TCU-Kansas preview: Matchups, key players, trends

Key matchups

TCU vs. the Oklahoma State hangover: There was so much buildup for last week’s game against the Cowboys and TCU fell flat, putting together its worst game of the season. The 49-29 has all but eliminated the Frogs from national championship contention and also knocked quarterback Trevone Boykin out of the Heisman picture. The Frogs can’t afford to wallow in the defeat. The only way an overmatched Kansas team stands a chance against TCU is if the Frogs aren’t into the game. TCU has to focus on the Frogs because big games still remain against Oklahoma and Baylor.

TCU wide receivers vs. the injury bug: It’s a good thing the Frogs have Kansas on the schedule because the Frogs are banged up in a big way at receiver. Josh Doctson’s magical season took a huge hit with his wrist injury against Oklahoma State. Coach Gary Patterson said Doctson was probable and it’s imperative Trevone Boykin isn’t without one of the top receivers in the country. TCU’s wide-receiver depth was stretched so thin that running back Shaun Nixon was one of the top targets late in the game at Oklahoma State. The Frogs could get some help as Ty Slanina, who started the first four games before getting hurt, could return against the Jayhawks.

TCU vs. Kenny Perry: Maybe the best chance Kansas has will come from having co-defensive coordinator Kenny Perry on its staff. Perry, who starred at Arlington Lamar and coached at Bowie, Sam Houston and Haltom, spent two years on the Frogs’ staff before coming to Lawrence after the 2014 season. If Perry has any secrets for stopping the TCU offense, now would be the time for him to make them known.

Did you know?

▪ Saturday will mark Senior Day. The class is 31-16 over the last four seasons and 11-0 at home the past two years.

▪ While Kansas was hammered by Texas 59-20 last week in Austin, the 20 points scored by Kansas matched the most the Jayhawks have scored in Big 12 play this year. Kansas also scored 20 in a 30-20 loss to Texas Tech. Kansas has scored more than 23 points just once, a 41-38 season-opening loss to South Dakota State.

▪ As bad as Kansas has been in recent seasons, it has saved its best games for TCU. The Frogs have won all three of the Big 12 matchups between the two teams but TCU has won the games by an average of 9.3 points.

Tarrant ties

Kansas has seven players on its roster who have ties to Tarrant County. Three played high school ball at Arlington Bowie, where Kansas co-defensive coordinator Kenny Perry was the head coach. One of those players is Perry’s son, Keaton, a backup quarterback. Keaton Perry threw his first career touchdown pass against Texas.

This story was originally published November 11, 2015 at 11:37 AM with the headline "TCU-Kansas preview: Matchups, key players, trends."