Big 12 Football by the Numbers: Week 3
Week 3 saw the Big 12 round nicely from a shaky Week 2. As expected, the league looks like it’s setting up to be a blood bath with nine good to great teams. The only weak link in the conference is Kansas, which got obliterated by a soaring Baylor squad that has already surpassed its win total from last season.
Below is a dive into the numbers after Week 3 to help us track how the Big 12 is shaping up so far. It should be noted that TCU has still only played two games. As always, caveat lector: stats can be deceiving, especially early in the season.
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0 Points allowed by Texas against Rice, and 0 touchdowns allowed by Iowa State’s defense against UNLV.
1 Touchdown scored by Kansas against Baylor’s defense.
2 Touchdowns allowed by K-State’s defense Nevada’s future NFL draft-pick QB Carson Strong.
3 Rushing touchdowns and 3 passing touchdowns for Iowa State
4 Rushing touchdowns scored by Baylor and K-State, and 4 touchdown passes Texas Tech QB Tyler Shough.
5 Receptions for K-State WR Phillip Brooks.
6 Rushing touchdowns for Texas.
7 Touchdowns for Texas.
Note: It was a big day for Big 12 defenses and offenses.
MISSED TACKLES (change from last week)
1. Oklahoma State – 47 (+16)
2. Texas – 36 (+10)
T3. Kansas – 35 (+16)
T3. Oklahoma – 35 (+13)
5. Texas Tech – 31 (+8)
6. Baylor – 27 (+13)
T7. Iowa State – 26 (+9)
T7. Kansas State – 26 (+10)
9. West Virginia – 21 (+6)
10. TCU – 15 (Did not play)
Note: Tackling continues to be a major concern for Oklahoma State.
TEAM SACKS* (change from last week)
T1. Oklahoma State – 13 (+6)
T1. Kansas State – 12 (+3)
T3. Oklahoma – 10 (+2)
T3. West Virginia – 10 (+6)
5. Iowa State – 9 (+3)
6. Texas Tech – 8 (+2)
7. Texas – 7 (+3)
8. Baylor – 3 (+0)
9. TCU – 3 (Did not play)
10. Kansas – 2 (+0)
*I count half sacks as half sacks, not whole sacks; therefore, my count differs from other stats.
Note: OSU’s pass rush had a huge game against Boise State as did West Virginia’s against VA Tech. Does KU have a pass rush?
POINTS FOR (change from last week)
1. Baylor – 140 (+45)
2. Oklahoma – 139 (+23)
3. Texas Tech – 120 (+54)
T4. Texas – 117 (+58)
T4. West Virginia – 117 (+27)
6. Kansas State – 93 (+38)
7. Iowa State – 81 (+48)
8. TCU – 79 (Did not play)
9. Oklahoma State – 72 (+21)
10. Kansas – 46 (+7)
Note: ISU scored more points against UNLV than it had in its previous two games. Texas’ total against Rice was just one shy of its season total coming into the game. Is it just a coincidence that the team on top of these standings (Baylor) is the team that just played the team at the bottom (Kansas)?
POINTS AGAINST (change from last week)
1. Baylor– 34 (+7)
2. TCU – 35 (Did not play)
3. Iowa State – 40 (+3)
4. Kansas State – 47 (+17)
T5. West Virginia – 51 (+21)
T5. Oklahoma – 51 (+16)
7. Texas – 58 (+0)
8. Oklahoma State – 59 (+20)
9. Texas Tech – 64 (+21)
10. Kansas – 108 (+45)
Note: This is not a direct translation to scoring defense as some teams have allowed opponents’ defenses to score. KU has allowed 45+ points in its last two games.
RUSHING OFFENSE (change from last week)
1. Baylor – 971 yards (+ 307), 11 TDs (+4)
2. Texas – 743 yards (+427), 11 TDs (+6)
3. Kansas State – 677 yards (+269), 11 TDs (+4)
4. Oklahoma – 587 yards (+194), 10 TDs (+2)
5. Texas Tech – 522 yards (+177), 8 TDs (+2)
6. TCU – 449 yards (Did not play), 6 TDs (Did not play)
7. Oklahoma State – 440 yards (+246), 6 TDs (+3)
8. West Virginia – 413 (+173), 8 TDs (+1)
9. Iowa State – 407 yards (+184), 5 TDs (+3)
10. Kansas – 378 yards (+112), 3 TDs (+0)
Note: Baylor is averaging just under 324 rushing yards per game. Texas’ 427 rushing yards vs. Rice dwarfs its total entering the game (316). Oklahoma State got a big game from its offensive line against Boise to break out of its rushing doldrums.
RUSHING DEFENSE (change from last week)
1. Iowa State – 148 yards (+36), 1 TD (+0)
T2. Kansas State – 164 yards (+25), 2 TDs (+0)
T2. Texas Tech – 164 yards (+55), 2 TDs (+1)
4. TCU – 194 yards (Did not play), 2 TDs (Did not play)
5. Oklahoma – 250 yards (+95), 3 TDs (+1)
6. West Virginia – 301 yards (+103), 1TD (+1)
7. Oklahoma State – 316 yards (+61), 3 TDs (+1)
8. Baylor – 352 yards (+112), 2 TDs (+0)
9. Texas – 553 (+144), 5 TDs (+0)
10. Kansas – 687 yards (+307), 10 TDs (+4)
Note: KU has allowed 4 rushing TDs in each of its last two games. Five Big 12 teams allowed under 100 yards rushing in Week 3. Iowa State is allowing just under 50 rushing yards per game.
PASSING OFFENSE (change from last week)
1. Oklahoma – 875 yards (+214), 7 TDs (+1), 2 INTs (+0)
2. West Virginia – 814 yards (+193), 6 TDs (+2), 3 INTs (+1)
3. Texas Tech – 801 yards (+407) 6 TDs (+4), 3 INTs (+0)
4. Iowa State – 760 yards (+309), 4 TD (+3), 3 INTs (+0)
5. Baylor – 712(+269), 5 TDs (+2), 0 INTs
6. Oklahoma State – 578 yards (+90), 3 TDs (+0), 2 INTs (+0)
7. Texas – 576 yards (+193), 5 TDs (+2), 1 INT (+1)
8. TCU – 487 yards (Did not play), 5 TDs (Did not play), 2 INTs (Did not play)
9. Kansas – 458 yards (+57), 3 TDs (+1), 0 INTs
10. Kansas State – 445 yards (+129), 1 TD (+1), 3 INTs (+0)
Note: TTU QB Tyler Shough exploded with 399 yards and 4 TDs against FIU. ISU QB Brock Purdy had a nice bounce back against UNLV with 288 yards and 3 TDs. K-State avoided throwing an interception for the first time this season and notched its first TD pass.
PASSING DEFENSE (change from last week)
1. Baylor – 333 yards (+57), 2 TD (+1), 3 INTs (+0)
2. TCU – 385 yards (Did not play), 2 TDs (Did not play), 1 INT (Did not play)
3. Iowa State – 430 yards (+94), 2 TDs (+0), 3 INTs (+1)
4. Texas – 548 yards (+128), 1 TD (+0), 1 INT (+0)
5. Kansas – 612 yards (+269), 4 TD (+2), 0 INTs
6. West Virginia – 615 yards (+223), 5 TDs (+2), 0 INTs
7. Kansas State – 676 yards (+306), 2 TD (+1), 4 INTs (+1)
8. Oklahoma State – 700 yards (+242), 2 TD (+1), 1 INT (+1)
T9. Oklahoma – 708 yards (+289), 4 TDs (+1), 2 INT (+1)
T9. Texas Tech – 708 yards (+191), 7 TDs (+2), 5 INTs (+1)
Note: KSU faced the best QB any Big 12 team has faced thus far in Nevada’s Carson Strong. KU and WVU have yet to intercept a pass. While TTU is last passing yards allowed, it leads the league in interceptions.
LEADING RUSHERS (change from last week)
1. Deuce Vaughn (KSU) – 371 yards (+127) 5 TDs (+1), 62 carries (+23)
2. Abram Smith (BU) – 366 yards (+122), 1 TDs (+1), 47 carries (+16)
3. Tristan Ebner (BU) – 317 yards (+72), 0 TDs, 42 carries (+12)
4. Bijan Robinson (UT) – 299 yards (+127) 5 TDs (+3), 52 carries (+13)
5. Tahj Brooks (TTU) – 284 yards (+47), 4 TDs (+0), 35 carries (+9)
6. Leddie Brown (WVU) – 265 yards (+161), 5 TDs (+1), 51 carries (+19)
7. Jaylen Warren (OSU) – 264 yards (+218), 4 TDs (+2), 52 carries, (+32)
8. Breece Hall (ISU) – 238 yards (+100), 4 TDs (+2), 60 carries (+21)
9. Jason Bean (KU) – 221 yards (+65), 2 TDs (+0), 40 carries (+12)
10. Kennedy Brooks (OU) – 219 yards (+84), 3 TDs (+1), 40 carries (+14)
11. Zach Evans (TCU) – 217 yards (Did not play), 2 TDs (Did not play), 27 carries (Did not play)
Note: OSU’s Jaylen Warren exploded onto this ranking with a huge game against Boise State. WVU’s Leddie Brown and ISU’s Breece Hall finally hit 100+ yards in a game for the first time this season. KSU’s Deuce Vaughn leads the league in yards and carries and has produced three straight games with 120+ yards rushing. Baylor’s one-two punch with Abram Smith and Tristan Ebner remains lethal.
LEADING RECEIVERS (change from last week)
1. Erik Ezukanma (TTU) – 351 yards (+28), 1 TD (+0), 16 receptions (+3)
2. R.J. Sneed (BU) – 260 yards (+128), 1 TD (+1), 12 receptions (+6)
3. Xavier Hutchinson (ISU) – 243 yards (+133), 2 TDs, 20 receptions (+10)
4. Tyquan Thornton (BU) – 180 yards (+31), 2 TDs (+0), 13 receptions (+3)
5. Marvin Mims (OU) – 168 yards (+32), 0 TDs, 8 receptions (+2)
6. Sam James (WVU) – 166 yards (+46), 3 TDs (+1), 10 receptions (+2)
7. Sean Ryan (WVU) – 158 yards (+23), 1 TD (+0), 8 receptions (+2)
8. Brennan Presley (OSU) – 155 yards (+22), 0 TDs, receptions (+1)
9. Jordan Whittington (UT) – 152 yards (+7), 1 TD (+0), 13 receptions (+1)
10. Jaden Bray (OSU) – 136 yards (+0), 1 TD (+0), 6 receptions (+0)
11. Quentin Johnston (TCU) – 133 yards (DNP), 2 TDs (DNP), 9 receptions (DNP)
12. Phillip Brooks (KSU) – 130 yards (+28), 0 TDs, 9 receptions (+5)
13. Bryce Ford-Wheaton (WVU) – 126 yards (+29), 1 TD (+1), 7 receptions (+1)
14. Malik Knowles (KSU) – 125 yards (+0), 0 TDs, 6 receptions (+0)
15. Kwame Lassiter II (KU) – 111 yards (+14), 0 TDs, 11 receptions (+2)
T16. Tay Martin (OSU) – 107 yards (+0), 1 TD (+0), 6 receptions (+0)
T16. Winston Wright, Jr. (WVU) – 107 yards (+6), 0 TDs, 10 receptions (+1)
Note: BU’s R.J. Sneed and ISU’s Xavier Hutchinson are the big movers this week. Hutchinson’s 10 receptions against UNLV more than doubled his season total in yards and put him in the lead for the most catches on the season. TTU’s Erik Ezukanma remains the Big 12’s leading receiver despite a quiet outing against FIU.
INDIVIDUAL SACKS (change from last week)
T1. Felix Anudike (KSU) – 3 sacks (+0)
T1. Jared Bartlett (WVU) – 3 sacks (+3)
T3. Will McDonald IV (ISU) – 2.5 sacks (+0)
T3. Isaiah Thomas (OU) – 2.5 sacks (+0.5)
T3. Perrion Winfrey (OU) – 2.5 sacks (+0.5)
T6. Khalid Duke (KSU) – 2 sacks (+0)
T6. Jaylon Hutchings (TTU) – 2 sacks (+0)
T6. Brock Martin (OSU) – 2 sacks (+2)
T6. Ovie Oghoufo (UT) – 2 sacks (+1)
T10. Taijh Alston (WVU) – 1.5 sacks (+1.5)
T10. Reggie Grimes (OU) – 1.5 sacks (+0.5)
T10. Devin Harper (OSU) – 1.5 sacks (+0)
T10. Kyron Johnson (KU) — 1.5 sacks (+0)
T10. Jalen Redmon (OU) – 1.5 sacks (+1.5)
