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Big 12 stat check: Week 3

A closer look at one statistic worth keeping an eye on for each Big 12 team entering Week 3:

Baylor: KD Cannon is the only receiver in FBS with four receptions of 40-plus yards. Just to put that in perspective: Kansas had five receptions of 40-plus as a team in 2013. TCU had six. Florida State's Rashad Greene and LSU's Travin Dural each have three 40-plus receptions this year, but they've been targeted a combined 38 times for 21 catches. Cannon got his on eight receptions and 12 targets.

Iowa State: One of quarterback Sam B. Richardson's most underrated traits is his ability to move the chains with his legs. He's already picked up first downs on 11 of 21 rushing attempts (excluding sacks) at a rate of 5.8 yards per carry, including four third-down conversions. When you exclude his six sacks, Richardson has rushed for 123 yards this season.

Kansas: Jayhawks senior cornerback Dexter McDonald doubled his career interception total with two against Southeast Missouri State, and Kansas' defense grabbed three interceptions in a game for the first time in two years. McDonald, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week, also broke up two passes and might not see the ball thrown his way too often in the next few weeks.

Kansas State: The Jake Waters-to-Tyler Lockett connection got rolling against last week at Iowa State. Since joining K-State last season, Waters has a QBR of 96.1 on his pass attempts to Lockett. Lockett has gained 20-plus yards on 21 of his 80 receptions from Waters, and the duo has a completion percentage of 67.8 percent.

Oklahoma: Watch out, Tennessee quarterback Justin Worley. This Oklahoma defense has been stingy against quarterbacks in 2014. The adjusted QBR of passers facing OU is currently 17.6, sixth-best among FBS defenses, and you know that unit isn't satisfied with having four sacks through two games. Worley has turned the ball over just once, and OU and Tennessee enter Saturday with matching plus-three turnover margins.

Oklahoma State: Of Daxx Garman's 16 completions against Missouri State, nine were short passes caught at or behind the line of scrimmage. Only 36 of his passing yards came on those high-percentage throws, but they sure seemed to help set Garman up to attack deep. On passes of 20-plus yards, he went 4-of-7 for 161 yards and his two TDs.

TCU: Last week against Middle Tennessee State, Minnesota averaged 8.6 yards per carry in two-tight end sets. This is something Gary Patterson said he kept a close eye on when preparing for the Gophers during the offseason. He even spent extra time lining up his scout teams in two-TE formations so his defense would be ready. He's serious about trying to slow down Minnesota's run game in power sets.

Texas: Despite giving up 41 points to BYU, Texas's defense ranks sixth nationally in yards per snap (3.53) and eighth in pass defense (98 ypg). Only Baylor, Virginia Tech and Utah have more sacks than the 10 the Longhorns have produced, and only Central Michigan has more interceptions than the Longhorns' five.

Texas Tech: The Red Raiders are the second-most penalized team in FBS so far with 25 penalties through two games. Their offense (11 penalties) and defense (10) are almost equally responsible for this problem. The 204 total penalty yards that Tech's opponents have been gifted are one reason why this team has played closer-than-expected games.

West Virginia: A year ago, Maryland held WVU to its worst offensive day under Dana Holgorsen era: 0 points, 62 passing yards, 175 total yards. Going into this week's rematch, that offense could not be healthier. Clint Trickett, who didn't play against the Terps last year, is averaging 356.5 passing yards per game and the Mountaineers' 606 total yards against Towson last week was fifth-most since Holgorsen took over in 2011.

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