As different of an attack as the No. 19 Texas Tech football team has – and as talented of a group as it is – two weeks to prepare for the Red Raiders might be just what Kansas University’s football team needs.

“Their offense is unique in a lot of ways. You have to prepare for that,” KU coach Mark Mangino said Sunday. “It’s not a bad time to have a week off.”

Texas Tech has passed for 1,162 yards in its first two games (581 yards per game), both whuppings of new Division I-A school Florida International (56-3) and I-AA Sam Houston State (80-21).

The Red Raiders will be the Jayhawks’ toughest opponent to date, after KU topped Florida Atlantic (30-19), Appalachian State (36-8) and Louisiana Tech (34-14) in the first three weeks.

“We’ve got to get in the film room,” KU senior wide receiver Mark Simmons said. “They run a lot of stuff on offense and defense.”

Then again, KU will be Tech’s toughest test to date, as well – and the Red Raiders only will have one week to prepare for KU. Tech wraps up the nonconference slate Saturday with another I-AA foe, Indiana State. The 80-point plateau might get crossed again.

The Kansas coaches will be watching, but Mangino said the preparation for the Oct. 1 game in Lubbock, Texas, wouldn’t be anything supernatural.

“We’ll spend more time this week trying to improve ourselves fundamentally,” Mangino said. “Next week, we’ll get on Texas Tech.”

The plan is for some meetings and conditioning drills today, followed by practices Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The players will have Friday and Saturday off to rest; the coaches plan to use the weekend to recruit.

Bye weeks always are welcomed on the schedule, but this early season break looks to be the last for a while. NCAA rules are bending to allow a 12th game on the schedule next year, and KU plans to fill the fourth week with another nonconference game.

That said, the Jayhawks plan to enjoy this bye. They’ll have two weeks to prepare for the Nov. 26 game with Iowa State, too, and the key is to make both idle weeks productive – both in preparation and resting the bumps and bruises.

“We’ve got two weeks to prepare,” Simmons said. “We’re going to rest up, heal our wounds and come out there ready to play. Hopefully, we’ll have a good showing.”