Most of the national attention on the Big 12 has been focused on Baylor, Oklahoma and TCU in recent weeks, in large part due to the big games those teams have played (against each other). Don’t forget about Kansas State, however -- the Wildcats have just one loss (to Auburn), and beat Texas Tech by 34 points their last time out. They’ll travel to face Oklahoma on Saturday in a game with big conference title implications.
How to watch Kansas State vs. Oklahoma: Game guide, TV schedule, streaming, odds
Can the Wildcats re-emerge as a Big 12 contender?
Ronald Martinez
After three straight blowout wins (including one against Tennessee) started out the year for Oklahoma, the Sooners have struggled to put together a dominating performance since. They’re 2-1 in that time frame, but a 12-point win against unranked West Virginia and a five-point win over unranked Texas won’t do much to sway voters (or fans), especially considering the four-point loss to TCU in between.
The Wildcats may have the most impressive loss in the Big 12, but they haven’t exactly beaten a good team, either. The aforementioned destruction of Texas Tech is by far their best victory, with a four-point win at Iowa State a distant second. They also dominated Stephen F. Austin and UTEP, as expected, but this will be a big step up for Bill Snyder’s team that will help us understand the program’s place a bit more accurately. In short, it’s K-State’s most important game of the year.
How to watch, listen, and stream
Game time: Noon ET
TV: ESPN
Online streaming: WatchESPN
Our sites on these teams
The numbers
Rankings and records: Oklahoma is ranked No. 11 in the AP and Coaches polls. Kansas State is ranked No. 14 in both polls. The Sooners are 5-1 this season, with a 2-1 record in Big 12 play placing them fourth in the conference. The Wildcats are 4-1, with a 2-0 conference record putting them third in the standings. Oklahoma holds a 72-18-4 all-time lead in the series.
Vegas: Oklahoma opened as a 12-point favorite. The line has since moved to 7.
Weather forecast: 70 degrees and partly cloudy.
Two things at stake
A loss for Oklahoma would almost certainly knock them out of the playoff picture.
A win for Kansas State puts them back in the national conversation.
One big matchup
Oklahoma rushing offense vs. Kansas State rushing defense. Freshman Samaje Perine has been a revelation for the Sooners, rushing for 568 yards and nine touchdowns on 109 carries. The team as a whole is averaging 5.1 yards per carry with 19 rushing touchdowns, with strong performances from sophomores Alex Ross (37 carries, 201 yards, three touchdowns) and Keith Ford (34 carries, 194 yards, five touchdowns) as well as quarterback Trevor Knight (31 carries, 132 yards, two touchdowns).
Kansas State is giving up just 2.8 yards per carry this season and has not allowed a rushing touchdown since Week 2 vs. Iowa State. The Wildcats’ prowess stopping the rush showed most clearly against Auburn, one of the nation’s most prolific rushing attacks. The Tigers averaged just 2.8 yards per carry in their narrow win against Kansas State and were held out of the end zone on the ground.
Further reading
For more on Kansas State, check out Bring on the Cats. For Oklahoma coverage, head over to Crimson and Cream Machine.
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