K-STATE RETURNS HOME TO FACE 14TH-RANKED COWBOYS
Kansas State will look to get back on the winning track on Saturday as the Wildcats host No. 14 Oklahoma State at Bill Snyder Family Stadium with first place in the Big 12 standings on the line. The game kicks off at 3 p.m., and will be shown on FOX with Tim Brando (play-by-play), 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 (S: 81, X: 81, Internet: 81) in addition to the TuneIn app.
A LOOK AT K-STATE
• K-State dropped to 4-2 overall and 4-1 in Big 12 play with last week’s road loss at West Virginia, snapping a four-game winning streak to begin conference play.
• The week prior, K-State knocked off Kansas, 55-14, a victory that was fueled by two punt-return touchdowns, a pick six and a balanced offensive attack.
• Will Howard is in line to start his fourth-straight game on Saturday. With wins in his first two starts at TCU and against Kansas, he became the first K-State true freshman signal caller to win his first two starts at quarterback.
• Another true freshman, running back Deuce Vaughn, continues to impress as he leads the team in rushing and receiving, the only player in the Big 12 to lead his team in both categories.
• Vaughn is also one of only two players in the nation to eclipse 300 rushing yards and 300 receiving yards in 2020, joining Clemson running back Travis Etienne.
• K-State is currently plus-6 in turnovers, which is tied for fourth in the nation. The Wildcats lost their first turnover of the year in the third quarter at TCU, while they had a season-high three last week at West Virginia.
• In consecutive wins over TCU and KU, the Wildcats scored two touchdowns via punt returns and also had two interception-return touchdowns – one by AJ Parker (at TCU) the other by Justin Gardner (vs. Kansas).
• A pair of senior linebackers from Georgia, Justin Hughes (37) and Elijah Sullivan (32), are among the Wildcats’ top tacklers, along with safety Jahron McPherson (35).
• A total of 16 Cats have tallied at least a half tackle for loss, while nine players have at least one sack. The list includes junior Wyatt Hubert, who ranks 12th nationally among active players in career sacks per game (0.48).
• McPherson and Gardner lead the team with a pair of interceptions, which is tied for first in the Big 12 and 20th nationally. Gardner also leads the Big 12 in passes defended.
• Kansas State’s special teams ranks first nationally in efficiency according to ESPN thanks in large part to a blocked kick in each of the first four games and two punt return scores against Kansas by Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week Phillip Brooks.
• Senior place kicker Blake Lynch is 8-for-12 for the year but 2-for-3 from 50 or more yards. He connected on a game-winning 50-yard field goal at Oklahoma, while he set a new career long with a 53-yarder at TCU.
A LOOK AT OKLAHOMA STATE
• Oklahoma State is coming off a 41-34 overtime loss at home to Texas, falling to 4-1 overall and 3-1 in the Big 12.
• The Cowboys boast a dynamic trio of offensive weapons in quarterback Spencer Sanders, running back Chuba Hubbard and wide receiver Tylan Wallace.
• Sanders, who missed two games, has thrown for 658 yards and five touchdowns this season, while he has 91 rushing yards and one score on the ground.
• OSU’s ground attack is led by Chuba Hubbard, who has 550 yards and five scores in addition to a touchdown reception.
• Wallace leads all Cowboys receivers with 558 yards and four touchdowns.
• The Cowboys’ defense ranks first in the Big 12 and 14th nationally in scoring (9.6 points per game), while OSU is second in the Big 12 in total defense (299.8 yards per game).
• Additionally, Oklahoma State leads the nation in third down defense, allowing opponents to convert only 18.1% (13-of-72) of the time.