WVU-Texas Tech matches top Big 12 QBs, a senior and freshman

Published

GAME OF THE WEEK

No 12 West Virginia (3-0, 1-0 Big 12) at No. 25 Texas Tech (3-1, 1-0). Will Grier, the senior Heisman Trophy hopeful for the Mountaineers, goes against the only Big 12 quarterback throwing for more yards per game — Red Raiders true freshman Alan Bowman . Grier is coming off a five-TD performance, with three of those going to David Sills. Bowman is 3-0 as Tech's starter since replacing injured junior McLane Carter early in the season-opening loss. Bowman has an FBS-best 389 yards passing per game, 17 more than Grier. Texas Tech, coming off a 41-17 win at Oklahoma State, leads all FBS teams with 624 total yards a game. West Virginia is second in the Big 12 at 545 yards per game.

BEST MATCHUP

Kansas freshman RB Pooka Williams vs. Oklahoma State defense. Williams, bolstered by several long runs, leads the Big 12 with 126 yards rushing per game — well ahead of Cowboys junior Justice Hill at 97 yards per game for the second spot. The Cowboys lead the league allowing only 112 yards per game and 3.0 yards per carry.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

In its last 14 games, Iowa State's defense has given up only 97 points in the second half (6.9 points per game). ... TCU has a minus-8 turnover margin in its last three games, without a takeaway in the last two. ... Oklahoma linebackers Kenneth Murray (11.8 tackles per game) and Curtis Bolton (11.5 tackles per game) are 2-3 in the Big 12 in tackles. Murray had a school-record 28 tackles (six solo, 22 assists) against Army. It was the most tackles for an FBS player since the NCAA started tracking the stat in 2000. ... Texas has won three consecutive games in the same season for the first time since 2014. The last time they had a longer winning streak was six in a row in 2013.

LONG SHOT

Baylor is more than a three-TD underdog going to Oklahoma, which survived in overtime last week at home to beat Army. The Bears led OU in the second half last season in Waco. The Sooners offense will be antsy to get back on the field a week after a league record-low 15 minutes, 19 seconds time of possession —and becoming the only FBS team since 1996 to win a game when having the ball that little.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sam Ehlinger is the first Texas quarterback since Colt McCoy in 2008 to have at least two TD passes and one rushing TD in three consecutive games. He is the first Longhorn with 200 yards passing and at least two TDs in each of the first four games of a season.