Something about using three quarterbacks in a relatively close game has Kansas University football fans bringing the issue back from hibernation.

So, what IS up at the QB position, coach?

In Saturday’s 30-17 loss to Texas Tech, KU coach Mark Mangino sent Brian Luke, Adam Barmann and Marcus Herford out for snaps. None showed a hot hand, and with Kansas State coming up, true freshman Kerry Meier again is being considered as a possibility.

Mangino didn’t completely dismiss the idea, either.

“He’s been working and getting repetitions,” he said Sunday. “As I sit here now, I couldn’t give you an answer because I don’t have one. As we said all along, we’re kind of day-to-day.”

Meier hasn’t played in KU’s first four games and still is a candidate to take a red shirt. He traveled and suited up for the Texas Tech game, but strolled the sideline wearing a baseball cap and never appeared to be a candidate to play.

Those who did play, though, had their struggles. Brian Luke threw two interceptions, had a fumble recovered by Tech for a touchdown and was unable to establish a legitimate passing game.

Barmann, who played one drive early and finished the game, wasn’t much more effective.

Herford came in for one drive and didn’t move the chains.

“I don’t think we’re looking to get into a rhythm or comfort zone on offense,” Mangino said. “You have to be able to come out right off the bat, and if there’s something different : you have to adjust and not wait until halftime for the coaches to make the adjustment.”

Kansas was down 20-0 at halftime against Tech, the 15th-ranked team in the country. Jon Cornish scored KU’s first points on a drive that started 11 yards from the end zone. Luke later orchestrated his best drive in the air, finding Mark Simmons on a 17-yard pass to put KU within 13 late in the third quarter.

Six receivers caught passes for KU, something Mangino likes, but the fourth-year coach said there was work to do both passing and catching.

“We have to go out and be aggressive as players,” Mangino said. “When I look at the tape, I like what we’re doing. It’s just how we’re doing it sometimes in the pass game.”