Director of Sports Journalism Jerry Hill gives his three takeaways from Monday's weekly press conference with head coach Dave Aranda talking about the Bears' 45-27 road win over Oklahoma State and the matchup this week between BU (3-2, 1-1) and Kansas State (2-3, 1-1). Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. Saturday at McLane Stadium, with the game streamed by ESPN+: 

1. THE BELL COW: With his physical, downhill running style, sophomore running back Bryson Washington is "kind of our bell cow when he's out there doing those things," Aranda said of Washington, who rushed for 77 yards and one touchdown on just 10 carries against OSU before leaving with an injury. "I think (that physicality) has been missing up until, really, these last two games, but particularly this last one. When you don't have that piece, there's kind of a hole in the middle of what is your identity. But when you have that, and you've got receivers that are taking DBs and putting them into the ground on the sideline, the identity jumps off the screen. It was good to have that on Saturday."
2. TAKING THE REINS OFF: After rushing for just 62 yards on 25 carries through the first four games, K-State junior quarterback Avery Johnson fueled the Wildcats' offense in a 34-20 win over UCF, throwing for 168 yards and two TDs and picking up 75 yards on 12 totes. "I think there was probably some intentional play prior to that of trying to keep the quarterback out of the fray and be a passer," Aranda said. "I think there was, 'Hey, we've got this guy, he's really fast, were going to run him.' . . . You can see he's improved with every game that he's played this year. Playing them here coming up, there are throws that you wish he wasn't making. You wish he didn't ID it and throw it right where it needs to be. But he's doing that. He's a better thrower than you want him to be, so he's a big challenge for us."
3. A DEEP ROOM: Led by Josh Cameron, who is No. 2 in the Big 12 with 407 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries, the Bears have had eight different wide receivers catch passes through the first five games. "In the construction part of your roster, the strongest piece of the roster is that position group; the most invested into a position group is that group," Aranda said. "It's good when those two things are happening, on the other end of it, you get production and you get game-changing plays, you get momentum and you get points. That's really good to see. And I think there are still more guys in there that can contribute, so we're trying to open it up for them." San Diego State transfer Louis Brown IV, who had six catches for 79 yards and one TD in the first four games, has opted to redshirt, Aranda said. "I think there's been the emergence of a couple other guys at receiver that really have allowed us to find the space."