Texas Tech (4-2) travels to take on Kansas (0-5) this Saturday at 11 a.m. Here are some of the top storylines for this weekend.
1. To put it nicely, Kansas isn't very good
Kansas is 0-5 and four of those five losses include South Dakota State, Memphis, Rutgers and Iowa State. Iowa State beat Kansas by 25 points and Texas Tech beat Iowa State by 35. Doing the Math, Texas Tech should win by 60 and really, they just might.
The Jayhawks haven't passed the three-win mark in six seasons. They have won a total of four Big 12 games from 2009 to present. Kansas was still part of the Big 12 North the last time they won more than one conference game in a season.
The Kansas offense has been responsible for 10 touchdowns this season. To put that into perspective, Texas Tech's second-and-third stringers have accounted for at least 11 touchdowns -- depending on who you count as a starter after factoring in wide receiver injuries and starting the game in certain formations.
Patrick Mahomes alone has scored 25 touchdowns.
2. From bad to worse
In addition to being 0-5 and not very good, they're also pretty dinged up.
Eight players are out this week for the Jayhawks. They're at or near the bottom of their quarterback depth chart with three gunslingers out so true freshman quarterback Ryan Willis will start his second straight game. The Jayhawks leading passer Montell Cozart is out with a shoulder injury and leading receiver Tre' Parmalee is questionable. Also out with injuries are defensive tackle Jacky Dezir, receiver Bobby Hartzog and defensive end Damani Mosby, and receiver Joshua Stanford is questionable.
3. Will the game be over before halftime?
Late in the game last week against Iowa State, players who the casual Texas Tech fan didn't even know were on the roster got in the game and made plays. We should see those guys again this week, but how early in the game? By halftime seems like a reasonable expectation.
The Red Raiders put up 38 points in the first half against the Cyclones, can they eclipse that this weekend?
Patrick Mahomes is more than capable of throwing for 300 yards and four touchdowns in the first half against the Jayhawks before putting on the headset to watch Webb, Shimonek and Sullins have some fun as he rests up for what now looks like a very winnable game next week in Norman.
4. Can the Red Raiders avoid injuries?
Sometimes approaching a game like this can be more difficult than approaching a rivalry game or a ranked game. Yes, Texas Tech should blow out Kansas, but the key is staying focused and staying healthy.
The Red Raiders receiving corps has been the most banged up group so far this season, but there really hasn't been much drop off in production with back-ups and talented newcomers seeing more reps.
Texas Tech should be able to win this game with anyone they trot out onto the field this weekend, the key is staying healthy and injury free for the rest of the season. After this week, the next five games can go either direction so the Red Raiders need everyone they have to finish the year strong.
5. Texas Tech travels to Norman next week
Truthfully, it can be very easy to overlook a winless team when there's a ranked road game the following week. Texas Tech will need to avoid this and handle business against the Jayhawks, at least until there's an insurmountable lead, then they can look ahead to the Sooners.
1. To put it nicely, Kansas isn't very good
Kansas is 0-5 and four of those five losses include South Dakota State, Memphis, Rutgers and Iowa State. Iowa State beat Kansas by 25 points and Texas Tech beat Iowa State by 35. Doing the Math, Texas Tech should win by 60 and really, they just might.
The Jayhawks haven't passed the three-win mark in six seasons. They have won a total of four Big 12 games from 2009 to present. Kansas was still part of the Big 12 North the last time they won more than one conference game in a season.
The Kansas offense has been responsible for 10 touchdowns this season. To put that into perspective, Texas Tech's second-and-third stringers have accounted for at least 11 touchdowns -- depending on who you count as a starter after factoring in wide receiver injuries and starting the game in certain formations.
Patrick Mahomes alone has scored 25 touchdowns.
2. From bad to worse
In addition to being 0-5 and not very good, they're also pretty dinged up.
Eight players are out this week for the Jayhawks. They're at or near the bottom of their quarterback depth chart with three gunslingers out so true freshman quarterback Ryan Willis will start his second straight game. The Jayhawks leading passer Montell Cozart is out with a shoulder injury and leading receiver Tre' Parmalee is questionable. Also out with injuries are defensive tackle Jacky Dezir, receiver Bobby Hartzog and defensive end Damani Mosby, and receiver Joshua Stanford is questionable.
3. Will the game be over before halftime?
Late in the game last week against Iowa State, players who the casual Texas Tech fan didn't even know were on the roster got in the game and made plays. We should see those guys again this week, but how early in the game? By halftime seems like a reasonable expectation.
The Red Raiders put up 38 points in the first half against the Cyclones, can they eclipse that this weekend?
Patrick Mahomes is more than capable of throwing for 300 yards and four touchdowns in the first half against the Jayhawks before putting on the headset to watch Webb, Shimonek and Sullins have some fun as he rests up for what now looks like a very winnable game next week in Norman.
4. Can the Red Raiders avoid injuries?
Sometimes approaching a game like this can be more difficult than approaching a rivalry game or a ranked game. Yes, Texas Tech should blow out Kansas, but the key is staying focused and staying healthy.
The Red Raiders receiving corps has been the most banged up group so far this season, but there really hasn't been much drop off in production with back-ups and talented newcomers seeing more reps.
Texas Tech should be able to win this game with anyone they trot out onto the field this weekend, the key is staying healthy and injury free for the rest of the season. After this week, the next five games can go either direction so the Red Raiders need everyone they have to finish the year strong.
5. Texas Tech travels to Norman next week
Truthfully, it can be very easy to overlook a winless team when there's a ranked road game the following week. Texas Tech will need to avoid this and handle business against the Jayhawks, at least until there's an insurmountable lead, then they can look ahead to the Sooners.
