2014 Kansas State Wildcats football team

This was the first meeting of the two teams and the first game of the season for both teams. The Lumberjacks entered the season picked #6 in the Southland Conference.[2] After forcing the Lumberjacks to punt, Kansas State scored first and maintained the lead for the entire game. Tyler Lockett caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Jake Waters for a touchdown—the 19th career to move him within seven of his father Kevin Lockett's career school record. Kansas State won the game 55–16.[3]

Kansas State achieved 29 first downs and 478 total offensive yards, averaging 7.9 yards per pass and 4.7 yards per carry, going 2–2 on fourth down attempts. Stephen F. Austin gave up 10 penalties for 69 yards and lost a fumble, but managed two touchdowns and 294 yards of total offense.[4]

Kansas State won its first game and entered the game with a record of 1–0, while Iowa State had just come off a loss against North Dakota State. Prior to the game, Iowa State has lost 32 of its last 36 games against ranked opponents while Kansas State had won the last six meetings overall after last season's 41–7 win. When ranked, the Wildcats have defeated the Cyclones in 10 straight dating to 1994.[5]

The game began with Kansas State taking an early lead 13–0 in the first quarter, but Iowa State scored a touchdown before the quarter concluded. That Iowa State touchdown was the first of four consecutive for the cyclones which led them in with a 28–20 lead at halftime. Neither team scored in the third period and Kansas State's defense continued the fourth quarter to prevent any score, allowing the Kansas State offense to produce two more touchdowns and a Wildcat victory 32–28.[6] The comeback-from-behind victory was considered "defining" for Kansas State.[7]

During the game, Kansas State wide receiver Tyler Lockett caught a pass near the goal line on the sidelines. In this play, it appeared that his knee appeared touched a pylon. That event would by rule negate the catch. The Wildcats scored a touchdown on the next play, which prevented any additional video review. The Big 12 replay official and communicator were given a one-game suspension for failing to follow protocol.[8]

This was the first road game for Auburn of the season and was the first ranked opponent for the Tigers. It was the second time Kansas State has faced a ranked non-conference opponent under Bill Snyder.[9] Both teams were expected to utilize the "pop" (play-option) pass offensively.[10] Before this game, the two programs had met three times in the past (1978, 1979, and 2007), all Auburn victories.[11]

Auburn was first to put points on the board with 11:14 remaining in the first quarter when Daniel Carlson hit a 34 Yard Field Goal. Kansas State took the lead with 4:56 left in the second quarter when DeMarcus Robinson succeeded with a 3-yard run, and Jack Cantele kicked the extra point to put the score 7–0. Auburn answered quickly with 1:34 left in the same quarter when Ricardo Louis caught a 40-yard pass from Nick Marshall for a touchdown, completing a drive of 9 plays for 75 yards. Daniel Carlson's kick was good and the score at halftime was Auburn 10, Kansas State 7. Auburn maintained the lead for the remainder of the game.[12]

Kansas State did manage to stop Auburn's rush offense effectively (holding them to just 55 yards in the first half), but could not stop their pass game. Auburn was able to capitalize on a 3–1 turnover margin and take advantage of Kansas State's mistakes and missed field goals. The final score was considered close ("Auburn had just squeezed out a 20–14 victory") with a final score of Auburn 20, Kansas State 14.[13]

The University of Texas-El Paso (UTEP) and Kansas State have met twice in the past: 1947 and 1999. The 1947 meeting resulted in a Texas-El Paso victory of 20–6, and in 1999 Kansas State won 40–7. This game is the first time UTEP has traveled to the state of Kansas for football since the 1999 game against Kansas State.[14] UTEP entered the game with a record of 2–1, their only loss to Big 12 member Texas Tech.[15]

When the game rolled around, Kansas State scored 10 points in the first quarter and went into the half with a comfortable 31–0 lead. UTEP did not score until the third quarter after Kansas State had 45 points. Kansas State's defense held UTEP to 23 yards of offense and one first down in the first half.

The game play was slowed down for over 10 minutes when the officials had a hard time determining the proper ruling for an inadvertent whistle. Kansas State had blocked a punt and a UTEP player picked up the ball behind the line of scrimmage. The officials blew the play dead but then later ruled the ball was still "live" and let UTEP run the play again. In the end it did not matter as Kansas State won the game 58–28.[16]

Texas Tech entered the game with a 2–2 record but ranked 11th in overall passing yards. On September 6, Texas Tech defeated UTEP 30–26,[17] the same team that Kansas State defeated the previous week.[16] The two teams have met 14 times in the past and the Red Raiders led the series 8 wins to 6. They first met on November 30, 1933, in Lubbock, Texas, where Texas Tech won 6–0. Kansas State had won the last three meetings between the two programs.[18]

Texas Tech's quarterback Davis Webb entered the game ranked eighth nationally with 339 yards passing per game. Tech's Bradley Marquez caught six touchdown passes for the season to rank second nationally leads the Big 12. Conversely, Texas Tech is among the worst teams in the nation in turnover margin, having turned the ball over 9 times.[19]

Kansas State took the lead in the first quarter when Curry Sexton caught a 48-yard pass from Jake Waters for a touchdown with 7:18 left in the first quarter. Matthew McCrane's kick made the score 7–0 and the Wildcats led the remainder of game. At halftime, Kansas State had a lead by 24–7. Tyler Lockett made 12 catches for 125 yards with two touchdowns while teammate Curry Sexton had nine catches for 128 yards, also for two touchdowns.[20]

Texas Tech managed 301 total passing yards, averaging 6 yards per pas but could only muster a total of 46 rushing yards on 14 attempts. Comparatively, Kansas State made slightly less yardage passing (290) but managed 245 yards rushing for a total of 535 yards of offense. Texas Tech turned the ball over on 4 interceptions while Kansas State lost only 1 fumble. Kansas State's offense controlled the game, maintaining possession for just over 40 minutes to Tech just under 20 minutes.

For penalties, Texas Tech committed 9 and gave up 89 yards compared to Kansas State's 1 penalty for 15 yards. Kansas State was 9–15 on third down compared to tech's 5–12, but both teams were 1–2 on fourth down attempts.[21]

The final score was Kansas State 45, Texas Tech 13, making it Kansas State's fourth consecutive victory over Texas Tech.[20]

Both teams entered the game with one loss each and a possible conference championship on the line. When the game ended, Kansas State found itself back in the hunt for the national title after receiving a little help from West Virginia, who defeated previously undefeated Baylor on the same day.[22]

Statistically, Oklahoma lead in most every measure with 30 first downs to Kansas State's 17; 533 total yards to Kansas State's 385; and going 7–11 on third down compared to Kansas State's 5–11. Oklahoma also controlled the clock, having possession for a total of 32:18 compared to Kansas State's 27:42.[23]

Oklahoma started by taking the lead with 4:58 left in the first quarter when Samaje Perine made a 2-yard dive for a touchdown, and Michael Hunnicutt's extra point put it to 7–0. Kansas State answered just 57 seconds later when Glenn Gronkowski caught a 62-yard pass from Jake Waters and Matthew McCrane put on the extra point to tie the game at 7–7.

In the second quarter, Kansas State's Danzel McDaniel took an interception just 5 yards into the end zone for an easy touchdown to take the lead, but the Sooner's Sterling Shepard tied it up with a 47-yard pass from Trevor Knight. Scoring continued in the second quarter when the Wildcat's Tyler Lockett caught a touchdown pass to take the lead and Oklahoma's Hunnicut made good on a 38-yard field goal. At the half, the score was Kansas State 21, Oklahoma 17.

Oklahoma managed to tie the score in the third quarter when Blake Bell caught a 4-yard touchdown pass to tie the score 24 each with 9:32 on the clock, but Jake Waters made a 4-yard touchdown run to take the lead 31–24 to end the third quarter.

Oklahoma had a chance to tie the game in the fourth quarter when Durron Neal caught a 9-yard touchdown pass to put the score at 31–30, but Kansas State's Travis Britz blocked the extra point. The final score was a Kansas State victory, 31–30.[24]

Texas came into the game with a record of 3–4 (2–2 in conference play) and unranked. A strong defensive performance led to a Wildcat victory as Kansas State defeated Texas 23–0. Texas experienced their first shutout since 2004 against the Oklahoma Sooners.[25]

Kansas State dominated statistically throughout the game achieving 22 first downs and 367 total yards of offense compared to Texas production of 12 first downs and 196 yards. Texas committed 7 penalties for 66 yards compared to Kansas State's 3 penalties for 25 yards. Kansas State controlled the ball for 39:14 of game time and never gave up the ball, where Texas was on offense for 20:46 and gave up one fumble. Kansas State's Matthew McCrane was responsible for 11 points with three field goals and two extra points. DeMarcus Robinson and Charles Jones pitched in for one rushing touchdown each.[26]

Oklahoma State started the game with a 5–3 record (3–2 in conference play). The Cowboys had just come off their homecoming loss to West Virginia the previous week. Prior to this game, Oklahoma State led the series 37–23.[27]

Oklahoma State scored in their opening drive by marching down the field and concluding when Tyreek Hill made a 2-yard run for a touchdown. Ben Grogan's kick made the score 7–0 OSU. But the ensuing kick-off by Oklahoma State resulted in Morgan Burns successfully running 86 yards for a touchdown. Matthew McCrane's extra point tied the score 7–7 with 11:36 on the clock in the first quarter. Kansas State's Charles Jones ran in for 6 yards with 4:16 left in the first and Kansas State held the lead for the remainder of the game. Kansas State achieved 36 unanswered points until Ramon Richards made a 38-yard interception for a touchdown after the K-State starters were pulled from the game. With 4:49 left in the game, Matthew McCrane was sent out to make an attempt at a 53-yard field goal. The attempt was good and Kansas State won 48–14.[28]

Kansas State's Tyler Lockett passed current Green Bay Packers star Jordy Nelson for second in school history in yards receiving, ending the game with 2,877 yards. He also tied Quincy Morgan with 23 career touchdown catches. He is trailing only his father Kevin Lockett in both categories, at 3,032 yards and 26 touchdowns.[29]

Kansas State travelled to play Texas Christian University the next week, who won their game earlier that same day at West Virginia.[30] The Wildcats lost to the Horned Frogs 20–41.