Kansas-Texas Tech college football preview
When/where: 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas.
TV/radio: Fox Sports KC; KCSP (610 AM)
The series: Texas Tech leads 14-1
The line: Texas Tech by 14
KANSAS (2-4, 0-3 Big 12)
Date | Opponent | Result/time |
Sept. 6 | Southeast Missouri St. | W, 34-28 |
Sept. 13 | at Duke | L, 41-3 |
Sept. 20 | Central Michigan | W, 24-10 |
Sept. 27 | Texas | L, 23-0 |
Oct. 4 | at West Virginia | L, 33-14 |
Oct. 11 | Oklahoma State | L, 27-20 |
Oct. 18 | at Texas Tech | 2:30 p.m. |
Nov. 1 | at Baylor | TBA |
Nov. 8 | Iowa State | TBA |
Nov. 15 | TCU | TBA |
Nov. 22 | at Oklahoma | TBA |
Nov. 29 | at Kansas State | TBA |
TEXAS TECH (2-4, 0-3 Big 12)
Date | Opponent | Result/time |
Aug. 30 | Central Arkansas | W, 42-35 |
Sept. 6 | at UTEP | W, 30-26 |
Sept. 13 | Arkansas | L, 49-28 |
Sept. 25 | at Oklahoma State | L, 45-35 |
Oct. 4 | at Kansas State | L, 45-13 |
Oct. 11 | West Virginia | L, 37-34 |
Oct. 18 | Kansas | 2:30 p.m. |
Oct. 25 | at TCU | TBA |
Nov. 1 | Texas | TBA |
Nov. 15 | Oklahoma | TBA |
Nov. 22 | at Iowa State | TBA |
Nov. 29 | Baylor | TBA |
What’s at stake
After three straight Big 12 losses, Kansas has its best opportunity for a conference victory thus far. Texas Tech has lost four straight and ranks last in the Big 12 in scoring defense, surrendering 39.5 points per game. The Jayhawks, though, have lost 26 straight games on the road, a seemingly endless streak that stretches back to September 2009. Could this be the week the streak stops? The Jayhawks are coming off their best overall performance of the season, a 27-20 loss to Oklahoma State on Saturday in Lawrence.
Cheers if ...
Junior quarterback Michael Cummings continues to catalyze the Kansas passing game. Cummings, a native of Killeen, Texas, threw for 288 yards last week against Oklahoma State, his first start of the season. His efficiency numbers were still a little messy. He completed just 54 percent of his passes, though the number was dragged down by some drops.
Jeers if ...
The Jayhawks don’t rise to the moment in a winnable game. It’s happened too often over the last two-plus years: Kansas will face a middling opponent, and wind up on the wrong side of a blowout. It has happened the last two years against Iowa State. KU can’t let that happen on Saturday.
Three things about Texas Tech
1 In head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s second season in Lubbock, the Red Raiders are off to their first 0-3 start in conference play since 1990. The skid includes a 45-13 loss to K-State and a last-second loss to West Virginia in which they coughed up a 14-point lead.
2 The Texas Tech defense has been much maligned this season. The Red Raiders rank last in the Big 12 in total defense (485.2 yards per game) and last in the conference in rushing defense (257.5 yards per game).
3 Kansas has not defeated Texas Tech since notching an overtime victory on Oct. 6, 2001, in Lubbock. The Red Raiders throttled the Jayhawks 54-16 last season in Lawrence. KU is 1-10 against Texas Tech since the formation of the Big 12.
Key matchup
KU rushing attack vs. the Texas Tech defense. The Jayhawks had a quiet day on the ground against Oklahoma State, rushing for just 91 yards on 41 carries. Offensive coordinator John Reagan says KU must do a better job of finishing off their blocks. Expect senior speedster Tony Pierson to get some more carries in the running game.
TEAM OFFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
WR | 9 | Nigel King | 6-3 | 210 | Jr. |
LT | 61 | Pat Lewandowski | 6-5 | 290 | Sr. |
LG | 63 | Ngalu Fusimalohi | 6-2 | 310 | Sr. |
C | 77 | Joe Gibson | 6-3 | 295 | Fr. |
RG | 65 | Mike Smithburg | 6-3 | 305 | Sr. |
RT | 78 | Larry Mazyck | 6-8 | 360 | Jr. |
TE | 41 | Jimmay Mundine | 6-2 | 240 | Sr. |
RB | 23 | De’Andre Mann | 5-9 | 198 | Jr. |
QB | 14 | Michael Cummings | 5-10 | 210 | Jr. |
WR | 8 | Nick Harwell | 6-1 | 193 | Sr. |
WR | 3 | Tony Pierson | 5-10 | 175 | Sr. |
K | 17 | Matthew Wyman | 6-1 | 200 | So. |
TEAM DEFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
NT | 99 | Tedarian Johnson | 6-2 | 290 | Sr. |
DT | 98 | Keon Stowers | 6-3 | 297 | Sr. |
DE | 93 | Ben Goodman | 6-3 | 250 | Jr. |
LB | 55 | Michael Reynolds | 6-1 | 240 | Sr. |
LB | 31 | Ben Heeney | 6-2 | 230 | Sr. |
LB | 57 | Jake Love | 6-0 | 220 | Jr. |
NB | 30 | Tevin Shaw | 5-11 | 192 | So. |
CB | 24 | JaCorey Shepherd | 5-11 | 195 | Sr. |
SS | 5 | Isaiah Johnson | 6-1 | 210 | Jr. |
FS | 33 | Cassius Sendish | 6-0 | 195 | Sr. |
CB | 12 | Dexter McDonald | 6-1 | 205 | Sr. |
P | 16 | Trevor Pardula | 6-5 | 212 | Sr. |
TEAM OFFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
WR | 3 | D.J. Polite-Bray | 5-11 | 183 | So. |
WR | 11 | Jakeem Grant | 5-6 | 169 | Jr. |
LT | 62 | Le’Raven Clark | 6-6 | 313 | Jr. |
LG | 56 | Alfredo Morales | 6-4 | 308 | Jr. |
C | 75 | Jared Kaster | 6-3 | 285 | Jr. |
RG | 65 | Baylen Brown | 6-4 | 293 | So. |
RT | 71 | Reshod Fortenberry | 6-5 | 286 | Sr. |
WR | 4 | Bradley Marquez | 6-0 | 203 | Sr. |
WR | 2 | Reginald Davis | 6-0 | 192 | So. |
QB | 7 | Davis Webb | 6-5 | 209 | So. |
RB | 21 | DeAndre Washington | 5-8 | 201 | Jr. |
K | 48 | Ryan Bustin | 5-11 | 179 | Sr. |
TEAM DEFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
DE | 9 | Branden Jackson | 6-4 | 270 | Jr. |
NT | 43 | Jackson Richards | 6-4 | 268 | Sr. |
DT | 51 | Demetrius Alston | 6-3 | 267 | Jr. |
LB | 10 | Pete Robertson | 6-3 | 236 | Jr. |
LB | 52 | V.J. Fehoko | 5-11 | 220 | Sr. |
LB | 13 | Sam Eguavoen | 6-1 | 225 | Sr. |
LB | 34 | Kenny Williams | 5-9 | 228 | Sr. |
CB | 31 | Justis Nelson | 6-2 | 177 | So. |
FS | 15 | Keenon Ward | 5-9 | 195 | So. |
SS | 3 | J.J. Gaines | 6-0 | 185 | Jr. |
CB | 20 | Tevin Madison | 5-10 | 160 | Fr. |
P | 42 | Taylor Symmank | 6-2 | 192 | Jr. |
Rustin Dodd’s pick: Kansas 28-24
If Kansas doesn’t win this week, the road losing streak will likely last through the year. After this week, the Jayhawks still have trips to Baylor, Oklahoma and K-State remaining. Texas Tech will be motivated after four straight losses. But if Kansas can’t win this week, it will be tough to find any victories on the remaining schedule.
To reach Rustin Dodd, call 816-234-4937 or send email to rdodd@kcstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @rustindodd.
This story was originally published October 16, 2014 at 5:25 PM with the headline "Kansas-Texas Tech college football preview."