RCW: Football Opponents
Southeast Missouri State
Date: Sept. 2
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Lawrence, Kan.
Venue: Memorial Stadium
Website: GoSoutheast.com
2016 Record: 3-8
Head coach: Tom Matukewicz (12-22 in three seasons at SEMO)
Conference: Ohio Valley
2016 Conference finish: 7th
• Lost seven defensive starters from last season
• First Team All-Ohio Valley Conference OL Chad Meredith returns to the team after picking up 86 tackles (45 solo), 10.5 tackles for a loss and 4.0 sacks in 2016
• Last faced Kansas in 2014 in Lawrence, losing 34-28
Top offensive returners
Passing: Jesse Hosket, 2,332 yards, 11 TDs
Rushing: Cameron Sanders, 172 yards, 1 TD
Receiving: Kristian Wilkerson, 743 yards, 4 TDs
Top defensive returners
Tackles: Chad Meredith, 86
Sacks: Chad Meredith, Kendall Donnerson, 4
Interceptions: Mike Ford, 1
Central Michigan
Date: Sept. 9
Time: 3 p.m.
Location: Lawrence, Kan.
Venue: Memorial Stadium
Website: CMUChippewas.com
2016 Record: 6-7
Head coach: John Bonamego (13-13 in two seasons at CMU)
Conference: Mid-American (West)
2016 Conference finish: 5th (West)
• Lost DL Joe Ostman who led the team with 9.0 sacks in 2016
• Lost 2016 starting QB Cooper Rush who passed for 3,858 yards and 25 TDs last season
• Picked to finish fifth in the MAC West
• Last faced Kansas in 2014, losing 24-10
Top offensive returners
Passing: Jonathan Ward, 31 yards, 0 TDs
Rushing: Devon Spalding, 785 yards, 6 TDs
Receiving: Corey Willis, 1,091, 9 TDs
Top defensive returners
Tackles: Malik Fountain, 50
Sacks: Mike Danna, 1.5
Interceptions: Amari Coleman, 4
Ohio
Date: Sept. 16
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Athens, Ohio
Venue: Peden Stadium
Website: OhioBobcats.com
2016 Record: 8-6
Head Coach: Frank Solich (88-65 in 12 seasons at Ohio)
Conference: Mid-American (East)
2016 Conference finish: 1st (East)
• Played in tow-consecutive bowl games: 2015 Camellia Bowl vs. Appalachian State, L 31-29 and 2016 Dollar General Bowl vs. Troy, L 28-23
• Lost DE Tarell Basham (10.5 sacks in 2016), drafted in the 3rd Round by Indianapolis
Top offensive returners
Passing: Quinton Maxwell, 1,247 yards, 8 TDs
Rushing: Dorian Brown, 825 yards, 4 TDs
Receiving: Papi White, 672 yards, 6 TDs
Top defensive returners
Tackles: Quentin Poling, 67
Sacks: Quentin Poling, 4
Interceptions: Kylan Nelson, Javon Hagan, 3
West Virginia
Date: Sept. 23
Time: TBA
Location: Lawrence, Kan.
Venue: Memorial Stadium
Website: WVUSports.com
2016 Record: 10-3
Head Coach: Dana Holgorsen
Conference: Big 12 (45-30 in six seasons at WVU)
2016 Conference finish: T-2nd
• Ranked 22nd in the AP Top 25 and 20th in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll to open the season
• Picked to finish sixth in the Big 12 Preseason Media Poll
Top offensive returners
Passing: Chris Chugunov, 15 yards, 0 TDs
Rushing: Justin Crawford, 1,184 yards, 4 TDs
Receiving: Ka’Raun White, 583 yards, 5 TDs
Top defensive returners
Tackles: Kyzir White, 47
Sacks: Kyzir White, 3
Interceptions: Marvin Gross Jr., 1 with 3 others
Texas Tech
Date: Oct. 7
Time: TBA
Location: Lawrence, Kan.
Venue: Memorial Stadium
Website: TexasTech.com
2016 Record: 3-6
Head Coach: Kliff Kingsbury (19-19 in four seasons at TTU)
Conference: Big 12
2016 Conference finish: T-5th
• Lost QB Patrick Mahomes (5,052 yards, 41 TDs, rushed 285 yards and 12 TDs), drafted in the 10th round by Kansas City
• Lost WR Jonathan Giles (1,158 yards, 13 touchdowns) who transferred to LSU
• Picked to finish eighth in the Big 12 Preseason Media Poll
Top offensive returners
Passing: Nic Shimonek, 464 yards, 6 TDs
Rushing: Da’Leon Ward, 428 yards, 3 TDs
Receiving: Keke Coutee, 890 yards, 7 TDs
Top defensive returners
Tackles: Jordyn Brooks, 86
Sacks: Jordyn Brooks, Lonzell Gilmore 1
Interceptions: Jah’shawn Johnson, 2
Iowa State
Date: Oct. 14
Time: TBA
Location: Ames, Iowa
Venue: Jack Trice Stadium
Website: Cyclones.com
2016 Record: 2-7
Head Coach: Matt Campbell (3-9 in one season at Iowa State)
Conference: Big 12
2016 Conference finish: 6th
• Lost 15 starters and 22 letterwinners
• Picked to finish ninth in the Big 12 Preseason Media Poll
Top offensive returners
Passing: Jacob Park, 1,791 yards, 12 TDs
Rushing: David Montgomery, 563 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving: Allan Lazard, 1,018 yards, 7 TDs
Top defensive returners
Tackles: Kamari Cotton-Moya, 58
Sacks: JaQuan Bailey, 3.5
Interceptions: Kamari Cotton-Moya, Jomal Wiltz 2
TCU
Date: Oct. 21
Time: TBA
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Venue: Amon G. Carter Stadium
Website: GoFrogs.com
2016 Record: 4-5
Head Coach: Gary Patterson (143-47 in 16 seasons at TCU)
Conference: Big 12
2016 Conference finish: 4th
• Received votes in the AP Top 25 and USA Today Coaches’ Poll to start the season
• Picked to finish fifth in the Big 12 Preseason Media Poll
Top offensive returners
Passing: Kenny Hill, 3,208 yards, 12 TDs
Rushing: Kyle Hicks, 1,042 yards, 17 TDs
Receiving: Taj Williams, 702 yards, 5 TDs
Top defensive returners
Tackles: Ty Summers, 72
Sacks: Mat Boesen, 6
Interceptions: Nick Orr, 4
Kansas State
Date: Oct. 28
Time: TBA
Location: Lawrence, Kan.
Venue: Memorial Stadium
Website: K-StateSports.com
2016 Record: 6-3
Head Coach: Bill Snyder (202-105-1 in 25 seasons at KSU)
Conference: Big 12
2016 Conference finish: 3rd
• QB Jesse Ertz returns after being one of four QBs in 2016 to rush for 1,000 yards and pass for 1,500 yards
• Lost a total of eight starters, three offensively and five defensively
• Ranked No. 20 in the AP Top 25 and No. 19 in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll to start the season
• Picked to finish third in the Big 12 Preseason Media Poll
Top offensive returners
Passing: Jesse Ertz, 1,755 yards, 9 TDs
Rushing: Jesse Ertz, 1,010 yards, 12 TDs
Receiving: Dominique Heath, 438 yards, 3 TDs
Top defensive returners
Tackles: D.J. Reed, 75
Sacks: Reggie Walker, 6.5
Interceptions: Duke Shelley, 3
Baylor
Date: Nov. 4
Time: TBA
Location: Lawrence, Kan.
Venue: Memorial Stadium
Website: BaylorBears.com
2016 Record: 3-6
Head Coach: Matt Rhule (First season as Baylor head coach)
Conference: Big 12
2016 Conference finish: T-5th
• Won Motel 6 Cactus Bowl against Boise State, 31-12
• Picked to finish seventh in the Big 12 Preseason Media Poll
Top offensive returners
Passing: Zach Smith, 1,526 yards, 13 TDs
Rushing: Terence Williams, 1,048 yards, 11 TDs
Receiving: KD Cannon, 1,215 yards, 13 TDs
Top defensive returners
Tackles: Travon Blanchard, 73
Sacks: K.J. Smith, 7
Interceptions: Davion Hall, 1
Texas
Date: Nov. 11
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Austin, Texas
Venue: Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium
Website: TexasSports.com
2016 Record: 5-7
Head Coach: Tom Herman (First season at Texas head coach)
Conference: Big 12
2016 Conference finish: 8th
• Lost QB Tyrone Swoopes, who finished his career sixth all-time in QB rushing yards with 967 and three rushing touchdowns
• Ranked 23rd in the AP Top 25 and USA Today Coaches’ Polls
• Picked to finish fourth in the Big 12 Preseason Media Poll
Top offensive returners
Passing: Shane Buechele, 2,958 yards, 21 TDs
Rushing: Chris Warren III, 366 yards, 3 TDs
Receiving: Armanti Foreman, 420 yards, 3 TDs
Top defensive returners
Tackles: Kris Boyd, 45
Sacks: Breckyn Hager, 6
Interceptions: Edwin Freeman, P.J. Locke III, 2
Oklahoma
Date: Nov. 18
Time: TBA
Location: Lawrence, Kan.
Venue: Memorial Stadium
Website: SoonerSports.com
2016 Record: 11-2
Head Coach: Lincoln Riley (First season as Oklahoma head coach)
Conference: Big 12
2016 Conference finish: 1st
• Lincoln Riley takes over head coaching duties for the Sooners after 18-year head coach Bob Stoops retired in June
• Lost leading rusher from 2016, Joe Mixon (1,274 yards, 10 TDs)
• 2016 Heisman candidate Baker Mayfield returns at QB for the Sooners after passing for 3,965 yards and 40 TDs last season
Top offensive returners
Passing: Baker Mayfield, 3,965 yards, 40 TDs
Rushing: Abdul Adams, 283 yards, 0 TDs
Receiving: Mark Andrews, 489 yards, 7 TDs
Top defensive returners
Tackles: Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, 50
Sacks: Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, 9
Interceptions: Steven Parker, 2
Oklahoma State
Date: Nov. 25
Time: TBA
Location: Stillwater, Okla.
Venue: Boone Pickens Stadium
Website: OKState.com
2016 Record: 10-3
Head Coach: Mike Gundy (104-50 in 12 seasons at Oklahoma State)
Conference: Big 12
2016 Conference finish: 2nd
• Ranked 10th in the AP Top 25 and 11th in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll to start the season
• Picked to finish second in the Big 12 Preseason Media Poll
• Returnthree core offensive weapons who led position totals in 2016: Rudolph, Hill and Washington
Top offensive returners
Passing: Mason Rudolph, 4,091 yards, 28 TDs
Rushing: Justice Hill, 1,142 yards, 6 TDs
Receiving: James Washington, 1,380 yards, 10 TDs
Top defensive returners
Tackles: Ramon Richards, 48
Sacks: Tralund Webber, 6
Interceptions: Ramon Richards, 3
