College Sports

No. 13 K-State ready to face Texas as Big 12 race heats up

Posted November 03, 2022 7:00 am

By The Associated Press

Texas tight end Andrej Karic (92) watches as head coach Steve Sarkisian gestures while speaking on the radio during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, in Stillwater, Okla. (AP Photo/Brody Schmidt) The Associated Press

Texas (5-3, 3-2 Big 12) at No. 13 Kansas State (6-2, 4-1), 7 p.m. EDT (FS1)

Line: Texas by 2 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Series record: Texas leads 12-10.

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

Kansas State is a game behind TCU in the Big 12 standings while Texas is part of a logjam including Oklahoma State and Baylor another game back. That means both are in the mix for the conference championship game. The Wildcats can move closer to locking up their spot with a win, since they would have the tiebreaker over the Cowboys and Longhorns. Texas would be nearly eliminated with a loss.

KEY MATCHUP

Kansas State RB Deuce Vaughn against the Texas run defense, which is No. 3 in the conference and allowing 121.6 yards per game. Vaughn carried 22 times for 158 yards and a touchdown while catching four passes for 18 yards and another score in the Wildcats' 48-0 rout of then-No. 9 Oklahoma State last week.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Texas: RB Bijan Robinson ran for 145 yards and a touchdown in the 41-34 loss to Oklahoma State before their open date. Robinson leads the league with 920 yards rushing, just 18 ahead of Vaughn, and has reached the end zone 11 times. That touchdown total trails Baylor's Richard Reese by one for the Big 12 lead.

Kansas State: Whoever starts at QB. Adrian Martinez was entrenched as the starter before hurting his knee and playing just four snaps against TCU. Will Howard got the start last week and torched the Cowboys for 296 yards passing and fourth touchdowns without an interception.

FACTS & FIGURES

Texas has won five straight in the series. ... The Longhorns had lost seven of their first eight games in Manhattan before winning the past two. ... Texas is among eight teams to rank in the top 20 nationally in scoring offense (18th) and scoring defense (19th). ... The Longhorns have scored at least 28 points in a half three times this season. ... Robinson ranks fifth nationally in total TDs with 13. He is seventh with 150.0 all-purpose yards. ... Texas WR Xavier Worthy is 11th nationally with seven TD receptions. ... Kansas State is coming off the largest-ever shutout by a lower-ranked team against a top-10 team in AP poll history. The 48-0 win over Oklahoma State tied for the fifth largest shutout of a top-10 team overall.

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Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy (8) holds off Oklahoma State linebacker Gordie Geymuller (83) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, in Stillwater, Okla. (AP Photo/Brody Schmidt) The Associated Press

Oklahoma State wide receiver Bryson Green (9) catches a pass over Texas defensive back D'Shawn Jamison (5) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Stillwater, Okla, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (Ian Maule/Tulsa World via AP) The Associated Press

Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn (22) runs the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) The Associated Press

Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman talks to an official during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) The Associated Press

Kansas State quarterback Will Howard (18) celebrates with the crowd as he is carried off the field by teammates after an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in Manhattan, Kan. Kansas State won 48-0. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) The Associated Press

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