However dispiriting it was for Kansas to lose at Texas without its starting quarterback, giving up 20 straight points after hanging around against the third-ranked Longhorns for nearly three quarters, what UCF went through last Saturday was by any measure far more demoralizing.
The Knights led 35-7 in their first ever home game in the Big 12 Conference well into the third quarter, then 35-10 in the fourth, but the combination of offensive woes and poorly timed turnovers allowed Baylor to complete its biggest comeback in school history and shock UCF 36-35.
That came one week after a similar, albeit less severe, slump in the second half at Kansas State, when the Knights had gone up 24-21 but allowed 23 consecutive points.
The result is that Gus Malzahn’s up-and-coming team, with highly talented athletes like receiver Kobe Hudson and running backs RJ Harvey and Johnny Richardson, has slumped to an 0-2 start in its new conference.
“The message right now is just people don’t think we can play in this league right now,” UCF defensive end and captain Josh Celiscar said this week. “But at the end of the day, it’s us taking it the next game by the next game and just showing and proving people wrong each and every week. And that starts with this week, going out here and winning this game.”
KU coach Lance Leipold’s squad has plenty of work to do to rebound from allowing 661 yards at Texas and missing a bevy of tackles. Leipold said UCF’s speed and quickness will provide a challenge.
“I’m sure they’re not happy with the way they finished in both conference games so far,” he said, “but they’ve shown the ability to be dynamic and explosive and go toe-to-toe with a lot of people from this year and many years.”
Much of that explosiveness could come from the Knights’ mobile quarterback John Rhys Plumlee, whom Leipold has said he expects to return from injury this week after missing three games. Plumlee has started 25 times in his career and run for 2,214 yards and 24 touchdowns.
UCF’s own issues stopping the run — the Knights allowed 434 combined yards to Kansas State and Baylor — and the recent success of KU backs Devin Neal and Daniel Hishaw Jr. suggest that this could be a ground-and-pound type of game.
“We’re going to play assignment football,” Malzahn said, “going to have to get lined up and make them earn it.”
Kansas Jayhawks (4-1, 1-1 Big 12) vs. UCF Knights (3-2, 0-2 Big 12)
• David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, 3 p.m.
• Broadcast: Fox
• Radio: Jayhawk Radio Network (in Lawrence, KLWN AM 1320 / K269GB FM 101.7 / KKSW FM 105.9)
• Betting line: UCF -2; over/under 64
• Series history: None
What to watch for
1. Corners: The UCF secondary has earned the respect of the Jayhawks, with Kotelnicki and offensive lineman Dominick Puni both citing the Knights’ top corners as players drawing particular attention this week. Corey Thornton has 12 tackles, two interceptions and five pass breakups this season, while Brandon Adams has five tackles (one for loss), three pass breakups and a quarterback hit.
2. Third downs: KU entered the Texas game as the top third-down team in the country but proceeded to go 0-for-8 against the Longhorns. Neal said this week that the Jayhawks devoted all of their offensive sessions Wednesday to working on third-down conversions.
3. Wildcat: UCF’s use of the Wildcat formation has come under scrutiny after Harvey, taking a snap deep in Baylor territory late in the fourth quarter, couldn’t handle the ball, leading to a defensive touchdown for Baylor. The Knights could choose to pull back or double down on that particular piece of trickery this week in Lawrence; either way, it won’t be unfamiliar for the Jayhawks, who have Neal take direct snaps now and then.
Spotlight on…
Jason Bean: KU hasn’t ruled out starting quarterback Jalon Daniels, who is dealing with recurring back tightness, but all indications from Leipold and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki are that Bean has taken the vast majority of reps, and Action Network’s Brett McMurphy has reported Bean will start. He couldn’t get the offense into rhythm at Texas, but that was a game against the No. 3 team in the nation that he started with 30-45 minutes’ advance notice. Bean and his coaches say he has taken ownership of his below-average performance and will look to guide the Jayhawks to his second victory as a starting quarterback this year.
Inside the numbers
73.9: The percentage of red-zone opportunities on which UCF has scored just far this season (17 out of 23, with just 13 touchdowns). KU’s defense has shown an ability to bend but not break this year and the Jayhawks may find another team they can repeatedly hold to field goals.
36: The number of “meaningful” offensive plays KU ran against Texas, per Kotelnicki, prior to its final 10-play drive with the outcome already decided.
12: UCF defensive end Tre’mon Morris-Brash’s total number of tackles for loss, which leads the nation.
Prediction
KU wins 31-27. Both teams will come in highly motivated and this game is as much of a toss-up as any the Jayhawks have played so far this year, particularly given the high likelihood that Bean will start, which neutralizes some of KU’s potential advantage in the deep passing game. But Bean generally takes care of the football — despite making the occasional ill-advised throw into double coverage — and particularly with a full week’s preparation can help the Jayhawks’ option-heavy run game continue its early-season success.
Meanwhile, UCF has struggled with turnovers this year. The Knights’ quarterbacks have thrown six interceptions, including four from Plumlee in two appearances (against Group of Five foes, no less). The ball-hawking KU defensive backs will make the plays they need to in order to help the Jayhawks win the time-of-possession battle and in turn the game.
AP Photo/Eric Gay
