By Cody Soto
Sports Writer
Iowa State (2-6, 0-5) at Kansas (2-6, 0-5)
Iowa State will travel to Lawrence, Kan., to play Kansas Saturday afternoon as both teams search for their first Big 12 win of the season.
The Cyclones look to shake off an embarrassing 59-14 loss against No. 15 Oklahoma last Saturday in Ames, Iowa. Iowa State scored its first touchdown with an 18-yard run by quarterback Sam B. Richardson early in the second quarter to eliminate a 21-0 run by the Sooners. Richardson had a 59-yard pass to receiver D’Vario Montgomery late in the third quarter, but the Sooners were still well ahead 45-14.
Richardson had 239 passing yards on 15 completions and a touchdown while the team added 87 rushing yards for 334 offensive yards in the loss. The Cyclones have not won a conference game since last season’s 52-44 overtime win against West Virginia.
Kansas comes into Saturday’s game with a similar situation after No. 12 Baylor trampled the Jayhawks 60-14 last Saturday in Waco. Kansas scored two touchdowns against the Bears and both were passing plays by quarterback Michael Cummings. Cummings threw a 28-yard pass in the opening quarter and a one-yard pass in the third quarter to receiver Nick Harwell in the loss.
The Wildcats only had 12 first downs and rallied for 304 offensive yards. Despite 16 rushing yards, Kansas had 288 passing yards by Cummings for two scores against the Bears. The Wildcats look for their first conference win since Nov. 16 where they beat West Virginia 31-19 in Lawrence.
Kickoff in Memorial Stadium is set for 2:30 p.m.
No. 23 West Virginia (6-3, 4-2) at Texas (4-5, 3-3)
No. 23 West Virginia faces Texas on Saturday afternoon in Austin with mixed results from last week’s conference matchups.
The Mountaineers took a tough 31-30 loss in Morgantown, W.Va. to then-No. 10 TCU after blowing a 27-14 lead late in the game. Quarterback Clint Trickett finished with 162 passing yards for a touchdown and two interceptions in the loss. Kicker Josh Lambert nailed three field goals for West Virginia, but it wasn’t the game-winning field goal. The Mountaineers were 6-for-19 on third down efficiency and fumbled three times against the Horned Frogs.
West Virginia’s final touchdown was a thrilling 35-yard fumble return by cornerback Terrell Chestnut late in the third quarter to put the Mountaineers at a 27-14 advantage. After that, West Virginia was held to only one field goal and allowed TCU to score two touchdowns and a game-clinching field goal.
On the other hand, Texas rolls into its home stadium with a satisfying 34-13 win over Texas Tech in Lubbock Saturday night. The Longhorns posted 469 offensive yards despite only having a 5-for-16 third down efficiency. Quarterback Tyrone Swoopes was 13-for-25 from the field where he had 228 passing yards for a touchdown against the Red Raiders. Running back Malcolm Brown ran for a season-high 116 yards on 22 carries to add two scores for the Longhorns. Receiver John Harris averaged an impressive 33 yards per reception after catching five passes for 165 yards in the win.
The Longhorns came into the second half with a slim 17-13 lead but didn’t allow Texas Tech to make any potential comeback moments. Nick Rose kicked a 42-yard field goal for the only score in the third quarter, and Texas ended the game with two fourth quarter touchdowns by receiver Jaxon Shipley and Brown.
No. 23 West Virginia and Texas meet for a 2:30 p.m. game time that will be broadcasted live on FOX Sports 1.
No. 7 Kansas State (7-1, 5-0) at No. 6 TCU (7-1, 4-1)
No. 7 Kansas State travels to Fort Worth to face No. 6 TCU in one of the weekend’s biggest college football matchups Saturday night.
The Wildcats took a dominating 48-14 win over Oklahoma State last Saturday in Manhattan, Kan., to remain unbeaten in conference play. Kansas State had 421 offensive yards behind a big passing game from quarterback Jake Waters. Waters was 19-for-28 for 223 yards and two scores in the win. The Wildcats still continue to be one of the fewest penalized teams in college football as they were only penalized two times for 15 yards.
Receiver Curry Sexton led all players with 159 yards on 19 receptions for the Wildcats. Running back Charles Jones got into the end zone twice on 43 rushing yards as the Wildcats took a 14-7 lead late in the first quarter and remained in control of the game for the rest of the night. Kansas State hasn’t dropped a Big 12 game since the team’s 41-31 loss against No. 22 Oklahoma on Nov. 23.
The Horned Frogs escaped Morgantown, W.Va., with a thrilling 31-30 win over West Virginia last Saturday to further their College Playoff run. TCU fell behind early in the first quarter and took its first lead in the third quarter, 14-13. The Horned Frogs then allowed 14 unanswered points to trail 27-14 with 6:36 left in the third quarter. TCU held West Virginia to only one field goal after the fumble return and won the game on a 37-yard field goal by kicker Jaden Oberkrom.
Quarterback Trevone Boykin threw for 166 yards on 12 completions for one touchdown and an interception in the win. B.J. Catalon had 105 rushing yards on 20 carries to score twice for the Horned Frogs. TCU finished the game with 389 offensive yards and 16 first downs.
The top 10 matchup will kickoff at 6:30 p.m. in Amon G. Carter Stadium and will be broadcasted live on FOX.
