Missouri (3-0) at Nevada (0-2), 8 p.m. Friday CDT
Line: Missouri by 7
Series Record: Missouri leads 1-0
Last Meeting: 2008, Missouri won 69-17 at home
What’s at Stake
Missouri is trying to complete unbeaten non-conference slate for fourth straight season heading into Big 12 opener Oct. 8 against Nebraska, facing school that has made four straight bowl appearances. Tigers had school-record 519 passing yards in last year’s blowout at home. Nevada coming off pair of losses entering home opener, falling 35-20 at Colorado State last week and 35-0 at Notre Dame, and is minus-8 in turnover margin.
Key Matchup
Missouri defense vs. Nevada offense. Tigers have been fairly impressive under new coordinator Dave Steckel against mostly inferior competition, allowing 13.7 points per game. Nevada was scoreless for nearly 93 minutes before finally getting offense untracked in third quarter last week. Wolf Pack committed five turnovers leading to 28 points.
Players to Watch
Missouri: Blaine Gabbert leads Big 12 with QB efficiency rating of 166.10. WR Danario Alexander caught two TD passes and threw for third last week vs. Furman. WR Jared Perry had career highs with seven receptions, 161 yards with two TDs last week. DE Aldon Smith leads team with two sacks, four tackles for loss and two pass breakups.
Nevada: RB Vai Tuau had 95 yards rushing with two TDs last week. WR Brandon Wimberly caught seven passes for 104 yards and 13-yard TD. QB Colin Kaepernick held to 24 rushing yards, 251 passing yards, most coming late. RB Luke Lippincott has 2,032 career rushing yards. Mike Ball averaging 32.8 yards on kickoff returns, going 48 and 50 yards last week.
Texas-El Paso (1-2) at No. 2 Texas (3-0), 3:30 p.m. Eastern
Line: Texas by 34.
Series Record: Texas leads 3-0.
Last Meeting: 2008, Texas 42, Texas-El Paso 13
What’s at Stake
Colt McCoy needs a big game to re-establish his Heisman Trophy bonafides. Not that McCoy has been bad, it’s just that he’s lacking an electrifying game. He’ll have his chance in big games later, but big stats now look good later. A Texas-El Paso victory would be similar to Stanford knocking off Southern California two years ago.
Key Matchup
UTEP linebackers vs. Texas receiver Dan Buckner. Buckner plays a “flex” position, which puts him closer to the ball and often matches him against linebackers and safeties. Buckner is big (6-foot-4, 220 pounds) and fast and quickly becoming a favorite target for McCoy.
Players to Watch
Texas: RB Tre’ Newton started the season absent from the depth chart. Now he’s the No. 1 tailback after two good games. Newton gives the Longhorns the balance they need to open up the passing game for McCoy.
Texas Tech: QB Trevor Vittatoe. He’s UTEP’s career passing leader but could have a tough time staying upright against Texas’ pass rush, which is quickly emerging into one of the best in the country.
Facts & Figures
McCoy already has half as many interceptions (four) as he did last season (eight) … UTEP’s Jeremy Springer was a backup QB last season. He moved to linebacker and is second for the Miners in tackles with 27 … UTEP is 3-46 all-time vs. ranked opponents. They lost to a ranked Kansas team two weeks ago, now get Texas and then host No. 17 Houston on Oct. 3.
Northwestern St. (0-3) at Baylor (1-1), 7:05 p.m. EDT
Line: No line.
Series Record: Baylor leads 2-0.
Last Meeting: 2008, Baylor 51-6.
What’s at Stake
Baylor needs to regain confidence after a losing its home opener last week to Connecticut, which just after halftime converted fumbles on consecutive snaps into touchdowns. With hopes of their first bowl game in 15 years, its imperative the Bears win their last two non-conference games. Northwestern State still looking for its first win for new coach Bradley Dale Peveto.
Key Matchup
Baylor’s FBS/Big 12 lineup vs. Northwestern State’s FCS/Southland Conference lineup. The Bears are 14-0 vs. Southland Conference teams, and need another lopsided victory against the Demons, like they had in 2006 (37 points) and 2008 (45 points).
Players to Watch
Northwestern St.: Senior MLB Blake Delcambre has 25 tackles, four tackles for losses, three sacks. Senior RB William Griffin has 219 yards (73 per game) with one touchdown.
Baylor: Senior LB Joe Pawelek, who will start his 36th consecutive game, is tied for the national lead with 14 tackles per game and the 341 in his career are the most among active players. Junior RB Jay Finley has rushed for at least 90 yards in four consecutive games.
Tennessee Tech (1-1) at Kansas State (1-2), 1:10 p.m. Central
Line: No line
Series Record: First meeting.
What’s at Stake
Kansas State is off to a slow start under head coach Bill Snyder in 2009. The defense has improved from last season, but the offense must establish itself as Big 12 conference play draws near. Tennessee Tech has had mixed results in its first two games of the season, winning handily against Pikeville College and narrowly losing at No. 22 Eastern Kentucky. An early-season win against an FBS opponent would be huge for head coach Watson Brown and the Golden Eagles.
Key Matchup
Tennessee Tech RBs vs. Kansas State’s defensive line. The Golden Eagles are averaging 168 yards on the ground and also boast 5.8 yards per carry. Senior DT Jeffrey Fitzgerald leads a Kansas State line that is giving up just 128.3 yards rushing and 4.3 yards per attempt. The unit has also recorded nine tackles behind the line of scrimmage and recovered three fumbles.
Players to Watch
Tennessee Tech: WR Tim Benford. Although Benford hasn’t crossed the goal line this season, he has been one of the Golden Eagles’ strongest offensive weapons. Through two games, he has hauled in seven receptions for 116 yards, both team highs.
Kansas State: RB Daniel Thomas. Thomas, a junior college transfer, continues to play several roles on Kansas State’s struggling offense. Last week at UCLA, he totaled 115 all-purpose yardage and a rushing touchdown. He leads the team in rushing with 294 yards and ranks fourth in receiving with 92.
Southern Miss (3-0) at No. 20 Kansas (3-0), 6 p.m. Central
Line: Kansas by 13 1-2.
Series Record: First meeting.
What’s at Stake
After rolling up yards against Northern Colorado, UTEP and Duke—537.7 per game—Kansas’ offense gets its first real test. Southern Miss’ defense ranks 17th in the nation in total yards allowed (251.7) and is sixth-best against the run, giving up 51.7 yards per game.
Key Matchup
Kansas running game vs. Southern Miss’ defense. The Golden Eagles have held their last eight opponents under 100 yards rushing, including Virginia (78) in a 37-34 win last Saturday. Kansas RB Jake Sharp will likely be an game-time decision after being limited to five carries for 13 yards against UTEP with an undisclosed injury.
Players to Watch
Southern Miss: RBs Damion Fletcher and Tory Harrison. The pair each rushed for more than 100 yards in the win over Virginia, marking the fourth time in coach Larry Fedora’s tenure the Golden Eagles have had two runners eclipse the mark in the same game. Kansas hasn’t face a pair like them this season.
Kansas: QB Todd Reesing. Kansas coach Mark Mangino says Reesing is starting to find his rhythm. That can’t be good for Jayhawks opponents, considering the senior has already thrown for 806 yards and seven TDs this season.
Facts & Figures
Kansas has won 19 straight non-conference home games. … Southern Miss has the second-longest winning streak in the nation at eight games, the Golden Eagles’ longest streak since winning 10 straight in 1958-59. … Southern Miss QB Austin Davis hasn’t thrown an interception in his last 128 passes. … Kansas WR Dezmon Briscoe needs 93 yards receiving to pass Willie Vaughn (2,266 yards from 1985-88) as the school’s career receiving leader.
Louisiana-Lafayette (2-1) at No. 25 Nebraska (2-1), 7 p.m. Eastern
Line: Nebraska by 26 1/2.
Series Record: First meeting.
What’s at Stake
It’s bounce-back week for Nebraska, which is coming off a devastating, last-minute loss at Virginia Tech. The Ragin’ Cajuns believe they played LSU closer than the 31-3 score indicated last week, and they’re eager for another crack at a big-time program.
Key Matchup
Louisiana-Lafayette offensive line vs. Nebraska defensive line. All five of the Cajuns’ starters are back, and they’ve played 14 of the last 15 games together. ULL and Kentucky are the only FBS teams that haven’t given up a sack yet. The strength of the Huskers’ defense is up front, led by Ndamukong Suh.
Players to Watch
Louisiana-Lafayette: LB Antwyne Zanders has made a team-leading 31 tackles, 15 more than any teammate.
Nebraska: QB Zac Lee. The junior put up great numbers in the first two games but now must overcome his tough outing at Virginia Tech. The right-handed Lee will play with a fractured left thumb.
Facts & Figures
Nebraska is celebrating its 300th consecutive sellout since 1962, an ongoing NCAA record. The Huskers will wear ’62 throwback jerseys to mark the occasion. … This is Nebraska’s third opponent this season from the Sun Belt Conference. The Huskers beat Florida Atlantic and Arkansas State by a combined 87-12. … Nebraska RB Roy Helu Jr. has broken 14 runs of 20 yards or longer in his last eight games. … The Cajuns are 0-13 all-time on the road against the Big 12. … This marks the first time the Cajuns have played three straight games against BCS opponents (Kansas State, LSU, Nebraska).
Army (2-1) at Iowa State (2-1), 5 p.m. Eastern
Line: Iowa State by 10
Series Record: Tied 1-1
Last Meeting: 2005: Iowa State, 28-21
What’s at Stake
For Iowa State, it’s a chance to move halfway toward bowl eligibility before the start of conference play. The Cyclones haven’t gone bowling since 2005. Given its recent struggles in the Big 12, Iowa State needs all the non-conference wins it can get if it wants to be in position for a bowl bid come November. A victory for Army could help the Black Knights, who host Tulane and Vanderbilt and then travel to Temple in the next three weeks.
Key Matchup
Iowa State’s front seven vs. Army’s running game. Army’s triple-option offense couldn’t be more different from the spread offenses Iowa State will see in the Big 12. The Cyclones are ranked 94th in the nation in rushing defense, giving up nearly 175 yards per game. Iowa State will need to shore things up along its defensive line and adapt quickly to the Black Knights complex scheme.
Players to Watch
Army: RB Patrick Mealy. The junior slot back is averaging 10.7 yards a carry this season and has been Army’s most explosive player through three games.
Iowa State: RB Alexander Robinson. The Cyclones new spread offense has created plenty of space for Robinson, who rushed for 143 yards in a 34-14 win at Kent State last week.
Grambling State (2-1) at No. 16 Oklahoma State (2-1), 7 p.m. Eastern
Line: No line.
Series Record: First meeting.
What’s at Stake
Oklahoma State has its final chance to tune up before Big 12 play, with its offense yet to click like it did last season when the Cowboys ranked sixth in the nation in total offense. OSU also needs to kick its turnover habit after giving the ball away six times in the past two games. Grambling State is second in the Football Championship Subdivision with 13 takeaways, and its surest way to a mammoth upset would be through the turnover game.
Key Matchup
Grambling State RB Frank Warren vs. OSU defense. Warren ranks 10th in the FCS with 113 yards per game. Oklahoma State hasn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher this season, but is giving up 105.7 yards on the ground per game.
Players to Watch
Grambling State: DE Christian Anthony. A 6-foot-4 senior, Anthony has returned two interceptions for TDs this season. He also returned a fumble to the 5-yard line, and leads the team with 2 1/2 sacks and 7 1/2 tackles for loss.
Oklahoma State: LB Donald Booker. While replacing injured starter Orie Lemon, Booker is leading OSU with 23 tackles and returned a fumble 51 yards for a touchdown last week against Rice.
Facts & Figures
The Tigers have won 12 of their last 13 games. … Grambling State coach Rod Broadway was on the same coaching staff with OSU offensive coordinator Gunter Brewer for two years at North Carolina and he coached at Florida when Cowboys running backs coach Robert Gillespie played there. … Oklahoma State’s Quinn Sharp ranks second in the nation with 50.5 yards per punt. He has placed six of his 12 punts inside the 20 with only one touchback.
Texas Tech (2-1) at No. 17 Houston (2-0), 9:15 p.m. EDT (ESPN2)
Line: Houston by 1.
Series Record: Houston 17-10-1.
Last Meeting: 1995, Texas Tech 38-26.
What’s at Stake
Houston seeks its second straight high-profile victory over a Big 12 team. After beating Oklahoma State on Sept. 12, the Cougars will play as a ranked team for the first time in 18 years. Texas Tech lost at No. 2 Texas last week. Now the Red Raiders face another road test in front an expected record crowd at Robertson Stadium.
Key Matchup
Texas Tech’s Taylor Potts vs. Houston’s Case Keenum. Both quarterbacks are from Abilene, Texas, and guide prolific passing offenses. Keenum has completed 72 percent of his passes for 725 yards as the Cougars have rung up 100 points in two games. In his third career start, Potts threw for 420 yards and three TDs against Texas. The junior leads the nation in passing yards with 1,281.
Players to Watch
Texas Tech: LB Marlon Williams has 26 tackles this season. Even though the Red Raiders are known for offense, their defense is fourth in the Big 12 in total defense, giving up 268 yards per game.
Houston: RB Bryce Beall has rushed for 136 yards at an average of five yards per carry. The sophomore has also caught seven passes and scored a team-best four TDs.
Facts & Figures
Keenum can break a school record by throwing for a TD in his 19th straight game. He currently shares the record with 1989 Heisman Trophy winner Andre Ware. … ESPN analyst Craig James will be broadcasting the game for ESPN while his son, Adam, is a receiver for the Red Raiders. … Robertson Stadium’s single-game attendance record is 31,818. Houston officials are expecting a new mark to be set Saturday.
UAB (1-2) at Texas A&M (2-0), 7 p.m. EDT
Line: Texas A&M by 15.
Series Record: First meeting.
What’s at Stake
Texas A&M hopes to win its final tuneup before a showdown with Arkansas next week at the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. The Aggies have won 58 of its last 64 games against non-conference opponents at Kyle Field, though they struggled in stretches of last week’s 38-30 win over Utah State. UAB is 2-7 all-time against the Big 12.
Key Matchup
Texas A&M offense vs. UAB defense. The Aggies lead the nation in total offense (589.5 yards per game), running a quick-strike, no-huddle attack. UAB ranks 106th in total defense (430 ypg) and 95th in points allowed (31.3 per game). A&M sophomore WR Jeff Fuller is out 4-6 weeks with a broken fibula, but freshman RB Christine Michael is expected to play after straining his left calf against Utah State.
Players to Watch
UAB: Senior QB Joe Webb rushed for 194 yards and two touchdowns in the Blazers’ opening 44-24 win over Rice. Webb also threw two touchdown passes in the game and finished with 415 yards of total offense. In 2008, he threw for 2,367 yards and rushed for 1,071 yards.
Texas A&M: Freshman WR Uzoma Nwachukwu scored four TDs against Utah State and becomes the Aggies’ most dangerous deep threat without Fuller. Nwachukwu’s four touchdowns was an A&M freshman record and his three TD catches matched a school record. UAB ranks 108th in the nation in pass defense (263 ypg).
