--- title: "Kansas Jayhawks face tough test in matchup against Kansas State" url: https://newscentral.site/kansas-jayhawks-face-tough-test-in-matchup-against-kansas-state/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "Sports" published: 2026-10-16T12:11:51.000Z updated: 2026-10-16T12:32:08.972Z id: 40a449c4-5d9e-4970-9390-a4291b187b86 source: "Yahoo Sports https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/college-football-week-7-upset-121151422.html" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/kansas-jayhawks-face-tough-test-in-matchup-against-kansas-state/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Kansas Jayhawks face tough test in matchup against Kansas State The Kansas Jayhawks are seeking to break their 17-game losing streak against in-state rivals Kansas State. College football fans are bracing for a potential upset as the Kansas Jayhawks head to Manhattan to face off against Kansas State, marking the 17th consecutive game where the underdog has struggled to emerge victorious. The matchup is one of six games this week where the underdog has a credible path to an outright win. Each game will be assigned an "upset grade" from 1 to 10, with a perfect score indicating that the underdog has the clearest path to victory. In Saturday's contest between Kansas and Kansas State, the Jayhawks are seeking to break their losing streak against their in-state rivals. The two teams have a long history of competition, dating back to a Wildcats' win in 2009 that began the current streak of defeats for the Jayhawks. Kansas coach Lance Leipold acknowledged this week that his team still has not been able to establish themselves as a legitimate rival to Kansas State. For years, he has emphasized the need for the Jayhawks to improve their performance against their rivals. The Wildcats struggled last week in a home loss to Houston, managing only 16 points on offense. In contrast, Kansas fell 41-24 at Utah in its previous outing. Despite these losses, the Jayhawks have shown some resilience and may be well-suited to challenge the Wildcats this weekend. Kansas State's quarterback Avery Johnson will be facing off against his former team after transferring from Manhattan. Jayhawks running back Dylan Edwards is also returning to his old stomping ground, where he previously played for Kansas State before joining the Jayhawks. The outcome of Saturday's game may come down to the performance of both teams' defenses. Kansas has a strong defense that ranks 20th nationally in adjusted EPA per play, while Kansas State's defense is struggling at 73rd in the same category. The Massachusetts Minutemen are facing their third quarterback change in three weeks due to injuries. UMass opened the season 4-0, starting with a convincing 37-21 win at Rutgers that ended a 16-game losing streak. However, they have since dropped two consecutive home games and now find themselves on the road against Buffalo. Pop Watson is unlikely to play due to an ankle injury, while freshman Aedan McCarthy suffered an injury in last week's loss to Miami (Ohio). This leaves Drake transfer Logan Inagawa or Ty McCutcheon as possible candidates for quarterback duties. Inagawa made a strong impression with six completed passes for 83 yards on UMass' final drive against Miami. UMass coach Joe Harasymiak praised Inagawa, saying he has college football experience and performed well under pressure. The Minutemen will need to rely on their offense to overcome the challenges of facing Buffalo's defense. The Bulls have been leaning heavily on running back Messiah Burch, who has topped 100 rushing yards in three consecutive games. Buffalo also turned to a backup quarterback after Elijah Holmes suffered a season-ending knee injury. UMass rates ahead of Buffalo in several key categories, including ESPN's offensive, defensive, and special teams efficiency rankings. The Minutemen are averaging over 7 yards per game, the best mark in the MAC. The Flagship Cup rivalry between UMass and Buffalo is always intense, with the Bulls winning last season's matchup by a single point. This time around, UMass' defense will aim to shut down Buffalo's offense and secure a crucial win on the road. Missouri's defense has been a key factor in the team's success this season, ranking fifth nationally in adjusted EPA per play. This unit will face its toughest test yet against Ole Miss' high-powered offense, which boasts three starters from the Rebels' 2025 Playoff team. Cayden Lee, who leads Missouri with 42 catches for 616 yards and five touchdowns, has been a thorn in the side of opposing defenses all season. The Tigers' defense will need to be at its best to contain Lee's impressive receiving skills. Ole Miss coach Pete Golding acknowledged the talent that was lost to Missouri, but his counterpart Eli Drinkwitz is confident in his team's ability to contain them. Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz has been preparing for this matchup by studying Ole Miss' defense through the lens of Austin's experience against it over the past three years. The Tigers have had success on offense so far this season, and they will need to continue that trend if they hope to win in Oxford. The Rebels' offense is a well-oiled machine, with multiple scoring options at their disposal. Drinkwitz knows that Missouri can't play keep-away all afternoon, and that the team needs to be prepared to score points quickly. In other news, Michigan will face Penn State without a Big Ten win between them as head coaches Matt Campbell and Jim Harbaugh meet for the first time this season. The Nittany Lions have lost three straight games under Campbell's leadership. The Wolverines' struggles on the field have been attributed to several key factors by coach Kyle Whittingham, but one problem stands out above the rest: turnover margin. Michigan's ranking of 122nd nationally in this category is a significant concern for the team, and it may be a crucial factor in determining the outcome of their game against Penn State. Penn State, on the other hand, boasts a plus-5 turnover margin, giving them a clear advantage over Michigan in this area. Whittingham's comments also highlighted the importance of quarterback play, with Bryce Underwood being named as the team's primary signal-caller, although Tommy Carr may see some action in certain situations. The Penn State offense will be without receiver Koby Howard, who was injured earlier in the season and has been a key contributor to the team's success. Quarterback Rocco Becht has shown promise, throwing for 289 yards against USC, but his ability to lead the team will be put to the test as they face Michigan. The Razorbacks' receiving corps is heavily reliant on Chris Marshall, who has amassed an impressive 42 catches for 605 yards this season. His production stands out among his teammates, with no other player having more than 12 receptions. Arkansas faces a challenging task in its first visit to Vanderbilt's stadium since 2011, as they have navigated the nation's third-toughest schedule thus far. The Razorbacks will need to draw upon their experience and resilience if they are to overcome the odds. Vanderbilt is struggling with injuries, but Arkansas' passing game remains a key area of concern for the Commodores. By focusing on containing Marshall, Vanderbilt may be able to gain an advantage at home. In other news, Oregon's offense will be without quarterback Bo Nix, who suffered a concussion in his last outing against USC on September 26. Coach Dan Lanning has yet to announce a starter among Dylan Raiola, Brock Thomas, and Akili Smith Jr., with Raiola being the most experienced of the trio. Raiola's experience is notable, as he started 23 games over two seasons at Nebraska before joining Oregon. However, his performance in last week's loss to UCLA was underwhelming, completing just 6 of 19 passes for 43 yards while also throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble. The Ducks' defense and special teams have proven themselves capable of holding up at Autzen Stadium, but the uncertainty surrounding Oregon's quarterback position may give Nebraska an opportunity to capitalize. The Huskers' offense has shown its ability to stay within striking distance, even in games where they ultimately fall short. Missouri is seen as a potential upset candidate against No. 16 Bulldogs Mississippi State, according to Kirk Herbstreit's analysis. This assessment is based on the Tigers' ability to stay competitive in games despite ultimately falling short. Meanwhile, other teams are also vying for upset victories this week. Virginia faces SMU at Maryland, where the Terrapins have struggled in conference play, losing 11 straight Big Ten games and allowing an average of 49 points per game in their last three losses. In another matchup, Baylor is favored against TCU, but the Horned Frogs are seeking to bounce back from a close loss to BYU before their bye week. This could be a challenging task for Baylor, which has won four consecutive games by a combined score of 158-54. David Pollack has taken notice of No. 15 Kentucky's resurgence under first-year coach Will Stein, who has led the Wildcats to victories over Texas A&M and LSU. Meanwhile, No. 18 Oklahoma State is also on a hot streak, having won four consecutive games under new coach Eric Morris. No. 20 Houston has been one of the most impressive teams in recent weeks, with quarterback Conner Weigman throwing for four touchdowns in their win over Kansas State. --- Source: [Yahoo Sports](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/college-football-week-7-upset-121151422.html) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/kansas-jayhawks-face-tough-test-in-matchup-against-kansas-state/