Troy Travels to No. 15 Kansas State

TROY, Ala. – The nation's second-longest winning streak will face its stiffest test to date on Saturday as Troy travels to No. 15 Kansas State for a non-conference showdown at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m., and the game will be broadcast on FS1.

Troy (1-0) enters the matchup with Kansas State (1-0) having won 12 straight games, second only to No. 1 Georgia, which includes a ranked victory over No. 22 UTSA in last year's Cure Bowl. The win over the Roadrunners snapped a streak of seven straight losses by the Trojans against ranked teams dating back to a 2017 win at No. 22 LSU.

"They are a top 20 team, and they look like it," Troy head coach Jon Sumrall said. "They are big, they are physical and they are well coached. If we don't play a lot better (than week one), it will be a blowout against us. This is a legit top 20 football team, and we've got a tremendous challenge and a tremendous opportunity in front of us."

Both teams are coming off victories over FCS opponents as Troy defeated Stephen F. Austin, 48-30, and Kansas State knocked off Southeast Missouri State, 45-0.

The Trojans jumped out to a 21-3 lead in the first quarter but allowed the Jacks to fight back after a pair of turnovers in the second quarter. Troy dominated the stat sheet, outgaining SFA by a 300-yard margin, including a 238-yard advantage on the ground.

The opener marked just the second time in 37 games during Troy's FBS era, where it allowed less than 250 yards and more than 21 points. Of the 30 points allowed, seven came directly from a turnover while six came on two drives that covered a combined 30 yards, another seven points where 41 percent of the yards came via penalties and finally seven points came against Troy's third-string defense late in the fourth quarter.

Junior running back Kimani Vidal led the country in rushing during the opening weekend of action, churning up a program record 248 yards on 25 carries, his third 200-yard game in the last five outings.

DJ Giddens rushed for 128 yards on 15 carries to pace Kansas State, while Will Howard threw for 297 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Wildcats outgained SEMO 588-227 in the game. K-State is 95-15 in regular season non-conference games dating back to 1990, including 81-9 at home.

Notable
• Troy finished the 2022 season ranked No. 19 in the AP Top 25 and No. 20 in the USA Today/Coaches Poll. It marked the first time in program history that Troy was ranked in a final poll.

• Troy scored a touchdown on its opening drive against SFA ... the Trojans did not score a touchdown on any opening drives last year (two field goals).

• Richard Jibunor is the nation's active FBS leader in sacks, solo sacks, sack yards and tackle for loss yards ... he is fourth in forced fumbles and 12th in tackles for loss.

• Reddy Steward has returned three career interceptions for a touchdown, which ranks as the second most of any active FBS player nationally and tied for the most in Troy history.

• Troy has held an opponent to less than 250 yards in 37 games since moving to the FBS level; Saturday marked the first time in those games the Trojans allowed more than 27 points and just the second time allowing 21-plus points.

• Kimani Vidal has rushed for 200-plus yards in three of the last five games, averaging 164.8 yards in those five games.

• Prior to the opener, the last time Troy opened the game with an offensive and defensive touchdown on back-to-back drives was against Georgia Southern on Nov. 11, 2015.

• Troy finished 6-0 in close games at the half last season (score differential is five points or less).

• From 2005-21, Troy was 11-73 when trailing at the half and 5-52 when scoring less than 21 points ... last season, Troy was 5-1 when trailing at the half and 5-1 when scoring less than 21 points.

• Troy won its FBS games by an average of 10.7 points per game last season, with six wins coming by one score or less. The Trojans won four straight games by one score -- Texas State (17-14), South Alabama (10-6), Louisiana (23-17), Army (10-9).

• Troy allowed the fifth-fewest plays of 20-plus yards last season (38), the sixth-fewest 20-plus yards runs (7) and the 13th-fewest 20-plus yard passes (31).

• Troy's roster features 18 transfers from four-year institutions at the FBS or FCS level. Of those, 12 joined the Trojans this offseason. Additionally, 16 of the 18 are on the depth chart for week two.

• Troy legend DeMarcus Ware became the first player who competed in the Sun Belt Conference to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame when he was inducted in August.

• Troy's win over No. 22 UTSA in the Cure Bowl snapped a streak of seven straight losses against ranked foes; Troy's previous win against a ranked team was at No. 22 LSU in 2017.

• Senior safety Dell Pettus has started 48 straight games entering the season, the longest active streak in the country.

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Players Mentioned

Richard Jibunor

Dell Pettus

Reddy Steward

Kimani Vidal

Troy University Athletics