In a 12 months that is been filled with traditionally vital weeks and moments, that is perhaps the most important such week but for the Kansas Jayhawks. They’ve an opportunity to knock off their in-state rivals for the primary time because the Prince of Darkness reigned in Manhattan, concurrently giving the Jayhawks an opportunity to maintain the Kansas State Wildcats out of the Huge 12 Championship Sport.

However for as massive as the sport itself is, on a grand scale it pales compared to the significance of KU reportedly agreeing to a contract extension with Lance Leipold, holding the architect of this system’s turnaround in Lawrence for the long-term future. It is arduous to quantify simply how important that’s for the Jayhawks’ continued development, however a great way to start out doing so can be to experience this wave of optimistic momentum into a powerful Sunflower Showdown efficiency on Saturday.

LISTENING IN ON LANCE

“Proper now, he went via every thing once more at present … Jason practiced as properly, so it is the primary time I feel they each actually, totally practiced shortly.”

In response to a query about how quarterback Jalon Daniels responded bodily to his return to the lineup in opposition to Texas, Leipold indicated that he was in a position to undergo regular follow procedures to start out the week, whereas the workers will proceed monitoring his progress because the week goes on. He additionally talked about that Daniels did not need to go away the loss to Texas early as he knew there was nonetheless some rust he needed to knock off.

It is also vital to notice that quarterback Jason Bean was in a position to take part totally in follow, too, after he missed some follow time final week.

“There have been some massive numbers between missed tackles, yards after contact, unhealthy angles and a few issues that actually accounted for a significant, main chunk of their complete yardage for the day.”

There isn’t any hiding how unhealthy the Kansas run protection was within the loss to Texas this previous Saturday. Leipold even stated it isn’t good to permit a profession day to a operating again like Bijan Robinson who’s had loads of large video games in his profession. However, Leipold stated that in follow the workforce has addressed their run-game deficiencies and that the protection has taken the necessity to enhance to coronary heart. That will probably be vital in opposition to Kansas State this week, a workforce that is obtained one other All-American caliber operating again.

“Coach Klieman and his workers have executed an excellent job. They’ve a wonderful soccer workforce, they’ve lots to play for and so they’ve earned that proper. And so they’ve obtained plenty of weapons, top-of-the-line defenses within the nation. So, it will be an enormous job to go in there.”

Leipold has been extremely complimentary of Okay-State coach Chris Klieman and the way in which his program has been run, so it isn’t a shock that he supplied loads of compliments for the Wildcats this week (then once more, Leipold repeatedly praises the entire Jayhawks’ oppnents). He does have a degree, although; Okay-State nonetheless has a respectable likelihood to play for a convention title and has put collectively a powerful, well-rounded 2022 marketing campaign. That program is twelfth within the newest School Soccer Playoff rankings for a purpose.

“Most likely some recruiting elements to it, it is us enjoying properly and exhibiting the way in which that we’re taking steps. You look once more at how properly they’ve performed all 12 months and what they’ve executed, it will be an opportunity to knock off one other ranked opponent.”

This line was spoken in a usually subdued Leipold tone, nevertheless it’s clear {that a} Sunflower Showdown win can be an enormous boon for a nonetheless growing Kansas program. It might finish 13 years value of bragging rights-related agony and would add an exclamation level to a daily season that is ended with far much less fanfare than it started with.

KNOW YOUR ENEMY

The place: Invoice Snyder Household Stadium, Manhattan, Kansas

When: Saturday, Nov. 26 at 7:00 p.m. CT

Unfold: Kansas +11.5

Clearly, historical past on this matchup is on the facet of the purple workforce. Okay-State has dominated KU face to face for over a decade, with simply two of the 13 video games in the course of the Jayhawks’ dropping skid within the rivalry being determined by one rating. 

The Wildcats are beginning Will Howard at quarterback because of an damage to former starter Adrian Martinez, however equally to how Bean has performed for the Jayhawks, Howard hasn’t appeared like a reserve since he began getting common enjoying time. Nonetheless, although, whereas Howard has elevated the explosiveness of the Okay-State passing recreation, that unit remains to be led by operating again Deuce Vaughn, one of many premiere gamers at his place nationwide. Final week, KU needed to cope with the physicality and distinctive athleticism of Robinson. Now, it must handle the elusiveness and multifaceted risk Vaughn poses.

Leipold was complimentary of Okay-State’s protection throughout his press convention on Monday and you’ll perceive why. The Wildcats are second within the Huge 12 in scoring protection and complete protection, and so they rank 18th in protection within the newest SP+ numbers from Invoice Connelly of ESPN. Okay-State is eleventh total in SP+ this week.

JAYHAWK TO WATCH

It’ll take a gaggle effort from the Jayhawks to return away with an upset victory this weekend, however we’ll deal with the defensive facet of the ball. We all know Vaughn goes to be harmful, however Okay-State has gotten plenty of manufacturing from a handful of go catchers not too long ago, too.

Craig Younger has been super for the stability of this season, each enjoying a extra conventional linebacker position and dropping into protection each within the slot and even often on the boundary. In a contest that would see quite a few Wildcats ushered into the highlight, from operating backs to large receivers to tight ends, search for arguably the Jayhawks’ most versatile defensive participant to tackle a good greater position than regular.

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