Kansas football is about to play its two most crucial games of the season

As the Jayhawks prepare to take on Texas Tech, not many Kansas football fans understand just how important this game is.

In the next two weeks, Kansas football will play two of its most important games of the season, and probably not for the reasons you think. Of course, everyone knows the game against Kansas State game is important. Fans of both schools have the game circled on their calendars, but there’s more to it than rivalry.

Let’s slow down a little bit though. First thing’s first, the Jayhawks have a game this Saturday against Texas Tech at home during homecoming weekend.

For the first time in quite a while, Kansas football is going into a Big 12 game with some expectations. Since the line opened at Texas Tech -7.5, a lot of money has been put on the Jayhawks. The current line for the game is Texas Tech -4, courtesy of The Action Network.

Not only are the odds shifting in Kansas’ favor, but so is public opinion thanks to last week’s offensive explosion against Texas on the road. It was an impressive and valiant effort by Kansas, but ultimately the Jayhawks lost the game on special teams miscues and an inability to contain Sam Ehlinger.

Still, Kansas sent a strong message to the rest of the Big 12, and this is the week the Jayhawks have to back it up. Here’s why the game against Texas Tech is so important: the Jayhawks can not only win but also make another statement.

Despite putting up 48 points on Texas, some still believe the Jayhawks aren’t legit. Maybe they didn’t see the game since it was on everyone’s favorite Longhorn Network, but this week the Jayhawks can show everyone that they have an offense that can put points on the board week in and week out.

The challenge will fall to offensive coordinator Brent Dearmon, who head coach Les Miles put in charge of the Kansas offense after the loss to Oklahoma. Dearmon’s system looked incredible last week against Texas, and now the challenge will be to replicate it consistently against Big 12 competition.

Kansas State has beaten Kansas in the past 10 games the schools have played, and it’s time to break the streak.

Now, when Kansas football takes on Kansas State in less than two weeks, that game will be important for a number of reasons that stretch beyond winning a football game. There’s obviously the in-state rivalry between the schools which has existed forever. But now, there are some added bonuses for winning the Sunflower Showdown.

Namely, whichever school wins will have a leg up in recruiting Kansas kids. Considering both schools are in somewhat of a transitional phase with new head coaches right now, this game will determine which school is trending up, and which school is trending down.

Kansas will take on Texas Tech this Saturday in Lawrence. The game will be at 6:00 PM and broadcast on FS1. You can read the whole preview for that game here. The Sunflower Showdown will also be played in Lawrence with kickoff set for 2:30.

As the Jayhawks get set to play two of their most important games of the season, Kansas football fans get to experience something that they don’t normally get to experience at this point in the season: hope.