LAWRENCE, Kan. – Fresh off the only open week of the season and a trip overseas, Kansas football will return to action this Saturday when the Jayhawks welcome the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders for a Family Weekend matchup at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
Kick off is slated for 11 a.m. CT and will be televised by ESPNU with Mark Neely (Play-by-Play) and Jay Walker (Analyst) on the call.
Kansas enters the matchup with a 1-2 record and is coming off a hard-fought 24-17 setback to Arizona State in the inaugural Union Jack Classic at Wembley Stadium in London. Middle Tennessee fell at Jacksonville State last weekend, 23-13, and sits at 2-2 entering Saturday’s matchup with the Jayhawks.
Kansas quarterback Isaiah Marshall has made his first three career starts over the first three games of the season and has thrown for 649 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions, while completing 44 of 82 passes. He’s also rushed for 124 yards. The Detroit native got it going in the second half against the Sun Devils last time out and finished the game with 235 yards and a touchdown pass to Tate Nagy.
Receiver Nik McMillan, a transfer from Buffalo, has emerged as Marshall’s favorite target in the early going of the season. McMillan has 12 catches for 226 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He’s the only KU receiver who has double digit catches on the season. Running back Dylan Edwards posted a season-high 89 rushing yards against ASU and is averaging more than five yards per carry and also has nine catches in three games.
The Jayhawks have been stout defensively through the first three games under coordinator DK McDonald. Kansas ranks sixth in the conference, allowing just 281 yards per game and rank fifth in passing defense, surrendering 166 yards through the air per game. Arizona State threw for just 95 yards against Kansas in the Jayhawks’ most recent game and rushed for just 3.1 yards per carry.
Linebacker Trey Lathan, who led the team in tackles a year ago, again leads the Jayhawks through three game with 19 stops. Defensive end Leroy Harris III has been a menace so far this season with 15 tackles, six tackles-for-loss, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles, one sack and one blocked kick. Fellow defensive end David Santiago is also off to a strong start with 3.5 tackles-for-loss and a forced fumble and fumble recovery.
Middle Tennessee enters the matchup averaging 26 points per game, which ranks 91st in the country and allowing 21.3 points per game, which ranks 54th. The Blue Raiders are 108th in total offense and 71st in total defense through four games. They do rank ninth in the country and first in Conference USA in turnover margin and have committed just one turnover in four games. Quarterback Roman Gagliano has thrown for 832 yards, eight touchdowns and one interception in four games, while Antonio Martin Jr., leads the team with 345 rushing yards and a touchdown on 64 carries.