Keep On Rolling -- Kansas 43, Oklahoma State 28

Mission Accomplished

"We're not caught up in polls and all that stuff," Mangino said. "Our team is 10-0 right now because we have taken care of the task at hand."

A lot of KU fans would have been happy with two road wins based on previous decade or so. The 2007 Jayhawks went above and beyond though wrapping up a 4-0 road record in Stillwater with a solid 43-28 win against a Cowboys' squad with a talented offensive unit. Plus, as mentioned a few times on this blog, a final check was made on the 2006 Vengeance Tour:

X--Toledo
X--Baylor
X--Texas A&M
X--Nebraska
X--Oklahoma State

Well done. I was also thinking about how special this team is. Based on this season alone Mark Mangino will start to pull in higher level recruits. Talent is awesome, but sometimes (and I won't mention any specific teams) you get players that are out there playing for themselves and the units don't seem cohesive. The 2007 Hawks demonstrate a true team mentality. Yeah, they've got some talent, but you can tell they don't care who gets the spotlight. They're just out trying to figure out how to win each game.

The easiest place to see that team mentality is on defense. Each player seems willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to get a piece of the ball carrier because they know help is definitely on the way. The first guy doesn't always get the guy down, but the disruption is there and the Hawks swarm in. They might even try to pull your leg off (see Rivera on Savage).

The offense is the same. Each week a different guy shines. OSU was committed to shutting down B-Mac. They had some success early and again Ed Warriner and Todd Reesing adjusted. The Cowboys put a lot of heat on Todd, so it was up to the receivers to catch and run. Marcus Henry had the big night and the beat goes. We've seen a lot of game plans thrown at the Hawks. The balanced team adapts again. What will method will the Cyclones try?

Offical Site: Final Stats |  Notes |  Photo Gallery

From Johnson County, Kansas

• Mark May wasn't very popular at our house
• 39,848 with ABC in the house and a chance to knock off a legitimate undefeated team in November. I guess I can understand after the heartbreaker the week before, but why do they need 60,000 seats?
• Speaking of ABC, last night's broadcast had a little bit of an OSU-infomercial type feel. That's all right though, we like it that way. And yes, now I want to know what the next football facilities project is for KU even though we're only halfway through the new football offices.
• Marcus Herford on kick returns -- huge KU advantage. He will get another TD this year.
• Tough way to spend Senior Night for Adarius Bowman. Hopefully, he'll recover and get that NFL shot.
• Some individual offensive season totals just for fun:
• Reesing -- 26 TDs versus 4 interceptions
• McAnderson -- 949 yards 15 TDs, Sharp -- 705 yards and 7 TDs
• Henry -- 46 rec, 885 yards, 7 TDs; Fields -- 37/508/3; Briscoe -- 32/365/7; Fine -- 38/325/3

Inside the Tent: You Set 'Em Up

We'll Knock 'Em Down: KU 43, OSU 28

Hello Fielding Yost and 1899
10-0 feels as good as I thought it would. Next up, chasing 1968 ... the year I was born.

Blue Steel Rocks
OSU has a lot of weapons on offense. Nice work by Bill Young adjusting. Zac Robinson's ability to run was frustrating, but the KU defense hung together. The KC Star gave the defense a B, but I'm thrilled with limiting OSU to 28 in Stillwater.

Heavyweight Fighter
Maybe it's Reesing, maybe it's Mangino, maybe it's the offseason competition exercises. Whatever it is, I love this team's ability to counter punch.

One Yard Shy
A perfect evening for a breakout game for Marcus Henry. Would have loved to see him crack 200, but I'll take the three TDs. The "I'm going this way, no I'm going this way, see ya" 82-yard TD was beautiful.

"You Didn't See Nothing Lisa"
The look on Mangino's face was priceless when Lisa Salters asked about whether or not Reesing was limping in the first half.

Whitlock Is Mostly Right On This One
But KU fans have already tapped in to this. There will be no whining. We know the polls this week don't really matter. We know it's survive and advance each week. We know where winning takes us. Couldn't agree more with this quote though:

"The attitude of fans can impact the mind-set of a team."

Laying Some Pipe
That was a fascinating interview with Boone. I thought Kirk was going to strangle Brent. I appreciate the national broadcast from ABC, but it seems they like missed out on at least one key replay -- B-Mac just short of the goal line late. They also missed out on the start of a few plays. Maybe just a little more focus on the game would help. Love the skycam though.

KU Game Day Bulletin Board: Oklahoma State

One Last Ghost

KU (9-0) @ OSU (5-4) | Boone Pickens Stadium (capacity: 48,000? ave: 40,059)
Oklahoma State is the last team to payback from the 2006 season. Oddly enough, we find the Cowboys in a similar place to where they found us last year -- one week removed from a crushing fourth quarter collapse at home. I've seen some lows, but the post-game from OSU last year was my personal trip to the brink. The Baylor game was just a plunge into the absurd. The loss to OSU was just one of those, "I know the pieces fit" moments. One year later and it all makes a little more sense. In case, you need to get up for a chance at a national championship, here is your bulletin board material:

The Kansas Pretenders

"Kansas is now No. 4 in the BCS, and No. 5 in both the AP and USA Today Coaches poll which is an absolute joke, but that will not be confirmed until Oklahoma State routs the Jayhawks in Stillwater on Saturday night. That's right, I said it. OSU could not prove that Texas was a pretender last week, but they will prove that the South is still the dominant division, when they beat Kansas on Saturday night." (story link)

Living in the Past

 

Nice Work By The Leader In Sports

First you get Lou Holtz with a sad little version of a locker room "pep talk" last night stating that "Kansas hasn't played anyone. They haven't played anyone in the Top 25!" Next you get this nice little tidbit on the website. How many factual errors can you make in a 4" x 4" space?

 

See You In 2010

Celebrity Game Preview: Kansas @ Oklahoma State

Well, this new department is likely to be short-lived. The Gridiron Board over on Phog.net buried the concept with this thread. For the record, this is the second installment as we offered this one up last Saturday.

Chris Rock

"Two-hundred and eighty-four million dollars. You've got to be kidding me! Two-huuuuundred and  ... eighty  ....  four million dollars. *^%$. That's alot of $#^%in' money for a football stadium ... for a college team? For a state college, for "student" athletes? Are you *&^*ing kidding me?!?!?!? Boone &^%$in' Pickens. What the &^%# has he been pickin'? Gold. He got a gold pickin' farm!?!?!?!? &^%$! People have lost their *&^%in' minds. Who's gonna win the game? If the game is collectin' money then I give it to Oklahoma State -- 284 million to 31 million. Two-hundred and eighty-four million dollars? Jesus, their are alot of countries that would love to hit two-eighty for a GNP."

Murray Hewitt,
Flight of the Conchords

"All right then, Ohio State - present. Kansas - present. Hawaii - present. Okay then, band agenda. First off, we'll need a name and luckily I've worked a little something up for you. The Undefeat Teds. Huh? Yeah, you like it? Good. Okay, then next order of business. Let me pull up the band itinerary on the computer. Okay, Kansas you've got a gig with the "Cowboys" in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Hmmm, Still water, that doesn't sound very nice does it? Anyway, big game, lotta people watching. This one is to be broadcast in high definition. Don't know what that means but don't screw this one up, could mean a lot of money guys."

Montgomery Burns,
The Simpsons

"The Oklahoma State Cowboys, eh? I know their kind. Scrappy bunch. Vibrant colors, full of pep. What's the name of their coach, Smithers? That's right! Gunderson! A young buck, if only he'd had children. Oh well. No need for the Cowboys to show up. The mighty Jayhawks of Kansas will crush them like cockroaches."

Big 12 Power Rankings | Week #10

1) Kansas (9-0, 5-0) #5 CBS
The Hawks have now proven that they are good ... are they a great team? The orange Cowboys stand in the way. Undefeated lives here.
CBS Schedule Rank: 72
Results: W Central Michigan 52-7 | W SE Louisiana 62-0 | W Toledo 45-13 | W  FIU 55-3 | W @KSU 30-24 | W Baylor 58-10 | W @CU 19-14 | W A&M 19-11 | Nebraska 76-39
Next: @Oklahoma State (5-4)
Week-by-Week:
HD: 8-6-6-4-4-4-1-1-1-1
CBS: 52-47-43-34-34-20-16-10-8-5

2) Oklahoma (8-1, 4-1) #4 CBS
A caller to the DA Show (610 AM Kansas City) this morning assured the listeners that MU or KU will get smoked by OU in San Antonio. Frank from Olathe wanted to clarify that OU is the class of the Big 12. Sure, just ask Dan Hawkins.
CBS Schedule Rank: 55
Results: W N. Texas 79-10 | W Miami (Fla) 51-13  | W Utah St 54-3 | W  @Tulsa 62-21 | L @CU 24-27 | W Texas 28-21 | W MU 41-21 | W @ISU 17-7 | W A&M 42-14
Next: Baylor (3-7)
Week-by-Week:
HD: 1-1-1-1-3-3-2-2-2-2
CBS: 10-3-3-3-10-6-4-4-6-4

3) Missouri (8-1, 4-1) #6 CBS
No further questions. The "D" can play. Should move up a spot, but there is the unpleasant matter of that head-to-head loss.
CBS Schedule Rank: 39
Results: W Illinios 40-34 | W @Mississippi 38-25 | W W. Michigan 52-24 | W  Illinois St 38-17 | NU 41-6 | L @OU 31-41 | TTU 41-10 | W ISU 42-28 | W @CU 55-10
Next:  Texas A&M (6-4)
Week-by-Week:
HD: 5-4-3-3-1-1-3-3-3-3
CBS: 41-36-28-21-15-10-15-11-9-6

4) Texas (8-2, 4-2) #15 CBS
Who's for Texas weaseling their way into a BCS bowl?
CBS Schedule Rank: 65
Results: W Arkansas St 21-13 | W TCU 34-13 | W UCF 35-32 | W Rice 58-14 | L KSU 21-41 | L OU 21-28 | W @ISU 56-3 | W @Baylor 31-10 | W Nebraska 28-25 | W @OSU 38-35
Next: Texas Tech (7-3)
Week-by-Week:
HD: 2-2-2-2-6-7-6-4-4-4
CBS: 8-9-9-9-18-24-18-17-16-15

5) Oklahoma St (5-4, 3-1) #43 CBS
Incompetence below means the Cowboys hold the #5 spot. Still can't play with the big boys in the south.
CBS Schedule Rank: 17
Results: L @Georgia 14-35 | W FAU 42-6 | L @Troy 23-41 | W Texas Tech 49-45 | W Sam Houston 39-3 | L @A&M 23-24 | W @NU 45-14 | W KSU 41-39 | L Texas 35-38
Next: Kansas (9-0)
Week-by-Week:
HD: 7-8-9-7-8-8-9-6-5-5
CBS: 37-34-66-59-57-62-55-47-41-43

6) Texas Tech (7-3, 3-3) #32 CBS
This is getting easier. Move to the top of the heap after beating weak team. Move to bottom after loss. C'mon Tech -- one good win. Time is running out.
CBS Schedule Rank: 92
Results: W SMU 49-9 | W UTEP 45-31 | W Rice 59-24 | L @OSU 45-49 | W NW St.  75-7 | W ISU 42-17 | W A&M 35-7 | L @MU 10-41 | L CU 26-31 | W @Baylor 38-7
Next: @Texas (8-2)
Week-by-Week:
HD: 6-7-7-10-10-9-4-9-9-6
CBS: 45-41-34-48-48-31-20-30-44-32

7) Kansas State (5-4, 3-3) #59 CBS
Victimized in Ames. Too much too fast for the Cats?
CBS Schedule Rank: 49
Results: L Auburn 13-23 | W San Jose St 34-14 | W Missouri St 61-10 | W @UT 41-21 | L KU 24-30 | W CU 47-20 | L @OSU 39-41 | W Baylor 51-13 | L @ISU 20-31
Next: @Nebraska (4-6)
Week-by-Week
HD: 9-9-8-5-5-6-5-7-7
CBS: 54-50-45-46-28-41-33-48-59

8) Colorado (5-5, 3-3) #44 CBS
So, the ISU game is tougher than the Nebraska game? They need both.
CBS Schedule Rank: 10
Results: W Colorado St 31-28 OT | L @ASU 14-33 | L Florida St 6-16 | W  Miami (Ohio) 42-0 | W OU 27-24 | W @Baylor 43-23 | L @KSU 20-47 | L KU 14-19 | W @TTU 31-26 | L MU 10-55
Next: @Iowa State (2-8)
Week-by-Week:
HD: 10-10-10-9-2-2-7-8-8-8
CBS: 53-59-61-60-42-39-45-55-43-44

9) Texas A&M (6-4, 3-3) #45 CBS
At least they beat OSU.
CBS Schedule Rank: 27
Results: W Montana St 38-7 | W Fresno St 47-45 | W ULM 54-14 | L @ Miami (Fla) 17-34 | W Baylor 34-10 | W OSU 24-23 | L @TTU 7-35 | W @Nebraska 36-14 | L Kansas 11-19 | L @OU 14-42
Next: @Missouri (8-1)
Week-by-Week:
HD: 4-5-4-6-7-5-8-5-6-9
CBS: 21-17-14-31-31-27-35-31-45-45

10) Iowa State (2-8, 1-5) #99 CBS
Playing too well to ignore. The loss to NU was a long time ago.
CBS Schedule Rank: 36
Results: L Kent St 14-23 |  L N. Iowa 13-24 | W Iowa 15-13 | L @Toledo 35- 36 | L @NU 17-35 | L @TTU 17-42 | L Texas 3-56 | L OU 7-17 | L @MU 28-42 | W KSU 31-20
Next: Colorado (5-5)
Week-by-Week:
HD: 12-12-11-12-12-11-11-11-11-10
CBS: 70-113-103-104-104-108-109-109-110-99

11) Nebraska (4-6, 1-5) #77 CBS
Look away. Nothing to see here.
CBS Schedule Rank: 12
Results: W Nevada 52-10 | W @Wake Forest 20-17 | L USC 31-49 | W Ball State  41-40 | W ISU 35-17 | L @MU 6-41 | L OSU 14-45 | L A&M 14-36 | L @Texas 25-28 | L @KU 39-76
Next: Kansas State (5-4)
Week-by-Week:
HD: 3-3-5-8-9-10-10-10-10-11
CBS: 19-13-19-20-16-34-57-68-71-77

12) Baylor (3-7, 0-6) #91 CBS
"When does women's basketball start?"
CBS Schedule Rank: 45
Results: L @TCU 0-27 | W Rice 42-17 | W Texas St 34-27 | W @Buffalo 34-21 |  L @A&M 10-34 | L CU 23-43 | L @ KU 10-58 | L Texas 10-31 | L @KSU 13-51 | L TTU 7-38
Next: @Oklahoma (8-1)
Week-by-Week:
HD: 11-11-12-11-11-12-12-12-12-12
CBS: 80-78-78-72-78-83-86-88-89-91

Oklahoma State Cowboys -- Quick Primer

Fishing for the Big One

Resources:
Oklahoma State 2007 Preview Capsule (Hawk Digest) | OSU Network  | Big 12 Digest
bowman12.com | coachgundy.com

Series: Tied 28-28-3
Time: 7:00 p.m.
TV: ABC
Line: KU (-5.5)

The Rundown

From the national perspective, everyone expects the KU run to end with Missouri or Oklahoma. Hardcore Kansas football fans know that this Saturday's ABC matchup in Stillwater is pretty much for a trip to the national championship game. If the Jayhawks can beat Oklahoma State on the road, then they can handle anybody in the conference. Anybody. A loss ends a shot at the national title, but the Big 12 Championship is still within grasp. So, that's how it breaks down. There has likely never been a bigger game in Jayhawk football history ('68 Orange Bowl?). The highway crew stands between KU and a trip to the NC game. A simple road victory against OSU takes you there ... wow.

The Series

Man, this is a weird series. It's tied up, but both teams have gone on huge winning streaks in this one. OSU has five in a row right now. Before that KU won six straight. Prior to that, OSU didn't lose to KU from 1973-1989.

Kansas-Oklahoma State Series Results

The Key

We assume KU will score. In last year's track meet, OSU got one ahead of us when the 40-year old man (presumably 39 then) surprised us with an old maker-taker pickup b-ball trick - a mid-game onside kick. I would say the key would be trying to be somewhere near the OSU receivers when Zac Robinson goes back to pass. If they do catch the ball, it is within the rules to run near them and in fact tackle them -- thereby halting the progress of the OSU offense before they reach their ultimate goal -- "the end zone." As a defense, the goal would be to stop them from reaching "the end zone" -- not to jog merrily along ushering the opponent to the goal line to get a close-up view of the TD celebration.

Another consideration -- last week KU intercepted the ball four times. They could have had four more. Whatever KU's season total is for INTs, they've dropped twice as many. The ball is live when it's in the air -- go ahead and catch it. Every stop is going to be critical on Saturday night.

Recent History: (home team)
1998 OSU 38, KU 28
1999 OSU 45, KU 13
2002 OSU 55, KU 20
2003 OSU 44, KU 21
2006 OSU 42, KU 32

OSU 2007 Schedule
L @Georgia 14-35
W FAU 42-6
L @Troy 23-41
W Texas Tech 49-45
W Sam Houston 39-3
L @A&M 23-24
W @NU 45-14
W KSU 41-39
L Texas 35-38
11/10 Kansas
11/17 @Baylor
11/24 @Oklahoma

ESPN Video: Mark Mangino on 9-0 Kansas Jayhawks

Text Message Intercept: November 3, 2007

Lawrence Family T-Mobile Plan

BigRedBlake: 7-0. its still nebraska and its still football
TLawHawk: hold on a sec ... k, done wavin wheat now 7-7 - u were sayin?
BigRedBlake: r u guys familiar with LB pass coverage. ML's my boy 14-7
TLawHawk: Nice pick, cheater
TLawHawk: B-Mac jogs into the endzone and u can't start for this team
TLawHawk: brb -- had to signal in that TD pass
TLawHawk: who do you think is faster - octavien or sharp? 21-14 bro-ski
BigRedBlake: screw u, we got the ball now
TLawHawk: and thats a punt
TLawHawk: r ur buddies afraid of #35 28-14
BigRedBlake: all-american my ass, purify is teaching class today 21-28 ... if we can just get a stop
TLawHawk: what do you think of #13
TLawHawk: well you could say the end zone is stopping ku - 35-21
TLawHawk: u guys are punting again, seriously i may get to play in the 3rd q
TLawHawk: 42-21 ... i wonder if our scoreboard can do three digits
BigRedBlake: if you get on the field, i'll run off the sidelines and tackle you
TLawHawk: i'll be in the blue jersey, in case you are color blind from hanging out with the "blackshirts"
TLawHawk: INT - u guys are dead now
TLawHawk: 48-21 hee, hee ... fumble the kick so we can get 50
TLawHawk: nice field goal - are u ignoring me or looking at a brochure for garden city cc
BigRedBlake: very funny, seriously yes
TLawHawk: i wonder why ku didn't offer you. see after the half, that field goal really closed the gap
BigRedBlake: STFU
BigRedBlake: 31-48, seriously we r still in this game
TLawHawk: and madonna is still like a virgin
TLawHawk: what do you think of Dez? aren't u in the same class: 55-31
TLawHawk: another INT, maybe u guys should shorten the game
TLawHawk: doubled up, how's TO doin'
BigRedBlake: at least our fans are still here
TLawHawk: yes, but why
TLawHawk: and that's 69-31. hey, since you'll be home for xmas can you pick up some presents for me, for mom and dad?
BigRedBlake: F U
TLawHawk: look at it this way, if you ever go to prison, you'll be "experienced"
BigRedBlake: 31-76 and I think Cally is smiling, man this outfit sux
TLawHawk: at least you don't look like a court jester or anything in those red pants
BigRedBlake: I'm outta here, see you at thanksgiving
TLawHawk: don't you have to go to boulder? take it easy bro
BigRedBlake: maybe, i may walk off the team in about twenty minutes. BYE -- eat that two-point conversion, OSU is going to smoke your ASS!!!!

NOTE--This excerpt is a fictional account for entertainment purposes only

Opponent Update | Week #10

Another Fantastic Week

So now our conference opponents are stinkin' it up. They went 0-5 this week (including NU). It's like KU takes your soul once they beat you (paraphrased from a poster on the Gridiron board).  Toledo beat Eastern Michigan 52-28 to earn the one win this week for KU opponents (1-8). Central Michigan plays at W. Michigan tonight on ESPN2 with a shot at doubling the win total for the week. The Chips are still undefeated in the MAC and hold a two-game lead in their division. They are awesome.

Central Michigan #70 (5-4)
L @ Kansas 7-52
W Toledo 52-31
L @Purdue 22-45
L N. Dakota St. 14-44
W N. Illinois 35-10
W @Ball State 58-38
W Army 47-23
L @Clemson 14-70
W @Kent St 41-32
Tonight: @W. Michigan

SE Louisiana #202 (2-7)
L @ New Mexico St. 14-35
L @ Kansas 0-62
W Kentucky Wesleyan 79-7
L @Tulane 27-35
W Stephen F. Austin 21-3
L @Northwestern St 24-27
L Central Arkansas 33-37
L @McNeese St. 17-45
L @Texas State 31-45
Next: Sam Houston St

Toledo #109 (5-5)
L Purdue 24-52
L @ Central Michigan 31-52
L @ Kansas 13-45
W Iowa State 36-35
L Western Michigan 28-42
W Liberty 35-34
L  @Buffalo 33-43
W Ohio 43-40
W N. Illinois 70-21
W E Michigan 52-28
Next: @Ball State

Florida International #178 (0-9)
L @ Penn State 0-59
L Maryland 10-26
L @Miami (Fla) 9-23
L @Kansas 3-55
L @Middle Tennessee 6-47
L Troy 16-34
L @Louisiana-Monroe 14-28
L @Arkansas 10-58
L @Arkansas St 24-27
Next: Louisiana-Lafayette

Kansas State #33 (5-4)
L @Auburn 13-23
W San Jose St 34-14
W Missouri St 61-10
W @Texas 41-21
L Kansas 24-30
W Colorado 47-20
L @OSU 39-41
W Baylor 51-13
L @Iowa State
Next: @Nebraska

Baylor #122 (3-7)
L @TCU 0-27
W Rice 42-17
W Texas St 34-27
W @Buffalo 34-21
L @Texas A&M 10-34
L Colorado 23-43
L @Kansas 10-58
L Texas 10-31
L @Kansas State 13-51
L Texas Tech 7-38
Next: @ Oklahoma

Colorado #30 (5-5)
W Colorado St 31-28
L @Arizona St 14-33
L Florida St 6-16
W Miami (OH) 42-0
W Oklahoma 27-24
W @Baylor 43-23
L @Kansas State 20-47
L Kansas 14-19
W @Texas Tech 31-26
L Missouri 10-55
Next: @Iowa State

Texas A&M #50 (6-4)
W Montana St 38-7
W Fresno St 47-45
W Louisiana-Monroe 54-14
L @Miami 17-34
W Baylor 34-10
W OSU 24-23
L @Texas Tech 7-35
W @Nebraska 36-14
L Kansas 11-19
L @Oklahoma 14-42
Next: @Missouri

Nebraska #68 (4-6)
W Nevada 52-10
W @Wake Forest 20-17
L USC 31-49
W Ball State 41-40
W Iowa State 35-17
L @Missouri 6-41
L Oklahoma State 14-45
L Texas A&M 14-36
L @Texas 25-28
L @Kansas 39-76
Next: Kansas State

# = Sagarin Ranking

HD Player of the Week: Todd Reesing

Player of the Week

6 TDs, 354 yards, 30 of 41. Zero interceptions. Todd Reesing.

Play of the Week

There are about 30 to choose from, but since I have to choose one, I'd probably go with the 26 yard TD pass to Jake Sharp for the first KU lead of the day. It was a great pass and watching Sharp pull away from Steve Octavien was pretty symbolic.

Team of the Week

Again, I'm thinking Kansas, but I'll play fair and go with Navy for ending a streak that had always provided a little cover for KU. Congrats to Navy for ending the 43-game streak with a 46-44 triple overtime win at South Bend.

Around the North | Week #10

It's On

Kansas (9-0, 5-0) played it's biggest home game of the year and unleashed the full power of the Todd Reesing offense. The secondary had a rough outing, but I'll give them one off week. The win was historic for about 90 different reasons, but it's already time to move on. We've got bigger things in mind now. So, if you want to beat the real OSU, you better be able to handle the other OSU. Kansas opens as a 5.5 favorite in Stillwater.

Full credit to the Tigers. Missouri (8-1, 4-1) claims a double on comparison scores. They easily handled Colorado on the same field that KU gutted it out with the Buffaloes. KU posted 76 on the Huskers but allowed 39 points. The "suspect" Missouri defense allowed only six. Get ready for war at Arrowhead. Missouri opens as a 16.5-point favorite against visiting A&M this Saturday.

That pretty much did it for Kansas State (5-4, 3-3). You just knew Iowa State was going to knock off a Big 12 opponent this year once they put up a fight against OU and MU. The Wildcats fell into the trap in Ames and now things get a little tricky. North title hopes are officially gone and it will now be a fight to get into a bowl. The 'Cats need to get two wins out of of schedule that includes a road game with Nebraska, a home matchup with Missouri and another roadie with Fresno State. KSU opened as a 7-point favorite in Lincoln.

Too much to soon for the Buffaloes. Colorado (5-5, 3-3) was completely overmatched by Missouri and now knows exactly how far away they are from being a division contender. If the Buffs can bounce back and do what K-State couldn't (win in Ames), they've got a good shot at a bowl game since they host Nebraska. CU opens as a 5.5 favorite in Ames?

Nebraska (4-6, 1-5) -- "Why is this happening to me? I'm getting what I deserve, I'm reaping what I sow."

Iowa State (2-8, 1-5) may be the best 2-8 team in the country. I'm glad we face the Clones in Lawrence. Seriously, ISU gets better each week.

North Sagarin Rankings -- Rank/Schedule
Kansas -- 2/107
Missouri -- 8/53
Kansas St -- 33/40
Colorado -- 43/3
Nebraska -- 68/6
Iowa St -- 95/14

Full Rankings

Gunned Down -- KU 76, NU 39

Sparky Goes Off

"He was pretty zoned in, wasn’t he? Whenever he’s really in the game like that, you can’t stop him.”
--Ryan Cantrell on Todd Reesing

There were a few scenario's I expected to see on Saturday. What unfolded was not in the realm of my imagination -- a 76-point outing with Todd Reesing smashing the season and single-game TD passing records, Dezmon Briscoe catching three TDs and B-Mac going over 100 yards with another three four rushing TDs contrasted against two TDs given up by Aqib Talib himself with both Kendrick Harper and Chris Harris also getting roasted. The blowout featured a focused KU team nearly pulling off that complete game that I've been calling for. The only issue was the poor secondary play that will haunt KU fans all week. Truly unbelievable. We spank Big Red to go 9-0, but that one issue is a not-so-subtle reminder of the 2006 season.

The positive is that KU has once again shown they can win no matter what kind of game you want to play. Slug-it-out gutfest or shootout? We like it either way. Perhaps the torching of the secondary will work as a motivator for the crew this week. Maybe a little complacency set in as we battled some teams not so effective in the passing game. Roll up the sleeves Aqib and show us what you got in Stillwater.

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From Row 53

• There were Nebraska fans there but it was the lowest turnout I've witnessed. Nice work by the KU fans. It was great to see a mostly blue crowd for this one.
• I think they need to incorporate sections that like to stand on defense into the map for seat selection. A big game like this requires that you stand on every defensive play and yell your guts out. We were definitely in a "third downers" section, but we stood anyway. The crowd has to be part of the game.
• What was the deal with the Wildcat parachute guy? The flyover was awesome, but with the parachutes and everything we nearly missed the "I was just in Nebraska" clip.
• The video board Rock Chalk Chant is either too fast or too slow. I can't remember. The main thing is that it's off.
• Game highlight. The ref gets booed heavily when he announced a "Kansas State" time out.
• This was probably about the sixth game I've been to since 1992 where they've claimed an attendance record. I have a T-shirt from the 1992 KSU game that says "Sold Out 55,000." They had the end zone bleachers back then so I don't know how they keep breaking the record.
• The corners were awesome in run support. Aqib Talib played the best game of his career.
• Boston College and Arizona were knocked from the ranks of the undefeated -- KU, Ohio State and Hawaii are all that remain.
• 2006 rip out your heart losses to avenge:
  
  X--Toledo
  X--Baylor
  X--Texas A&M
  X--Nebraska
  _--Oklahoma State
  
  Actually, it looks like A&M got off pretty easy.