Kansas still in search of first Big 12 win as schedule gets tougher

MANHATTAN, Kan. — With half of the season in the books, the Jayhawks remain winless in conference play, and have to win four of their final six games to become bowl eligible.

That’s going to be a tall order for Coach Lance Leipold, considering four of those contests will be against teams that currently have a winning record, including one that’s No. 2 in the AP Poll. Leipold is trying to keep everyone positive, despite it appearing like everything is starting to crumble.

The 35-24 road loss to Kansas State is a tough pill for Kansas to swallow, especially it being the 18th-straight in the series, but Leipold refuses to dwell on the past.

“All losses sting, this one stings a lot because there’s a lot of people that count on us in games like this, and a lot of people that want this streak snapped, self-included,” Leipold said. “Today was a day that mattered, and we didn’t rise to the occasion.”

The Jayhawks put up a good fight against the Wildcats in the first half though. Kansas answered the bell after Kansas State drew first blood when Bryson Hayes returned a 95-yard kickoff for a touchdown. The Jayhawks even scored 17 unanswered points, and led by double-digits at the end of the first quarter.

Leipold was pleased that his team started fast out of the gates, but disappointed that he didn’t keep his foot on the gas. Quarterback Isaiah Marshall had some bright moments, but there were also others that showed he’s just a first-year starter. The penalties from mental errors, along with turnovers, and a leaky defense didn’t help either.

So that’s something Leipold wants to clean up as the Jayhawks navigate through the Big 12 meat-grinder.

“We had two touchdowns called back, and another catch negated as we have a chance to go in and try to make a play,” he said. “So all of those things did self-inflict, we didn’t tackle very well, just a poor game.”

Leipold realized how physical the Wildcats were more than the Jayhawks, and the way they dominated the trenches in the second half. Not to mention the inconsistency from punter Matthew Gill gave Kansas State great field position throughout the afternoon. Leipold is confident that if the Jayhawks can fix their passing efficiency, tackling, and limit the turnovers, they can easily turn the season around.

“There are times where we can play with people, that confidence hasn’t waned whatsoever,” the 62-year old said. “It’s just sometimes in these situations our margin of error is very small, and you gotta play clean, especially on the road.”

Fortunately, Kansas returns home for a battle with Baylor. Leipold intends on taking all of the positive aspects from the loss to the Wildcats, and apply that on the field against the Bears. The hunger is there for the first Big 12 victory of the season, but the Jayhawks still have to learn how to close out games.

Regardless, Leipold believes his boys are due for a complete game, and expects them to come out and play with their hair on fire after an intense week of practice. An 0-3 start to Big 12 play means there’s a sense of urgency for Leipold, and he’s realizing his back is against the wall.

“We gotta bounce this group back, get them in the building tomorrow, and start getting ready for Baylor.”