Quarterback to Back: OSU ‘Hopeful’ in Zane Flores’ Return, Jalon Daniels Looking to Bounce Back

The Cowboys and Jayhawks will square off on Saturday afternoon in Lawrence, and, as per usual, quarterback play will go a long way in dictating the outcome. Also, per usual, predicting which Cowboy will take snaps (and how many) is a guessing game.

We’ll get into what we know about this weekend’s QB matchup, but first let’s look at the numbers from the potential passers.

Early this week, OSU interim head coach Doug Meacham said he was “hopeful” that Zane Flores would return to the field.

Flores took over in Week 1 after Hauss Hejny went down only to go down himself during the Cowboys’ loss to Arizona on Oct. 4. He hasn’t appeared in a game since.

Sam Jackson V went from spot duty and wildcat hero to the Cowboys’ QB1, a role he’s still not equipped (roster-wise) to fill. Results have been mixed from the standpoint of the offense, but no OSU quarterback has won an FBS game this season.

We know that story. Let’s see how it’s played out for the Jayhawks.

Jalon Daniels is in his sixth season at Kansas meaning he was recruited by Les Miles. Let that sink in.

Through the first eight games of his final season, Daniels is third in the Big 12 in completion % and yards per attempt. The Jayhawks’ offense has been fine, ranking 10th in the league scoring 30.5 points per game. They’re also 1oth in passing offense and rushing offense.

The Jayhawks are coming off their two worst offensive performances of the season, however, losing back-to-back games by a score of 42-17 to Texas Tech and Kansas State, respectively. But it was a tale of two outings for Daniels.

In Lubbock against the 13th-ranked Red Raiders, Daniels went 27/33 for 255 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 7.7 yards per attempt. In a home loss to K-State, he went just 17/35 for 129 and an interception. He averaged just 3.7 yards per attempt.

So coming off his worst game of the season, Daniels will look to get right, at home, against the league’s worst passing defense. The Cowboys and Jayhawks kick off at 3 p.m. Saturday at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.