Heat wave

Kansas University’s football team continues to practice – sometimes twice a day – with temperatures simmering toward triple digits.

The Jayhawks had two practices on Monday, the latter open to the public on a scorching afternoon. KU had just one practice on Tuesday in accordance with NCAA rules that prohibit two-a-day practices on back-to-back days.

The heat is noticeable, KU coach Mark Mangino said, but not a deterrent.

“That’s how it’s probably going to be on Sept. 1 and through most of September out here,” Mangino said, “so we have to learn to work in these conditions.”

The Jayhawks’ final two-a-day is today. KU starts its fall classes Thursday, and the football team will scale back to one-a-day practices from then on.

Quigley is back

Kansas University football running back Angus Quigley said he’s finally back to 100 percent after suffering a severe injury in his thigh a year ago.

“Through spring ball, I was 75, 80 percent,” Quigley said. “Coming into camp after working all summer, I got my hip back strong, working on flexibility and stuff like that, I came into camp 100 percent. The speed’s back, and the strength’s back. I came into camp stronger than I was before I hurt myself.”

The question now is what to do with him. Quigley is competing for carries with fullback Brandon McAnderson and sophomore Jake Sharp. Another option, true freshman Carmon Boyd-Anderson, is forcing his way into the race with a solid camp so far and is not expected to red-shirt.

It makes for a crowded backfield, but each option seems to have its different strengths.

“Coach is trying to find what we do differently,” Quigley said. “Jake runs outside better, coach tries to put him on the outside stuff. I’m running inside, he puts me inside. Carmon is doing pretty much all of it.

“We’re just feeling it out, pretty much. Everybody’s getting their chance.”

In it to win it

At least one national pundit likes KU’s chances this season.

Todd McShay of Scouts, Inc., and ESPN.com picked Kansas to win the Big 12 North. He guesses Kansas and Texas would play in the Big 12 championship, with UT winning it.

McShay was one of 12 ESPN analysts asked to pick the division and league winners of Division I-A’s 11 conferences on ESPN.com. The other 11 split their North picks between Missouri and Nebraska, with the Huskers getting nine votes and Missouri two.

All 12 picked Southern California to win the national title.