Alamo Bowl preview: K-State vs. UCLA
When/where: 5:45 p.m. Friday at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas
TV/radio: ESPN; WHB (810 AM)
The series: Tied 1-1
The line: UCLA by 1 1/2
K-STATE (9-3, 7-2 Big 12)
Date | Opponent | Result |
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 |
Oct. 4 | Texas Tech | W, 45-13 |
Oct. 18 | at Oklahoma | W, 31-30 |
Oct. 25 | Texas | W, 23-0 |
Nov. 1 | Oklahoma State | W, 48-14 |
Nov. 8 | at TCU | L, 41-20 |
Nov. 20 | at West Virginia | W, 26-20 |
Nov. 29 | Kansas | W, 51-13 |
Dec. 6 | at Baylor | L, 38-27 |
UCLA (9-3, 6-3 Pac-12)
Date | Opponent | Result/time |
Aug. 30 | at Virginia | W, 28-20 |
Sept. 6 | Memphis | W, 42-35 |
Sept. 13 | at Texas | W, 20-17 |
Sept. 25 | at Arizona State | W, 62-27 |
Oct. 4 | Utah | L, 30-28 |
Oct. 11 | Oregon | L, 42-30 |
Oct. 18 | at California | W, 36-34 |
Oct. 25 | at Colorado | W, 40-37 |
Nov. 1 | Arizona | W, 17-7 |
Nov. 8 | at Washington | W, 44-30 |
Nov. 22 | Southern California | W, 38-20 |
Nov. 28 | Stanford | L, 31-10 |
Cheers if …
If Charles Jones and DeMarcus Robinson can combine for more than 100 yards. Both running backs have been held down this season, but Jones is now healthy, and UCLA has a weak run defense.
Jeers if …
If UCLA jumps out to a two-score lead. Look back at K-State’s bowl history. The Wildcats rarely come from behind and win postseason games.
Three things about UCLA
1 The Bruins opened the season in the top 10 but failed to live up to those expectations with three conference losses.
2 UCLA may have played the most difficult schedule in the nation. Its nonconference games were against Virginia, Memphis and Texas.
3 Quarterback Brett Hundley is playing in his final college game in the Alamo Bowl. He will turn pro at the conclusion of his junior season.
Key matchup
Kansas State’s pass rush against UCLA’s offensive line. The Wildcats have had a disappointing season in terms of sacks, but they need to put pressure on Hundley and a UCLA offense that allows more than three sacks per game.
K-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 | 16 | Matthew McCrane | 5-10 | 165 | Fr. |
K-STATE DEFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
DE | 44 | Ryan Mueller | 6-2 | 245 | Sr. |
DT | 60 | Will Geary | 6-9 | 290 | Fr. |
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. |
UCLA OFFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
WR | 9 | Jordan Payton | 6-1 | 213 | Jr. |
WR | 18 | Thomas Duarte | 6-3 | 223 | So. |
LT | 68 | Conor McDermott | 6-9 | 295 | Fr. |
LG | 51 | Alex Riedmond | 6-5 | 297 | So. |
C | 54 | Jake Brendel | 6-4 | 290 | Jr. |
RG | 62 | Scott Quessenberry | 6-4 | 280 | So. |
RT | 74 | Caleb Benenoch | 6-5 | 305 | So. |
WR | 7 | Devin Fuller | 6-0 | 195 | Jr. |
WR | 15 | Devin Lucien | 6-1 | 201 | Jr. |
QB | 17 | Brett Hundley | 6-3 | 226 | Jr. |
RB | 24 | Paul Perkins | 5-11 | 198 | So. |
K | 15 | Ka’imi Fairbairn | 6-0 | 185 | Jr. |
UCLA DEFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
DL | 94 | Owa Odighizuwa | 6-3 | 270 | Sr. |
DL | 97 | Kenny Clark | 6-3 | 308 | So. |
DL | 47 | Eddie Vandenboes | 6-3 | 305 | So. |
LB | 58 | Deon Hollins | 6-0 | 225 | So. |
LB | 30 | Myles Jack | 6-1 | 232 | So. |
LB | 6 | Eric Kendricks | 6-0 | 230 | Sr. |
LB | 42 | Kenny Young | 6-1 | 230 | Fr. |
DB | 10 | Fabian Moreau | 6-0 | 195 | Jr. |
DB | 23 | Anthony Jefferson | 6-1 | 192 | Sr. |
DB | 21 | Tahaan Goodman | 6-1 | 190 | So. |
DB | 1 | Ishmael Adams | 5-8 | 190 | So. |
P | 19 | Matt Mengel | 6-2 | 210 | Jr. |
Kellis Robinett’s pick: K-State 31-28
The Wildcats should be playing with more motivation than UCLA and in front of more fans than UCLA. That combination could lead to another bowl victory.
Kellis Robinett, krobinett@kcstar.com
This story was originally published January 1, 2015 at 6:10 PM with the headline "Alamo Bowl preview: K-State vs. UCLA."