Kansas will try to stop its skid against Baylor today at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, with kickoff set for 12 p.m. in a Big 12 football game that arrives after both teams took losses last weekend. The homecoming game will be shown on TNT, truTV and HBO Max.
That is why the matchup is drawing attention now: Kansas is coming off a 35-24 defeat at Kansas State, while Baylor arrives after a 17-6 loss at home to TCU. Lance Leipold called Baylor a fine team with only two losses and said teams that have taken a step forward usually come back with more intensity and a target on their back.
Baylor's profile still gives the game some weight. The Bears held every opponent under 20 points this season, lead the Big 12 with 22 sacks and have forced turnovers in bunches, with six interceptions and five fumble recoveries. Daniel Cobbs and Bo Onu each have three sacks, while Travion Barnes leads the team with 36 total tackles, including 26 solo.
There is also a clear point of friction. Baylor's defensive numbers have not translated into clean wins, and the offensive side has looked shaky enough that Dave Aranda said his linemen had their worst game against TCU. DJ Lagway was 22-for-53 passing in that loss, and Baylor's running-back trio of Caden Knighten, Ryelan Morris and Dawson Pendergrass managed only 71 yards on 27 carries. That follows a different sort of high point from Oct. 3, when Lagway threw for 306 yards and four touchdowns and ran for another score in a 55-19 road win over Arizona State.
Kansas has its own pressure point. Defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald said opponents may try to slide protection toward Leroy Harris III or add chips to slow him down, which is the sort of adjustment a defense earns when it has a disruptive edge. Baylor still has the cleaner statistical case on paper, but the game turns on whether Kansas can turn recent inconsistency into something sturdier before Baylor's defense settles in again. For readers tracking Baylor Vs Kansas Prediction: Jayhawks Host Big 12 Test at Noon, the answer starts at kickoff and may not take long to show itself.
