Oklahoma State Looking to Play Spoiler for KU’s Homecoming on Saturday

Homecoming is typically reserved for the most winnable conference game on your slate, but when you’re Kansas, sometimes you’ve just got to put a blindfold on and throw a dart at the schedule to see who you draw.

The bulls-eye hit Oklahoma State this year, and it should be fascinating for reasons beyond Week 2 of league play. It pits an OSU team that got blasted by Texas Tech last week, with a Kansas team that hasn’t won a conference game since Charlie Strong’s penultimate game as the Texas head coach.

Suffice it to say expectations and optimism in Lawrence are going two totally different directions!

“[They’re] big, fast, strong, athletic, a very signature Mike Gundy team,” said KU coach David Beaty this week. “I mean, he’s done a terrific job of matching talent there, really good-looking defense … I know they’re going to be coming in here angry, but we’re angry, too.”

Despite in-conference struggles, Kansas has been relatively competitive, particularly this season. The Jayhawks have won two games — against Central Michigan, and against Rutgers — and have a surprisingly talented roster that has been successful for them, most notably four-star true freshman running back Pooka Williams.

Kansas also leads the country in turnover margin — and no, I’m not referencing Bill Self’s squad — with a +12 margin through four contests. They’ve recovered six fumbles, forced seven interceptions, and only turned the ball over once all season. A clean game on Saturday against the Pokes and a continuance of success in that category could give them a shot, as OSU has an average -.25 turnover margin through four games, recovering six total turnovers (three fumbles and three interceptions) but giving the ball up seven times already.

“We both have something to atone for,” said Beaty previewing Saturday’s game. “We’re going to see who can get their team ready the best, and that challenge is on me and on our staff.”