THIS WEEK IN THE BIG 12
Saturday, October 23
No. 3/2 Oklahoma at Kansas (ESPN) 11:00 a.m.
Series: OU 78-27-6
Last Meeting: OU 62-9 on Nov. 7, 2020 in Norman.
Kansas State at Texas Tech (FS1) 11:00 a.m.
Series: K-State 12-9
Last Meeting: K-State 31-21 on Oct. 3, 2020 in Manhattan.
No. 8/9 Oklahoma State at Iowa State (FOX) 2:30 p.m.
Series: OSU 33-19-3
Last Meeting: OSU 24-21 on Oct. 24, 2020 in Stillwater.
West Virginia at TCU (ESPNU) 6:30 p.m.
Series: WVU 6-4
Last Meeting: WVU 24-6 on Nov. 14, 2020 in Morgantown.
All Times are listed as Central. Rankings are listed as AP/USA Today Coaches.
CONFERENCE NFERENCE NEWS & NOTES
The Big 12 has four conference matchups this week. Baylor and Texas have a bye.
No. 3/2 Oklahoma and No. 8/9 Oklahoma State moved up in the national polls while No. 20/20 Baylor re-entered the rankings. Iowa State and Texas received votes.
Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are two of just 11 teams that remain undefeated on the season. OU’s 15-game win streak leads the nation while OSU’s 8-game streak is third. The Big 12 is one of two autonomy leagues with two unbeaten teams.
The Big 12 finished the regular season with a .800 (24-6) win percentage in non-conference outings, good for second among FBS leagues. Four of the six losses were to other autonomy leagues and three were to teams currently ranked.
Among FBS leagues, the Big 12 is first in scoring (33.2), rushing yards per game (185.0), pass completion percentage (64.9), passer rating (149.9) and yards per play (7.5) in addition to having the toughest strength of schedule.
Sixty percent of Big 12 teams average over 33 points a game to rank in the top 35 nationally: 7. Oklahoma (42.7), 8. Texas (41.6), 16. Baylor (38.3), 17. TCU (37.2), 25. Texas Tech (35.7) and 35. Iowa State (33.7).
Sixty percent also are among the top 36 in team passing effiency: 8. TCU (171.11), 11. Texas (166.19), 12. Baylor (163.61), 14. Oklahoma (160.94), 33. Iowa State (153.49) and 36. Texas Tech (152.51).
Half of Big 12 teams are in the top 23 nationally in rushing defense, allowing 107 or less yards a game on the ground: 15. Iowa State (97.7), 16. Oklahoma State (98.8), 18. Oklahoma (100.6), 19. West Virginia (101.7) and 23. Kansas State (107.0).
Three Big 12 teams average over 200 yards a game in passing and rushing: Baylor (233.4/238.3), TCU (232.5/227.5) and Texas (226.9/ 229.4).
Big 12 players of the week were awarded to Oklahoma’s Caleb Williams (offensive), Oklahoma State’s Jason Taylor II (defense) and Jaylen Warren (newcomer), along with Iowa State’s Andrew Mevis (special teams).
Baylor LB/FB Dillon Doyle became the first player in program history to record a rushing TD, a receiving TD and a sack in the same game. Iowa State has picked up 26 conference victories since 2017, good for second-most in the league.
Kansas has forced a fumble in every game this year. Deuce Vaughn ranks ninth in Kansas State history among running backs or fullbacks with 48 career receptions.
Caleb Williams became the first true freshman to start at QB for Oklahoma since current assistant coach Cale Gundy in 1990. Williams accounted for five TDs and 361 total yards in the win over TCU.
For the first time in school history, Oklahoma State has defeated AP-ranked opponents in three consecutive games. TCU’s Max Duggan passed for a career-high 346 yards and four touchdowns at OU. He moved past Steve Stamp (5,123 1978-1981) into sixth place in TCU history for passing yards with 5,221. Texas RB Bijan Robinson has scored a touchdown in nine straight games.
Texas Tech has back-to-back Big 12 road wins for the first time since 2018 and tied a school record after committing just one penalty in the contest at KU.
West Virginia has found the end zone on its first offensive possession in five of six games this year.
The 2021 Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship is scheduled for Saturday, December 4 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Over the summer, the Big 12 and Dallas Cowboys announced a two-year extension that will keep the Championship game at AT&T Stadium through the 2023 season. Tickets to this year’s contest are on sale through SeatGeek.com.
