Kansas freshman to start at QB

Big Ten refs made error in Nebraska game at Illinois.

Kansas quarterback Montell Cozart is out with a shoulder sprain and Deondre Ford is done for the season with a thumb injur y, so freshman Ryan Willis will start Saturday against No. 3 Baylor.

Jayhawks coach David Beaty made the announcement Monday.

The Jayhawks (0-4) had already lost top quarterback Michael Cummings to a season-ending knee inju-ry during the spring game. Cozart was injured in last Saturday’s loss at Iowa State, and Ford was hurt at Rutgers, when Cozart was sidelined by an illness.

Willis played the final few series against the Cyclones, completing 8-of16 passes for 100 yards. Before that, his only experience was two plays in the opener against South Dakota State.

Big Ten: The conference officials’ organization says a third-quarter mistake cost Illinois a down in its 14-13 win last Saturday over Nebras- ka. Coordinator of Officials Bill Carollo said Monday that replay officials should have given Illinois another down when they reviewed a situation in which field officials lost track of the down and distance. Instead, the play that Illinois thought was third down was judged to be fourth down.

Illinois had to turn over the ball at its own 44-yard line. Carollo said, “Errors of this nature have a significant impact on game assignments, bowl assignments and overall yearend status.”

Missouri: Fresh- man quarterback Drew Lock will make his second career start Saturday when Missouri hosts No. 11 Florida. Maty Mauk was suspended indefinite - ly Sept. 29 for violation of team policies, along with backup offensive lineman Malik Cuellar. However, Cuellar was reinstated Monday.

Coach Gary Pinkel said the timetable for Mauk’s return is unknown. Lock made his starting debut in a 24-10 victory against South Carolina last Saturday. He completed 21-of28 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns.