Kansas State-Texas Tech college football preview
When/where: 6 p.m. Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan, Kan.
TV/radio: ESPNU; WHB (810 AM)
The series: Texas Tech leads 8-6
The line: K-State by 14
KANSAS STATE (3-1, 1-0 Big 12)
Date | Opponent | Result/time |
Aug. 30 | Stephen F. Austin | W, 55-16 |
Sept. 6 | at Iowa State | W, 32-28 |
Sept. 18 | Auburn | L, 20-14 |
Sept. 27 | UTEP | W, 58-28 |
Saturday | Texas Tech | 6 p.m. |
Oct. 18 | at Oklahoma | TBA |
Oct. 25 | Texas | TBA |
Nov. 1 | Oklahoma State | TBA |
Nov. 8 | at TCU | TBA |
Nov. 20 | at West Virginia | 6 p.m. |
Nov. 29 | Kansas | TBA |
Dec. 6 | at Baylor | TBA |
TEXAS TECH (2-2, 0-1 Big 12)
Date | Opponent | Result/time |
Aug. 30 | Central Arkansas | W, 42-35 |
Sept. 6 | at UTEP | W, 30-26 |
Sept. 13 | Arkansas | L, 49-28 |
Sept. 25 | at Oklahoma State | L, 45-35 |
Saturday | at Kansas State | 6 p.m. |
Oct. 11 | West Virginia | 11 a.m. |
Oct. 18 | Kansas | TBA |
Oct. 25 | at TCU | TBA |
Nov. 1 | Texas | TBA |
Nov. 15 | Oklahoma | TBA |
Nov. 22 | at Iowa State | TBA |
Nov. 29 | vs. Baylor* | TBA |
*at Arlington, Texas
What’s at stake
Kansas State is trying to win its second conference game and setup a big game against Oklahoma coming out of its bye week. Texas Tech is hoping to end a two-game losing streak.
Cheers if …
The Wildcats rush for more than 200 yards. K-State has been strong on the ground in all three of its victories. Running for big yardage should once again be the key to a fourth win.
Jeers if …
Texas Tech connects on some long passes early. The last thing K-State wants is for Texas Tech to take a lead and gain confidence.
Three things about Texas Tech
1 Texas Tech ranks 11th nationally with 334 passing yards per game. Quarterback Davis Webb has thrown for the bulk of that yardage, but he suffered an injury and missed time last week against Oklahoma State. His status for Saturday’s game is uncertain.
2 Kliff Kingsbury started his tenure at Texas Tech with seven straight victories, but he has fallen on difficult times since, losing seven of 10.
3 The Red Raiders have the Big 12’s worst rushing defense. They are allowing more than 262 yards per game on the ground.
Key matchup
Charles Jones and DeMarcus Robinson vs. Texas Tech’s run defense. The Wildcats rank last in the Big 12 in pass-efficiency defense. The best way to help an unproven secondary is to keep Texas Tech’s offense off the field, which K-State’s running backs can do by churning out yards.
KANSAS STATE OFFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
WR | 16 | Tyler Lockett | 5-11 | 175 | Sr. |
WR | 14 | Curry Sexton | 5-11 | 183 | Sr. |
LT | 55 | Cody Whitehair | 6-4 | 309 | Jr. |
LG | 77 | Boston Stiverson | 6-4 | 312 | Jr. |
C | 66 | B.J. Finney | 6-4 | 303 | Sr. |
RG | 68 | Luke Hayes | 6-6 | 295 | Jr. |
RT | 65 | Matt Kleinsorge | 6-5 | 306 | Jr. |
TE | 85 | Zach Trujillo | 6-5 | 256 | Sr. |
WR | 6 | Deante Burton | 6-2 | 205 | So. |
QB | 15 | Jake Waters | 6-1 | 210 | Sr. |
RB | 20 | DeMarcus Robinson | 5-7 | 209 | Sr. |
K | 3 | Jack Cantele | 6-0 | 193 | Jr. |
KANSAS STATE DEFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
DE | 44 | Ryan Mueller | 6-2 | 245 | Sr. |
DT | 99 | Valentino Coleman | 6-2 | 285 | Sr. |
DT | 95 | Travis Britz | 6-4 | 293 | Jr. |
DE | 75 | Jordan Willis | 6-5 | 250 | So. |
LB | 9 | Elijah Lee | 6-3 | 214 | Fr. |
LB | 35 | Will Davis | 6-0 | 223 | So. |
LB | 21 | Jonathan Truman | 5-11 | 219 | Sr. |
CB | 33 | Morgan Burns | 5-11 | 195 | Jr. |
SS | 22 | Dante Barnett | 6-1 | 186 | Jr. |
FS | 20 | Dylan Schellenberg | 6-9 | 195 | Sr. |
CB | 7 | Danzel McDaniel | 6-1 | 205 | Jr. |
P | 14 | Nick Walsh | 5-10 | 198 | Fr. |
TEXAS TECH OFFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
WR | 3 | D.J. Polite-Bray | 5-11 | 183 | So. |
WR | 11 | Jakeem Grant | 5-6 | 169 | Jr. |
LT | 62 | Le’Raven Clark | 6-6 | 313 | Jr. |
LG | 56 | Alfredo Morales | 6-4 | 308 | Jr. |
C | 75 | Jared Kaster | 6-3 | 285 | Jr. |
RG | 65 | Baylen Brown | 6-4 | 293 | So. |
RT | 71 | Reshod Fortenberry | 6-5 | 286 | Sr. |
WR | 4 | Bradley Marquez | 6-0 | 203 | Sr. |
WR | 2 | Reginald Davis | 6-0 | 192 | So. |
QB | 7 | Davis Webb | 6-5 | 209 | So. |
RB | 21 | DeAndre Washington | 5-8 | 201 | Jr. |
K | 48 | Ryan Bustin | 5-11 | 179 | Sr. |
TEXAS TECH DEFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
DE | 9 | Branden Jackson | 6-4 | 270 | Jr. |
NT | 43 | Jackson Richards | 6-4 | 268 | Sr. |
DT | 51 | Demetrius Alston | 6-3 | 267 | Jr. |
LB | 10 | Pete Robertson | 6-3 | 236 | Jr. |
LB | 52 | V.J. Fehoko | 5-11 | 220 | Sr. |
LB | 13 | Sam Eguavoen | 6-1 | 225 | Sr. |
LB | 34 | Kenny Williams | 5-9 | 228 | Sr. |
CB | 31 | Justis Nelson | 6-2 | 177 | So. |
FS | 15 | Keenon Ward | 5-9 | 195 | So. |
SS | 3 | J.J. Gaines | 6-0 | 185 | Jr. |
CB | 20 | Tevin Madison | 5-10 | 160 | Fr. |
P | 42 | Taylor Symmank | 6-2 | 192 | Jr. |
Kellis Robinett’s pick: K-State 48-30
One thing is for sure: This game will be high scoring. Kansas State has struggled against the pass, and Texas Tech has struggled against the run. Those defensive weaknesses play into the strengths of both offenses. But K-State’s defense is significantly stronger than Texas Tech’s, and the Red Raiders might not have a healthy starting quarterback. At home, expect the Wildcats to win by double digits.
Kellis Robinett, krobinett@kcstar.com
This story was originally published October 2, 2014 at 9:09 PM with the headline "Kansas State-Texas Tech college football preview."