Texas Tech at Kansas: Three-minute preview
When/where: 11 a.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence
TV/radio: Fox Sports 1; KCSP (610 AM)
The series: Texas Tech leads 15-1
The line: Texas Tech by 31
What’s at stake
For many, Texas Tech was not expected to be this good. They weren’t expected to score a knockout victory at Arkansas. They weren’t supposed to go toe to toe with TCU in a 55-52 loss. This is bad news for Kansas, which perhaps expected Texas Tech to be its most winnable Big 12 game at home. Instead, the winless Jayhawks will face another high-powered offense at home, just one week after suffering a 66-7 loss to Baylor. It’s not always wise to compare scores, but Texas Tech’s 66-31 victory over Iowa State also offers a warning sign. Yes, that’s the same Iowa State team that handled KU 38-13.
Cheers if ...
Quarterback Ryan Willis continues to make incremental progress. Last week, the Jayhawks were facing Baylor — and a defense that could physically overwhelm Kansas’ offensive line. This week, the KU offense faces a Texas Tech defense that ranks 117th in the country in scoring defense, allowing 39.7 points per game.
Jeers if ...
The already-depleted Jayhawks keep getting inflicted by injuries. Last week, receiver Tre’ Parmalee was held out because of a concussion and running back Ke’aun Kinner was limited with nagging hand and thigh injuries.
Rustin Dodd’s pick: Texas Tech 63-21
There are no good matchups for the KU defense right now, but one week after facing Baylor, the Jayhawks must try to stop another top offense. Freshman quarterback Ryan Willis could find more success this week, but a limping defense will have issues stopping the nation’s top passing offense.
KANSAS (0-5, 0-2 Big 12)
Date | Opponent | Result/time |
Sept. 5 | South Dakota State | L, 41-38 |
Sept. 12 | Memphis | L, 55-23 |
Sept. 26 | at Rutgers | L, 27-14 |
Oct. 3 | at Iowa State | L, 38-13 |
Oct. 10 | Baylor | L, 66-7 |
Saturday | Texas Tech | 11 a.m. |
Oct. 24 | at Oklahoma State | 2:30 p.m. |
Oct. 31 | Oklahoma | TBA |
Nov. 7 | at Texas | 7 p.m. |
Nov. 14 | at TCU | TBA |
Nov. 21 | West Virginia | TBA |
Nov. 28 | at Kansas State | TBA |
TEXAS TECH (4-2, 1-2 Big 12)
Date | Opponent | Result/time |
Sept. 5 | at Sam Houston State | W, 59-45 |
Sept. 12 | UTEP | W, 69-20 |
Sept. 19 | at Arkansas | W, 35-24 |
Sept. 26 | TCU | L, 55-52 |
Oct. 3 | at Baylor | L, 63-35 |
Oct. 10 | Iowa State | W, 66-31 |
Saturday | at Kansas | 7 p.m. |
Oct. 24 | at Oklahoma | 6:30 p.m. |
Oct. 31 | Oklahoma State | TBA |
Nov. 7 | at West Virginia | TBA |
Nov. 14 | Kansas State | TBA |
Nov. 26 | at Texas | 6:30 p.m. |
Three things about Texas Tech
1 The Red Raiders rank No. 1 in the country in passing offense, averaging 439 yards per game. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, a sophomore, is a former top recruit who has piled up over 400 yards of total offense in four games.
2 Texas Tech is a perfect 7-0 in Lawrence and has won eight straight against KU; Red Raiders coach Kliff Kingsbury is 2-0 against KU in two seasons.
3 The Texas Tech offense is one of the fastest in the country. In six games, 19 of Texas Tech’s 44 scoring drives have taking less than two minutes.
Key matchup
Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes vs. the KU defense: Mahomes has been one of the most prolific passers in the country, but he can also use his legs. The son of former major-league pitcher Pat Mahomes, the Red Raiders’ quarterback has 205 rushing yards and is averaging 6 yards per game.
KANSAS OFFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
WR | 16 | Steven Sims, Jr. | 5-10 | 170 | Fr. |
WR | 11 | Tre’ Parmalee | 5-10 | 171 | Sr. |
LT | 79 | Jordan Shelley-Smith | 6-5 | 296 | Jr. |
LG | 76 | Bryan Peters | 6-3 | 298 | Sr. |
C | 77 | Joe Gibson | 6-3 | 288 | So. |
RG | 62 | De’Andre Banks | 6-3 | 309 | Jr. |
RT | 78 | Larry Hughes | 6-7 | 281 | Fr. |
TE | 84 | Ben Johnson | 6-5 | 234 | So. |
WR | 88 | Jeremiah Booker | 6-2 | 195 | Fr. |
QB | 13 | Ryan Willis | 6-4 | 211 | Fr. |
RB | 36 | Taylor Cox | 5-11 | 206 | Sr. |
K | 14 | Nick Bartolotta | 5-6 | 190 | So. |
KANSAS DEFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
DE | 10 | Ben Goodman | 6-3 | 253 | Sr. |
DT | 99 | Corey King | 6-1 | 295 | Sr. |
DT | 96 | Daniel Wise | 6-3 | 280 | Fr. |
DE | 56 | Anthony Olobia | 6-5 | 240 | Jr. |
LB | 28 | Courtney Arnick | 6-2 | 207 | Jr. |
LB | 5 | Marcquis Roberts | 6-1 | 220 | Jr. |
NB | 30 | Tevin Shaw | 5-11 | 194 | Jr. |
CB | 8 | Brandon Stewart | 6-0 | 171 | Jr. |
S | 9 | Fish Smithson | 5-11 | 193 | Jr. |
S | 39 | Michael Glatczak | 5-10 | 173 | Sr. |
CB | 19 | Tyrone Miller, Jr. | 6-0 | 180 | Fr. |
P | 18 | Eric Kahn | 6-5 | 204 | Sr. |
TEXAS TECH OFFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
WR | 6 | Devin Lauderdale | 6-0 | 181 | Jr. |
WR | 11 | Jakeem Grant | 5-6 | 169 | Sr. |
LT | 62 | Le’Raven Clark | 6-6 | 316 | Sr. |
LG | 56 | Alfredo Morales | 6-4 | 310 | Sr. |
C | 75 | Jared Kaster | 6-3 | 293 | Sr. |
RG | 51 | Tony Morales | 6-3 | 297 | Sr. |
RT | 65 | Baylen Brown | 6-4 | 310 | Jr. |
WR | 12 | Ian Sadler | 5-10 | 198 | So. |
WR | 14 | Dylan Cantrell | 6-3 | 219 | Jr. |
QB | 5 | Patrick Mahomes II | 6-3 | 221 | So. |
RB | 21 | DeAndre Washington | 5-8 | 198 | Sr. |
K | 49 | Michael Barden | 5-10 | 174 | Fr. |
TEXAS TECH DEFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
DE | 9 | Branden Jackson | 6-4 | 268 | Sr. |
NT | 33 | Rika Levi | 6-2 | 339 | Sr. |
DT | 43 | Demetrius Alston | 6-3 | 276 | Sr. |
LB | 10 | Pete Robertson | 6-3 | 238 | Sr. |
LB | 6 | Kris Williams | 6-1 | 228 | Jr. |
LB | 18 | Micah Awe | 6-0 | 223 | Sr. |
LB | 41 | Malik Jenkins | 6-1 | 222 | Jr. |
CB | 20 | Tevin Madison | 5-10 | 171 | So. |
S | 7 | Jah’Shawn Johnson | 5-10 | 174 | Fr. |
S | 15 | Keenon Ward | 5-9 | 204 | Jr. |
CB | 31 | Justis Nelson | 6-2 | 179 | Jr. |
P | 42 | Taylor Symmank | 6-2 | 192 | Sr. |
Rustin Dodd: 816-234-4937, @rustindodd
This story was originally published October 15, 2015 at 1:19 PM with the headline "Texas Tech at Kansas: Three-minute preview."