When Kansas has the ball

Kansas rush offense vs. Nebraska rush defense

The Jayhawks are coming off their best ground performance of the season, having racked up 280 rushing yards against Kansas State last week – their highest total since 2001. Jake Sharp has continued to impress since earning the starting running-back spot outright. He has rushed for 647 yards and nine touchdowns, as the team’s offensive line, which features two red-shirt freshmen at the tackle positions, has made significant strides since Week 1.

After some early success in stopping the run this season, Nebraska has struggled lately. In their last two games, the Huskers gave up 216 rushing yards to Baylor and 193 to Oklahoma. Even Texas Tech, known for its pass-happy attack, managed to amass 137 rushing yards against the Huskers.

Edge: Kansas

Kansas pass offense vs. Nebraska pass defense

Jayhawks quarterback Todd Reesing has been a bit turnover-prone so far this season, tossing a Big 12-worst nine interceptions in nine games, but will attempt to regroup against a Nebraska team that he threw for 354 yards and six touchdowns against last season. Receiver Dezmon Briscoe also enjoyed a nice afternoon, catching five passes for 52 yards and three touchdowns.

Nebraska has been fairly successful in stopping the pass this year, holding teams to 232 yards per game, but hasn’t been able to force many turnovers. The Huskers are near the bottom nationally in interceptions (88th in the NCAA Bowl Subdivision), turnover margin (103rd) and turnovers gained (108th).

Edge: Kansas

When Nebraska has the ball

Nebraska rush offense vs. Kansas rush defense

Preseason All-Big 12 running back Marlon Lucky has been consistent, if not overly impressive, this season, piling up 463 yards and seven touchdowns. Despite carrying the ball 42 fewer times than Lucky, however, fellow back Roy Helu, Jr., has emerged as the team’s most dangerous backfield threat. He has rushed for 451 yards and three touchdowns on 66 carries (a 6.8 yards-per-carry average), including a career-high 157-yard performance against Oklahoma last week.

Kansas’ success against the run continued last week, as the Jayhawks held the Wildcats to 91 rushing yards, and KU currently ranks third in the conference in stopping the run. The return of injured defensive tackle Caleb Blakesley has helped, as has the emergence of linebacker James Holt, who has racked up 71 tackles and a team-high 11 tackles-for-loss. He has also been responsible for five of the team’s nine forced fumbles.

Edge: Kansas

Nebraska pass offense vs. Kansas pass defense

The Huskers have quietly piled up 443 yards per game to rank 20th in the nation this season, and quarterback Joe Ganz has been a big reason why. The senior has thrown for 2,509 yards – just 70 yards fewer than Texas Heisman candidate Colt McCoy – and 16 touchdowns, compared to just eight interceptions, and has one of the conference’s best receivers in Nate Swift (690 yards, seven touchdowns).

Kansas’ secondary shake-up experiment will enter it’s third week this week, with a projected starting lineup that will look completely different than it did at the start of the season. Cornerback Daymond Patterson, a converted receiver, will be playing just his third game at a new position, as will cornerback Justin Thornton. The Jayhawks held Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman to just 207 yards and three interceptions last week, although they’ll likely face a tougher test this week in Ganz.

Edge: Nebraska

Special teams

Kansas placekicker Jacob Branstetter earned the praise of coach Mark Mangino after making multiple tackles against Kansas State, but the team’s kickoff-coverage unit struggled mightily, and Mangino wasn’t pleased. In addition to his talents as a tackler, Branstetter has been solid on field goals, going 8-for-11, though he’s just 2-for-5 from attempts of 30 yards or more. Patterson’s average of 12.1 yards per punt return ranks 19th nationally, but the team’s kick return unit remains last in the NCAA Bowl Subdivision.

Nebraska’s biggest strength on special teams is its punt-return unit, which ranks second in the conference with a 14.5 yards-per-return average, and kicker Alex Henery, who has connected on 9-of-12 field-goal attempts this season.

Edge: Nebraska