Position-by-position matchups

Quarterback Kansas State 4 Arkansas 4

Arkansas Kansas State Collin Klein’s productivity and percentage of touches for Kansas State are enormous. The 65, 226-pounder had 293 carries, 64 more than any other player in the Big 12. Klein has 1,099 rushing yards and 1,745 passing yards and is responsible for 38 touchdowns. His 26 rushing TDS are one shy of Texas’ Ricky Williams’ Big 12 record and one shy of Navy’s Ricky Dobbs’ record for Football Bowl Subdivision quarterbacks. Klein had five 100-yard rushing games, including 144 and 3 TDS vs. Oklahoma State. He’s 145 of 251 passing, with 12 TDS and 5 interceptions and a 145.4 efficiency rating that isn’t far from that of Arkansas’ Tyler

Wilson (148.7). The Wildcats have the No. 109 passing offense (149.8). Wilson filled the big shoes of Ryan Mallett admirably, completing 257 of 407 passes for 3,422 yards, with 22 TDS and 6 ints. He has completed 63 percent of his passes, and passed for a school-record 510 yards in Arkansas’ last game at Cowboys Stadium. Wilson has 4 rushing TDS, one off the team leaders. Arkansas has the No. 13 passing offense (307.8). Klein and Wilson have exhibited toughness throughout the season.

Running backs

Arkansas Kansas State Quarterback Collin Klein is Kansas State’s leading rusher. John Hubert, a 5-7, 185pound sophomore, took the starter’s mantle at running back after preseason All-big 12 sophomore Bryce Brown, the transfer from Tennessee, was kicked off the team. Hubert has 188 carries for 933 yards and 3 TDS, and averages 5.0 yards per carry. Hubert and Klein have a combined 85 percent of the Wildcats’ carries. Hubert is also second on the team with 23 receptions for 193 yards. Angelo Pease (34 carries, 144 yards, 2 TDS) is the only other back more than 10 attempts. Receiver Tyler

Lockett (10-110) can be dangerous when handed the ball. The Wildcats rank No. 27 with 193.7 yards per game. Dennis Johnson (101637, 3 TDS) emerged as Arkansas’ top rusher around midseason, but he’s had fumbling issues, including a key turnover at LSU.

Ronnie Wingo Jr. (95-440, 3) and Broderick Green (61-200, 5) also merit carries, and receiver Joe Adams (9-138, 1) should get increased touches in the prime-time game. Johnson, Wingo and Green have a combined 42 receptions for 446 yards and 5 TDS and make for a tough cover out of the backfield. The Hogs are the No. 79 rushing team (138.1).

Receivers

Arkansas Kansas State Converted quarterback Chris Harper, a 6-1, 225-pounder who started his career at Oregon, is Kansas State’s leader with 39 receptions for 536 yards and 5 touchdowns. Tramaine

Thompson, a 5-7 speedster, has 18 receptions for 281 yards and 1 score. Freshman Tyler

Lockett (18-246, 3) and transfer Sheldon Smith (17-127, 1) are other top options. Tight ends Travis Tannahill (9-98, 1) and

Andre Mcdonald (8-133) are mostly used as blockers in the running game. Arkansas’ senior trio of Jarius Wright (63-1029, 11), Joe

Adams (49-630, 3) and Greg Childs (16-192) wrap up their record-breaking careers at a venue in which they’ve thrived. Wright had a school-record 281 receiving yards at Cowboys Stadium on Oct. 1, and Adams had his first career 100-yard game against Texas A&M in Arlington in 2009. Tight end Chris Gragg (40492, 2) had a huge second half of the season. Junior Cobi Hamilton (31-516, 3) is the leader among regulars with 16.6 yards per catch.

Kansas State had to shuffle things after left tackle Manase Foketi was lost for the season in Week 2. The senior tackles are massive, with Zach Hanson (6-8, 313 pounds) on the left and Clyde Aufner (6-6, 301) on the right. Aufner is first-team All-big 12 and Hanson is second team and honorable mention All-america. Guards Colten Freeze (6-4, 301) and Nick

Puetz (6-4, 306) started the last 11 games. Center B.J. Finney (6-4, 297) is a redshirt freshman and former walk-on who was nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy, given to nation’s top former walk-on. Kansas State has the No. 96 total offense (343.4). Arkansas seniors Grant Cook and Grant Freeman, junior transfer Jason Peacock and sophomores

Alvin Bailey and Travis Swanson started the last eight games. Bailey earned second-team ALL-SEC status from coaches and the AP. Bailey, Cook, Freeman and Swanson started all 12 games. The Razorbacks rank No. 25 in total offense (445.8), No. 14 in scoring (37.4) and No. 68 in sacks allowed (2.08). The Arkansas line has blocked for the program’s third consecutive 3,000-yard passer and has helped the Hogs to the No. 25 offense (445.8).

Line

Arkansas Kansas State Kansas State nose guard Ray Kibble (36 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack) is firstteam All-big 12. Val Lutui (33, 2.5 TFL, 4 hurries) and Raphael Guidry (9, 1.5) split time at tackle. The starting ends project to be

Adam Davis (30, 5 TFL, 2 sacks) and Jordan Voelker (26, 5, 4), though Meshak Williams (27, 10, 7) racks up the best big-play numbers. The Wildcats rank No. 39 (131.4) against the rush. Arkansas will be at its best health status since Week 2 up front, where injuries had an impact on the season. Senior end Jake

Bequette (25, 8.5, 8) came on late and forced 4 fumbles, while junior Tenarius Wright (20, 2, 5 hurries) was limited to 7 games. Chris

Smith (29, 4, 1.5 sacks) and Trey Flowers (28, 5.5, 1) were joined in a reserve role late in the year by Colton Miles-nash (4). The tackles,

Byran Jones (45, 3.5 TFL), Zach Stadther (23, 3 hurries), Robert Thomas (22, 1 sack), D.D. Jones (16, 1 sack, 2 hurries) and Alfred Davis (14) better be ready today against the Wildcats’ pounding attack.

Linebackers

Kansas State Arkansas Middle linebacker Arthur Brown (95, 7.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks), a five-star recruit, first-team All-big 12 and the defensive newcomer of the year in the league, is the playmaker of the Kansas State defense. Emmanuel Lamur (77, 4.5 TFL, 7 pass breakups) on the strong side and Tre Walker (50, 3.5) on the weak side have also played well. Jonathan Truman (17) and Jarell Childs (11) are the top reserves. The Wildcats rank No. 74 (398.8) in total defense in the offense-oriented Big 12. Just an average game will make Arkansas middle linebacker Jerry

Franklin (93, 10 TFL, 5 hurries) the team tackle leader for the fourth consecutive year. Franklin and instinctive newcomer Alonzo

Highsmith (73, 10.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks) started every game this season, while senior Jerico Nelson (63, 5.5 TFL, 2 sacks) and junior Ross Rasner (50, 2 sacks, 3 PBU) have split time at the Hogs’ “Jack” spot. Arkansas ranks No. 52 in total defense (371.4).

Secondary

Arkansas Kansas State The Wildcats’ gambling tendencies have led to boom-and-bust numbers, like a No. 105 ranking in passing yards allowed (267.3) and 18 interceptions, which are tied for eighth nationally. Cornerback Nigel Malone (57, 9 pass breakups) has great instincts and athleticism, and his 7 ints. rank No. 3 nationally. David Garrett (78, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2 ints.) is the other starting corner. Tysyn

Hartman (62, 3 ints.) and Ty Zimmerman (57, 2 ints., 3 PBU) take almost all the reps at safety. Allen Chapman (45, 4 PBU) provides quality reps as a backup corner. Matthew

Pearson (23) is the top reserve at safety. Arkansas’ defensive backs will have to play smart with their eyes, as Kansas State sets up big play-action throws with its running game. Safety Tramain Thomas (87, 2.5 TFL, 5 ints.), the leader of the unit, had a productive second half of the season. Eric Bennett (69, 3 TFL, 3 ints.) and Elton Ford (39, 1 PBU) are the other top safeties in a short rotation. Corners

Tevin Mitchel (53, 1 fumble recovery), Isaac Madison (26, 4 PBU), Greg Gatson (27, 1 int., 2 PBU) and Darius Winston (17, 1 hurry) will have to be willing tacklers. The Hogs rank No. 26 in pass defense (197.1) and No. 20 in efficiency.

Special teams

Arkansas Kansas State Kickoff returns are Kansas State’s strongest suit, with freshman Tyler Lockett (35.2 yards per return) leading the country. The Wildcats’ No. 50 net punting (37.0) and and No. 57 punt return average (8.7) are mediocre. Punt returner Tramaine Thompson (13.2) has done well with limited opportunities. Punter Ryan

Doerr averages 40.5 yards on 59 punts to rank No. 59. Anthony Cantele is a weapon at kicker, converting 17 of 22 field goal attempts, including 4 of 6 from 40 yards or longer and his past 7 in a row covering4 games. Will Arkansas senior Joe Adams (16.2), the nation’s second-leading punt returner, get any chances after returning 3 for touchdowns? The same could be asked of kickoff return men Marquel

Wade (No. 16, 26.5) and Dennis Johnson (No. 33, 25.6), who both have return touchdowns.

Dylan Breeding is up to No. 6 in the country with a 45.2-yard punting average. Zach Hocker ranks No. 17 with 1.5 field goals per game and No. 18 in scoring (8.9). He’s 18 of 24 on field goal attempts, including 5 of 8 from 40 yards and out.

Intangibles

Arkansas Kansas State Both teams sold out their Cotton Bowl tickets immediately upon the announcement of the game, so the fan bases project to be wellrepresented and vocal. Arkansas has the advantage of being comfortable in the glitzy surroundings, with the massive video boards, the multiple layers of ribbon advertising looping the stadium and the high-energy feel to the stadium. Arkansas will need to break its slow-starting tendency to keep from playing catch-up against a ball-control, clockdominating team. The Razorbacks’ seniors have invested a ton in going out with a victory, and that might be the deciding factor.