Summer Schedule Preview: Oklahoma State Looks for Payback Against Kansas

As we continue our Summer Football Preview series, we take a look at what has normally been a gimme on the Cowboys’ Big 12 slate. That wasn’t the case last year, unfortunately.

Week 7: Kansas

When: Oct. 14
Where: Stillwater, Okla.

Series history: 41-30-2

Last meeting: The Jayhawks took it to the Pokes in Lawrence, taking a 10-0 lead in the first quarter. OSU answered with a touchdown from Garret Rangel to Stephon Johnson Jr. but Kansas found the end zone less than a minute later and the route was on.

Kansas in 2022: The Jayhawks started the year 5-0 and finished 1-7. That one win against OSU made KU bowl eligible for the first time since 2008. Still, six wins is a big deal when you’ve won 10 games total in the previous seven seasons.

Kansas in 2023: Will the Rock Chalk faction talk another step forward in Year 3 under Lance Leipold? It’s more than possible.

KU returns most of an offense that ranked second in the league scoring 35.6 points per game and led the league in yards per throw. Dynamic QB Jalon Daniels is back along with his top six pass-catchers are back to build off an impressive 2022.

But they’ll need to slow someone down in order to take the next step. The Jayhawks ranked dead last in the league, allowing 35.5 points per game on defense. OSU and Iowa State were the only Big 12 teams not to score at least 30 on KU.

Key matchup: OSU’s rebuilding defense VS. KU’s productive passing attack.

OSU logged its worst passing defense average in five years in 2022 and lost quite a bit of pass-rush production last year. The Pokes still have Collin Oliver (now at LB) and Kendal Daniels at safety, and they return Korie Black and added some experience to through the transfer portal. But it’s going to be a lot to ask to put it all together for an effective passing defense under a new DC in Bryan Nardo.

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Be sure to check out our previous schedule previews: NonCon | Iowa State | Kansas State