Print edition: 
In case you're not keeping up, Kansas has lost five football games in a row, will probably lose its sixth straight Saturday at No. 3 Texas and could end the season with a seven-game losing streak after winning its first five.
That's a lot to chew on. I'm guessing the Jayhawks would just as soon spit out this season, which has gone from promising to fulfilling to unthinkable.
Five-game losing streaks don't grow on trees; this is KU's first such streak since the Jayhawks lost their last seven games of the 2002 season, Mark Mangino's first as coach.
Kansas, not exactly a college football hotbed, has had six losing streaks of six games or more since going 0-10 in 1954, Chuck Mather's first of four seasons as coach.
Interestingly, all but one of those losing streaks came in the first or last season of a coaching tenure. Mangino is in his eighth season; losing streaks such as the one KU is enduring were supposed to be a thing of the past.
Late-season losing streaks were the final straw for Don Fambrough (1974), Bud Moore (1978) and Bob Valesente (1987, included a tie).
The difference between this losing streak and others is that the Jayhawks aren't a bad football team. At least not on paper, with key seniors and game-breaking skill players.
Kansas is losing close games; even a three-touchdown loss to Texas Tech and Saturday's two-touchdown loss to Nebraska were tight until the end.
That's one of many reasons Mangino won't be in trouble, even if the Jayhawks stumble home 5-7.
He's earned the opportunity to right the ship. However, it might not be easy. Kansas stands to lose a lot of its offensive firepower this season. Who replaces Todd Reesing at quarterback?
The schedule gets easier for Kansas next season, though. The Jayhawks won't play Texas, Oklahoma or Texas Tech. If KU loses to UT on Saturday, its record against those three Big 12 South teams will be 0-6 the past two seasons.
This is not how Mangino hoped the Jayhawks would build on 2007's 12-1 record and Orange Bowl victory over Virginia Tech, obviously.
If KU goes into next season on a seven-game skid, Mangino will be on a hot seat. How hot? Only Lew Perkins has that answer.
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Speaking of Big 12 coaches in trouble, how about Colorado's Dan Hawkins?
Yet it appears the financially-strapped athletic department is in no hurry to fire Hawkins, which would necessitate buying out the final four years on his contract at a price tag of $3 million.
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When I watch the Chiefs — and I try not to when I can help it — Todd Haley looks nothing like an NFL head coach.
Way too emotional. Over the top. Calm down, fella. You're supposed to give the appearance of being in charge. It's fine for players to play as if their hair is on fire. It's not good to coach that way.
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Somebody give me one plausible reason to think Kansas State can beat Nebraska on Saturday in Lincoln.
I'd really like to hear one and before Missouri's handling of the Wildcats in Manhattan last week, I think I had a few of my own.
Now, though, I can't remember what they were.
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I am not as anti-BCS as I have been in the past, and it's not because I have bought into college football's postseason system.
That'll never happen as long as there isn't a playoff.
I'm resigned that we're going to have Texas against either Florida or Alabama in the BCS championship game and that worthy unbeatens such as Boise State, Cincinnati and especially TCU are going to be left out of the title picture.
Using the most-recent BCS standings, here's how an eight-team playoff would look today: No. 8 LSU vs. No. 1 Florida; No. 7 Georgia Tech vs. No. 2 Alabama; No. 6 Boise State vs. No. 3 Texas; No. 5 Cincinnati vs. No. 4 TCU.
How much fun would those games be? Imagine the semifinals. You might still end up with Texas and Florida/Alabama, but think of the fun that would proceed such a game.
Makes me sick.
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Marvin Lewis is finally having a breakthrough season as coach of the Cincinnati Bengals.
His team has knocked off Baltimore twice and Pittsburgh twice and, at 7-2, is in control of the AFC North.
Nice job, Marv. Just one thing: ARE YOU KIDDING ME FOR THINKING ABOUT SIGNING LARRY JOHNSON?!?!?
You say he would be brought in as a fourth-string running back. Yeah, because we just know how much Johnson loves being insignificant, how he puts team goals above individual pursuits.
Of all the teams in the NFL that shouldn't bring Johnson aboard, the Bengals are at the top of the list.
I know Cedric Benson strained his hip during Sunday's win over Pittsburgh. But the Bengals are serious Super Bowl contenders. Why mess around with Johnson?
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New England coach Bill Belichick has given those of us who loves sports and love to argue the perfect storm with his decision not to punt late in Sunday night's game against Indianapolis.
You all know how that turned out; no need to get into the details.
However, it's a decision that will be debated as long as Belichick coaches.
I've given it a lot of thought and gone back and forth on my thinking.
Ultimately, though, Belichick disrespected the Patriots' defense. The right call in that spot is to punt the ball away and put the game in the hands of the defense.
Now, because of New England's inability to gain a first down and win the game, Belichick runs the risk of alienating his defensive players.
I know, the Pats' defense had been ripped apart by Peyton Manning on the Colts' previous possession. I'm sure Belichick was gun shy and figured Tom Brady had a better chance to convert on fourth-and-2 and run out the clock than the defense had keeping Indy's offensive out of the end zone from any starting point.
It's not a cut-and-dried decision and Belichick didn't have a lot of time to make the call.
But I think it was the wrong call by a coach known for almost always being right.
