Four Things to Know About Oklahoma State’s Road Game at Kansas

The last time the Cowboys went to Lawrence, the Rock Chalk contingent dismantled KU’s goal posts. I’m not sure the Pokes will garner that kind of reaction this weekend.

Oklahoma State is back on the road at Kansas this weekend to hopefully (finally) eke out a conference win.

Let’s take a look at the Jayhawks (and the Big 12’s landscape) and four things to consider before OSU-Kansas.

1. Lukewarm Offense?

To quote John the Revelator, “because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue the out of my mouth.” He wouldn’t be able to stomach the Jayhawks.

When I dove into some of the basic numbers for the Jayhawks, nothing really stuck out that was super meaningful, other than consistent mediocrity.

They’re currently ranked 10th in the Big 12 in scoring offense, 10th in rushing offense, 10th in passing offense and (strangely) 11th in total offense. That’s a shade or two less than mediocre, but still a few rungs up the ladder from Oklahoma State.

2. KU’s Passing Defense Slipping?

If we’re looking for cracks the Cowboys might slip through, a lot will depend on who’s playing QB for the Cowboys, and how effective they can look. But the Jayhawks haven’t exactly been world-beaters in the passing game this month.

To lay out the other side of the previous point, on defense, Kansas falls to the lower third of the league in all the corresponding categories, except for its sixth place standing in passing defense, allowing just 209.1 yards per game through the air.

But last week, they allowed K-State’s Avery Johnson to go off for four total TDs on Saturday. Johnson had 231 passing yards but on just 11 completions. That’s 21 yards per completion, which is the Jayhawks’ highest mark given up in at least 10 years.

Do I think either Zane Flores or Sam Jackson drop 24 points on their own? I’m not going there. But there may be some opportunities for big plays to be made, especially against a secondary that’s on its heels a bit.

3. Trying to Avoid Its Own Losing Streak

A loss to a Top 15 team on the road is nothing to be ashamed of. A loss to your in-state rival isn’t either. The fact that they both ended at 42-17 exactly and happened in back-to-back weeks, is almost as weird as it is gut-wrenching. But that Jayhawks would like to avoid a three-game skid, especially if it comes at the hands of the Cowboys.

How things have changed.

Before their loss to Texas Tech in Lubbock on Oct. 11, the Jayhawks were 4-2 in with those two losses coming at No. 19 Missouri and at home against No. 17 Cincinnati. Jalen Daniels had thrown multiple touchdowns in every game (except the win over UCF), and, aside from that 27-20 win, KU’s low scoring output was 31. We’ll get into Daniels’ last outing (his worst of the season) later in the week. But suffice it to say, his production had dropped of a cliff in October.

4. Mediocrity or Parity?

All that being said, the Jayhawks are part of a logjam of seven teams within one game of each other, making up the entire middle of the pack of the Big 12. That group is just one full game behind Houston and Texas Tech (4-1) and two games from the league leads of BYU and Cincinnati, both at 5-0.

A lot of that will continue to shake out this weekend, but that’s a lot of good, not great in the conference, probably over half the league.

What all does that mean for OSU (other than being in the basement of said league)? Maybe the Pokes can eke out a win.

Of the four remaining conference teams on their slate, Kansas is one of two that are currently at .500 or below (at 4-4 and 2-3 in Big 12 play). Following their bout with the Jayhawks, the Pokes will face Kansas State (4-4, 3-2), UCF (4-3, 1-3) and Iowa State (5-3, 2-3).

TL;DR: We’re in for some mediocre football, but at least maybe some game that are closer to winnable for the Pokes.