TCU VS. OKLAHOMA ST.
Records: No. 16 TCU 3-0, No. 6 Oklahom State 3-0. Series history: Oklahoma State leads 15-10-2.
Key players: TCU — QB Kenny Hill, RB Darius Anderson, LB Travin Howard; OSU — QB Mason Rudolph, WR James Washington, LB Justin Phillips.
Who has the edge
Offense — Oklahoma State. The Cowboys are one of three teams averaging at least 600 yards through three weeks. Texas Tech’s at 621, Oregon’s at 609, and the Cowboys are producing 607 yards per game. Of course, four of the top six are from the Big 12. OSU also ranks fourth in scoring (54) and seventh in passing (407.3). The Horned Frogs are a top 20 FBS offense, but still a football field behind the Cowboys.
Defense — TCU. The Horned Frogs have the top-ranked defense in the Big 12, ahead of Oklahoma (269) and Kansas State (286). They’re 15th in the FBS in total defense and 21st in scoring defense (14.3) after shutting out Jackson State (63-0) and holding Arkansas to one firstquarter score in an impressive 28-7 win. Their opponents are 11-of-42 on third downs (26 percent). Howard has a teamhigh 18 tackles, 2.5 for loss, and one INT. Special teams — Oklahoma State. Cowboys K Matt Ammendola is 5-of-7 on field goals. He drilled a 53-yarder against South Alabama and converted his only attempt from 25 yards against Pittsburgh. P Zach Sinor is averaging 39 yards per punt, and the Cowboys are averaging 21 yards per kick return with five different returners. The Horned Frogs have not attempted a field goal this season, and P Adam Nunez is at only 32.4 yards per punt. Notable: The Cowboys were rolling when they met last season. Their 31-6 rout was their seventh consecutive win of the season, setting up a showdown with rival Oklahoma for the Big 12 championship. Running backs
Justice Hill (16-154) and Chris Carson (17-146) both surpassed 100 rushing yards, which hadn’t happened against TCU in nine years, and the Cowboys tallied 334 rushing yards and 541 total yards.
About TCU: The Horned Frogs are looking for revenge heading into a showdown of nationally ranked Big 12 powers. They outdueled SMU last week, rolling up 619 yards in a 56-36 win powered by Hill, who passed for 365 yards and four TDs. Anderson, from George Ranch, led the Frogs in rushing for the third straight game, finishing with 89 yards and two TDs on 14 carries. Kingwood’s Sewo Olonilua also contributed, rushing for 63 yards.
About Oklahoma State: The sixth-ranked Cowboys (3-0) throttled Pitt 59-21 last week. Rudolph finished with 497 yards and five TDs on 23-of-32 passing. The Cowboys scored on their first seven drives and had a schoolrecord 516 yards by halftime. They were the first team in 12 years with four 100-yard receivers in a game — Washington (5-124), Jalen McClesky (7-162, 3 TDs), Marcell Ateman (4-109, 1 TD) and Dillon Stoner (5-100, 1 TD).