2021 Big 12 Conference: Week 8 ( Weekend of Sat., Oct. 23, 2021)
Sat., Oct. 23 @ 11:00 am CT
Kansas State Wildcats at Texas Tech Red Raiders
Kansas State Wildcats
WILDCATS LOOK TO GET BACK ON TRACK IN LUBBOCK
Kansas State heads back out on the road in Big 12 play for a second time this year, as the Wildcats travel to Lubbock, Texas, to face Texas Tech this Saturday inside Jones AT&T Stadium. The game against the Red Raiders, which kicks at 11 a.m., will be televised by FS1 with Tim Brando (play-by-play) and Spencer Tillman (analyst) on the call. The game can be heard across the 39-station K-State Sports Network with Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play), former K-State quarterback Stan Weber (analyst) and Matt Walters (sidelines) calling the action. Fans can also catch the game on SiriusXM (XM: 384; App: 974) in addition to The Varsity Network app.
A LOOK AT K-STATE
• K-State looks to get into the win column in Big 12 play after dropping games at Oklahoma State (31-20), and at home to both Oklahoma (37-31) and Iowa State (33-20). The former two reside in the top 8 in this week’s Associated Press Top 25, and the latter was there in the preseason.
• The Wildcats’ three conference opponents, plus its diffi cult non-conference schedule in which they went 3-0 against, has their strength of schedule ranked second in the nation in the current Sagarin Ratings.
• Quarterback Skylar Thompson returned against the Sooners after missing the previous two games due to injury, and he put together one of the best passing performances of his career by setting highs in completions (29) and attempts (41), and tying his high for touchdown passes (3), while he threw for the second-most yards in his career (320).
• Thompson’s favorite receiver against OU was Deuce Vaughn, who hauled in 10 passes for 104 yards and a touchdown. It was the second 100-yard receiving game of his career and just the seventh in school history by a running back or fullback.
• This year, Vaughn has totaled 777 scrimmage yards (543 rush/234 receive) and seven scores. In his 16 career games, Vaughn has at least 100 scrimmage yards 11 times – including all six games this year – and he ranks fourth nationally among active players in career all-purpose yards per game (124.87).
• Vaughn and Thompson have the luxury of playing behind an experienced line that brought back 100% of its starts from last year. • Receivers Malik Knowles, Phillip Brooks and Landry Weber have combined for 45 receptions for 614 yards and four scores.
• The Wildcats, deploying a new 3-3-5 look and regularly rotating in over 25 players on defense, rank 23rd in the nation against the run (107.0 yds/gm).
• Linebackers Daniel Green (34) and Cody Fletcher (33) lead the team in tackles, and each have at least three stops behind the line.
• Defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah is second in the Big 12 and 18th nationally with fi ve sacks on the year.
• The Wildcats have fi ve interceptions as safeties Russ Yeast and TJ Smith each recorded a pick against Stanford, defensive tackle Jaylen Pickle had one against Southern Illinois, cornerback Tee Denson picked off Nevada, and Julius Brents had one against Oklahoma.
• Malik Knowles has returned a kickoff for a touchdown in two of the last three games, and he ranks second in the nation with a 36.0-yard return average.
A K-STATE WIN WOULD…
• Improve the Wildcats to 13-9 in the series and mark the sixth-straight win against the Red Raiders.
• Make K-State 10-1 against the Red Raiders over the last 11 meetings.
• Give the Wildcats’ three-straight wins in Lubbock for the fi rst time in series history.
• Move the current winning streak in the series to six games, which would be the longest by either team.
• Give the Wildcats a 13-6 advantage against the Red Raiders since Big 12 play began
TOUGH ONES VS. TECH
• Kansas State has been tough in close contests against Texas Tech, as the Wildcats hold a five-game winning streak over the Red Raiders with three of those being one-score games.
• The last two games in Lubbock have been especially close with K-State winning by margins of three (30-27 in 2019), seven (42-35 [ot] in 2017).
• K-State’s average margin of victory in the last five games against the Red Raiders has been 8.2 points.
ONE OF THE BIG 12’S BEST
• K-State ranks third in Big 12 wins since the league’s inception in 1996, 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 57.0% (53-40), trailing only Oklahoma (82.8%; 77-16) and Oklahoma State (65.6%; 61-32).
OFFENSIVE NOTES
200 OR MORE
• Dating back to last season, Kansas State has rushed for at least 200 yards in six of its last 10 games.
• The latest eff ort was a 269-yard output against Nevada, the sixth time under head coach Chris Klieman that the Wildcats have totaled at least 250 yards on the ground.
• Earlier this year, the Wildcats rushed for 200 yards against Stanford, 208 yards against Southern Illinois and 269 yards vs. Nevada
DOWN THE FIELD
• Although they excel in the running game, the Wildcats have been pushing the ball down the field as well, as K-State is tied for 20th in the nation with six plays of 50 or more yards.
• K-State started the season with at least one 50-yard play from scrimmage in its first five games to become the first Wildcat team with a fi ve-game streak since at least 1988.
• Of the six total 50-yard plays by K-State this year, fi ve have been passes, including scores by Daniel Imatorbhebhe against Nevada (68 yards) and Deuce Vaughn at Oklahoma State (55 yards). Vaughn has the lone rush of 50 or more yards, going for a 59-yard touchdown in the season opener against Stanford.
• Out of Vaughn’s 131 touches this year, 28 have gone for 10 or more yards to tie for 11th in the nation, while he is also tied for 22nd with a pair of 50-yard plays.
RED ZONE SUCCESS
• In the first two-plus years under offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham, Kansas State has converted on 99-of-106 (93.4%) of its red zone opportunities, which includes 70 touchdowns.
• Included in that stretch is a streak of 67-straight red zone conversions, as the Wildcats were true on their final 39 tries of 2019 and their first 24 opportunities of 2020.
• K-State’s 93.4.% conversion rate since 2019 is the top mark in the Big 12.
• The Wildcats are the only team in the nation to rank in the top five in red zone offense each of the previous two years, leading the nation in 2019 (96.2%) and ranking fourth last year (93.9%)
DEFENSIVE NOTES
RUN STOPPERS
• In six games this season, K-State has allowed just 642 total yards rushing on 195 carries, as the Wildcats rank 23rd nationally in rushing yards allowed per game (107.0) and 26th in yards allowed per rush (3.29).
• The 642 total rushing yards allowed in the first five games were the fewest by the Wildcats since the 2016 squad surrendered 542 yards against Stanford (105), Florida Atlantic (82), Missouri State (30), West Virginia (124), Texas Tech (63) and Oklahoma (138).
• Stanford rushed for 39 yards in the 2021 opener, Southern Illinois had 100 yards on 40 carries, while Nevada had 25 yards.
• It was the first time the Wildcats allowed 100 or fewer rushing yards in three-straight games since the first three games of the 2007 season against Auburn (62), San Jose State (73) and Missouri State (69).
FEWER EXPLOSIVES
• One area of emphasis for the Wildcat defense in 2021 was to limit opponents’ explosive plays, and through the first six games, K-State has allowed just 20 plays of 20 or more yards, which includes just two rushes.
• It is the Wildcats’ fewest 20-plus yard plays allowed through six games since the 2017 team surrendered 19. In the first six games last year, K-State conceded 31 plays of 20 or more yards.
• The three runs of 20 or more yards allowed are fewest in the first six games of a season since the 2017 also allowed three.
• K-State is one of 14 schools nationally to allow three or fewer runs of 20 or more yards this season.
BEHIND THE LINE
• Kansas State has tallied at least six tackles for loss in four of the first six games this year, as 19 players have at least a half TFL.
• The Wildcats totaled 68 tackles for loss in just 10 games a year ago, which were the most by the Wildcats since the 2016 squad had 70 during a 13-game season.
MEET ME AT THE QB
• Through six games in 2021, K-State is ranked sixth in the Big 12 at 2.5 sacks per game. • Kansas State has at least one sack in 27 of the 29 games since Chris Klieman took over as head coach in 2019 with the lone non-sack games being the 2019 opener against Nicholls and last week against Iowa State.
• The 27-game sack streak snapped against Iowa State was the longest by the Wildcats since a 29-game streak that spanned the 1995 through 1997 seasons.
• Last season, K-State totaled 28 sacks in 10 games, which were the most for the Wildcats during an entire season since a 13- game 2016 campaign (30).
STRONG AT THE START
• The Kansas State defense has been strong at the beginning of games since the start of 2020 as nine of the Wildcats’ last 16 opponents have come up empty on their first possession of the game.
• Over the last 16 games, K-State has allowed only 18 total first downs (1.13 per game), while drives have covered just 450 total yards (28.1 yards).
• Included in that span is four three-and-outs and an interception this year against Nevada.
DEPTH IN THE SECONDARY
• Of the six defensive transfers K-State brought in prior to the 2021 season, four are in the secondary.
• Including the 2021 season, that group has combined for 92 career Division I starts by Julius Brents, Cincere Mason, Reggie Stubblefield and Russ Yeast.
• Prior to coming to K-State, Yeast started 29 games over four years at Louisville, Mason started 28 games over three seasons at Kennesaw State, Stubblefield started 18 games over four years at Prairie View A&M, and Brents started fi ve games in 2018 at Iowa.
• Pairing the 92 starts from the transfers with the rest of the secondary, the Wildcats are currently at 155 combined career starts by defensive backs.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
SERIES HISTORY
Overall K-State leads 12-9
In Lubbock Tech leads 7-5
In Manhattan K-State leads 7-2
At Neutral Site None
Current Streak Lost 5
Last Meeting K-State 31, Tech 21 (2020
TECH SEARCHING FOR BOWL ELIGIBILITY
Texas Tech, fresh off its third victory away from home this season, returns to Jones AT&T Stadium this Saturday to host Kansas State. The Red Raiders will be looking for a return to bowl eligibility with a win over the Wildcats, who have won five straight in the series and nine of the last 10 overall, including a 31-21 victory a year ago.
With a win, the Red Raiders can become bowl eligible in the month of October for the first time since 2013 when Texas Tech won its first seven games to start the season. It would mark the 39th all-time bowl appearance in school history, which ranks among the top-25 leaders in NCAA history. THIS WEEK’S MESSAGE: STACK SUCCESS
Matt Wells stated immediately after the Kansas win that the Red Raiders’ goal moving forward would be to “stack success.” Thus, winning two conference games in a row – a feat the Red Raiders haven’t done in Big 12 play since 2018 – would be the top goal in that message this week.
The Red Raiders are coming off back-to-back Big 12 road wins for the first time since 2018 after Texas Tech routed Kansas, 41-14, this past weekend. Tech will look to duplicate that success at home now where the Red Raiders are 42-17 against unranked non-conference opponents since the Big 12 was formed in 1996.
RUNNING GAME POWERING OFFENSE
Texas Tech fans are used to an explosive offense but it’s come in a different way this season as the Red Raiders have been effective on the ground. In the Kansas win alone, Tech used 10 different rushers en route to a season-high 244 rushing yards against the Jayhawks as the Red Raiders found the end zone four times – all by players not listed as a running back.
The Red Raiders enter this weekend having scored 11 of their last 12 touchdowns via the ground as Texas Tech is averaging 168.3 rushing yards per game. If the season ended today, that average would rank as the second-highest clip for the Red Raiders dating back to 2000.
TEAM NOTEBOOK
RED RAIDERS LOOK TO END DROUGHT AGAINST K-STATE
Texas Tech and Kansas State will meet for the 22nd time Saturday in a back-and-forth series that currently has the Wildcats at a 12-9 all-time advantage. The Wildcats enter this weekend having won nine of the past 10 meetings, including a 31-21 victory last season in Manhattan. The Red Raiders had won five-consecutive games against K-State before the Wildcats’ string of success began in 2011.
The Red Raiders’ lone win during that eight-year stretch came in 2015 when DeAndre Washington rushed for a career-high 248 yards and three touchdowns in a 59-44 victory in Lubbock. Washington became the first Red Raider to rush for at least 200 yards since Shaud Williams did so against Colorado in 1999 as it was the seventh-highest rushing total in school history. Patrick Mahomes also threw for 248 yards and three touchdowns in that win.
Over the course of its current five-game losing streak against the Wildcats, Texas Tech has dropped three of those games by only one possession. The Red Raiders are 1-5 all-time in games determined by seven points or less versus the Wildcats.
The two schools have only met three times outside of Big 12 play with the first coming in a 6-0 victory by the Red Raiders in 1933. The two schools also played in Lubbock during the 1963 and 1986 seasons, both Texas Tech victories.
TEXAS TECH-KANSAS STATE CONNECTIONS
Kansas State defensive tackles coach Mike Tuiasosopo was on staff at Utah State in 1996 during Matt Wells’ final year as an Aggie student-athlete. That season was the first of four for Tuiasosopo as Utah State’s defensive line coach where the Aggies claimed the Big West Conference title.
Texas Tech associate head coach and special teams coordinator Mark Tommerdahl and Kansas State defensive ends coach Buddy Wyatt both worked together early in their career at Minnesota in 1995. Tommerdahl was the special teams and tight ends coach and oversaw the Golden Gophers’ recruiting efforts, while Wyatt was in his fourth and final year as Minnesota’s defensive line coach.
Wyatt later worked with Texas Tech defensive line coach Paul Randolph for three seasons at Alabama from 2003-05 where they both worked with the Crimson Tide defensive line. He left the Alabama staff prior to the 2007 season to take the same role at Nebraska where he worked under current Texas Tech linebackers coach evin Cosgrove, who was the Huskers’ defensive coordinator at the time. n Kansas State cornerbacks coach Van Malone has worked with a handful of the Texas Tech staff, including with Tommerdahl at Texas A&M from 2006-07 as well as Randolph and defensive coordinator Keith Patterson at Tulsa in 2010. Malone was the secondary coach at both stops as he eventually worked under Patterson for one season when he was the co-defensive coordinator. Randolph was also on that Tulsa staff as the executive senior associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator in charge of the defensive line.
Texas Tech tight ends and inside receivers coach Luke Wells and Kansas State offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham worked side by side for four seasons at Iowa State (2009-12). Wells was the wide receivers coach his first two seasons at Ames with Messingham as the tight ends coach before the two switched roles in 2011 with Messingham adding passing game coordinator duties. Messingham was named Iowa State’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach the following year in 2012.
Texas Tech outside receivers coach Joel Filani put together possibly the best game of his playing career versus Kansas State in 2005 as the then-junior hauled in 10 catches for a single-game school record 255 receiving yards in a 59-20 rout. Filani’s single-game record was later snapped in 2018 when Antoine Welsey totaled 261 yards through the air against Houston.
Texas Tech Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt was a four-year letterman at linebacker at Kansas State where he led the Big 8 Conference in tackles as a junior in 1993. Hocutt, who was elected captain his senior year under legendary K-State head coach Bill Snyder, was named to the All-Big 8 Conference team following his junior season. The Sporting News selected him in 1993 as one of the nation’s top-20 “most underrated” players. He earned his degree in political science from Kansas State in 1995.
CAREER NOTABLES VERSUS THE WILDCATS
Henry Colombi made his Red Raider debut a year ago against Kansas State, coming off the bench to complete 30-of-42 passes for 244 yards and a pair of touchdowns while also rushing eight times for 40 yards. His 30 completions and 42 passing attempts remain a career-high for Colombi, who helped the Red Raiders rally from a 14-point halftime deficit to take the lead in the fourth quarter.
Erik Ezukanma has combined for eight receptions for 146 yards and a touchdown over his career against Kansas State. He found the end zone in the 2019 contest versus the Wildcats as he scored on a 21-yard strike midway through the third quarter.
Adrian Frye has recorded two of his seven career interceptions against the Wildcats and Kansas State quarterback Skyler Thompson. Frye’s interception in the 2018 meeting between the two schools marked his fifth of the season as he eventually earned Freshman All-America accolades. Frye’s interception in 2019 came with only 6:53 remaining in the game as the Red Raiders capitalized with a 58-yard touchdown pass to RJ Turner on the ensuing possession to cut K-State’s lead to three points.
Riko Jeffers notched 11 tackles against Kansas State in 2018, marking the second of what is now four career games with double-digit tackles. His 11 tackles at the time matched a career-high. He also matched his career-high with 2.0 tackles for a loss in the 2019 meeting, which included his fifth career sack. Jeffers has 25 career tackles versus the Wildcats despite being limited in last year’s contest.
Kansas State has been a favorite for Travis Koontz over his nearly three years as a Red Raider as he has caught five of his 12 career receptions against the Wildcats. He has totaled 64 receiving yards over those two games, including 39 a year ago.
SaRodorick Thompson carried 21 times for 84 yards and a touchdown in 2019 versus Kansas State, while also adding seven receptions for 28 yards in the close loss. His seven receptions marked a career-high as he finished with 112 all-purpose yards. He added 12 carries for 46 yards in the 2020 contest, giving him 133 carries for 130 yards and a touchdown over his career against the Wildcats.
Xavier White notched the first 100-yard rushing game of his career in the 2020 battle between the two schools as he carried only 12 times for 113 yards and a touchdown. White recorded the bulk of his yardage in the second half as he found the end zone via a 49-yard scamper late in the third quarter that cut Kansas State’s lead to 17-14.
Since moving to a wide-open passing offense in 2000, Texas Tech has thrown for at least 300 yards in 14 of the 16 meetings against Kansas State with the lone exception coming in 2018 and 2020.
BOWL ELIGIBILITY IN REACH FOR RED RAIDERS
The Red Raiders will look to secure bowl eligibility for the first time since 2017 Saturday against Kansas State. The Red Raiders, one of the most frequent bowl participants in college football history, are looking to avoid their first four-year bowl absence since staying home from postseason play over eight consecutive seasons from 1978-85. This is currently the longest Texas Tech has gone without a bowl season since missing the postseason from 1990-92.
A victory over Kansas State would improve the Red Raiders to 6-2 overall, marking their best start to a season since 2013 when Texas Tech was 7-1 through eight games. It would mark the seventh time in the Big 12 era where Texas Tech has started a season at 6-2 overall or better as the Red Raiders had similar starts in 1998 (6-2), 2005 (7-1), 2007 (6-2), 2008 (8-0), 2012 (6-2) and 2013 (7-1). The Red Raiders finished with eight or more wins in five of those six seasons previously.
This is the 14th time during the Big 12 era where the Red Raiders have started a season at 5-2 overall. Of the previous 13 occasions, Texas Tech has reached a bowl game in 11 of those seasons with the two exceptions coming in 2011 and 2018.
Texas Tech entered this season ranked tied for 21st all-time with 38 career bowl appearances, matching the totals of fellow Big 12 member TCU as well as Ole Miss, BYU and Notre Dame. The Red Raiders are tied for third among current Big 12 members for bowl appearances, trailing only Texas (57) and Oklahoma (54).
SCORING IN A VARIETY OF WAYS
The Red Raiders have found multiple ways to find the end zone this season as Texas Tech currently ranks tied for seventh nationally with two defensive touchdowns, which have come from interceptions by both Riko Jeffers and Marquis Waters. Baylor and Oklahoma State are the only other Big 12 programs with multiple defensive touchdowns so far this season.
Dating back to the start of the 2000 season, Texas Tech was able to record a pair of pick-six touchdowns in its first three games for the first time. Jeffers’ interception versus Houston marked the first pick-six by a Red Raider since Adrian Frye went 43 yards into the end zone against Lamar in 2018.
Despite a slow start, the Red Raiders scored 54 points versus FIU, marking the first time Texas Tech has hit the 50-point mark since facing Texas in the second game of the 2020 season. It marked the second 50-point performance for the Red Raiders under head coach Matt Wells, who has hit the 50-point mark 16 times now as a head coach.
Sat., Oct. 23 @ 11:00 am CT
Oklahoma Sooners at Kansas Jayhawks
Oklahoma Sooners
OPENING KICK
No. 3/2 Oklahoma (7-0, 4-0 Big 12) will try for its 17th straight win over Kansas (1-5, 0-4) and 16th consecutive victory overall when it faces the Jayhawks on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kan. The game will be televised by ESPN with Mark Jones, Robert Griffin III and Quint Kessenich announcing.
The Sooners’ 15-game winning streak is the seventh longest in program history and their longest since winning 20 straight over the 2000 and ’01 seasons. It is also the longest active streak in the country, with only one other Power Five program (Georgia at 11) owning a streak longer than eight games. OU’s last loss came on Oct. 3, 2020, at Iowa State.
Oklahoma is off to just its second 7-0 start in the last 17 years (it also won its first seven games in 2019). A win against Kansas would give the Sooners their first 8-0 start since 2004, under head coach Bob Stoops.
OU has registered winning streaks of at least seven games in a school-record seven straight seasons. The previous program record for seven-game winning streaks was six consecutive campaigns (1953-58) under Bud Wilkinson. Since 1980, only Boise State (11 straight seasons; 2002-12) and Alabama (10 straight seasons; 2011-20) have also posted winning streaks of at least seven games in seven consecutive years.
Oklahoma is 78-27-6 (.730) all-time vs. Kansas and has won 15 straight in the series. It is OU’s longest active winning streak against an opponent. Eight of KU’s wins came in the series’ first eight meetings (1903-10) while 16 of its victories came before 1931. Since 1965, the Sooners are 43-6 (.878) vs. the Jayhawks.
The Sooners have scored at least 34 points in each of their last 12 games against Kansas. It is the longest such streak in school history against a single opponent (next longest is 11 straight games against Kingfisher College from 1908-19 and vs. Texas Tech [current]).
Dating back to the start of the 2012 season, Oklahoma is 45-8 (.849) in regular season games away from home. OU has scored at least 30 points in 46 of those 53 contests.
OU has won as many Big 12 titles the last six seasons (six) as it has lost games against Big 12 opponents (56-6 record; includes four Big 12 Championship games).
Come Saturday, Oklahoma will have been Big 12 champion for 2,157 consecutive days.
OU is 150-31 (.829) in regular season Big 12 play since the start of the 2000 season. That’s 28 more wins than the program with the next most victories during that period (Texas; 122-59) and 47 more than the program with the third most (Oklahoma State; 103-78).
KEY STORYLINES
Each of the last 16 meetings in the Oklahoma-Kansas series have been OU victories by at least 15 points. The Sooners have outscored the Jayhawks 710-215 in those contests (average of 44-13) and have outgained them 8,019 yards to 4,285 (average of 501-268). OU has won the last seven meetings by a combined score of 365-89 (52-13 average). KU has scored single-digit points in five of the last seven matchups and six of the last nine.
Since taking over quarterback responsibilities with 6:41 left in the second quarter vs. Texas two games ago, freshman Caleb Williams has completed 34 of 48 pass attempts for 507 yards and six touchdowns without an interception (200.8 pass efficiency rating). He has also rushed 13 times for 154 yards (11.8 average) and TDs of 66 and 41 yards in the two contests.
Oklahoma’s rushing attack has been extremely effective the last two contests. After averaging 175.2 rushing yards per game and 4.6 yards per carry over its first five games, OU is averaging 284.5 yards per contest and 7.5 yards per carry over the last two outings. Redshirt junior Kennedy Brooks averaged 63.6 yards per game and 5.9 yards per rush over the first five games but over the last two is averaging 185.0 and 8.2 with three touchdowns. Brooks ran for over 1,000 yards each of his first two seasons and with 688 rushing yards so far this year (98.3 per game; 6.9 per carry) he is well on his way to that mark again. The only Sooners to ever record three 1,000-yard rushing seasons were De’Mond Parker (1996-98), Adrian Peterson (2004-06) and Samaje Perine (2014-16).
The Sooners averaged 38.4 points per game, 433.4 yards per game and 6.3 yards per play over the season’s first five contests. Over the last two outings they have posted respective averages of 53.5, 593.5 and 8.5. The 53.5 points and 593.5 yards per game the last two weeks are the second-highest totals nationally during the stretch (Cincinnati averaged 54.0 points and Western Kentucky averaged 594.0 yards the last two weeks). u Over OU’s last 20 contests, only two running backs have rushed for 100 yards in a game against the Sooners (Iowa State’s Breece Hall had 139 yards in the third game of last season while Texas’ Bijan Robinson had 137 two games ago). OU ranks 23rd nationally by permitting just 3.2 yards per carry this season while Kansas ranks 84th by gaining 3.9 yards per rush.
Among teams with at least 25 red zone trips this season, Oklahoma ranks first nationally with its 97.6% score rate (40 scores on 41 trips). Thirty of its 40 red zone scores (75.0%) have been touchdowns. The 40 red zone scores are most in the country (next most is 32), as are the 30 red zone TDs.
Even though OU failed to record a sack vs. TCU on Saturday, three Sooners rank in the top five in the Big 12 in sacks this season. Defensive linemen Perrion Winfrey and Isaiah Thomas are tied for third in the league with their 4.5 sacks while outside linebacker Nik Bonitto is tied for fifth with 4.0. Kansas is permitting just 1.3 sacks per outing.
RECAPPING THE WIN OVER TCU (STATS ON PAGE 38)
Caleb Williams became the first Oklahoma true freshman to start a game at quarterback since 1990 (fifth OU true freshman overall) and led the No. 4 Sooners to a 52-31 win over TCU for their nation-leading 15th straight victory. Williams completed 18 of 23 passes for 295 yards (261 in the first half) and four touchdowns and ran nine times for 66 yards and a score (41-yard rush) to earn Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors. His 295 passing yards and four passing TDs both set OU true freshman records as the Sooners finished with 525 total yards and averaged a season-high 9.1 yards per play. The only other OU true freshman QBs to start were Darrell Royal (one game in 1946), Troy Aikman (one game in 1984), Jamelle Holieway (eight games in 1985) and current OU co-offensive coordinator Cale Gundy (five games in 1990).
Redshirt sophomore receiver Jadon Haselwood entered the game with three career receiving touchdowns but had three on the night. He was on the receiving end of Williams TD throws of 11, 16 and 7 yards and finished the game with six catches for 56 yards. Senior Michael Woods II had three receptions for a team-high 75 yards.
Redshirt junior running back Kennedy Brooks turned in his second straight and 11th career 100-yard rushing performance. He ran 20 times for 153 yards (7.6 per carry), including a two-yard touchdown on the game’s opening possession. He has rushed for 150+ yards seven times in his career. Eric Gray added his first rushing TD as a Sooner with a two-yard carry late in the fourth quarter.
Safety Pat Fields recorded a team-high eight tackles while linebackers Brian Asamoah, David Ugwoegbu and DaShaun White (1.5 for loss; 37-yard fumble return) and safety Key Lawrence finished with seven each. Lawrence made his first career start (at nickelback).
Redshirt senior Michael Turk set a school record with his 59.7 average on three punts. The first-year Sooner registered punts of 55, 63 and 61 yards and now has two of the top three single-game punting averages in school history (averaged 58.0 yards on three punts last week vs. Texas; that figure now ranks third). Turk broke the former OU record set by Tress Way, who averaged 58.8 yards on six punts against Oklahoma State in 2009.
The Sooners beat TCU for the eighth straight time and improved to 22-1 the last 23 years in the game immediately following their October contest vs. Texas.
LAST YEAR VS. KANSAS
No. 19/19 Oklahoma outgained Kansas by 294 yards (540- 246) and tied a school record with nine sacks in a 62-9 home victory over Kansas on Nov. 7, 2020. KU’s scores came on the last play of the first half (field goal) and final play of the game (touchdown).
OU rushed for 200 yards for the third time in four games (200 yards on 31 carries for a season-high 6.5 average) and ran for six touchdowns for the second straight contest (the last time it rushed for six TDs in consecutive games was in 1987). Senior running back Rhamondre Stevenson led the way with 104 yards and two touchdowns (13 and 29 yards) while adding a team-high four receptions for 60 yards.
In two-and-a-half quarters of work, redshirt freshman quarterback Spencer Rattler completed 15 of 27 passes for 212 yards and a touchdown (20-yarder to Austin Stogner), and he ran for a two-yard score.
Marvin Mims logged OU’s other TD reception, a 14-yarder from Tanner Mordecai on the first play of the fourth quarter. Mordecai completed 7 of 8 throws for 128 yards.
Redshirt sophomore outside linebacker Nik Bonitto recorded a career-high 3.0 sacks for a loss of 21 yards and registered two of OU’s six QB hurries. Ronnie Perkins, Isaiah Thomas and Marcus Stripling each recorded 1.5 sacks, and OU’s 73 yards on sacks were its second most ever.
The Sooners recorded two interceptions for a second straight game and both came in the first quarter (Tre Brown on KU’s first possession and Brendan Radley-Hiles on its third possession).
OU held KU to 3 of 19 on third-down conversion attempts.
Kicker Gabe Brkic made both of his field goal tries (40 and 50 yards).
ROAD WARRIORS
Oklahoma has won 27 of its last 29 true road games, with the only losses during that stretch coming in 2019 at Kansas State (48-41) and last season at Iowa State (37-30).
The 2019 defeat at K-State snapped OU’s 22-game true road winning streak (it hadn’t lost since Oct 4, 2014, at TCU), which was the second longest such streak nationally since at least the end of World War II.
During the 22-game streak, OU outscored opponents 1,076-626 (49- 28 average) and outgained them by 3,621 yards (583-419 average).
The Sooners have outgained their opponent in 25 of their last 29 true road games.
OU has scored at least 30 points in each of its last 34 true road games and at least 41 points in 22 of those 34.
DEFENSE PLAYS BIG HAND IN 14-GAME WINNING STREAK
Oklahoma’s defense has figured prominently in the program’s 15- game winning streak that started on Oct. 10, 2020, against Texas. Here are some notes pertaining to the stretch:
OU has held 13 of its last 15 opponents below a 50% third-down conversion rate (Kansas State converted 53% of its tries Oct. 2 while TCU was 7 for 14 Saturday; the next highest during the 15-game stretch was 43% by Nebraska this season while the fourth highest was 36% by Texas Tech last year). Nine of the Sooners’ last 12 opponents have failed to convert more than 33% of third downs. OU ranks seventh nationally during the time period with its 32.3 opponent third-down conversion rate. In fact, OU ranks fourth nationally in the category since the start of the 2019 season (defensive coordinator Alex Grinch’s first year in Norman) with its 31.7% figure.
The Sooners have totaled 50 sacks over their last 15 games to rank third nationally since Oct. 10, 2020. In the same time frame, OU has registered 110 tackles for loss for an average of 7.3 per game and a total of 465 lost yards.
OU has registered at least one takeaway in 13 straight games and in 14 of the last 15. It is plus-13 in turnover margin (28 takeaways to 15 turnovers) during the 15-game winning streak and is plus-8 over its last 10 contests.
The Sooners have 18 interceptions over their last 15 games to rank eighth nationally since Oct. 10, 2020.
NOTING THE OFFENSE
Oklahoma ranks seventh nationally with its 42.7 points per game and 14th with its 479.1 yards per game.
OU’s 2.1 punts per game are third fewest in the country. Only Coastal Carolina (1.7) and Western Kentucky (1.8) have punted fewer times per game. The Sooners did not punt against Tulane or Kansas State.
The Sooners have committed only seven turnovers through seven games and one of those was by the defense (fumble on a fumble return vs. TCU).
Freshman quarterback Caleb Williams has completed 67.8% of his passes (40 of 59) for 609 yards and six touchdowns without an interception (188.1 efficiency rating would lead Big 12 if he had enough attempts to qualify). He has also been highly effective with his feet, running for 215 yards and three scores on only 18 carries (11.9 yards per rush). He has three of OU’s five longest rushes of the season (66 yards for a TD vs. Texas is team’s longest, 59 vs. Western Carolina is third longest and 41 vs. TCU is fifth longest).
Despite not playing the last game and a half, redshirt sophomore quarterback Spencer Rattler ranks first in the Big 12 in completions (130). He also leads the league in completion percentage (74.3; ranks second nationally), and ranks second in passing offense (228.5 ypg), third in total offense (242.8 ypg) and fourth in passing touchdowns (10). He also did not play in the second half against Western Carolina. He tied an OU record for TD passes in a half with five vs. Western Carolina and has thrown at least one TD pass in 16 of his 17 career starts (OU is 15-2 in his starts).
Rattler has completed 45 of his last 56 pass attempts (80%).
Receiver Marvin Mims ranks fourth on the squad in receptions (21) but leads the team with 456 receiving yards (next most is 294). Mims ranks fifth nationally and first in the Big 12 with his 21.7 yards per catch.
Receiver Jadon Haselwood paces the Sooners with 27 catches (for 238 yards; 8.8 average) and five receiving touchdowns. He had one career receiving TD entering the season.
Receivers Michael Woods II (25) and Mario Williams (24) rank second and third in receptions and both have two touchdown catches, as does Mims. Tight end/H-back Jeremiah Hall ranks second with three TD grabs.
Haselwood, who missed all but three games last season due to injury, has made his first seven career starts this year. He was the consensus No. 1 national receiver in the 2019 recruiting class, while Williams was ESPN’s No. 1 receiver in the 2021 class. Woods and Mims have also started all seven contests this season.
At least nine Sooners have caught a pass in each of OU’s seven games.
Redshirt junior Kennedy Brooks and junior Eric Gray have shared the vast majority of the rushing workload this season. Brooks leads the team in carries (99), rushing yards (688), rushing yards per game (98.3) and rushing touchdowns (seven). His 370 rushing yards over the last two weeks ranks as the second most nationally. Gray, a transfer from Tennessee, started OU’s first five games and has rushed 61 times for 293 yards (4.8 per carry; 41.9 yards per game; one TD) and has 10 catches for 104 yards and a touchdown. Walk-ons Jaden Knowles and Todd Hudson earned carries against Western Carolina and each scored two TDs.
Redshirt sophomore running back Marcus Major sat out each of OU’s first five games this season but was deemed eligible by the NCAA the day before the Oct. 9 game against Texas. He made his season debut Saturday vs. TCU but did not register a carry or reception.
OU FOOT NOTES
Redshirt junior kicker Gabe Brkic ranks second nationally this season with 16 field goals (on 19 attempts; .842) and is 4 for 5 on tries from over 50 yards. Brkic ranked third in the country last season by averaging 2.0 field goal makes per game and this year ranks second by averaging 2.3.
The longest field goal made this season nationally is 56 yards and Brkic has two of the four makes from that distance. He is one off the national lead with his eight makes from 50-plus yards since the start of the 2020 season (LSU’s Cade York has nine), while no other player has made more than five 50-yarders. Brkic’s nine career makes from 50 or farther are the most in OU history (next highest total is four). He also sits atop the Sooners’ career chart with 18 makes from at least 40 yards.
Brkic, who was a 2020 first-team All-Big 12 selection (coaches and AP) and a Lou Groza Award semifinalist, is 53 for 62 (.855) on career field goal attempts and has made all 132 of his PAT tries. The OU career record for field goal percentage is .833 (75 for 90) by Michael Hunnicutt (2011-14).
During Lincoln Riley’s five-year head coaching career, Oklahoma ranks first in the Big 12 and fifth nationally with its 84.4% success rate on field goal attempts (92 for 109). Kansas State is the next best Big 12 school in the category during the span, ranking 19th at 79.3%.
During the same period, the Sooners rank second nationally in PAT conversion percentage among teams with at least 150 attempts, converting 328 of 329 tries (99.7%). Only Virginia Tech (188 of 188) has a higher success rate.
Redshirt senior punter Michael Turk transferred to OU from Arizona State in August and earned the starting job. The 2019 and ’20 first-team All-Pac-12 selection averaged 46.2 yards per punt over the last two seasons and totaled 28 boots that went at least 50 yards. He has only punted 14 times this year (2.0 per game) and is averaging 51.8 yards per punt (has eight punts over 50 yards, including an 85-yarder vs. Texas which tied as the third longest in OU history). He also holds the best and third-best single-game punting averages in school history (min. three punts; 59.7 last game vs. TCU and 58.0 vs. Texas two games ago).
OU’S BIG 12 DOMINATION
Oklahoma’s win over Iowa State in the 2020 Big 12 Championship resulted in the Sooners’ sixth straight Big 12 title and 14th since 2000 (no other program has won more than two during the span). For perspective, the two Power Five programs with the next most conference titles this millennium are Ohio State (11 in Big Ten) and Oregon (eight in Pac-10/Pac-12).
The Sooners’ 14 Big 12 titles are 11 more than the program with the next most. Texas has won three Big 12 championships and is followed by Baylor, Kansas State and
Nebraska (two each), and Colorado, Oklahoma State, TCU and Texas A&M (one each). Colorado and Nebraska left the Big 12 after the 2010 season and Texas A&M departed after the 2011 campaign.
Since 2010, OU has won eight Big 12 titles and is followed by Baylor (two) and Kansas State, Oklahoma State and TCU (one each).
Oklahoma is the only program to win at least three straight Big 12 titles, and it has done so twice (2006-08 and 2015-20). Baylor (2013-14) is the only other program to win two Big 12 championships in a row.
At 11-1, the Sooners are the only program with a winning record in Big 12 Championship games. Texas has the next best mark at 3-3.
Since Lincoln Riley came to Norman as offensive coordinator in 2015, OU has posted a 51-6 (.895) record in regular season Big 12 play. The next best mark during the
period is 37-20 (.649) by Oklahoma State.
Kansas Jayhawks
KANSAS CAPS BACK-TO-BACK HOME GAMES WITH VISIT FROM NO. 3 OKLAHOMA
Coach Lance Leipold and the Kansas Jayhawks will cap off a two-game homestand this Saturday when they host No. 3 Oklahoma for an 11 a.m., kickoff. The Sooners come to Lawrence 7-0 after a 52-31 win over TCU on Saturday night to stay unbeaten. Coach Lincoln Riley’s team enters the game No. 1 in the conference in total offense, averaging 479.1 yards per game. The Sooners are also tops in the league and seventh in the country in scoring offense at 42.7 points per game. Quarterback Caleb Williams has thrown for 609 yards and six touchdowns on just 59 attempts, while running back Kennedy Brooks ranks 24th in the country, averaging 98.3 yards per game. The Jayhawks are enjoying back-to-back home games for the first time this season after playing three road games in a four-week span early in the season. Saturday’s game will be televised by ESPN with Mark Jones, Robert Griffin III and Quint Kessenich.
QUICK HITS
Kansas enters this Saturday’s matchup with Oklahoma with just 27 total penalties in six games this season. The 27 penalties are the sixth-fewest in the country and the lowest total in the Big 12 Conference. The Jayhawks are averaging 4.50 penalties per game, which ranks ninth in the country and tops in the league.
After allowing six sacks at Coastal Carolina, the Kansas offensive line has allowed just one sack over the last four games, which came at Duke. The Jayhawks have started the same combination each of the last four games: Earl Bostick Jr. (Left Tackle), Malik Clark (Left Guard), Mike Novitsky (Center), Michael Ford Jr. (Right Guard) and Bryce Cabeldue (Right Tackle). That group has held the opposing defense sack-less in back-to-back games.
Junior wide receiver Trevor Wilson – a transfer from Buffalo in the offseason – is averaging 16.88 yards per catch, which ranks fifth in the conference. Wilson has 17 catches for 287 yards and a touchdown so far this season.
The Kansas defense has forced at least one fumble in each game this season, including two apiece versus South Dakota and Baylor. The Jayhawks rank 9th in the country in forced fumbles per game at 1.33. Both super-senior defensive end Kyron Johnson and junior safety Kenny Logan Jr., have multiple forced fumbles this season. Redshirt freshman cornerback Ra’Mello Dotson forced his first career fumble Saturday versus Texas Tech.
True freshman running back Devin Neal has rushed for 244 yards on 47 carries over his three games. Neal has started all three games, including two road contests at Duke and Iowa State. Neal is averaging 5.19 yards per carry over the three-game stretch. He had 74 rushing yards on 22 carries over his first three games.
Junior wide receiver Trevor Wilson – a transfer from Buffalo in the offseason – is averaging 16.88 yards per catch, which ranks fifth in the conference. Wilson has 17 catches for 287 yards and a touchdown so far this season.
Junior safety Kenny Logan Jr., is the only player in the country with 40+ tackles, at least five passes defended and multiple forced fumbles. The junior safety leads Kansas with 45 tackles and notched his first interception of the season last time out versus Texas Tech. He also has four pass breakups and two forced fumbles. He ranks 10th in the country in kick returns as well at 28.9 yards per return.
Super senior defensive end Kyron Johnson is approaching 20 tackles-for-loss for his career. Johnson enters Saturday’s game against Oklahoma with 19.5 career TFLs after notching another one last weekend against Texas Tech. Johnson had a pair of sacks against the Sooners last year in Norman.
Kwamie Lassiter II had three catches last time out against Texas Tech, which moved him into 10th all-time in Kansas school history with 110 career receptions. He passed Harrison Hill, who ranked 10th previously with 108 catches. Lassiter needs seven catches to tie Richard Estell for ninth all-time.
Through six games, the Kansas offense has had 19 plays go for 20 yards or more. In nine total games last year, the Jayhawk offense had just 16 total plays of 20 or more yards.
KU BY THE NUMBERS
#10 – Kwamie Lassiter II had three catches last time out against Texas Tech, which moved him into 10th all-time in Kansas school history with 110 career receptions. He passed Harrison Hill, who ranked 10th previously with 108 catches. Lassiter needs seven catches to tie Richard Estell for ninth all-time.
No 1 – Junior safety Kenny Logan Jr., is the only player in the country with 40+ tackles, at least five passes defended and multiple forced fumbles. The junior safety leads Kansas with 45 tackles and notched his first interception of the season last time out versus Texas Tech. He also has four pass breakups and two forced fumbles.
20 – Super senior defensive end Kyron Johnson is approaching 20 tackles-for-loss for his career. Johnson enters Saturday’s game against Oklahoma with 19.5 career TFLs after notching another one last weekend against Texas Tech. Johnson had a pair of sacks against the Sooners last year in Norman.
A KU WIN WOULD …
• Move Kansas to 590-662-58 all-time, including 2-5 in the Lance Leipold era.
• Improve head coach Lance Leipold’s career record to 148-44, including his first career win over a Big 12 opponent.
• Be Kansas’ first win over Oklahoma since Oct. 4, 1997, ending a 16-game skid against the Sooners.
• Be Kansas’ first win over a ranked opponent since Sept. 11, 2010, when the Jayhawks defeated No. 15 Georgia Tech.
• Be Kansas’ first win over a ranked conference opponent at home since defeating No. 25 Iowa State in Lawrence on Nov. 26, 2005.
• Be Kansas’ first win over a top-5 opponent at home since defeating No. 2 Oklahoma on Oct. 27, 1984.
NOTES
NOT STOPPING AT 1K
Super-Senior wide receiver Kwamie Lassiter II reached 1,000 career receiving yards earlier this season against Baylor, after catching two passes for 14 yards versus the Bears. He has continued to increase that total since. Lassiter had three more catches against Texas Tech and now has 110 catches for 1,143 yards for his career
Lassiter’s 110 career catches put him 10th all-time on the Kansas reception list. He is seven behind Richard Estell for ninth. With 1,143 receiving yards, he is 118 away from entering the Top 20 all-time at Kansas.
Lassiter’s 99 yards against Duke were the second-most in a game for him in his career. He had a career-high 117 yards last year against TCU. Lassiter hauled in a 61-yard touchdown catch from Jason Bean against Duke, which is the longest reception of his career. His previous high was 48 yards.
The Chandler, Arizona native had his best season as a Jayhawk in 2020, hauling in 43 catches for 458 yards and two touchdowns in nine games.
Lassiter posted five games last season where he had 50 or more yards in the contest. He had at least four catches in all but one game last season.
So far this year, Lassiter has a team-high 21 catches for 246 yards.
In addition to his standout performances on the field, Lassiter has also been a leader off of the field for the Jayhawks and is the team’s Wuerffel Trophy candidate this year for his exemplary work off the field in community service.
KANSAS CAREER RECEPTIONS LEADERS
Receptions No. Years
1. Kerry Meier 226 2006-09
2. Dezmon Briscoe 219 2007-09
3. Steven Sims Jr. 214 2015-18
4. Mark Simmons 155 2002-05
5. Willie Vaughn 133 1985-88
6. Brandon Rideau 131 2001-04
7. Dexton Fields 129 2005-08
8. Clark Green 122 2002-05
9. Richard Estell 117 1982-85
10. Kwamie Lassiter II 110 2017-Pres.
10. Harrison Hill 108 1997-2001
12. Charles Gordon 106 2003-05
13. Emmett Edwards 105 1972-74
14. Marcus Henry 104 2004-07
15. Isaac Byrd 101 1995-96
Sat., Oct. 23 @ 2:30 pm CT
Iowa State Cyclones at Oklahoma State Cowboys
Series Capsule
Series History OSU leads, 33-19-3
In Ames OSU leads, 15-12-1
In Stillwater OSU leads, 18-7-2
At Neutral Never met
First Meeting (1926) OSU 13, Iowa State 0
Last Meeting (2020) OSU 24, Iowa State 21
Last OSU Win (2020) OSU 24, Iowa State 21
Last ISU Win (2018) Iowa State 48, OSU 42
Gundy vs. ISU 10-3
Campbell vs. OSU 1-4
Iowa State Cyclones
THE LEAD
Iowa State (4-2, 2-1 Big 12) returns home to face No. 8 Oklahoma State (6-0, 3-0 Big 12). ISU is 13-1 vs. Big 12 teams at home in its last 14 games. ISU’s last loss
at Jack Trice Stadium vs. a conference opponent was against Oklahoma State (10-26-19; 34-27). ISU’s eight-game homefield winning streak vs. Big 12 teams is the longest streak in school history and the league’s best active streak. OSU is the only Big 12 team Matt Campbell has yet to defeat at home.
KEY STORYLINES
Iowa State is coming off a 33-20 victory at Kansas State, its first win in Manhattan since 2004.
Iowa State ranks fourth nationally in total offense margin (+185.8). The Cyclones outgained their opponent in all six games this year and have an active nine-game
streak of outgaining their opponents.
ISU’s defense ranks in the Top 10 nationally in total defense (3rd, 251.3), first downs (4th, 85), passing defense (6th, 153.7), yards per rush (8th, 2.84) and yards per play (8th, 4.4).
ISU has held all six opponents below 350 yards of total offense and only two teams (Kansas, Kansas State) have reached 300.
All-American RB Breece Hall owns an active streak of tallying a rush TD in 18-straight games, a Big 12 record and the nation’s fifth-longest FBS streak since 1996.
QB Brock Purdy is third nationally in completion pct. (73.9 pct.). He has completed over 80 pct. of his passes three times this season, all ranked in ISU’s single-game Top 10 (min. 20 attempts).
LAST TIME OUT
Iowa State ended its seven-game losing streak to Kansas State in Manhattan with a 33-20 victory on Saturday.
It was ISU’s first win in Manhattan since 2004.
The victory was head coach Matt Campbell’s 28th against a Big 12 opponent, breaking the school record for conference wins by a head coach.
Campbell is the only coach in school history to beat every team in the league at least once on the road.
ISU took a 20-7 lead at the half and then seized total control with a methodical, 18-play, 93-yard TD drive that took over 10 minutes off the clock to go up 27-7 late in the third quarter.
It was the first 10-minute scoring drive for the Cyclones in 19 years.
ISU outgained KSU, 418-342, with a balanced attack of 210 rushing yards and 208 passing yards.
The Cyclones have had more yards of total offense in all six games this season and own a nine-game streak of outgaining their opponent dating back to last season.
RB Breece Hall rushed for a career-high 197 yards and went over 200 yards from scrimmage (232) for the second time this season.
Hall, who busted open a career-tying 75-yard TD run on the first play from scrimmage, also rushed for two TDs, his fourth-straight game with two or more rushing TDs.
QB Brock Purdy was sensational, completing 88.0 pct. of his passes (22-of-25), the second-best single-game completion pct. rate in school history.
Purdy also tossed a TD to Sean Shaw Jr., the first TD catch of the season for Shaw.
True freshman WR Jaylin Noel set career highs in both receptions (5) and receiving yards (48).
LB Mike Rose led the Cyclones with nine tackles and DE Will McDonald IV had 2.0 sacks and two forced fumbles.
Senior S Greg Eisworth recorded his fourth career interception.
PK Andrew Mevis was sensational, drilling all four of his FG attempts, all from 40+ yards (44, 41, 41, 40).
ISU VS. RANKED OPPONENTS
Iowa State is 9-10 vs. ranked opponents since 2017 ISU head coach Matt Campbell is 11-18 vs. ranked opponents in his head coaching career, including a 9-14 mark with the Cyclones.
Campbell owns 34.6 pct. (9-of-26) 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.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Noting Gundy
• 2011 winner of the Paul “Bear” Bryant College Coach of the Year Award and the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year Award.
• Finalist for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year Award and the Liberty Mutual National Coach of the Year Award in both 2010 and 2011.
• 2010 Big 12 Coach of the Year.
• 2015 AFCA Region 4 Coach of the Year.
• Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2021
Game Notes
The Basics
The Oklahoma State football team (6-0 overall; 3-0 Big 12) travels to Ames, Iowa, this week to face Iowa State (4-2 overall; 2-1 Big 12) on Saturday, October 23, in Jack Trice Stadium with kickoff set for 2:30 p.m. CT.
In the Rankings
Oklahoma State was voted a season-high No. 8 in this week’s edition of the AP Top 25, continuing a streak of 14 consecutive seasons in the poll. The streak, which began in 2008, is the 10th-longest active streak in the nation. Including this season, OSU has appeared in the top 15 of the AP poll in 12 of the past 14 seasons. It has also seen a top 10 ranking in the AP poll at some point in 10 of those 14 years. The Cowboys are also No. 9 in this week’s USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll. OSU has been included in the coaches poll in each week of the 2021 season. Although the first 2021 College Football Playoff rankings won’t be released until November 2, it’s worth noting that OSU has been part of the CFP rankings in five of the past six seasons entering 2021. Iowa State is not ranked this week but is receiving votes in both the AP and the coaches poll. The Series
Saturday’s game marks the 56th meeting between Oklahoma State and Iowa State, with the series dating back to 1926. The 2021 season also marks the 11th consecutive year the teams have met. OSU owns a 33-19-3 all-time series advantage, including a 15-12-1 advantage in Ames. OSU has won 10 of the past 12 matchups, as well as each of the past four games played in Ames. Coach Mike Gundy is 10-3 in his career against Iowa State, while ISU coach Matt Campbell is 1-4 in his career against OSU.
Oklahoma State from a Distance
Oklahoma State has established itself as a top-tier program in the nation in recent history, ranking among the top 10 programs nationally in wins since 2010. The Cowboys have won 72.8% of their games (107-40) during that timeframe and have school-record streaks of 15 consecutive bowl bids and 15 consecutive winning seasons.
In 2021, the Cowboys are 6-0 for the first time since 2015 and for the fifth time in the Mike Gundy era. Oklahoma State has battled through four one-possession wins so far this season and keeps finding ways to win. The Cowboys have a made a statement with their past three wins, as victories over Kansas State, Baylor and Texas marked the first time in school history that OSU has beaten AP-ranked opponents in three consecutive games. The most recent win over Texas came in thrilling fashion, as the Cowboys erased a 14-point deficit (their largest of the season) in the first half and came back to earn a 32-24 win on the road. In the most impressive stat of the game, OSU’s offense gained 170 yards and scored 16 points in the fourth quarter alone, while the defense shutout the Longhorns and held them to a single yard in the final quarter. Running back Jaylen Warren has been OSU’s most impressive player on offense this season. He has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of the past four games for a total of 659 rushing yards (164.8 per game), and he is now the only player with two of the top five single-game rushing yardage totals in the Big 12 this season, including No. 1 (218 at Boise State) and No. 5 (193 at Texas). His 193 rushing yards in last week’s win at Texas accounted for nearly half of OSU’s offensive yardage in the game, and he rushed 13 times for 118 yards in the fourth quarter alone. Warren now ranks No. 7 in the FBS with 117.5 rushing yards per game this year, despite limited playing time as a backup in each of the first two games. Junior quarterback Spencer Sanders is a threat with both his arm and his legs. He is one of just three quarterbacks in school history with more than 4,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in his career, and his 235.0 yards of total offense per game in 2021 ranks in the top five among all Big 12 players. Sanders’ top target has been wide receiver Tay Martin, who leads the team in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns despite missing nearly all of two games. Martin has produced three 100-yard receiving games this season and is OSU’s most dangerous weapon on the outside. Since Jim Knowles arrived as defensive coordinator in 2018, the Cowboy defense has gone from allowing 6.04 yards per play in 2018, to 5.79 in 2019, 5.32 in 2020 and now 4.71 so far in 2021. If the Cowboys hold that average this season, it will mark the best since the 2009 season when OSU allowed just 4.70 yards per play. One of the biggest reasons for the that success is that OSU has had at least nine senior starters in each game this year, led by linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez. Through six games, Rodriguez ranks No. 8 in the FBS with 10.0 total tackles per game.
An Oklahoma State Win Would…
• Make it 7-0 for the first time since 2015 and for the fourth time in the Mike Gundy era.
• Mark its ninth straight win, securing its longest winning streak since OSU won 12 straight from 2014- 15. OSU’s eight-game winning streak entering the game is the third-longest active streak in the FBS.
• Make it 11-2 in its past 13 games and 9-1 in its past 10 games against Iowa State.
• Give it five straight wins against Iowa State in Ames.
• Make the Cowboys 34-19-3 all-time vs. Iowa State and 16-12-1 in Ames.
• Improve Mike Gundy’s career record vs. Iowa State to 11-3.
• Improve Mike Gundy’s record in Big 12 games to 87-55.
• Improve it to 15-3 in its past 18 games, dating back to the 2020 season.
• Make it 143-66 in its history when playing as an AP-ranked team.
• Make it 131-37 in its history when playing as a higher AP-ranked team than its opponent.
• Make it 78-16 in its past 94 games vs. opponents outside of the AP Top 25, dating back to 2010.
Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
• OSU’s defense has allowed fewer than 100 yards of offense in a half in each of its past five games. The Cowboys limited Baylor to 99 yards in the first, Tulsa to 89 yards in the first, Boise State to 64 yards in the second, Kansas State to 84 yards in the second and Texas to 92 yards in the second.
• OSU has held its opponent scoreless on its game-opening drive in 18 of the past 23 games.
• OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50 percent third down conversion rate in 17 straight games.
• OSU has held its opponent to fewer than 20 first downs in five straight games.
• OSU has held 15 of its past 17 Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average.
• Malcolm Rodriguez has recorded at least six tackles in 11 straight games.
• Jaylen Warren has more than 100 yards rushing in four straight games.
• Jaylen Warren has scored a rushing touchdown in five of his past seven games played.
• OSU has won 75 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 is 30-10 in its past 40 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
• OSU is 35-5 in its past 40 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
• Dating back to 2005, OSU is 42-3 when not committing a turnover.
• Dating back to 2008, OSU is 67-8 when winning the turnover battle.
• OSU has won three of its past four overtime games.
• OSU has forced 18 turnovers in its past 10 games.
• OSU has had a 100-yard rusher in 11 of its past 16 games
Sat., Oct. 23 @ 6:30 pm CT
West Virginia Mountaineers at TCU Horned Frogs
THE SERIES
All-Time Series …………………………..WVU leads 6-4
In Fort Worth, Texas…………………………. Tied at 2-2
In Morgantown………………………….WVU leads 3-2
At Neutral Site …………………………..WVU leads 1-0
First Meeting…………………… 1984, WVU 31-14 (N)
Last Meeting………………………2020, WVU 24-6 (H)
Brown vs. TCU……………………………………………2-0
Brown vs. Patterson ……………………………………2-0
Patterson vs. WVU………………………………………4-5
West Virginia Mountaineers at TCU Horned Frog
NOTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
• The 2021 season marks West Virginia’s 129th season of football. The Mountaineers are the 15th winningest program in college football • The 2021 year marks the 42nd season of competition for West Virginia at Milan Puskar Stadium. WVU has a 187-71-4 (.721) all-time mark at the facility, which opened in 1980
• Since 1980, West Virginia is 54-67 in games played on natural grass. The Mountaineers were 20-20 during the 2010 decade and are 40-40 since 2000.
• WVU has made a bowl appearance in 17 of the past 19 years. The Mountaineers are 16-22 all-time in bowl games
• WVU is 9-9-1 in games played on Oct. 23, including 2-6 on the road. The last time WVU played on that date, was against Syracuse in Morgantown in 2010 (L 19-14). The last time WVU played on the road on Oct. 23 was in 1965 at Penn State (L 44-6)
• West Virginia is 24-22-1 against schools from the state of Texas
• The Mountaineers are 92-14 since 2002 when winning the turnover battle
• The WVU defense has registered 47 tackles for loss, averaging 7.8 tackles for loss per game. The defense is ranked No. 1 in the Big 12 and No. 3 nationally in tackles for loss
• The Mountaineer defense also has registered 16 sacks this season, averaging 2.7 per game. That number is No. 3 in the Big 12 and No. 35 nationally
• The WVU offense is ranked No. 20 nationally in fourth-down conversions (.727) and No. 4 in the Big 12 and No. 37 nationally in fewest tackles for loss allowed (4.5)
• The Mountaineer defense is ranked No. 13 in red zone defense (.696), No. 19 in rushing defense (101.7) and No. 23 in first-down defense (109)
• Junior receiver Winston Wright Jr. is ranked No. 6 in the nation in kickoff returns, averaging 31.6 yards per return. Wright Jr. scored a touchdown on a 90-yard return against LIU and had a season-long, 98-yard return at Maryland. He is No. 6 in the Big 12 and No. 22 nationally in all-purpose yardage, averaging 134.0 yards per game
• Senior running back Leddie Brown is No. 4 in the Big 12 in touchdowns (7), No. 5 in rushing touchdowns (6), No. 9 in rushing yards (422) and No. 11 in scoring (7.0)
• Junior receiver Sam James is No. 6 in the Big 12 in receiving touchdowns (3)
• Senior linebacker Josh Chandler-Semedo is No. 2 in the Big 12 in tackles (8.2), senior safety Sean Mahone is No. 7 (7.3) and senior safety Alonzo Addae is No. 10 (6.5)
• Redshirt junior defensive lineman Taijh Alston and senior defensive lineman Dante Stills are ranked No. 3 in the Big 12 and No. 45 nationally in sacks (0.67)
• Kicker Casey Legg is ranked No. 12 nationally in field goals made per game (1.67) and punter Tyler Sumpter is No. 28 nationally in punting average (44.4)
ON TURF
• Since 1980, West Virginia is 257-119-4 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 7-6 during the 2020’s on turf
AT HOME
• The 2021 season marks the 42nd season of competition for West Virginia at Milan Puskar Stadium. WVU holds a 187-71-4 (.721) all-time mark at the facility, which opened in 1980.
• The Mountaineers finished with a 5-0 home mark in 2020, the first time since 2009 that WVU finished without losing any home games. It was the sixth time that West Virginia finished with a perfect home slate and fifth time that WVU had an unbeaten and untied season.
SERIES HISTORY WITH TCU
• The series between WVU and TCU started in 1984 with a 31-14 Mountaineer win in the Bluebonnet Bowl.
• The last meeting took place in 2020 in Morgan- town, with WVU winning 24-6, marking three straight wins and four Mountaineer wins in the last five years. Since 2012, WVU leads the series 5-4.
• WVU leads the overall series 6-4, including 2-2 in games at Fort Worth, Texas. 2020, home, West Virginia, 24-6 2019, away, West Virginia, 20-17 2018, home, West Virginia, 47-10 2017, away, TCU, 31-24 2016, home, West Virginia, 34-10 2015, away, TCU, 40-10 2014, home, TCU, 31-30 2013, away, West Virginia, 30-27/OT 2012, home, TCU, 39-38/2OT 1984, Bluebonnet Bowl, West Virginia, 31-14
TCU Horned Frogs
ABOUT THE GAME
• After consecutive road games, TCU returns home Saturday to host West Virginia at 6:30 p.m.
• The Horned Frogs began the season with four straight home games for just the second time in program history.
• TCU and WVU began Big 12 play together in 2012.
• The Horned Frogs are 94-29 under Head Coach Gary Patterson at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
• Patterson is 4-5 as a head coach versus West Virginia with all nine games taking place since both programs joined the Big 12.
• TCU is tied for the national lead in red-zone efficiency at 100.0 percent. TCU has scored on all 23 red-zone possessions, including 17 touchdowns, this season. The Horned Frogs are one of just three teams at 100 percent, but have the most opportunities (23).
• The Horned Frogs are first in the Big 12 and fourth in the country in third-down conversion percentage at 53.7 (44-of-82).
• Zach Evans is the first Horned Frog since 2002 with four consecutive 100-yard rushing games. He ranks first nationally among active players in career yards per carry average.
• Max Duggan passed for a career-best 346 yards and four touchdowns at Oklahoma. He also set a personal-high with 391 yards of total offense.
• Quentin Johnston had career-best totals of seven receptions, 185 yards receiving and three touchdowns at Oklahoma.
SERIES HISTORY
• TCU and West Virginia are facing each other for the 11th time with the Mountaineers holding a 6-4 series lead. All but one meeting has come since the schools began Big 12 play together in 2012.
• Prior to 2012, the only previous game between TCU and West Virginia was a 31-14 Mountaineers’ win in the 1984 Bluebonnet Bowl at the Astrodome in Houston.
• TCU is 2-2 against the Mountaineers in Fort Worth, 2-3 in Morgantown, and 0-1 at neutral sites (1984 Bluebonnet Bowl in Houston).
TCU-WVU THRILLERS
• The first three Big 12 meetings (2012-14) between TCU and West Virginia were decided on the game’s final play, including two in overtime, with the road team winning each game.
• The Horned Frogs won their initial two Big 12 games in Morgantown on the game’s final snap.
• In its first-ever visit to Morgantown in 2012, TCU took a 39-38 double-overtime victory on a 2-point pass from Trevone Boykin to Josh Boyce.
• TCU won 31-30 in 2014 in Morgantown on a Jaden Oberkrom 37-yard field goal as time expired.
• West Virginia took a 30-27 decision in overtime in Fort Worth in 2013.
TCU NOTABLES
• Over the last seven seasons, TCU has the Big 12’s third-best conference record (39-27) and overall mark (61-33).
• TCU is one of just seven programs nationally to finish with an Associated Press Top-10 final ranking in at least three of the last seven seasons (2014, 2015, 2017). The others are Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Penn State.
• TCU Head Coach Gary Patterson, at 21 seasons, is the nation’s second-longest tenured head coach, trailing only Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz (23rd year).
• Since Patterson’s first season as TCU’s head coach in 2001, all other FBS programs in Texas have had at least four head coaches. During that time, the Horned Frogs also have the best record (181-76, .704) in the state.
• Patterson has released two music singles in which he wrote and provided lead vocals on, “Take A Step Back” and “Game On.”
• TCU’s 34-32 win over Cal improved its record to 8-0 against Pac-12 opponents under Patterson.
