Not flawless

Kansas University football coach Mark Mangino had the chance to dissect game film from the Kansas State game. And while Saturday was a day to celebrate, Sunday was the first day to analyze and correct.

“We still need a lot of work in a lot of areas,” Mangino said. “We didn’t play perfectly Saturday. I think we left points on the board in three or four situations.”

Mangino did compliment KU’s performance in run defense and liked his team’s pass defense during the second half. But the reason KU won, Mangino said, wasn’t anything technical.

“The key to the game,” Mangino said, “was the way they dealt with adversity.”

Good timing

The return of junior cornerback Kendrick Harper from injury seems to have come at a good time.

Not only did Harper get a key interception in one of his few plays against K-State, but he should be able to play even more against Baylor – a team that passes a ton and gives the opposing secondary a lot of work.

“We wanted to ease him into this thing,” Mangino said, “but, boy, he didn’t want to ease in.”

Harper still has a hard cast over his right wrist, but it will come off at some point.

“He will not need it the rest of the year,” Mangino said. “The doctors are going to discuss here this week how much longer it will be necessary to wear it.”

Up next

Kansas opened as a 24-point favorite for its 11:30 a.m. home game Saturday against Baylor, proof that this isn’t the same Baylor team that beat the Jayhawks, 36-35, last season in Waco, Texas.

The Bears’ big offensive playmakers from last year’s team are gone, though Baylor quarterback Blake Szymanski has put up big numbers. He has thrown for 1,815 yards and 15 touchdowns in a system that relies heavily on passing.

Baylor (3-3, 0-2) lost at home to Colorado, 43-23, on Saturday. Its victories this season are over Rice, Texas State and Buffalo.