Game Preview: KU vs Oklahoma
Series: OU 66-27-6
Time: Saturday, Oct. 18 – 2:30 p.m. (CT)
Venue: Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (82,112)
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
TV: ABC
Line: Oklahoma (-20)
Recent History (OU 6-4)
1992 KU 27, OU 10
1993 OU 38, KU 23
1994 OU 20, KU 17
1995 KU 38, OU 17
1996 KU 52, OU 24
1997 KU 20, OU 17
2000 OU 34, KU 16
2001 OU 38, KU 10
2004 OU 41, KU 10
2005 OU 19, KU 3 in KC
Hawk Digest Oklahoma Preview Capsule
Rock Chalk RoundTable 1.3 -- OU Preview
The Rundown
The game that never was. It would have been nice to have played this one in San Antonio last December, but we'll take what we can get. There are 1,001 good reasons to win this game, but one of my favorites is the meltdown that it will cause in the Mizzou locker room prior to their game at Texas. This is the toughest game on the schedule and it seems like there are those who want to write it off in advance. I say we've been preparing for this one since we played Virginia Tech ... or really since we hired Mark Mangino. It's fantastic that Vegas has us as 20-point dogs. The deeper the perceived gap -- the better. This is the big one that KU hasn't quite been able to put in the resume yet. We've got some weaknesses, but I can't imagine a Jayhawk football team more prepared to battle a true NC contender on the road.
The Key
You know the matchups. You know we need to get past the 20 on kick returns (and cover kick returns). You know that our corners have to be in the ball game. You know that we need an up the middle/quick hit run game. However, the deciding factor will be the attitude of the Jayhawks. Are they ready to go to the next level and play with big time college football passion? Because anybody that's watched them knows they've been in a slumber for most of the season. Truly, they've looked bored on the field. When USF wilted early in the game, the Jayhawks lost interest until it was too late. That's over now. Finally, we have a team of warriors worthy of our best, so I certainly hope we give it to them.
The Bullets
- The Jayhawks have won five straight on the road in the Big 12
- KU has dropped four in row to Oklahoma
- KU has won seven straight day games
- Todd Reesing (462) needs just six completions to pass Frank Seurer (467) for the KU career completion record
- He also needs just 39 yards to pass Frank Seurer (6,112) for the KU career total offense record
- 62% (33 of 53) of Kerry Meier's receptions have produced a first down
- Kansas has posted a 5-46-1 record against teams ranked in the top five of the AP poll all-time
- Most recent wins 24-21 over #5 Virginia Tech last season and 40-24 over #4 Colorado in 1995
- Mangino's wins over ranked teams: 35-14 win vs #23 MU in 2003 / 30-24 win at #24 KSU and 24-21 #Va Tech in Orange Bowl in 2008
- Since 2003 Mangino is 3-7 versus ranked teams
"Sometimes things are just going to happen like that. Mark May of ESPN usually picks us to lose, but it doesn't bother us. We always have a chip on our shoulder and we just want to go out there every week and show that we can play with anybody. We are going to go out there this weekend and play with confidence and hopefully come out with a win. I have always liked being an underdog. It is great to prove people wrong when they pick against you."
--James Holt, on KU as an underdog
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