NCAAF Game Preview - Oklahoma at Kansas
Sat Nov 18, 2017 3:30 PM EST

Mer
0
Bama
56
F
UVA
28
MiaFL
44
F
Okla
41
Kans
3
F
Cit
3
Clem
61
F
Mich
10
Wisc
24
F
ULMon
14
Aub
42
F
KY
13
UGA
42
F
Ill
14
OSU
52
F
Navy
17
ND
24
F
K St
45
OkSt
40
F
TCU
27
TxTch
3
F
UCLA
23
USC
28
F
Neb
44
PSU
56
F
UCF
45
Temp
19
F
Utah
30
Wash
33
F
MissSt
28
Ark
21
F
SMU
45
Mem
66
F
Cal
14
Stan
17
F
LSU
30
Tenn
10
F
MD
7
MSU
17
F
Tuls
20
SoFL
27
F
Tex
28
WVU
14
F
NCSt
24
Wake
30
F
C Mi
42
Kent
23
F
Ohio
34
Akr
37
F
WestMI
31
NIU
35
F
E Mi
27
MiaOH
24
F
Toled
66
BGSU
37
F
Buff
40
Ball
24
F
TnSt
6
JacSt
36
F
MidTN
38
W Ky
41
F(2OT)
UNLV
38
NM
35
F
Cin
20
ECU
48
F
Lib
19
ChaSo
20
F
JMU
31
Elon
3
F
MIN
0
NW
39
F
Rut
0
Ind
41
F
DelSt
6
FlaSt
77
F
Pitt
14
VaTec
20
F
Fres
13
Wyo
7
F
HBU
33
SamHu
53
F
Rice
21
OD
24
F
IASt
23
Bayl
13
F
Hawaii
0
UtSt
38
F
TxSt
12
ArkSt
30
F
SoAl
0
GaSo
52
F
AzSt
40
OreSt
24
F
LT
42
UTEP
21
F
UMass
16
BYU
10
F
UNCC
21
SMiss
66
F
WCU
10
UNC
65
F
SJSU
14
ColSt
42
F
Purd
24
Iowa
15
F
Syr
10
Lou
56
F
GATec
20
Duke
43
F
Hou
17
Tul
20
F
Wof
10
SCar
31
F
UAB
7
Fla
36
F
CoCar
13
Idaho
7
F
NMS
34
ULLaf
47
F
Army
49
NorTx
52
F
Ariz
28
Oreg
48
F
Marsh
7
UTSA
9
F
TxAM
31
Miss
24
F
FLInt
24
FlAtl
52
F
BC
39
UConn
16
F
MIZ
45
Vand
17
F
AF
19
Boise
44
F
NEV
23
SDSU
42
F
BGSU
31
E Mi
34
F
MiaOH
28
Ball
7
F
Kent
14
Akr
24
F
No. 4 Oklahoma vows focus in Big 12 mismatch
Tue Nov 14, 2017 10:32 PM

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- No. 4 Oklahoma might be capable of beating Kansas by playing in a trance.

But when did quarterback Baker Mayfield ever play in a trance?

The ebullient Heisman Trophy candidate looks at the conference standings, sees the Sooners (9-1, 6-1 Big 12) at the top and the Jayhawks (1-9, 0-7) at the bottom, and only mentions one issue.

"We haven't won the Big 12 yet," Mayfield said. "They're a Big 12 opponent that's in the way of our goals so it shouldn't take any extra motivation.

"We have to have the same mindset no matter who we're playing against. That's kind of been our focus all year -- it doesn't matter who we're playing. We have to rise to the occasion and play well, week-in and week-out."

The Jayhawks have rarely prevented opponents from looking good. Their nine-game losing streak coincides with the FBS portion of their schedule. Each loss has been by double digits. Within the Big 12, Kansas has been outscored 319-109 and has lost 27 of their last 28 games, going 1-24 under third-year coach David Beaty.

The game will be the last at home for the Jayhawks, who stunned Texas in overtime in their final home game a year ago. But that was when the Longhorns were playing out the string under former coach Charlie Strong.

Oklahoma presents a far different challenge coming off Big 12 wins over Oklahoma State and TCU that were essentially elimination games for the College Football Playoff. Also, the Sooners have won 12 straight against the Jayhawks, all under Bob Stoops.

Mayfield is the nation's most efficient passer, completing 71.2 percent of his passes while throwing for 31 touchdowns with just five interceptions. His 355.9-yard average ranks second nationally.

A point first-year coach Lincoln Riley likes to stress, however, is that every game is important to maintain any kind of title hopes, especially since the Big 12 reinstituted its championship game. That outing, on Dec. 3 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, figures to pit the Sooners in a rematch with a conference rival.

"Everybody wants to make this conclusion or that conclusion," Riley said. "We have people wanting to crown national champions before the season even starts. You never know. That's the beauty of this game. You have to enjoy it and appreciate it every single week."

Leaders for the Kansas program received some appreciation, too, leading into the Oklahoma matchup -- or at least a reprieve from any possibility they could be released at the end of the season.

Both Beaty and athletic director Sheahon Zenger received a vote of confidence from first-year Kansas chancellor Douglas Girod.

"I want to reiterate my confidence in Sheahon and coach David Beaty," Girod wrote in a statement titled, "Football and our national aspirations."

"Nobody denies the challenges we are having on the field but I maintain my belief that Sheahon and coach Beaty have the right long-term vision and are doing things the right way."

Zenger has come under heat as the athletic director who fired Turner Gill after two seasons, picked Charlie Weis as his first football hire before firing him after four games into his third season, and then hiring Beaty, who stands 3-31. Beaty's only victory over an FBS opponent was the Texas win last season.

In a Sept. 22 news conference to announce a $350 million fundraising campaign designed mostly to upgrade Memorial Stadium, Girod stated his support for Zenger and Beaty and essentially reiterated that message this week.

Kansas has apparently settled on Carter Stanley at quarterback. The sophomore withstood a pounding in a 42-27 loss at Texas last week, completing 27 of 43 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns. He threw three interceptions, however, and was left attempting to rally the Jayhawks from a 28-7 deficit after one quarter.

"I'll say this about Carter Stanley, that might be one of the toughest cats I've ever been around," Beaty said. "They knocked the fool out of that guy. He is bleeding from every part of his body, and he gets up and can barely move. He is a tough dude. I give it to him."

Defensively, Oklahoma has had problems much of the season. In its 38-20 win against TCU, three freshmen made their first career starts in the secondary and gave the Sooners a noticeable lift.

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