KU Jayhawks football vs. Texas: Prediction, time, TV info for Saturday afternoon’s game

The Kansas Jayhawks face their most formidable opponent of the 2023 football season on Saturday.

The No. 24 Jayhawks (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) beat BYU 38-27 last week. And now they face undefeated No. 3 Texas (4-0, 1-0) in an afternoon matchup between ranked teams.

The Longhorns are 17-4 all-time against the Jayhawks, but KU has beat them twice in recent years: 2021 and 2016.

In their most recent meeting, however, KU lost 55-14 last season — something the Kansas coaching staff emphasized to the team this week.

“It was the first thing that was said, basically, on Sunday after the BYU game when they posted the score (of) what it was last year,” KU tight end Jared Casey said. “It’s kinda just a motivation factor, you know, what we can do to make it not that.”

The Longhorns are coming off a dominant 38-6 win over Baylor.

Let’s break down this weekend’s matchup …

Game Details

Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas

TV: ABC

Radio: Jayhawk Radio Network; WHB (810 AM) in Kansas City

Betting line: Texas is a 16.5-point favorite.

Prediction

Boy, this might be KU’s biggest game of the year. If Kansas somehow pulls off an upset in Austin, it’s time to talk about the Jayhawks as Big 12 title contenders.

That’s because Texas is excellent in every aspect.

KU’s defense will have its hands full against UT quarterback Quinn Ewers, who will likely play in the NFL someday.

Ewers has had a great season, with 12 touchdowns (nine passing) and 1,033 passing yards in just four games. So KU’s defense needs to manufacture turnovers (like last week) in hopes of slowing him down.

On the flip side, Kansas’ offense cannot turn it over. The Jayhawks will want to bleed clock by running the ball. Anything to keep it out of Ewers’ hands.

How well KU runs the ball against a stellar Longhorns defense will be pivotal. Texas allows just 87.3 yards rushing per game (2.7 yards per carry). Kansas is averaging just shy of 218 yards per game on 5.5 yards per carry.

If KU’s run game can put up 150-ish yards, the load lessens on QB Jalon Daniels. Daniels needs to play his best game of the season if KU is to keep up with the Longhorns.

Texas still has the talent advantage on both sides of the ball, but KU’s offensive skill players and transfers on the defensive line have narrowed the gap.

Finally, the Jayhawks can’t give Texas any extra help, which means limiting the sort of penalties they’ve committed in recent weeks.

Looking at it holistically, KU must be as close to perfect as possible to win this game. I don’t think an upset is out of the question, but Texas should win Saturday — even if its close.

Prediction: Texas 35, Kansas 24

Shreyas’ pick to cover: Kansas (+16.5)

Shreyas’ record: 4-0

Shreyas’ record against the spread: 2-2