By Wendell Barnhouse
Big 12 Sports.com Correspondent
The Conference (5-2 for the weekend, 38-10 overall)
Stat sheet
The Big 12 finished non-conference play with a 38-10 record. That's the most regular-season non-conference victories in Big 12 history. The winning percentage of .792 is second only to the .861 winning percentage compiled in 2005 (31-5 record in regular-season non-conference games). ... The conference's 10 non-conference losses came by the average score of 33-22. Six of the defeats came on the road and five of the games were decided by five or fewer points. ... Two former Big 12 quarterbacks played roles in two of Saturday's top 10 upsets. Former Texas quarterback Jevan Snead helped Ole Miss win at No. 4 Florida. Wisconsin's Allan Evridge, who started his career at Kansas State, had an interception returned for a touchdown that gave Michigan the lead for good in the Wolverines' 27-25 upset of the 8th-ranked Badgers.
Polls
Oklahoma is No. 1 in both the Associated Press (media) and the USA Today/Coaches poll. The Big 12 has two other teams - Missouri and Texas - in the top five of both polls. In the media poll, Texas Tech is No. 7 and is No. 8 in the coaches' poll. Kansas is No. 16 in both while Oklahoma State broke into the top 25 for the first time in 2008. The Cowboys are No. 21 in the media and No. 22 in the coaches' poll. It's the 10th time the Big 12 has had six teams in the AP top 25 and the ninth time placing six teams in the coaches' rankings.
Upcoming
Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Missouri and Texas Tech had the weekend off before starting Big 12 action Saturday. The Bears open Big 12 play by hosting Oklahoma (11:30 a.m., FSN). The Cyclones are at home against Kansas (11:30 a.m., Versus). Missouri is at Nebraska (8 p.m., ESPN) and Texas Tech is at Kansas State (2:30 p.m., ABC).
Colorado (3-1, Texas, 5 p.m.)
Colorado allowed its second kickoff return for a touchdown. The last time that happened was in 1980. ... Freshman defensive tackle Curtis Cunningham, who had participated in 21 plays in the first three games, got his first mark on the stat sheet until his second-quarter interception. ... Kicker Aric Goodman, who earned a scholarship following his game-winning field goal in overtime against West Virginia, missed a 27-yarder in the second quarter. ... The Buffaloes are 4-9 in the state of Florida. ... Quarterback Cody Hawkins has 28 career touchdown passes. ... Hawkins was sacked a career-high four times and completed less than 50 percent of his passes for just the third time in 17 career starts.
Kansas State (3-1, Texas Tech, 2:30 p.m., ABC)
Over the last 18 seasons, Kansas State is 52-3 (.945 winning percentage) against non-conference opponents in Bill Snyder Family Stadium. ... Junior quarterback Josh Freeman became the school's leading passer with 6,238 career passing yards. He surpassed Lynn Dickey's 6,208. ... Sophomore Lamark Brown, a former wide receiver, made his first start at running back and finished with 142 yards on 29 carries. That's the most rushing yards by a KSU running back this season. Brown alos had five catches for 36 yards. ... In the last two games, Kansas State's defense has allowed 638 yards rushing on 106 carries, an average of six yards per carry. ... Defensive end Ian Campbell on the Wildcats' difficulty in stopping the run: "Again we had the same issues with tackling. We’re there, it’s just not getting done. I’m included in that as well. It’s something we have to take care of.”
Nebraska (3-1, Missouri, 8 p.m., ESPN)
The Cornhuskers had allowed thier first three opponents 43 points but gave up 35 to Virginia Tech. ... The Hokies were six-of-six in the red zone and converted seven of 17 third downs. ... The loss was just Nebraska’s fourth in 30 night games at Memorial Stadium and just the third in Nebraska’s past 49 non-conference home games. ... Nebraska saw its school-record six-game streak of scoring 35 or more points end. ... The attendance of 85,831 was a Memorial Stadium record. ... Senior receiver Nate Swift’s 88-yard punt return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter was the fourth-longest punt return in school history. ... The Huskers have had touchdown returns on a punt, a kickoff and an interception.
Oklahoma (4-0, at Baylor, 11:30 a.m., FSN)
Receiver Manuel Johnson set a school record with 206 yards receiving. He had five receptions and scored three touchdowns. ... Quarterback Sam Bradford, who had a career-high 411 yards passing, threw for 202 yards i nthe first quarter. That was a school record. ... OU's defense has forced seven turnovers in the past two games. ... The Sooners have won 21 consecutive home games, the second-longest home winning streak in school history. ... Oklahoma finished with 438 yards in total offense against TCU. In four victories, the Frogs had allowed just one opponent to gain over 200 yards (SMU, 210). ... Under coach Bob Stoops, the Sooners are 29-11 against ranked opponents.
Oklahoma State (4-0, Texas A&M, 6:05 p.m.)
The Cowboys set an attendance record of 52,643 for the Troy game. The previous high was 51,416 (Oklahoma, 1996). ... Oklahoma State finished undefeated in non-conference play for the first time since 2005. ... The Cowboys have scored 50-plus points in three consecutive games. The last time that happened was the first three games of the 1988 season when Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders was the running back. ... Oklahoma State has 15 consecutive games with a 100-yard rusher. ... The Cowboys have six touchdown drives of less than one minute this season and 10 touchdown drives of less than two minutes. In the third quarter, Oklahoma State had a TD drive that took 99 yards, 11 plays and 5:25.
Texas (4-0, at Colorado, 6 p.m.)
Quarterback Colt McCoy has had 80 or more yards rushing in three games. He has five games in his career where he's gained 80 or more yards on the ground. ... Quan Cosby became the second UT player with 1,500 receiving yards and 1,500 kickoff return yards. The other is Mike Adams. Cosby has 1,820 career receiving yards and 1,500 kickoff return yards. ... Texas held an opponent to under 40 rushing yards for the third time this season. The Horns held Florida Atlantic to 37, Rice to 17 and Arkansas to 11. Through four games, UT opponents have gained 210 yards rushing on 104 attempts, an average of two yards per carry. ... The Longhorns have 14 sacks in the last two games. ... The 43 points allowed through four games is the lowest four-game total since the start of the 2001 season. ... Three of UT's victories have been by the same score - 52-10.
Texas A&M (2-2, at Oklahoma State, 6:05 p.m.)
Army was 1-of-5 passing for four yards. The last time A&M allowed fewer completions, attempts and yards was against Arkansas on Nov. 16, 1991. (The Razorbacks were 0-of-3 for zero yards.) ... The Aggies started four true freshmen against Army: wide receiver Jeff Fuller, running back Cyrus Gray, safety Trent Hunter and defensive tackle Tony Jerod-Eddie. ... Hunter had 17 tackles (11 unassisted). ... Gray had a career-high 61 yards on six carries. He also also returned two kickoffs for 47 yards. ... Junior tight end Jamie McCoy had career highs in receptions (five) and yards (60). ... Running back Jorvorskie Lane had 34 yards on six consecutive carries to help the Aggies seal the victory.