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Can Oklahoma State Get Back Into The Polls With a Kansas Win?

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While the Jayhawks basketball team continues to win the Big 12 year, after year, after year, the Kansas football team is off to another disappointing start. David Beaty’s Jayhaws sit at 1-5  (0-3 in the Big 12) as the Cowboys come to town to play a Kansas team that has only won once in 2016, a 55-6 win over Rhode Island.

Beaty is off to a 1-17 start at one of the hardest jobs in college football, and has yet to win a Big 12 conference game. Kansas did play TCU very well two weeks ago, eventually falling 24-23, but followed that up with a 49-7 blistering at the hands of the Baylor Bears last week.

Oklahoma State will come into the game well rested off their bye week, and will look to get the second half of the season started right against the worst team in the Big 12. However, the last two trips to Lawrence have been anything but cakewalks.

In 2012, the Cowboys barely hung on in a rain-soaked monsoon, 20-14, against the Charlie Weis-lead Jayhawks. Then in 2014, the Cowboys’ last trip to Lawrence, they survived in a 27-20 win. Overall, the Cowboys lead the all-time series with Kansas 35-29-2. Let’s take a look at a few numbers to know for Kansas-

Close Calls Aside, Mike Gundy Owns Kansas

The Cowboys have won seven in a row against the Jayhawks and 12 out of 13 overall. The only time Mike Gundy has lost to the Jayhawks came in 2007 the year that Kansas beat Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. The Cowboys are a 24-point favorite this year, and if they remember to set their alarms for that 11 AM kickoff, should walk to a fairly straight forward victory.

Justice Hill Has Another Opportunity For A Big Day

Kansas has struggled to stop the run in 2016, allowing 197.2 yards per game on the ground, good for 95th in the NCAA. Justice Hill’s mini-streak of 100-yard games came to an end against Iowa State, but still picked up 57 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown.

The Cowboys need to establish the ground game early against Kansas, and Justice Hill should be in line to rebound in a big way this Saturday.

Can the Cowboys get back in the polls?

Oklahoma State received 51 votes in the AP poll last week, and look to be close to re-entering the top 25. A win over Kansas would make the Cowboys an incredible 50-6 against their last 56 unranked opponents.

It’s a sign of how consistent the Cowboys have been under Mike Gundy, and proves the point- if the talent level is similar or in Mike Gundy’s favor, he’s a good bet to win.

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