KANSAS

Key Storylines for Big 12 Football Week 9: Can Kansas Break the Streak?

The Week 9 Big 12 slate is headlined by the 122nd Sunflower Showdown in Manhattan.
Rich Cirminiello|
Kansas State junior tight end Ben Sinnott (34) drives through Kansas defenders during the first quarter of Saturday's Sunflower Showdown against Kansas inside David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
Kansas State junior tight end Ben Sinnott (34) drives through Kansas defenders during the first quarter of Saturday's Sunflower Showdown against Kansas inside David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. | Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

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Kansas Jayhawks

If Kansas is to build off last week's win over Houston, it'll need to exorcise some instate demons.

The 2-5 Jayhawks face 6-1 Kansas State in Manhattan. Not only are the Wildcats ranked No. 16 in the country, but they've also won 15 straight Sunflower Showdowns.

The instate domination that began with Bill Snyder has continued under Chris Klieman, who is 5-0 in the series.

Wildcat sophomore Avery Johnson is beginning to mature as a passer, so it's incumbent upon Jayhawk QB Jalon Daniels to keep pace and play every bit as well as he did a week ago.

Kansas can rewrite its 2024 narrative by upsetting rival Kansas State Saturday night. Here are 5 other Big 12 storylines to watch this weekend.

Big 12 Storylines to Watch in Week 9

5. TCU Needs a Home Win

TCU earned a nice road win at Utah last week to move above .500. Now the Frogs have to hold serve at home with Texas Tech in town. TCU has only beaten LIU in Fort Worth, losing to UCF and Houston. Meanwhile, the Red Raiders are looking to bounce back from last week's lopsided loss to Baylor.

4. Arizona and West Virginia Look to Get Even

Two of the Big 12's biggest disappointents meet in Tucson with a chance to claw back to .500. Arizona has lost three straight as its offense has inexplicably tanked. WVU has dropped its last two, but all four of its losses this year came to ranked opponents.

3. Baylor Set to Go on a Run

The toughest part of the schedule is behind the 3-4 Bears, and they're coming off a shocking 59-35 win at Texas Tech. Baylor returns home to face fading Oklahoma State and is positioned to rally behind QB Sawyer Robertson.

2. Big 12 Elimination Game in Boulder

The Big 12 game of the week has Cincinnati heading to Colorado for the first time since 1972. The Bearcats and the Buffs are two of the league's biggest surprises, sitting at 5-2 overall and 3-1 in league play. The winner remains in the conference title chase, while the loser is likely cooked.

1. Cinderella BYU Heads to Disney

Iowa State has the week off, so BYU will carry the undefeated torch for the Big 12 in Week 9. The Cougars must play better defensively this week in Orlando, because UCF almost upset the Cyclones last Saturday, and the RJ Harvey-led ground game is relentless.

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Rich Cirminiello
RICH CIRMINIELLO

I've been the VP of College Awards for the Maxwell Football Club since 2008. I oversee and manage all aspects of the Maxwell Award (CFB Player of the Year), Bednarik Award (Defensive POY) and Munger Award (CFB Coach of the Year), including creating watch lists, steering the selection committee and choosing players of the week. I appear weekly on SportsGrid TV to discuss college football, both as a guest and a co-host of various live shows. I oversee and manage two additional college awards, outside the purview of the Maxwell Football Club - former Seattle Seahawk RB Shaun Alexander's Freshman of the Year Award & the Buddy Teevens Award, which was created by Peyton Manning, Archie Manning and Omaha Productions in honor of the late Dartmouth coach. I'm contracted out each May by Phil Steele to help edit the magazine and write select articles leading up to the publication of his annual College Football Preview in June.

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