It’s a less-than-glamorous part of football, but Kansas University is glad it has returned.

Kicking and punting, which has been a question mark most of this season, has been rejuvenated.

And if Saturday’s 41-10 loss to No. 2 Oklahoma revealed any positives, it was the solid play of punter Kyle Tucker and the increasing comfort level of kickers Scott Webb and Johnny Beck.

Tucker arguably had the best day of any Jayhawk, kicking 10 punts for an average of 45.3 yards per punt. Four went more than 50 yards, one came from the back of the KU end zone, and others came under immense pressure from the Sooner return team.

“Kyle Tucker performed very well when you take into account he’s a true freshman,” KU coach Mark Mangino said Sunday. “What he’s been able to do against very good opponents is pleasing.”

Tucker, a Katy, Texas, native, took over full-time punting duties prior to KU’s Big 12 Conference opener Sept. 25 against Texas Tech. With the Jayhawk offense struggling to move the ball against the Sooners, Tucker was called upon 10 times, and the freshman didn’t have a poor punt the entire game.

“We weren’t sure he’d be the starting punter this year,” Mangino said. “Our thinking was if he could get the ball in the air and we could get some coverage, we would be happy.

“He has exceeded my expectations as a true freshman.”

Beck and Webb have flourished now that their roles are better defined. Webb has made all 19 of his extra-point attempts this season, including another Saturday after Brandon Rideau’s 78-yard touchdown reception.

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Beck converted his fourth straight field goal, a 43-yard attempt against the wind just before halftime. He also booted both of his kickoffs into the end zone, though only one was a touchback since OU returned the other 23 yards.

It appears Mangino has no plans to tweak the kicking game any more.

“They seem to be comfortable in those roles at this point,” Mangino said. “It’s working at the present time.”

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Playing two?: Adam Barmann and Jason Swanson each saw time at quarterback Saturday, a system uncommon in high-level college football.

“I have always liked to use one guy because you get a limited amount of reps during practice as it is,” Mangino said. “To share with two guys and game plan two guys, it takes extra effort.”

However, the Jayhawks won’t rule it out. Barmann and Swanson have played in each of the last two games, and neither has stood out.

“Whatever’s effective,” Mangino said of his future strategy. “You play with the strengths you have. I think you have to go with whatever works.”

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Baines update: KU cornerback Theo Baines limped off the field in the first half of Saturday’s game favoring his right leg.

Mangino said Baines aggravated an undisclosed injury he suffered in KU’s 31-28 victory Oct. 9 over Kansas State. Baines missed most of that game, too.

It appears it isn’t too serious, though.

“The medical staff is telling me they’re confident that he’ll be ready to go come Saturday,” Mangino said.

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New season: Mangino told his team after Saturday’s game that the first seven games of the season were in the vault.

“I told them, ‘We start a new season Monday. It’s a four-game season,” Mangino said. “What happened behind us is behind us. Good or bad.”

KU plays Saturday at Iowa State, then wraps up the regular season with Colorado and Texas at home and a trip to Missouri. The Jayhawks need to win three of the four to become bowl-eligible.