9/11/9 Ok-State vs. 5/5/5 Alabama
Date: Saturday, December 31, 2022
Kickoff: 11 a.m.
Location: New Orleans, La.
Stadium: Caesars Superdome (68,500)
Series: First Meeting
TV: ESPN (watch)
Dave Pasch (Play-by-Play)
Dusty Dvoracek (Analyst)
Tom Luginbill (Sidelines)
National Radio: ESPN Radio
Sean Kelley (Play-by-Play)
Aaron Murray (Analyst)
Stormy Buonantony (Sidelines)
Ok-State Radio: Ok-State Sports Network; k-statesports.com (Listen)
Wyatt Thompson (Play-by-Play)
Stan Weber (Analyst)
Matt Walters (Sidelines)
SiriusXM Satellite Radio Ch. 83 and 81
Twitter Updates: @OkStateFB
TEAM NOTES
WILDCATS HEADED TO ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL
• Fresh off a 31-28 victory over No. 3 TCU in the 2022 Big 12 Championship, Kansas State acquired its twenty fourth bowl berth all time and third below head coach Chris Klieman because the ninth-ranked Wildcats will face No. 5 Alabama in the 89th annual Allstate Sugar Bowl on Saturday, December 31.
• Of Ok-State’s 24 complete bowl appearances all-time, 22 of these have come in the final 30 seasons.
• The Wildcats maintain a 10-13 document in bowl video games and need to win their fourth bowl recreation in their final 5 appearances. It can be the primary time in faculty historical past the Wildcats received 4 bowls in 5 tries.
• This will mark the eighth completely different state in which Ok-State has traveled to bowl video games. The most frequent are Arizona (4-Copper/Insight/Buffalo Wild Wings/Cactus, 3-Fiesta) and Texas (3-Cotton, 3-Texas, 2-Alamo).
Ok-STATE IN LOUISIANA
• Kansas State is seeking to flip round its fortune in the Pelican State because the Wildcats are 0-4 all-time in video games performed in the state of Louisiana.
• Included in that stretch is a 0-1 mark in New Orleans having misplaced at Tulane, 20-16, in 1988 contained in the Superdome.
• Ok-State’s final recreation in the state of Louisiana got here in 2009 when it misplaced to Louisiana, 17-15, on a last-minute discipline purpose in Lafayette.
CATS AND CRIMSON TIDE
• Kansas State and Alabama will meet for the primary time ever on the gridiron in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
• It will likely be simply the sixth time the Wildcats have confronted a staff from the state Alabama, going 1-4 in the earlier 5 video games.
• The Wildcats defeated Troy at house in 2003, whereas they’re 0-4 all-time towards Auburn. The Tigers are the final staff from the state of Alabama the Wildcats have confronted, which got here in a 20-14 setback at house in 2014.
Ok-STATE AND THE SEC
• Ok-State will likely be taking part in its 139th recreation all-time towards present members of the SEC, however 107 of these conferences had been towards both Missouri or Texas A&M as Big Eight/12 foes.
• It marks the second-straight season the Wildcats will face an SEC staff in bowl play and the fourth in the Wildcats’ final six bowl video games. Ok-State has received every of its final two bowl conferences with SEC groups, defeating LSU in final yr’s Texas Bowl (42-20) and Texas A&M in the 2016 Texas Bowl (33-28).
• Under head coach Chris Klieman, Kansas State is 3-0 towards SEC opponents. The Wildcats received at Mississippi State, 31-24, in 2019, defeated LSU in final yr’s Texas Bowl, and took down Missouri, 40-12, earlier this season.
BOWLING AGAIN
• In an period of school soccer the place over 80 groups play in bowl video games annually, Ok-State is one in all simply 19 Power 5 colleges to advance to a bowl in 11 of the final 13 years.
• The Wildcats are one in all 4 Big 12 groups to perform the feat, becoming a member of Baylor, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.
• Since 1993, Kansas State has superior to 23 bowl video games, which is tied for sixteenth nationally and fourth in the Big 12.
BIG 12 CHAMPS
• Kansas State earned its third Big 12 title with a 31-28 additional time victory over No. 3 TCU in the 2022 Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship on December 3.
• The victory was the second for the Wildcats in a convention championship recreation as they took down No. 1 Oklahoma, 35-7, in 2003.
• Kansas State earned its first convention title since ending with an 8-1 document in 2012 as there was no convention championship recreation carried out that yr.
• It was the fourth ever convention title for the Wildcats, who additionally received the Big Six in 1934 with a 5-0 document.
ONE OF THE BIG 12’S BEST
• Kansas State has been the most effective Big 12 groups because the inception of the convention in 1996. The Wildcats are third with 134 victories, trailing solely Oklahoma and Texas.
• The Wildcats are additionally third in the convention in profitable proportion since round-robin play started in 2011. They sit at 59.3% (64-44), trailing solely Oklahoma (77.6%; 83-25) and Oklahoma State (64.8%; 70-38).
SEVEN CONFERENCE WINS
• Ok-State completed the common season with a 7-2 mark in Big 12 play. It was the seventh time the Wildcats received seven convention video games and the primary time they hit that mark since 2014.
TRYING TO TIE A RECORD
• Kansas State will likely be in search of its eleventh victory this season through the Sugar Bowl, which might tie a faculty document.
• The Wildcats have received 11 video games on seven events, most just lately in 2012. The Wildcats additionally received 11 video games in 1997, 1998, 199, 2000, 2002 and 2003.
• Kansas State has already clinched its eleventh season with double-digit victories. The different campaigns with 10 or extra wins aside from these listed above embrace 1910, 1995 and 2011.
QUICK STARTS
• Kansas State enters bowl season main the Big 12 in first-half scoring (276 factors) and rating second in league in first-half scoring differential (+126).
• Second on the listing in first-half factors is TCU with 256, whereas Texas is shut behind with 255.
• The Wildcats and Texas are the one two Big 12 groups with a first-half scoring differential of over 100 factors.
TAKING DOWN TOP-10s
• Ok-State earned its third victory over an AP Top-10 staff this season when it knocked off No. 3 TCU in the Big 12 Championship. It is the primary time in faculty historical past the Wildcats have taken down a number of AP Top-10 groups in one season.
• Kansas State additionally defeated then-No. 6 Oklahoma, 41-34, in Norman on Sept. 24, whereas they shut out then-No. 9 Oklahoma State, 48-0, at house on Oct. 29.
• The Wildcats are actually 6-3 in their final 9 video games towards top-10 groups courting again to Nov. 18, 2017, a span that started with a 45-40 victory at No. 10 Oklahoma State. Prior to that, the Cats had been simply 1-15 in their earlier 16 tries.
• Under head coach Chris Klieman, the Wildcats have defeated 5 groups ranked in the highest 10 by the Associated Press.
A WINNING HISTORY
• A confirmed winner with a championship historical past, Chris Klieman holds a 102-32 profession document, as his 76.1% profession profitable proportion ranks third amongst present FBS coaches which can be in no less than their Tenth season. He can be one in all simply 16 present Power 5 head coaches with no less than 100 victories.
• Klieman, who’s 30-19 since arriving at Ok-State, got here to Manhattan after capping his five-year stint as head coach at North Dakota State by profitable his fourth nationwide championship in 2018. He guided the 2018 Bison to an ideal 15-0 document.
• Klieman is 7-6 in his profession towards groups ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 with six of the victories coming at Ok-State.
TAKING CARE OF THE FOOTBALL
• A staple of Ok-State soccer over the previous decade has been committing only a few turnovers, because the Wildcats are second in the nation amongst Power 5 groups in fewest turnovers since 2012 (164).
• That determine leads the Big 12 because the Wildcats are 17 higher than the following closest program (Oklahoma, 181).
• The Wildcats enter the bowl season ranked fifth nationally and tops in the Big 12 in turnover margin (+1.08 / recreation). They are plus-14 on the yr with 24 takeaways and 10 turnovers.
• Ok-State has not completed in the highest 10 nationally in turnover margin since 2016 when it completed fourth (+1.00 per recreation). The present turnover margin can be Ok-State’s finest because it completed at +1.46 per recreation in 2012 to rank third nationally.
TOP-NOTCH DISCIPLINE
• Ok-State has been one of the vital disciplined groups in the Big 12, rating third with 43.2 penalty yards per recreation.
• The Wildcats have been below 40 penalty yards in eight contests and 30 yards or fewer 4 occasions.
CATS TOPS IN NON-OFFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS
• Ok-State is the nation’s finest in non-offensive touchdowns during the last 23 seasons because it has 129 since 1999, seven greater than the following closest staff (Alabama – 122).
• Kansas State has three non-offensive scores this yr. The Wildcats started the yr with a blocked punt return landing by Desmond Purnell.
• The subsequent week towards Missouri, Phillip Brooks took a punt 76 yards for a rating.
• Then, at West Virginia, Cincere Mason returned an interception 37 yards for a landing, the Wildcats’ first pick-6 since 2020.
• Of the 129 non-offensive scores since 1999, 43 have been punt returns, 40 interception returns, 33 kickoff returns, 11 fumble returns and a couple of missed/blocked discipline purpose returns.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
KLEIN IS ONE OF FOUR
• A 2012 Heisman Trophy finalist and the most effective sign callers in faculty historical past, Collin Klein is in his first season as Ok-State’s offensive coordinator.
• Klein is one in all simply 4 Power 5 offensive coordinators to play quarterback on the faculty in which they labored in 2022. The different three are Brandon Streeter (Clemson), Tommy Rees (Notre Dame) and Tavita Pritchard (Stanford).
SCORING SURGE
• Ok-State has averaged 38.7 factors per recreation during the last six video games, a mark that ranks first in the Big 12 and ninth nationally amongst Power 5 colleges.
• When taking a look at Big 12-only video games, Ok-State ranked second in the league in scoring, averaging 35.2 factors per Big 12 recreation.
• The Wildcats have scored no less than 34 factors seven occasions this season, their most because the 2015 marketing campaign.
• Ok-State topped 45 factors every of the ultimate two weeks of the common season – scoring 48 factors at West Virginia and 47 factors towards Kansas. It was the primary time the Wildcats totaled no less than 45 factors in consecutive Big 12 video games since scoring 55 in back-to-back video games towards West Virginia and Texas Tech in 2012.
TOTAL OFFENSE
• Ok-State totaled no less than 375 yards in all 9 convention video games in addition to the Big 12 Championship. It marked the primary time ever in Big 12 play (since 1996) that the Wildcats totaled no less than 375 yard in each league recreation.
• Overall, the Wildcats have averaged 420.2 yards of offense, which at the moment ranks fifth in faculty historical past.
• With 280 yards in the Sugar Bowl, the Wildcats will rank second in faculty historical past in complete offensive yards.
• Ok-State averaged 6.57 yards per play in Big 12 video games, which was simply 0.02 yards per play shy of first.
EFFICIENCY ON THE GROUND…
• The Wildcats enter the Sugar Bowl ranked seventeenth nationally and eleventh amongst Power 5 groups with 209.6 dashing yards per recreation.
• This yr’s squad has 2,725 dashing yards to rank fifth in faculty historical past, whereas their 5.14 yards per rush ranks third.
• The Wildcats had a season-high 343 dashing yards towards Texas Tech, their most in a Big 12 recreation since posting 345 yards towards Oklahoma State in 2016.
…AND THROUGH THE AIR
• Although the Cats don’t air it out as a lot as their Big 12 brethren, they’re environment friendly and have some explosive performs.
• Ok-State’s present 63.3% completion proportion ranks sixth in faculty historical past, whereas the Wildcats have thrown solely 4 interceptions this season to rank fourth nationally. Ok-State’s present 1.13% interception clip is the bottom in faculty historical past.
• Additionally, Ok-State holds a staff passing effectivity mark of 145.5 to rank eighth in faculty historical past.
• Since the Oklahoma State recreation in Week 9, the Wildcats maintain a 156.8 passing score to rank sixth amongst Power 5 groups and first in the Big 12.
WHERE THERE’S A WILL…
• Quarterback Will Howard has thrown for 15 touchdowns in his final six video games performed, tied for probably the most in five-consecutive video games by a Wildcat in which they performed (Ell Roberson, 2003).
• He enters bowl season ranked sixth in the Big 12 in passing touchdowns (15), tied for seventh in touchdowns chargeable for (18) and Tenth in complete passing yards (1,423) regardless of solely taking part in in six contests.
• Impressively, two of Howard’s video games have come in aid, throwing for 2 scores at TCU and three extra at Baylor.
• In Howard’s first begin of the season – a 48-0 win at Oklahoma State – he tied the college document with 4 landing passes whereas additionally setting a profession excessive with 296 passing yards.
• It was the primary time a Wildcat had 4 passing touchdowns in a recreation since Jesse Ertz in the 2017 season opener towards Central Arkansas, whereas it was the primary towards a Big 12 opponent since Jake Waters towards Kansas in 2014.
• Each of his scoring strikes towards the Cowboys got here in the primary half, marking the third time in faculty historical past a participant had 4 in a half. The different two had been by Michael Bishop (1997 vs. Northern Illinois) and Paul Watson (1988 vs. Louisiana Tech).
VERY EFFICIENT
• Will Howard enters the Sugar Bowl with a season passing effectivity mark of 162.2, which is at the moment the highest mark in faculty historical past (minimal 100 makes an attempt).
• Second on the listing is Michael Bishop, who had a 159.6 mark in 1998.
• Howard’s 134.5 profession move effectivity score is seventh in faculty historical past. That quantity has been given an enormous increase this yr as he entered the season with a 114.1 mark.
VAUGHN BACK AT IT
• A First Team All-American, Deuce Vaughn ranks eleventh nationally and second in the Big 12 with 1,425 dashing yards.
• Vaughn additionally ranks Tenth nationally and second in the Big 12 in scrimmage yards (dashing plus receiving) per recreation at 136.9.
• A menace nearly each time he touches the ball, Vaughn has gone for no less than 10 yards on 139 of his 745 profession scrimmage touches (18.7%) and no less than 20 yards 51 occasions (6.8%).
ALL-PURPOSE BACK
• The excessive marks by Deuce Vaughn aren’t solely because of his prowess as a runner, however he has been the most effective backs in the nation on the receiving finish as he has 3,471 dashing yards and 1,280 receiving yards over his 36 profession video games.
• He was the quickest participant in Big 12 historical past to go over 3,000 dashing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in a profession, reaching these marks in his thirty second profession recreation. He was additionally tied for the quickest to get there by any participant in the nation since 1996 with Penn State’s Saquan Barkley and Boise State’s Jeremy McNichols.
GOING 70
• Deuce Vaughn has 5 profession video games in which he has totaled no less than 70 dashing yards and 70 receiving yards, together with this yr towards Texas (73 rush/86 rec) and Kansas (147 rush/82 rec).
• In the Big 12 period, no different participant has greater than three such video games in their profession, which incorporates former Wildcat Darren Sproles.
• Besides the Texas and Kansas video games, Vaughn’s different 70/70 video games have come towards Kansas (2020 and 2021) and Texas Tech (2020).
HITTING 1,000 AGAIN
• Deuce Vaughn reached the 1,000-yard mark for a second-straight yr as he at the moment has 1,425 yards to rank fourth in faculty historical past.
• He is simply the third participant in faculty historical past with a number of 1,000-yard dashing seasons, becoming a member of Darren Sproles (2002, 2003, 2004) and Daniel Thomas (2009, 2010).
NOT JUST A BLOCKER
• Sophomore tight finish Ben Sinnott has been on hearth as of late, combining for 286 yards and 4 touchdowns on 17 catches during the last six video games. Included in that stretch had been profession highs in catches (7), yards (89) and touchdowns (2) at Baylor.
• It was the primary time a Ok-State tight finish had a number of touchdowns in a recreation since Jarrett Grosdidier towards Indiana State in 1996, whereas it was probably the most receptions by a Wildcat tight finish since Rashaad Norwood additionally had seven at Baylor in 2006.
• His 399 receiving yards this season are the eighth most in faculty historical past by a decent finish.
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 change has paid off.
• In the 25 video games because the defensive swap, the Cats are permitting simply 20.5 factors per recreation, which ranks twenty first nationally and second in the Big 12. Additionally, they’re permitting solely 355.4 yards per recreation over that point, which ranks second in the league.
• Over the 2019 and 2020 seasons, Ok-State allowed 26.1 factors per recreation and 401.6 yards.
LOCKDOWN DEFENSE
• Ok-State has held its opponent out of the tip zone on 4 events this season, together with three in Big 12 play.
• The final time the Wildcats didn’t give up a landing in 4 video games total was 2002 (Western Kentucky, Louisiana-Monroe, Kansas and Missouri).
• The final time the Wildcats did surrender a landing in three Big 12 video games was 2001 (Kansas, Iowa State, Missouri).
STOUT IN THE SECOND HALF
• Kansas State’s second-half changes on protection have been masterful during the last six video games because the Wildcats have solely surrendered a mixed 33-second half factors towards Oklahoma State (0), Texas (3), Baylor (0), West Virginia (6), Kansas (6) and TCU (18).
• For the season, Ok-State is permitting a mean of simply 8.5 factors in second halves.
UNDER AVERAGE
• Ok-State held all of its Big 12 opponents this yr below their season averages coming into the sport.
• Since head coach Chris Klieman‘s first yr of 2019, the Wildcats have held 30 of their 37 Big 12 opponents below their season common on the time it faces the Wildcats.
PICK ME, PICK ME
• Ok-State has recorded 16 interceptions to rank sixth in the nation and tops in the Big 12. They have a number of interceptions in six video games this yr, carding 4 towards Missouri and two apiece towards Tulane, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Baylor and West Virginia.
• Five of the 16 interceptions have come from linebackers, probably the most from that place group for a season since 1998 when Jeff Kelly (3) and Mark Simoneau (2) mixed for 5.
THIRD/FOURTH DOWN DEFENSE
• A yr after rating 78th nationally and sixth in the Big 12 by permitting a 35.4% conversion charge on third down, Ok-State enters bowl season ranked twenty fifth in the nation and third in the convention with a 33.7% charge.
• The Wildcats have allowed their opponents to transform on third down below 50% of the time in 10 of 13 video games this season, together with the Big 12 Championship recreation when TCU was simply 2-of-15 on third downs.
• On fourth downs, Ok-State ranks twentieth nationally by permitting a 39.4% clip, which is its lowest charge allowed since 2018 (37.5%).
KING FELIX
• After making a reputation for himself in 2021, Felix Anudike-Uzomah has stored issues going in 2022 as he was named an All-American by a number of shops and was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year by each the coaches and the Associated Press.
• A Lott IMPACT Trophy finalist and semifinalist for the Bednarik and Rotary Lombardi awards, Anudike-Uzomah has 8.5 sacks this season to guide the Big 12 in complete sacks, whereas he has a pair of pressured fumbles to tie for third in the Big 12.
• A product of Kansas City, Missouri, Anudike-Uzomah has 20.5 profession sacks to tie for sixth in faculty historical past. He additionally has eight profession pressured fumbles, as he is only one shy of the college document at the moment held by three others.
• Anudike-Uzomah is ranked twenty first on the Pro Football Focus 2023 NFL Draft Big Board, which is spectacular contemplating he got here to Ok-State in 2020 ranked because the 114th-best weakside defensive finish and a couple of,421st total participant (247Sports).
OLD FACE, NEW PLACE
• Safety Josh Hayes is in his sixth yr of school soccer and third faculty after transferring in the spring from Virginia.
• However, Hayes, a product of Lakeland, Florida, reunited 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 below Klieman earlier than he grew to become the Ok-State head coach for the 2019 season.
• Hayes has performed in 67 profession video games, which is tied for second in the nation amongst energetic FBS gamers and tops in the Big 12.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
SCORING IN THE THIRD PHASE
• One of the primary causes the Wildcats have been a profitable program the final three many years is a knack for momentum-swinging performs in the return recreation.
• Since 2005 (18 seasons), the Wildcats have a mixed 60 kickoff- and punt-return touchdowns, 21 greater than second-place Alabama (39) and 26 greater than the following closest Big 12 staff (Oklahoma State – 34).
• Of the 60 complete returns, a nation-leading 31 are on kickoff returns. The subsequent closest staff is San Diego State with 20.
• With two punt-return touchdowns this season, Ok-State has now tallied a punt-return rating in each season since 2014, because the nine-year stretch is the longest in faculty historical past.
DEFENSE ON KICKOFF RETURNS
• Kansas State has not allowed a kickoff return for a landing because the 2013 season, going the final 380 returns with out permitting opponents to search out paydirt on a kickoff return.
• The streak is the longest in the Big 12, 31 greater than the following closest staff (TCU – 349).
• Since Ok-State allowed its final kickoff-return landing, the Wildcats have scored 14 of their very own.
A TRIPLE THREAT
• Senior Ty Zentner dealt with each punting and kickoff duties for the Wildcats all through the season, whereas he has been the first place kicker in the final six video games.
• Zentner is one in all solely three gamers in the nation – and the one one at a Power 5 faculty – to deal with all three disciplines. The different two are Ryan Coe (Cincinnati) and Jack Browning (San Diego State).
ZENTNER GREAT AT PUNTING…
• Ty Zentner has taken benefit of his second senior season in 2022 because the 2022 All-Big 12 Second Team performer is making an attempt to go away Ok-State close to the highest of a number of top-10 lists.
• A product of Topeka, Kansas, Zentner was named a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award. He enters bowl season ranked seventeenth nationally, second in the Big 12 and second in faculty historical past with a 44.7-yard common this season. Additionally, he’s second in Ok-State historical past in profession common (43.4).
• Those averages are held up by eight profession video games with a mean of no less than 45.0, together with a 54.2-yard common towards Missouri, which ranked because the second-highest punting common recreation in faculty historical past (minimal 4 makes an attempt).
• Zentner, who held a 62.7-yard common on three punts towards Kansas, boomed a career-long 72-yard punt. It is the longest punt in the Big 12 this season and the longest by a Wildcat since James Garcia hit a 78-yarder at Texas in 1998.
… AND PLACEMENTS
• Ty Zentner’s prowess as a punter is spectacular contemplating that he has additionally dealt with placements during the last six video games and continued to kick off.
• Since taking up placements beginning with the Oklahoma State recreation, Zentner has gone 9-for-9 on discipline targets and 29-for-29 on additional factors.
• His newest discipline purpose will likely be remembered in Ok-State lore because it was a 31-yarder in additional time to ship Ok-State to a 31-28 victory over No. 3 TCU in the Big 12 Championship.
• At West Virginia, Zentner hit a 53-yarder proper earlier than halftime, which was tied for the Tenth-longest discipline purpose in faculty historical past and one yard shy of the longest in the Big 12 this season.
• On kickoffs, Zentner has totaled 49 touchbacks on 82 makes an attempt this yr (59.8%), whereas he’s 129-for-217 (59.4%) in his profession.
KNOWLES WITH A KNACK
• Malik Knowles is the most recent Wildcat with a knack for kickoff returns as he’s tied for fourth in faculty historical past in profession kickoff return touchdowns because of scores final yr in back-to-back weeks at Oklahoma State and towards Oklahoma in addition to at least one at Mississippi State in 2019.
• A product of Mansfield, Texas, Knowles at the moment ranks second in faculty historical past in profession kickoff-return yards (1,674), tied for third in makes an attempt (60), tied for fourth in touchdowns (3) and sixth in common (27.9).
BROOKS BACK IN THE END ZONE
• Phillip Brooks recorded his fourth profession punt-return landing towards Missouri, a 76-yarder en path to Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
• His 76-yard return is the twelfth longest in the nation and second longest in the Big 12 this yr.
• His 4 punt-return touchdowns rank second in faculty historical past and are tied for sixth in Big 12 historical past. He additionally ranks fifth in each punt-return yards (640) and common (15.2), whereas he’s tied for ninth in makes an attempt (42).
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