Smith still putting up huge numbers ... Wildcats have showdown with Sooners ... etc.
BIG XII CONFERENCE [Scores] [Standings]
Best Wins:
- TCU got its first win against a Big XII conference foe, by defeating Kansas, 20-6.
- Texas went on the road and crushed Mississippi of the SEC by a 66-31 margin.
Stats Smorgasbord:
- West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith has made himself a top Heisman pick after a pair of dazzling games. Smith went 32-of-36 in the air for 4 TDs against Marshall in Week 1, but followed that up with an even more stunning performance against James Madison: 34-of-39 for 5 TDs. He's No. 2 in the nation in passing efficiency, trailing only TCU's Casey Pachall in that category.
- If appears the only reason that Pachall is ahead of Smith in that ranking is that Pachall leads Smith handily in yards per attempt. Otherwise, Smith has the better stats.
- Smith's heroics have the Mountaineers ranked No. 2 overall in passing offense and No. 3 overall in total offense.
- The Mountaineers trail Oklahoma State in total offense, but the Cowboys' stats are still padded by their 84-0 win over Savannah State.
- Texas Tech, helped somewhat by a lightweight schedule, are No. 2 in the nation in total defense.
- Texas has been helped by a solid turnover margin: seven takeaways and only one turnover for plus-6.
- Kansas has 12 takeaways in three games, but has offset that with 7 giveaways.
Football Factoids:
- ESPN Heisman Watch: 1. Smith; 6. Collin Klein, Kansas State.
- Big XII in the AP poll: 6. Oklahoma; 8. West Virginia; 12. Texas; 15. Kansas State; 17. TCU.
- The Big XII has a light schedule on Saturday, but the highlight is a big one -- Oklahoma vs. Kansas State in Norman.
- Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops was part of Bill Snyder's staff when K-State first made its big turnaround from patsy to power.
- Sooner QB Landry Jones has yet to break out this season, and is only tenth in the conference in passing efficiency after 471 yards and 4 TDs in two games.
- It's Baylor's turn to face pesky Louisiana-Monroe, the team that upset Arkansas and then took Auburn to overtime before losing. The enormity of the Arkansas upset (the Razorbacks were No. 8 in the nation at the time) has dimmed somewhat due to what seems to be a meltdown of sorts in Fayetteville, but it will still be an interesting test for the Bears.
- TCU brings ACC foe Virginia to town for an inter-conference matchup.