Vitals: Kansas State Wildcats at Oklahoma State Cowboys

Gerald Goodridge, News9.com/NewsOn6.com

No. 14 Kansas State Wildcats (7-1, 4-1) No. 3 Oklahoma State Cowboys (8-0, 5-0)
7:00 p.m. CST
Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, Oklahoma

Statistical Leaders:

Injury Report:

Kansas State Wildcats: WR Sheldon Smith (questionable, undisclosed); WR Brodrick Smith (questionable, undisclosed); OT Manase Foketi (out, leg).

Oklahoma State: WR Hubert Anyiam (out, foot); OL Jonathan Rush (out, knee); CB Devin Hedgepeth (out, Achilles); FS Johnny Thomas (out, academics).

Where to find it…

On TV: ABC-HD

On Radio: Cowboy Radio Network

What you need to know…

The Wildcats were riding high, but ran into a buzz saw at home against the Oklahoma Sooners and were exposed. Against the high-octane OU offense, KSU gave up 690 total yards, including 520 through the air en route to giving up 58 points in the lopsided loss. Kansas State ranks toward the bottom of the conference in pass defense, giving up an average of 278 passing yards per game, but near the top of the Big 12 in scoring defense and turnovers, giving up just 24.5 points per contest and 17 takeaways per game. Offensively, KSU gets it done on the ground rushing for nearly 210 yards per contest.

Oklahoma State receives criticism for its total offense, ranking No. 9 in the Big 12, giving up 455.6 yards per game, but gets it done in other ways defensively. OSU is first in the nation in turnover differential with 29 total turnovers this season, including a 26-6 differential over the last six games contests and has scored 108 points off of those turnovers. Additionally, the Cowboys embody bend don't break on defense, ranking No. 10 in the nation in red zone defense, allowing just 13 touchdowns on 30 red zone attempts this season.

Who you need to watch…

Collin Klein is essentially all of the Wildcats' offense this season. Not only is the junior signal caller the team's leading passer, but leads the team in rushing by nearly 200 yards. He ranks No. 4 in the conference in rushing, but No. 9 in the league in passing, ahead of only David Ash of Texas.

Defensively, Nigel Malone has been a ball hawk all year for the Wildcats, ranking second in the conference in interceptions with eight, one of which he returned for a touchdown. The junior college transfer has also broken up six passes and is seventh on his team in total tackles with 34 total tackles.

Arthur Brown has wreaked havoc in the backfield from the linebacker position this year, ranking second on the team in tackles for loss with 5.5 and has two sacks this season. The Miami transfer leads the team in total tackles with 60, including 32 total tackles.

Oklahoma State is led each week by Brandon Weeden, and the 28-year-old quarterback has been dialed in as of late. The Heisman Trophy candidate has thrown 16 touchdowns and just one interception in his last 236 pass attempts.

Daytawion Lowe has been a defensive playmaker all year for Oklahoma State, sitting toward the top of most defensive categories for the Cowboys. The sophomore from Midwest City leads the team with 58 total tackles, three forced fumbles, two tackles for loss, two sacks and one interception in 2011.

Senior defensive end Jamie Blatnick has played in the backfield all year, leading the team with nine tackles for loss – which ranks ninth in the NCAA – and seven sacks.