Kansas vs. Oklahoma: Preview and Prediction

Here is all the things it is advisable to know concerning the upcoming matchup between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Oklahoma Sooners.

GAME INFO

Saturday, October 15, 2022; 11:00 a.m. CT; Oklahoma Memorial Stadium; Norman, Oklahoma

TV: ESPN2 (Dave Flemming, Rod Gilmore, Tiffany Blackmon)

Radio: Jayhawk Radio Network (Brian Hanni, David Lawrence, Brandon McAnderson); Sooner Sports Radio (Toby Rowland, Teddy Lehman, Gabe Ikard, Chris Plank)

Records: Kansas (5-1, 2-1 Big 12); Oklahoma (3-3, 0-3 Big 12)

Rankings: Kansas ranked No. 19 (AP Top 25); Oklahoma unranked

Last Week: Kansas 31, TCU 38; Oklahoma 0, Texas 49

Series History: Oklahoma leads 79-28-6

Last Meeting: Oklahoma 35, Kansas 23 (2021)

Favorite: Oklahoma (-7)

Fun Fact: Kansas might be in search of its first street win on this collection since 1996 and might be catching Oklahoma at an excellent time, because the Sooners simply suffered their first shutout loss since 1998 (Texas A&M).

KEY PLAYERS

Kansas Jayhawks

QB Jason Bean

There doesn’t appear to be an entire lot of confidence in Kansas seeing its beginning quarterback Jalon Daniels returning to the fold on Saturday as he emerged from the locker room towards TCU in a sling after struggling an obvious shoulder harm. The good news? Jason Bean stepped in and gave Kansas an opportunity to win towards TCU, going 16-24 for 262 yards and 4 touchdowns to only one interception. Even with Daniels out, KU has to really feel assured it might probably transfer the ball towards a struggling Oklahoma protection.

DE Lonnie Phelps

Kansas defensive finish Lonnie Phelps has been a difference-maker for the Jayhawks this season and all of it begins with dashing the passer. Phelps leads the Jayhawks with 6.0 sacks, which can be good for second within the Big 12 behind solely Kansas State’s Felix Anudike-Uzomah (6.5). If Phelps can get after the Oklahoma quarterback, it may disrupt the Sooners’ offensive sport plan and spell catastrophe for OU but once more this yr.

Oklahoma Sooners

QB Dillon Gabriel

I’m going to be blunt about this: If Dillon Gabriel isn’t out there for this sport, you may chalk it up as a Kansas win. What we noticed out of the Oklahoma offense towards Texas was all I wanted to see to know that Gabriel is an important piece to Oklahoma’s whole roster. OU managed simply 88 yards passing within the six and half quarters that Gabriel has been lacking from the lineup, together with simply 38 yards by the towards Texas. Gabriel can’t get again quick sufficient for the Sooners and they’d higher hope that it’s this week towards KU.

LB Danny Stutsman

It wouldn’t have mattered if Kyler Murray himself had performed quarterback for the Sooners towards their final two opponents, they’d have nonetheless misplaced with the defensive performances we now have seen. That aspect of the ball has been wildly inconsistent and downright dangerous during the last two weeks, and if that doesn’t change on Saturday, Oklahoma will lose 4 straight. Sophomore linebacker Danny Stutsman leads OU in tackles (55) and is an up-and-coming affect participant for the Sooners. He must emerge as a pacesetter for Oklahoma, and fast, or else this season might be a misplaced trigger for any progress defensively.

KEY STORYLINES

Kansas Jayhawks

With Jalon Daniels possible out, can Jason Bean shine because the starter? It is one factor to come back right into a sport in entrance of a fired-up residence crowd and experience the wave of momentum to an excellent efficiency. It is one other to follow all week and hit the street because the starter in a pivotal Big 12 street sport. It hasn’t mattered who performed quarterback towards the Sooners over the previous couple of weeks although, and I don’t count on that to alter abruptly. If Bean could make the performs he must on this sport, Kansas ought to have an ideal shot at choosing up a win over the Sooners in Norman.

Oklahoma Sooners

With Dillon Gabriel again within the fold, can Oklahoma win a shootout? I’m out on believing that Brent Venables’ squad goes to magically learn to play protection after duds in three-consecutive performances. That means the Sooners are going to have to start out profitable video games like we’ve seen them do in years previous, and that’s by scoring a billion factors. Dillon Gabriel is as conversant in Jeff Lebby’s scheme as anybody, and I’m a believer that he could make the Oklahoma offense hum like the times of previous.

PREDICTION: Oklahoma 41, Kansas 38

The return of Dillon Gabriel plus the absence of Jalon Daniels is the distinction on this sport, in my view. Oklahoma’s offense is a lot ok to place factors up on the board with Gabriel on the sphere, and Jason Bean is in a high-pressure scenario on the street. While Vegas sees Oklahoma as a landing favourite, I don’t see the Sooners profitable by that a lot over an excellent Kansas staff. Give me Oklahoma by a area aim on homecoming, and an opportunity to enter their bye week at 4-3.