By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher Each week, the Big 12 coaches meet with the media on Monday of game week via the Big 12 coaches call or Monday press conference to discuss the week that was and the upcoming week. Baylor Head Coach Matt Rhule's comments were posted earlier. Rankings are from the AP and Coaches polls.
David Beaty, Kansas - The Jayhawks (1-4, 0-2) play at Iowa State Saturday: Another QB controversy in Lawrence exists. Carter Stanley replaced Peyton Bender in the second half of the beatdown 65-19 loss to Texas Tech. Bender was only 50 percent on his attempts for 146 yards and a touchdown and an interception. That could mean backup Carter Stanley may be in contention to take over since he was credible in his second half of work. Beaty said it would be a competition for the starting job but will not name a starter.
Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma - The No. 12/12 Sooners (4-1, 1-1) play Texas at the Cotton Bowl Saturday: OU's defense has been anything but special. It's allowed 79 points in its first two league games. And that's not any change from what happened in 2016 when Texas Tech (59), TCU (46) and Texas (40) had their way with that side of the ball. But Riley publicly endorsed defensive coordinator Mike Stoops and his staff. “That’s not on the table,” Riley said. “We have a really good defensive staff and that’s who we’re going to have.”
Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State - The No. 14/14 Cowboys (4-1, 1-1) play host to Baylor Saturday: While the Bears are winless, Gundy said he and his staff are focusing to how the Bears played in their first two Big 12 games against Oklahoma and Kansas State. Little did you know that Baylor is averaging 449 yards of offense in those two games.
Bill Snyder, Kansas State -- The Wildcats (3-2, 1-1) play host to TCU Saturday: QB Jesse Ertz was banged up at Texas and couldn't finish KSU's overtime loss at Texas. Sophomore Alex Dalton finished up. While Snyder wouldn't elaborate, it's still the conventional thinking that Ertz will make his 19th consecutive start as long he's close to 100 percent. “If he is that by the end of the week, he is our starter,” Snyder said Monday on the Big 12 teleconference. “He is our starter. That’s been defined. But only if his health is in the best shape.”
Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia - The Mountaineers (3-2, 1-1) play host to Texas Tech Saturday: Ironically, the Mountaineers have lost their two games this year to Virginia Tech and TCU by the same score (31-24). There were a couple of calls that went against the Mountaineers in the loss at TCU including an interception that was overturned late in the game. "I'd like to talk about the officiating,'' Holgorsen said. "But I can't.''...West Virginia won on the road at Texas Tech last year and is looking to continue that this year.
Kliff Kingsbury, Texas - The No. 24 Red Raiders (4-1, 1-1) play at West Virginia Saturday: The Red Raiders opportunistic defense has been part of the change thus far. The Red Raiders are fourth in the nation in turnovers per game at 2.8 and have scored three defensive touchdowns.
“I wouldn’t call it a resurgence,” Kingsbury said. “We’re still early in the season, we’re still trying to figure things out. I think you can look at the turnover margin as our biggest area of improvement, thus far. That’s something we’ve struggled at since I’ve been at Texas Tech. We’ve been on the plus-side of things this year and that’s really helped swing some games, put some momentum on our side. And hopefully that continues.”
Matt Campbell, Iowa State - The Cyclones (3-2, 1-1) play host to Kansas Saturday: Campbell downplayed the Cyclones first win in Norman since 1990 calling it another game on the schedule. But the mystery surrounding QB Jacob Park's status remains. Park didn't travel with the team to OU last week with what was described as a personal health concern. However, Campbell said Park is a member of the team and was listed as the starting QB along with Kyle Kempt. But all signs point to Kempt to start against the Jayhawks.
Gary Patterson, TCU - The No. 6/7 Horned Frogs (5-0, 2-0) play at Kansas State Saturday: Known for takeaways, the Horned Frogs weren't very good at that last year. They only had eight interceptions and eight fumble recoveries. So far, TCU has seven picks and four recovered fumbles.
Tom Herman, Texas - The Longhorns (3-2, 2-0) play Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl Saturday: The question of the starting QB for the Red River Showdown between Sam Ehlinger and Shane Buechele continues. Herman said he won't make that decision until later in the week. Buechele has been prone to injuries so far. UT continues a rotation of running backs between Chris Warren III, Kyle Porter and Toneil Carter. Herman said that's going to continue until somebody goes out and wins the position.
Publisher Each week, the Big 12 coaches meet with the media on Monday of game week via the Big 12 coaches call or Monday press conference to discuss the week that was and the upcoming week. Baylor Head Coach Matt Rhule's comments were posted earlier. Rankings are from the AP and Coaches polls.
David Beaty, Kansas - The Jayhawks (1-4, 0-2) play at Iowa State Saturday: Another QB controversy in Lawrence exists. Carter Stanley replaced Peyton Bender in the second half of the beatdown 65-19 loss to Texas Tech. Bender was only 50 percent on his attempts for 146 yards and a touchdown and an interception. That could mean backup Carter Stanley may be in contention to take over since he was credible in his second half of work. Beaty said it would be a competition for the starting job but will not name a starter.
Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma - The No. 12/12 Sooners (4-1, 1-1) play Texas at the Cotton Bowl Saturday: OU's defense has been anything but special. It's allowed 79 points in its first two league games. And that's not any change from what happened in 2016 when Texas Tech (59), TCU (46) and Texas (40) had their way with that side of the ball. But Riley publicly endorsed defensive coordinator Mike Stoops and his staff. “That’s not on the table,” Riley said. “We have a really good defensive staff and that’s who we’re going to have.”
Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State - The No. 14/14 Cowboys (4-1, 1-1) play host to Baylor Saturday: While the Bears are winless, Gundy said he and his staff are focusing to how the Bears played in their first two Big 12 games against Oklahoma and Kansas State. Little did you know that Baylor is averaging 449 yards of offense in those two games.
Bill Snyder, Kansas State -- The Wildcats (3-2, 1-1) play host to TCU Saturday: QB Jesse Ertz was banged up at Texas and couldn't finish KSU's overtime loss at Texas. Sophomore Alex Dalton finished up. While Snyder wouldn't elaborate, it's still the conventional thinking that Ertz will make his 19th consecutive start as long he's close to 100 percent. “If he is that by the end of the week, he is our starter,” Snyder said Monday on the Big 12 teleconference. “He is our starter. That’s been defined. But only if his health is in the best shape.”
Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia - The Mountaineers (3-2, 1-1) play host to Texas Tech Saturday: Ironically, the Mountaineers have lost their two games this year to Virginia Tech and TCU by the same score (31-24). There were a couple of calls that went against the Mountaineers in the loss at TCU including an interception that was overturned late in the game. "I'd like to talk about the officiating,'' Holgorsen said. "But I can't.''...West Virginia won on the road at Texas Tech last year and is looking to continue that this year.
Kliff Kingsbury, Texas - The No. 24 Red Raiders (4-1, 1-1) play at West Virginia Saturday: The Red Raiders opportunistic defense has been part of the change thus far. The Red Raiders are fourth in the nation in turnovers per game at 2.8 and have scored three defensive touchdowns.
“I wouldn’t call it a resurgence,” Kingsbury said. “We’re still early in the season, we’re still trying to figure things out. I think you can look at the turnover margin as our biggest area of improvement, thus far. That’s something we’ve struggled at since I’ve been at Texas Tech. We’ve been on the plus-side of things this year and that’s really helped swing some games, put some momentum on our side. And hopefully that continues.”
Matt Campbell, Iowa State - The Cyclones (3-2, 1-1) play host to Kansas Saturday: Campbell downplayed the Cyclones first win in Norman since 1990 calling it another game on the schedule. But the mystery surrounding QB Jacob Park's status remains. Park didn't travel with the team to OU last week with what was described as a personal health concern. However, Campbell said Park is a member of the team and was listed as the starting QB along with Kyle Kempt. But all signs point to Kempt to start against the Jayhawks.
Gary Patterson, TCU - The No. 6/7 Horned Frogs (5-0, 2-0) play at Kansas State Saturday: Known for takeaways, the Horned Frogs weren't very good at that last year. They only had eight interceptions and eight fumble recoveries. So far, TCU has seven picks and four recovered fumbles.
Tom Herman, Texas - The Longhorns (3-2, 2-0) play Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl Saturday: The question of the starting QB for the Red River Showdown between Sam Ehlinger and Shane Buechele continues. Herman said he won't make that decision until later in the week. Buechele has been prone to injuries so far. UT continues a rotation of running backs between Chris Warren III, Kyle Porter and Toneil Carter. Herman said that's going to continue until somebody goes out and wins the position.
