Eighth-Ranked Kansas Football To Host Nebraska Saturday At 11:30 a.m.

Oct. 29, 2007

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QUICKLY — After two straight road games #8 Kansas (8-0 overall, 4-0 Big 12) will return home to host Nebraska (4-5, 1-4) in its annual homecoming game… The game, which will kickoff at 11:30 a.m., will be televised nationally on Fox Sports Net (FSN)… Kansas has played three of its last four games away from Lawrence… KU has won seven straight home games (5-0 this year) as well as 16 of its last 18 at home in the last three seasons… KU has the nation’s 23rd-best home record in the last five years at 24-7, 77.4 percent according to research by the Navy SID office… KU will be looking to match a school record with six home wins in a season (done eight previous times)… KU has won 11 of its last 12 games played anywhere dating back to last season… KU’s eight straight victories give KU its longest winning streak since winning nine in 1951-52… The 8-0 record is the best eight-game mark since posting an 8-0 mark in 1908 (that team went 9-0)… KU’s eight-game winning streak is tied for the fourth longest active streak in the NCAA behind nine by Hawai’i, Ohio State and Boston College… KU will be playing on national television for the fourth time in five weeks.

ALREADY SOLDOUT — This week’s game against Nebraska was announced as a sellout on Oct. 9. The Jayhawks are already on a school record attendance pace for the third straight season (averaged a then record 43,675 in 2005 before breaking that mark last year with a 44,137 average). This season KU is averaging 44,096 through five games prior to this week’s sellout. The last KU sellout was last season’s home finale against Kansas State when 51,821 were in attendance.

IN THE POLLS — Kansas enters the week ranked eighth in all four major polls (AP, USA Today, Harris Interactive and Bowl Championship Series). The ranking of eighth is the highest for KU since being listed sixth in the AP poll on Oct. 28, 1995. It is also just the 29th week the Jayhawks have been listed among the nation’s top 10 in the AP poll all-time. The highest KU has ever been ranked by the AP? Third, for three weeks in 1968. (KU’s 2007 week-by-week rankings in the polls can be found on page 21 of this release).

LAST TIME OUT — Brandon McAnderson rushed for a career-high 183 yards and two scores on 21 carries and the Jayhawk defense came up big once again as Kansas posted a 19-11 victory at Texas A&M on Saturday. McAnderson had four rushes of more than 20 yards as the Jayhawks ran for 227 yards and passed for another 180 in the road victory. KU limited Texas A&M to 127 yards and no points through three quarters before the Aggies rallied and had a chance on their final possession. However, four straight incompletions, including a toss into the end zone on the game’s final play gave KU the win. Todd Reesing was 21 of 33 passing for 180 yards and no interceptions. Dezmon Briscoe was the team’s leading receiver with six catches for 49 yards. Defensively James Holt and Mike Rivera each had 10 tackles, while Aqib Talib added six stops and four passes broken up.

NATION’S UNDEFEATED TEAMS — Only five teams in the Football Bowl Series (FBS) remain undefeated heading into this week.

School W/L AP Rank This Week

Ohio State 9-0 1st WISCONSIN

Boston College 8-0 2nd FLORIDA STATE

Arizona State 8-0 6th at Oregon

Kansas 8-0 8th NEBRASKA

Hawai’i 8-0 12th Bye

DID YOU KNOW? — The last time Kansas had a better record than Nebraska prior to their meeting was 1974 when the Jayhawks entered the game with a 4-1 mark and Nebraska was 3-2. The teams had identical records in 1981 (both 5-2) and 2006 (both 3-1).

THE SERIES — Nebraska leads the all-time series by an 88-22-3 count, including a 46-7-1 advantage in games played in Lawrence. After consecutive wins by Kansas in 1967 and 1968, Nebraska ran off 36 straight victories before the Jayhawks posted a 40-15 win in 2005 – the last time these teams met in Lawrence. Last year Nebraska posted a 39-32 overtime victory in Lincoln. KU’s 72 combined points in the last two games in this series are three more than KU combined for in the 10 games against Nebraska before that (69 total points from 1995-2004). KU head coach Mark Mangino is 1-4 against the Huskers as the Kansas head coach.

NCAA MOST PLAYED RIVALRIES

1. 116, Minnesota vs. Wisconsin

2. 115, Kansas vs. Missouri

3. 113, Kansas vs. Nebraska

3. 113, Texas vs. Texas A&M

DID YOU KNOW? — This year KU has held the lead for 354 minutes and seven seconds, been tied for 105 minutes and 46 seconds and played while behind for just 20 minutes and seven seconds.

KU-NU LAST YEAR — Adam Barmann threw for 405 yards while Jon Cornish ran for 145, but it was not enough as a furious Jayhawks rally fell short against 21st-ranked Nebraska as Kansas fell 39-32 in overtime in Lincoln, Neb. on Sept. 30, 2006. KU erased a 17-point first-half deficit (24-7) and forced overtime when Barmann found Brian Murph on a 26-yard scoring pass with 46 seconds left in regulation. However, Cody Glenn scored on NU’s overtime possession and KU failed to score after getting the ball to the nine-yard line. Both teams produced 500-plus yards of total offense as KU had 574 and Nebraska had 511. Two Jayhawks had more than 100 yards receiving as Murph had eight catches for 129 yards and Dexton Fields grabbed eight balls for 108 yards. Mike Rivera and James McClinton each had seven tackles for KU, while Russell Brorsen added six stops. After trailing 24-7 KU scored 18 straight points (two touchdowns with failed PATs and two field goals) before Nebraska went ahead 32-25 at the 4:13 mark. KU then responded with the game-tying touchdown to force the extra period.

KU-NU LAST TIME IN LAWRENCE — Kansas stopped Nebraska’s 36-game winning streak in the series with a 40-15 victory against the Huskers on Nov. 5, 2005. Kansas built up a 14-2 first-quarter lead and led 17-9 at halftime. KU led 24-15 after three quarters before out-scoring Nebraska 16-0 in the final quarter. KU ran up 428 yards of total offense with 215 passing yards and 213 rushing yards, while holding Nebraska to just 138 yards. KU had two 100-yard rushers in Jon Cornish (101 yards) and Clark Green (100), while Jason Swanson threw for 215 yards, including six tosses for 100 yards to Mark Simmons. Kansas controlled the ball for 34:49, while NU had just 25:11 in possession time.

KU-NU CONNECTIONS — Kansas has one player on its roster from the state of Nebraska in WR Micah Brown, who is from Kearney… Nebraska players from the state of Kansas include LB Lance Brandenburgh (Overland Park/St. Thomas Aquinas HS), LB Blake Lawrence (Shawnee Mission/SM West HS), and IB Kenny Wilson (Liberal)… NU wide receivers coach Ted Gilmore was born in Wichita, Kan. and played at Butler Community College from 1986-87 and was a graduate assistant coach at Wyoming when KU CB coach Je’Ney Jackson was a player at Wyoming.

KU TO CELEBRATE 94TH HOMECOMING — Kansas will be playing its 94th homecoming game, a tradition, which began in Lawrence in 1912… KU is 40-48-5 all-time in homecoming games, including a 3-21-1 mark against Nebraska… KU has won three of its last four homecoming games, but lost 21-18 to Texas A&M in last year’s contest… Since 1990, KU is 13-4 in homecoming games… This year’s meeting will mean KU’s most common homecoming opponent is a tie between Missouri and Nebraska with 26 meetings with both… . From 1912-1939, Kansas’ homecoming opponent alternated each year between Nebraska and Missouri… The last time KU played Nebraska in a homecoming game was 1966.

KU’S LONGEST WIN STREAKS

Wins Year(s)

18 1907-09

12 1904-05

12 1898-99

9 1951-52

9 1905-06

8 2007

8 1890-91

KU’S BEST SEASON STARTS

Year Wins Before First Loss Final Record

1899 10-0 (undefeated) 10-0

1908 9-0 (undefeated) 9-0

2007 8-0 (active)

1909 8-0 8-1

OFFENSIVE DID YOU KNOW? — Kansas and Oklahoma State are the only two Big 12 schools averaging at least 200 yards rushing and passing this season.

DEFENSIVE DID YOU KNOW? — Kansas has shutout the opponent in the first half of four games this year, including each of the last two games at Colorado and at Texas A&M.

SPECIAL TEAMS DID YOU KNOW? — Kansas is the only team in the nation with at least two kickoff returns and two punt returns for touchdowns this season.

2007 KANSAS FOOTBALL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

– Defeated a ranked team (#24 Kansas State) for first time since beating #25 Iowa State in 2005.

– Beat a ranked team on the road (#24 Kansas State) for the first time since winning at #15 Oklahoma in 1995.

– Earned a national ranking for first time since 1995 (ranked #6 on Oct. 28, 1995).

– Earned highest national ranking since finishing ninth in the final AP poll in 1995.

– Opened a year 8-0 for first time since starting 8-0 in 1909.

– Won eight straight games for first time since 1951-52 (nine consecutive wins).

– Produced at least six wins in three straight years for the first time since 1960-61-62.

– Became the only remaining undefeated conference team since the 1968 Kansas team started that season 7-0 (i.e. the last time KU was the only undefeated team in the conference at any point in a season).

– Opened Big 12 play with a victory for the first time since 2003.

– Opened Big 12 play with a 4-0 record for the first time since 1992 (never been 5-0).

– KU became the first Big 12 North school since Nebraska in 2002 to open league play 3-0.

– Posted back-to-back road wins in the same season for the first time since 1995.

– Posted three road wins in the same season for the first time since 1996 (3-3 on the road that year).

– Post two wins against South Division teams in the same season for first time in Big 12 history.

– Post an eight-win season for just the 12th time in school history.

– Expect to be in a bowl game for third time in the Mark Mangino era and no Kansas coach has taken KU to more than two bowls.

– On pace to establish school record in attendance for third straight season as KU has averaged 44,906 through five home games and the next home game against Nebraska is already sold out (last game is vs. Iowa State). KU set mark in 2005 with 43,675 and then bested that mark last year with an average of 44,137.

– Beat in-state rival Kansas State three of last four years (have beaten other big rival Missouri three out of last four meetings, but have not played this year). Also defeated KSU in consecutive years for the first time since winning three straight from 1988-90.

– Snapped an eight-game losing streak at Kansas State (had not won at Manhattan since 1989 before this year).

– Recorded back-to-back 50-point games for the first time in history after opening the year with a 52-7 win against Central Michigan and a 62-0 victory against Southeastern Louisiana.

– Scored 30 or more points in six straight games (first six games) for the first time in history.

– Started the year with two straight turnover-free games for the first consecutive games without a turnover since 2003.

– Scored 52 points in season opener vs. Central Michigan for most points in a season opener since 1912.

– Scored most points in a conference game in school history with 58 vs. Baylor.

– Shutout Southeastern Louisiana for first shutout since beating Southern Illinois 42-0 in 2000.

– Held consecutive opponents to less than 10 points for the first time since 1975 as KU beat Central Michigan 52-7 and Southeastern Louisiana 62-0.

– Limited opponents to just 23 combined points in four straight games (first four games) for the fewest allowed in a four-game span since 1961 (held four opponents to a combined 23 points as well).

– On pace to have five of the top 10 passing yardage seasons in school history come in the Mangino era, as KU is currently averaging a school-record pace of 264.4 yards per game.

– On pace to have four of the top 10 rushing defense yardage seasons in school history come in the Mangino era as KU is currently averaging a school record of 77.5 yards allowed rushing per game (three of current top five seasons have come in the Mangino era).

– Posted consecutive wins against Colorado for the first time since 1980 and 1981.

– Stopped a seven-game losing streak to Texas A&M with win at College Station.