Kansas State University Athletics
Saturday, November 28
Waco, Texas
6 P.M.
Kansas State University
at
Baylor
Wildcats Look for Bounce Back Road Win at Baylor
Nov 23, 2020 | Football
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Coming off a road loss to No. 17 Iowa State, Kansas State will play its second road Big 12 matchup in as many weeks – and final one of the season – when the Wildcats face Baylor on Saturday at McLane Stadium. The game kicks off at 6 p.m. and will be shown on ESPN2 with Jason Benetti (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst) and Ian Fitzsimmons (sideline) 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: 121, X: 385, Internet: 975) in addition to the TuneIn app.
A LOOK AT K-STATE
• K-State is looking to bounce back from three-straight losses as the Wildcats enter the weekend with a 4-4 overall record and 4-3 mark in Big 12 play.
• True freshman quarterback in Will Howard has started each of the last five games following a season-ending injury to senior Skylar Thompson against Texas Tech on October 3. With wins in his first two starts at TCU and against Kansas, Howard became the first K-State true freshman signal caller to win his first two starts under center.
• Another true freshman, running back Deuce Vaughn, continues to impress as he leads the team in rushing and receiving yards, 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 400 rushing yards and 300 receiving yards in 2020, joining Clemson running back Travis Etienne.
• K-State is one of only two teams in the nation to have true freshmen start at least five games at both quarterback and running back, the other being Georgia Tech.
• Senior safety Jahron McPherson leads the team with (46), followed closely behind by linebackers Justin Hughes (43) and Elijah Sullivan (39).
• A total of 18 Wildcats have tallied at least a half tackle for loss, while nine players have at least one sack. The list includes junior Wyatt Hubert, who is first nationally among non-seniors in career sacks at 17.0, just one sack away from entering the school's career top-10 list.
• Another senior, tackle Drew Wiley, also ranks in the top 15 in the Big 12 in both sacks and TFLs.
• McPherson and Gardner lead the team with a pair of interceptions as they are tied for third in the Big 12 in total interceptions. Gardner also ranks fourth in the Big 12 in passes defended.
• Kansas State's special teams ranks second 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 10-for-14 this season, including a 2-for-3 mark from 50 or more yards. He connected on a game-winning 50-yarder at Oklahoma, while he set a new career long with a 53-yarder at TCU.
A LOOK AT BAYLOR
• Baylor comes off its bye week with a 1-5 overall and Big 12 record.
• BU opened the Dave Aranda era with a 47-14 victory over Baylor but has dropped five-straight since then, including an overtime loss at West Virginia and more recently a 24-23 loss to Texas Tech on a game-winning field goal as time expired.
• The Bears are led by senior quarterback Charlie Brewer, who has thrown for 1,278 yards and 11 scores on 124-of-200 (62.0%) aim.
• Ten different Bears have caught six or more passes, led by RJ Sneed's 27 receptions for 349 and a pair of touchdowns.
• The Bears lead the Big 12 with a plus-6 turnover margin.
• On defense, five different players have recorded interceptions.
• A pair of linebackers lead the Bears in tackles in Terrel Bernard (55) – who is out for the season – and Dillon Doyle (40) – a transfer from Iowa.
A LOOK AT THE SERIES
• K-State leads the all-time series, 9-8, with eight of the nine wins coming since the Big 12's inception in 1996.
• The Wildcats won the first five games against the Bears, which stands as the longest winning streak by either program in the series. Baylor's longest winning streak was four games between 2012 and 2015.
• The teams have split the last four games with K-State earning wins in 2016 and 2017 prior to the Bears' current two-game streak.
• Last time in Waco, there were three ties and eight lead changes in an eventual 37-34 Baylor win. With the game tied at 34, Baylor drove 76 yards in 12 plays and won the game on a 29-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining.
ONE OF THE BIG 12'S BEST
• K-State continues to quietly rank among the Big 12's best teams since the league began in 1996. The Wildcats are third with 122 victories behind Oklahoma and Texas.
• The Cats also rank third in winning percentage since round-robin play began in 2011. They sit at 60.2% (53-35), trailing only Oklahoma (81.8%; 72-16) and Oklahoma State (64.3%; 56-31). No other team is above 60%.
A SIGNIFICANT DATE
• Kansas State rarely plays on November 28 as this will be just the 10th time in the 125-year history of the program that the Wildcats will play on the date, but it is one of significance.
• K-State's first game in recorded history took place on November 28, 1896 when the school – then known as Kansas State Agricultural College – lost at Fort Riley, 14-0.
• The game was played on Thanksgiving Day that year, while this year's matchup against Baylor on November 28 comes just two days after Thanksgiving.
BACK TO BACK YEARS?
• After finishing the 2019 campaign with a 5-4 record, K-State is trying to put together consecutive years of winning conference records.
• If the Wildcats were to have another winning campaign in conference play, Chris Klieman would become the first head coach in school history to begin his tenure with consecutive winning seasons in league action.
YOUNG PUPS
• Kansas State has played many young players this year as a total of 48 underclassmen (freshmen and sophomore) have seen action in at least one game, representing 54.5% of the 88 Wildcats that have played this season.
• Of the group, 24 freshmen have played, including four that have tallied starts in right tackle Cooper Beebe (6), quarterback Will Howard (5) and running back Deuce Vaughn (5).
• K-State is one of just two teams in the nation to have true freshmen start at least four games at both quarterback and running back (Georgia Tech).
• When taking the entire roster into account, the Wildcats have 64.5% of its players (80-of-124) that are underclassmen, a figure that ranks sixth nationally among teams that have played at least four games this season.
BREAKING IN NEW STARTERS
• K-State has used the 2020 season to break in new starters as the Wildcats have 17 first-time starters this season, which includes four of the five offensive line positions.
• That figure is tied for fourth nationally among Power 5 programs.
A WINNING HISTORY
• A proven winner with a championship history, Chris Klieman holds an 84-22 career record as his 79.3% winning percentage ranks 13th among all NCAA coaches – regardless of division – and second among current FBS coaches among those with at least seven full years of experience.
• Klieman came to Manhattan after capping his five-year stint as head coach at North Dakota State by winning his fourth national championship in 2018. A native of Waterloo, Iowa, Klieman guided the 2018 Bison to a perfect 15-0 record, making NDSU just the fifth team in FCS history to go undefeated and untied on the way to a national championship.
TURNOVER BATTLE IS KEY
• One of the formulas of success for Kansas State under Chris Klieman is winning the turnover battle as the Wildcats were plus-eight in their first five games, which resulted in a 4-1 record. They also outscored their opponents, 42-7, in points off turnovers during that stretch.
• During K-State's current three-game losing skid, the Wildcats are minus-seven and opponents are outscoring the Cats, 28-0, in points off turnovers.
CATS TOPS IN NON-OFFENSIVE TDs
• K-State is the nation's best in non-offensive touchdowns over the last 22 seasons as it has 122 since 1999, 11 more than the next closest team.
• Kansas State had three non-offensive touchdowns in the win against Kansas as Phillip Brooks returned two punts for scores, and Justin Gardner had a pick-six.
• It was the first time the Cats had three non-offensive scores in one game since doing so against Montana State in 2008, while it was the first time K-State had a punt return score and a pick-six since the 2007 Texas game.
• K-State has had at least five non-offensive scores in seven of the last nine years and is one shy of hitting that mark again in 2020.
GOING THE DISTANCE
• K-State has put together five scoring drives of 90 yards or longer this season, which is tied with the 2008 squad for the most by the Wildcats dating back to 1991.
• The five drives this year spanned 92 yards against Arkansas State, 97 yards against Texas Tech, 94 yards against KU and a pair of 91-yard drives at TCU, one of which resulted in a field goal.
• When combining it with last year's total, K-State has eight scoring drives that have ranged at least 90 yards, which is the most in a two-year span dating back to 1991.
• Last season, K-State had touchdown drives of 97 yards (Nicholls), 95 yards (TCU) and 98 yards (Iowa State).
• The long drives this season have been aided by six plays from scrimmage of at least 60 yards, K-State's most in the first eight games of a season since at least 2002.
RED ZONE SUCCESS
• K-State finished the 2019 season with 39-straight scoring trips inside the red zone, the most by the Wildcats since at least 2003. That helped K-State finish first in the nation with a 96.2% conversion rate.
• The Wildcats began the year with 24-straight scores inside the red zone to push their streak out to 63-straight before a fumble against Oklahoma State. K-State's red zone scoring streak of 63 was the best by the Wildcats during the Big 12 era (56 between 2015 and 2016).
• Despite setbacks against both the Cowboys and Cyclones, K-State ranks 10th nationally among teams that have played at least four games and second in the Big 12 with a 92.6% scoring rate.
WILLING K-STATE TO VICTORY
• A native of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, Will Howard earned his first-career start at TCU and became the first K-State true freshman QB to win his first-career road start.
• For his effort against the Horned Frogs, Howard was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week.
• He backed that up with a win in his first start in a home game against Kansas, becoming the first Wildcat true freshman quarterback to win his first two career starts.
BIG PLAY WILL
• One of the reasons Will Howard has found early success is that he has been involved in four of K-State's six plays from scrimmage that have spanned at least 66 yards.
• Against Texas Tech, Howard threw a 70-yard, game-clinching touchdown pass to Deuce Vaughn, while he also had a 66-yarder to Briley Moore earlier in the fourth quarter to set up the go-ahead score.
• It was the first time a K-State quarterback threw two passes of at least 65 yards in the same game since Jesse Ertz in the 2017 season opener against Central Arkansas.
• Then, on the third offensive play of the game at TCU, Howard ran 80 yards to set up an early field goal. It was the seventh-longest run ever by a Wildcat and the second longest by a K-State quarterback (91 yards by Ell Roberson against Nebraska in 2002).
• He tallied another long run against Oklahoma State when he went 69 yards to set up a touchdown just before halftime.
MAKING A SPLASH
• K-State doesn't only have a true freshman quarterback making headlines, running back Deuce Vaughn has been on fire to begin his collegiate career.
• Vaughn is one of only two players in the nation this season to tally at least 400 rushing yards and 300 receiving yards. The other is Clemson senior running back Travis Etienne (634 rushing, 491 receiving).
• A product of Round Rock, Texas, Vaughn is also the only player in the Big 12 to lead his team in both rushing yards and receiving yards.
• Vaughn has already etched his name in the K-State record book. He ranks in the top five in four K-State freshmen categories, while he is one rushing touchdown shy of entering the top 10 in school history among freshmen.
• Additionally, Vaughn ranks fourth in school history in single-season receiving yards among all running backs (more info on pages 51-52).
DEUCE ON THE LOOSE
• Deuce Vaughn has put together three games of at least 150 yards from scrimmage as he did so against Oklahoma (194 yards), Texas Tech (174 yards) and Kansas (152 yards), holding three of the top seven scrimmage-yard efforts among all true freshmen in the nation.
• At No. 3 Oklahoma, he became the fifth running back in school history – and first freshman – to tally a 100-yard receiving game. It was the fifth most in a single game by a running back in Big 12 history and the most by a freshman.
• For his efforts against the Sooners and Red Raiders, Vaughn was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week following both contests.
MOORE OFFENSE
• One of the top tight ends from the FCS level in 2018, Briley Moore is in his second senior season and his first campaign at K-State.
• Moore, a transfer from Northern Iowa, has started his Wildcat career on the right foot by as he has 19 receptions for 271 yards and three touchdowns. Through eight games, those are already the best by a Wildcat tight end for an entire season since Zach Trujillo had 19 catches for 389 yards in 13 games during the 2014 season.
• His three receiving touchdowns this year are tied for fourth in school history among tight ends and two shy of tying the record (Henry Childs, 1972).
UNDER AVERAGE
• Last season, Kansas State held 11 of its 12 opponents under their season scoring averages for the season, including double-digit differences in Big 12 play against Oklahoma State (-18.5), TCU (-20.2), Kansas (-17.8), Texas (-12.1) and Iowa State (-17.1).
• It has been more of the same for the Wildcats in Big 12 play in 2020 under new defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman as the Wildcats held five of their first seven conference foes below their scoring averages entering the game.
STRONG AT THE START
• One of the main reasons K-State has been able to limit other offenses throughout the year is a strong start as seven of the Wildcats' eight opponents this year have come up empty on their first possession of the game.
• K-State has forced a trio of three-and-outs on its first defensive possessions this season, while the Cats have allowed only eight total first downs and 184 total yards (23.0 yds/gm).
BEHIND THE LINE
• A total 19 Wildcats have totaled at least a half tackle for loss – including 10 that have notched at least 2.0 – to give the Wildcats 50 stops behind the line this season.
• K-State's 50 TFLs through eight games are the most since the 2012 team also had 50 in their first eight games.
• This year's total has been given a boost lately against West Virginia and Oklahoma State when K-State totaled nine and eight TFLs, respectively. Their nine TFLs against the Mountaineers were K-State's most since the 2016 regular-season finale at TCU (11.0).
MEET ME AT THE QB
• Similarly, K-State has also been consistent in sacking the quarterback this season, coming away with at least one sack in every game and totaling at least three in five of its eight contests.
• The Wildcats have 20 sacks through eight games this season, their most through the first eight games of a campaign since the 2015 squad had 21.
• Kansas State enters this week's game ranked fifth in the Big 12 in total sacks.
WYATT'S COMING FOR YOU
• One of the top young defenders in the Big 12 the last two seasons has improved as a junior as Wyatt Hubert is back after earning First Team All-Big 12 honors in 2019.
• This season, Hubert has 8.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks to rank third and fourth in the Big 12, respectively. He tallied career highs in both categories against Oklahoma State, totaling 3.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks.
• His sack total against OSU was the highest by a Wildcat since Jordan Willis had 3.5 vs. Louisiana Tech in 2015 and the most in a Big 12 game since Ryan Mueller had 3.0 against Texas Tech in 2013.
• The Topeka, Kansas, native ranks 17th nationally among active players in career sacks, but he is the top non-senior in that category.
WILEY PLAYING WILD
• Senior defensive tackle Drew Wiley entered the season with 21 tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss in 38 games as a reserve over his first three seasons.
• Earning his first-career eight starts in eight games this year, the Vinton, Iowa, product has been a dominant force in the interior of the Wildcat defensive line as he has 19 tackles, including 7.0 TFLs and 3.5 sacks.
• Wiley is the first K-State interior defensive lineman with at least 7.0 TFLs and 3.5 sacks in a season since Will Geary in 2017.
• He set a new career high with seven tackles at West Virginia, the most by a Wildcat interior defensive lineman since Geary tallied eight at TCU in the 2016 regular-season finale.
• The contest against the Mountaineers featured 2.5 TFLs, the most by a Wildcat interior defensive lineman since Geary had 3.0 against Baylor in 2017.
TWO NEW STARTERS
• K-State started a pair of new linebackers at Iowa State as senior Cody Fletcher and sophomore Daniel Green filled in.
• It was the first-career starts for Fletcher and Green, who were playing in their 27th and 21st career games, respectively.
• Fletcher led K-State with a career-best nine tackles.
VERY EFFICIENT
• Kansas State has always been known to have excellent special teams, and that trend has continued in 2020.
• The Wildcats rank second nationally in special teams efficiency according to ESPN.
BLOCKED KICKS
• K-State blocked punts in the first three games of the season and also blocked a field goal in its fourth game of the year at TCU.
• It is the first time K-State has blocked a kick in four-straight games since at least 1990. Additionally, the blocked punts in the first three games marked the first time the Wildcats accomplished that feat in three-consecutive games since 1995 (Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma).
• K-State was the first team in the FBS to block kicks in each of the first four games of a season since Texas did so in 2016.
• When the Wildcats blocked punts in each of the first three games, they were the first FBS team to do so since Memphis in 2012.
SCORING IN THE THIRD PHASE
• Kansas State has been far and away the best team among FBS programs over the last 16 years when it comes to scoring via a kickoff or punt return.
• The Wildcats have a combined 55 kickoff- and punt-return touchdowns since 2005, 23 more than any other FBS school during that stretch.
BROOKS' HISTORIC DAY
• Sophomore Phillip Brooks put together a historic performance against Kansas, setting the school record with 189 punt-return yards and becoming the first player in school history with two punt-return touchdowns in a single game.
• A product of Lee's Summit, Missouri, Brooks' two punt-return touchdowns were the most by a Big 12 player in a conference game in school history.
• Additionally, his 47.25-yard average on punt returns vs. Kansas is the highest by any player nationally with at least 4 attempts since 1996.
• For his effort against the Jayhawks, Brooks picked up Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week accolades.
LYNCH IS ACCURATE
• Senior Blake Lynch has proven to be an accurate kicker as his career field goal percentage of 84.3% (43-for-51) currently ranks second in school history, fifth in Big 12 history and 11th nationally among active players.
• Lynch, a two-time Lou Groza Award candidate, ranked third in school history a year ago with his 90.5% mark.
FROM DEEP
• After going 2-for-6 from 45 yards or longer in his first two seasons as the primary kicker, Blake Lynch has turned in a pair of field goals from 50 or more yards this season, the first two of his career.
• He is tied for fourth in the nation this year in field goals of 50 or more yards.
• Lynch connected on the eventual game-winning at Oklahoma, a 50-yarder with 4:32 left in the game. It was the first field goal in school history of 50 or more yards that served as the game winner with less than five minutes left.
• Lynch, who also connected on a 53-yarder at TCU, is now tied for fourth in school history in 50-plus yard field goal connections in a season. He needs one more to tie the record.
A LOOK AT K-STATE
• K-State is looking to bounce back from three-straight losses as the Wildcats enter the weekend with a 4-4 overall record and 4-3 mark in Big 12 play.
• True freshman quarterback in Will Howard has started each of the last five games following a season-ending injury to senior Skylar Thompson against Texas Tech on October 3. With wins in his first two starts at TCU and against Kansas, Howard became the first K-State true freshman signal caller to win his first two starts under center.
• Another true freshman, running back Deuce Vaughn, continues to impress as he leads the team in rushing and receiving yards, 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 400 rushing yards and 300 receiving yards in 2020, joining Clemson running back Travis Etienne.
• K-State is one of only two teams in the nation to have true freshmen start at least five games at both quarterback and running back, the other being Georgia Tech.
• Senior safety Jahron McPherson leads the team with (46), followed closely behind by linebackers Justin Hughes (43) and Elijah Sullivan (39).
• A total of 18 Wildcats have tallied at least a half tackle for loss, while nine players have at least one sack. The list includes junior Wyatt Hubert, who is first nationally among non-seniors in career sacks at 17.0, just one sack away from entering the school's career top-10 list.
• Another senior, tackle Drew Wiley, also ranks in the top 15 in the Big 12 in both sacks and TFLs.
• McPherson and Gardner lead the team with a pair of interceptions as they are tied for third in the Big 12 in total interceptions. Gardner also ranks fourth in the Big 12 in passes defended.
• Kansas State's special teams ranks second 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 10-for-14 this season, including a 2-for-3 mark from 50 or more yards. He connected on a game-winning 50-yarder at Oklahoma, while he set a new career long with a 53-yarder at TCU.
A LOOK AT BAYLOR
• Baylor comes off its bye week with a 1-5 overall and Big 12 record.
• BU opened the Dave Aranda era with a 47-14 victory over Baylor but has dropped five-straight since then, including an overtime loss at West Virginia and more recently a 24-23 loss to Texas Tech on a game-winning field goal as time expired.
• The Bears are led by senior quarterback Charlie Brewer, who has thrown for 1,278 yards and 11 scores on 124-of-200 (62.0%) aim.
• Ten different Bears have caught six or more passes, led by RJ Sneed's 27 receptions for 349 and a pair of touchdowns.
• The Bears lead the Big 12 with a plus-6 turnover margin.
• On defense, five different players have recorded interceptions.
• A pair of linebackers lead the Bears in tackles in Terrel Bernard (55) – who is out for the season – and Dillon Doyle (40) – a transfer from Iowa.
A LOOK AT THE SERIES
• K-State leads the all-time series, 9-8, with eight of the nine wins coming since the Big 12's inception in 1996.
• The Wildcats won the first five games against the Bears, which stands as the longest winning streak by either program in the series. Baylor's longest winning streak was four games between 2012 and 2015.
• The teams have split the last four games with K-State earning wins in 2016 and 2017 prior to the Bears' current two-game streak.
• Last time in Waco, there were three ties and eight lead changes in an eventual 37-34 Baylor win. With the game tied at 34, Baylor drove 76 yards in 12 plays and won the game on a 29-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining.
ONE OF THE BIG 12'S BEST
• K-State continues to quietly rank among the Big 12's best teams since the league began in 1996. The Wildcats are third with 122 victories behind Oklahoma and Texas.
• The Cats also rank third in winning percentage since round-robin play began in 2011. They sit at 60.2% (53-35), trailing only Oklahoma (81.8%; 72-16) and Oklahoma State (64.3%; 56-31). No other team is above 60%.
A SIGNIFICANT DATE
• Kansas State rarely plays on November 28 as this will be just the 10th time in the 125-year history of the program that the Wildcats will play on the date, but it is one of significance.
• K-State's first game in recorded history took place on November 28, 1896 when the school – then known as Kansas State Agricultural College – lost at Fort Riley, 14-0.
• The game was played on Thanksgiving Day that year, while this year's matchup against Baylor on November 28 comes just two days after Thanksgiving.
BACK TO BACK YEARS?
• After finishing the 2019 campaign with a 5-4 record, K-State is trying to put together consecutive years of winning conference records.
• If the Wildcats were to have another winning campaign in conference play, Chris Klieman would become the first head coach in school history to begin his tenure with consecutive winning seasons in league action.
YOUNG PUPS
• Kansas State has played many young players this year as a total of 48 underclassmen (freshmen and sophomore) have seen action in at least one game, representing 54.5% of the 88 Wildcats that have played this season.
• Of the group, 24 freshmen have played, including four that have tallied starts in right tackle Cooper Beebe (6), quarterback Will Howard (5) and running back Deuce Vaughn (5).
• K-State is one of just two teams in the nation to have true freshmen start at least four games at both quarterback and running back (Georgia Tech).
• When taking the entire roster into account, the Wildcats have 64.5% of its players (80-of-124) that are underclassmen, a figure that ranks sixth nationally among teams that have played at least four games this season.
BREAKING IN NEW STARTERS
• K-State has used the 2020 season to break in new starters as the Wildcats have 17 first-time starters this season, which includes four of the five offensive line positions.
• That figure is tied for fourth nationally among Power 5 programs.
A WINNING HISTORY
• A proven winner with a championship history, Chris Klieman holds an 84-22 career record as his 79.3% winning percentage ranks 13th among all NCAA coaches – regardless of division – and second among current FBS coaches among those with at least seven full years of experience.
• Klieman came to Manhattan after capping his five-year stint as head coach at North Dakota State by winning his fourth national championship in 2018. A native of Waterloo, Iowa, Klieman guided the 2018 Bison to a perfect 15-0 record, making NDSU just the fifth team in FCS history to go undefeated and untied on the way to a national championship.
TURNOVER BATTLE IS KEY
• One of the formulas of success for Kansas State under Chris Klieman is winning the turnover battle as the Wildcats were plus-eight in their first five games, which resulted in a 4-1 record. They also outscored their opponents, 42-7, in points off turnovers during that stretch.
• During K-State's current three-game losing skid, the Wildcats are minus-seven and opponents are outscoring the Cats, 28-0, in points off turnovers.
CATS TOPS IN NON-OFFENSIVE TDs
• K-State is the nation's best in non-offensive touchdowns over the last 22 seasons as it has 122 since 1999, 11 more than the next closest team.
• Kansas State had three non-offensive touchdowns in the win against Kansas as Phillip Brooks returned two punts for scores, and Justin Gardner had a pick-six.
• It was the first time the Cats had three non-offensive scores in one game since doing so against Montana State in 2008, while it was the first time K-State had a punt return score and a pick-six since the 2007 Texas game.
• K-State has had at least five non-offensive scores in seven of the last nine years and is one shy of hitting that mark again in 2020.
GOING THE DISTANCE
• K-State has put together five scoring drives of 90 yards or longer this season, which is tied with the 2008 squad for the most by the Wildcats dating back to 1991.
• The five drives this year spanned 92 yards against Arkansas State, 97 yards against Texas Tech, 94 yards against KU and a pair of 91-yard drives at TCU, one of which resulted in a field goal.
• When combining it with last year's total, K-State has eight scoring drives that have ranged at least 90 yards, which is the most in a two-year span dating back to 1991.
• Last season, K-State had touchdown drives of 97 yards (Nicholls), 95 yards (TCU) and 98 yards (Iowa State).
• The long drives this season have been aided by six plays from scrimmage of at least 60 yards, K-State's most in the first eight games of a season since at least 2002.
RED ZONE SUCCESS
• K-State finished the 2019 season with 39-straight scoring trips inside the red zone, the most by the Wildcats since at least 2003. That helped K-State finish first in the nation with a 96.2% conversion rate.
• The Wildcats began the year with 24-straight scores inside the red zone to push their streak out to 63-straight before a fumble against Oklahoma State. K-State's red zone scoring streak of 63 was the best by the Wildcats during the Big 12 era (56 between 2015 and 2016).
• Despite setbacks against both the Cowboys and Cyclones, K-State ranks 10th nationally among teams that have played at least four games and second in the Big 12 with a 92.6% scoring rate.
WILLING K-STATE TO VICTORY
• A native of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, Will Howard earned his first-career start at TCU and became the first K-State true freshman QB to win his first-career road start.
• For his effort against the Horned Frogs, Howard was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week.
• He backed that up with a win in his first start in a home game against Kansas, becoming the first Wildcat true freshman quarterback to win his first two career starts.
BIG PLAY WILL
• One of the reasons Will Howard has found early success is that he has been involved in four of K-State's six plays from scrimmage that have spanned at least 66 yards.
• Against Texas Tech, Howard threw a 70-yard, game-clinching touchdown pass to Deuce Vaughn, while he also had a 66-yarder to Briley Moore earlier in the fourth quarter to set up the go-ahead score.
• It was the first time a K-State quarterback threw two passes of at least 65 yards in the same game since Jesse Ertz in the 2017 season opener against Central Arkansas.
• Then, on the third offensive play of the game at TCU, Howard ran 80 yards to set up an early field goal. It was the seventh-longest run ever by a Wildcat and the second longest by a K-State quarterback (91 yards by Ell Roberson against Nebraska in 2002).
• He tallied another long run against Oklahoma State when he went 69 yards to set up a touchdown just before halftime.
MAKING A SPLASH
• K-State doesn't only have a true freshman quarterback making headlines, running back Deuce Vaughn has been on fire to begin his collegiate career.
• Vaughn is one of only two players in the nation this season to tally at least 400 rushing yards and 300 receiving yards. The other is Clemson senior running back Travis Etienne (634 rushing, 491 receiving).
• A product of Round Rock, Texas, Vaughn is also the only player in the Big 12 to lead his team in both rushing yards and receiving yards.
• Vaughn has already etched his name in the K-State record book. He ranks in the top five in four K-State freshmen categories, while he is one rushing touchdown shy of entering the top 10 in school history among freshmen.
• Additionally, Vaughn ranks fourth in school history in single-season receiving yards among all running backs (more info on pages 51-52).
DEUCE ON THE LOOSE
• Deuce Vaughn has put together three games of at least 150 yards from scrimmage as he did so against Oklahoma (194 yards), Texas Tech (174 yards) and Kansas (152 yards), holding three of the top seven scrimmage-yard efforts among all true freshmen in the nation.
• At No. 3 Oklahoma, he became the fifth running back in school history – and first freshman – to tally a 100-yard receiving game. It was the fifth most in a single game by a running back in Big 12 history and the most by a freshman.
• For his efforts against the Sooners and Red Raiders, Vaughn was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week following both contests.
MOORE OFFENSE
• One of the top tight ends from the FCS level in 2018, Briley Moore is in his second senior season and his first campaign at K-State.
• Moore, a transfer from Northern Iowa, has started his Wildcat career on the right foot by as he has 19 receptions for 271 yards and three touchdowns. Through eight games, those are already the best by a Wildcat tight end for an entire season since Zach Trujillo had 19 catches for 389 yards in 13 games during the 2014 season.
• His three receiving touchdowns this year are tied for fourth in school history among tight ends and two shy of tying the record (Henry Childs, 1972).
UNDER AVERAGE
• Last season, Kansas State held 11 of its 12 opponents under their season scoring averages for the season, including double-digit differences in Big 12 play against Oklahoma State (-18.5), TCU (-20.2), Kansas (-17.8), Texas (-12.1) and Iowa State (-17.1).
• It has been more of the same for the Wildcats in Big 12 play in 2020 under new defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman as the Wildcats held five of their first seven conference foes below their scoring averages entering the game.
STRONG AT THE START
• One of the main reasons K-State has been able to limit other offenses throughout the year is a strong start as seven of the Wildcats' eight opponents this year have come up empty on their first possession of the game.
• K-State has forced a trio of three-and-outs on its first defensive possessions this season, while the Cats have allowed only eight total first downs and 184 total yards (23.0 yds/gm).
BEHIND THE LINE
• A total 19 Wildcats have totaled at least a half tackle for loss – including 10 that have notched at least 2.0 – to give the Wildcats 50 stops behind the line this season.
• K-State's 50 TFLs through eight games are the most since the 2012 team also had 50 in their first eight games.
• This year's total has been given a boost lately against West Virginia and Oklahoma State when K-State totaled nine and eight TFLs, respectively. Their nine TFLs against the Mountaineers were K-State's most since the 2016 regular-season finale at TCU (11.0).
MEET ME AT THE QB
• Similarly, K-State has also been consistent in sacking the quarterback this season, coming away with at least one sack in every game and totaling at least three in five of its eight contests.
• The Wildcats have 20 sacks through eight games this season, their most through the first eight games of a campaign since the 2015 squad had 21.
• Kansas State enters this week's game ranked fifth in the Big 12 in total sacks.
WYATT'S COMING FOR YOU
• One of the top young defenders in the Big 12 the last two seasons has improved as a junior as Wyatt Hubert is back after earning First Team All-Big 12 honors in 2019.
• This season, Hubert has 8.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks to rank third and fourth in the Big 12, respectively. He tallied career highs in both categories against Oklahoma State, totaling 3.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks.
• His sack total against OSU was the highest by a Wildcat since Jordan Willis had 3.5 vs. Louisiana Tech in 2015 and the most in a Big 12 game since Ryan Mueller had 3.0 against Texas Tech in 2013.
• The Topeka, Kansas, native ranks 17th nationally among active players in career sacks, but he is the top non-senior in that category.
WILEY PLAYING WILD
• Senior defensive tackle Drew Wiley entered the season with 21 tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss in 38 games as a reserve over his first three seasons.
• Earning his first-career eight starts in eight games this year, the Vinton, Iowa, product has been a dominant force in the interior of the Wildcat defensive line as he has 19 tackles, including 7.0 TFLs and 3.5 sacks.
• Wiley is the first K-State interior defensive lineman with at least 7.0 TFLs and 3.5 sacks in a season since Will Geary in 2017.
• He set a new career high with seven tackles at West Virginia, the most by a Wildcat interior defensive lineman since Geary tallied eight at TCU in the 2016 regular-season finale.
• The contest against the Mountaineers featured 2.5 TFLs, the most by a Wildcat interior defensive lineman since Geary had 3.0 against Baylor in 2017.
TWO NEW STARTERS
• K-State started a pair of new linebackers at Iowa State as senior Cody Fletcher and sophomore Daniel Green filled in.
• It was the first-career starts for Fletcher and Green, who were playing in their 27th and 21st career games, respectively.
• Fletcher led K-State with a career-best nine tackles.
VERY EFFICIENT
• Kansas State has always been known to have excellent special teams, and that trend has continued in 2020.
• The Wildcats rank second nationally in special teams efficiency according to ESPN.
BLOCKED KICKS
• K-State blocked punts in the first three games of the season and also blocked a field goal in its fourth game of the year at TCU.
• It is the first time K-State has blocked a kick in four-straight games since at least 1990. Additionally, the blocked punts in the first three games marked the first time the Wildcats accomplished that feat in three-consecutive games since 1995 (Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma).
• K-State was the first team in the FBS to block kicks in each of the first four games of a season since Texas did so in 2016.
• When the Wildcats blocked punts in each of the first three games, they were the first FBS team to do so since Memphis in 2012.
SCORING IN THE THIRD PHASE
• Kansas State has been far and away the best team among FBS programs over the last 16 years when it comes to scoring via a kickoff or punt return.
• The Wildcats have a combined 55 kickoff- and punt-return touchdowns since 2005, 23 more than any other FBS school during that stretch.
BROOKS' HISTORIC DAY
• Sophomore Phillip Brooks put together a historic performance against Kansas, setting the school record with 189 punt-return yards and becoming the first player in school history with two punt-return touchdowns in a single game.
• A product of Lee's Summit, Missouri, Brooks' two punt-return touchdowns were the most by a Big 12 player in a conference game in school history.
• Additionally, his 47.25-yard average on punt returns vs. Kansas is the highest by any player nationally with at least 4 attempts since 1996.
• For his effort against the Jayhawks, Brooks picked up Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week accolades.
LYNCH IS ACCURATE
• Senior Blake Lynch has proven to be an accurate kicker as his career field goal percentage of 84.3% (43-for-51) currently ranks second in school history, fifth in Big 12 history and 11th nationally among active players.
• Lynch, a two-time Lou Groza Award candidate, ranked third in school history a year ago with his 90.5% mark.
FROM DEEP
• After going 2-for-6 from 45 yards or longer in his first two seasons as the primary kicker, Blake Lynch has turned in a pair of field goals from 50 or more yards this season, the first two of his career.
• He is tied for fourth in the nation this year in field goals of 50 or more yards.
• Lynch connected on the eventual game-winning at Oklahoma, a 50-yarder with 4:32 left in the game. It was the first field goal in school history of 50 or more yards that served as the game winner with less than five minutes left.
• Lynch, who also connected on a 53-yarder at TCU, is now tied for fourth in school history in 50-plus yard field goal connections in a season. He needs one more to tie the record.
Players Mentioned
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