But interim head coach Clint Bowen said Monday that kind of faith was already in place, and it came as a result of the work the Jayhawks (3-7 overall, 1-6 Big 12) had put in long before throwing a scare into TCU.

“What they’ve shown is a maturity to understand that college football is a hard world,” Bowen said of his roster. “And if you’re gonna have success in this world, you’re gonna have to pay the price. Paying the price starts, obviously, with our Sunday practice, but mainly with our Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday prep days. If you want to have any chance on Saturday, that Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday is gonna be a grind, and you better put everything you got into it to get ready to play. This is grown-man football, and if you show up not ready, you’ll get embarrassed in this league. I think our guys are starting to understand that.”

The KU players who have been available to the media during the past few weeks have talked about more intense practices and, without so much as a hint of complaining, pointed to those as the reason for better showings on Saturdays.

“When you invest that much into something, it’s gonna hurt when you don’t succeed,” Bowen said. “But I believe our team is mature enough, with the older guys that we have, that they understand that the Big 12 football season is a grind, week after week, and you gotta put the one behind you and don’t let it beat you twice.”

That’s where the Jayhawks stand entering Saturday’s 11 a.m. kickoff in Norman, Oklahoma, where they’ll take on an OU squad that is playing without its starting quarterback and sitting in the unusual spot of the middle of the pack in the Big 12 standings.

Bowen said KU’s most recent effort against TCU provided the Jayhawks with proof that the blueprint in place for beating such tough teams could work.

“First of all, you go into those games, and you have to make those teams earn everything,” Bowen said. “You can’t just let ’em throw it over the top for a 70-yard touchdown and beat you on one-play scoring drives.

“I think our older guys understand that, and they lead the way and do a nice job. We’re making a conscious effort to learn and grow as a program, and I believe we’re making some positive strides.”

Mundine a semifinalist

KU tight end Jimmay Mundine, a senior from Denison, Texas, on Monday was named one of eight semifinalists for the John Mackey Award, given annually to the nation’s top tight end. Finalists will be announced Monday, and the winner will be revealed Dec. 10. Mundine’s 537 receiving yards are the most by a tight end from a ‘Power 5’ conference, and his 40 receptions rank second among tight ends from a ‘Power 5’ conference.

OU favored

Like TCU a week ago, Oklahoma enters the weekend as a 28-point favorite over the Jayhawks.

Sunflower kickoff

Kansas’ finale — Nov. 29 at Kansas State — will kick off at 3 p.m., the Big 12 announced Monday, and will be televised on Fox Sports 1.

QB Knight out

OU coach Bob Stoops said Monday morning that starting QB Trevor Knight, who missed last week’s victory over Texas Tech because of an injury, would not return Saturday.

“No, Trevor will not be able to go,” Stoops said. “He hasn’t progressed enough for that to happen, so he will not (play).”

No interest in Florida

With news breaking that Will Muschamp will be out as the Florida coach at the end of the season, focus immediately shifted to OU coach Bob Stoops as a possible successor. Asked about the possibility Monday morning, Stoops appeared to have no interest.

“No,” he said. “All I want to be is a candidate at Oklahoma. I’m not a candidate anywhere else. I’m not gonna answer it any more. I’m finished with that question.”

TCU or Baylor?

With TCU and Baylor seemingly battling for inclusion in the college football playoff’s top four, Bowen was asked Monday morning which team he thought was more deserving, given that the Jayhawks have played both in the past three weeks.

“Honestly, I would have no idea which one’s best,” Bowen said. “I mean, you saw their game. Their game was 61-58 (Baylor). They’re two very, very good teams.”