🏈 GAME PREVIEW: vs. Baylor

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The Kansas Jayhawks (3-8, 1-7 Big 12) get set for their 12th and final game of the 2019 season, as they host the No. 14 Baylor Bears (10-1, 7-1 Big 12) to David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas at 2:30 p.m., on ESPN on Saturday.

The game will be the fourth-consecutive against a ranked opponent for the Jayhawks, which is the first since 1977. Kansas has played five ranked opponents so far this season, with the Jayhawks scoring 20 or more points in three of those games, while falling in two games decided by 10 points or less.

It will be the 19th matchup all-time between the Jayhawks and the Bears, with Baylor taking each of the last nine games. Baylor holds a slight advantage in games played in Lawrence, where they hold a 5-4 record over KU. Head Coach Les Miles is 4-0 in his career against Baylor, winning each matchup while he was head coach at Oklahoma State, while Miles and Baylor Head Coach Matt Rhule meet up for the first time in their coaching careers.

Kansas is coming off a defeat at the hands of the No. 22 Iowa State Cyclones on Nov. 23, where the Jayhawks fell 31-41. Despite the loss, it was the most points Kansas has scored in Ames, Iowa since 2008, while the Jayhawks were outscored 72-3 over the previous two seasons. Baylor recently clinched their first Big 12 Conference Championship appearance after reaching their 10th win against Texas on Nov. 23, where the Bears defeated the Longhorns, 24-10.

Saturday’s game will be the season finale, and the final game for 23 seniors on the Jayhawks roster. The seniors will be recognized prior to the game on Saturday, including the following individuals: Hakeem Adeniji, Jelani Brown, Daylon Charlot, Codey Cole III, Hasan Defense, Kevin Feder, Kezelee Flomo, DeAnte Ford, Hudson Hall, Kolin Hayes, Elmore Hempstead Jr., Azur Kamara, Mike Lee, Willie McCaleb, Clyde McCauley III, Jeremiah McCullough, Manny Miles, Darrius Moragne, Shaquille Richmond, Carter StanleyNajee Stevens-McKenzie, Bryce Torneden and Andru Tovi.

Prior to their season finale against Baylor, head coach Les Miles met with the media.

GAME INFORMATION:

Baylor Bears (10-1, 7-1 Big 12) at Kansas Jayhawks (3-8, 1-7 Big 12)

Date/Time: Saturday, Nov. 30 at 2:30 p.m.

Where: David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium

Listen: Jayhawk Radio Network

Watch: ESPN

  • Beth Mowins (PxP), Anthony Becht (A), Rocky Boiman (A).

NOTES:

 

 

  • The Jayhawks enter their fourth-consecutive game against a ranked opponent on Saturday, marking the first time since 1977 that Kansas squared off against a ranked opponent in four-consecutive weeks. Saturday’s matchup with Baylor will be the sixth against a ranked opponent this season, which is the most the Jayhawks have played since 1978. Although Kansas is 0-5 against ranked opponents thus far, the Jayhawks have scored 20 or more points in three of those games, while falling in two games decided by 10 points or less. All-time, Kansas is 26-174-2 against ranked opponents and 15-84-2 against ranked opponents at home.

 

  • Against Iowa State, sophomore Pooka Williams Jr., crossed the 2,000 career rushing yard mark, making him just the second Jayhawk to break 2,000 yards in his first two seasons and the first since Gale Sayers did it in the 1962-63 seasons. Williams, who was last year’s Big 12 Freshman Offensive Player of the Year, has rushed for 945 yards this season, as he seeks to become just the second Jayhawk and first since James Sims to rush for 1,000 or more yards in back-to-back seasons.

 

  • Compared to a year ago, attendance at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium has seen a notable spike in attendance, marking a 84.1% increase through the first six games. In total, 214,591 fans have come to watch the Jayhawks (35,765 avg.), as compared to 116,544 a season ago. The 2019 attendance spike marks the most through the first six games of the season since 2013, when 221,577 fans attended David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium through the first six games.

STATISTICAL LEADERS:

 

 

Leading Passer: Carter Stanley (213/345, 2,569 yds, 24 TD, 8 INT
Leading Rusher: Pooka Williams Jr. (181 att, 945 yds, 3 TD)
Leading Receiver: Andrew Parchment (60 rec, 788 yds, 6 TD)
Leading Tackler: Mike Lee (60 rec, 788 yds, 6 TD)
Leading Sacks: Azur Kamara (3.5 sacks)
Leading Interception: Najee Stevens-McKenzie (2 interceptions)


Baylor logo

 

Leading Passer: Charlie Brewer (211/317, 2,753 yds, 19 TD, 5 INT )
Leading Rusher: John Lovett (95 att, 588 yds, 5 TD)
Leading Receiver: Denzel Mims (57 rec, 892 yds, 11 TD)
Leading Tackler: Terrel Bernard (91 tackles)
Leading Sacks: James Lynch (10.5 sacks)
Leading Interception: Grayland Arnold (5 interceptions)


SERIES HISTORY:

vs. Baylor: Baylor leads 14-4
Current Streak: Loss 9
Longest KU Win Streak: 1
Longest KU Winless Streak: 9
Last 10 Games: 1-9
In Lawrence: Baylor leads 5-4
In Waco: Baylor leads 9-0
Neutral Sites: N/A
Under Les Miles: First Meeting
First Meeting: Sept. 18, 1971 (W, 22-0)
Last Meeting: Sept. 22, 2018 (L, 7-26)
Most Kansas Points: 58 (Oct. 13, 2007)
Most Baylor Points: 66 (Nov. 1, 2014)
Biggest Margin: 48 (Oct. 13, 2007)