Friday Previews.

[Greenbacks]

Preview: Northern Illinois at Kent State.


When: 12:00 PM ET, Friday, November 25, 2016
Where: Dix Stadium, Kent, Ohio

Quick Hits

Overall Team Offense

• The Kent State Golden Flashes are ranked 126 on offense, averaging 301.7 yards per game. The Golden Flashes are averaging 165.6 yards rushing and 136.1 yards passing so far this season.
• The Northern Illinois Huskies are ranked 32 on offense, averaging 463.6 yards per game. The Huskies are averaging 242.0 yards rushing and 221.6 yards passing so far this season.

Home and Away

• The Kent State Golden Flashes are 1-4 at home this season, 2-5 against conference opponents and 1-3 against non-conference opponents.
• At home the Golden Flashes are averaging 24.2 scoring, and holding teams to 25.6 points scored on defense.
• The Northern Illinois Huskies are 2-3 while on the road this season, 4-3 against conference opponents and 0-4 against non-conference opponents.
• On the road, the Huskies are averaging 28.6 scoring, and holding teams to 36.2 points scored on defense.

 

[Greenbacks]

Preview: North Carolina State at North Carolina.

When: 12:00 PM ET, Friday, November 25, 2016
Where: Kenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

North Carolina State has one more chance to become bowl eligible and it will take a road victory against rival North Carolina on Friday afternoon in an ACC matchup. The Wolfpack have lost five of their last six games after a promising start to the season and a win against their neighbors in Chapel Hill will take away any chance that 25th-ranked North Carolina has to reach the ACC Championship game.
“We didn’t want it to come down to it, but it ended up coming down to it,” N.C. State defensive end Bradley Chubb told reporters. “We’ve got one more game. Everybody knows what we’re playing for and everybody is going to push towards that this week.” The Wolfpack have scored more than 20 once in the last seven contests and will require a boost on offense to handle the Tar Heels, who average 34.2 points per game with a high-powered attack that is led by junior quarterback Mitch Trubisky. North Carolina needs a victory Friday followed by a Virginia upset win at Virginia Tech to gain a berth in the conference title game against Clemson. The Tar Heels come in off a 41-7 non-league victory over The Citadel that followed a damaging 28-27 loss to Duke.

TV: Noon ET, ESPN. LINE: North Carolina –11.5

ABOUT N.C. STATE (5-6, 2-5 ACC): Sophomore quarterback Ryan Finley threw for 210 yards in the 27-13 loss to Miami (Fla.) last week – his lowest total since Oct. 8 against Notre Dame – and has eight interceptions the last six games. Senior running back Matthew Dayes last week became the Wolfpack’s first 1,000-yard rusher since T.A. McClendon in 2002 and scored four times in the past two games. Finley has four targets with at least 400 yards receiving, led by sophomore Stephen Louis (533), and senior wideout Bra’Lon Cherry needs four more to make it five.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (8-3, 5-2): Trubisky has completed 69.7 percent of his passes – fifth best in the nation – and thrown 25 touchdown strikes along with four interceptions, but all of the picks came in the ACC losses to Duke and Virginia Tech. Senior Ryan Switzer, who needs 190 yards receiving to pass Hakeem Nicks for the school career record, is the top target with 78 receptions for the Tar Heels. Junior Elijah Hood has rushed for 802 yards overall – 433 in the last four games – and eight scores while senior running back T.J. Logan is 255 away from 5,000 career all-purpose yards.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Trubisky has thrown for 3,188 yards and needs 231 to pass T.J. Yates for the school record in a single season.

2. N.C. State is ranked seventh in the nation in rushing defense, allowing 102.1 yards per contest.

3. The Tar Heels have won three of the last four meetings, including a 45-34 victory last year, and lead the overall series 66-33-6.

 

[Greenbacks]

Preview: Houston at Memphis.

When: 12:00 PM ET, Friday, November 25, 2016
Where: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tennessee

Houston coach Tom Herman has his No. 21 Cougars focused on its regular-season finale at Memphis on Friday — and not on the return of coaching rumors or postseason possibilities. There is a slim chance the Cougars — who are out of the American Athletic Conference championship picture — could earn an at-large spot in the New Year's Six bowls if they climb high enough in the College Football Playoff rankings.
"Distractions are only something you see when you take your eyes off your goals," Herman told the media Monday. "We don't do that around here. We don't worry about things we can't control." Memphis coach Mike Norvell was unsure Monday if starting quarterback Riley Ferguson would be available for the game. Ferguson, who left last week's win in the first quarter with an undisclosed injury, practiced Monday. The Cougars, looking for the program's ninth 10-win season, have won six straight against Memphis.

TV: Noon ET, ABC. LINE: Houston -5.....o/u 61.5

ABOUT HOUSTON (9-2, 5-2 AAC): Quarterback Greg Ward Jr. has thrown for 2,841 yards, 18 touchdowns and eight interceptions and has a team-high 453 rushing yards and nine TDs. Linell Bonner (76 catches, 841 yards, two TDs) is one of five Cougars with multiple touchdown catches. Freshman defensive tackle Ed Oliver is tied for second nationally with 19.5 tackles for loss to lead a defense that is ranked second in rushing defense (93.5 yards) and 10th in total defense (304.1).

ABOUT MEMPHIS (7-4, 4-3): Senior Jason Stewart (201 yards, 2 TDs in four appearances) threw for 138 yards and two scores in place of Ferguson (2,917 yards, 24 TDs, nine INTs). Junior Anthony Miller, who looks to add to his single-season school record of 1,114 receiving yards, has a team-high nine TD catches. The Tigers are tied for second nationally with 26 takeaways, returning three interceptions for touchdowns and scoring 13 times on the other 23 turnovers.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Oliver has stuffed the stat box, recording 61 tackles, eight pass breakups, five sacks and three forced fumbles.

2. Memphis leads the AAC in net punting (41.4) and kickoff return average (27.7) and has three kickoff return TDs.

3. Norvell tied Richard Williamson (7-4 record in 1975) for the most wins by a first-year coach in program history last week and can break that mark with a win Friday.

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=1]Preview: Buffalo at Bowling Green.[/h]
When: 2:30 PM ET, Friday, November 25, 2016
Where: Doyt L. Perry Stadium, Bowling Green, Ohio

[h=2]Quick Hits[/h] Overall Team Offense

• The Bowling Green Falcons are ranked 74 on offense, averaging 399.4 yards per game. The Falcons are averaging 166.0 yards rushing and 233.4 yards passing so far this season.
• The Buffalo Bulls are ranked 113 on offense, averaging 349.5 yards per game. The Bulls are averaging 161.1 yards rushing and 188.4 yards passing so far this season.

Home and Away

• The Bowling Green Falcons are 2-3 at home this season, 2-5 against conference opponents and 1-3 against non-conference opponents.
• At home the Falcons are averaging 28.2 scoring, and holding teams to 28.4 points scored on defense.
• The Buffalo Bulls are 0-5 while on the road this season, 1-6 against conference opponents and 1-3 against non-conference opponents.
• On the road, the Bulls are averaging 6.8 scoring, and holding teams to 37.8 points scored on defense.

 

[Greenbacks]

Preview: Arkansas at Missouri.

When: 2:30 PM ET, Friday, November 25, 2016
Where: Faurot Field, Columbia, Missouri

Two dynamic offenses — and less-than-desirable defenses — will be on display Friday when Missouri hosts Arkansas in the Battle Line Rivalry. The Tigers can’t point to many highlights from Barry Odom’s first season as head coach, but ending with a win would fit the bill, while the Razorbacks look to improve their bowl résumé with a road win.
Offense figures to be the word of the day, as both teams amassed 300 yards passing and rushing last week — two of only three SEC teams to do so this season. “You never play for a shootout,” Arkansas coach Bret Bielema told reporters, but given both teams’ recent results, it’s easy enough to imagine it heading that direction. Fortunately for the Razorbacks, they have found themselves on the right end of a couple of shootouts, including last week’s 58-42 win at Mississippi State. Things haven’t worked out as favorably for the Tigers, who have lost three games this season when scoring 27 or more points, including Saturday’s 63-37 defeat at Tennessee.

TV: 2:30 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Arkansas -8.

ABOUT ARKANSAS (7-4, 3-4 SEC): The Razorbacks are powered by running back Rawleigh Williams III, who regained the SEC rushing lead (1,209 yards) after putting up career highs for yards (205) and touchdowns (four) against Mississippi State. Arkansas also can strike through the air, though, as Austin Allen’s 1,943 passing yards in conference games are the most in the league, and he needs just 196 yards to go over 3,000 for the season. The Razorbacks haven’t made many stops on defense lately, though, allowing 500 total yards or more in three of the past four games and giving up 36.5 points per game over that stretch.

ABOUT MISSOURI (3-8, 1-6): The Tigers rolled up 740 total yards last week — their most ever against an FBS opponent — with freshman running back Damarea Crockett accounting for 225 on the ground. Crockett is suspended for Friday’s game following an arrest on charges of marijuana possession, so Ish Witter will look to take up the slack in the running game and Drew Lock will shoot for another big game through the air. The Tigers’ defensive woes continued against Tennessee, which racked up 609 total yards, including a whopping 386 on the ground.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Arkansas is 6-0 this season and 7-0 all-time when Williams rushes for at least 100 yards.

2. Missouri has averaged 256.7 rushing yards over the past six games compared with 158 over its first five contests.

3. The Razorbacks have not won at Missouri since 1944.

 

[Greenbacks]

Preview: Washington at Washington State.

When: 3:30 PM ET, Friday, November 25, 2016
Where: Martin Stadium, Pullman, Washington

It has been a long time since the Apple Cup packed such importance and No. 5 Washington and No. 23 Washington State square off in a duel for the Pac-12 North Division crown when they meet on Friday in Pullman. The last time the two rivals were both ranked when they met was in 2001 - a 26-14 win for the Huskies - and visiting Washington's national championship hopes hang in the balance as well as attempting to secure a spot in the Pac-12 title game.
The Huskies are thriving in Chris Petersen's third season at the helm and the coach expects his team to handle the ferocious atmosphere on game day. "I just think they've really been invested this whole year, every game, and I think that's what you've kind of seen, but it'll be exciting," Petersen said during a press conference. "They get the rivalry. They get that we're playing a heck of a team in a really hostile situation." The Cougars had an eight-game winning streak halted with a 38-24 road loss to Colorado on Saturday and are itching for the opportunity to rebound with a huge victory. "This is a feeling we haven't had in a while, and we don't want it again," senior defensive back Parker Henry said. "We've got no choice but to flush it."

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Washington -6.5

ABOUT WASHINGTON (10-1, 7-1 Pac-12): Sophomore quarterback Jake Browning fueled the Huskies' rise with his superb play that includes a school-record 37 touchdown passes to go with 2,870 yards and only seven interceptions. Two junior big-play wideouts have certainly aided his production as both John Ross (64 receptions for 991 yards and 15 touchdowns) and Dante Pettis (46 for 701, 12 scores) are enjoying solid campaigns, as is sophomore running back Myles Gaskin (1,130 yards, nine touchdowns). The defense has lost key players in linebackers Azeem Victor (67 tackles) and Joe Mathis (five sacks) with season-ending injuries while junior inside linebacker Keishawn Bierria leads the nation with five fumble recoveries.

ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE (8-3, 7-1): Junior quarterback Luke Falk is enjoying his own splendid season with 35 touchdowns passes (three off the school record he set last season) and he ranks third nationally with 3,935 passing yards. Senior receiver Gabe Marks (74 catches, 12 touchdowns) became the 13th player in FBS history to top 300 career receptions - he stands at 301 - and his 36 career touchdown catches are five shy of the Pac-12 record held by USC's Dwayne Jarrett (2004-06). Senior free safety Shalom Luani has a team-best four interceptions and junior middle linebacker Peyton Pelluer has a team-leading 80 tackles for a defense allowing 25.5 points per game.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Washington owns a 70-32-6 series lead and recorded victories in each of the past three meetings.

2. Falk (87) is four touchdown passes away from breaking the Cougars' record set by Connor Halliday (90 from 2011-14).

3. Huskies junior CB Darren Gardenhire - a 2015 starter who lost his job this season - quit the team Monday and plans to transfer to a different school.

 

[Greenbacks]

Preview: Nebraska at Iowa.

When: 3:30 PM ET, Friday, November 25, 2016
Where: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa

If being without its top quarterback wasn't enough of a problem, No. 15 Nebraska enters its regular-season finale Friday at Iowa facing the real possibility of being without its top two signal-callers in a game it needs to keep its slim Big Ten Championship game hopes alive. Tommy Armstrong Jr. was sidelined with a hamstring injury for the Cornhuskers' 28-7 victory over Maryland last weekend, while backup Ryker Fyfe underwent surgery this week after breaking a bone in his left wrist.
Nebraska needs a win over the improving Hawkeyes, who handed No. 4 Michigan its only defeat on Nov. 12, and a home loss by No. 6 Wisconsin to Minnesota on Saturday to win the Big Ten West and earn a trip to Indianapolis for the first time since 2012. Coach Mike Riley hasn't ruled out either one of his two quarterbacks for the game, although Armstrong appears to be in the early lead after getting in a limited practice early this week. Iowa enters this rivalry game - dubbed the Heroes Trophy because each school chose to honor a native from each state for an extraordinary act - playing perhaps the best it has all season, following up its shocking victory over the previously undefeated Wolverines with a 28-0 drubbing of Illinois. Recent history does not favor the Hawkeyes, however, as Nebraska has defeated them in each of its last three trips to Kinnick Stadium and the visiting team has won the last four meetings overall.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC. LINE: Iowa -3.

ABOUT NEBRASKA (9-2, 6-2 Big Ten): Should Armstrong and Fyfe be unable to play Friday, the Cornhuskers could be forced to turn to third-string sophomore Zack Darlington, who was once a top-15 dual-threat quarterback in high school before making the transition to receiver last spring and has split first-team reps with Armstrong this week. Jordan Westerkamp finished with a season-high eight catches for 85 yards and a touchdown against Maryland, moving him within 55 yards of Johnny Rodgers (2,479) for second place on the school's all-time list. Terrell Newby has run for 707 of his team-high 825 yards during conference play - including 364 in the fourth quarter alone - scored a career-high three touchdowns last weekend and is 175 yards shy of turning in the 36th 1,000-yard rushing season in school history.

ABOUT IOWA (7-4, 5-3): With 82 and 159 yards last week, respectively, Akrum Wadley (861) and LeShun Daniels, Jr. (855) became the third set of running backs in program history to have 800-plus rushing yards in the same season. Cornerback/returner Desmond King collected his 13th career interception versus Illinois and is the only Big Ten player in the last 20 years with at least 12 interceptions and 1,500-plus combined kickoff/punt yards. Butkus Award finalist Josey Jewell ranks second in the conference with 105 tackles, while defensive lineman Jaleel Johnson is tied for fourth with a team-high 7.5 sacks - a mark that puts him on track to become the first Iowa defensive lineman to lead the team in sacks since current Green Bay Packers standout Mike Daniels in 2011.

EXTRA POINTS

1. A win against the Hawkeyes on Friday would mark only the third time in school history that Nebraska made a five-win improvement from the previous season.

2. With Iowa's victory last weekend, Kirk Ferentz moved into a tie with former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr for the sixth-most wins by a coach in conference history (81).

3. The Cornhuskers have gone two straight games without a turnover for the first time since 2003.

 

[Greenbacks]

Preview: Texas Christian at Texas.

When: 3:30 PM ET, Friday, November 25, 2016
Where: Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas

Three down seasons in a row are not what anyone involved in Texas football expects, and it's reportedly costing coach Charlie Strong his job. The Longhorns will try to send their coach out on a high note when they host TCU in the season finale on Friday.
Multiple reports emerged on Sunday that Strong was about to be fired by Texas following a shocking 24-21 overtime loss to a Kansas team that had dropped 19 straight Big 12 contests. "I don't really think so," Strong told reporters, when asked if he believed a decision about his future had been made. "I'd like not to think it has, because I've been told they would make the decision after the TCU game. I don't believe it has been done." The Horned Frogs, who need to win one of their final two games to become bowl eligible, are coming to the end of a disappointing season as well and followed the high of a 62-22 win over Baylor with the worst home loss of coach Gary Patterson's 17-year career - 31-6 to Oklahoma State on Saturday. "It's a lot more than bowl eligible," Patterson told reporters. "You get per diem, you get bowl gifts, you stay at school for a month, you eat better. There's a lot of things that go along with going to a bowl game. Going to a bowl game is about a way of life. It's not just about going to a bowl game. It's a way of life."

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1. LINE: Texas -3

ABOUT TCU (5-5, 3-4 Big 12): The Horned Frogs nearly fell victim to Kansas on Oct. 8 but squeezed out a 24-23 win despite three interceptions from quarterback Kenny Hill. The junior transfer owns four touchdown passes and seven interceptions in the last five games and was picked off twice in Saturday's loss. Running back Kyle Hicks enjoyed the best game of his career with 192 yards and five touchdowns in the Nov. 5 win at Baylor but was flat along with the rest of his team coming out of the bye week and managed 47 yards on 25 carries Saturday.

ABOUT TEXAS (5-6, 3-5): Running back D'Onta Foreman did his best to keep Strong employed and ran for 250 yards against Kansas to record his 12th straight game with at least 100 rushing yards, breaking Earl Campbell's school record of 11 in a row. Strong coaxed impressive performances out of the offense in wins over Notre Dame, Baylor and Texas Tech, but six turnovers doomed the Longhorns in Saturday's loss and the defense struggled to hold up its end for most of the season. Texas ranks 97th out of 128 FBS teams in total defense, allowing an average of 444.7 yards.

EXTRA POINTS

1. TCU senior S Denzel Johnson recorded a career-high 15 tackles on Saturday.

2. Foreman (1,863 yards) moved into third place on the Longhorns' single-season list, needing 31 yards to pass Ricky Williams' 1997 season for second and 262 to break Williams' 1998 school record of 2,124.

3. The Horned Frogs won the last two meetings by a combined 98-17.

 

[Greenbacks]

Preview: Boise State at Air Force.

When: 3:30 PM ET, Friday, November 25, 2016
Where: Falcon Stadium, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Boise State knows there is no margin for error and the No. 19 Broncos need to succeed in a must-win situation when they visit Air Force on Friday in Mountain West play. The Broncos are tied with Wyoming in the Mountain Division race and the Cowboys hold the tiebreaker due to their win over Boise State earlier this season.
Even if the Broncos win at Air Force, they need Wyoming to lose to New Mexico on Saturday to land a spot in the conference championship game and keep alive their Cotton Bowl hopes. Raising the stakes higher is that the Falcons have defeated Boise State in each of the past two seasons, forcing seven turnovers while producing a 28-14 home victory in 2014 and rolling up 607 yards (328 rushing, 279 receiving) during last season's 37-30 win in Boise. "This is a big game for us, there's no doubt about it," Boise State coach Bryan Harsin said during a press conference. "It's the last game of the year and it's against a team we haven't beat the last two seasons. And make no bones about it, we want to win this game." Air Force enters on a roll, averaging 38 points during a four-game winning streak.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network. LINE: Boise State -9

ABOUT BOISE STATE (10-1, 6-1 Mountain West): The Broncos are relying heavily on junior running back Jeremy McNichols, who was passed over as a Doak Walker Award finalist despite leading the nation with 26 total touchdowns (22 rushing, four receiving) and ranking third nationally with 1,575 rushing yards. "He's one of the best backs in the country," Harsin said. "He's the most productive player. He's put up touchdowns more than anybody else. I don't know what else from an offensive standpoint a guy can do to not have his name thrown in there with all those other backs." Boise State's defense will be without two starting linebackers as senior strong-side linebacker Tanner Vallejo will undergo season-ending wrist surgery and junior middle linebacker Joe Martarano is out after breaking his left fibula.

ABOUT AIR FORCE (8-3, 4-3): Standout senior strong safety Weston Steelhammer is tied for third nationally with six interceptions and shares the school's career mark of 17 with Tom Rotello (1983-86). Steelhammer, who leads the Falcons with 71 tackles, was one of the stars of the 2014 victory over Boise State when he intercepted three passes to tie the school single-game record. Offensively, sophomore quarterback Arion Worthman will make his fourth consecutive start in place of injured senior Nate Romine (ankle) and had 215 rushing yards and two touchdowns as well as throwing a game-winning touchdown pass to senior wideout Jalen Robinette (team-leading 30 catches for 790 yards) in Saturday's 41-38 comeback win over San Jose State.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Boise State sophomore QB Brett Rypien struggled with a season-low 109 yards in last week's 42-25 win over UNLV -- his season outputs are 3,025 yards and 22 touchdowns.

2. Air Force ranks fourth nationally with 323.5 rushing yards per game via its triple-option attack.

3. The Broncos have recorded just one sack over the past four games and have intercepted only five passes all season.

 

[Greenbacks]

[h=1]Preview: Louisiana Tech at Southern Mississippi.[/h]
When: 4:00 PM ET, Friday, November 25, 2016
Where: M.M. Roberts Stadium, Hattiesburg, Mississippi

[h=2]Quick Hits[/h] Overall Team Offense

• The Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles are ranked 26 on offense, averaging 479.4 yards per game. The Golden Eagles are averaging 189.5 yards rushing and 289.9 yards passing so far this season.
• The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs are ranked 4 on offense, averaging 541.0 yards per game. The Bulldogs are averaging 183.7 yards rushing and 357.3 yards passing so far this season.

Home and Away

• The Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles are 3-2 at home this season, 3-4 against conference opponents and 2-2 against non-conference opponents.
• At home the Golden Eagles are averaging 36.4 scoring, and holding teams to 23.4 points scored on defense.
• The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs are 3-3 while on the road this season, 6-1 against conference opponents and 2-2 against non-conference opponents.
• On the road, the Bulldogs are averaging 40.7 scoring, and holding teams to 32.3 points scored on defense.

 

[Greenbacks]

Preview: Toledo at Western Michigan.

When: 5:00 PM ET, Friday, November 25, 2016
Where: Waldo Stadium, Kalamazoo, Michigan

Western Michigan is 11-0 for the first time in school history but there is a lot left to accomplish as the No. 18 Broncos host Toledo on Friday with the winner claiming the Mid-American Conference West Division title. There is much more at stake for Western Michigan, which is also in the driver's seat to play in the Cotton Bowl and reap the rewards of the $6 million payday that comes with being the highest-ranked Group of Five conference team in the country.
The Broncos - one of two undefeated teams in the nation (No. 1 Alabama) - need to defeat the Rockets and win the MAC championship at Ford Field in Detroit on Dec. 2 to all but assure themselves a trip to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Jan. 2. Western Michigan's magical run continued with a 38-0 victory over Buffalo on Saturday, extending a school-record 13-game winning streak that began with a 35-30 victory over Toledo to end the 2015 regular season. The Broncos' plus-15 turnover margin is the best nationally along with Washington and Old Dominion, and it all starts with quarterback Zach Terrell, who completes 71.3 percent of his passes with 27 touchdowns and one interception. The Rockets reached nine victories for the third straight season with a 37-19 win over Ball State on Nov. 16 and counter with quarterback Logan Woodside, who leads the country with 40 touchdown strikes while completing 70.1 percent of his passes for 3,653 (fourth nationally).

TV: 5 p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: Western Michigan -9

ABOUT TOLEDO (9-2, 6-1 MAC): Woodside's top targets include wide receivers Cody Thompson (20.1 yards per team-best 56 catches, 10 touchdowns) and Jon'Vea Johnson (19.8, 38, 10), while tight end Michael Roberts has a team-best 12 TDs. The Rockets are far from one-dimensional as running back Kareem Hunt's 1,155 yards and seven scores attest. Woodside must be on the lookout for Western Michigan defensive end Keion Adams (5.5 sacks, nine quarterback hurries).

ABOUT WESTERN MICHIGAN (11-0, 7-0): Broncos wide receiver Corey Davis needs 19 yards to break the FBS record of 5,005 receiving yards set by Nevada's Trevor Insley in 1999 after recording 173 on 13 catches with two touchdowns against Buffalo. Western Michigan also features running back Jarvion Franklin, who boasts a MAC-best 1,228 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Terrell, who passed for a career-high 445 yards and four touchdowns Saturday, needs to avoid defensive tackle Treyvon Hester (five sacks, seven hurries) and defensive end John Stepec (4.5, 13).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Davis shares the national lead in receiving touchdowns with Louisiana Tech's Carlos Henderson (16) and already has the most receptions (310) and receiving TDs (49) in MAC history.

2. The Broncos boast the MAC's top scoring offense (43.8 points per game) and defense (17.7) with the Rockets second in both categories at 39.2 and 22.5.

3. The teams also own the MAC's top two total offenses with Toledo also possessing the No. 1 passing offense (338.2 yards) while Western Michigan averages a conference-best 247.1 yards on the ground.

 

[Greenbacks]

Preview: Baylor at Texas Tech.

When: 6:00 PM ET, Friday, November 25, 2016
Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Two Big 12 teams that have seen their seasons head south in a hurry face off Friday, when Baylor meets Texas Tech in the Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Shootout at AT&T Stadium - better known as the fancy home of the Dallas Cowboys - in Arlington, Texas. It's the season finale for the Red Raiders, who once entertained bowl hopes before enduring a three-game losing streak that includes a 66-10 trouncing at Iowa State on Saturday, while Baylor has lost four in a row after a 6-0 start.
Texas Tech's 56-point loss at then 2-8 Iowa State easily was the low point of the Kliff Kingsbury era. "This community, the university, this program obviously means the world to me, and that performance was as embarrassed as I've been," Kingsbury told reporters. "Completely unacceptable in every way, shape and form. I take sole responsibility. (I) didn't have our guys ready to go, didn't have them focused enough, didn't have enough energy, didn't have good-enough game plans, obviously, and that's on me. I think after watching the film, there was no real silver lining to be found. We didn't play well offensively, defensively, special teams, and we didn't handle adversity well. It just got worse as the game went on, and that's the responsibility of the head coach, and that falls on me." It doesn't figure to get easier for Texas Tech on Friday. Baylor has won five straight meetings with the Red Raiders, including a 63-35 thumping last year - also in Arlington.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Baylor -5.5

ABOUT BAYLOR (6-4, 3-4 Big 12): The Bears lost starting quarterback Seth Russell to a fractured left ankle in a 45-24 loss at Oklahoma on Nov. 12 and freshman Zach Smith completed 27-of-45 passes for 258 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions in his first start last week - a 42-21 home loss to Kansas State. "The bottom line is three turnovers, that's a problem," acting coach Jim Grobe told reporters. "For a freshman quarterback, all the other 10 guys needed to elevate, and I don't think we did." Wide receiver KD Cannon caught nine passes for 91 yards but none for touchdowns while running back Shock Linwood, who was suspended for the Oklahoma game for what Grobe called "attitude problems," returned to gain 110 yards on 24 carries.

ABOUT TEXAS TECH (4-7, 2-6): Junior quarterback Patrick Mahomes II, who has been battling a shoulder injury, needs just 243 yards of total offense to become the second player in FBS history to record 5,000 in a season twice in a career. He leads the nation in passing yards (4,466) and total offense per game (430.2) and has recorded 12 rushing touchdowns to go along with 35 through the air. Jonathan Giles leads the receiving corps with 65 catches for 1,076 yards and 12 touchdowns while Demarcus Felton, who missed the Iowa State game with a high ankle sprain and is questionable for Friday, leads the team in rushing with 354 yards and three TDs.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Baylor is 5-2 all-time at AT&T Stadium, scoring an average of 49.4 points in those seven games.

2. Giles (1,076) needs 24 receiving yards to pass Wes Welker for 10th place on Texas Tech's all-time single-season list.

3. Baylor hasn't lost five games in a row since the 2007 season, when it ended with eight straight defeats.

 

[Greenbacks]

Preview: Cincinnati at Tulsa.

When: 8:30 PM ET, Friday, November 25, 2016
Where: Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tulsa looks to finish with a perfect home record and boost its postseason resume when it hosts Cincinnati in the regular-season finale for both teams on Friday. The Golden Hurricane have won their first five games at H.A. Chapman Stadium and are coming off an impressive road victory last weekend at UCF.
The vaunted rushing tandem of D'Angelo Brewer and James Flanders combined for 330 yards to help Tulsa to its school-record seventh 300-yard rushing game in the 35-20 triumph. Brewer's second rushing touchdown of the game - and seventh this season - capped a 21-0 third-quarter outburst by the Golden Hurricane. "Coming into halftime, setting the game plan and dumbing it down - kind of - and just being us, that’s what it all comes down to," Brewer told reporters of the work of the nation's 10th-ranked rushing attack. While Tulsa has reached the 40-point plateau eight times, the Bearcats have yet to hit that mark and are spiraling into the finale with four straight losses by a combined margin of 112-26.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: Tulsa -22.5

ABOUT CINCINNATI (4-7, 1-6 American Athletic Conference): While Tulsa ranks as one of the more dominant rushing teams in the country, the Bearcats are 118th in the FBS rankings with just 116.7 yards per game - a number they've fallen shy of throughout the four-game slide that has coach Tommy Tuberville on the hot seat. "It's not about me, it's about the players," Tuberville told reporters after Friday's 34-7 loss to Memphis. "I know everybody's disgusted. We're disgusted. Nobody is more disgusted than we are, of not getting it done and not getting better." The quarterback carousel has settled back on sophomore Hayden Moore, who threw for 144 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions last week.

ABOUT TULSA (8-3, 5-2): The ground game has received most of the headlines this season, but senior Dane Evans has continued to climb the offensive ranks and could become the first Golden Hurricane quarterback with three 3,000-yard seasons if he can amass 261 in this one. Evans has endured a slight slip in accuracy, completing just 12-of-25 passes last weekend and falling short of the 60-percent mark in three consecutive games after hitting on 62.9 percent last season. Senior Keevan Lucas is his favorite target and needs 12 yards to reach 1,000 for the second time in his career.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Bearcats LB Eric Wilson leads the conference and ranks seventh nationally in tackles per game (10.5).

2. Evans has 14 career 300-yard passing performances, one shy of Paul Smith's school record.

3. Cincinnati has won the last four meetings, including a 49-38 triumph last season in which Bearcats QB Gunner Kiel threw for 386 yards.

 

[Greenbacks]

Preview: Arizona State at Arizona.

When: 9:30 PM ET, Friday, November 25, 2016
Where: Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Arizona

The rivalry might remain the same, but when Arizona hosts Arizona State in their annual Territorial Cup on Friday the outcome will have a lot less meaning than it did just two years, when the Pac-12 South title was on the line. The Wildcats were ranked No. 12 heading into the 2014 game and the Sun Devils were No. 13, but now Arizona's riding an eight-game losing streak and Arizona State has lost five in row.
The Sun Devils still have a shot at a bowl invitation if they can knock off Arizona for their sixth win. This game figures to be close, as the Wildcats have allowed 425 points this season and Arizona State has surrendered 422, both of which rank in the bottom 10 among FBS teams. Arizona might be motivated to avoid becoming the second team in program history to finish winless in conference play, joining the 1957 squad that went 0-4 in the Border Conference. Of course, that could be difficult considering they've lost seven straight games by double figures with an average margin of defeat of 29.1.

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Arizona State -3

ABOUT ARIZONA STATE (5-6, 2-6 Pac-12): Another thing the Sun Devils have going for them is reliable place kicker Zane Gonzalez, who is 23-of-24 on field-goal attempts this season and has converted his last 17. Most of his kicks have been anything but chip shots, as he's 6-of-6 from 40 to 49 yards and 7-of-8 from 50 and out with a long of 59. Gonzalez was recognized for his accomplishments by being named one of three finalists for the Groza Award, which is awarded to the nation's best kicker.

ABOUT ARIZONA (2-9, 0-8): The last time the Wildcats lost eight straight games, coach John Mackovic didn't make it out of the skid before he was fired. Rich Rodriguez likely has a longer leash based off the success he had two years ago, and the injuries he's had at key positions this season certainly have been a factor. Brandon Dawkins is one of those players that saw his promising debut at quarterback in the second week of the season get derailed by a concussion, but he played like his former self last week against Oregon State and could pose problems for the defensively vulnerable Sun Devils.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Territorial Cup has been certified by the NCAA as the oldest rivalry trophy in college football.

2. The Wildcats have the second-longest active losing streak behind Fresno State (nine).

3. Arizona State has surrendered a total of three points in the first quarter of the last two games.

 

[Greenbacks]

Regarding Houston coach Tom Herman: according to a source, Houston AD Hunter Yurachek met with Herman's agent, Trace Armstrong earlier this week and offered Herman a contract extension that included a seven-figure raise over the $2.8 million salary he earns currently. As of early Friday morning, Yurachek and Houston athletic department officials have not received a response from Armstrong or Herman on the offer and were unaware of any agreements Herman might have made with another school but were anticipating his departure for another program within the next 48 hours, the source said.