Wednesday Walkthrough: Texas Week

Kansas beating Texas has served as a major event for the college football landscape each of the last two times it happened. In 2016, it sparked a meme that continues to live (some may argue that it still thrives) when the lowly Jayhawks upended the Longhorns on a dreary Lawrence afternoon. Then, in 2021, it was widely used as a reason for Big 12 fans, among others, to mock Texas after losing, yet again, to a then one-win KU team. Last year’s overtime battle was much more significant for Kansas, though, also acting as a turning point for what the program was and could be.

Since that point, when tight end Jared Casey became a college football sensation, KU has flipped the script from Power 5 doormat to formidable foe, winning more than it has in over a decade. This weekend, six years to the day from when freshman Carter Stanley led the Jayhawks to victory over Charlie Strong’s Longhorns, Kansas has a chance to beat Texas once again. This time around, however, it will be no laughing matter if Kansas comes out on top, it may simply just be the better team beating a lesser foe.

LISTENING IN ON LANCE

“He's taking more and more reps. He went today. He's at the point where he can play at a level that is going to allow him to go out there and play freely."

The “he” in this case is quarterback Jalon Daniels, another hero from last year’s win versus Texas. This was the most positive manner in which coach Lance Leipold has spoken in regard to Daniels’ recovery from a shoulder injury suffered against TCU back on Oct. 8. With quarterback Jason Bean banged up after last weekend’s loss to Texas Tech (he has seen minimal action at practice this week) and Daniels progressing, KU’s home finale could finally be the week the breakout star returns to the starting lineup for the Jayhawks.

“We've been highly inconsistent there, that's a pretty obvious comment and statement. Two weeks ago, we essentially opened the job back up and kind of went through that a little bit, gave other guys opportunities, and he came out of that … To miss two is highly disappointing."

Jayhawks kicker Jacob Borcila has received the scorn of the KU fan base after missing a pair of field goal attempts versus Texas Tech, continuing what has been an inconsistent 2022 campaign for the junior kicker. While he’s perfect on extra points this season, he’s making merely 58.3% of his field goal tries and is just 4-of-9 from 30 yards and beyond. Leipold said that struggling in the field goal game likely changes the equation when it comes to keeping the offense on the field on fourth downs.

“I would like to think now that where we're standing today, that that was a starting point.”

In case anyone doubted it, Leipold also looks back on last year’s KU win over Texas as a possible start of what the program has become. However, he also added that he doesn’t necessarily think about the game often, although he does think that the games that followed last year’s Texas matchup, close losses to TCU and West Virginia, were also major signs of what the team was turning into.

“Dynamic. Very athletic...I think they're improved up front from a year ago, really on both sides of the ball."

As is tradition, Leipold has a lot of positive things to say about the Longhorns this week, and mentioned how many battles they’ve gone through over the course of the year, from a tough loss last week against TCU to facing Alabama to open the season. He added that he believes you can notice how that program has developed in its second season under coach Steve Sarkisian.

KNOW YOUR ENEMY

When: Saturday, Nov. 19 at 2:30 p.m.

Where: David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, Kansas

Spread: Kansas +9.5

Texas was ranked 18th in the College Football Playoff rankings last week, but following their loss to TCU the Longhorns are now out of the top 25. It’s been something of an up-and-down campaign for Sarkisian’s crew. They sit at 4-3 in Big 12 play, but after ripping off a three-game winning streak early in conference play they've since lost two of their last three contests. Freshman quarterback Quinn Ewers, in particular, has been as hot and cold as any starting passer in the country, let along the conference. He's posted big (or at least efficient) performances against the likes of Alabama, Oklahoma and Kansas State, but in UT's last two losses he's completed under 45% of his throws and has four interceptions with just two touchdowns in those games.

Despite their 6-4 overall record and 4-3 Big 12 mark, the computers have loved the Longhorns throughout the season. Texas is currently ranked 8th in the nation by both Bill Connelly’s SP+ metric at ESPN and Stats Perform’s TRACR rating.

And, for those who are interested in the gambling side of things, last week was just the second time this year that KU didn’t cover or push against the spread. The Jayhawks are 7-2-1 ATS this year, the sixth-best mark in the country.

JAYHAWK TO WATCH

Against a quarterback who’s made his fair share of risky decisions with the ball this year, this feels like the type of game in which cornerback Cobee Bryant could play a starring role for the Jayhawks. The ballhawking corner, already with three interceptions to his name this season, isn’t afraid to take his own calculated risks, which may be necessary in this matchup.

Bryant will have his hands full with a talented Texas receivers group, notably including Xavier Worthy, but that should also mean plenty of balls will be coming his way throughout the game. This is a harsh matchup for KU’s defense, given Ewers potential for a big game, the aforementioned Longhorn receiver talent and the backfield beast that is Bijan Robinson, so stealing possessions could be vital to a Jayhawks upset victory. Toss cornerback Mello Dotson in the mix, too, since he'll also see plenty of action coming his way.

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