K-State Hosts Houston on Homecoming

Game 8

Houston at rv/rv Ok-State
Date: Saturday, October 28, 2023
Kickoff: 11 a.m.
Location: Manhattan, Kan.
Stadium: Bill Snyder Family Stadium (50,000)
Series: First Meeting
TV: ESPN2 (watch)
            Lowell Galindo (Play-by-Play)
            Kirk Morrison (Analyst)
            Stormy Buonantony (Sidelines)
Radio: Ok-State Sports Network; k-statesports.com (Listen)
            Wyatt Thompson (Play-by-Play) 
            Stan Weber (Analyst)
            Matt Walters (Sidelines)
SiriusXM Satellite Radio Ch. 135 or 199; SXM App 953
X Updates: @OkStateFB
 
THE TOP 5

1) Following a large 41-3 win over TCU ultimate week, Ok-State will play its moment house recreation in as many weeks when the Houston Cougars talk over with Manhattan for Homecoming. The recreation will kick at 11 a.m. from within a sold-out Bill Snyder Family Stadium and be televised nationally on ESPN2 with Lowell Galindo (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (analyst) and Stormy Buonantony (sidelines) calling the motion.
 
2) The Cats these days rank thirteenth nationally and moment within the Big 12 by way of scoring 36.9 issues in step with recreation whilst additionally checking in at No. 3 in speeding at 232.7 yards in step with recreation – which additionally ranks tops amongst Power 5 systems. Since Collin Klein took over as offensive coordinator for the 2021 Texas Bowl, Ok-State is averaging 34.2 issues in step with recreation on offense, which contains 5 video games this season of 38 or extra issues.
 
3) Senior Will Howard and freshman Avery Johnson each directed a Ok-State offense ultimate week that produced 41 issues and 587 overall yards, together with 406 yards within the first part. Howard threw for 3 touchdowns for the 1/3 time this season, whilst, the week prior at Texas Tech, Johnson tied a faculty document with 5 speeding touchdowns en path to Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honors.
 
4) Last week towards TCU, the Ok-State protection restricted a potent Horned Frog offense to simply 3 issues and 300 yards, with 68 of the ones yards coming on the ultimate power of the sport. Coming into the competition, TCU used to be averaging 33.1 issues in step with recreation and 488.4 yards of offense. Over the ultimate two seasons, Ok-State has held 13 of its 14 Big 12 fighters underneath its season scoring averaging coming into the sport.
 
5) The Ok-State protection enters the week ranked within the peak 25 nationally in 1/3 down protection (fifteenth – 30.0%), scoring protection (nineteenth – 18.1 ppg), speeding protection (twenty third – 108.9 yds/gm) and tackles for loss (twenty fourth – 6.9 TFLs in step with recreation). Since the Cats switched to a 3-3-5 alignment to begin the 2021 season, Ok-State has allowed simply 20.8 issues in step with recreation to rank twentieth within the country and moment within the Big 12.
 
STATISTICAL SPOTLIGHTS

232.7 – Average speeding yards this season by way of Ok-State, which ranks 1/3 nationally and tops amongst Power 5 systems.
75.4 – Career successful % by way of Chris Klieman, which ranks fourth nationally amongst FBS coaches with no less than 10 years enjoy.
43.7 – Percentage of offensive drives this season that experience resulted in touchdowns, a determine that leads the Big 12.
30.0 – Percentage of pink zone touchdowns allowed by way of Ok-State, the second one lowest within the country.
0 – Number of fumbles misplaced this season because the Wildcats are one in all simplest 4 final FBS groups not to but lose a fumble.

TEAM NOTES

RECENT RECAP

• Ok-State ruled in all 3 levels in a 41-3 win over TCU ultimate week. Quarterbacks Will Howard and Avery Johnson each engineered a Wildcat offense that generated 406 overall yards within the first part and 587 for the sport. The Cats ran for a season-high 343 yards on the bottom as 9 other Wildcats carried the ball, probably the most ball carries since 9 gamers additionally logged a hurry at Kansas in 2021.

• Defensively, the Cats stored the Horned Frogs out of the endzone for the primary time this season and held them to 3 overall issues. TCU averaged greater than 33 issues in step with recreation coming into the competition.

• The week prior, Ok-State picked up a highway win in Lubbock, a 38-21 victory for its eighth-straight win within the collection as they rushed for 272 yards and compelled 3 Red Raider turnovers.

• Johnson ran for 5 rankings, whilst working again Treshaun Ward had a large evening with 118 yards on 15 carries.

• Defensively, Kobe Savage picked off two Tech passes en path to Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors, and the protection held Red Raider working again Tahj Brooks underneath 100 yards for the primary time in a month.

BACK AT HOME IN THE BIG 12

• Following a four-week hiatus from house video games, Ok-State is website hosting its second-straight recreation at Bill Snyder Family Stadium when Houston involves the town Saturday.

• The Wildcats are 37-19 in house Big 12 contests since 2011 and feature recorded 3 or extra Big 12 houses wins 8 occasions over that 12-plus yr stretch.

NEW BIG 12 MATCHUPS

• Kansas State defeated UCF previous this season in Manhattan and can now host its moment new Big 12 member of the season when the Houston Cougars talk over with Manhattan.

• Ok-State and Houston have by no means met on the soccer box, however the Wildcats are conversant in head trainer Dana Holgerson from his days main the West Virginia program.

AMONG THE NATION’S BEST

• Ok-State has a complete of 218 victories since 1996, which ranks twenty third nationally.

• Among present Big 12 groups, the Wildcats rank 5th at the back of Oklahoma (269), Texas (235), BYU (228) and TCU (228).

• Over the ultimate 13 seasons, the Wildcats have gained no less than seven video games 11 occasions.

 

POSTSEASON PROMINENCE

• Kansas State has a robust historical past of being within the postseason, having complicated to a bowl recreation 23 occasions since 1993, together with 11 occasions within the ultimate 13 years.

• Ok-State’s 23 bowl journeys since 1993 are tied for fourth amongst present Big 12 groups.

• In an technology when over 80 groups play in a bowl recreation every yr, the Cats are one in all simply 19 Power 5 groups to play in a bowl recreation 11 occasions within the ultimate 13 years.

 

LOOKING FOR WIN #6

• A win on Saturday towards Houston will give Ok-State bowl eligibility for the fourth time in Chris Klieman‘s 5 years on the helm. The simplest time the Wildcats didn’t move to a bowl recreation used to be all the way through the COVID-ravaged 2020 season.

 

A WINNING TRADITION

• Kansas State has been one of the vital preferrred Big 12 groups because the inception of the convention in 1996. The Wildcats are 1/3 with 136 convention victories, trailing simplest Oklahoma and Texas.

• The Wildcats also are 1/3 within the convention in successful share since non-divisional play started in 2011. They take a seat at 59.8% (67-45), trailing simplest Oklahoma (78.4%; 87-24) and Oklahoma State (65.2%; 73-39).

• During that extend, the Wildcats are 37-19 (66.1%) at house in Big 12 play and 30-26 (53.6%) on the street.

 

A WINNING HISTORY

• A confirmed winner with a championship historical past, Chris Klieman holds a 107-35 profession document, as his 75.4% profession successful share ranks fourth amongst present FBS coaches that experience led systems for a minimum of 10 seasons.

• Klieman, who’s 35-22 since arriving at Ok-State previous to the 2019 season, could also be one in all simply 14 present Power 5 head coaches with no less than 100 wins.

 

CATS TOPS IN NON-OFFENSIVE TDs

• Ok-State is the country’s preferrred in non-offensive touchdowns during the last 24 seasons because it has 129 since 1999, 5 greater than the following closest group (Alabama – 124).

• Of the 129 non-offensive rankings since 1999, 44 had been punt returns, 40 interception returns, 33 kickoff returns, 10 fumble returns and a couple of overlooked/blocked box function returns.

 

OFFENSIVE NOTES

SCORING SURGE

• Kansas State has scored no less than 38 issues in seven of its ultimate 9 regular-season contests courting again to ultimate season, its maximum in a nine-game stretch since doing so seven occasions in 2003.

• Included in that extend used to be a three-game streak of Big 12 regular-season video games with no less than 40 issues, the longest by way of the Wildcats since 2012 once they had 55 issues towards each West Virginia and Texas Tech, and 44 issues towards Oklahoma State.

• Since Collin Klein began calling performs all the way through the 2021 Texas Bowl, Ok-State’s offense has averaged 34.2 issues in step with recreation.

• The Cats these days rank thirteenth nationally and moment within the Big 12 with 36.9 issues in step with recreation this season, a determine that ranks 6th at school historical past.

• Ok-State is averaging 3.31 issues in step with power this season, a determine that still ranks first within the Big 12.

TOTAL OFFENSE

• Ok-State has totaled no less than 375 yards in 12 of 13 video games towards Big 12 foes courting again to ultimate season, together with the Big 12 Championship. During that extend, the Wildcats held a 10-game convention recreation streak, the longest at school historical past.

• The 2023 opener towards SEMO noticed the Cats overall 588 yards, the fifth-most at school historical past, maximum ever in a season opener.

• The Cats input this week’s recreation ranked thirteenth nationally by way of averaging 474.7 yards in step with recreation, a mark that these days ranks moment at school historical past.

• The Wildcats are averaging 6.49 yards in step with play, these days the absolute best determine at school historical past.

500 CLUB

• The newest 500-yard output for the Wildcats got here towards TCU, a 587-yard effort that integrated 406 yards within the first part, which used to be probably the most by way of Ok-State in a part since no less than 1999.

• It used to be the sixth-most yards in a recreation at school historical past however probably the most ever towards a convention opponent.

• This is the primary yr Ok-State has no less than 3 500-yard video games since 2003 (535 vs. California; 503 at Iowa State; 561 at Nebraska; 519 vs. Oklahoma) and the primary time with no less than two in Big 12 play since 2014 (505 vs. Kansas and 535 vs. Texas Tech).

TAKING CARE OF THE BALL

• A staple of Ok-State soccer during the last decade has been committing only a few turnovers, because the Wildcats rank moment within the country amongst Power 5 groups in fewest turnovers since 2012 with 173.

• That determine leads returning Big 12 groups, because the Wildcats are 13 higher than the following closest program (Oklahoma, 187).

• The Wildcats completed the 2022 season tied for 8th nationally and tops within the Big 12 in turnover margin (+0.86 / recreation) and head into this week’s recreation ranked 53rd (+0.14 / recreation).

• Ok-State could also be one in all 4 FBS offenses not to but lose a fumble during the first 8 weeks of the season.

 

RUSHING TO VICTORY

• Ok-State has often been one of the vital peak speeding assaults within the nation this season because it ranks 1/3 nationally and tops amongst Power 5 systems with 232.7 speeding yards in step with recreation.

• The Wildcats also are tied for 7th nationally and rank first within the Big 12 with 20 speeding touchdowns.

• As of past due, the Wildcats have rushed for 200 or extra yards in four-straight video games. The stretch is the longest in Big 12 play since doing so the general six Big 12 video games of the 2016 season.

• The Cats have had 59 rushes this season that experience long gone for 10 or extra yards, together with a season-high 16 towards TCU and 13 the former week at Texas Tech.

 

PUTTING IT WHERE ONLY OUR GUY CAN GET IT

• Since Collin Klein took over training the quarterbacks in 2017, Ok-State has simplest thrown 50 interceptions, equating to 0.61 in step with recreation.

• Ok-State’s 50 overall interceptions thrown the ultimate six-plus seasons are tied for the fewest within the Big 12 (Oklahoma) and fifteenth within the country.

 

PRODUCING A CLEAN POCKET

• Ok-State has excelled in go blocking off since offensive line trainer Conor Riley arrived in 2019, because the Cats have allowed fewer than 2.0 sacks in step with recreation every of the ultimate 4 seasons. It is the Wildcats’ first four-year stretch underneath 2.0 sacks allowed in step with recreation since 1997 to 2000.

• Ok-State is the one Big 12 program – together with the 4 new systems in 2023 – to these days cling a streak of no less than 4 years permitting lower than 2.0 sacks in step with recreation every season, and the Wildcats are simplest one in all 10 FBS systems to put that declare.

• Midway during the 2023 season, Ok-State ranks twenty fourth nationally and fourth within the Big 12 by way of permitting simply 1.29 sacks in step with recreation.

KEEPING IT 100

• Those that produced the blank pocket for the Wildcats ultimate yr all go back as Ok-State introduced again 100% of its 70 begins alongside the offensive line from a yr in the past.

• To open the 2023 marketing campaign, the Wildcats introduced again a nation-leading 116 begins from their beginning unit from ultimate season. Ok-State additionally ranked twelfth nationally in overall returning video games performed amongst all offensive linemen with 204.

RED ZONE SUCCESS

• Kansas State has been one of the vital preferrred groups within the country in turning red-zone journeys into touchdowns, because the Wildcats lead the Big 12 and are tied for 5th nationally by way of discovering paydirt on 80.0% p.c in their red-zone possessions (28-of-35).

• This yr is a continuation of red-zone luck underneath head trainer Chris Klieman, because the Wildcats rank first within the Big 12 by way of scoring on 91.0% of its general red-zone journeys since 2019. The simplest different group to move over 90.0% is Oklahoma at 90.7%.

THIRD DOWNS, TOO

• Kansas State has additionally been one of the vital preferrred groups within the Big 12 in the case of changing on 1/3 down, because the Wildcats rank moment within the league and 7th nationally with a 52.6% luck fee.

• Through seven video games, Ok-State has transformed on 51-of-97 1/3 downs, which integrated 10-of-13 conversions ultimate week towards TCU. It used to be the second one time this season the Wildcats transformed 10 third-down makes an attempt (Troy).

• The Wildcats have no longer completed over 50% on 1/3 downs in a season since 1998 (50.6% – 84-of-166).

RANKING HIGH ON THE CHARTS

• Playing in 29 profession video games with 21 begins, Will Howard has began to go into profession top-10 lists in Ok-State historical past.

• The Downingtown, Pennsylvania, local is tied for 5th at school historical past in profession passing touchdowns (36), whilst he ranks 7th in passing yards in step with recreation (158.9), 8th in completions (361), passing potency (132.7) and TDs chargeable for (52), 9th in overall offense (5,466) and tenth in passing yards (4,607) and makes an attempt (620).

 

THEY COME IN THREES

• Will Howard produced his 1/3 recreation this yr with 3 passing touchdowns when he hit the mark towards TCU en path to being named the Senior Bowl Offensive Player of the Week.

• Howard, who additionally had 3 passing touchdowns towards Troy and Missouri, is the primary Ok-State sign caller with no less than 3 video games throwing 3 or extra passing touchdowns since Jake Waters towards West Virginia, Oklahoma and Michigan in 2013.

 

FIVE FOR THE FRESHMAN

• True freshman quarterback Avery Johnson rushed for 5 touchdowns at Texas Tech to tie the varsity document with present Ok-State offensive coordinator Collin Klein (2011 vs. Texas A&M) and Jonathan Beasley (2000 vs. North Texas).

• It is probably the most speeding touchdowns nationally in a recreation this yr, whilst it’s the maximum by way of any true freshman since Oklahoma’s Samaje Perine had 5 towards Kansas in 2014.

• Johnson’s 5 speeding rankings also are probably the most by way of any true freshman quarterback within the country since no less than 1995, which makes it probably the most by way of a real freshman quarterback in Big 12 historical past. It used to be additionally the primary time any Big 12 participant had no less than 5 speeding touchdowns since 2016.

• For his effort at Texas Tech, Johnson used to be named the National True Freshman of the Week by way of 247Sports and On3 along with being named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week.

 

RUNNING TO PAYDIRT

• Avery Johnson has six speeding touchdowns this season, which is tied for 1/3 at school historical past amongst true freshman. He is 2 shy of the document held by way of then-redshirt freshman fullback Ayo Saba in 2002 and one shy of tying the varsity’s true freshman document held by way of working again Deuce Vaughn in 2020.

• Johnson’s six speeding touchdowns this yr are the second one maximum nationally amongst true inexperienced persons, only one at the back of UNLV working again Jai’Den Thomas.

 

HAVE A GAME, DJ

• Sophomore working again DJ Giddens had a historical efficiency towards UCF, as he produced the primary 200-yard, four-touchdown speeding efficiency at school historical past en path to Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors.

• His 4 speeding rankings tied for 1/3 in a recreation at school historical past and had been probably the most since Alex Barnes had 4 towards Oklahoma State in 2018. It used to be additionally the primary 200-yard speeding recreation by way of a Wildcat since Barnes went for 250 yards at Baylor in 2018.

 

MULTI-FACETED BACK

• Not simplest did DJ Giddens rush for 207 yards towards UCF, however he used to be additionally the group’s main receiver with 8 receptions for 86 yards.

• Giddens’ 293 yards from scrimmage had been the 1/3 maximum at school historical past, whilst it used to be probably the most all-purpose yards by way of a Big 12 participant this season and the 1/3 maximum yards from scrimmage nationally this yr.

 

CONTINUED SUCCESS

• Ben Sinnott burst onto the scene ultimate season, and that has persisted in 2023 as he ranks 5th nationally amongst tight ends with 51.1 receiving yards in step with recreation.

• Included in that overall is a career-high 100-yard effort towards SEMO, the primary Ok-State tight finish with a 100-yard receiving recreation since Jeron Mastrud at Kansas in 2006 (103 yards).

• Sinnott enters this week’s recreation with seven profession receiving touchdowns to rank moment at school historical past by way of a good finish (Henry Childs, 10, 1971-73). He additionally has 59 profession catches and 820 profession receiving yards to rank fourth in each classes.

 

SWISS ARMY KNIFE

• Ben Sinnott’s talent set permits him to line up in many various spots. Thus a long way in 2023, the Waterloo, Iowa, product has covered up 280 occasions as an inline tight finish, 84 occasions within the slot, 62 occasions within the backfield and 16 occasions as a real large receiver.

 

DEFENSIVE NOTES

A BIG TURNAROUND

• The Ok-State protection switched from a four-man entrance to a 3-3-5 alignment in 2021, and the exchange has paid off.

• In the 34 video games because the defensive transfer, the Cats are permitting simply 20.8 issues in step with recreation, which ranks moment within the Big 12 and twentieth within the country.

• The Wildcats surrendered simply 21.0 issues in step with recreation in 2021 and 21.9 issues in step with recreation ultimate yr. It marked the primary time Ok-State allowed lower than 22.0 issues in step with recreation in consecutive seasons since going 13-straight years from 1991 to 2003.

• Ok-State enters the week ranked nineteenth nationally and moment within the Big 12 by way of permitting 18.1 issues in step with recreation. The ultimate time the Wildcats allowed underneath 20.0 issues in step with recreation in a season used to be 2003 (16.3).

 

UNDER AVERAGE

• Ok-State held all of its Big 12 fighters ultimate season – and 3 of the primary 4 in 2023 – underneath its season averages. Oklahoma State went over its season scoring moderate, however did so with just one offensive landing, a pick-six and 5 box objectives.

• The maximum dramatic distinction this season got here ultimate week when Ok-State surrendered simply 3 issues to a TCU group that used to be averaging 33.1 issues in step with recreation coming into the competition.

• Since head trainer Chris Klieman‘s first yr of 2019, the Wildcats have held 33 in their 41 Big 12 fighters underneath their season moderate on the time it faces the Wildcats.

 

STOPPING THE RUN

• The Wildcats had been in a position to close down fighters’ working recreation this season as they rank twenty third nationally and 1/3 within the Big 12 by way of permitting simply 108.9 speeding yards in step with recreation.

• Ok-State has surrendered lower than 125 yards on 4 events this season, together with 3 times restricting its opponent to underneath 100 yards.

• Kansas State’s present moderate ranks 7th at school historical past and will be the preferrred mark since permitting 105.4 speeding yards in step with recreation in 2009.

 

DEFENSIVE RED ZONE SUCCESS

• The Wildcats had been stingy when fighters input the pink zone as they’re permitting touchdowns simply 30% of the time (6-of-20), the second-best mark within the country.

• It is a dramatic growth from ultimate season when Ok-State ranked 108th when 67.5% of fighters red-zone journeys ended in touchdowns.

 

LIVING IN THE BACKFIELD

• Ok-State has totaled 48 tackles for loss over the primary seven video games to rank twenty fourth within the country and 1/3 within the Big 12.

• The Wildcats started the yr with five-straight video games of no less than seven tackles for loss, their longest streak since carding no less than 5 in each and every recreation all the way through the 1997 season.

 

LATE DOWN STOPS

• Ok-State has no longer allowed any of its seven fighters this yr to transform on more than 42% of its third-down makes an attempt, whilst the Wildcats have held fighters underneath 50% in 17 of 20 video games courting again to the start of ultimate season.

• Ok-State enters this week ranked fifteenth nationally by way of permitting fighters to transform on simply 30.0% of its 1/3 downs.

 

BACK FOR MOORE

• Ok-State’s main tackler from a yr in the past is at is once more as Austin Moore leads the group with 42 tackles.

• However, Moore has advanced his manufacturing in tackles for loss with 8.0 on the yr.

• A former walk-on became group captain, Moore has no less than a part take on for loss in 9 of his ultimate 11 video games courting again to ultimate yr, together with a career-best 3.0 TFLs towards SEMO.

 

SAVAGE SNAGS A PAIR

• Senior protection Kobe Savage hauled in two interceptions at Texas Tech. It used to be the primary multi-interception recreation by way of a Wildcat since Kevion McGee had a couple within the 2018 finale at Iowa State.

• Savage become the primary Ok-State protection with two selections in a recreation since Travis Green had two towards Texas Tech in 2014.

• A made of Paris, Texas, Savage now has 5 profession interceptions as he ranks fourth nationally amongst lively gamers in profession interceptions in step with recreation (0.29). Additionally, he ranks fifteenth nationally amongst lively gamers with 4.12 solo tackles in step with recreation.

 

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

SCORING IN THE THIRD PHASE

• One of the primary causes the Wildcats had been a a hit program the ultimate 3 many years is a knack for momentum-swinging performs within the go back recreation.

• Since 2005 (18-plus seasons), the Wildcats have a blended 60 kickoff- and punt-return touchdowns, 21 greater than second-place Alabama (39) and 26 greater than the following closest Big 12 group (Oklahoma State – 34).

• Of the 60 overall returns, a nation-leading 31 are on kickoff returns. The subsequent closest group is Houston with 21.

• With two punt-return touchdowns in 2022, Ok-State has now tallied a punt-return rating in each and every season since 2014, because the nine-year stretch is the longest lively streak within the country.

 

MORE RECENTLY…

• Special groups had been a space of emphasis underneath head trainer Chris Klieman, and the stats again it up.

• Ok-State is one in all simplest two groups within the country (Houston) with no less than 5 kickoff-return touchdowns and 5 punt-return touchdowns since 2019.

• On the flipside, Ok-State is one in all simply 10 returning FBS groups not to permit a kickoff- or punt-return landing since 2019, whilst the Wildcats are the one Big 12 group to put that declare.

 

DEFENSE ON KICK RETURNS

• Ok-State has no longer allowed a kickoff go back for a landing because the 2013 season, going the ultimate 121 video games and 398 returns with out permitting fighters to seek out paydirt on a kickoff go back.

• The streak is the longest a few of the returning Big 12 groups.

• Since Ok-State allowed its ultimate kickoff-return landing, the Wildcats have scored 14 of their very own.