Baylor heads to Lawrence, Kansas, on October 24th with a clear reason to believe it can put Kansas under the same kind of pressure Kansas State did in the Sunflower Showdown.
The Jayhawks came out of that 35-24 loss with a few things still working in their favor, but the bigger story was how vulnerable they looked in the trenches. Kansas State was able to run for more than 350 yards, and that kind of pounding at the line of scrimmage is exactly the sort of opening Baylor can try to exploit with its rotation of tailbacks. Even after Baylor managed just 54 rushing yards against TCU, that number came against a Horned Frogs defense that entered week 7 allowing only 99.6 rushing yards per game, so the Bears should be eager to get moving downhill early against Kansas.
The matchup up front could be the deciding factor. Kansas State was able to get steady pressure on Kansas quarterback Isaiah Marshall with just its front four, and that was before bringing in the extra wrinkles.
Coach Klanderman and his defensive schemes that routinely runs twists and stunts (and a willingness to blitz) should be able to create problems for Kansas throughout the game. Marshall does have the ability to tuck it and run, though, so Baylor will likely keep a spy on him.
Kansas showed some fight late, and Marshall handled that moment with poise. He stayed calm under pressure, used his legs to extend plays and pick up yards, and showed accuracy when he did throw.
But Kansas kept running into the same problem: too little, too late. When the Jayhawks had a chance to force a stop and get the ball back with a shot to tie it in the fourth quarter, Kansas State kept the ball moving and kept the clock moving.
Avery Johnson and Joe Jackson, among others, took turns draining the remaining time, and a 34-yard field goal with two minutes left pushed the lead to 11 and effectively finished it off.
The final Kansas drive summed things up neatly. Marshall tried to make something happen, but Kansas State chased him out of bounds short of the line to gain on fourth down, ending the possession on a turnover on downs. A few snaps in victory formation later, and the Wildcats were out with the 35-24 win.
In Other News...
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The problem for Kansas is that the question around Leipold is not just about football. Stadium construction costs and contract buyouts make any coaching decision more complicated, and that financial reality hangs over every discussion about the future. For a program that has already spent years trying to find the right fit, the margin for another expensive misstep is awfully thin. [Read more 🡒]
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For Kansas, the appeal is obvious: Kaufman-Renn arrives with the kind of scoring touch and rebounding presence that can help stabilize a frontcourt and ease some pressure on the rotation. His path to campus is still tied to an unresolved legal fight, but the Jayhawks have added a player who has already logged meaningful high-level minutes and should be able to contribute right away. [Read more 🡒]
Bill Self Is Pushing Kansas Deeper Into A Risky New Reality
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What stands out now is how much of that roster exists under court-ordered eligibility, with Trey Kaufman-Renn joining Tre White and Melvin Council Jr. in that category. Each case carries its own legal wrinkle, and together they underscore how Kansas is operating in a reality that would have seemed hard to imagine even a few seasons ago. The talent is there, but so is the uncertainty, and the Jayhawks are finding themselves deeper into that mix as the season begins. [Read more 🡒]