Kansas-Texas college football preview

When/where: 3 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence

TV/radio: Fox Sports 1; KMBZ (980 AM)

The series: Texas leads 11-2

The line: Texas by 13 1/2

KANSAS (2-1, 0-0 Big 12)

TEXAS (1-2, 0-0 Big 12)

What’s at stake

Perhaps the signature victory of Charlie Weis’ tenure at Kansas to date. Texas is in a period of transition, experiencing some major growing pains under first-year coach Charlie Strong. In the past few months, Strong has suspended a host of players and dismissed nine others. Former starting quarterback David Ash retired from football because of concussion issues. This is not the Texas of Vince Young or Colt McCoy. Still, the Jayhawks have not beaten Texas since 1938. And KU has not topped FBS teams in consecutive games since 2009. Kansas needs something to feel good about, and any victory against the Longhorns would qualify.

Cheers if …

The KU defense takes its blue-collar style into Big 12 play. Led by linebackers Ben Heeney and Jake Love, the Jayhawks gutted out last week’s 24-10 victory over Central Michigan on the defensive side of the ball. Last season, the Longhorns put 35 points on the Jayhawks in Austin. KU will likely need to hold Texas under 30 to have a chance.

Jeers if …

The KU passing game goes backward. Last week, the KU coaching staff devised a successful scheme for quarterback Montell Cozart, allowing him to gain some confidence on short passes. For the Jayhawks to succeed, Cozart needs to be efficient on short throws and hit on a few deep balls.

Three things about Texas

1 In his first season on the job, Texas coach Charlie Strong has cleaned house. Former starting offensive tackles Kennedy Estelle (dismissed this week) and Desmond Harrison (suspended) are not expected to play Saturday. The Longhorns are also without injured center Dominic Espinosa and nose tackle Desmond Jackson.

2 Former starting quarterback David Ash announced the end of his football career last week after an ongoing battle with head injuries. He suffered his latest head injury in the season opener against North Texas. Sophomore Tyrone Swoopes, 6 feet 4 and 243 pounds, has taken over.

3 This will be the first time in series history that Texas, 1-2, enters with a losing record, while Kansas, 2-1, has a winning record. The Jayhawks’ only victories against Texas came in 1901 and 1938.

Key matchup

KU offensive line vs. Texas defensive line. The Jayhawks could be playing without starting right guard Mike Smithburg and starting right tackle Damon Martin. Smithburg had an appendectomy last Wednesday, while Martin is coming back from illness. That’s bad news against Texas’ front seven, which features NFL prospect Malcom Brown at defensive tackle. Senior defensive end Cedric Reed is also a talented player who has been inconsistent this season. Can KU hold its own in the trenches?

KANSAS OFFENSE

KANSAS DEFENSE

TEXAS OFFENSE

TEXAS DEFENSE

Rustin Dodd’s pick: Texas 28-20

The Jayhawks are in position to give the Longhorns a decent fight. A two-touchdown underdog at the beginning of the week, the Jayhawks need sophomore QB Montell Cozart to stay composed and the lines on both side of the ball to be respectable. An upset is possible, but perhaps not probable.

Rustin Dodd, rdodd@kcstar.com

This story was originally published September 25, 2014 at 2:55 PM with the headline "Kansas-Texas college football preview."