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Okay-State at 6/6 Oklahoma
Date: Saturday, September 24, 2022
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Location: Norman, Okla.
Stadium: Memorial Stadium (80,126)
Series: Oklahoma leads, 77-21-4
TV: FOX (watch)
Jason Benetti (Play-by-Play)
Brock Huard (Analyst)
Allison Williams (Sidelines)
Radio: Okay-State Sports Network; k-statesports.com (Listen)
Wyatt Thompson (Play-by-Play)
Stan Weber (Analyst)
Matt Walters (Sidelines)
SiriusXM Satellite Radio Ch. 201, SXM App 964
Twitter Updates: @OkayStateFB
THE TOP 5
1) Okay-State appears to be like to get again on the successful monitor this weekend because the Wildcats journey to Norman, Oklahoma, to face the sixth-ranked Sooners at 7 p.m., Saturday night time. The sport can be broadcast nationally on FOX and contains a sequence that has been uber aggressive over the past three seasons. In the final 3 matchups, the Wildcats are 2-1, and the common margin of victory in these three video games has been 5.3 factors.
2) Coming off a Consensus All-America season, working again Deuce Vaughn has picked up proper the place he left off, speeding for a Big 12-best 117.3 yards per sport and three touchdowns. He had a string of eight-straight video games with greater than 100 speeding yards snapped final week after speeding for 82 yards towards Tulane. He additionally had rushed for a landing in nine-straight video games till final week.
3) A switch from Nebraska, Adrian Martinez has earned the beginning at quarterback in every sport as he turned the primary sign caller to begin a season opener after transferring from a Division I college since Matt Miller (Texas A&M) began the 1994 opener. However, he’s the primary ever to come back straight from one Division I college and begin the subsequent yr’s season opener as Miller redshirted the 1993 season.
4) With seven returning starters on protection a yr in the past, the Wildcats have been stellar by means of three video games, permitting simply 9.7 factors per sport, 276.0 whole yards per sport whereas additionally forcing seven interceptions. This week, the Cats rank second nationally in interceptions, third in move effectivity protection, tenth in passing yards allowed, twelfth in scoring protection and twentieth in whole protection.
5) Known for its particular groups prowess, Okay-State brings again each of its main returners in Malik Knowles (kickoffs) and Phillip Brooks (punts), every of whom have garnered All-America standing of their disciplines throughout their careers. In three video games, the Cats have recorded two punt return scores – one coming through a blocked punt and the opposite on a 76-yard return from Brooks.
STATISTICAL SPOTLIGHTS
239.3 – Rushing yards per sport this season, which ranks twelfth within the nation and second within the Big 12.
18.9 – Points allowed per sport since final season and after the swap to a 3-3-5 defensive alignment.
7 – Interceptions this yr by the Okay-State protection, which ranks tops within the Big 12 and second nationally.
5.3 – Average margin of victory between Okay-State and OU over the past three years with the Wildcats successful two of these video games.
3 – Okay-State ranks third within the Big 12 with 126 league wins because the convention’s first yr in 1996.
TEAM NOTES
BIG 12 ROAD OPENERS
• Opening Big 12 play on the street is nothing new to the Wildcats as this weekend would be the twenty second time within the 27-year historical past of the league that Okay-State will open Big 12 play away from residence, together with the eighth time within the final 9 years.
• The Wildcats are 11-15 all-time of their first Big 12 street sport of the season.
• This is the fourth-straight yr the Wildcats will open Big 12 play within the Sooner State after beginning in Norman in 2020 and in Stillwater in each 2019 and 2021.
A WINNING TRADITION
• Kansas State has been among the best Big 12 groups because the inception of the convention in 1996. The Wildcats are third with 126 victories, trailing solely Oklahoma and Texas.
• The Wildcats additionally rank third within the convention in successful share since round-robin play started in 2011. They sit at 57.6% (57-42), trailing solely Oklahoma (81.6%; 81-18) and Oklahoma State (66.7%; 66-33).
• During that stretch, the Wildcats are 32-18 (64.0%) at residence in Big 12 play and 25-24 (51.0%) on the street.
AMONG THE NATION’S BEST
• Okay-State has 205 wins since 1996, which rank twenty fifth amongst all FBS groups. The Wildcats are one among simply 26 faculties to achieve the 200-win mark over the past 26 seasons.
• More just lately, the Wildcats are tied for twenty sixth in wins amongst present Power 5 groups since 2010 with 95.
POSTSEASON PROMINENCE
• Okay-State has a powerful postseason historical past, going to a bowl sport 22 occasions since 1993, together with 10 occasions within the final 12 years.
• Okay-State’s 22 bowl journeys since 1993 rank fourth amongst present Big 12 groups.
• In an period when over 80 groups play in a bowl sport annually, the Cats are one among simply 25 Power 5 groups to play in a bowl sport 10 occasions within the final 12 years.
A WINNING HISTORY
• A confirmed winner with a championship historical past, Chris Klieman holds a 94-30 profession report, as his 75.8% profession successful share is tied for fourth amongst present FBS coaches which might be at least of their tenth season.
• Klieman, who’s 22-17 since arriving at Okay-State, got here to Manhattan after capping his five-year stint as head coach at North Dakota State by successful his fourth nationwide championship in 2018. He guided the 2018 Bison to an ideal 15-0 report.
BETTER DISCIPLINE
• Okay-State was one of many least penalized groups within the nation over the ultimate few weeks of the 2021 common season, because the Cats totaled solely 4 penalties (1.3 per sport) for 41 yards (13.7 yards per sport) over their remaining three regular-season video games.
• Through three video games this yr, Okay-State ranks third within the Big 12 in fewest penalty yards with 41.7 per sport.
TAKING CARE OF THE BALL
• Another staple of Okay-State soccer over the previous decade has been committing only a few turnovers, because the Wildcats rank third nationally amongst present Power 5 groups since 2012 in fewest turnovers per sport at 1.20.
• That determine leads the Big 12 because the Wildcats’ 155 whole turnovers over the past eleven-plus seasons are 12 higher than the subsequent closest program (Oklahoma, 167).
• So far this season, the Wildcats are plus-6 in turnover margin with seven interceptions and only one misplaced fumble late within the win over Missouri.
CATS TOPS IN NON-OFFENSIVE TDs
• Okay-State is the nation’s greatest in non-offensive touchdowns over the past 23 seasons because it has 128 since 1999, seven greater than the subsequent closest crew.
• Kansas State tallied three non-offensive scores in 2021, together with two kickoff-return touchdowns by Malik Knowles. One of these was a 93-yard return towards Oklahoma.
• The Wildcats have already got two non-offensive scores this yr as Seth Porter blocked a punt towards South Dakota that was returned for a rating by Desmond Purnell, whereas Phillip Brooks took a punt 76 yards for a rating towards Missouri.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
KLEIN TAKES OVER AS OC
• A 2012 Heisman Trophy finalist and among the best sign callers in class historical past, Collin Klein is in his first season as Okay-State’s offensive coordinator.
• Klein is one among simply 4 Power 5 offensive coordinators to play quarterback at the varsity through which they work. The different three are Brandon Streeter (Clemson), Tommy Rees (Notre Dame) and Tavita Pritchard (Stanford).
• Klein was promoted to interim offensive coordinator for the 2022 Texas Bowl, and all he did was direct the Wildcats to 42 factors – their highest output of the season and third highest in class bowl historical past – whereas their 442 yards of whole offense was the second-best output of the 2021 season and ranked fifth in Okay-State bowl historical past.
• Klein was a co-offensive coordinator for one season at Okay-State (2018), as he begins a run because the Wildcats’ sole offensive play caller for the primary time in his profession.
OFF AND RUNNING
• Okay-State has opened the season with 718 speeding yards, because the Wildcats rank twelfth nationally and second within the Big 12 by averaging 239.3 speeding yards per sport.
• A majority of these yards come from 2021 Consensus All-American Deuce Vaughn, who ranks sixth within the nation and tops within the Big 12 with 117.3 speeding yards per sport.
• Okay-State opened the season with 297 yards on the bottom towards South Dakota, which included Malik Knowles’ 75-yard landing run on the primary play of the season.
• Knowles’ rating 10 seconds into the sport was the quickest in class historical past, topping an 11-second rating vs. Louisiana Tech in 1988.
• The 297 yards on the bottom had been essentially the most by a Wildcat crew since recording 342 within the 2019 Kansas sport. They then posted 235 speeding yards towards Missouri, the primary time that they had at least 230 speeding yards in consecutive video games because the remaining two video games of 2020.
AN EXPERIENCED QB
• One of the highest switch quarterbacks within the 2022 cycle landed at Kansas State in Adrian Martinez, who spent the earlier 4 seasons at Nebraska.
• A profession 38-game starter for the Huskers, Martinez set 17 college information, together with profession whole offense (10,792) and completions (670).
• Martinez is one among solely two lively quarterbacks within the nation with 8,000 passing yards and a pair of,000 speeding yards in a profession. He ranks second amongst lively quarterbacks in profession speeding makes an attempt (547), speeding touchdowns (37) and speeding yards (2,451) by a quarterback, and fourth in whole offense (11,246).
• This weekend’s sport will really be the second time in as a few years that Martinez will play at Oklahoma. Last yr with Nebraska, he threw for 289 yards and a landing on 19-of-25 purpose whereas additionally speeding for a landing within the Huskers’ slim 23-16 loss.
MIX OF NEW AND OLD
• The blueprint for fulfillment has been established for the offensive line beneath coach Conor Riley since he got here to Manhattan with Chris Klieman in 2019. That ought to make for a easy transition for 3 new starters in 2022.
• Junior Cooper Beebe, a 2021 First Team All-Big 12 performer who’s a Preseason All-American and on the watch lists for the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award, is again began the season at left guard, however he can nonetheless play deal with.
• Another seasoned veteran strains up at proper deal with in Christian Duffie, a participant who has began 23-consecutive video games for the Wildcats, essentially the most on the crew.
• However, Okay-State is changing the inside of the offensive line. Senior Hayden Gillum began at heart, whereas sophomore Hadley Panzer is listed because the starter at proper guard.
VAUGHN RETURNS AFTER ALL-AMERICAN SEASON
• Running again Deuce Vaughn is seeking to enhance upon his 2021 marketing campaign through which he turned the eleventh Consensus All-American in class historical past.
• A product of Round Rock, Texas, Vaughn is one among simply six Consensus All-Americans coming back from final season, becoming a member of Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, USC broad receiver Jordan Addison, Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr., Michigan kicker Jake Moody and USF returner Brian Battie.
• Vaughn at present ranks first nationally amongst all lively non-kickers in profession factors scored per sport (7.8), second amongst lively gamers in profession all-purpose yards per sport (133.88), fifth in whole touchdowns (32) and seventh in speeding yards per carry.
• A menace just about each time he touches the ball, Vaughn has gone for at least 10 yards on 101 of his 504 profession scrimmage touches as he’s gaining at least 10 yards 20.0% of the time he both takes a hand off or receives a move.
ALL-PURPOSE BACK
• The excessive profession marks by Deuce Vaughn should not solely resulting from his prowess as a runner, however he has been among the best working backs within the nation when it comes to catching the ball out of the backfield.
• Over the primary 26 video games of his profession, Vaughn has 2,398 speeding yards and 938 receiving yards. With 62 extra receiving yards, he can be simply the 59th FBS participant general since 1996 to achieve the two,000/1,000 mark and simply the tenth from the Big 12.
• However, Vaughn may very well be one of many quickest gamers to hit the marks when it comes to video games performed.
• Additionally, he could be simply the second Big 12 participant to hit these marks previous to the top of his junior yr, becoming a member of former Texas Tech working again Taurean Henderson.
STREAKS COME TO AN END
• Deuce Vaughn noticed a pair of spectacular streaks come to an finish final week towards Tulane.
• He completed second in class historical past with eight-straight video games with 100 speeding yards. It was simply two behind the report of Darren Sproles, who had 10-straight video games between spanning the 2002 and 2003 seasons.
• Vaughn additionally had a speeding landing in nine-straight video games, which was the fifth-longest streak in class historical past.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
A BIG TURNAROUND
• The Okay-State protection switched from a four-man entrance to a three-man entrance in 2021, and the change has paid off in spades.
• From 2020 to 2021, the Wildcats trimmed 11.2 factors and 100.0 yards per sport allowed off their averages.
• In the 16 video games because the defensive swap, the Wildcats are permitting simply 18.9 factors per sport and 331.8 yards per sport.
PICK ME, PICK ME
• Through three video games, Okay-State has recorded seven interceptions to rank second within the nation and tops amongst Power 5 groups.
• The seven picks by means of the primary three video games are tied for essentially the most by a Okay-State protection since 1993.
• After opening the yr with two picks towards South Dakota, the Cats recorded 4 interceptions on four-straight possessions towards Missouri. It was the primary time they completed that feat because the 2010 Texas sport when Tysyn Hartman and Ty Zimmerman every picked off two passes on four-consecutive drives.
• Daniel Green and Kobe Savage every picked off passes towards Missouri and Tulane. It was the primary time the identical two Okay-State gamers had interceptions in the identical consecutive video games since 2014 (Dante Barnett and Randall Evans vs. West Virginia and Kansas).
FEWER EXPLOSIVES
• One space of emphasis for the Wildcat protection in 2021 was to restrict opponents’ explosive performs, and the Wildcats made headway in that space by permitting 3.5 performs per sport of 20 or extra yards.
• It was the bottom per sport mark allowed by Okay-State because the 2014 squad surrendered 3.3 performs per sport of 20 or extra yards (43 performs in 13 video games).
• Okay-State’s 48 whole performs allowed of 20 or extra yards final yr tied for the 18th fewest within the nation final season and ranked second within the Big 12.
• The Wildcats have allowed simply eight performs of 20 or extra yards this yr, as they’re tied for seventeenth within the nation and second within the Big 12.
FEW FIRST DOWNS
• The Wildcats additionally ranked extremely within the nation final season in fewest first downs allowed, surrendering 17.9 per sport to rank twentieth within the nation.
• Okay-State allowed 20 or fewer first downs in 10 of its 13 video games in 2021, together with 5 contests with 15 or fewer.
• It was the second time beneath head coach Chris Klieman that Okay-State ranked within the high 20 in that class having positioned seventeenth at 17.2 first downs allowed per sport in 2019.
• Since the NCAA made first downs an official statistic in 2008, the Wildcats have solely been beneath 20 first downs allowed per sport on 4 events.
• Okay-State ranks twenty fifth within the nation with 45 first downs allowed and has not surrendered greater than 20 in any of the primary three video games.
PLAYING BEHIND THE LINE
• Okay-State tallied 90 tackles for loss final yr to rank tenth in class historical past and twenty sixth within the nation. It was the second most by a Okay-State crew since 2004 (2006 squad had 91) and was the Wildcats’ greatest nationwide rating since inserting 18th in 2006.
• Okay-State recorded 10.0 TFLs towards each South Dakota and Missouri to begin the 2022 season.
• It is the primary time the Cats had 10 or extra TFLs in consecutive video games since carding 10 apiece towards Miami and North Texas in 2012.
FINDING A NEW HOME
• Okay-State introduced in eight transfers from both Division I or neighborhood faculty on the defensive aspect of the ball, together with 5 that might see vital time early within the season.
• Transfers which might be listed on the depth chart embody safeties Drake Cheatum (Prairie View A&M), Josh Hayes (Virginia/North Dakota State) and Kobe Savage (Tyler JC), linebacker Gavin Forsha (Tyler JC) and cornerback Jordan Wright (Fullerton College).
GREEN MEANS GO
• One of the nation’s high tacklers a yr in the past, linebacker Daniel Green has additionally been a pest for opponents within the passing sport as he has two interceptions on the yr.
• Green is one among simply 5 linebackers within the nation with a number of interceptions to start the 2022 season.
• Those picks got here towards Missouri and Tulane as he’s the primary Wildcat linebacker with interceptions in consecutive video games since Arthur Brown in 2012 towards West Virginia and Texas Tech.
• Green returned his interception towards Tulane 49 yards to arrange a area objective previous to halftime, the longest return by a Wildcat since security Dante Barnett went 51 yards towards Michigan within the 2013 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. It was additionally the longest by a Okay-State linebacker since Alex Hrebec had a 51-yard return towards Iowa State in 2008.
• In phrases of tackles, Green has 173 stops in his profession as he’s 77 away from changing into the twenty seventh participant in class historical past with 250 tackles in a profession.
• Of these tackles, 124 have been solo stops as Green is 44 away from coming into the varsity’s profession top-10 checklist.
KING FELIX
• After making a reputation for himself in 2021, junior defensive finish Felix Anudike-Uzomah is seeking to enhance off an All-American marketing campaign through which he was additionally named the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year.
• A Preseason All-American by a number of retailers along with being named to the Nagurski Trophy, Bednarik Award and Lombardi Award watch lists, Anudike-Uzomah completed the 2021 season tied for the nationwide lead in compelled fumble per sport (0.46), whereas he ranked eleventh nationally and second amongst sophomores in sacks per sport (0.85).
• Anudike-Uzomah has seven compelled fumbles in his profession, simply two shy of tying the varsity report.
• A product of Kansas City, Missouri, Anudike-Uzomah leads the nation amongst lively participant in profession compelled fumbles per sport (0.33), whereas he’s sixth in sacks per sport (0.69) and seventeenth in tackles for loss (0.90).
• After carding 2.5 sacks thus far this season, Anudike-Uzomah is now 4.0 sacks shy of coming into Okay-State’s profession top-10 checklist.
OLD FACE, NEW PLACE
• Safety Josh Hayes is in his sixth yr of faculty soccer and third college after transferring within the spring from Virginia.
• However, Hayes, a product of Lakeland, Florida, is reuniting with head coach Chris Klieman and defensive coordinator/safeties coach Joe Klanderman in Manhattan after the trio had been collectively at North Dakota State. Hayes performed as a real freshman and sophomore in 2017 and 2018 beneath Klieman earlier than he turned the Okay-State head coach for the 2019 season.
• Hayes noticed time in all 15 video games in 2017, together with his first-career begin in NDSU’s nationwide championship win over James Madison.
• He went on to play 37 extra video games with 24 extra begins for the Bison earlier than transferring to Virginia for the 2021 season, enjoying in three video games earlier than using his redshirt and transferring to Okay-State.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
SCORING IN THE THIRD PHASE
• One of the principle causes the Wildcats have been a profitable program the final three a long time is a knack for momentum-swinging performs within the return sport.
• Since 2005 (17-plus seasons), the Wildcats have a mixed 60 kickoff- and punt-return touchdowns, 21 greater than second-place Alabama (39) and 27 greater than the subsequent closest Big 12 crew (Oklahoma State – 33).
• Of the 60 whole returns, a nation-leading 31 are on kickoff returns. The subsequent closest crew is San Diego State with 19.
• With the Wildcats’ two punt-return touchdowns to start the 2022 season, Okay-State has now tallied a punt-return rating in each season since 2014, because the nine-year stretch is the longest in class historical past.
BACK TO BACK
• Desmond Purnell returned a blocked punt for a landing towards South Dakota, whereas Phillip Brooks returned one 76 yards for a rating towards Missouri.
• It was the primary time the Wildcats had punt-return scores in consecutive video games since 2008 towards Texas Tech and Texas A&M, whereas it was the primary time that they had one in every of the primary two video games of a season since 1998 towards Indiana State and Northern Illinois.
BROOKS BACK IN THE END ZONE
• Phillip Brooks recorded his fourth-career punt-return landing towards Missouri, a 76-yarder en path to Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
• He now leads the nation amongst lively gamers in profession punt-return rating and punt-return common (17.7), whereas he’s ninth in whole punt-return yards (549).
• His 4 punt-return touchdowns rank second in class historical past and re tied for fourth in Big 12 historical past.
KNOWLES WITH A KNACK
• Malik Knowles is the most recent Wildcat with a knack for kickoff returns as he was a 2021 Second Team All-American by Phil Steele and a 2022 Preseason All-American by a number of retailers.
• Knowles was the 2021 First Team All-Big 12 kick returner, marking the fifteenth time within the 26-year historical past of the Big 12 that Okay-State had a First Team All-Big 12 returner. The subsequent closest crew is former Big 12 member Colorado with 4.
• Knowles is tied for fourth in class historical past in each profession and single-season kickoff return touchdowns, because of scores final yr in back-to-back weeks at Oklahoma State and towards Oklahoma.
• Knowles, who additionally had a 100-yard return in 2019 at Mississippi State, is tied for second nationally amongst lively gamers with three profession kickoff-return scores.
• Knowles at present ranks ranked fourth in class historical past in profession kickoff-return common and touchdowns, whereas he’s tied for second nationally amongst lively gamers in touchdowns and ranks fourth in common.
ZENTNER ENTERS TOP 10
• Punter Ty Zentner is benefiting from a second senior season in 2022 as he returns after incomes All-Big 12 standing a yr in the past.
• A product of Topeka, Kansas, Zentner ranks third in class historical past with a 42.99-yard common. That common is held up by 5 profession video games with a median of at least 45.0, together with a 54.2-yard common towards Missouri. His contest towards the Tigers featured a career-long punt of 66 yards.
• Zentner was additionally the Wildcats’ main kickoff man final yr, totaling 36 touchbacks on his 67 kickoffs (53.7%), essentially the most by a Wildcat since at least 2004.
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