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After a series of inexplicably close games, TCU blasted the doors off of Kansas for the second time in three years last season. Fort Worth is turning into a house of horrors for Kansas; fortunately, this meeting will come in Lawrence. Let’s see what the matchup looks like on paper.
Game Info
TCU @ Kansas
Sat, Nov 28, 2020, Time TBD
Lawrence, KS: Memorial Stadium
About the TCU Offense
TCU returns 61% of its offensive production from last season, most of which come back in sophomore signal caller Max Duggan. They will be looking for three new starters along the offensive line, as well as replacements for their top WR and top two RBs last year. However, considering this is the last game of the season, I wouldn’t expect newcomers to starting roles to still be very green at this point.
About the TCU Defense
Defensively, the Frogs return just 6 starters from last year’s week 1 depth chart, but those six starters account for 68% of last year’s defensive production. TCU returns its top 3 leading tacklers from last season, including LB Garret Wallow. DBs Trevon Moehrig and Ar’Darius Washington, the #2 and #3 tacklers from last year, combined for 9 INTs as well.
Preseason Rankings
Per preseason S&P+ projections released back in February, TCU is ranked #36 out of 130 teams, good for 5th in the Big 12.
Kansas comes into the season ranked #113.
Fearless Prediction
Even with Les Miles as a stabilizing force, there has been a lot of turnover in the Kansas football program over the last two years. The Jayhawks are breaking in a lot of newcomers on defense, and we have no idea who the starting quarterback will be - not that any of that will matter by the time Thanksgiving rolls around. So once again, your guess is as good as mine as to how the season will go. As noted a few days ago on this very fine website, Kansas could have easily gone 7-5 last year.
But, KU could have also easily gone 1-11. As it was, they finished 3-9, going out with a whimper against an admittedly very good Baylor team in the season finale. If Kansas is out of the bowl picture, another similar event could unfold in 2020. TCU is the better team, will likely be trying to improve bowl position, and could even find itself in the running for a conference title. Even though the Jayhawks have played the Frogs well in Lawrence since they joined the Big 12, I don’t think it’s something you can bet on. TCU 45, Kansas 21.