This weekend, the Kansas Jayhawks are going to be taking on their most daunting test all season long. The Texas Tech Red Raiders are set to host Lance Leipold’s team in what will be a cauldron of noise at Jones AT&T Stadium.
Texas Tech currently sits No. 9 in the nation with a clean 5-0 record. The Red Raiders have posted back-to-back 24-point victories against Utah (34-10) and Houston (35-11). On paper, their results look championship-winning caliber, as those aforementioned 24 points are actually the smallest margin of victory all season long.
“It just comes down to every part, every phase, you know, up front, we got to get after them a little bit and win that battle,” quotes Kansas defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald.
“…But they're a really good team. They're good on every level. They got a quarterback who's really special. He's like a coach on the field there. Plus, he can move around and do some things. Their wide receivers [are] really special, the O-line. It's big, and they're able to move people. Their running backs are running really hard right now, so they got a lot of weapons, so it's going to take everybody, all of us, to kind of contribute to trying to slow them down if we can.”
The micro
Tech’s rushing attack is probably the weakest facet of their offense, yet they are still ranked 30th in the nation with 205 yards on the ground per game. Tech’s leading rusher is Cameron Dickey. Dickey has notched 330 yards and six touchdowns. Following right behind Dickey is J’Koby Williams. Williams' 308 yards and four touchdowns. This combo proves a deadly one-two punch.
Under center for Texas Tech will be quarterback Behren Morton. The senior has put the nation on watch as his strong arm has already compiled 1,410 yards and 12 touchdowns to just three interceptions. Morton’s passing efficiency also sits eighth-best in the country with a 177.89 grade.
This is a Red Radier wideout corps that is spoiled for choice. Texas Tech has seen six players mark over 100 yards and 14 touchdowns spread amongst them, with tight end Terrance Carter Jr. and receiver Reggie Virgil each marking four touchdowns.
Wideouts Cody Eakin and Caleb Douglas lead the pack with 341 and 340 yards, respectively, through the air.
Through five games this season, head coach Joey McGuire’s offensive line has given up just five sacks. Considering their attack has already comprised 186 passing attempts, just five sacks is a stubbornly good number.
The macro
In total offensive numbers, McGuire has calculated the nation’s best offense. With 568.8 yards per game, it is hard for any team to map out consistent success against a team that also pulls a 53.5% third-down conversion rate, which sits 14th in the nation.
Kansas’ 375.8 yards given up per game is responsible for the nation’s 80th-best, which clearly shows improvements are necessary. However, after their game-saving stand in their latest 27-20 victory over UCF, Jayhawk fans are hoping that was a turning point.
Kickoff is set for 6:30 PM CT.
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