For the two most recent Big 12 champions, 0-2 starts to conference play will be at stake when Kansas State and Oklahoma State square off Saturday afternoon at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater.
How to watch Kansas State vs. Oklahoma State 2013: Preview, TV schedule, odds and more
Which team will avoid falling to 0-2 in Big 12 play?
Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Kansas State (2-2, 0-1 Big 12) is coming off a 31-21 loss at Texas last weekend. The Wildcats’ season got off to a disappointing start immediately, as a 24-21 season-opening loss to North Dakota State knocked expectations down a peg. KSU rebounded with wins vs. Louisiana-Lafayette and UMass before falling to Texas.
Oklahoma State (3-1, 0-1 Big 12), meanwhile, is hoping to rebound from a 30-21 loss at West Virginia last weekend. That ended a streak of three high-scoring routs of cupcake opponents and ratcheted up the pressure on the Cowboys early in conference play.
The numbers
Rankings and records: Oklahoma State is ranked 20th in the Coaches Poll and 21st in the AP Top 25. Kansas State is unranked.
Vegas: Oklahoma State opened as a 15-point favorite and current lines favor the Cowboys by 14 to 14 1/2 points.
Weather: Saturday afternoon in Stillwater will be partly cloudy with a high of 68 degrees and a 10 percent chance of rain, via Weather.com
Three names to know
Oklahoma State quarterback J.W. Walsh: The sophomore is the Big 12's third-leading passer with 964 yards on a 60.3 completion percentage (79-of-131) for eight touchdowns and three interceptions. Against West Virginia, he went 20-of-47 for 322 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Oklahoma State wide receiver Josh Stewart: As the fifth-leading receiver in the Big 12, Stewart is the top target for the nation’s No. 17 passing attack. The junior has caught 19 passes for 312 yards (16.4 per catch) for two touchdowns. He had his best game of the season vs. West Virginia, hauling in seven catches for 127 yards and a touchdown.
Kansas State quarterback Jake Waters: Waters is fourth in the conference with 948 passing yards on a 67.0 completion percentage (67-of-100). His 4:5 touchdown-to-interception ratio is troubling, but his game of the season came last weekend at Texas with a turnover-free, 19-of-30 performance for 275 yards, as well as 18 rushing attempts for 26 yards and a touchdown.
Two things at stake
Oklahoma State would be able to keep early pace in the B1G while furthering itself from the shadow of the Sports Illustrated report earlier this season. Kansas State would also certainly enjoy the former, particularly with a game vs. No. 17 Baylor looming Oct. 12.
How to witness
TV: ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET. Bob Wischusen, Rod Gilmore and Quint Kessenich will be on the call.
Radio: For Oklahoma State, Cowboy Radio Network.
Online streaming: ESPN3.
Further reading
Cowboys Ride for Free covers Oklahoma State, for free. Bring on the Cats is your Kansas State destination, also free.
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