RCW: 2016 Kansas Football Opponents

Year after year, Kansas welcomes some of the best teams in the country to Memorial Stadium just by virtue of playing in the nationally competitive Big 12 Conference. The 2016 season will be no different as the league returns a number of experienced quarterbacks while seeing a continued shift towards wide-open, fast-paced football. According to ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI), Kansas’s strength of schedule ranks among the top 30 in the nation. Read below for a primer on each of the Jayhawks’ 2016 opponents, both home and away.
  

The Rhode Island Rams will enter KU’s Memorial Stadium coming off a 1-10 record and last-place finish in the Colonial Athletic Association. Head coach Jim Fleming will look to improve his 4-20 overall record while at the school. Rhode Island was picked to finish last in the CAA for the 2016 season. The Rams do have their leading scorer returning in sophomore kicker Justin Rohrwasser, who went 9-13 on field goals and 16-17 on PATs last season.

QUICK HITS

• KU home opener
• Struggled last year, 1-10 (1-11, 3-9 previous two years)
• Have a good kicking and punting core
• Picked to finish last in the Colonial Athletic Conference

RHODE ISLAND
Date Sept. 3
Time 6 p.m.
Location Stadium
Stats Stats
Head Coach Head Coach
Web Website
Media Guide Media Guide

TOP OFFENSIVE RETURNERS
Passing
Paul Mroz, 945 Yards, 3 touchdowns
Rushing
Harold Cooper, 746 yards, 3 touchdowns
Receiving
Khayri Denny, 403 yards, 3 touchdowns

TOP DEFENSIVE RETURNERS
Tackles
Adam Parker, 50
Sacks
Adam Parker, 2
Interceptions
Adam parker and three others, 1

The Ohio University Bobcats are picked to finish second in the Mid-American Conference East standings after an 8-5 season in 2015. Frank Solich, now in his 12th season as head coach of the Bobcats, has led his team to five-straight bowl appearances; however, he and the Bobcats will have a difficult time replacing projected starting quarterback, J.D. Sprague, who left the team in August due to medical reasons.

QUICK HITS

• Coming off an 8-5 season
• Expected starting QB J.D. Sprague, left the program
• His departure leaves Ohio with only one scholarship quarterback who has played in a game
• Picked second in the MAC East

OHIO
Date Sept. 10
Time 1:30 p.m.
Location Stadium
Stats Stats
Head Coach Head Coach
Web Website
Media Guide Media Guide

TOP OFFENSIVE RETURNERS
Passing
Greg Windham, 298 yards, 1 touchdown
Rushing
Dorian Brown, 204 yards, 0 touchdowns
Receiving
Sebastian Smith, 775 yards, 7 touchdowns

TOP DEFENSIVE RETURNERS
Tackles
Quentin Poling, 89
Sacks
Quentin Poling, 5
Interceptions
Quentin Poling, 3 

The Memphis Tigers’ first year head coach, Mike Norvell, will have the tall task in 2016 of replacing quarterback Paxton Lynch, who was a first round draft pick of the Superbowl Champion Denver Broncos and threw for 3,776 yards and 28 touchdowns for last year’s 9-4 squad. Picked to finish third in the American Athletic Conference West, the Tigers will presumably rely heavily upon community college transfer Riley Ferguson, who ranked third among junior college quarterbacks, averaging 326.9 yards per game for Coffeyville Community College in Coffeyville, Kansas.

QUICK HITS

• Under the direction of first year head coach, Mike Norvell
• Graduated Paxton Lynch, a first round draft pick of the Superbowl Champion Denver Broncos
• 9-4 last year, including a 55-23 victory over Kansas
• Picked third in the AAC West poll

at MEMPHIS
Date Sept. 17
Time 11 a.m.
Location Stadium
Stats Stats
Head Coach Head Coach
Web Website
Media Guide Media Guide

TOP OFFENSIVE RETURNERS
Passing
Jason Stewart, 45 yards, 1 touchdown
Rushing
Doroland Dorceus, 661 yards, 8 touchdowns
Receiving
Anthony Miller, 694 yards, 5 touchdowns

TOP DEFENSIVE RETURNERS
Tackles
Shareef White, 63
Sacks
Christian Johnson, 4
Interceptions
Dontrell Nelson, 2 

One of the most dynamic offenses in the nation last year belonged to Texas Tech. Kliff Kingsbury, who enters his fourth season with Texas Tech this fall, had his offense humming to the tune of 46.6 points per game last year, which was good for second most in the nation. Tech is picked to finish sixth in the Big 12 in 2016 and will be led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes II, who threw for 4,653 yards and 36 touchdowns last year. He was also second on the team in rushing, amassing 456 yards on the ground for 10 touchdowns.

QUICK HITS

• One of the most dynamic offenses in the nation
• Picked to finish sixth in the conference
• Returns quarterback Patrick Mahomes II who threw for 36 TDs and 4,653 yards last season
• Scored 46.6 points a game last year, good for second in the nation

at TEXAS TECH
Date Sept. 29
Time 7:30 p.m.
Location Stadium
Stats Stats
Head Coach Head Coach
Web Website
Media Guide Media Guide

TOP OFFENSIVE RETURNERS
Passing
P. Mahomes II, 4,653 yards, 36 touchdowns
Rushing
P. Mahomes II, 456 yards, 10 touchdowns
Receiving
Devin Lauderdale, 639 yards, 4 touchdowns

TOP DEFENSIVE RETURNERS
Tackles
Jah’Shawn Johnson, 85
Sacks
Gary Moore, 3
Interceptions
Three with 2
  

TCU enters 2016 picked to finish second in the Big 12 Conference. Gary Patterson, who is in his 16th season with the Horned Frogs, is also the all-time winningest coach in school history with 143 victories. TCU begins the season ranked 14th in the national polls. With the departure of Trevone Boykin to the NFL Draft, Texas A&M transfer Kenny Hill, a redshirt junior, is expected to be the starting quarterback for the Horned Frogs. Hill started the first eight games of his sophomore year at A&M and passed for 2,649 yards and 23 touchdowns.

QUICK HITS

• Picked to finish second in the Big 12
• Ranked No. 14 in the preseason AP Poll
• Texas A&M transfer Kenny Hill expected to start at quarterback

TCU
Date Oct. 8
Time TBA
Location Stadium
Stats Stats
Head Coach Head Coach
Web Website
Media Guide Media Guide

TOP OFFENSIVE RETURNERS
Passing
Foster Sawyer, 155 yards, 2 touchdowns
Rushing
Kyle Hicks, 262 yards, 3 touchdowns
Receiving
KaVontae Turpin, 649 yards, 8 touchdowns

TOP DEFENSIVE RETURNERS
Tackles
Howard Travin, 105
Sacks
Josh Carraway, 9
Interceptions
Five with 1
  

The Baylor Bears, ranked 21st in the national preseason poll and picked to finish fourth in the Big 12 Conference, will have the services of quarterback Seth Russell for one more season after an injury cut his 2015 campaign short. Acting head coach Jim Grobe will look to utilize Russell’s experience to drive the Bears’ offence after a tumultuous offseason.

QUICK HITS

• Jim Grobe will work as the acting head coach
• Ranked No. 21 in the preseason AP poll
• Picked to finish fourth in the conference
• Redshirt senior Seth Russell returns as Baylor’s presumptive starting quarterback

at BAYLOR
Date Oct. 15
Time TBA
Location Stadium
Stats Stats
Head Coach Head Coach
Web Website
Media Guide Media Guide

TOP OFFENSIVE RETURNERS
Passing
Seth Russell, 2,104 yards, 29 touchdowns
Rushing
Shock Linwood, 1,329 yards, 10 touchdowns
Receiving
K.D. Cannon, 868, 6 touchdowns

TOP DEFENSIVE RETURNERS
Tackles
Travon Blanchard, 83
Sacks
Taylor Young, 3
Interceptions
Ryan Reid, 3 

Mike Gundy and the Oklahoma State Cowboys enter 2016 as the pick to finish third in the league. OSU is also ranked No. 19 in the preseason AP poll. Gundy, who has been the coach of the Cowboys since 2005, guided his team to a top-10 offense last season, as they finished with the seventh-best passing attack at 357.3 yard per game, as well as the ninth-best scoring offense at 41.2 points per game. Mason Rudolph returns as the starting quarterback for a team that went 10-3 in 2015.

QUICK HITS

• Ranked No. 19 in the preseason AP poll
• Picked to finish third in the Big 12
• Top 10 nationally last season in points per game and passing yards per game

OKLA. STATE
Date Oct. 22
Time TBA
Location Stadium
Stats Stats
Head Coach Head Coach
Web Website
Media Guide Media Guide

TOP OFFENSIVE RETURNERS
Passing
Mason Rudolph, 3,770 yards, 21 touchdowns
Rushing
Chris Carson, 517 yards, 4 touchdowns
Receiving
James Washington, 1,087 yards, 10 touchdowns

TOP DEFENSIVE RETURNERS
Tackles
Jordan Sterns, 108
Sacks
Vincent Taylor, 4.5
Interceptions
Five with 2 

The Oklahoma Sooners are fresh off an appearance in the College Football Playoff, where they lost to national runner-up Clemson. Bob Stoops returns for his 17th season of the Sooners, who are the Big 12 favorite for the 2016 season and ranked No. 3 in the preseason AP poll. The Sooners also return the Big 12 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year in quarterback Baker Mayfield, who threw for 3,700 yards and 36 touchdowns a season ago.

QUICK HITS

• Picked to win the Big 12 Conference
• Ranked third in the national preseason AP poll
• Played in the College Football Playoff semifinal last season, losing to national runner-up Clemson
• Quarterback Baker Mayfield is the Big 12 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year

at OKLAHOMA
Date Oct. 29
Time TBA
Location Stadium
Stats Stats
Head Coach Head Coach
Web Website
Media Guide Media Guide

TOP OFFENSIVE RETURNERS
Passing
Baker Mayfield, 3,700 yards, 36 touchdowns
Rushing
Samaje Perine, 1,349 yards, 16 touchdowns
Receiving
Dede Westbrook, 743 yards, 4 touchdowns

TOP DEFENSIVE RETURNERS
Tackles
Jordan Evans, 78
Sacks
Charles Walker, 6
Interceptions
Jordan Thomas, 5
  

The West Virginia Mountaineers, under the direction of sixth-year head coach Dana Holgorsen, enter the 2016 season picked to finish seventh in the Big 12 preseason poll. The Mountaineers had the 16th-best rushing attack in the nation last year and were led by Wendall Smallwood’s 1,519 yards and nine rushing touchdowns; however, with Smallwood declaring for the NFL Draft, WVU will need to replace his offensive production. 

QUICK HITS

• Picked seventh in the preseason Big 12 poll
• 16th-best rushing attack in the nation last year
• Three season-ending injuries suffered at camp on the defensive side of the ball

at WVU
Date Nov. 5
Time TBA
Location Stadium
Stats Stats
Head Coach Head Coach
Web Website
Media Guide Media Guide

TOP OFFENSIVE RETURNERS
Passing
Skyler Howard, 3,145 yards, 26 touchdowns
Rushing
Rushel Shell, 708 yards, 8 touchdowns
Receiving
Shelton Gibson, 887 yards, 9 touchdowns

TOP DEFENSIVE RETURNERS
Tackles
Dravon Henry, 59
Sacks
Noble Nwachukwu, 7.5
Interceptions
Four with 1
  

First year head coach Matt Campbell will lead his Iowa State Cyclones into the 2016 season tabbed to finish ninth in the league. After finishing with a 3-9 record a year ago, Campbell will lean heavily on sophomore running back Mike Warren, who rushed for a team-high 1,339 yards last year. The Cyclone defense does return one of its top defenders in sophomore defensive back Brian Peavy, who led the team in tackles (82) and interceptions (2).

QUICK HITS

• Picked to finish ninth in the Big 12, one spot ahead of Kansas
• Under the instruction of first year head coach Matt Campbell
• Mike Warren returns at running back after rushing for 1,339 yards last season

IOWA STATE
Date Nov. 12
Time TBA
Location Stadium
Stats Stats
Head Coach Head Coach
Web Website
Media Guide Media Guide

TOP OFFENSIVE RETURNERS
Passing
Joel Lanning, 1,247 yards, 10 touchdowns
Rushing
Mike Warren, 1,339 yards, 5 touchdowns
Receiving
Allen Lazard, 808 yards, 6 touchdowns

TOP DEFENSIVE RETURNERS
Tackles
Brian Peavy, 82
Sacks
Demond Tucker, 6
Interceptions
Brian Peavy, 2
  

Charlie Strong leads the Texas Longhorn football program into the 2016 season with a solid 30-man recruiting class. Strong, who is in his third season as coach at UT, will look to improve upon his 11-14 record at the school. Texas is picked to finish fifth in the Big 12 this season. The Longhorns return sophomore dual-threat quarterback Jerrod Heard as well as leading rusher D’Onta Foreman on the offensive side of the ball. Texas’ interception leader, Dylan Haines, will also be back on the gridiron for the burnt orange.

QUICK HITS

• Picked to finish fifth in the Big 12 Conference
• Signed a 30-man freshman class this year
• Head coach Charlie Strong is in his third year at the helm of the program

TEXAS
Date Nov. 19
Time TBA
Location Stadium
Stats Stats
Head Coach Head Coach
Web Website
Media Guide Media Guide

TOP OFFENSIVE RETURNERS
Passing
Jerrod Heard, 1,214 yards, 5 touchdowns
Rushing
D’Onta Foreman, 672 yards, 5 touchdowns
Receiving
John Burt, 457 yards, 2 touchdowns

TOP DEFENSIVE RETURNERS
Tackles
Malik Jefferson, 61
Sacks
Naashon Hughes, 5.5
Interceptions
Dylan Haines, 5
  

Longtime Kansas State coach and Big 12 staple Bill Snyder is back on the sidelines for the Wildcats in 2016. Snyder, who is in his second tenure at the school, is 193-101-1 during his time at K-State and will begin 2016 picked to finish eighth in the league. The Wildcats return dual-threat quarterback Joe Hubener, who led the team in rushing touchdowns in 2015, as well as Charles Jones, who topped the team in rushing yards. KSU’s defense will return their top tackler in Elijah Lee, who also led the team in interceptions, as well as sack leader Jordan Willis.

QUICK HITS

• Picked to finish eighth in the Big 12 Conference
• Coached by Bill Snyder, back at KSU since 2009, also served as head coach from 1989-2005

KANSAS STATE
Date Nov. 26
Time TBA
Location Stadium
Stats Stats
Head Coach Head Coach
Web Website
Media Guide Media Guide

TOP OFFENSIVE RETURNERS
Passing
Joe Hubener, 1,837 yards, 9 touchdowns
Rushing
Joe Hubener, 613 yards, 13 touchdowns
Receiving
Deante Burton, 510 yards, 4 touchdowns

TOP DEFENSIVE RETURNERS
Tackles
Elijah Lee, 80
Sacks
Jordan Willis, 8.5
Interceptions
Elijah Lee, 3