Five things to know as K-State Wildcats face KU Jayhawks in Sunflower Showdown
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Sunflower Showdown offers major morale boost; KU enters favored status since 2009.
- Kansas QB Jalon Daniels ranks among national leaders; Avery Johnson supplies dual-threat spark.
- Kansas run defense yields 188.3 yards per game; K‑State rushers should probe that weakness.
The Sunflower Showdown is always an important football game, but it feels particularly big this season.
With both the Kansas Jayhawks (4-3, 2-2 Big 12) and K-State Wildcats (3-4, 2-2 Big 12) experiencing up-and-down seasons, a rivalry win would seriously boost morale on either side of the state.
A Kansas victory would give the Jayhawks their first win in the series since 2008, and inch them closer bowl eligibility.
A K-State victory would continue their dominance over KU and even their record at .500.
Here is everything you need to know to start getting ready for the high-stakes game:
K-State vs. Kansas game details
Kickoff: 11 a.m. Saturday
Where: David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence
TV/Stream: TNT
Radio: WHB (810 AM) and KCSP (610 AM) in Kansas City, KFH (1240 AM and 97.5 FM) in Wichita
Betting line: KU by 2.5 with an O/U of 56.5
Five things to know before Saturday
1. For the first time in 16 years, the Jayhawks are favored vs. K-State. Is this the year when Kansas ends its long losing streak in the Sunflower Showdown? Or will K-State retain the Governor’s Cup for a 17th straight season? Time will tell. But the oddsmakers believe in the Jayhawks. That is notable, because Kansas hasn’t been favored in a football game against K-State since 2009. Coincidentally, that was the year K-State began its current winning streak against KU.
2. Jalon Daniels is having a special season. The Kansas quarterback has thrown for 1,752 passing yards and 18 touchdowns with just two interceptions. He has also rushed for 199 yards and a touchdown. He ranks sixth nationally in passing touchdowns.
3. Avery Johnson has been showing off his dual-threat talents at quarterback. He didn’t accomplish much as a runner in the first four games of the season, but Johnson has been hurting defenses with his arm and his legs in recent weeks. The junior from Wichita has rushed for 176 yards and one touchdown on 35 attempts in his past three games. He has also thrown for 710 yards and seven touchdowns over that span.
4. Recent games in this rivalry have been nail-biters. The Jayhawks have given the Wildcats all they could handle over the past two seasons. K-State survived 31-27 two years ago in Lawrence and then 29-27 last year in Manhattan. The gap has been closed between these programs, but K-State keeps making clutch plays. It will be interesting to see what happens if this game goes down to the wire. K-State is only 1-4 in games decided by one score this season. KU is 1-1.
5. Kansas is struggling to stop the run. It’s a major problem for Lance Leipold’s team. The Jayhawks are allowing teams to rush for an average of 188.3 yards and 1.7 touchdowns per game. Last time out, the Jayhawks surrendered 372 rushing yards and four touchdowns to Texas Tech. Dylan Edwards (if healthy), Joe Jackson and Johnson will all test the KU run defense on Saturday.
