Kickoff for Kansas University’s Oct. 9 homecoming football game with Kansas State at Memorial Stadium will be 6:20 p.m.

“We tried for 11 o’clock at night,” KU coach Mark Mangino quipped during his Tuesday media session, “but the Big 12 wouldn’t allow it.”

KU associate AD Jim Marchiony said the game was scheduled in the 6 p.m. slot for three reasons.

“One was because of homecoming considerations,” he said. “Another was the NASCAR event in Kansas City, and the other was because our best crowds were at 6 o’clock games.”

When KU learned Monday the KU-KSU game was not a part of the Big 12 Conference TV package, the school had the option of a late morning, early afternoon or night kickoff.

Morning would have interfered with homecoming, and early afternoon would have conflicted with the Mr. Goodcents 300 at Kansas Speedway. The NASCAR Busch race is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.

KU’s first two home games — against Tulsa and Toledo — started at 6 p.m., and each game drew more than 40,000 fans. Last Saturday’s Texas Tech game, which began at 2:40 p.m., drew about 37,000.

The KU-Tech game was televised live as part of the Big 12 TV package.

Saturday’s Kansas-Nebraska game in Lincoln, Neb., is not a part of the conference TV package, but will be televised on pay-per-view. Marchiony said that pay-per-view wasn’t considered for the KSU contest.

Tickets still remain for the Oct. 9 clash with the Wildcats. As the designated premium game, the ticket price is $65, or $30 more than the other Big 12 home games.