No. 21 Nebraska (3-1) at No. 24 Missouri (4-0), Thursday, 8 p.m. CDT (ESPN)
Line: Nebraska by 3.
Series Record: 63-36-3.
Last Meeting: 2008. Missouri 52-17.
What’s at Stake
After decades of Nebraska dominance, the Tigers have flipped the script in this Big 12 North Division rivalry. They have beaten the Huskers two straight years (combined 93-23) and four of the past six times. Missouri, coming off a bye week, is trying for its first three-peat against Nebraska since 1969 and its fourth consecutive 5-0 start. Nebraska, also coming off a bye week, has three wins over Sun Belt Conference teams along with a 16-15, last-second road loss to Virginia Tech.
Key Matchup
Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert vs. Nebraska defense. The sophomore leads the Big 12 in passing efficiency (fourth in the nation) with 11 TD throws and no interceptions. Nebraska leads the country in scoring defense, allowing just 7 points a game with a slate that has included overmatched Florida Atlantic, Arkansas State and Louisiana-Lafayette.
Players to watch
Nebraska: RB Roy Helu leads the Cornhuskers with an average of 116 rushing yards per game. QB Zac Lee is averaging 231.8 passing yards a game. His leading receivers are Helu and Mike McNeill, tied with 11 catches.
Missouri: Gabbert threw for a career-high 414 yards in the Tiger’s 31-21 road win over Nevada before the bye week. The St. Louis-area prep star committed to play at Nebraska before switching to his state school. Senior wide receiver Danario Alexander leads the team with 29 receptions, including four TDs.
Facts & Figures
Nebraska has 386 wins since 1970, which is 27 more than any other school. … Missouri last hosted a Thursday night game in 1992, losing 6-0 to Colorado. …. Missouri has won 20 of its past 22 home games and has not lost to a Big 12 North opponent in Columbia since 2004.
Baylor (3-1) vs. No. 19 Oklahoma (2-2), 2:30 p.m. Saturday (ABC)
Line: Oklahoma by 25.
Series Record: Oklahoma leads 18-0.
Last meeting: 2008, 49-17.
What’s at Stake
Oklahoma tries to bounce back from its second loss of the season and gain some momentum for its annual rivalry game against No. 2 Texas next week in Dallas. Without injured quarterback Robert Griffin, Baylor seeks a breakthrough win in a series dominated by the Sooners.
Key Matchup
Oklahoma WRs vs. Baylor secondary. Already without tight end Jermaine Gresham, the Sooners struggled on offense after losing top receiver Ryan Broyles to a hairline fracture in his shoulder blade. The unproven group will go against a Bears defense that ranks second in the Big 12 and 19th in the nation against the pass (166 ypg).
Players to Watch
Baylor: WR Kendall Wright. After a slow start, Wright has 230 receiving yards in his last two games. He had a career-high nine catches for 125 yards against Kent State last week and scored two TDs the week before.
Oklahoma: RB DeMarco Murray. Murray ran for 80 yards and a touchdown last week against Miami on 23 carries, his most since he had a career-high 26 rushes against Baylor last season. He could also factor into Oklahoma’s plans to replace Broyles in the slot.
Facts & Figures
Sooners coach Bob Stoops didn’t plan to decide whether Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford (shoulder) would start against the Bears until later in the week. He has missed the last three games. … Oklahoma DE Jeremy Beal has made three sacks in each of his last two games. … Baylor has at least one rushing touchdown in 16 straight games, the second-longest streak in school history. … The Bears have lost 18 straight games against ranked foes.
No. 2 Texas (4-0) vs. Colorado (1-3), 7:15 p.m. Saturday (ESPN)
Line: Texas by 31 1/2.
Series Record: Texas leads 10-7.
Last meeting: 2008, Texas 38-14.
What’s at Stake
Texas is looking every bit like the big dog in the Big 12 and wants to keep things rolling along heading into next week’s showdown with Oklahoma. For Colorado, the start of Big 12 play is a good reason to try to forget the disaster that was September.
Key Matchup
Colorado kick coverage vs. Texas returners Jordan Shipley and D.J. Monroe. Shipley and Monroe have already returned three punts and kickoffs for touchdowns.
Players to Watch
Colorado: Freshman DE Nick Kasa, the Buffaloes’ top 2009 recruit. Kasa missed the first three games with a left knee injury and returned for Colorado’s loss at West Virginia. Buffaloes will look to him to create a pass rush on Texas QB Colt McCoy.
Texas: WR Dan Buckner. Buckner has joined Shipley as a favorite target for McCoy with 23 catches and four touchdowns in the first four games.
Facts & Figures
Texas has outscored Colorado 181-41 in the last four meetings. The Buffaloes’ last win in the series was the 2001 Big 12 championship game that kept Texas from playing for the national title. … Shipley is averaging nine catches per game and is on pace to join Kwame Cavil (100 in 1999) as the only Longhorns to catch 100 passes in a season … Texas leads the nation in scoring at 49.5 points per game.
No. 16 Kansas (4-0) vs. Iowa State (3-2, 0-1 Big 12), 12:30 (Versus)
Line: Kansas by 20.
Series Record: Kansas leads 48-34-6.
Last meeting: 2008, Kansas 35-30.
What’s at Stake
The Jayhawks are striving for first Big 12 North title, hoping to be unbeaten when they host Oklahoma on Oct. 24. Iowa State was off to good start under first-year head coach and must rebound from heartbreaking 1-point loss to Kansas State.
Key Matchup
Iowa State running attack vs. Kansas defense. The Jayhawks’ run defense is No. 3 in the nation, yielding only 59.25 yards per game. Cyclones QB Austen Arnaud is a run threat but getting speedster Alexander Robinson back from injury would help.
Players to Watch
Kansas: QB Todd Reesing, who needs only 85 yards passing to move past Brad Smith for No. 6 on Big 12 career chart. Reesing has thrown a touchdown pass in 22 consecutive games, the best of any active NCAA quarterback. Freshman RB Toben Opurum will start if senior Jake Sharp’s unspecified leg injury is not healed. Opurum leads Big 12 with seven TDs.
Iowa State: RB Alexander Robinson, who rushed for 100 yards or more in three straight games before sitting out most of last week’s loss to Kansas State. Arnaud has been sacked only once in five games, the best in the nation.
Facts & Figures
Last year at Iowa State, Kansas erased a 20-point deficit in the second half to win 35-33. … Jayhawks one of only 13 4-0 teams in the nation. … Arnaud has established himself as a dual threat, rushing for 322 yards and throwing for 787 through five games. … Paul Rhoads was the first Iowa State head coach to start 3-1 since George Veenker in 1931.
No. 15 Oklahoma State (3-1, 0-0 Big 12) vs. Texas A&M (3-1, 0-0), 11:30 a.m. Saturday (CSS)
Line: No line.
Series record: Texas A&M leads 17-7.
Last meeting: 2008, Oklahoma State 56, Texas A&M 28.
What’s at Stake
Oklahoma State is trying to climb back into the national spotlight after a home loss to Houston on Sept. 12. Their quest to win the Big 12 begins Saturday at Kyle Field, where they’ve lost five of the last six meetings. The Aggies were 3-0 until they were routed by Arkansas. A&M is trying to snap a five-game losing streak to Big 12 South opponents.
Key Matchup
Oklahoma State’s defense vs. Texas A&M’s offense. The Aggies rank second nationally in total offense (545.25 yards per game) and fifth in pass offense (334 yards per game). But they went 7-for-18 on third-down conversions against Arkansas. A&M QB Jerrod Johnson has not thrown an interception in 169 attempts this season, but Oklahoma State has intercepted a pass in five straight games.
Players to Watch
Oklahoma State: QB Zac Robinson ranks eighth in the Big 12 in total offense. He’s thrown a school-record 57 touchdown passes, including three against A&M last season. The Aggies rank 71st in pass defense (222.25 yards per game).
Texas A&M: DE Von Miller leads the nation in sacks, averaging 2.25 per game. Miller has nine sacks in four games and is on pace to challenge Jacob Green’s school record of 20, set in 1979. The Aggies have 16 sacks, matching their total from last season.
Facts & Figures
Johnson hasn’t thrown an interception in 186 attempts dating to last season. He needs 28 more completions without a pick to set a Big 12 record. … Texas A&M leads the nation in penalty yards per game (95.5).
Kansas State (3-2, 1-0) at Texas Tech (3-2, 0-1), 7 p.m. EDT Saturday (FSN)
Line: Texas Tech by 16.
Series Record: Texas Tech leads 7-3.
Last meeting: 2008, Texas Tech 58-28.
What’s at Stake
Texas Tech may not have QB Taylor Potts when it seeks its first Big 12 victory of the season. Potts suffered a concussion in last week’s game and spent Saturday night in the hospital. Kansas State, which is coming off a 24-23 victory over Iowa State, looks to start 2-0 in conference for the first time since 2000. The Red Raiders have won 11 straight home games.
Key Matchup
Kansas State’s secondary vs. Texas Tech’s quarterback. If Potts isn’t able to play, Steven Sheffield will probably start at quarterback. Sheffield was 16 of 23 for 238 yards during Tech’s 48-28 victory over New Mexico. The Wildcats lead the Big 12 in pass defense, allowing 152 yards per game. Safety Tysyn Hartman has four pass breakups and three interceptions to pace the unit.
Players to Watch
Kansas State: WR Brandon Banks leads the team with 23 receptions for 289 yards. Banks has also returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and is fifth nationally averaging 35.5 yards per return.
Texas Tech: DE Daniel Howard leads the Red Raiders with five sacks. He is part of a defensive line which has been strong against the run. Texas Tech is fourth in the Big 12 allowing 105 rushing yards per game.
