Jayhawks Head To Texas Tech For Big 12 Opener

Sept. 28, 2005

LUBBOCK, Texas — Kansas (3-0) and No. 13 Texas Tech (3-0) open Big 12 play on Saturday night as the Jayhawks travel to Lubbock, Texas for the 10th all-time meeting between the two schools. Kickoff against the Red Raiders is set for 6 p.m. in Jones SBC Stadium. The Jayhawks are 1-2 in conference openers under head coach Mark Mangino after falling to the Red Raiders 31-30 last year in Lawrence.

The Jayhawks just completed their first perfect non-conference season since 1998 after defeating Louisiana Tech 34-14 on Sept. 17, while Texas Tech is also undefeated after knocking off Indiana State 63-7 on Sept. 24. A win against the Red Raiders would give the Jayhawks a 4-0 record for the first time since the 1995 season when the team began the year with seven straight victories.

Against Louisiana Tech on Sept. 17, senior quarterback Brian Luke tossed a career-high three touchdown passes as the Jayhawks cruised to a 20-point win over the Bulldogs. The Walnut Creek, Calif., native finished the game 19-for-31 for 236 yards. Senior wide receiver Mark Simmons hauled in six passes for 106 yards to assist in the offensive efforts. However, it was senior linebacker Brandon Perkins who garnered all the headlines after the game. Perkins set a KU record with five quarterback sacks against La Tech as the Jayhawks collected a total of seven as a team. For his efforts against the Bulldogs, Perkins was named the Phillips 66 Defensive Player of the Week.

Texas Tech remained undefeated and improved its record to 3-0 on the season with a 63-7 victory over winless Indiana State on Saturday night in Lubbock. The Red Raiders, playing their fourth-straight contest at home to open the 2005 season, also owns wins over Florida International (56-3) and Sam Houston State (80-21).