For the past 16 seasons, Kansas State and Kansas have squared off on the gridiron with the exact same result — a Kansas State victory. But for the first time in recent memory, Kansas is favored in the “Sunflower Showdown,” which the Jayhawks will host on Saturday.
Kansas State (3-4, 2-2 Big 12) comes into the contest off a bye, but there’s no advantage because Kansas (4-3, 2-2) is in the same situation.
Kansas State enjoyed maybe its best game of the season two weekends ago as the Wildcats easily handled TCU. The Wildcats used three Avery Johnson touchdown passes and two defensive scores to defeat the Horned Frogs, 41-28. The Wildcats scored 28 straight points in the middle quarters and never saw their lead dip below 13 the rest of the game.
But just like coaches like to say “don’t let a team beat you twice,” referring to allowing disappointment to affect the next game, Kansas State coach Chris Klieman knows his squad can’t rest on the laurels of their last victory — or the 16-game winning streak against their archrival.
“They’re really talented,” Klieman said. “As I’ve watched them, it really starts with (Jalon) Daniels. I’ve been really impressed with him for a number of years now. I’ve been impressed with how he plays. He’s the leader of the group. The thing that impressed me the most is that he stayed in the fight.”
Daniels leads a balanced Kansas offense. The Jayhawks are averaging 263.3 yards per game through the air and 155 yards per game on the ground.
Kansas ran into a buzzsaw two weekends ago when the Jayhawks suffered a 42-17 loss to No. 9 Texas Tech as the Red Raiders scored the final 21 points of the game. Daniels finished 27 of 33 for 255 yards and two touchdowns.
Head coach Lance Leipold knows his players will be ready for Saturday.
“Guys know if it’s a rival game and why,” he said. “Whether they got here six months ago or six years ago, they know that. If guys get extra fired up for those games, does it mean they’re not fired up for other games? You have a routine, and you should be playing at your fullest for each and every snap, regardless of who you’re playing against.”
