Kansas football vs. Oklahoma Sooners: Five things to know about Jayhawks’ next game
Kansas football is fresh off a bye week after losing to Oklahoma State 39-32 on Oct. 14.
Kansas (5-2, 2-2 Big 12 play) will try to get back on track vs. No. 6 Oklahoma (7-0, 4-0) at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. The Jayhawks would become bowl eligible for the second straight season with a win vs. the Sooners. This matchup will be nationally televised on FOX and is part of KU’s Homecoming week.
The Sooners survived a scare against UCF on Saturday, winning 31-29.
Here’s everything you need to know about this week’s game...
KU football vs. OU game details
Kickoff: 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 28
Where: David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium (Lawrence, Kansas)
TV: FOX
Radio: Jayhawk Radio Network; WHB (810) in Kansas City
Early Betting Line: OU is a 10-point favorite
Five things to know
1. Kansas hasn’t beaten OU since 1997. The Sooners have won the last 18 matchups between the last two sides. Still, Kansas has played OU relatively close in the previous two matchups. KU lost 35-23 at home in 2021 and 52-42 last season. This game will likely be Kansas’ last opportunity to play OU for a while, with the Sooners departing for the SEC next season.
2. Oklahoma’s offense is potent. The Sooners rank fourth in the nation in points per game (43.1). OU averages 496.6 yards per game, including 328.6 passing yards. QB Dillion Gabriel has thrown for 2,131 yards and 19 touchdowns to just three interceptions.
3. KU’s run game against OU’s defense is a crucial matchup. KU averages 212 yards on the ground on 5.6 yards per carry. Conversely, OU gives up 118.7 yards per game, with opponents averaging 4.1 YPC. Kansas’ offensive line will be tested against an athletic Oklahoma defensive front.
4. Gabriel will spread the ball to multiple receivers. OU has four WRs with over 300 receiving yards (Jalil Farooq, Drake Stoops, Andrel Anthony and Nic Anderson). So KU can’t just key in on one player. The Jayhawks will have their work cut out for them defending OU’s passing attack, particularly after Gabriel threw for 403 yards with three total touchdowns in this matchup last year.
5. A player to watch on OU’s defense: linebacker Danny Stutsman. He leads the Sooners in total tackles (70), tackles for loss (11.5) and solo tackles (32). He also has two sacks and one interception. Another familiar name to KU fans will be Jaren Kanak, the sophomore linebacker out of Hays. He has 40 tackles and two sacks so far this year.
This story was originally published October 23, 2023 at 10:35 AM with the headline "Kansas football vs. Oklahoma Sooners: Five things to know about Jayhawks’ next game."
