Improved Jayhawks pose real threat
No. 3 Texas looks to improve to 5-0 for the first time in coach Steve Sarkisian’s three seasons as it hosts No. 24 Kansas on Saturday afternoon.
The Longhorns are looking to avoid a repeat of their overtime loss to Kansas in 2021 in Sarkisian’s first year.
“To play Saturday here at DKR in a top 25 matchup (between) two undefeated teams … this is why we do what we do,” Sarkisian said on Thursday. “This is why we do what we do. This is why we work as hard as work all offseason. This is why training camp is what it is. This is why you try to have a tough non-conference schedule.”
Here are five things to watch in a game between two of the Big 12’s undefeated teams (Oklahoma is the other and up next for Texas):
Improved Kansas
Kansas coach Lance Leipold has led a quick and impressive turnaround of the program. The Jayhawks had a 6-7 season last year, their first season with at least five wins since 2009.
“We’ve got a great deal of respect for Kansas and the team that they have and what they’ve built over three years,” Sarkisian said. “They’ve got a lot of weapons offensively; they’ve got a great scheme. Defensively, it’s easy to see the improvement that they’ve made over three years.”
Currently, Kansas’ opponents are scoring an average of 22.8 points per game. Last season, Jayhawk opponents put up an average of 35.5 points per game. In Leipold’s first season as head coach, Kansas’ opponents scored 42.17 points per game on average. Although only four games have been played so far, the current
Kansas defense is allowing just half of what the 2021 defense allowed.
Sarkisian cited Kansas’ uniqueness as a reason for why it’s seen recent success.
“Kansas is unique to themselves in what they do,” he said. “And so the best thing that we had to prepare for Kansas was having to defend them the last two years, quite frankly.”
Key portal pickups
While Texas picked up transfers that had an instant impact on the team’s success, like Adonai Mitchell, Kansas did the same thing.
Transfers have been a key factor to Kansas’ significant defensive improvement.
“They hit the portal really hard on the defensive front this offseason,” Sarkisian said. They’ve got some real playmakers up there, guys who not only do well against the run but affect the quarterback and have gotten some sacks.”
Defensive lineman Austin Booker, a transfer from Minnesota, set the teamhigh last week against BYU in total tackles (seven). Booker also sacked BYU’s quarterback for a
loss of 15 yards and set his personal high in tackles for loss with 2.5.
Booker’s fellow Minnesota transfer Gage Keys also made an impact against BYU, notching one tackle. Colorado State transfer Devin Phillips also has two tackles this season. Bowling Green transfer JB Brown also had a sack against BYU.
Kwiatkowski’s scheme
While Kansas’ defense has improved, so has that of Texas.
“We’re playing a little bit more (man-to-man coverage), we’re playing a little bit more tighter coverage, so I think that’s a credit to PK (Pete Kwiatkowski),” Sarkisian said about his defensive coordinator. “He’s willing to evolve and to change and to fit his scheme predicated on the personnel that he has.”
Texas is holding its opponents to just 12.5 points per game. In Kwiatkowski’s first year as the defensive coordinator in
Austin, the Longhorns’ opponents scored an average of 31.1 points per game.
The other receiver
Even with all the talent Texas has at wide receiver, tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders has become a favorite target of quarterback Quinn Ewers. His 100-yard games against Alabama and Baylor made him the first Longhorns tight end with two 100-yard games in a career. A one-handed grab over the middle and a hurdle of Baylor defender showed off elite hands and agility. He also threw the key block to seal of the sideline for Ewers’s 29yard touchdown run against Baylor.
Injury report
Sarkisian did not have an updated timeline for the recovery of right guard Cole Hutson. The sophomore had a knee injury in the Wyoming game and was expected to miss a few weeks.
“I don’t have a time frame on (Hutson), but his recovery has gone well,” Sarkisian said. “We’re pleased with that and we feel great about the five guys we have right now.”