Kansas head coach David Beaty pulls off his headset after an offensive series during the fourth quarter on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015 at Memorial Stadium.

The final score of today’s annual Kansas University spring game might better resemble what you’d see on a pinball machine than a football scoreboard.

But that’s by design.

Instead of dividing into teams and playing out a full game with four quarters, a running clock and kickoffs and punts, KU coach David Beaty has elected to turn this year’s game into more of a situational scrimmage.

That, Beaty said, will give the team a better opportunity to continue to progress in areas of need and also show fans the ways this team has improved in the areas that hurt most during last year’s 0-12 season.

“It’s the game within the game,” Beaty said. “It’s putting extra emphasis on the little things that determine how games are decided.”

Although it remains to be seen just how the teams will be broken up, today’s 1 p.m. kickoff at Memorial Stadium likely will feature the first string against the second string in almost all of the situations. And there will be many.

The game will open with a normal kickoff that sets up the offense at the 25-yard line after a touchback. From there, drives will be set up to include everything from starting deep in KU’s own territory to simulating a sudden-change turnover that sets up the Jayhawks deep in the opponent’s end and puts the defense on its heels.

“You want to give the fans something to be excited about so we’re gonna try to get a little scoring system together and try to condense the scrimmage into a situational deal,” said KU offensive coordinator Rob Likens. “We’re not just gonna throw the ball out there and drive for quarters and halves. It’s gonna be more situational.”

In addition to the traditional six points for a touchdown and three points for a field goal, today’s scoring system will feature the following: One point to the offense for a first down and any third-down conversion; Three points to the defense for a three-and-out; Nine points to the defense for a forced turnover; Two points to the defense for a sacks or tackle-for-loss. In addition, points will be taken away for all penalties (-3) and personal fouls (-5).

By the time it’s all said and done — there will still be a halftime period — the offense figures to run somewhere between 80-100 plays. According to the Jayhawks who will be out there, those plays will not only show off KU’s new-look offense but also highlight the play-makers on the 2016 team.

“It’s still fun to me,” said senior quarterback Montell Cozart, who has worked as the team’s top QB most of the spring with sophomore Ryan Willis out with a wrist injury. “I love getting out there and having fun with the guys. It’s like our first-game feel until we get out there for real in September, and I’m just looking forward to getting out there, having fun, throwing some touchdowns and getting up and down the field making plays.”

The last time several of these players and coaches stepped onto the Memorial Stadium turf with fans in the stands and the spotlight on, K-State came to Lawrence last November and put the finishing touches on a winless season with a 45-14 Wildcat win that featured a handful of crushing KU mistakes.

As much as anything, today’s modified format offers the players the chance to put those memories and others like them permanently behind them.

“I just think people are gonna see a big change in the team,” said sophomore wide receiver Steven Sims Jr. “I’m looking forward to it. I know it’s gonna be fun and I want to make some big plays, but I think it’s our first chance to show that we’re not that 0-12 team again.”

Added sophomore wideout Jeremiah Booker: “It’s always in the back of our minds, but this spring has been a real fresh start for us and we’ve been working hard and polishing our craft, just trying to get better. We’re gonna put on a great show.”

Willis, running back Ke’aun Kinner, tight end Ben Johnson and safety Fish Smithson are expected to miss today’s game. All four are still recovering from injuries and being held out for precautionary reasons.

Admission to the game is free and gates will open around noon, when the alumni flag football contest will kick off.

Prior to kickoff, several other activities will take place around the stadium, including Bike Rodeo at 10 a.m., Train Like a Jayhawk events for children in grades 1-6 starting at 11 a.m., and the HyVee Hawk Zone running from 11 a.m. until kickoff taking place at the practice fields.

The game will be shown live on the Jayhawk Television Network and also on ESPN3.