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| Source: KU Sports |
Six deciding seconds remaining, senior Matthew Wyman faced a 54-yard field goal attempt, the difference between victory over the 3-2 (1-1) TCU Horned Frogs and defeat. Restated: the game was in question on its final play when many believed it would be over by halftime. On a sun-bathed fall Saturday in Lawrence, Kansas was within its kicker's range of an upset in which Vegas spotted Kansas 30 points, which is how I choose to lead the blog this week following heartbreak.
While the attempt missed right, and Kansas lost yet again, those who follow the program close enough can see the progress. In a way, it's nice to feel heartbreak again. Call it what you will, but a legitimate chance to win, in itself, is a win for 2016 Kansas football, a team that tries to climb its way out of a hole that's been excavated the past seven years by those preceding it. On Saturday, we saw not only that the program stopped the digging--they've set the shovel aside--but it's also beginning it's gradual ascent out of ineptitude on the backs of one of the league's best defenses, a coaching staff that is getting its players to buy in, and an offense that could be decent by year's end. It'll be a long climb, but it's shorter today than it was yesterday. And the next question is whether we'll be able to say that tomorrow. In a one-point loss, Kansas looked better than a good football team. The kids are young, they're tough, and they've bought in to David Beaty.
Just last week, David Beaty brought up the fact that Kansas needs to stop getting behind the eight ball. He was right. To date this season, KU hadn't had a lead in a football game outside of Rhode Island. Opponents were scoring quickly and often in the first quarter, while Kansas was not. And Saturday, Kansas took an early 7-0 lead that carried into the second quarter, and actually lead this game for the majority of regulation.
After Ryan Willis slung a few darts around, the Kansas defense wound up starting their first drive of the game on their own 45-yard line, following a Nick Orr interception return on a gamble by the KU quarterback. It was his first start of the season, and the sophomore took some chances in the first half that hurt his team. But I like his aggressiveness.
On first down, Kansas kept Hicks bottled up, and on Kenny Hill's first pass attempt of the day, Brandon Stewart jumped the hook route for the pick off the former Heisman candidate. Message sent and received: KU was going to make it a fight today despite the early mistake.
The Hawks stalled on its next drive. On a 3rd down and 10, Willis hit Keegan Brewer on a hitch, and Brewer made a strong move after the catch to inch near the sticks, flung about three yards towards the first down line by Ty Summers. The field ruling was a first-down, but the replay officials ruled Brewer's knee down before the sticks. KU didn't convert, but it showed some life. Cole Moos punted deep into TCU territory, continuing his strong 2016, and Joe DeForest's specialists covered well, as they have all season, as Courtney Arnick was the first to get there to bring down the returner inside the 5-yard line.
TCU converted its first first down on the second possession on a quick out route to Ty Slanina. On the next play, standout junior tailback Kyle Hicks was arrested in the backfield by Courtney Arnick, and held to a minimal gain on second down. Kansas was staying at home on the read-option. However, on third down Hill found Emmanuel Porter for 34-yards down the sideline to move the chains.
Needing a play, the big man wearing No. 2 delivered as he has so often. Sophomore Dorance Armstrong awoke the guy monitoring the richter scale, beating the TCU right tackle and sandwiching Hill, popping the ball loose. The fumble was recovered by Damani Mosby, and Kansas was in business. It was the first quality hit on Hill, and the opposing quarterback did not look comfortable all day.
Kansas took over at the TCU 44 and continued to work the short-middle segment of the field, finding the sure-handed Shakiem Barbel for five, then going outside to sophomore Steven Sims for the first down. First down success is crucial to this team and any, and as Kansas moved the ball early in the possession, it usually spelled good things.
Barbel, though, hearing me ballyhooing about how reliable he is, dropped the next pass. The following play, Keegan Brewer was tackled 5-yards behind the line of scrimmage on second down, bringing up a third and long. That's when Ryan Willis rifled a bullet to Barbel just past the sticks on the sideline. It required a leaping grab and good focus. Taylor Martin gouged TCU for 6 a play after, but was held to one yard on the next one. Barbel then ran a post to the end-zone on third down and drew a pass interference call. A corollary benefit to having an effective passing game. Two Taylor Martin plunges later, Kansas found the end-zone and the early lead. With 6:02 remaining in the first quarter, Kansas was in early control, 7-0.
On its third drive of the game, TCU continued to sputter. Kenny Hill threw a second and 7 pass at his left guard's feet, and on 3rd and 7, Hill's pass went wide of his target by five yards. Kansas fielded the TCU punt at its 35, feeling pretty good about itself.
Kansas had little success on screen passes for much of the day and much of this season. Another TFL came when LaQuvionte Gonzalez caught one on first down. An incomplete pass on a slant to Bobby Hartzog in heavy traffic brought up a 3rd and 12. But on third down and 12, Kansas executed a 19-yard tunnel screen to Steven Sims, following a shifty move. Gonzalez caught a first down pass and wiggled for four, but a second down screen pass was batted down by James McFarland and intercepted by Travin Howard. It was a good play by the Horned Frogs's defensive end who stopped before being engaged by the block, seeing it was a screen and got a paw on it.
TCU took over on the Kansas 48. A nine yard pass completion on first down was followed by a second and short run play that made its way down to the Kansas 27. TCU was being to gel. This is an offense, remember, who ranks near the top of the conference and country across many categories. Slinging it outside, Slanina was knifed down by Mike Lee on the edge, who showcased impressive pursuit on the play. Hicks went inside on second down to bring up a 3rd and 2, but Kansas held firm, forcing Hill out of the pocked and to make a throw along the sideline across his body. Penalties on both teams offset, though, and they replayed the down. Hill's option keeper was thwarted, losing yards on the play, as Mike Lee and Courtney Arnick swarmed to the ball. TCU's 38-yard field goal attempt never had a chance, staying left, and Kansas took over leading 7-0 with 1:11 left in the first quarter.
Really since the second half of the Ohio game, you've been seeing a defense that's gaining confidence in itself, and especially since the third Texas Tech possession, has played with a tenacity this program has lacked for some time. This, even, with four starters sidelined by injury.
A minimal gain on first down to Steven Sims on the screen pass was followed by a an 8 yard connection to Barbel. This brought up a 3rd and 1, but not until the end of the first quarter.
Out of the second quarter gate, freshman Maciah Long took the wildcat formation and plowed forward for the first down. This wound up being worth nearly 3 minutes time of possession. On first down, Ryan Willis saw nothing downfield, but tucked it and advanced the ball to the KU 42. His speed is not Cozart's, but his running ability might be better, and that's more valuable, as he has a better feel for the pocket and more courage to go upfield. If Cozart only uses 50% of his athleticism, and Willis maxes out, Willis is the better option by a good margin.
Khalil Herbert rushed for three yards on his only carry of the day, and Willis suffered a sack on second and 7. On 3rd and 12, Willis went to the line of scrimmage to alter the play, but was corralled just past the line of scrimmage as the play broke down. Kansas was forced to punt. Cole Moos punted to the TCU 24.
To recap, TCU's first four possessions starting on the KU 45, TCU 5, TCU 25, and KU 48 went 2, 5, 3, and 6 plays for 1, 46, 4, and 28 yards, and ended in an interception, fumble, punt, and missed field goal.
On first down, Kenny Hill escaped a sack and stole 6 yards from a defense that had been giving him fits so far. Hicks tried the right side and found a gaping hole, thanks to RG Cordel Iwuagwu bear-hugging a KU defender. On 2nd and 13, Hill found Desmon White, to bring up a manageable 3rd and 4. Yet, it wasn't enough. Brandon Stewart and Keith Loneker stopped the TCU wide receiver a yard short of the line to gain on third down, and TCU was forced to punt for the second time of the game. That punt took a favorable hop after landing at the 30 because Gonzalez was fending against a high, bright sun, and rolled end-over-end to the KU 10. A 20-yard difference. This is one of those plays you'd like to have back.
On the next play, naturally, Ryan Willis was strip-sacked, and TCU recovered at the four. Mat Boesen beat Michael Zunica and TaylorMartin around the edge and Chris Bradley recovered at the KU 5. On the next play, Hicks bullied his way into the end-zone. Just like that, the game was tied, despite Kansas throughouly outplaying TCU to this point.
This is usually where KU folds. They've left their heart on the field, outplayed the opponent, and one miscue essentially negates that entire advantage. That's when the heads hang, and the more-talented opponent puts the petal to the metal and pulls away. But KU did not do what it so often does.
Saturday was different. To this point in the game, nothing all that fluky had gone Kansas's way. Sure, TCU had missed a field goal, but most of TCU's errors were KU-caused. KU was moving the ball decently, the special teams were locked in, and the defense looked like one of the Big 12's best. Kansas was in the game because it matched up well with TCU athletically and schematically, and Kansas was out-executing when both teams were lined up properly. What transpired next may have been more encouraging than the good start: Kansas continued to fight and hang tough against a good program.
Quiv Gonzalez didn't make it back to the 20 on the kick-return, as he was tracked down on the TCU 17. But a Kansas offense that so typically would hand the ball back to TCU following the touchdown with little resistance, gained 3 on a Taylor Martin run on first down, another yard on second down, and Kansas, facing a 3rd and makeable (6 yards), came through. Willis stood alone in the shotgun on third down, and zipped a slant to Barbel just at the sticks to convert. Good timing route. On the next first down play, he found Gonzalez on a deep sideline pass which went for 31 yards. Good pass; good catch. Willis was sacked on first down. Then on 2nd and 14, Willis tried Sims deep, but overshot him into double coverage. The pass was picked off, but TCU was pinned back at the TCU 12. Although the drive didn't result in points, it was encouraging. Kansas moved the ball after adversity, and TCU faced the length of the field instead of favorable position.
Hicks was brought down by Tevin Shaw after a five yard gain on first down, and on second down, Loneker read Hill's eyes and batted down a pass over the middle, nearly intercepting it. On 3rd and 5, Kansas burned a timeout to get the right personnel on the field. A stop would keep Kansas with a sense of momentum, so I agree with the call. Had TCU converted, it wouldn't be hard to envision them moving down the field for a second-straight touchdown and a firm grip of the game. Clint Bowen's defense showed blitz but dropped back in coverage and kept contain on Kenny Hill as he scrambled for the first down, and brought him down short two yards. DeeIsaac Davis was key on the play. Because the defense got off the field so quickly, Kansas fielded the punt on the 35. An unsportsmanlike conduct call on TCU gifted Kansas an additional 15 yards.
Kinner went for four yards on first down to the 46. He nearly fumbled on the next run, but made it down to the TCU 37. After two ineffective plays. Kansas faced third and seven, and Ryan Willis found Gonzalez in a hole in the zone, but Joe Gibson was flagged for being down field. It was away from the play, but the correct call. On 3rd and 12, Willis ran for 6 on a designed draw play. Matthew Wyman came onto the field after the offense feigned going for it. He put the 50-yarder through the uprights, and Kansas led once again, 10-7, with 3:48 left tin the half.
On first down, Hicks was contained by the Kansas linebackers and ends, stringing out the play to the sideline, and TCU held on the play as well. On first and 20, Hill found an open Dylan Thomas for 14. At its 40, Hicks made a few lateral moves and brought the Frogs within a yard of the first down. On 3rd and 1, Hicks showcased his elusiveness, spinning for the first down. Just two minutes remained, as TCU was 50-yards away from 6 points. Hill misfired on first down, and on second down he fielded the high snap but hooked up with Taj Williams. Penalty markers littered the backfield, a personal foul hands to the face call on Demani Mosby tacked on an additional fifteen yards to the end of the run. Suddenly, TCU was inside the KU 20. Hill kept a read option, made a move on Derrick Neal, accepted a downfield block from his receiver, and found the end-zone. With 1:31 left in the first half, TCU had its first lead of the game, 14-10.
With four turnovers already in one half, Kansas played things conservatively on its final possession of the half. Kansas had to punt with 39 seconds left due to TCU timeouts. Kenny Hill was sacked by by Cameron Roser on first down, and he missed a receiver on second down. The teams headed to the locker room with a score that was deceiving.
On the half, Kenny Hill was 8-14 for 98 yards, 1 interception and a rushing touchdown. Ryan Willis went 16-23 for 118 yards, 3 interceptions and a fumble on his five.
In the first quarter, TCU had 8 rushes for 18 yards. Kansas had 8 for 16. In the second quarter, TCU had 8 for 39. Kansas had 16 for 30. TCU was 2 of 6 on third downs. KU was 5 of 10 on third downs.
TCU came out of the locker room with some pep in their step, converting a few first downs on the ground. Kansas responded. Dorance Armstrong forced a tough throw and laid a good hit on Hill. Hicks caught a pass on 2nd and 20 and shook defenders for a gain of 4. ON 3rd and 16, from the TCU 49, a deflected pass was intercepted by Brandon Stewart and returned into TCU territory. The senior defensive back is reportedly healthy for the first time in a while. and it showed.
Kansas from the TCU 48, started with a strong run by Ryan Willis for 8 yards. As I alluded to earlier, he's better than Cozart in getting his pads squared up field and not running to the sideline every time. He's also got courage. And that's a needed intangible out of a Kansas quarterback. A touchdown pass to Taylor Martin in which Willis approached the line of scrimmage to pull the secondary in was negated by a hold on senior D'Andre Banks.
Following the setback, Willis found Barbel for 32 yards on the sideline. Entering the game, Barbel had 4 catches all year, but found separation Saturday. After two plays that didn't go for much, Willis kept on 3rd and 7 and was stopped four yards short. Wyman connected on the 29-yard field goal to bring Kansas within one, 14-13, with 10:02 left in the third quarter. Kansas was muddying up the game a little bit, but that's how the underdog wins. Except to an uninformed spectator, these teams might have looked pretty even across the board.
TCU from its own 25 didn't last long against the KU defense. Davis and Cameron Rosser made a strong play on 3rd and four, forcing a punt. Kenny Hill could feel Armstrong coming and was unable to go through all his progressions because of it. It's been said many times before, but a defensive line that can get in the quarterback's head is invaluable, and that's what David Beaty, Clint Bowen and company are building. The unit is talented, it's improving its depth, and it is young.
Kansas started its next drive on the 27. Martin could not escape Josh Carraway, one of the league's best ends, gaining 1 on first down. On second down, Wills tucked the ball and ran for 2 hard yards after seeing his first and second options covered up. On third and seven, Gonzalez made two moves on TCU defenders over the heart of the field and showcased his speed that was only outmatched by a good angle by the TCU defender and KU's Taylor Martin, who was shot out of a cannon, sprinting from five-yards back in the backfield to the end of the play past Gonzalez to make a block that almost sprung Gonzalez into the end-zone. Gonzalez's right foot was forced out by Ranthony Texada at the 3, as he angled and dove into the end-zone.
Another turning point in this football game.
KU had first and goal at the TCU 2. On first down, out of the shotgun, Taylor Martin was hit behind the line of scrimmage by Carroway. 2nd and goal from the 3, Willis was neighbored by Ke'Aun Kinner and Taylor Martin in the shotgun. Kinner plunged into the endzone, the ball came out, and he was ruled down at the 1. The review did not provide enough evidence that Kinner crossed the plane, although he did. The ruling on the field was not confirmed, but it stood. On third down, Martin, who later said he didn't trust his interior linemen, bounced outside and was shut down well short of the end-zone. Wyman's third kick of the day was good. Kansas reclaimed the lead with 5:01 left in the third, 16-14.
Suddenly, TCU was starting to feel the bubbles of the boiling water they had been simmering in all day. Kenny Hill connected on a difficult pass for 9 yards--well covered and contested. Brandon Stewart made an excellent play on the next play, batting the ball down, bringing up a 3rd and 1. Hill gave to Hicks in the backfield, but Keith Loneker, Fish Smithson, and Courtney Arnick greeted him, and in just three plays, the defense was off the field Junior Isi Holani had nice push to help stop the play before it got going, with TCU linemen moving backwards. Holani checks in at 6'3", 325.
The offense, despite stalling on the last drive, had some sync to it going into this possession. Up two with the ball, Kansas smelled blood in the water. After an in-completion on first down at the KU 28, and a minimal gain to Gonzalez, Willis threw short to Sims, but TCU had it snuffed out. Cole Moos continued his strong season with a booming punt that Kansas covered at the TCU 18.
Kenny Hill completed two passes in a row on the next possession to move the sticks. But on the following first down, Cameron Rosser , Dorance Armstrong and company created pressure, a sack and a near fumble recovery. The following pass was a wobbly one and Greg Allen, the senior, came up from his safety spot and snatched the ball. Kansas set up shop at the TCU 25 and after a fearless 4 yard run by Taylor Martin, Ryan Willis improvised on a designed pass, put the ball down, showcased some top-end speed and physicality as he pushed across the goal line. With the PAT, Kansas held a nine-point lead over a team they were expected to lose to by 4 touchdowns with 29 seconds left in the third quarter.
Sensing disaster, TCU pulled out all the stops. Kenny Hill found Jalen Austin in the seam over the middle to move TCU to its 42, and on the final play of the quarter, he found TCU John Diarse at midfield. A rousing applause followed the whistle, as Kansas had won the third frame 13-0. Kansas was 15 minutes away from David Beaty's first Big 12 win in a game they deserved to have.
On second and 2, Hill overthrew his receiver, and on 3rd and 2, Kansas was held illegally, moving TCU back ten yards for 3rd and a dozen.
This is when the apparition that has continued to haunt Kansas since the 2009 Colorado game reared its ugly head. Running for his life, Hill was sacked all the way back at his own 30. Yellow laundry came raining down, signaling an unfortunate face-mask penalty on Damani Mosby, which had little effect on the outcome of the play as Hill was dead in the water, surrounded by Jayhawks. Meanwhile, the ball had come out and laid idly on the field. Kansas assumed a whistle was blown and confusion ensued. Hill picked up the still football and wisely ran for a first-down gain, which at the end of the run, also accepted the 15 penalty yards for the illegal tackle. Instead of Kansas regaining possession up 9 points with 14:17 left in the game, TCU was suddenly in scoring position. From the KU 25 yard line, Hill missed a wide-open Kyle Hicks with steam towards the end-zone On second down, however, Hill did not miss, and found Jalen Austin over Derrick Neal (undersized at 5'11"), trimming the lead to 2, 23-21 Kansas.
Quiv Gonzalez didn't make it back to the 20 on the return , but the Kansas offense did its part. Taylor Martin eluded a tackle behind the line of scrimmage and exploded for 13 yards on first down. On the next play, Kinner stiff-armed a defender and rumbled for 11 yards. Kansas was making plays in meaningful minutes.
The next play, Kinner, behind a nice push from his line, went for 5 yards. Looking for Quiv Gonzalez on the next play, Willis floated in a beautiful ball and although Gonzalez couldn't bring it in, he drew the pass interference call, moving the ball down to the TCU 37. On 2nd and 10, Willis hit Barbel on a 5-yard slant pass. His 8th reception of the day. On a big 3rd and 5, Steven Sims beat his man one-on-one and Willis put the out-route pass on the money, moving the chains. At the 20, Willis gave to Martin for a small gain. The clock kept ticking, inside 11 minutes to go. A touchdown would give Kansas command of the game. But Josh Carraway, the senior, announced his presence with a key sack (and he wasn't done). Kansas emptied the backfield and ran a draw play to the 20. But Matthew Wyman's 37-yard attempt, following a low snap was pushed right.
TCU took over and displayed some urgency. A six-yard pass on first down was followed by a 14 yard Kyle Hicks run out of bounds. Hill air-mailed his receiver on first down, and on second down, Hicks was chopped down after 6-yards by Mike Lee. On third and four, with 8 minutes to go, Hill 's pass over the middle was dropped, combined with an offensive pass interference penalty. TCU would punt, and Gonzalez fielded at the 12.
Kansas had the ball with 7:44 up 2.
On first down, Willis found Martin on a simple pass out of the backfield for 4 yards. The second down pass overshot TCU's travel team (a smart play by Willis). On 3rd and 6, Willis hit Sims on a crossing route. A good block by Quiv Gonzalez moved Kansas to the 31. The next play, Gonzalez was rewarded for his teamwork, as Willis dropped a pass into his grasp at the 50. The clock was now down to just above 6 minutes. Willis gave to Taylor Martin for a nice 5 yards up the middle. Kansas snapped the 2nd down play with 5:22 left, and Taylor Martin wiggled his way down the TCU 29. Mindful of the second-hand, the next snap came with 4:44 left, but Bill Self would have appreciated the bounce pass Willis made to Steven Sims that play. The clock stopped with 4:42. On 2nd and 10, Willis went to the end-zone and Gonzalez had it for a second, but a jarring hit popped it loose. The clock stayed at 4:35, and Kansas faced a 3rd and 10. Willis slung a bubble screen over to Bobby Hartzog, but he was brought down four yards short of the first down. As the clock wound under four minutes, Matthew Wyman, from the right hash, pulled hist 41-yard attempt. Kansas had spotted TCU 6 points to TCU's 3 from the 1st quarter miss.
With 3:45 to go, TCU began its drive. Kenny Hill maneuvered around in the pocket and completed a difficult pass for 25 yards to the TCU 49. Kyle Hicks took the next carry for a first down gain to the Kansas 40 The next play, Hill threw wild to a wide open Hicks at the line of scrimmage. On second and 10, Hicks enjoyed a wide hole provided by his line, and made his way to the Kansas 25 for another first down. Hill took the next nap, thought about things for a second before giving the ball to his back, and Cameron Rosser stuffed it. TCU lost 5 yards on the play. The clock was down to 2:00 with three timeouts apiece. Hicks followed his blocking all the way up the field for a 9 yard gain. With the clock stopped at 1:56, TCU faced a 3rd and 6. Kansas made some defensive substitutions, and TCU called timeout. In the pistol formation, Hicks took the snap, kept the speed option, was held short, fumbled late, but TCU pounced on it. With three timeouts, Kansas, when the play was blown dead at 1:46, waited until 1:26 to call timeout. 20 seconds that could have helped shorten Wyman's attempt. Brandon Hatfield's 34- yard field goal attempt split the uprights. Gary Patterson sure did not show a whole lot of faith in his kicking game/offense, since he did not accept a personal foul call on the field goal.
This gave Kansas a final shot with 1:21 remaining and 2 timeouts down 24-23.
The ensuing TCU kickoff went into the end-zone, so Ryan Willis took over at the 25 with a chance to be the hero. The sophomore clapped his hands and bobbed his head. I would wager heavy money that Willis was convinced he was going to lead the two-minute drill to victory. It started promisingly. He took the first snap and found Barbel for 9 yards. On the next play, it was Steven Sims right on the sideline to the KU 43. Kansas called timeout with 49 seconds remaining, well within striking distance of Wyman's range. But Josh Carraway was too much. On 1st and 10, and then 2nd and 15, the star end sacked Willis for losses of 5 and 8 yards. Then on a 3rd and 23 with 40 seconds left and no timeouts, Ryan Willis was swarmed again and pushed forward for only a yard.
Facing 4th and 22 at its 31, Willis found Sims streaking across the middle of the field, who lateraled back to Bobby Hartzog, who raced to the chains to convert the play. Excellent execution, and a sign of a well-coached team. The stadium was alive once again. KU was into TCU territory (the 45), but on the next play, Sims was flagged for offensive pass interference, bringing KU back to its 40. The game of field position ping pong continued as Willis found Sims for 23 yards to the TCU 37. His next pass missed Barbel, and as Wyman lined up for the 54-yard game winnner, TCU used its two timeouts to ice him. The kick had the leg, but veered right, and TCU escaped Lawrence.
A few takeaways beyond just the fact that the loss stung. And that it's good to at least feel a sting.
Something tells me that the senior Wyman, who has struggled throughout the year and much of his career, will get another chance this season to win a game, and he will come through. Fans like to assign heroes and goats. Wyman, remember, did connect from 50 when Kansas was losing some momentum, so keep that in mind. He's as much a part of this team as Dorance Armstrong and the backup punter. The beautiful thing to see is that he's got the support of his teammates and coaches, who kept his head up. I think part of that stems from the idea that they believe this isn't going to be their last chance to get that elusive victory. Saturday felt legit. Defensively, in the hidden third, and from an offense that is beginning to find an identity. They know they're going to need Matthew this year, and they've got a team that can make some noise. They might not win another game this year, but this won't be the last close one.
On the day, Kansas finished with 23 first downs to TCU's 18. It outgained TCU 470 to 366, holding Hill to 206 yards passing. Each team turned the ball over 4 times, but Kansas surrendered one of its four at its own 5 yard line. Any variety of breaks would have resulted in a Kansas victory. TCU will tell you they were outplayed, but give them credit for taking better advantage of their few opportunities. Kansas was held out of the end-zone at its one. TCU converted a first down on a bizarre fumble-rooski. Kansas missed two fourth quarter field goals. TCU made its only attempt in the fourth quarter.
The schedule isn't pretty for a month: @ No. 11 Baylor, vs. OSU, @ No. 19 OU, @ No. 20 WVU. A combined record of 16-4 (7-1). But those last three games heading into 2017 look like chances for Kansas to ruin somebody's day: vs. ISU, vs. Texas, @ KSU. Combined record of 6-10 (1-6). Kansas State could still run away with this conference, so probably a lot to ask in Manhattan, but those last two home games should be circled.
But now for the gauntlet. Let's see how this team competes against the league's best. Saturday was a good start.
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