Kansas looking to navigate through Big 12 gauntlet after bye-week
Kansas Coach Lance Leipold addresses his players during a timeout in the second quarter against Oklahoma State Saturday October 14, 2023 at Boone Pickens Stadium. (Lynn Harrington/stayaliveinpower5)
The Jayhawks had a lot of time to think about their road loss in week seven.
After all, the nail-biting loss to Oklahoma State dropped Kansas out of the AP top-25, and Coach Lance Leipold had to pick up the pieces. However, the Jayhawks will be back in action at home Saturday, where they’re undefeated this season. It just so happens that Leipold’s squad will be hosting the No. 6 team in the country.
Oklahoma is unscathed and sits atop the Big 12 standings, so there’s no denying the magnitude of this matchup. Kansas (5-2) has played phenomenal at home this season. It’s hard to argue against that when the Jayhawks are averaging a jaw-dropping, 42.7 points per game at Memorial Stadium. Not to mention Kansas scored 51 points on UCF, a team Oklahoma struggled to beat last week.
The Jayhawks haven’t defeated an AP top-10 team at home since 1984, and that’s when they took down the No. 2 Sooners. So if Leipold can somehow upset Oklahoma, it’ll be the biggest victory of his tenure. Quarterback Jalon Daniels has been ruled out for a third-straight game, but Jason Bean has filled in nicely for the 2023 preseason Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.
It’s no mystery that Kansas can light up the scoreboard on offense, but it’s defense continues to be a liability. Oklahoma (7-0) is playing lights out, and averaging 43.1 points per game, which ranks fourth in the FBS. Sooner gunslinger Dillon Gabriel is having a Heisman-worthy campaign, and leads the Big 12 in completion percentage, passing efficiency, and touchdown tosses. Gabriel will be the best quarterback the Jayhawks will face all season.
The game appears to have the ingredients for an offensive shootout, but the weather will be rainy all afternoon. That means mistakes are likely to happen because of slippery balls, wet field and the wind. It all can work out in Leipold’s favor too. Kansas played Oklahoma down to the wire in Norman last season, and put up 42 points.
Leipold and his players probably watched every minute of the Sooners’ thrilling win over the Knights. UCF’s offense exposed Oklahoma’s defense in several ways that Leipold should be able to exploit. The home crowd will be in it every second of the way, which should give the Jayhawks momentum.
In a game that’s going to have nasty weather, the Jayhawks will have to run the ball and control time of possession. Running back Devin Neal is a bowling ball, and gets stronger with every carry, so his production will be vital in the fourth quarter. Bean has great mobility also, so fans should expect a heavy dose of the rushing attack. In return that’ll open up the play-action pass downfield for Bean.
Kansas has an opportunity at shaking up the Big 12 standings if it can pull out a win. This game also has Playoff implications because of Oklahoma’s record, so all eyes will be on this early Saturday clash, and Leipold needs to show the loss to Oklahoma State was a fluke. The road only gets tougher for the Jayhawks from here. Three of Kansas’ final five games are against teams currently with a winning record.
