By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
Baylor and Kansas State meet in what could be an elimination game for the Big 12 title game Saturday night at McLane Stadium (6:00 p.m., FS1).
Both are coming off interesting games last week. Trailing for only five-plus minutes for the entire game, the Bears hung on to win at Oklahoma, 38-35. Meanwhile, the Wildcats nearly made their comeback against Texas complete. They rallied from a 31-10 halftime deficit to close to within 34-27, had the ball late in the game, drove into Texas territory but committed a fumble and lost.
These teams come in with the same record (6-3, 4-2).
The Wildcats are looking to break a four-game losing streak in this series. Baylor won in Manhattan, KS in 2021, 20-10, when it lost Gerry Bohanon to a hamstring injury and led to the debut of Blake Shapen, who wound up finishing the season.
A look at the Wildcats including a Q&A with Mason Voth of our Kansas State Rivals affiliate, EMAWonline.
Opponent: Kansas State Wildcats
Head Coach: Chris Klieman (26-19 4th season at KSU, 98-32 10 seasons overall)
2022 Record: 6-3, 4-2
Record vs. Baylor: Baylor leads, 10-9
Returning Starters: 6 offense, 7 defense
Key Returners: RB Deuce Vaughn, WR Phillip Brooks, OL Cooper Beebe, DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, NG Eli Huggins, DB Julius Bents, LB Daniel Green
Common Denominator: In the Wildcats’ last two visits to Waco, Baylor has kicked the game-winning FG as time expired or with few seconds to play to win.
Offensive Formation: One-back
Defensive Formation: 3-3-5
About Kansas State on Offense: The return of Adrian Martinez to the lineup is a big deal to this lineup because of his ability to run. While he’s thrown for 1,236 yards and 6TD (63%, 1 INT), he’s rushed for 617 and a team-leading 10 scores. But backup Will Howard (521 yards, 6TD) is more than capable. Deuce Vaughn (975, 5.9, 5 TD) should surpass 1,000 yards Saturday. He’s also a really big threat catching the football. This offense took a while to get going. It was very pedestrian in non-conference and got into a better rhythm since Big 12 play began. Very balanced as it nearly 50-50 run to pass. Wildcat QBs have thrown the fewest TD passes in the conference (12). Malik Knowles is the big receiving target (540, 15.4) followed by Phillip Brooks (402, 14.9). This offense is last in third down conversions, 33.6.
About Kansas State on Defense: KSU is third in the Big 12 in total defense at 367.2 yards per game. They’re getting a huge season from All-Big 12 DE and future NFL first-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah, who leads the conference with 7.5 sacks. KSU leads the Big 12 in sacks (23) and leads in turnover ratio (+9). Linebacker Austin Moore leads them in tackles at 61.5 followed by safety Kobe Savage with 55. Because of the 3-3-5 formation, there is more of a sideline-to-sideline approach so plays can’t get to the perimeter. However, they were cut up by Texas running back Bijan Robinson who went for 209 against them last week. This should be an interesting subplot for this game. Baylor converts fourth down at 70 percent (21-30). Kansas State defense is the stingiest on that down at 33 percent (7-21).
About Kansas State on Special Teams: PK Chris Tennant has been OK but nothing great this year. He’s missed two PATs. While he is 9-14 on field goal attempts, he’s 4-9 from 30 yards and beyond including 0-3 from 40-49. Ty Zentner is having a good punting season at better than 43 yards per boot along with 18 landing inside the opponent’s 20 and 13 traveling 50+. Wildcat punt returners have only had eight total returns. Brooks has seven but he is a threat averaging 20 a return including a 76-yarder that went for a score against Missouri. Knowles is the primary kickoff return artist.
Bottom Line: Obviously, this should be a great matchup Saturday night. Kansas State’s defensive line may have a lot to say about how this game goes in terms of it limiting the effectiveness of the BU rushing attack and the pressure it applies to Blake Shapen. However, Martinez is going to have to demonstrate he’s a willing passer.
Q&A with Mason Voth
This is pretty much a Big 12 title appearance elimination game. How do you sense this team has responded following the loss to Texas?
I think the team has responded well, they were obviously disappointed with how the game played out against Texas but also realize that the two conference losses they have had shouldn't send alarm bells. I also think they are incredibly motivated to prove that at full strength they are still the second-best team in the conference. They feel slighted that Julius Brents got kicked out on the fourth play of the game on a tough targeting call and the defense took some time to fully bounce back from the shell shock.
It appears Adrian Martinez is back. What do you think his legs mean to this offense and how Baylor must defend it?
Adrian Martinez's legs have been huge all season, it carried them to wins against Oklahoma and Texas Tech, but it also has been key in escaping would-be sacks against Iowa State and Texas and being able to keep plays alive and give the Wildcats a chance to keep moving the ball. It also helps that he had the best passing game of his short K-State career against Texas and third most yards in a single game in his entire career. If Martinez throws the ball like he did against Texas, K-State's ceiling is higher than it even looked at the middle point of the season.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah has had a monster season. What have you seen from him?
He has been impressive this year, because most teams have thrown doubles at him and he gets held constantly without many holding calls actually getting thrown his way. He has still found ways to get to the quarterback and help free things up on the other side of the line for a guy like Brendan Mott. He also never gives up on a play, whether that is trying to finish a play behind the line or running upfield to track a guy down from behind, he is an absolute menace. It is also fitting that his roommate is Deuce Vaughn, K-State's two most talented players are best friends and live together.
This is going to be a battle of two really good rushing offenses. What do you think KSU must do to be successful?
I think the K-State defense needs to prove that they can shut down a talented running back. They weren't able to do it to Kendre Miller and that is ultimately what did them in against TCU (plus their third string quarterback) and then Bijan Robinson went wild on them for 209 yards. So now Richard Reese is a part of that top tier in the conference with Vaughn, Robinson and Miller. K-State's defensive line is really important for them, but they also need the linebackers to show up in Waco. That was probably the quietest group last week and it doesn't seem like anyone ever mentioned their name when making a play.
Offensively, K-State's offensive line is great blocking for the run and having the newfound passing game is going to make the Wildcats dangerous. They have been good on offense the last few weeks, but I think this could be one of the more fun weeks of playcalling that Collin Klein has now that the entire playbook might be open.
Kansas State has lost the last four in this series and the last two in Waco on last-second FGs. Has that even been discussed and if the Wildcats win, what will it come down to in your opinion?
I actually wrote about the close finishes and blown fourth quarter leads in Waco on Wednesday. I think what it will come down to for K-State is just avoiding a lull in their scoring and extending a drive at key moments in the game. Even in this season with the success, they have frequently struggled to be consistent on offense. They can start a game hot, and then have a string of quick possessions that take very little time off the clock, which is what got them in trouble in 2020. Baylor scored the touchdown with four minutes left to go down by two, and K-State went three and out on their next drive. It's a football cliche, but when it is what has killed you year after year, playing a full 60 minutes becomes paramount.
Publisher
Baylor and Kansas State meet in what could be an elimination game for the Big 12 title game Saturday night at McLane Stadium (6:00 p.m., FS1).
Both are coming off interesting games last week. Trailing for only five-plus minutes for the entire game, the Bears hung on to win at Oklahoma, 38-35. Meanwhile, the Wildcats nearly made their comeback against Texas complete. They rallied from a 31-10 halftime deficit to close to within 34-27, had the ball late in the game, drove into Texas territory but committed a fumble and lost.
These teams come in with the same record (6-3, 4-2).
The Wildcats are looking to break a four-game losing streak in this series. Baylor won in Manhattan, KS in 2021, 20-10, when it lost Gerry Bohanon to a hamstring injury and led to the debut of Blake Shapen, who wound up finishing the season.
A look at the Wildcats including a Q&A with Mason Voth of our Kansas State Rivals affiliate, EMAWonline.
Opponent: Kansas State Wildcats
Head Coach: Chris Klieman (26-19 4th season at KSU, 98-32 10 seasons overall)
2022 Record: 6-3, 4-2
Record vs. Baylor: Baylor leads, 10-9
Returning Starters: 6 offense, 7 defense
Key Returners: RB Deuce Vaughn, WR Phillip Brooks, OL Cooper Beebe, DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, NG Eli Huggins, DB Julius Bents, LB Daniel Green
Common Denominator: In the Wildcats’ last two visits to Waco, Baylor has kicked the game-winning FG as time expired or with few seconds to play to win.
Offensive Formation: One-back
Defensive Formation: 3-3-5
About Kansas State on Offense: The return of Adrian Martinez to the lineup is a big deal to this lineup because of his ability to run. While he’s thrown for 1,236 yards and 6TD (63%, 1 INT), he’s rushed for 617 and a team-leading 10 scores. But backup Will Howard (521 yards, 6TD) is more than capable. Deuce Vaughn (975, 5.9, 5 TD) should surpass 1,000 yards Saturday. He’s also a really big threat catching the football. This offense took a while to get going. It was very pedestrian in non-conference and got into a better rhythm since Big 12 play began. Very balanced as it nearly 50-50 run to pass. Wildcat QBs have thrown the fewest TD passes in the conference (12). Malik Knowles is the big receiving target (540, 15.4) followed by Phillip Brooks (402, 14.9). This offense is last in third down conversions, 33.6.
About Kansas State on Defense: KSU is third in the Big 12 in total defense at 367.2 yards per game. They’re getting a huge season from All-Big 12 DE and future NFL first-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah, who leads the conference with 7.5 sacks. KSU leads the Big 12 in sacks (23) and leads in turnover ratio (+9). Linebacker Austin Moore leads them in tackles at 61.5 followed by safety Kobe Savage with 55. Because of the 3-3-5 formation, there is more of a sideline-to-sideline approach so plays can’t get to the perimeter. However, they were cut up by Texas running back Bijan Robinson who went for 209 against them last week. This should be an interesting subplot for this game. Baylor converts fourth down at 70 percent (21-30). Kansas State defense is the stingiest on that down at 33 percent (7-21).
About Kansas State on Special Teams: PK Chris Tennant has been OK but nothing great this year. He’s missed two PATs. While he is 9-14 on field goal attempts, he’s 4-9 from 30 yards and beyond including 0-3 from 40-49. Ty Zentner is having a good punting season at better than 43 yards per boot along with 18 landing inside the opponent’s 20 and 13 traveling 50+. Wildcat punt returners have only had eight total returns. Brooks has seven but he is a threat averaging 20 a return including a 76-yarder that went for a score against Missouri. Knowles is the primary kickoff return artist.
Bottom Line: Obviously, this should be a great matchup Saturday night. Kansas State’s defensive line may have a lot to say about how this game goes in terms of it limiting the effectiveness of the BU rushing attack and the pressure it applies to Blake Shapen. However, Martinez is going to have to demonstrate he’s a willing passer.
Q&A with Mason Voth
This is pretty much a Big 12 title appearance elimination game. How do you sense this team has responded following the loss to Texas?
I think the team has responded well, they were obviously disappointed with how the game played out against Texas but also realize that the two conference losses they have had shouldn't send alarm bells. I also think they are incredibly motivated to prove that at full strength they are still the second-best team in the conference. They feel slighted that Julius Brents got kicked out on the fourth play of the game on a tough targeting call and the defense took some time to fully bounce back from the shell shock.
It appears Adrian Martinez is back. What do you think his legs mean to this offense and how Baylor must defend it?
Adrian Martinez's legs have been huge all season, it carried them to wins against Oklahoma and Texas Tech, but it also has been key in escaping would-be sacks against Iowa State and Texas and being able to keep plays alive and give the Wildcats a chance to keep moving the ball. It also helps that he had the best passing game of his short K-State career against Texas and third most yards in a single game in his entire career. If Martinez throws the ball like he did against Texas, K-State's ceiling is higher than it even looked at the middle point of the season.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah has had a monster season. What have you seen from him?
He has been impressive this year, because most teams have thrown doubles at him and he gets held constantly without many holding calls actually getting thrown his way. He has still found ways to get to the quarterback and help free things up on the other side of the line for a guy like Brendan Mott. He also never gives up on a play, whether that is trying to finish a play behind the line or running upfield to track a guy down from behind, he is an absolute menace. It is also fitting that his roommate is Deuce Vaughn, K-State's two most talented players are best friends and live together.
This is going to be a battle of two really good rushing offenses. What do you think KSU must do to be successful?
I think the K-State defense needs to prove that they can shut down a talented running back. They weren't able to do it to Kendre Miller and that is ultimately what did them in against TCU (plus their third string quarterback) and then Bijan Robinson went wild on them for 209 yards. So now Richard Reese is a part of that top tier in the conference with Vaughn, Robinson and Miller. K-State's defensive line is really important for them, but they also need the linebackers to show up in Waco. That was probably the quietest group last week and it doesn't seem like anyone ever mentioned their name when making a play.
Offensively, K-State's offensive line is great blocking for the run and having the newfound passing game is going to make the Wildcats dangerous. They have been good on offense the last few weeks, but I think this could be one of the more fun weeks of playcalling that Collin Klein has now that the entire playbook might be open.
Kansas State has lost the last four in this series and the last two in Waco on last-second FGs. Has that even been discussed and if the Wildcats win, what will it come down to in your opinion?
I actually wrote about the close finishes and blown fourth quarter leads in Waco on Wednesday. I think what it will come down to for K-State is just avoiding a lull in their scoring and extending a drive at key moments in the game. Even in this season with the success, they have frequently struggled to be consistent on offense. They can start a game hot, and then have a string of quick possessions that take very little time off the clock, which is what got them in trouble in 2020. Baylor scored the touchdown with four minutes left to go down by two, and K-State went three and out on their next drive. It's a football cliche, but when it is what has killed you year after year, playing a full 60 minutes becomes paramount.
