No. 16 Kansas State gets a visit from Kansas on Saturday night at 7 p.m. on ESPN for the annual Sunflower Showdown. It is the first home game for the Wildcats in a month. They still have Big 12 title aspirations after bouncing back from their lone loss to BYU with three impressive wins over Oklahoma State, Colorado and West Virginia.
The Jayhawks snapped a five-game skid last week with a win over Houston. Their hopes of qualifying for a bowl game could depend on a brutal three-game stretch coming up that features the Wildcats, Iowa State and BYU.
What’s at stake?
Kansas State still has its eye on playing for the Big 12 championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff after bouncing back from its lone loss to BYU with three impressive wins. The Jayhawks snapped a five-game skid last week with a win over Houston, and their hopes of qualifying for a bowl game could depend on a brutal three-game stretch.
Key matchup
Kansas QB Jalon Daniels against Kansas State QB Avery Johnson. Sure, they don’t actually face each other, but the quarterback who performs better on Saturday will almost certainly be the one that walks off the field a winner. Daniels had struggled with turnovers but accounted for four touchdowns without a pick against Houston. Johnson proved he is much more than a running QB by throwing for 298 yards and three scores without an interception against the Mountaineers.
Players to watch
Kansas: RB Devin Neal has been the only steady star for the Jayhawks this season, and he was at perhaps his best last week against Houston. Neal ran 17 times for 108 yards and two scores in the 42-14 win at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
Kansas State: RB D.J. Giddens is the nation’s ninth-leading rusher with 843 yards, even though West Virginia was willing to sell out on defense to stop him last weekend. He only ran for 57 yards but had two more touchdown runs.
Facts & figures
Kansas State has won the last 15 matchups dating to Nov. 1, 2008. The Jayhawks have not won on the road since a 30-24 victory on Oct. 6, 2007. … Kansas State and Kansas have played every year since 1911. The only uninterrupted rivalries that are longer are Minnesota Wisconsin (1907) and NC State-Wake Forest (1910). … The Jayhawks are tied for first nationally in third-down conversion rate and red zone offense, scoring on all 24 of its trips this season. … Kansas CB Cobee Bryant tied the school record with three interceptions last week against Houston. He has 13 for his career, tied with Aqib Talib for second in school history. … Neal needs 73 yards rushing to pass June Henley (3,841) for the Kansas career record. He needs one more TD to break Henley’s record of 43 set from 1993-96.