KU Jayhawks vs. OSU Cowboys: Five things to know entering Saturday’s football game
It remains to be seen if many, or even any, of Kansas’ injured football players return to action after a much-needed bye week.
The Jayhawks (5-3, 2-3 Big 12), like most college football programs, do not issue injury updates on players who have either missed entire games or parts of games or have been toiling at less than 100%.
Time will tell if quarterback Jalon Daniels, running back Ky Thomas, cornerback Cobee Bryant, safety Kenny Logan, linebacker Taiwan Berryhill, receiver Luke Grimm, defensive ends Lonnie Phelps and Jereme Robinson, offensive linemen Earl Bostick and Michael Ford will participate and/or be fully healed from nagging bruises Saturday against No. 18-ranked Oklahoma State (6-2, 3-2).
Kickoff will be 2:30 p.m. at Booth Memorial Stadium with a live telecast on FS1. The Jayhawks last played on Oct. 22 at Baylor. The Bears prevailed, 35-23.
It’s presumed KU running back Daniel Hishaw remains out with his undisclosed injury. He was hurt in the fourth quarter of a 14-11 victory over Iowa State on Oct. 1. He sat out the Jayhawks’ last three contests, all losses.
“I hope it helps them all,” KU coach Lance Leipold said last week, when asked about injured players getting a few days off. “As I said for guys with a lot of snaps, it’s going to be a different week.
“Obviously we’ve got to get healthier. It’s been 12-plus weeks straight for these guys. It’s going to be a good time in our practice models of working with some of the younger players. It’s a great time to get a lot done.”
It might be interesting to take a look at how the Jayhawks have fared after their bye week the past several seasons.
KU last won after enjoying a bye back in the 2009 season. That’s when a well-rested KU team defeated Iowa State 41-36 in Lawrence. Here’s how that looks in list form:
2021: KU lost to Texas Tech 41-14
2020: KU lost at Baylor 47-14; lost at West Virginia 38-17; lost to TCU 59-23
2019: KU lost at Texas 50-48; lost at Oklahoma State 31-13
2018, KU lost at Texas Tech 48-16.
2017: KU lost to Texas Tech 65-19 in Lawrence
2016: KU lost to Texas Tech 55-19 in Lubbock
2015: KU lost at Rutgers 27-14
2014: KU lost at Baylor 60-14
2013: KU lost to Texas Tech 54-16
2012: KU lost at Kansas State 56-16; lost at West Virginia 59-10
2011: KU lost to Texas Tech 45-34
2010: KU lost to Kansas State 59-7
2009: beat Iowa State in Lawrence
KU, which needs just one more win to become bowl eligible, has four games left in the regular season: Saturday vs. OSU; Nov. 12 at Texas Tech; Nov. 19 vs. Texas; and Nov. 26 at Kansas State.
THE DETAILS
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m., Saturday
Where: Booth Memorial Stadium, Lawrence
TV: FS1
Radio: WHB (810) in Kansas City; KFH (1240 AM, 97.5 FM) in Wichita
Early betting line: Oklahoma State favored by 5 1/2 points
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
1. Oklahoma State (6-2, 3-2 Big 12) was picked to finish third (behind Baylor and Oklahoma) in the 10-team Big 12 Conference preseason media poll. The Cowboys in league play have lost to Kansas State 48-0 and TCU 43-40 in two overtimes. OSU has defeated Texas 41-34, Texas Tech 41-31 and Baylor 356-24. In the nonconference portion of the season, OSU beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff 63-7, Arizona State 34-17 and Central Michigan 58-44.
2. Oklahoma State leads the all-time series against KU 41-29-2. The Cowboys have won 12 in a row versus the Jayhawks and 17 of the past 18 contests. KU’s last win over OSU was 43-28 on Nov. 10, 2007 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. In the 12-game winning streak, OSU has scored as many as many as 70 points and as few as 20. Last season, Oklahoma State rolled to a 55-3 win at Boone Pickens Stadium. The Cowboys led 38-0 before halftime, allowing only a third-quarter field goal.
3. OSU quarterback Spencer Sanders was injured in Saturday’s 48-0 loss at Kansas State. It was the most lopsided loss in the 18-year Mike Gundy era. Sanders, a 6-1, 210 senior from Denton, Texas, had completed 13 of 26 passes for 147 yards with an interception before landing on his shoulder midway through the fourth quarter. He did not return to the game. OSU’s backup QB at K-State was Gunnar Gundy, the 6-1 redshirt freshman son of coach Mike Gundy. He was 2 of 7 passing for 16 yards with one interception. He rushed for 27 yards on five carries with a long run of 22 yards.
4. Mike Gundy is 155-71 in 18 years at OSU. Gundy has a 12-1 record versus the Jayhawks while Lance Leipold is 0-1 vs. OSU. The Pokes are bowl eligible for the 17th straight season. Leipold is 7-13 at KU.
5. KU has not defeated a ranked team in quite a while. If KU defeats Oklahoma State, it would be the Jayhawks’ first win against a ranked team since 2010 (vs. No. 15 Georgia Tech). Also, if KU wins it would be Kansas’ first victory against a ranked conference opponent since 2008 (No. 12 Missouri).
