Kansas and TCU both really need a win when they meet in Saturday’s conference game in Kansas City.
The loser drops to 0-2 in the 16-team Big 12 and would have to stack wins in the second half of their schedule to ensure postseason bowl eligibility.
With Kansas’ home stadium under construction, the teams are playing at Arrowhead Stadium. It’s the first time since 2011 the Jayhawks will play at the home of the Kansas City Chiefs.
“They’re in a spot kind of like we are,” Kansas coach Lance Leipold said. “It’s tough to win on the road in this conference. There are a lot of close games.”
Last week, the Jayhawks (1-3, 0-1 Big 12) blew an 11-point, fourth-quarter lead in a 32-28 loss at West Virginia. Devin Neal rushed for 110 yards, the fourth straight game he’s surpassed the century mark, and had a touchdown, Jalon Daniels passed for 184 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
TCU coach Sonny Dykes said the Horned Frogs need to control the Jayhawks’ running game and force third-and-long situations.
“I would run the ball until we stop them,” Dykes said. “And they are very good at doing it. I’ve never seen a team run the ball as well as they do in third and medium.”
Kansas has a three-game losing streak and in each game had had a fourth-quarter lead. All three losses were by one score and Leipold said the Jayhawks have to improve their four-minute offense and make plays as time drips from the clock.
“We haven’t played our best football at the time it is needed,” Leipold said. “There’s moments when we’ve played good football, but there are times, especially late in the game where we need to be at our best and we are not.”
The Horned Frogs (2-2, 0-1) lost the Iron Skillet last week, their annual trophy game with SMU, 66-42. The Mustangs held a 17-0 first-quarter lead and Josh Hoover, who was 28-for-43 passing for 396 yards, three passing touchdowns, a rushing touchdown and two interceptions, was forced to try and throw TCU back into the game.
Jack Bech leads the Big 12 with 516 receiving yards and had eight catches for 166 yards and two TDs against SMU.
“This will be the best quarterback and receiving corps we’ve gone up against,” Leipold said.
