KU coach’s offensive changes no help in blowout loss to Texas Tech

Well, this didn’t go as Kansas coach David Beaty planned.

In his first game as KU’s play-caller this season after firing offensive coordinator Doug Meacham last week, Beaty watched as KU had one of its worst offensive performances in a 48-16 loss at Texas Tech on Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas.

Perhaps most disappointing for Beaty was the fact that two areas he spoke about improving last week were among the Jayhawks’ biggest problems.

Beaty cited one of the primary reasons for making the midseason switch was to try to get more production following turnovers.

That issue somehow was worse Saturday. KU took over a first-quarter possession at the Texas Tech 2 and had to settle for a field goal. Then, after another interception right before the end of the half gave KU the ball at the Texas Tech 40 with 10 seconds left, the Jayhawks failed to advance the ball into field-goal range.

KU’s defense later recovered a fourth-quarter fumble at the Texas Tech 10. Two plays later, quarterback KU Peyton Bender threw an interception in the end zone.

Beaty also spoke at Tuesday’s press conference about his team needing to be better with third-down conversions; KU started the game 0 for 8 there before finishing 4 for 15.

All-too-frequent gameday management gaffes reappeared again too. KU took three separate timeouts while indecisive on fourth-down decisions, with two of those leading to eventual KU punts.

Bender, whom Beaty declared the starter earlier this week, had one of his worst games, finishing 18 for 41 with 221 yards.

Hasan Defense had an interception and fumble recovery for KU’s defense, marking the second straight game he had multiple takeaways.

KU, 2-5 and 0-4 in the Big 12, will host TCU at 2 p.m. on Oct. 27.

This story was originally published October 20, 2018 at 6:20 PM.