When Kansas has the ball

Kansas rush offense vs. NDSU rush defense

Sixth-year senior Angus Quigley will get the first crack at being this team’s workhorse and all signs point to Quigley being ready for a big year. If Quigley can’t become KU’s every-down back, however, the Jayhawks have three guys behind him with a blend of speed and power that will make them hard to prepare for. Red-shirt freshman Deshaun Sands is poised for a big year as the team’s No. 2 tailback, and true freshmen Brandon Bourbon and James Sims also showed enough in camp to make the coaching staff comfortable enough to move last year’s leading rusher — Toben Opurum — to linebacker.

The Bison gave up 152 yards per game on the ground in 2009.

Edge: Kansas

Kansas pass offense vs. NDSU pass defense

Gone are Todd Reesing, Kerry Meier and Dezmon Briscoe, but the KU passing attack still seems to have enough to get the edge in this one. Though he has yet to play a meaningful snap in a college game, starting QB Kale Pick provides KU with good balance as a dual-threat QB. That, along with offensive coordinator Chuck Long’s creative play-calling, should be more than enough for the Jayhawks to keep NDSU guessing here. The Bison surrendered just 208 yards per game through the air in 2009, but managed just three interceptions and allowed opponents to complete 63 percent of their passes.

Edge: Kansas

When NDSU has the ball

NDSU rush offense vs. Kansas rush defense

Many KU players talked this week about being comfortable with the NDSU rushing attack because they’ve seen it so much in practice this offseason. NDSU lost its top rusher from a season ago and, with it, lost nearly 1,600 yards from scrimmage and 16 touchdowns. The Bison favor a power running game and like to run downhill with top returner D.J. McNorton, but KU’s size and strength up front and at linebacker should be able to neutralize the NDSU attack.

Edge: Kansas

NDSU pass offense vs. Kansas pass defense

KU ranked 96th out of 120 Div. I teams in pass defense in 2009, and that was with former starter Darrell Stuckey. A new coaching staff and new defensive mind-set has brought back a sense of confidence to the unit, which KU coach Turner Gill has called one of the deepest and most talented on the team. Senior captain Chris Harris anchors this group and will be backed by second-year safety Lubbock Smith, who some consider a star in the making. While KU is energized in its secondary, the Bison will counter with a first-year starter in Jose Mohler. NDSU coach Craig Bohl said he liked his team’s receiving corps but the fact that he plans to rotate five guys into the game at receiver indicates this unit might not be the team’s strongest.

Edge: Kansas

Special teams

The Jayhawks return two seniors in the kicking game in place kicker Jacob Branstetter (13-of-19 FGs and 42-of-44 PATs in 2009) and Alonso Rojas (41.3-yard average in ’09) and figure to get a lift on kickoffs from true freshman Ron Doherty. That alone might be enough to give KU the edge here, especially when considering that NDSU comes into the game with one kicker who is injured and another who is unproven.

Edge: Kansas