The Kansas Jayhawks will soon be participating in the Union Jack Classic, set to take place in the historic Wembley Stadium. The Jayhawks’ matchup against the Arizona State Sun Devils means the unofficial start of Kansas’ Big 12 season.
There are about a thousand things fans of KU will be looking out for; today’s task is to hem in on the biggest three.
No. 3: How will Kansas’ run game look?
In week one against FCS side LIU, the Jayhawks’ rushing attack was about as effective as you could ask for. Overall, Kansas totaled 277 yards across 51 rushing attempts, along with 5 rushing touchdowns, for an outstanding 5.4 yards per carry in the eventual 51-6 victory.
Week two, however, was the polar opposite. KU tallied 81 yards on the ground for just 2.3 yards per carry and 0 touchdowns.
Throughout the night, Kansas struggled to find gaps to attack, constantly getting closed when attacking the gaps or the zones out wide. This forced the impetus on quarterback Isaiah Marshall, who struggled mightily in his second start.
The two running back system of Dylan Edwards and Yasin Willis is still taking shape and if there is ever a time for it to start to click it is now.
No. 2: Environment?
It really appears that there is no right answer on how to approach a game like this. Do you throw yourself on a plane as soon as possible and get adjusted to life overseas? Do you wait as long as you can before making the move? Arguments can go both ways. It will also be weird for these players to be taking part in a football game where surely most fans are neutrals.
There is a lot to factor into this trip, and while environments in college football can sometimes be overrated, this is not one of those times.
The only thing that is known is that both the Jayhawks and the Sun Devils will be hosting bye weeks during what is nationally slated as week four, ensuring that their stint across the pond has no lingering effects on future outings.
No. 1: Isaiah Marshall’s mental comeback
Marshall’s first experience of a Border Showdown wasn’t necessarily a positive one. On the day, he finished with 168 yards, 2 passing touchdowns and 2 interceptions. While there were moments of positivity shown, there is no doubt that he struggled in his first start against power-conference competition.
The great thing about college football though, is that it doesn’t take too much to get back into the good graces of fans.
No one is expecting Marshall to sling for 300 yards and 5 touchdowns agains Arizona State, but what fans need to see is the promise that won him the starting job in the first place. Meaning its up to him to put the past in the past and help lead KU to a landmark win.
Kickoff for the Sun Devils is set for 11 a.m. CT with streaming available on Fox Sports One.
More Kansas Football News
Add us as a preferred source on Google