TIGERS FARED WELL AGAINST TEXAS RUSHING ATTACK
Last week, Mizzou also faced the nation's 2nd-leading rusher, in Texas' Cedric Benson. The Tigers held their own against Benson for the most part, but he did manage 150 yards and 2 TDs in the end. The yardage figure was below his season average of 167.7 coming into the game with Mizzou, however. He was averaging nearly 7 yards per carry coming into the game, but was held to 5.4 yards per carry by Mizzou. As a team, Texas was ranked 2nd nationally as a team, averaging 313.60 rushing yards per game coming into its game with Mizzou, but the Tigers held UT to only 193 yards on the ground for the day. That was the 2nd-lowest total of the year for the Longhorns. Through 6 games this season, Mizzou is allowing opponents an average of 113.83 yards per game, which ranks MU 4th in the Big 12, and 32nd nationally. More importantly, it's a huge improvement from last year, when MU ranked 72nd nationally, giving up an average of 167.23 yards per game on the ground. Overall, the current average allowed by MU is the lowest since the 1983 team allowed 97.7 yards rushing in 11 games. The MU season record is just 73.9 yards allowed per game, set by the 1967 squad.

TIGERS LEAD BIG 12 IN TOTAL DEFENSE
It's been quite awhile since Mizzou was known as a strong defensive team. But right now, you'd have to say that while MU's offense has done just fine through 6 games this year, MU's primary identity right now lies with its defense. The stats bear us out with that claim, as Mizzou sits atop Big 12 Conference standings in total defense entering the Oklahoma State game, allowing an average of 266.00 yards per game thus far. That ranks Mizzou 8th in the country to this point. Additionally, Mizzou's defense ranks in the NCAA top-15 in three other major statistical categories, including: passing defense (9th - 152.17 ypg); pass efficiency defense (12th - 100.15 rating); and scoring defense (15th - 15.17 ppg).

TIGERS LOOKING TO EXTEND WIN STREAK AT 'THE ZOU' TO 10 GAMES
Faurot Field - nicknamed 'The Zou' by the Tiger team last season - was a house of horrors for visiting teams in 2003 - a trend that the Tigers have carried into this year, as well. Things are off to a good start, as MU is a perfect 3-0 this season at Faurot, with a 17-9 win over Colorado three weeks ago, preceded by a 52-20 win in its season opener on Sept. 4th against Arkansas State, and a 48-0 pasting of Ball State on Sept. 18th. A win for MU Saturday against Oklahoma State would extend its win streak at The Zou to 10, as the Tigers have won 9 consecutive at Faurot, after going a perfect 6-0 there last year. That broke the old school record of five wins for most wins in a home season, and marked the first time since 1974 that MU was perfect at home. It also marked only the 12th time since the stadium opened in 1926 that MU went unbeaten and untied at home. MU's last home loss came in the 2002 finale vs. Kansas State. Mizzou's average margin of victory at home in its current 9-game win streak has been a whopping 26.1 points, as MU has outscored foes by a 388-153 margin during the streak (43.1to-17.0). Included in last year's total was a 62-point outing against Texas Tech, which represents the most points ever scored by MU at Memorial Stadium.

LONGEST HOME WINNING STREAKS
Mizzou's current home winning streak of 9 is the 2nd-longest in school history since 1926, when Memorial Stadium opened.

NEAR-CAPACITY CROWD EXPECTED FOR SATURDAY
Capacity for Faurot Field is listed at 68,349, and with a good walk-up crowd Saturday, MU Athletic Officials are hoping that it could be close to a sell-out situation. In its previous 3 home games this season, MU has averaged 58,133 in attendance, a figure which ranks 34th nationally, and 5th in the Big 12, behind only the schools with the 4 largest stadiums in the league: Oklahoma (9th - 84,438); Texas (11th - 82,874); Nebraska (18th - 77,719); and Texas A&M (22nd - 69,947). MU officials set a goal of averaging 60,000 in attendance for the 2004 home season, and MU needs to average 61,867 in its last 3 games to reach that mark. If achieved, it would mark the first time since 1981 that MU has averaged over 60,000 in attendance. That year, MU averaged 61,787.

MIZZOU-OSU SERIES HISTORY
Mizzou and Oklahoma State will meet for the 47th time when they square off on Saturday in Columbia. The Tigers hold a 27-19 lead overall in the series, and have won four straight, which spans to 1996 and the first year of the Big 12 Conference. Oklahoma State (MU is 4-0) and Baylor (5-0) are the only two Big 12 foes that the Tigers have never lost to since the league formed. Don't let that fact fool you, though, because three of MU's wins in its current four-game streak over the Cowboys could have gone either way. The 1996, 1997 and 2001 games all went into overtime, with the Tigers prevailing in each. In 1996 (Homecoming for MU), the Tigers claimed a 35-28 win in the school's first-ever overtime game. Mizzou followed that with a huge come-from-behind win at Stillwater in 1997 - 51-50 in double overtime. OSU had entered that game 6-0 and was ranked 12th in the nation, and the win helped propel Mizzou to its first bowl appearance since 1983. The 2001 MU win in Stillwater was a three-overtime affair, with the Tigers prevailing, 41-38, in Gary Pinkel's first year as head coach. Overall, Mizzou has won 4 of the last 5 meetings between the schools in Columbia, and leads 17-8 alltime in games played here. Oklahoma State's last win at Columbia was a 30-26 win in 1995. Historically, one might expect a close game Saturday, as 21 of the 46 previous meetings have been decided by 7 points or fewer.

TIGER DEFENSE HAS BEEN GUILTY OF PICKIN' AND GRINNIN'
After grabbing 2 more interceptions at Texas last time out, Mizzou's defense now has a total of 12 INTs already in 6 games this season, a total which is 2nd-highest currently in the NCAA, and has already surpassed last year's 13-game total of 9 INTs gained. The Tigers have intercepted at least 1 pass in every game thus far, and snatched 3 each in games at Troy and versus Colorado. Cornerback Shirdonya Mitchell leads the way with 4 interceptions, which ties him for 1st currently in the Big 12, and 5th in the NCAA. Mitchell picked off Texas' Vince Young in the 2nd quarter last Saturday, and that led directly to 7 Tiger points, as MU scored on its first play on offense after the turnover. It was the 3rd straight game that Mitchell picked off a pass, and the 4th time in 6 games overall. Previously, Mitchell intercepted a Baylor pass on the game's opening possession. That marked the 3rd time this season that MU has made an interception on its opponent's initial drive of the game. Mitchell did the deed in game #2 when he picked off a pass at Troy, while fellow CB Marcus King picked off Colorado in its opening drive in game #4. Junior S Jason Simpson had arguably the biggest play of the game when he picked off his first career pass late in the 2nd quarter and returned it 46 yards down to the Baylor 9-yardline. His INT set up MU's 1st TD of the game as Mizzou took a 13-3 lead into halftime, and never looked back. The MU single season record for INTs as a team is 28, set in 1941, and for individuals is 7, set in 1968 by former All-American Roger Wehrli.

ALL-STAR CANDIDATES
While we've barely reached the midway point of the season, it's never too early to be thinking about players deserving of all-star recognition, and this year, Mizzou has plenty of players worthy of such consideration. We'll go into futher detail later, but here is a breif assessment of Tiger players that we would very much like to be considered as honors candidates...

THIRD QUARTER DOMINANCE A TREND FOR MIZZOU
The 3rd quarter has seen MU dominate its opponents thus far in 2004, as the Tigers have outscored foes by a 35-3 margin in that period. The only opponent to score on Mizzou in the 3rd quarter through 6 games was Arkansas State, which kicked a 21-yard field goal at the 6:27 mark of the 3rd period in MU's season opening 52-20 win in Columbia on Sept. 4th. From a scoring standpoint, the 2nd quarter has been the biggest scoring period for both MU and opponents, as MU has tallied 69 points in the 2nd quarter, while opponents have scored 43 points in the 2nd quarter.

3RD DOWN GOOD TO TIGER DEFENSE
Through 6 games, Mizzou has had a good go of it stopping opponents on 3rd down. Mizzou ranks 2nd in the Big 12 Conference in opponent 3rd-down conversion rate for the season, as the Tiger defense has allowed opponents to convert only 25.9% of their attempts (21-of-91). In Big 12 games only, MU is tops in the league, with a rate of 25.6% (10-of-39). MU has been very stingy in its last two games, as it has held Texas and Baylor to a combined 5-of-27 on 3rd downs. Last time out, Texas converted on only 3-of-12 3rd downs (UT had ranked 2nd in the Big 12 on offense coming into the game on 3rd down conversions). Prior to that, MU limited Baylor to just 2-of-15 on 3rd down (13.3%). The Tiger defenders also snuffed out both Bear 4th down tries, and have allowed opponents to convert successfully on just 1-of-6 (16.7%) on 4th down so far this season. Colorado had the most success of any MU foe thus far, when the Buffs made on 5-of-12 3rd-down tries in MU's recent 17-9 win. But the Tiger defense held tight when the "chips" were down, so to speak, as it held CU to just 1-of-6 on 3rd down tries in the 2nd half. Arkansas State converted on 6-of-15 3rd-down tries in the 2004 season opener. The Tiger defense held Troy to only 2-of-12 on 3rd down in defeat, and followed by holding Ball State to 3-of-15 on 3rd down tries. The success has been an improvement from the 2003 season, when Mizzou ranked 8th in the Big 12 in this category, as opponents converted 40.7% of the time on 3rd downs against MU.

TURNOVER MARGIN IN TIGERS' FAVOR
After being dead even in the turnover margin category through MU's first two games (3 takeaways, 3 turnovers), Mizzou has decidely shifted the very important stat in its favor. In its last 4 games, Mizzou has forced 12 turnovers (8 INTs, 4 fumbles) and committed only 3 of its own (a fumble lost against Colorado & 2 INTs at Texas). That recent advantage has tipped the scales heavily in MU's favor, as the Tigers now rank 3rd in the Big 12 Conference, and 7th nationally, with a turnover margin of +1.50 per game (17 takeaways / 8 giveaways in 6 games). That is a solid continuation of last year, when the Tigers ranked 10th nationally (3rd in the Big 12), with a turnover margin of +0.85 per game. Mizzou has led the nation in fewest turnovers in each of the last two seasons, committing 12 in 12 games in 2002 and 13 in 13 games in 2003.

MISSOURI DOESN'T BEAT MISSOURI ON PINKEL'S WATCH
When Mizzou commits mistakes (turnovers, penalties, etc...), MU Head Coach Gary Pinkel often refers to that as "Missouri beating Missouri." Fortunately for the Tigers' 4th-year skipper, that hasn't happened often at all. In fact, NCAA stats show that in Pinkel's time at Mizzou (from 2001), MU has had the fewest turnovers in the nation. In the 42 games in the Pinkel regime, MU has committed just 49 turnovers. The next fewest during that same period is Minnesota, with 55 . The next best team in the Big 12 is Oklahoma, who rates 5th-best nationally, at 65 turnovers. In 13 games last season, Mizzou led the nation with just 13 turnovers lost, a year after MU led the nation with just 12 turnovers in 2002 - setting a school record in the process for fewest in a year. Mizzou is coming off a 28-20 loss at Texas in which it gave up 2 interceptions - and those proved costly as Texas converted them into 14 points. Prior to that, MU had turned the ball over just once in 3 games (a fumble against Colorado), and was mistake free in wins over Ball State and at Baylor. The Tigers uncharacteristically had 5 giveaways in its first 2 games (2 vs. Arkansas State and 3 at Troy). Under Pinkel, Mizzou has committed zero turnovers in 15 of 42 ballgames. Here's the breakdown by year: GAMES UNDER PINKEL WITH NO TURNOVERS BY MIZZOU 2004 - (2) - Ball State, at Baylor 2003 - (7) - Illinois, at Ball State, Middle Tennessee, at Kansas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Iowa State 2002 - (4) - Ball State, at Nebraska, at Texas Tech, Kansas 2001 - (2) - Nebraska, at Oklahoma State

SMITH MOVES INTO 2ND ON MIZZOU CAREER PASSING LIST
Mizzou signal caller Brad Smith was solid in his outing last Saturday at 9th-ranked Texas. He threw for 185 yards on 20-of-34 passing, with 1 TD and had 2 interceptions. By comparison, last year's Heisman Trophy winner, Jason White of Oklahoma, completed 14-of-27 passes for just 113 yards and zero TDs with 2 INTs, against the same Texas defense the week before, in OU's 12-0 win over Texas on Oct. 9th. His 185 yards passing was enough to move him past former MU star Phil Bradley for 2nd place on the Mizzou career passing yardage list. Smith now has 5,505 career passing yards, while Bradley amassed 5,352 yards passing for Mizzou from 1977-80. The career record is still a little ways off - 6,959 yards by Jeff Handy from 1991-94. Prior to Texas, Smith led a balanced offensive attack in MU's 30-10 win over Baylor. He passed for a modest 151 yards (a season-low output), on 13-of-27 passing, but he connected for 3 TDs in the air, a total which tied his single-game career best mark.

SMITH REACHES TOTAL OFFENSE MILESTONE
With 237 yards of total offense last week against Texas, Brad Smith, already the MU career leader in total offense, pushed his career total offense number to 8,292 yards in 31 career games. He continues, with every yard, to shatter the previous record of 6,640 set by Jeff Handy, from 1991-94. Smith has thrown for 11 TDs through 6 games in 2004, a total which already has matched his 2003 total of 11 TDs through the air. He threw for a personal-best 15 TDs as a redshirt freshman in 2002. Smith threw for over 200 yards in each of MU's 1st 3 games this season (233 vs. ASU; 224 at Troy; 213 vs. BSU) - after reaching that mark only twice in 13 games in 2003 (236 vs. Eastern Illinois; 278 at Colorado). He set a personal record with a single-game QB efficiency rating of 188.51 and tied his personal-best with 3 TDs in the opener versus Arkansas State, when he connected on 14-of-22 passes for 233 yards. He tied that TD mark again later at Baylor, with 3 more TD passes. His season QB rating of 125.10 thus far is up from his 2003 season rating of 114.11. He's been more successful at stretching the field thus far, as Smith has already thrown for 5 TDs of 20 yards or more this season (24, 60, 35, 43, 51), after having only 1 TD pass of at least that distance in 13 games in 2003 (48 yds. at Colorado).

SMITH SET TO MAKE A MOVE ON NCAA ALLTIME LIST
Brad Smith enters the Oklahoma State game with 2,787 rushing yards in his career, which is just 412 yards shy of breaking the MU career rushing record of 3,198 established just last season by TB Zack Abron. Every rushing yard he accumulates this year will also get him closer to the top of the NCAA rushing record for a quarterback. He's still got quite a bit to go to reach the record of 3,895 set by Antwaan Randle El of Indiana (1998-2001), but he is on pace to do it. Given his career average of 89.9 yards rushing per game, he needs about 12 more games to break the mark. Smith ranks 11th on the NCAA's quarterback career rushing yardage chart, entering Saturday's game. He needs 32 more yards to move into the NCAA's top-10, past former Kansas State star Ell Roberson, who rushed for 2,818 yards at KSU from 2000-03. Smith's rushing total of 1,406 yards last season was the 4th-most ever in a season by a quarterback, behind only Beau Morgan of Air Force (1,494 in 1996), Stacey Robinson of Northern Illinois (1,443 in 1989) and Jamaal Lord of Nebraska (1,412 in 2002).

James Kinney TACKLES A DATE WITH HISTORY
With each tackle, senior linebacker James Kinney will inch closer and closer to the school career tackles record of 415 held by former Tiger standout (and current Iowa State assistant coach) DeMontie Cross (from 1994-96). Kinney enters Saturday's game needing only 40 stops to surpass the mark, and that certainly seems likely, given the fact that he's averaged over 11 tackles per game in his previous two seasons. Kinney, a pre-season candidate for both the Butkus and Lombardi awards this year, has developed nicely into a leader of a defense that made big strides last year. The Tiger defenders are taking even bigger steps in 2004, after becoming one of the Big 12's most improved units a year ago. Kinney, who had 147 tackles a year ago, has 376 career tackles entering the OSU game, after getting 5 stops last time out at #9 Texas. Before that, he had 9 tackles at Baylor. He recovered 2 fumbles against the Bears, and led a defensive effort that limited BU to a season-low total offensive output of just 173 yards. Prior to that, Kinney had 10 stops against Colorado and blocked CU's only extra point try in the game, which loomed quite large in MU's 17-9 victory. That marked MU's first blocked kick of any kind in 2004. He had a season-high 14 stops at Troy, prior to a solid outing that saw him register 10 tackles in the opener vs. Arkansas State. His career total currently has him 4th on the MU career charts, just 10 behind former linebacker Travis McDonald, who registered 386 stops for MU from 1991-94. Kinney would need to average just 8.0 tackles per game in MU's last 5 games to break the school record.

COFFEY TALK: WIDEOUT HAS STOOD OUT AS MU'S TOP RECEIVER
Junior wideout Sean Coffey comes into Saturday's contest with Oklahoma State as Mizzou's top receiver, with team-best totals of 20 catches for 335 yards and 5 TDs. His5 receiving TDs ranks as 3rd-best in the Big 12 Conference. Coffey was held to a season-low total of 2 catches for 27 yards last week at #9 Texas, but he still was a big contributor, as he caught a 4-yard TD from Brad Smith in the 2nd quarter to get MU on the board, at 14-7. Prior to that, at Baylor, Coffey had 3 catches for 50 yards and 1 TD. His scoring grab was a nice 8-yarder in the back of the endzone early in the 4th quarter that effectively iced the game for Mizzou, as it gave the Tigers a 27-3 lead. Earlier, Coffey came up big in MU's win over Colorado, as he grabbed 2 passes for 58 yards. Not eye-popping totals, but one of his catches was a game-breaker, as he took an out pass from Brad Smith on 3rd-and-7 from the MU 49 yardline in the 3rd quarter, shed a tackle from the smaller cornerback, got a downfield block from TE Martin Rucker, and he raced and juked his way into the endzone for a 51-yard TD that put MU up 17-9. Coffey also had another long TD taken away from him due to an official's call. With MU clinging to a 10-9 lead late in the 1st half, Coffey got free on the left sideline and caught a perfectly thrown ball from Smith in stride, and took it in for what appeared to be a 59-yard TD. However, the official on the play ruled that Coffey pushed off and disallowed the TD. To avoid getting fined by the Big 12 Conference, let's just say that after watching television replays, that we'd better not comment further. Coffey got out of the gates strong to start the 2004 season, as he was Brad Smith's go-to guy in the season opener versus Arkansas State. Coffey grabbed 5 passes on the night for a career-high 113 yards, including a 60-yard TD catch-and-run from Smith in the 2nd quarter that put MU out to a 28-10 lead. Smith and Coffey were on the same page right away, as the pair of Ohio natives hooked up for two big completions on MU's first drive of the season. First, Smith hit Coffey for 19 yards on a crossing route over the middle on a 3rd-and-7 from the MU 38 yardline. Three plays later, Mizzou faced a similar 3rd-and-7 from the ASU 40, and Coffey got free on the sideline and made a nice catch and kept his feet in for a gain of 8 to keep the drive alive. Coffey was MU's 3rd-leading receiver in 2003, as he caught 27 passes for 341 yards and 1 TD. At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, he gives Smith quite a target to look for, and he looks to become the go-to receiver in the Tiger passing game.

MITCHELL LEADS BIG 12, RANKS 5TH NATIONALLY, IN INTERCEPTIONS
For a guy who moved from wide receiver because he had trouble consistently catching the ball, senior CB Shirdonya Mitchell is catching everything that's coming his way for the Tiger defense. Mitchell, who converted to CB in 2003, has been playing lights out for the Tiger secondary, and through 6 games, he leads the Big 12 Conference, and ranks 5th in the NCAA, with an average of 0.67 interceptions per game (4 INTs in 6 games). Mitchell is leading the way for a Tiger defense that, as previously noted, ranks 2nd in the nation with 12 interceptions. In 13 games in 2003, Mizzou had only 9 interceptions. Mitchell has now registered a pickoff in 3 straight games, with INTs against Colorado, at Baylor and at Texas. His INT vs. Colorado was possibly the defensive play of the year for Mizzou, as it came late in the 4th quarter, with MU clinging to a 17-9 lead over the Buffs. With CU threatening, and the ball on MU's 8-yardline, the Buffs threw a fade pass into the left corner of the endzone to WR Evan Judge. Judge appeared to get his hands on the ball first, but before he could completely collect the ball and come down with it, Mitchell grabbed the ball, and wrestled it away from Judge, and was credited with an interception by officials. That play saved the game for Mizzou, as the Tiger offense successfully proceeded to run out the clock and preserve the big win. On a personal note, Shirdonya and his wife of three years, Crystol, are expecting their first child on Oct. 27th - which falls right between MU's Oct. 23rd game against Oklahoma State and its Oct. 30th game at Nebraska. The Mitchell's are having a girl, and they've already picked out the name - Shiriah Chali. Mizzou Head Coach Gary Pinkel has said that even if the Tigers are on the road, he will make arrangements to get the father-to-be back in Columbia, even if it means him missing a game.

SMITTY LEADS BIG 12 IN SACKS
Mizzou's "other" Smith, sophomore DE Brian Smith, is getting untracked lately, and after registering 4 QB sacks in MU's last 2 games, he enters Saturday's game against Oklahoma State as the Big 12 leader, with 5 sacks on the season in 6 games (0.83 p/g). Smith was held without a sack in MU's first two games, against Arkansas State and Troy State, and MU coaches decided to move him back to the position he played last year - the stud end position, where his only responsibility is to rush the quarterback. Since moving back to his old haunts, Smith has responded with all of his 5 sacks in MU's last 4 games. He began with 1 sack in game #3 against Ball State, and after going sackless against Colorado, he responded with a career-high 3 sacks at Baylor. One of his sacks against the Bears caused a fumble that was covered by teammate James Kinney, and led to MU points on offense. Smith had one sack last time out at #9 Texas, and his sack of QB Chance Mock forced another fumble, but UT was able to cover that one. For the season, Smith has 13 tackles, including 6 TFLs (5 of which are his sacks), and has a team-high 2 forced fumbles and has added 4 QB hurries. Smith earned freshman All-American honors last year by several outlets, after he registered 8 sacks, a total which was best in the nation for all freshmen. That 8 sacks was tied for 3rd-best in MU single-season history, and his 13 career sacks entering the Oklahoma State game have him alone in 7th place on the MU career sacks chart. He sits one behind Lee Johnson, who had 14 from 1986-89. The MU career leader is Justin Smith, who registered 22.5 sacks from 1998-2000.

RUSHING ANALYSIS
Let's take a look at how MU's top three rushers (TB Damien Nash, QB Brad Smith and TB Marcus Woods) have fared on the ground in the range of downs. The numbers show that 3rd down has been the most successful down for Smith as he's averaged a healthy 7.2 yards, while Nash's best success has been on 2nd down (5.2 yds.). Woods has been most effective on 1st down, with an average of 4.2 yards.

TIGHT ENDS A POTENT PART OF TIGER PASSING ATTACK
Mizzou's passing game has leaned heavily on its talented pair of pass-catching tight ends, in senior Victor Sesay and redshirt freshman Martin Rucker. The duo has combined for 31 catches for 390 yards and 5 TDs in just 6 games thus far in the 2004 season. Sesay is 2nd on the squad in receptions (19) and 2nd in receiving yards (204) through 6 games, and is coming off a 3-catch outing at #9 Texas. He caught a TD in each of MU's first 2 games this year (35 yards against Arkansas State and 10 yards at Troy). Sesay caught 4 passes in the opener versus Arkansas State for a career-high 80 yards, had 3 catches for 45 yards against Ball State, and had 4 grabs for 30 yards versus CU. Rucker, who earned the #1 spot on the depth chart this fall despite missing most of spring ball due to an injured shoulder, has showed many times why Tiger coaches are so high on his ability. He's coming off a nice game at Texas, where he had 3 catches for 48 yards. Previously, against Baylor, Rucker had a career-best 2 TD catches (7 & 17 yds.), and he had 3 catches overall on the night for 34 yards. Rucker enters the Oklahoma State game ranked 2nd on the team in receiving TDs, with 3. Rucker, Rucker, the younger brother of former Nebraska and current Carolina Panther standout defensive lineman Mike Rucker, made quite a splash in his first game as a Tiger, when he took a pass from Brad Smith on MU's opening drive of the season, and took it 24 yards for a TD on his first career catch. He followed by catching 3 passes for a career-best 44 yards in game No. 2 at Troy.

BAYLOR GAME REWIND
Mizzou rode its defense and a sharp red-zone passing attack to a solid 30-10 win at Baylor on Oct. 9th & 10th (the game didn't end until 12:13 a.m.). Mizzou's defense forced 4 Baylor turnovers, and limited the Bears to a season-low 173 yards of total offense. The Tigers got 3 passing TDs from QB Brad Smith as they pulled away from a tight game early to coast to the victory. Here are some various notes culled from the Baylor game: