PLAYERS TO WATCH
–RB Pooka Williams drew his second start after missing the first game because of an eligibility issue and responded with 158 yards on 18 carries in the 55-14 victory over Rutgers. Williams is certainly the top talent in the Kansas backfield, though RB Dom Williams and RB Khalil Herbert can also give opponents fits with different styles. Williams became the first Kansas freshman to record back-to-back 100-yard rushing performances.
–QB Miles Kendrick started the second half of the Rutgers win after QB Peyton Bender started the game. Kendrick provides more mobility and is more of a threat in the quarterback run game, though the stats for all the Kansas quarterbacks were pedestrian against the Scarlet Knights. The encouraging aspect is the Jayhawks committed no turnovers while snagging six takeaways.
–LB Joe Dineen recorded 10 tackles in the Rutgers win, the third time in as many games the senior has had double-digit tackles this season. He has achieved the feat 18 times in his career. Dineen recovered a fumble for one of the Jayhawks’ six takeaways.
–LB Bryce Torneden continues to be an impactful defender for the Jayhawks, forcing a fumble and also returning an interception 39 yards for a touchdown in the Rutgers win. Torneden also recorded six tackles, second on the squad behind Dineen.
SERIES HISTORY: Baylor leads Kansas 13-4. The Bears have won eight straight in the series after the teams split the first six matchups following the inception of the Big 12. Baylor was 0-8 last season when it trounced Kansas 38-9. The Jayhawks managed just 289 yards after starting Carter Stanley ahead of Peyton Bender at quarterback.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “We’ve shown everyone we can play and we can compete with everybody. The first game, we felt like we let them down, we let our fans down. We had to bounce back. We had to do something to bounce back, and that’s what we did.” — Kansas S Mike Lee.
