Kansas vs Utah kicks off Saturday night in Salt Lake City with No. 12 Utah looking to stay unbeaten against a Jayhawks team coming off its most lopsided win in nearly six decades. The Utes (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) host Kansas (2-2, 0-1 Big 12) at Rice-Eccles Stadium, and the matchup pits two of the conference’s top defenses against each other.
Utah leads the Big 12 in scoring defense, allowing just 10.3 points per game, while Kansas leads the league in total defense at 244.8 yards allowed per game. Both programs have built their identities this season on stopping the run, with Utah surrendering 84.0 yards per game on the ground and Kansas allowing 100.0. The game marks the sixth all-time meeting between the two schools, with Utah holding a 3-2 series edge and Kansas winless against the Utes since 1951.
Kansas Vs Utah Game Information
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 10
- Time: 10:15 p.m. ET
- Venue: Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, Utah
- TV: ESPN
- Series: Utah leads 3-2; Kansas has not beaten Utah since 1951
By The Numbers
- Scoring offense (per game): Utah 43.3, Kansas 36.0
- Total yards (per game): Utah 491.3, Kansas 496.8
- Passing yards (per game): Utah 265.5, Kansas 242.8
- Rushing yards (per game): Utah 225.8, Kansas 254.0
- Third-down conversion rate: Utah 54.17%, Kansas 42.86%
- Turnover differential: Utah +1, Kansas 0
- Sacks (season total): Utah 11, Kansas 6
- Records: Utah 4-0 (1-0 Big 12), Kansas 2-2 (0-1 Big 12)
Utah’s offense has outscored opponents by a wide margin through four games, and the Utes have scored at least 30 points in 10 straight games, an active FBS-leading streak, according to CBS Sports. Kansas counters with a slightly higher per-game total yardage figure, though its turnover differential sits at even compared to Utah’s plus-one mark.
Utah Utes Outlook
Utah enters off a bye week following a 31-17 win over Iowa State on Sept. 26, part of a 4-0 start that includes wins over Idaho, Arkansas and Utah State. Quarterback Devon Dampier leads the Big 12 in passing efficiency at 172.2 and ranks second in completion percentage at .703, completing 71 of 101 passes for 896 yards, nine touchdowns and one interception on the season.
Running back Wayshawn Parker has carried the load on the ground with 328 yards and five touchdowns on 50 attempts, while receiver Braden Pegan has caught 17 passes for 264 yards and four scores. Utah’s defense has allowed just 10.3 points per game, the stingiest mark in the Big 12, giving the Utes a clear advantage if that unit performs to its season average against a Kansas offense that has shown explosiveness in recent weeks.
Kansas Jayhawks Outlook
Kansas arrives in Salt Lake City riding its largest margin of victory against an FBS opponent since 1968, having beaten Middle Tennessee 55-0 last Saturday. The Jayhawks posted their first shutout since 2008 in that game, holding Middle Tennessee to just 138 yards of total offense while piling up a school-record 706 yards on the other side of the ball, according to Sports Illustrated.
Running back Dylan Edwards rushed for 137 yards and three touchdowns in that win and leads Kansas on the ground this season with 296 yards and three scores on 50 carries. Quarterback Isaiah Marshall has completed 57 of 104 passes for 810 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions. Kansas’ defense ranks first in the Big 12 in total yards allowed at 244.8 per game, a number that will be tested against Utah’s balanced attack.
Key Matchup
The Jayhawks’ run defense, which allows 100.0 yards per game, faces a Utah ground game built around Wayshawn Parker and his 6.6 yards-per-carry average. Kansas has generated 22 tackles for loss this season, and how often the Jayhawks’ front gets into the backfield will determine whether Utah can lean on the run or is forced to rely more heavily on Dampier’s arm.
On the other side, Utah’s scoring defense, the best in the conference at 10.3 points allowed per game, will try to slow a Kansas offense averaging 36.0 points. Kansas scored 55 against Middle Tennessee, but that came against a significantly weaker opponent than the Big 12’s top scoring defense.
Players To Watch
Devon Dampier, QB, Utah
Dampier leads the Big 12 in passing efficiency at 172.2 and has thrown nine touchdowns against just one interception through four games. His 224.0 passing yards per game ranks among the conference’s best, and his accuracy will be tested against a Kansas defense that has forced seven takeaways this season.
Dylan Edwards, RB, Kansas
Edwards is coming off a 137-yard, three-touchdown performance against Middle Tennessee and leads Kansas with 296 rushing yards on the season. His production against a Utah run defense allowing just 84.0 yards per game will be a key factor in whether Kansas can sustain drives.
Wayshawn Parker, RB, Utah
Parker has rushed for 328 yards and five touchdowns on 50 carries, giving Utah a physical complement to Dampier’s passing attack. His workload could increase if Utah looks to control the clock against a Kansas defense ranked first in the Big 12 in total yards allowed.
What To Watch
Utah is trying to extend its streak of scoring at least 30 points to 11 straight games while staying unbeaten through five contests. Kansas is looking to build on the momentum of its record-setting win over Middle Tennessee and pick up its first Big 12 victory of the season. Utah coach Morgan Scalley said, “Our guys understand what’s at stake and understand that all 12 guaranteed games matter. If you look across college football, it’s hard to win football games, and you got to show up to every game prepared, every game hungry, and never take an opponent lightly,” according to CBS Sports.
Kansas coach Lance Leipold said the win over Middle Tennessee has lifted the mood around the program. “Any time you can get on a winning track, the atmosphere in the building day after a game and on Monday, attitudes are a little bit different, a lot more upbeat, positivity. But as we try to remain consistent every day to turn the page and focus in on the next opponent, it’s also important to stay grounded,” Leipold said, according to CBS Sports.
Kansas looks to snap a losing streak against Utah that dates back to 1951, while Utah aims to remain unbeaten and keep pace in the Big 12 standings. The Jayhawks next play Kansas State, with that game time set according to Yahoo Sports. More on the Jayhawks’ recent win is available in Total Apex Sports’ coverage of Kansas’ 55-0 win over Middle Tennessee.
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