Cats Remain Confident, Yet Humble
Nov 04, 2022 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Kansas State made the biggest jump of any team in the AP Top 25 after its dominant win over then-No. 9 Oklahoma State. But running back Deuce Vaughn curbs any concern that a No. 13 ranking means that the Wildcats believe they've arrived.
"We've got to keep that chip on our shoulder," Vaughn said. "We've got to keep that same chip on our shoulder that we've had all season. The rankings don't go out there and play on Saturday, we do, and we have to conduct the same high level in order to give ourselves a chance to be successful."
The Wildcats vaulted from No. 22 to No. 13 in the AP Top 25 and debuted at No. 13 in the initial College Football Playoff Top 25 earlier this week following their historic 48-0 win over the Cowboys, which was the largest shutout ever over a top-1o team by a team lower in the rankings.
K-State, 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the Big 12 Conference, now sits alone in second place in the league standings as Texas, 5-3 and 3-2, visits Saturday at 6 p.m. (FS1) for a nationally televised showdown at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
"It means a lot to be on this stage and play against a big school like Texas," safety Drake Cheatum said. "It's a team I watched on TV growing up, so this is really a dream come true."
There was once a time when the 5-foot-6, 176-pound Vaughn, who grew up 20 minutes down the road, possibly pictured himself in burnt orange. Didn't happen.
However, he has forged a friendship with Texas running back Bijan Robinson. Together they are two of the top running backs in the FBS.
"I have the utmost respect for him and our friendship has grown over these past years of competing," said Vaughn, who attended a summer camp with Robinson and enjoys "getting to see each other outside of the helmet and build that relationship with things that we hold close to each other."
The 6-foot, 222-pound Robinson ranks 11th nationally with 115.0 rushing yards per game while Vaughn ranks 13th with 112.8.
"I actually talked to (Robinson) this past weekend," Vaughn said. "He wished me luck against Oklahoma State and then he text me after the game."
While the Wildcats snapped a three-game skid against the Cowboys, they now look to end a string of five consecutive losses to the Longhorns dating to a 24-21 win in Manhattan in 2016.
Texas' five straight wins are its most in series history. Five of the last six matchups have been decided by six or fewer points.
The Longhorns come off a bye week after a 41-34 loss at Oklahoma State in their last game. The Longhorns squandered a 31-17 lead in the contest.
The loss dropped Texas to 1-6 on the road over the past two seasons under head coach Steve Sarkisian, including 1-5 against AP Top 25 opponents. The Longhorns are 11-34 against ranked teams since the Big 12 transitioned to a 10-team format in 2011.
"The common theme is us getting a little outside of ourselves when adversity strikes late in the ballgame when the fourth quarter rolls around," Sarkisian said. "I felt pretty good going into the locker room in Stillwater and for whatever reason things didn't go our way, and we didn't quite play to the level I know we're capable of playing."
K-State had little trouble making plays on both sides of the ball against Oklahoma State.
While K-State scorched the Cowboys behind a season-high 48 points and 495 total yards, a dominant defensive effort shared center stage as in holding the third-ranked scoring offense in the FBS (45.7 points) and one of the Big 12's leaders in total offense (466.9 yards) to zero points and just 217 total yards.
K-State ranks ninth among Power 5 teams in allowing just 17.2 points per game, which leads the Big 12 and is on pace for its best defensive effort since 2003. The Wildcats have held every FBS opponent under its season scoring average at the time of their meeting.
This week, K-State ranks in the top 30 in eight defensive categories. Besides leading the Big 12 in scoring defense, the Wildcats also lead the league in tackles for loss (6.6), sacks (2.88) and total interceptions (11) coming off its dominant performance.
"There's still some execution things we can improve on," K-State defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman said. "We're always in search of the perfect game. I don't know if we're ever going to find it, but the guys played really hard and gave themselves a chance to be successful, made plays, and it was awesome. I'm so proud of them."
The Wildcats now prepare for a Texas team that ranks 22nd in scoring (36.4) and 31st in total yards (444.8), and that has scored at least 34 points in five of seven games this season. The Longhorns have also scored at least 24 points in a half seven times.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Quinn Ewers has thrown for 1,139 yards and 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. He completed 19 of 49 passes for 319 yards and two touchdowns and three interceptions in his last game against the Cowboys.
"His arm talent is incredible and with that extra time of a bye week that'll help him see pictures a little bit cleaner so we need to do a good job of mixing things up," Klanderman said.
The Wildcats must prepare for one of the nation's best running backs in Robinson along with backup Roschon Johnson.
"Unbelievable one-two punch, especially when they're in the game together," Klanderman said. "Roschon opened our eyes a year ago with what he did against us. As the game went on he wore us down. Bijan's tape speaks for itself. I don't know if there's a better tandem in the country."
Meanwhile, it appears K-State has a powerful tandem at quarterback, although it remains undetermined which signal-caller will get the nod on Saturday.
Senior transfer quarterback Adrian Martinez, who proved himself to be one of the most electrifying playmakers in the Big 12 earlier this season, wasn't at 100% and didn't play against Oklahoma State. That gave the ball to junior Will Howard, who threw for a career-high 296 yards and a school record-tying four touchdowns to earn Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week.
"Obviously, the mission is the mission, and we're focused on winning and going as far as we can this year," Howard said.
K-State offensive coordinator Collin Klein said that a decision on the quarterback will arrive at game time again on Saturday. Both quarterbacks have practiced this week.
"Credit to both of those guys for how they've prepared," Klein said. "I feel at complete peace with however it ends up going."
Klein shared some details on the game-time decision to start Howard last Saturday. Klieman, Klein, Martinez and Howard met prior to kickoff.
"It was a heck of a deal," Klein said. "We wanted those guys, whoever it would be, to make sure they were in attack mode and ready to go. The selflessness of both those guys in that moment was off the chart understanding it was what was best for the team. Will looked at him and said, 'Don't think about me in this decision. It's whatever the team needs,' and Adrian is thinking about the team. It was an amazing deal and a credit to both of their character."
For the first time in Big 12 history, K-State has started league play with five-straight games of 375 total yards. That includes Oklahoma (509 yards), Texas Tech (459), Iowa State (388), TCU (390) and Oklahoma State (495).
K-State's 413.1 total yards this season currently ranks sixth all-time in school history and its 6.3 yards per play ranks fourth.
Klein knows the Wildcats will be tested by the Longhorns' defense.
"It's going to be a physical ballgame in all three levels," he said. "They do a good job schematically and know where you're going to try to attack and go at them. It's going to be a big challenge for us.
Wildcats mission remains clear.
"We want to play in the Big 12 Championship and win it," said junior defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah, who this week was named a semifinalist for the Lombardi and Bednarik awards. "This win (over Oklahoma State) has given us momentum to win out. Hopefully, we can do that."
K-State, which still has trips to Baylor and West Virginia remaining before closing the regular season against Kansas, would be one step closer to its goal with a victory over the Longhorns.
"Every week we've been saying it's a one-week season," Howard said. "It's 12 one-week seasons, and this week is just another one of those, so this game is the most important game on the schedule."
Klieman continues to hammer home that mindset.
"You can't dwell on the game, win or lose," Klieman said. "We talked Monday after the TCU loss that we couldn't let the same team beat us twice by not responding with a great week of practice. We said the same thing this Monday, that we couldn't fall in love with ourselves. We have to stay humble and hungry and realize there's more out there for us.
"This is another challenge, another one-week season, and the stakes keep getting higher each week."
Kansas State made the biggest jump of any team in the AP Top 25 after its dominant win over then-No. 9 Oklahoma State. But running back Deuce Vaughn curbs any concern that a No. 13 ranking means that the Wildcats believe they've arrived.
"We've got to keep that chip on our shoulder," Vaughn said. "We've got to keep that same chip on our shoulder that we've had all season. The rankings don't go out there and play on Saturday, we do, and we have to conduct the same high level in order to give ourselves a chance to be successful."
The Wildcats vaulted from No. 22 to No. 13 in the AP Top 25 and debuted at No. 13 in the initial College Football Playoff Top 25 earlier this week following their historic 48-0 win over the Cowboys, which was the largest shutout ever over a top-1o team by a team lower in the rankings.
K-State, 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the Big 12 Conference, now sits alone in second place in the league standings as Texas, 5-3 and 3-2, visits Saturday at 6 p.m. (FS1) for a nationally televised showdown at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
"It means a lot to be on this stage and play against a big school like Texas," safety Drake Cheatum said. "It's a team I watched on TV growing up, so this is really a dream come true."
There was once a time when the 5-foot-6, 176-pound Vaughn, who grew up 20 minutes down the road, possibly pictured himself in burnt orange. Didn't happen.
However, he has forged a friendship with Texas running back Bijan Robinson. Together they are two of the top running backs in the FBS.
"I have the utmost respect for him and our friendship has grown over these past years of competing," said Vaughn, who attended a summer camp with Robinson and enjoys "getting to see each other outside of the helmet and build that relationship with things that we hold close to each other."
The 6-foot, 222-pound Robinson ranks 11th nationally with 115.0 rushing yards per game while Vaughn ranks 13th with 112.8.
"I actually talked to (Robinson) this past weekend," Vaughn said. "He wished me luck against Oklahoma State and then he text me after the game."
While the Wildcats snapped a three-game skid against the Cowboys, they now look to end a string of five consecutive losses to the Longhorns dating to a 24-21 win in Manhattan in 2016.
Texas' five straight wins are its most in series history. Five of the last six matchups have been decided by six or fewer points.
The Longhorns come off a bye week after a 41-34 loss at Oklahoma State in their last game. The Longhorns squandered a 31-17 lead in the contest.
The loss dropped Texas to 1-6 on the road over the past two seasons under head coach Steve Sarkisian, including 1-5 against AP Top 25 opponents. The Longhorns are 11-34 against ranked teams since the Big 12 transitioned to a 10-team format in 2011.
"The common theme is us getting a little outside of ourselves when adversity strikes late in the ballgame when the fourth quarter rolls around," Sarkisian said. "I felt pretty good going into the locker room in Stillwater and for whatever reason things didn't go our way, and we didn't quite play to the level I know we're capable of playing."
K-State had little trouble making plays on both sides of the ball against Oklahoma State.
While K-State scorched the Cowboys behind a season-high 48 points and 495 total yards, a dominant defensive effort shared center stage as in holding the third-ranked scoring offense in the FBS (45.7 points) and one of the Big 12's leaders in total offense (466.9 yards) to zero points and just 217 total yards.
K-State ranks ninth among Power 5 teams in allowing just 17.2 points per game, which leads the Big 12 and is on pace for its best defensive effort since 2003. The Wildcats have held every FBS opponent under its season scoring average at the time of their meeting.
This week, K-State ranks in the top 30 in eight defensive categories. Besides leading the Big 12 in scoring defense, the Wildcats also lead the league in tackles for loss (6.6), sacks (2.88) and total interceptions (11) coming off its dominant performance.
"There's still some execution things we can improve on," K-State defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman said. "We're always in search of the perfect game. I don't know if we're ever going to find it, but the guys played really hard and gave themselves a chance to be successful, made plays, and it was awesome. I'm so proud of them."
The Wildcats now prepare for a Texas team that ranks 22nd in scoring (36.4) and 31st in total yards (444.8), and that has scored at least 34 points in five of seven games this season. The Longhorns have also scored at least 24 points in a half seven times.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Quinn Ewers has thrown for 1,139 yards and 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. He completed 19 of 49 passes for 319 yards and two touchdowns and three interceptions in his last game against the Cowboys.
"His arm talent is incredible and with that extra time of a bye week that'll help him see pictures a little bit cleaner so we need to do a good job of mixing things up," Klanderman said.
The Wildcats must prepare for one of the nation's best running backs in Robinson along with backup Roschon Johnson.
"Unbelievable one-two punch, especially when they're in the game together," Klanderman said. "Roschon opened our eyes a year ago with what he did against us. As the game went on he wore us down. Bijan's tape speaks for itself. I don't know if there's a better tandem in the country."
Meanwhile, it appears K-State has a powerful tandem at quarterback, although it remains undetermined which signal-caller will get the nod on Saturday.
Senior transfer quarterback Adrian Martinez, who proved himself to be one of the most electrifying playmakers in the Big 12 earlier this season, wasn't at 100% and didn't play against Oklahoma State. That gave the ball to junior Will Howard, who threw for a career-high 296 yards and a school record-tying four touchdowns to earn Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week.
"Obviously, the mission is the mission, and we're focused on winning and going as far as we can this year," Howard said.
K-State offensive coordinator Collin Klein said that a decision on the quarterback will arrive at game time again on Saturday. Both quarterbacks have practiced this week.
"Credit to both of those guys for how they've prepared," Klein said. "I feel at complete peace with however it ends up going."
Klein shared some details on the game-time decision to start Howard last Saturday. Klieman, Klein, Martinez and Howard met prior to kickoff.
"It was a heck of a deal," Klein said. "We wanted those guys, whoever it would be, to make sure they were in attack mode and ready to go. The selflessness of both those guys in that moment was off the chart understanding it was what was best for the team. Will looked at him and said, 'Don't think about me in this decision. It's whatever the team needs,' and Adrian is thinking about the team. It was an amazing deal and a credit to both of their character."
For the first time in Big 12 history, K-State has started league play with five-straight games of 375 total yards. That includes Oklahoma (509 yards), Texas Tech (459), Iowa State (388), TCU (390) and Oklahoma State (495).
K-State's 413.1 total yards this season currently ranks sixth all-time in school history and its 6.3 yards per play ranks fourth.
Klein knows the Wildcats will be tested by the Longhorns' defense.
"It's going to be a physical ballgame in all three levels," he said. "They do a good job schematically and know where you're going to try to attack and go at them. It's going to be a big challenge for us.
Wildcats mission remains clear.
"We want to play in the Big 12 Championship and win it," said junior defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah, who this week was named a semifinalist for the Lombardi and Bednarik awards. "This win (over Oklahoma State) has given us momentum to win out. Hopefully, we can do that."
K-State, which still has trips to Baylor and West Virginia remaining before closing the regular season against Kansas, would be one step closer to its goal with a victory over the Longhorns.
"Every week we've been saying it's a one-week season," Howard said. "It's 12 one-week seasons, and this week is just another one of those, so this game is the most important game on the schedule."
Klieman continues to hammer home that mindset.
"You can't dwell on the game, win or lose," Klieman said. "We talked Monday after the TCU loss that we couldn't let the same team beat us twice by not responding with a great week of practice. We said the same thing this Monday, that we couldn't fall in love with ourselves. We have to stay humble and hungry and realize there's more out there for us.
"This is another challenge, another one-week season, and the stakes keep getting higher each week."
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