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Friday Fast Facts – Kansas State Week
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… Your weekly “T.I.P.S”, preview for this weekend’s game, discussing Talent, Intangibles, Preparation and Statistics, have been posted. My “T.I.P.S.” for Colorado at Kansas State can be found here.
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The Big Picture …
— Bowl streaks … While CU has already extended its streak of not going to bowl games in back-to-back seasons to 20 years, Kansas State has gone bowling every full season since 2019. The Wildcats are 5-6, and need a win over Colorado to become bowl eligible for the fifth straight season. As if there wasn’t already enough incentive for the Wildcats to run the Buffs out of the stadium Saturday morning …
— The ESPN Power Index gives the Buffs only a 17.2% chance of winning; the Wildcats are given a 82.8% chance at victory;
— The CU/K-State game will be telecast nationally on FS1 (Saturday, 10:00 a.m., MT), with Eric Collins on the play-by-play and Spencer Tillman with the commentary. KOA radio will have Mark Johnson with the play-by-play, with former Buffs Jeff Campbell and Bobby Pesavento as analysts.
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Getting to Know Kansas State … Stats and Notes …
— Not your grandfather’s Kansas State … Before Bill Snyder came to Manhattan in 1989, the Wildcats had posted only four winning seasons in the past 53 years. In over half of those seasons – 27, to be precise – the Wildcats lost at least eight games. Snyder inherited a 27-game winless streak when he came on board (KSU did manage a tie against Kansas in 1987), a streak which was stretched to 30 games before the Wildcats won their first game for Snyder, a 20-17 win over North Texas. It would prove to be the Wildcats’ only win in 1989;
— More K-State misery … On the all-time list for losing streaks, Kansas State appears four times. The Wildcats hold the third longest streak ever, 28 games (1945-48), but also appear with streaks of 18 games (1961-62), 17 games (1964-66), and 16 games (1987-89). (BTW … Colorado State has the 6th-longest losing streak of all time, 26 straight games, running from 1960-62);
— So, you can understand why K-State coach Chris Klieman got emotional … After Kansas State lost to Utah last weekend, 51-47, to fall to 5-6, Klieman went off on the Wildcat fans who were disgruntled about K-State’s struggles this fall.
“We’re down so many players, and I know a lot of people thought we’d come over here and lay down and that maybe the kids had cashed it in,” Klieman said. “Because I’ve heard it enough. I’ve heard I have cashed it in. I’ve heard the players have cashed it in, we need to get new leadership here, we need to get new players, new coaches. I’m tired of it. I got to be honest with you, I’m tired of it.
“I’ve given my friggin’ … life for this place for seven years. I’ve given everything for seven years. And I think I deserve a little bit of respect. I’m frustrated like everybody else is, but I love those kids. And I’ll go to friggin’ battle with those kids any day.”
Klieman has a 53-34 record at Kansas State. Considering K-State’s less-than-stellar history as noted above, you can understand why Klieman has gotten frustrated with the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately Wildcat fans.
— Stolen Nickname … Kansas State teams were known as was the “Aggies” in the early years, then were known as the “Farmers”. In 1920, coach Charles Bachman arrived from Northwestern (also named the “Wildcats”), and the new name was applied;
— Quirky Tradition … The Wildcats have an odd tradition of the band playing “Wabash Cannonball” after every kickoff following a KSU score. The tradition originated in tragedy. In 1969, the KSU music department burned down just before a football game. The only music salvaged was in the band director’s briefcase, where there was sheet music for “Wabash Cannonball” was found. The band played the song early and often the next week, and a tradition was born.
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CU Player Notes …
— Player Availability … Coach Prime doesn’t like to use it as an excuse, but CU’s injuries have been mounting. Last year, CU had 26 players see action in all 13 games, including eight on offense and 11 on defense. This only five on offense and six on defense have played in all 11 games, with only four players starting all 11 games, with two on each side of the ball (OL Zy Crisler, OL Zarian McGill, N Preston Hodge, DE Keaten Wade);
— Omarion Miller’s strong season … Omarion Miller is one of the Big 12’s hottest receivers, hitting the end zone for the 8th time this season vs. ASU. In each of the last six games, he has at least three catches. He has 13 receptions of 20-plus yards, second in the Big 12, and leads the Big 12 at 18.6 per catch.
— Tawfiq Byard and Preston Hodge … CU’s defense has been banged up, but S Tawfiq Byard and N Preston Hodge have been solid. Byard is 2nd in the league behind Jacob Rodriguez for solo tackles in league play and Hodge leads the Big
12 and is top five nationally with 1.27 passes defended per game.
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CU & Kansas State … Head-to-Head
— Buffs dominant … Colorado has a commanding 45-21-1 lead in the all-time series with Kansas State, including a ten-game winning streak (1954-63), and an eight-game winning streak (1985-92). In games played in Manhattan, the Buffs have a 17-15-1 advantage;
— Colorado has faced the Wildcats 68 times, third most among Big 12 opponents behind Utah (72) and Kansas (71).
CU’s 45 wins over K-State is the second-most against any Big 12 opponent (50, ISU) and third most overall (69, CSU);
— Fit to be tied … The 1993 game between the Buffs and the Wildcats was played to a 16-16 tie (ironically enough, with the Buffs ranked No. 16 in the nation at the time). With the introduction of overtime to NCAA football in 1996, the CU tie with Kansas State in 1993 continues to stand as the last tie game in Colorado football history;
— The most passing yards by a Buff quarterback against Kansas State? Last season, when Shedeur Sanders passed for 388 yards and three touchdowns. Unfortunately, with six sacks, the Buffs “rushed” for a school-record minus-29 yards in a a 31-28 loss. The most receiving yards? 145 yards by Omarion Miller last fall;
— Wildcats a good luck charm? … CU used wins over Kansas State in 1976, 1989, and 1990 to polish off regular season Big Eight titles. In 2001 and 2002, the Buffs used conference play opening wins over KSU to start runs to Big 12 North titles;
— K-State’s losing legacy … Kansas State’s all-time record is almost 100 games under .500 (574-672-41, with the 574 wins 83rd on the all-time list), while Colorado’s all-time record is almost 200 games over .500 (727-545-36; with the 727 wins ranking CU 30th all-time);
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The Last CU victory in the series …
November 20, 2010 … Colorado 44, Kansas State 36
Colorado came back from a 14-3 deficit to build a two score halftime lead, then fought off a series of Kansas State challenges to post a well-earned 44-36 victory over Kansas State. Junior running back Rodney Stewart ran for career-high 195 yards, caught two passes for 49 yards, and threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Toney Clemons in leading the Buffs to their second consecutive victory over a Big 12 opponent for the first time since 2007.
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Essay for the Game … “How ‘Bout Them Buffaloes”… As the long-time linebacker coach for the University of Colorado, Brian Cabral would often greet players and fans after a Buff victory with a hearty, “How ’bout them Buffaloes!”. While familiar to a generation of Buff players, Cabral’s opening his post-game press conference with the same cheer has taken on new meaning.
How ’bout them Buffaloes! With the 44-36 victory over Kansas State, Brian Cabral became just the second Colorado head coach since 1932 to post victories in his first two games (Rick Neuheisel being the other, in 1995). While Cabral still carries the title of “interim” head coach at Colorado, the bandwagon to have him named as the permanent head coach is growing.
… Continue reading Essay here …
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Colorado and Kansas State … historical
— While Kansas State has had a good run over the past generation, the positive numbers haven’t been near enough to get the Wildcats within shouting distance of average historically.
— In the 12 categories followed by Winsipedia, Kansas State leads Colorado in only one category … bowl winning percentage.
— Otherwise, it’s all CU …
- All-time wins: Colorado 735 (31st nationally); Kansas State 584 (80th);
- All-time winning percentage: Colorado .567 (46th); Kansas State .463 (115th);
- All-time NFL draft picks: Colorado 293 (23rd); Kansas State 156th (67th);
- Consensus All-Americans: Colorado 33 (23rd); Kansas State 15 (42nd).
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Big 12 Notes …
— Five Teams in the College Football Playoff Rankings … The Big 12 Conference placed five teams in the College Football Playoff’s Top 25 rankings this week. Arizona (25th) made its CFP debut this season and Arizona State (20th) moved up five spots. Texas Tech (5th), BYU (11th) and Utah (13th) gave the Big 12 three programs in the top 13 for a fourth consecutive week.
— Paths to Big 12 title game … BYU and Texas Tech, who are tied atop the Big 12 standings, can both punch their ticket to Arlington with a win in Week 14 or with an Arizona State loss.
Arizona State must defeat Arizona in Friday’s Territorial Cup and have a combination of losses by BYU, Texas Tech and Utah as parts of their three different scenarios.
Utah’s path to Arlington would begin with a win over Kansas on Friday with wins by ASU and BYU alongside a Texas Tech loss.
— Big 12 Lines …
From DraftKings.com …
Big 12 schedule … Six out of eight games have two-touchdown or more lines …
Friday, November 29th
- No. 14 Utah at Kansas … 10:00 a.m., MT, ESPN … Kansas is a 13.5-point home underdog …
- Arizona at Arizona State … 7:00 p.m., MT, Fox … Arizona State is a 1.5-point home underdog …
Saturday, November 30th
- Colorado at Kansas State … 10:00 a.m., MT, FS1 … Kansas State is a 17.5-point home favorite …
- No. 7 Texas Tech at West Virginia … 10:00 a.m., MT, ESPN … West Virginia is a 21.0-point home underdog …
- Houston at Baylor … 10:00 a.m., MT, TNT … Baylor is a 1.5-point home favorite …
- Iowa State at Oklahoma State … 10:00 a.m., MT, ESPNU … Oklahoma State is a 14.5-point home underdog …
- UCF at No. 11 BYU … 11:00 a.m., MT, ESPN2 … BYU is an 18.5-point home favorite …
- Cincinnati at TCU … 1:30 p.m., MT, Fox … TCU is a 3.5-point home favorite …
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One Reply to “Friday Fast Facts”
To answer the poll question about which Big 12 game interest me most. It is a game on the hardwood. Buffs vs. Washington this afternoon. A big time chance to beat a good team and enhance the resume for March.