under 100 passing yards marked the first time that had happened since doing it thrice in 1996.
In non-garbage time against FBS opponents, ASU allowed just 5.21 yards per play last season, good for 23rd in the country.
Last season in non-garbage time against FBS opponents, teams gained 7 or more yards on a play just 18.5 percent of the time (11th-lowest in the FBS) and 10 or more yards just 8.9 percent of the time (16th in the FBS).
Under Herm Edwards, ASU has held opponents to the 400 or less mark for total offensive yards on 26 occasions over 44 games (59.1 percent of the time). For comparison, ASU accomplished the feat just 24 times in the 65 previous games (36.9 percent) from 2013-2017.
ASU is one of just three teams in the country to rank in the Top-35 in fewest plays over 30 yards allowed in EACH of the last four seasons (Cal, Utah)
Since 2018, ASU has allowed just 57 TOTAL 30-plus yard plays (1.3 per game/44 games)). For perspective, from 2014-17, ASU gave up 38, 44, 40, 40 such plays, respectively ranked 116th, 124th, 117th and 119th. ASU has given up just nine this season – good for second in the FBS.
KEEP ‘EM OFF THE BOARD
Last season, ASU was 22nd in the FBS and tops in the Pac-12 in allowing just 20.8 points per game. It held NAU to just three in the opener.
With second-half shutouts over UNLV, UCLA and Wisconsin last season, it was the first time ASU had held three opponents without a second-half point in a season since 2007. ASU also pitched a second half shutout against NAU in the opener.
Last year, ASU was third in the FBS in allowing just 7.1 second-half points per game against its FBS opponents. ASU outscored teams 192-92 in the second half of games last year and 110-42 in the fourth quarter.
Since 2019, ASU has allowed an opponent scoring drive just 109 times on 369 drives, a 29.5 score percentage that is the 25th-lowest in the FBS.
Since 2019, ASU has held opponents to a 23.7 scoring drive percentage in the second half of games (44 of 186) – the 7th-lowest in the FBS.
The Sun Devils have allowed just 120 offensive touchdowns (2.7 per game/44 games) since Herm Edwards assumed the reins in 2018 – among the Top-20-fewest among FBS programs. For reference, ASU gave up 109 offensive touchdowns alone between 2016 and 2017 (4.4 per game/25 games).
ASU has allowed just 52 second-half touchdowns to opponents since 2018 – 7th fewest in the FBS.
ASU has held opponents to less than 30 points in 31 of 44 games under Herm Edwards, notable as it DID allow 30+ in 32 of 43 previous games dating back to a span from 2013-17.
ASU finished 22nd in the FBS and tops in the Pac-12 in allowing just 20.8 points per game in 2021. In 2020, ASU was first in the Pac-12 in allowing just 23.2 points per game (32nd nationally). In 2019, ASU was 35th in the country, allowing 22.4 points per game. The Sun Devils allowed just 25.5 points per game in 2018, good for 53rd nationally. These totals are notable as ASU was 103rd nationally at 32.8 points per
game allowed in 2017 and had finished 99th or worse in three consecutive seasons prior.
NO FLY ZONE
ASU recorded multiple interceptions 13 times in the Herm Edwards era over 44 games (30 percent of games).
ASU finished 8th in the FBS last season with 16 interceptions and had two in the opener against NAU (and a third called back due to a penalty).
The Sun Devils have emphasized “cat” coverage under Herm Edwards – man coverage where its players are simply asked to guard their “cat”. Last season, ASU was lock down with there being an open target allowed just 46.1 percent of the time – the sixth-lowest tally in the Power Five.
Opponents had an NFL quarterback rating of just 78.2 last year – third-lowest in the FBS.
Three times last season, ASU has held an opponent under 100 passing yards – the most in a season since 1996. ASU also did so in the opener against NAU
ASU’s coverage forced incompletion rate of 10.6 percent during the last year – sixth in the FBS.
Since 2020, ASU has allowed an explosive passing play (15+ yards) just 12.3 percent of the time (83 on 662 attempts) – good for 22nd in the FBS.
Since Herm Edwards’ arrival in 2018, the Sun Devil secondary has allowed just 18 total passing plays over 40 yards. For perspective, it had 12 alone in 2017, 22 in 2016 and 24 in 2015 – the latter two ranked second to last and last, respectively, in the nation.
IN THE TRENCHES
LaDarius Henderson was the 11th-highest graded guard overall on offense in the Pac-12 (71.3) in the regular season in 2021. He earned PFF’s highest grade among Pac-12 guards in Week 1 (74.8) and was 26th among guards in the FBS.
Henderson was not credited with a QB pressure allowed in the opener. He allowed just 10 quarterback pressures last regular season- tied for fourth-fewest among Pac-12 offensive guards and among the Top 50 fewest among all guards in the FBS and was tied for 38th among FBS guards with just one sack allowed on the year.
Henderson played all but 12 snaps on offense for the entire season (of ASU’s 808 snaps).
A resilient athlete, Ben Scott started in all 13 games at right tackle for ASU and played on 794 of the Sun Devils’ 808 offensive plays on the season
His 83.0 run blocking score was 28th among all offensive tackles in the FBS last season with at least 500 snaps played
Scott had a negative grade on just 10.9 percent of his run-blocking plays on the season – sixth lowest in the Pac-12
The duo played a pivotal role in ASU averaging 202.3 rushing yards per game during the regular season, which was good for 24th in the FBS and the most for a full season at ASU since 2012 (205.4) – and just the eighth time ASU has rushed for over 200 yards per game since joining the Pac-12 in 1978
Only six of ASU’s sacks allowed during the 2021 regular season were credited solely to the offensive line, according to Pro Football Focus – the 10th-lowest tally in the FBS.
All told, the ASU offensive linemen alone allowed just 65 quarterback pressures during the regular season – 10 fewer than any other Pac-12 school and 17th-fewest in the FBS. As a team last year, only 30 pressures during the regular season came unblocked, good for the 16th-lowest total in the FBS.
ASU allowed a pressure on just 26.8 percent of quarterback dropbacks last year as a team during the regular season, the 21st-lowest total in the FBS. ASU quarterbacks were knocked down just 26 times during the regular season – 10th-lowest in the FBS.
ASU allowed just 21 sacks during the 2021 regular season – tied for 36th-fewest in the FBS and notable as – outside of 2018 (12th in FBS with only 16 allowed) and excluding the shortened 2020 season – ASU finished outside the Top-100 seven times (2012-17, 2019) in the last decade and have not been in the Top 75 in any season since AT LEAST 2005 (when the NCAA sacks allowed records start becoming more difficult to locate).
MERLIN’S MYSTICS
Merlin Robertson was named a captain in the preseason while also finding his name on the Butkus Award Watch List. and as an honorable mention linebacker by the Pac-12 Conference.
Robertson matched a career-high with 11 tackles in the team’s opener against NAU.
Last season among Pac-12 linebackers with 400+ snaps, Robertson was the sixth-highest graded one (65.9).
According to Pro Football Focus, Robertson has been credited with just 24 missed tackles in his career on 2,528 snaps, which is the second-fewest of any FBS linebacker with over 2000 snaps played over the last four+ seasons (USF’s Dwayne Boyles on 24 on 2,179 snaps – over 300 fewer than Robertson).
Robertson has 38 starts in his career, playing in 41 games and collecting 249 total tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks and six interceptions.
His 249 tackles are 22nd among active FBS players
He has played 2,528 career snaps – the second-most among active linebackers in the FBS this season (Troy’s Carlton Martial at 2,734) and seventh-most of any active defensive player in the FBS.
X GON’ GIVE IT TO YA
X Valladay is the FBS active leader in career rushing yards at 3,397 after his 116-yard effort with two touchdowns against NAU in the opener.
In four seasons with Wyoming, Valladay compiled 3,281 yards and 19 touchdowns on 626 carries and finished career as the second-leading rusher in program history
He also finished his Cowboys’ career with 51 catches for 584 yards and two touchdowns.
Valladay has 71 explosive runs (10+) yards since 2019 – tied for second among active FBS backs.
He has forced 107 missed tackles in his career, seventh among active FBS backs.
He eclipsed 1,000 yards in two seasons, including a 1,265-yard effort in 2019 which was the third-most in single-season program history
He earned Second Team All-MWC after rushing for 1,070 yards in 2021
Valladay put together 14 100-yard performances with the Cowboys and now has 15 in his career, including a 204-yard game in the Arizona Bowl victory over Georgia State in 2019
SILVERA IS GOLD
Nesta Jade Silvera has 45 career stops on run defense – good for 15th among active FBS interior linemen.
He has 25 career tackles for loss or stops for no gain on run defense as well, good for third among active FBS interior linemen.
A consistent presence over his four years at Miami, Silvera has now played in 42 games during his career and became a starter at defensive tackle his junior year and has started 18 games over the past two seasons in the ACC.
Silvera appeared in 11 games during the 2021 season, starting eight of them
In 2021, he was the fourth-highest graded interior lineman in the ACC last season among linemen with at least 200 snaps (74.1), playing 405 snaps on the year. He was the third-highest graded interior lineman in the league in run defense (77.0)
SIlvera was credited with 24 stops on last season, third among defensive interior players in the ACC last year – two shy of the league lead despite playing 80-150 fewer snaps than the two players ahead of him… 21 of those stops came on run defense – the highest tally in the league and 25th among all interior linemen in the FBS
He was extremely productive from his interior position, collecting 38 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss while also recovering a fumble. He also enjoyed a breakout junior season when he started 10 games and saw action in all 11 games for the Hurricanes in 2020 as he earned All-ACC Honorable Mention recognition after leading all interior defensive linemen in total tackles (35) and tackles for loss (8.0).
NEVERENDING KHOURY
Khoury Bethley played more snaps than any safety in the nation in 2021 (1,037) and the most by any FBS safety since 2016. It was the ninth-most safety snaps in a single season over the last decade.
His 2,724 career snaps are the most of any active FBS safety and the seventh-most of all FBS safeties over the previous four seasons. It is the second-most snaps of any active FBS player this season, regardless of position.
He enters the season tops among all active FBS defensive backs and sixth among active players with 296 career tackles. His 220 solo tackles are the most of any returning player in the FBS – 15 more than Troy’s Carlton Martial (205).
His 21.0 career tackles for loss are tops among all active FBS defensive backs.
We was credited with 38 defensive stops in 2021, third-most among all FBS safeties. His 85.3 grade from PFF as a pass rusher was ninth among FBS safeties
KEEPING UP WITH THE JONES’
Emory Jones has 1,320 rushing yards in his career – good for 13th among active FBS quarterbacks.
Since 2019, Jones has a PFF rushing grade of 87.4 – the highest of all active FBS quarterbacks.
36.4 percent of his career rushes have resulted in a first down or touchdown – 11th among active FBS quarterbacks.
He has been stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage on just 5.3 percent of his career rushes – the seventh-lowest total among active QBs.
In 2021, Jones made his first-career start at quarterback for Florida against FAU (Sept. 4) and appeared in all 13 games, starting 12.
He was named SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week following his performance vs. Tennessee and was named to the Davey O’Brien Great 8 Watch List following his performance against Vanderbilt.
His accumulation of 550 total yards against Samford was the best single game performance by a Gator in program history.
He threw for 2,734 yards with 19 touchdowns as a starting quarterback in the SEC and rushed for 758 yards with 4 touchdowns as well.
Averaged 5.4 yards per rush and 1,272 total rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in his career with the Gators.
CASE IN POINT
Named a team captain and played in 10 games in 2021 and enters 2022 season with 27 games of experience, Case Hatch makes the plays that don’t always show up in the stat sheet.
He played 155 of his 190 snaps last season as a run blocker, recording a run-blocking score of 77.1 on the year – the highest grade of any tight end in the Pac-12 and the 19th-highest grade among all FBS tight ends with at least 150 run blocking snaps
He received a positive run blocking grade on 16.8 percent of his snaps – the ninth-best tally among all FBS tight ends
He played 136 snaps on special teams, serving on all return and coverage units
GREEN LIGHT GO
B.J. Green was the team’s highest graded pass rusher last season, earning a score of 75.7 on pass rush snaps. He played 117 snaps on the year, of which 104 were as a pass rusher.
Green created a QB pressure (19 total) on 18.3 percent of his pass rush snap on the year, which was tops among any defensive lineman in the Pac-12 last year with at least 100 pass rushing snaps, ranking ahead of NFL first round draft pick Kayvon Thibodeaux (17.6).
It was the 31st-highest percentage of any player in the FBS and second among all interior defensive linemen behind only Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams (18.4 percent)
His pass rush productivity rating (a formula accounting for sacks/hits/pressures divided by play count) was 11.5 – the highest of any player in the Pac-12 with 100+ pass-rush snaps
This mark was good for 22nd in the nation and second of all interior linemen (again behind only Williams – 11.8)
Green “won” 22.1 percent of his pass rushing snaps on the year (a formula using pressures and defeated defenders, subtracting unblocked pressures and divided by pass rushing snaps), a total good for 32nd in the FBS among all players with at least 100 pass rushing stats and second among all interior lineman (Florida State’s Dennis Briggs. Jr. – 24.8)
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Notes
The Basics
The Oklahoma State football team (1-0 overall; 0-0 Big 12) hosts Arizona State (1-0 overall; 0-0 Pac12) at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, September 10, at Boone Pickens Stadium.
The Series
Saturday’s game marks the fourth meeting between Oklahoma State and Arizona State, with the Sun Devils holding a 2-1 advantage in the series. The first matchup came in 1984, as OSU upset No. 12 ASU, 45-3, in Tempe to open a 10-win season for the Cowboys. The Sun Devils came out on top in the next two meetings, winning 30-3 in Stillwater in 1991 and 12-10 in Tempe in 1993. Coach Mike Gundy has never faced Arizona State, but is 10-3 in his career against current members of the Pac-12. ASU coach Herm Edwards has never faced Oklahoma State.
Oklahoma State from a Distance
The Oklahoma State football team is 1-0 following a 58-44 win over Central Michigan in the 2022 season opener. The Cowboys jumped out to a 51-15 lead early in the second half and were able to let several young players get in-game experience during the second half. The headline of opening night was the play of quarterback Spencer Sanders, who turned in the best total offense performance in the FBS so far this season with 463 yards against the Chippewas. The senior also accounted career-best 406 yards and six total touchdowns to lead the Cowboys to win. Wide receiver Braydon Johnson also led the way in receiving after missing nearly all of last season. The defensive side of the ball broke in several new starters after losing multiple players to the NFL, but held its own by only allowing 15 first half points before rotating in some younger players.
An Oklahoma State Win Would …
• Improve its home winning streak to 10 games, matching the longest streak in school history. The only other 10-win home winning streaks came from 2002-03 and from 1911-13.
• Make it 2-0 for the sixth consecutive season.
• Improve its non-conference home winning streak to 11 games, matching the third-longest streak in school history and the longest since the 15-game streak from Sept. 19, 2009 – Sept. 3, 2016.
• Improve its all-time record against Arizona State to 2-2 and its record vs. ASU in Stillwater to 1-1.
• Improve Mike Gundy’s record against Pac-12 teams to 11-3.
• Make it 21-2 in its past 23 non-conference games and 43-8 in its past 50 non-conference games.
• Improve Mike Gundy’s record in non-conference games to 60-13.
• Make it 16-2 in its past 18 games overall, dating back to the 2020 season.
• Make it 150-68 in its history when playing as an AP-ranked team.
• Make it 137-39 in its history when playing as a higher AP-ranked team than its opponent.
• Make it 83-17 in its past 100 games vs. opponents outside of the AP Top 25, dating back to 2010.
Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
• OSU has won nine consecutive home games.
• Spencer Sanders has thrown 108 consecutive passes without an interception.
• OSU has held eight of its past 13 opponents under 100 yards rushing.
• OSU has held eight of its past 12 opponents under 200 yards passing.
• OSU has held 22 of its past 24 Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average.
• OSU has won 79 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 and longest since at least 1980.
• OSU has held its opponent scoreless on its game-opening drive in 25 of its past 32 games.
• OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50% third down conversion rate in 25 of its past 26 games.
• OSU is 32-12 in its past 44 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
• OSU is 40-6 in its past 46 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
• Dating back to 2005, OSU is 44-4 when not committing a turnover.
• Dating back to 2008, OSU is 70-8 when winning the turnover battle.
• OSU has won three of its past four overtime games.
• OSU has forced 30 turnovers in its past 19 games.
• Over the past 26 games, OSU has held opponents to 108-for-389 (27.8%) on third down.
Team and Player Notes
Win Indicators
There are many things that factor into whether a team wins a game, but a long-term look at the trends during Mike Gundy’s tenure at Oklahoma State shows that winning the turnover battle and winning the run game are two of the best ways to predict an OSU victory.
Since 2005, when the Cowboys win the turnover battle, they are 80-11 (87.9%). They are 44-4 (91.7%) in games when they commit zero turnovers. OSU is 115-27 under Gundy when outrushing the opponent (81.0%) and is 50-7 when holding the opponent under 100 yards on the ground (87.7%).
History also shows that OSU is tough to beat when it takes a lead into halftime, as the Cowboys are 114-13 when leading at intermission under Gundy (89.8%).
Gundy-coached teams are 71-0 when holding opponents to fewer than 20 points. OSU has won 79 consecutive games when holding its opponent to fewer than 20 points, dating to Sept. 13, 2003 – the longest active time frame in the nation and the longest since at least 1980.
Home Winning Streaks
Oklahoma State has won nine consecutive games played at Boone Pickens Stadium, which is tied for the third-longest home winning streak in school history. With one more, the Cowboys would tie the school record. Here’s a look at the longest streaks:
Longest Home Winning Streaks in School History
10 Sept. 21, 2002 – Oct. 18, 2003
Oct. 28, 1911 – Nov. 15, 1913
9 Nov. 28, 2020 – present
Oct. 20, 2012 – Dec. 7, 2013
Nov. 22, 1930 – Sept. 23, 1932
8 Sept. 3, 2011 – Sept. 29, 2012
Sept. 15, 1984 – Oct. 5, 1985
Defensive Line Depth
Oklahoma State closed out the 2021 season as the FBS leader with 57 total sacks on the year and was the only FBS team to average more than four sacks per game. Many of those sacks came with just a four-man rush and were a result of pressure forced by the defensive line. OSU’s defensive ends headline the unit, as the Cowboys have four all-conference caliber edge rushers in Collin Oliver, Brock Martin, Tyler Lacy and Trace Ford. They are anchored by an interior group that includes super seniors Brendon Evers and Sione Asi. The unit combines for 106 FBS starts and is the deepest and most trusted position group on the roster.
As Experienced as it Gets Up Front
Oklahoma State’s starting front four on the defensive line is among the oldest and most experienced in college football history. They have all already graduated from Oklahoma State, too. A look:
Name Birthdate Age on Sept. 10, 2022 Career FBS Games Played
Brock Martin March 1, 1999 23 years, 193 days 51
Brendon Evers July 11, 1998 24 years, 61 days 49
Sione Asi September 13, 1996 25 years, 362 days 28
Tyler Lacy November 10, 1999 22 years, 304 days 36
Average Age: 24 years, 47 days
Total FBS Games Played: 164
Average FBS Games Played: 41
Interception Avoidance
Spencer Sanders has thrown a progressively lower percentage of interceptions in each season of his career, but what he’s done recently has taken it to another level. With no interceptions in more than two games, Sanders has now thrown for a career-best streak of 108 passes without being picked off. Here’s a look at how it stacks up with the longest streaks in school history:
Most Consecutive Pass Attempts Without an Interception in OSU History
- 216 Mason Rudolph Nov. 5, 2016-Sept. 16, 2017
- 194 Brandon Weeden Sept. 7-Oct. 22, 2011
- 164 Mason Rudolph Sept. 24-Nov. 5, 2016
- 146 J.W. Walsh Oct. 13, 2012-Sept. 14, 2013
- 142 Taylor Cornelius Oct. 27-Nov. 17, 2018
- 139 Mason Rudolph Oct. 31-Nov. 28, 2015
- 138 Mike Gundy Sept. 13-Nov. 1, 1986
- 113 Josh Fields Nov. 9-Dec. 27, 2002
- 112 Brandon Weeden Oct. 23-Nov. 13, 2010
112 Rusty Hilger Nov. 12, 1983-Oct. 6, 1984 - 109 Mason Rudolph Nov. 18-Dec. 28, 2017
- 108 Spencer Sanders Dec. 4, 2021-present
- 104 Spencer Sanders Nov. 6-Nov. 27, 2021
- 102 Aso Pogi Sept. 8-Oct. 13, 2001
- 91 Mike Gundy Sept. 5-26, 1987
Big Play Machine: Jason Taylor II
OSU safety Jason Taylor has earned a reputation as a big playmaker. In his career, he has an 85-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of a 20-18 win at Kansas State in 2020, an onside kick return for a 48-yard touchdown in the second half of a 50-44 win over Texas Tech in 2020, an 85- yard pick six in a 32-24 win at Texas in 2021, a blocked fourth-quarter field goal attempt in OSU’s 21-20 win at Boise State in 2021 and a one-handed onside kick recovery in the closing seconds of OSU’s 37-35 Fiesta Bowl win over Notre Dame. He also had a pick six called back for a penalty away from the play in OSU’s 2021 win over Tulsa. Other big plays include a diving interception against Kansas in 2021 and a strip sack at West Virginia in 2021 that caused a 26-yard loss. His three career non-offensive touchdowns are enough to rank No. 9 among all active FBS players
Sat., Sep. 10 @ 7:00 pm CT
Tarleton Texans
Notes
NO NOTES AVAILABLE
TCU Horned Frogs
Notes
ABOUT THE GAME
TCU will make its home debut under Head Coach Sonny Dykes when it hosts Tarleton on Saturday at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
The Horned Frogs and Texans will be meeting for the first time on the gridiron. Dykes has never faced Tarleton as a head coach.
TCU will be playing its only home game in the month of September.
TCU has won 19 of its last 20 home openers.
RECAPPING COLORADO
TCU opened its season with a 38-13 win at Colorado, its eighth straight victory over a Pac-12 opponent.
The Horned Frogs totaled 346 yards of offense in the second half and held the Buffaloes without a touchdown until 1:13 was left in the game.
Derius Davis’ 60-yard punt return for a touchdown tied TCU’s all-time record of four held by KaVontae Turpin (2015-18). It was the fifth career special teams score for Davis.
MEET THE NEW BOSS
Sonny Dykes is in his first season as head coach of the Horned Frogs, but second overall at TCU.
Dykes was an offensive analyst on the 2017 TCU team that posted an 11-3 record, played in the Big 12 Championship Game and finished the season with a No. 9 national ranking, its last top-10 appearance.
Dykes was head coach at SMU the past four seasons (2018-21). He led the Mustangs to three consecutive winning records for the first time since
the mid-1980s and their first back-to-back wins over TCU since 1992-93.
Dykes also served as head football coach at Cal (2013-16) and Louisiana Tech (2010-12).
He is the son of legendary Texas Tech Head Football Coach Spike Dykes. Spike coached the Red Raiders from 1986-99.
Sonny Dykes lettered two seasons in baseball at Texas Tech.
LOCAL GUY
First-year TCU Defensive Coordinator Joe Gillespie is a native of Stephenville and Tarleton State graduate.
Gillespie spent the previous seven seasons at Tulsa, including the final three as defensive coordinator. In 2020, he was named National
Linebackers Coach of the Year by FootballScoop.com and was a finalist for Defensive Coordinator of the Year.
Prior to his time with the Golden Hurricane, Gillespie coached high school football for 20 years in Texas, including serving as head football coach and athletics director (2008-14) at Stephenville High School. His teams went 72-23 (.758), winning a 2012 state championship, capturing three district titles while sharing one and advancing to the state playoffs seven times.
SEVENTH IS JUST FINE
TCU was seventh in the Big 12 preseason poll. The last time it was picked seventh was 2014, when it won the Big 12 championship.
RECRUITING REPORT
TCU’s 2022 signing class was ranked third in the Big 12 by 247Sports in per player rating.
The Horned Frogs were 13th nationally in the 247Sports transfer rankings.
TCU had the Big 12’s third-rated and nation’s No. 28 overall class for signees and transfers. It was exceptional for the limited time frame available with Head Coach Sonny Dykes arriving on Nov. 30.
TCU NOTABLES
True freshman nose tackle Damonic Williams turned 18 on Sunday. He was just 17 years old when he started at Colorado and made a key fourth-down stop at the TCU 15 on the game’s opening series. He later added a sack as part of three tackles on the night.
Punter Jordy Sandy is donating $20 to Fort Worth’s Hope Center for Autism for every punt inside the 20-yard line. Sandy has a 9-year-old cousin with autism back home in Australia. He totaled $40 in contributions at Colorado with two punts inside the 20, including one at the 1.
RECAPPING COLORADO
After totaling just 67 yards in the first half, the Horned Frogs had 346 in the second half for a total of 413.
TCU rushed for 275 yards. 4Nine Horned Frogs combined for the team’s 15 receptions.
Quarterback Chandler Morris made his third career start. He was 13-of-20 passing for 111 yards while adding 18 yards rushing on four carries.
Also making his first career TCU start was center Alan Ali, who started 39 games at SMU over the previous four seasons.
Kendre Miller rushed for a team-high 52 yards on eight attempts, including a 3-yard scoring run.
Emari Demercado’s 43-yard touchdown run also marked a career-long carry.
Derius Davis had a 27-yard touchdown run, his second career rushing score, to go with his 60-yard punt return for a touchdown. He also had two
receptions for 25 yards.
Max Duggan had a 33-yard gain on his first rushing attempt. He finished with 41 yards on three carries while completing 2-of-3 passes for 27 yards.
Savion Williams had a career-high three receptions for 31 yards, tying Quentin Johnston for team-best honors.
Sam Jackson scored his first career touchdown on a 7-yard run for TCU’s final points in the game.
Taye Barber had a reception for 9 yards. His 123 career catches are the most among current Horned Frogs.
Trent Battle made his collegiate debut and had two carries for 4 yards.
Jared Wiley had two receptions for 13 yards in his first game as a Horned Frog.
True freshman Jordan Hudson had an 8-yard catch for his first career reception.
IT’S A RUSH
TCU’s 275 yards rushing at Colorado made it 105-8 in its last 113 games when running for at least 200.
The Horned Frogs ran for 394 yards in a 52-31 win at Texas Tech last season for their highest output since rushing for 431 in a 62-22 victory at Baylor in 2016. The Horned Frogs ran the ball on 47 of 57 snaps against the Red Raiders
FROG OFFENSIVE NOTES
The 461 yards passing by Morris were fourth-most in a game in TCU history:
Name Yards Passing
- Matt Vogler, vs. Houston, 1990 690
- Trevone Boykin, vs. Texas Tech, 2015 485
- Casey Pachall, vs. Boise State, 2011 473
- Chandler Morris, vs. Baylor, 2021 461
Morris ranked third in Big 12 history for most passing yards in a first career start. The 461 yards were also the third-most nationally since 2012 for a player in his first career start. No. 1 on the list is Kenny Hill, Morris’ position coach last season, with 511 for Texas A&M in 2014. Hill later transferred to TCU.
Morris had TCU’s first 400-yard passing game since Hill threw for 449 versus Oklahoma in 2016.
Morris scored his first touchdown as a Horned Frog on a 12-yard first-quarter keeper. He finished with 70 yards rushing on 11 carries while adding a 7-yard reception in the game.
SELECT COMPANY
TCU is one of just two schools nationally to have players with career averages of at least seven yards a carry and 19 yards per reception:
Names Team
Kendre Miller (7.3) TCU
Quentin Johnston (19.5)
DeWayne McBride (7.2) UAB
Trea Shropshire (22.1)
MILESTONE WATCH
With 25 yards receiving at Colorado, Derius Davis is now at 1,007 for his career. He is the third current Horned Frog to reach that mark, joining Taye Barber (1,516) and Quentin Johnston (1,093).
Emari Demercado has 983 career yards rushing and needs 17 for 1,000.
MR. RELIABLE
In three of the last four games in 2021, Emari Demercado was the Horned Frogs’ lone remaining scholarship running back. He responded with the top-three rushing games of his career:
Opponent Yards (Atts.)
Oklahoma State, Nov. 13 115 (14)
Kansas, Nov. 20 89 (18)
Iowa State, Nov. 26 65 (15)
The scenario was nothing new to Demercado. In 2018, he was the only available scholarship running back when TCU won 16-9 at Baylor. He ran for a then-career high 60 yards in that game.
In the 30-28 win over Baylor last season, Demercado had a career-best 19 carries while his four receptions for 55 yards were one short of a career high.
MILLER TIME
Kendre Miller ranks No. 1 nationally among active Power 5 players in career yards per carry:
Name Yards Per Carry
- Kendre Miller, TCU 7.33
- Zach Evans, Ole Miss 7.19
- Braelon Allen, Wisconsin 7.08
- Devon Achane, Texas A&M 6.89
- TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State 6.76
Miller is No. 2 nationally when it comes to all FBS players:
Name Yards Per Carry
- Tyrell Robinson, Army 8.28
- Kendre Miller, TCU 7.33
- DeWayne McBride, UAB 7.21
- Zach Evans, Ole Miss 7.19
- Braelon Allen, Wisconsin 7.08
IMPACTING THE RECORD BOOK
In his first two seasons at TCU, Kendre Miller has two of the top-six yards per carry averages in program history:
Name Yards Per Carry
- Jim Swink, 1955 8.17*
- Zach Evans, 2020 7.68
- Kenneth Davis, 1984 7.63^
- Kendre Miller, 2021 7.51
- Waymon James, 2011 7.23
- Kendre Miller, 2020 7.18
*Led the nation as Swink finished second in Heisman Trophy voting
^Ranked No. 1 in the country with Davis placing fifth in Heisman Trophy voting
ALL BY HIMSELF
With his scoring runs of 33, 75 and 45 yards at Texas Tech, Kendre Miller was the only player nationally last season to have three touchdown carries of at least 33 yards in the same game.
Miller is one of just seven players to accomplish the feat since 2018 and the first since Buffalo’s Jaret Patterson against Kent State in 2020.
THE WR ROOM
Dating back to last season, Quentin Johnston has topped 100 yards receiving in three of his last six games.
Taye Barber, named after actor Taye Diggs, tops all current Horned Frogs with 123 career receptions.
Once called “pound-for-pound the strongest guy on the team,” 5-foot-10, 175-pound wide receiver Derius Davis has a 550 squat, 370 bench and 350 clean while being clocked at 4.3 in the 40.
TEAM AWARD
The TCU football staff selected the offensive line as its Offensive Players of the Week in the win over Colorado.
FROG DEFENSIVE NOTES
MEET THE NEW DC
Joe Gillespie is in his first season as TCU’s defensive coordinator, but no stranger to the state of Texas.
Gillespie spent the previous seven seasons at Tulsa, including the final three as defensive coordinator. In 2020, he was named National Linebackers Coach of the Year by FootballScoop.com and was a finalist for Defensive Coordinator of the Year. Among the players Gillespie coached at Tulsa was 2020 Consensus All-America linebacker Zaven Collins, who was selected by the Arizona Cardinals as the 16th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Prior to his time with the Golden Hurricane, Gillespie coached high school football for 20 years in Texas, including serving as head football coach and athletics director (2008-14) at Stephenville High School. His teams went 72-23 (.758), winning a 2012 state championship, capturing three district titles while sharing one and advancing to the state playoffs seven times.
RECAPPING COLORADO
Colorado was held to 273 yards of offense and no touchdowns before a late 75-yard scoring drive against TCU reserves with 1:13 left in the game.
The 348 yards allowed were the fewest TCU has surrendered to a Power 5 opponent since Kansas was held to 268 on Nov. 28, 2020.
TCU’s defense set the tone early and came up big when it mattered most.
Three of Colorado’s opening four possessions saw it drive inside the TCU 20, but the Buffs were held to a pair of field goals.
On the game’s opening drive, TCU’s 17-year-old true freshman nose tackle Damonic Williams combined with Jamoi Hodge on a stop for no gain when
Colorado went for it with a rush on 4th-and-1 at the TCU 15.
TCU’s starting defense featured four newcomers: linebacker Johnny Hodges (Navy), cornerback Josh Newton (ULM), safety Mark Perry (Colorado) and true freshman nose tackle Damonic Williams. Also making his first TCU start was junior safety Abe Camara.
Jamoi Hodge, Dee Winters and newcomer Namdi Obiazor tied for team-high honors with five tackles each.
Winters totaled 2.5 tackles for loss, including a sack for a loss of 12 yards, a pass breakup and quarterback hurry.
Perry had four tackles against his former team.
Williams had his first career sack in his collegiate debut, along with combining with Hodge on a stop for no gain on a 4th-and-1 at the TCU 15 to thwart a Colorado scoring threat on the game’s opening series.
Dylan Horton had two quarterback hurries.
Millard Bradford and Kee’yon Stewart both had two pass breakups.
SNAP COUNT
Below are the Horned Frogs who played the most snaps on defense at Colorado:
Name Snaps
Dee Winters, LB 64
Abe Camara, S 55
Johnny Hodges, LB 52
Mark Perry, S 51
Jamoi Hodge, LB 45
Millard Bradford, S 43
Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB 43
Dylan Horton, DE 37
HORNED FROG ISLAND
Entering the 2022 campaign, over the last three seasons, Pro Football Focus had two Horned Frogs among the top-three highest graded Big 12 cornerbacks in press coverage:
Name Grade
Noah Daniels, TCU 83.7
DaMarcus Fields, Texas Tech 81.4
Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU 77.8
MORE THAN A NEPHEW
2020 All-American and two-time First-Team All-Big 12 selection Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson is the nephew of Pro Football Hall of Famer and TCU Board of Trustees member LaDainian Tomlinson.
Despite teams consistently throwing away from him last season, Hodges-Tomlinson had a team-best two interceptions, seven pass breakups and two
forced fumbles.
His second pick was returned 29 yards for a touchdown in a 52-31 win at Texas Tech which helped him earn Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Hodges-Tomlinson was sixth on TCU with 42 tackles in 2021, more than his first two years combined (34).
Exclusively a cornerback in his TCU career, he moved to safety midway through the Texas game when the Horned Frogs became thin at the position. He responded with a career-high 10 tackles while forcing a fumble.
Hodges-Tomlinson had a stretch of three straight games last season in which he either tied or set a career-high in tackles.
FROG DEFENSIVE NOTES
THE VETERAN
Sixth-year defensive lineman Terrell Cooper tops all TCU defensive players and ranks third overall on the team with 27 career starts. Linebacker Dee Winters is second on the defense and fourth overall with 25 starts.
IT’S A HODGE THING
Three of TCU’s 11 defensive starters are linebackers Jamoi Hodge and Johnny Hodges as well as cornerback Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson.
DEFENSIVE LEADERS
TCU’s game-by-game leader in tackles last season:
Opponent Name Tackles
Colorado Jamoi Hodge 5
Namdi Obiazor 5
Dee Winters 5
ELDER STATESMAN
TCU has three sixth-year players on its defense in linemen Terrell Cooper and George Ellis and cornerback Noah Daniels.
THE NEWCOMERS
Included below are TCU’s defensive newcomers via the transfer portal:
Ish Burdine, CB (Missouri)
Terrence Cooks, LB (Texas)
Caleb Fox, DL (Stephen F. Austin)
Johnny Hodges, LB (Navy)
Tymon Mitchell, DL (Georgia)
Josh Newton, CB (ULM)
Mark Perry, S (Colorado)
Lwal Uguak, DL (UConn)
THE FORMER BUFF
TCU safety Mark Perry spent the first three seasons of his collegiate career at Colorado.
Perry played in all 12 games last season and had a team-best three interceptions while placing third on the Buffaloes with 72 tackles. All three of his picks came in the final seven games. He tied for third on the team with four pass breakups.
A Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., native, Perry totaled a career-high 11 tackles to go with a fumble recovery on just 55 snaps against USC. He had nine tackles, including one for loss, the previous game versus Arizona State.
MAKING AN IMPRESSION
Linebacker Johnny Hodges played the previous two seasons at Navy and had two of his better games versus current TCU Head Coach Sonny Dykes and
Defensive Coordinator Joe Gillespie.
Against SMU and then Mustang head coach Dykes, Hodges totaled a career-high 14 tackles, including one for loss, with an interception and pass breakup.
Versus Tulsa and then Golden Hurricane defensive coordinator Gillespie, Hodges posted seven stops with two for loss, a sack and forced fumble.
Hodges placed fourth on the Midshipmen with 50 tackles last season, despite playing just nine games. He made seven starts.
NAME CHANGE
After going by his nickname Nook his first three seasons at TCU, safety Millard Bradford is now known by his given first name.
CHASING THE QB
Dylan Horton led TCU last season with 9.0 tackles for loss while tying for the team lead with 4.0 sacks.
At 6-foot-4 and 275 pounds, Horton has a 38-inch vertical jump with a 10-0 broad jump. He has 4.55 speed in the 40 and has power cleaned 400 pounds and squatted 700.
Horton was a high school safety.
THE FREAK
Cornerback Noah Daniels was named to Bruce Feldman’s 2021 College Football Freaks list.
Daniels has been timed as fast as 4.27 in the 40, 10.34 in the 100 and 21.01 in the 200 meters. Included below are Daniels’ weight room numbers:
Name 40 Bench Clean Vertical
Daniels 4.27 405 400 37 inch
NORTH SHORE PRIDE
TCU’s two interceptions in its 30-28 win over Baylor last season were both by graduates of North Shore High School in Houston.
Cornerback Kee’yon Stewart, making his season debut after missing the opening eight games due to injury, had a late third quarter end zone pick off a deflection by Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson.
Linebacker Shadrach Banks, a converted wide receiver, made the game-saving play with his interception at the TCU 28 with 1:03 remaining.
The 250-pound Banks was back deep earlier last season on kickoff returns.
NON-OFFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS
Since 2010, TCU has 55 non-offensive touchdowns from 23 interception returns, 13 punt returns, 10 fumble returns and nine kickoff returns.
TCU had three non-offensive touchdowns last season:
FROG SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
FINDING PAYDIRT
With his 60-yard punt return for a touchdown at Colorado, Derius Davis tied KaVontae Turpin’s TCU career record of four punt returns for scores:
Name Punt Return TDs
Derius Davis, 2018-present 4
KaVontae Turpin, 2015-18 4
Linzy Cole, 1968-69 3
Blanard Spearman, 1930-32 3
The four punt returns for touchdowns by Davis are on just 29 career attempts.
Turpin is playing for the Dallas Cowboys.
Combined with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against West Virginia last season, Davis has five career special teams scores. He trails Turpin by one for the top spot in TCU history:
Name Special Teams TDs
KaVontae Turpin, 2015-18 6
(4 punt returns, two kickoff returns)
Derius Davis, 2018-present 5
(4 punt returns, one kickoff return)
Davis’ 100-yard return of the opening kickoff versus West Virginia in 2021 was TCU’s first kickoff return for a touchdown since Turpin went 99 yards against Oklahoma in 2018.
It was the first time TCU returned the game’s opening kickoff for a touchdown since at least 1996.
The 100-yard kickoff return by Davis tied for second-longest in TCU history (105 yards, Charles Casper versus Texas, 1933). It was also the Horned Frogs’ longest since B.J. Catalon went 100 yards against LSU in 2013.
Davis averaged 10.2 yards on nine punt returns last season. He was second in the Big 12 and would have been 13th in the FBS if he had enough attempts (1.2 per game) to qualify for listing.
Davis led the Big 12 and ranked fifth nationally in 2020 with a 14.5-yard average.
A PUNT RETURN TRADITION
The following are the six Horned Frogs with punt returns for touchdowns since 2012:
Name Season
Deante’ Gray, vs. Grambling State 2012
Cameron Echols-Luper, at Kansas 2014
KaVontae Turpin, vs. Kansas 2015
KaVontae Turpin, vs. South Dakota State 2016
KaVontae Turpin, vs. Kansas 2017
Desmon White, vs. Stanford 2017
Derius Davis, vs. Southern 2018
KaVontae Turpin, at SMU 2018
Jalen Reagor, vs. Kansas 2019
Jalen Reagor, vs. West Virginia 2019
Derius Davis, at Baylor 2020
Derius Davis, at Kansas 2020
Derius Davis, at Colorado 2022
The returns by White, Davis and Turpin (2017-18) make TCU the only FBS school in the nation since 1996 with a punt return for a touchdown by three different players in three consecutive games.
FROM DOWN UNDER
Jordy Sandy, from Traralgon, Australia, is in his fourth season as TCU’s punter. He is 29 years old.
Before arriving at TCU, he worked with scaffolding and paper mill companies in Australia.
Sandy had a 41.3 average on three punts at Colorado. Two of his boots landed inside the 20, including one at the 1.
Sandy increased his season average each year heading into 2022:
Year Att. Avg. I20 I10 TB LG 50+
2019 61 38.4 25 12 5 55 9
2020 57 41.0 24 10 3 55 8
2021 43 43.3 13 6 3 64 8
2022 3 41.3 2 1 0 47 0
Sandy’s 43.3 average in 2021 ranked fifth for a season in TCU history and was the program’s best since Ethan Perry’s 44.5 mark in 2012:
Name Average
Chris Becker, 1986 46.1
Ethan Perry, 2012 44.5
James Gargus, 1981 44.2
Chris Becker, 1987 44.0
Jordy Sandy, 2021 43.3
Sam Baugh, 1935 43.0*
*Led the nation
Sandy had a career long 64-yard punt against Cal, the longest by a Horned Frog since Perry’s 67-yard boot against Minnesota in 2014. He added a 62-yard punt against Texas that was downed at the 1-yard line.
Sandy was rated by 247Sports as the No. 5 punter in the Class of 2019. He was ranked No. 1 in Australia.
AGE IS JUST A NUMBER
Jordy Sandy is the nation’s fourth-oldest player:
Name Age (Birthdate)
Tom Hutton, P, Oklahoma State 32 (3/3/90)
Luke Larsen, P, East Carolina 30 (7/18/92)
Hugh Robertson, P, Illinois 29 (1/16/93)
Jordy Sandy, P, TCU 29 (5/27/93)
Lou Hedley, P, Miami (Fla.) 29 (6/26/93)
FUTURE SID
Jordy Sandy interned this summer in the TCU Athletics Communications Office. Most of his work centered on football projects.
SPLITTING UPRIGHTS
Griffin Kell was successful from 33 yards on his lone field-goal attempt at Colorado. He is now 30-of-40 in his career.
Kell made all five of his PATs at Colorado, extending his consecutive streak to 70. It ranks fourth all-time at TCU:
Name Consecutive PATs Made
Jaden Oberkrom, 2014-15 102
Jaden Oberkrom, 2012-14 100
Michael Reeder, 1994-97 79
Griffin Kell, 2020-present 70
Kell is 84-of-85 on PATs in his career.
Kell’s game-winning 25-yard field goal with 6 seconds to play gave TCU a 31-28 win over Kansas last season.
Kell made his first three field-goal attempts (30, 46, 24 yards) in the 30-28 win over Baylor, giving him 11 straight makes and tying Nick Browne (2002) for the eighth-longest streak in TCU history.
Kell was 4-of-4 on field goals in the 2020 win at Texas, making kicks from 27, 32, 49 and 28 yards. His four field goals and three PATs gave him 15 kick scoring points, tying for ninth-most in a game in TCU history.
Kell was 3-of-4 on field goals in 2019 with his only miss from 57 yards. His 52-yard field goal against Texas was the longest make by a Horned Frog since Jaden Oberkrom’s 57-yard kick against West Virginia in 2015. It was the longest field goal for Kell in either college or high school.
Kell, from nearby Arlington, was trained by Oberkrom, a 2015 All-American and the Big 12’s career leader in field goals made with 79 (2012-15).
TACKLE TALLIES
Colorado did not have a punt or kickoff return against TCU.
Included below are the Horned Frogs’ 2021 special teams tackles from last year:
Name Tackles
Josh Foster 4 (2 U, 2 A)
Shadrach Banks 3 (3 U)
Thomas Armstrong 2 (1 U, 1 A)
Gunnar Henderson 2 (2 U)
Griffin Kell 2 (2 U)
Zach Marcheselli 2 (2 A)
D’Arco Perkins-McAllister 2 (2 A)
Deryl Reynolds 2 (2 U)
Marcel Brooks 1 (1 U)
Abe Camara 1 (1 U)
Blair Conwright 1 (1 U)
Derius Davis 1 (1 U)
Jamoi Hodge 1 (1 U)
Jaionte McMillan 1 (1 U)
Jordy Sandy 1 (1 U)
Dee Winters 1 (1 A)
Josh Foster has either led or tied for the top spot in special teams tackles in each of his first three seasons.
THE TURNOVER STORY
There were no turnovers in TCU’s season opener at Colorado:
Opponent Turnover Margin
Colorado E
The Horned Frogs have lost just 11 times in their last 95 games when ahead in turnover margin with two of those defeats being last season to SMU and Oklahoma State. The SMU game was also only the sixth TCU defeat in the last 58 contests when it totaled at least three takeways. The Horned Frogs had three interceptions.
Over the last 18 seasons, TCU is 124-23 when ahead (84-11) or even (40-12) in turnover margin and 28-41 when on the negative side.
TCU is 52-6 in its last 58 games with at least three takeaways.
Since the start of the 2005 campaign, TCU is 152-64. In 29 of the 64 defeats, the Horned Frogs were minus 2 or worse in turnover margin.
BALL CONTROL
The Horned Frogs have led in time of possession in 25 of their last 38 contests dating back to 2018.
Included below is the Horned Frogs’ TOP in each contest this season:
Opponent Time of Possession
Colorado 26:42
The 36:23 against Cal last season was TCU’s most since a 43:26 mark in a 33-31 win at Texas Tech in 2019. That total was the Horned Frogs’ highest since 2008, when they held the ball for 43:29 in a 41-7 victory over San Diego State.
FINDING THE SCOREBOARD
TCU ranks second in NCAA history for consecutive games scoring:
No. Team Games (Last Shutout)
- Florida 424 (Oct. 29, 1988 vs. Auburn, 16-0)
- TCU 368 (Nov. 16, 1991 at Texas, 32-0)
TCU moved past Michigan (365, 1984-2014) into second place in NCAA history with its 31-28 win over Kansas last season.
FROG TIDBITS
HOME SWEET HOME
The donor-funded $113 million Legends Club & Suites on the east side of Amon G. Carter Stadium opened in 2020. The world-class venue has two levels of premium seating and includes 48 loge boxes with two private clubs, over 1,000 club seats and 22 luxury suites.
The $164 million rebuild of Amon G. Carter Stadium, completed in 2012, was funded entirely by donor support and featured a seating capacity of 45,000.
The six Founders Club suites, located at midfield on the concourse level, were sold at $15 million each to provide lead gifts totaling $90 million.
There are 25 suites, all sold, on the west side.
Yahoo! Sports ranked Amon G. Carter Stadium as the best stadium in the Big 12.
HORNED FROGS FEVER
Nine of the top 10 home crowds in TCU history have come since TCU began Big 12 play in 2012.
TCU sold out of football season tickets four times in the last 11 campaigns. TCU set a school record for season ticket sales in five of the past 12 seasons.
Nearly 35,000 TCU fans traveled to the 2011 Rose Bowl. Over 20,000 made the trip the previous year to the Fiesta Bowl. At its first New Year’s Six bowl, TCU had 15,000 fans at the 2014 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
THE NON-CONFERENCE SLATE
Since beginning Big 12 play in 2012, TCU is in the midst of a stretch of nonconference Power Five opponents that began with Virginia (2012), LSU (2013), Minnesota (2014-15), Arkansas (2016-17), Ohio State (2018) and Cal (2020-21) and continues with Purdue (2019, 2030), Colorado (2022-23), Stanford (2024, 2027), North Carolina (2025-26) and Duke (2028-29).
BONUS FOOTBALL
TCU is 9-9 since the NCAA adopted overtime play in 1996.
HISTORY MAKING
On Dec. 5, 2010, TCU became the only team in college football history to receive an invitation to the Rose Bowl and implode its stadium on the same day.
SELECT COMPANY
TCU is one of just 21 schools to have won multiple national championships (1935, 1938) and produce a Heisman Trophy winner (Davey O’Brien, 1938).
The other schools are Alabama, Army, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami (Fla.), Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Pittsburgh, SMU, Texas, Texas A&M and USC.
A TRIO OF EXCELLENCE
TCU is one of just nine schools nationally with a Heisman Trophy winner (Davey O’Brien, 1938), NFL Most Valuable Player (LaDainian Tomlinson, 2006) and \Super Bowl MVP (Larry Brown, Dallas Cowboys, Super Bowl XXX).
The others are Alabama, BYU, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Syracuse and USC.
CHECKING THE LEDGER
TCU is 668-564-57 (.540) in its football history which began in 1896.
COLLEGE GAMEDAY
TCU is 6-1 when ESPN’s College GameDay has been present for its games:
Year Opponent Result
2009 at No. 16 BYU W, 38-7
2009 No. 16 Utah W, 55-28
2010 at No. 5 Utah W, 47-7
2011 vs. No. 5 Wisconsin* W, 21-19
2014 at No. 20 West Virginia W, 31-30
2017 No. 23 West Virginia W, 31-24
2018 vs. No. 4 Ohio State^ L, 28-40
*Rose Bowl
^Arlington, Texas
The Horned Frogs are 5-0 when the game has been played on a campus.
Sat., Sep. 10 @ 8:15 pm MT
Baylor Bears at BYU Cougars
Notes
STORY LINES
• Baylor enters the 2022 season coming off the best season in school history, shattering the program standard with 12 wins while winning the 2021 Big 12 Championship and Sugar Bowl.
• The Bears must replace six selections in the 2022 NFL Draft, including safety Jalen Pitre (second round, Texans), wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (second round, Patriots), safety JT Woods (third round, Chargers), linebacker Terrel Bernard (third round, Bills), running back Trestan Ebner (sixth round, Bears) and cornerback Kalon Barnes (seventh round, Panthers).
• BU is under the direction of third-year head coach Dave Aranda, the 2021 George Munger and Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year. Aranda took over prior to the 2020 season after a historic run for four years as the associate head coach and defensive coordinator at LSU, helping the Tigers to the 2019 National Championship and 2019 Southeastern Conference Championship.
• After being picked to finish eighth in the Big 12 in the preseason in 2021, the Bears finished the season with the league crown, a school-record 12-2 record, the 2021 Sugar Bowl Championship and a No. 5 national ranking – the highest final season ranking in program annals. BU enters the season as the preseason pick to win the Big 12.
• The Bears were led by a stingy defensive attack in 2021 that held every opponent to 30-points or fewer, one of only three teams in the nation to accomplish the feat.
• BU’s offensive attack in 2021 was led by a rushing game that ranked 10th nationally in yards per game (219.3) and yards per rush (5.37), while Abram Smith set the school record for single-season rushing yards (1,621) and nine 100+ yard rushing outings.
• Baylor returns the second-most games played among its four returning starting offensive linemen in the nation. The Bears are led on the front five by preseason All-America selections in Connnor Galvin and Jacob Gall.
• Defensive lineman Siaki Ika is a preseason All-American by five outlets, including Athlon Sports, Phil Steele, Associated Press, Pro Football Network and Pick Six Preview. Ika was the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year in 2021.
• BU’s defense has forced a turnover in 23-straight games.
SERIES HISTORY
• The Bears will be facing BYU for the fourth time in program history and for the second-consecutive season. Baylor has won two of the three meetings, which started in 1983 with a 40-36 win by the Bears, resumed in 1984 with a 47-13 win by BYU in Provo, Utah, and last year picked back up with a 38-24 win for BU in Waco.
Series History
Year Score Site Date
1983 BU, 40-36 Waco Sept. 10
1984 BYU, 47-13 Provo Sept. 8
2021 BU, 38-24 Waco Oct. 16
LAST MEETING
• In the matchup last year, the Bears posted a 38-24 win over No. 19/20 BYU in Waco to improve to 6-1 on the year, earning bowl eligibility for the 10th time in the last 12 years. BU owned a 31-14 lead after three quarters, rolling to 534 yards of total offense, including 303 on the ground and 231 through the air. The Bears fell behind 7-3 before scoring 14 straight to take an advantage that wouldn’t be relinquished.
• Baylor was led by a unique game from linebacker Dillon Doyle, who came in on offense to catch and rush for a touchdown, while also recording a sack, becoming the first player in program history to accomplish that feat. BU also got 231 yards passing from Gerry Bohanon, 188 yards over 17 carries from Abram Smith and 95 yards on 11 carries from Trestan Ebner. Jaren Hall threw for 342 yards and rushed for 25 yards on eight carries for BYU.
• Baylor did not have a penalty that was accepted for the first time in program history, stretched its win streak to six games in non-conference play and totaled five sacks for a second straight game.
BEARS ROLL OVER GREAT DANES IN SEASON LID-LIFTER
• Baylor opened the 2022 season in efficent fashion, routing UAlbany 69-10 on Sept. 3 in front of a McLane Stadium crowd. The Bears got 214 yards and two TDs through the air, and one on the ground, from sophomore QB Blake Shapen – all in the first half – while rolling to the season-opening win.
• BU played 89 players in the win, with seven Bears making their first-career starts. Gavin Holmes returned from a missed 2021 season due to injury to return a punt 72 yards for a TD in the first half, Shapen found Monaray Baldwin and Hal Presley for TD passes, Baldwin scored on the ground from 50 yards away and Craig Williams scored from four yards out to help BU build an insurmountable lead.
BAYLOR VS. TOP-25 FOES
• Baylor will be facing BYU on Saturday in a matchup of a pair of ranked teams. It will mark the 256th all-time game for the Bears against a ranked foe and 61st game with both teams ranked.
• BU owns a 124-60-2 record as a ranked team, are 59-190-6 against ranked foes and are 26-33-1 as a ranked team against a ranked team.
• Last year, Baylor went 5-1 against ranked teams, including wins in four-straight chances, and three straight against top-eight foes.
SCOUTING THE COUGS
• BYU comes into the matchup with the Bears coming off a 50-21 win over South Florida on Saturday. The Cougars return 18 of 22 starters from a 2021 season that won 10 games and need only replace running back Tyler Allgeier, receiver Neil Pau’u and a pair of linemen.
• The Cougars rolled for 573 yards of total offense in the win over USF, including 261 through the air and 312 on the ground. Standout QB Jaren Hall threw for two TDs on 25 of 32 with one interception. Christopher Brooks rushed 13 times for 135 yards, while Puka Nacua had two TDs on three carries and 76 yards. A total of 12 different receivers caught Hall passes, led by four grabs from Kody Epps. Kicker Jacob Oldroyd was 2 of 2 – both inside 40 yards – with a long of 39, while punter Ryan Rekhow had two boots for a 36 yard average, with both downed inside the 20. Jacob Boren led the defense with six tackles, including a sack, and Max Tooley had five tackles and an interception returned for a TD.
NATION’S SECOND-MOST EXPERIENCED O-LINE
• Baylor returns four starters on the offensive line and has had five players return who have started at least eight games on the offensive line. This makes the Bears one of the nation’s most experienced offensive lines returning in 2022.
• Only eight schools return five offensive line starters and 31 schools have at least four returning.
• The Bears rank second in the nation with 171 games played returning from their four returning starters with five BU offensive linemen combining to play in 201 career games.
• Only Wake Forest (172 career games played) has more returning games played among its returning starters entering 2022. Baylor also ranks fifth nationally in career starts returning among its starters, behind only George State (141), Pitt (130), Georgia Southern (127) and UTSA (118).
BYU Cougars
Notes
• THE SERIES. BYU and Baylor are facing off for the fourth time, with the Bears holding a 2-1 edge in the series. It will be the last time the two teams match up as non-conference opponents before BYU joins the Big 12 Conference next year and any games between the two would be league contests. Last year, Baylor beat the Cougars 38-24 in Waco. The Bears came to Provo in 1983 and won 40-36 while BYU got a 47-13 win in Waco in 1984. BYU also welcomes back Baylor OC Jeff Grimes and OL coach Eric Mateos. Grimes was at BYU for six years over two stints (OL 2004-06, OC 2018-20) and Mateos for two seasons (OL 19-20).
• TOP 25. BYU is No. 25 in the preseason AP Top 25 and receiving votes in the Coaches Poll. BYU is 19-5 under Kalani Sitake when playing as a ranked team. Baylor was ranked No. 10 in both polls. The new rankings will be revealed following Labor Day’s games.
• VS. RANKED FOES. BYU is 31-64-1 vs. ranked opponents in its history. The Cougars are 5-22-1 against teams in the top 10, with their last victory over a top 10 team coming in 2018 against Wisconsin on the road. BYU is 6-8 against ranked teams under Sitake, including a 4-3 mark at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
• HOME OPENER. BYU is 3-3 under Sitake in home openers, but have also faced four Power 5 teams in those contests and also two ranked teams, going 1-1.
BYU–BAYLOR SERIES
All-Time Series: 1-2 (Baylor leads)
At BYU: 1-0
At Baylor: 0-2
First Meeting: Baylor 40, BYU 36 (Sept. 10, 1983)
Last Meeting: Baylor 38, No. 19 BYU 24 (Oct. 16, 2021)
ALL-TIME RESULTS
• Baylor 40, BYU 36 (Sept. 10, 1983)
• No. 13 BYU 47, Baylor 13 (Sept. 8, 1984)
• Baylor 38, No. 19 BYU 24 (Oct. 16, 2021)
