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Big 12 Football Power Rankings 2017: Week 2 edition

By Phil Poling

STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 17 : Head Coach Mike Gundy of the Oklahoma State Cowboys takes the field before the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers September 17, 2016 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma State defeated Pitt 45-38. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 17 : Head Coach Mike Gundy of the Oklahoma State Cowboys takes the field before the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers September 17, 2016 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma State defeated Pitt 45-38. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
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LAWRENCE, KS – SEPTEMBER 02: Derrick Neal #7 of the Kansas Jayhawks celebrates stopping a play against the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks during the first half on September 2, 2017 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Brian Davidson/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KS – SEPTEMBER 02: Derrick Neal #7 of the Kansas Jayhawks celebrates stopping a play against the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks during the first half on September 2, 2017 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Brian Davidson/Getty Images) /

The Kansas Jayhawks scored the opening touchdown of the game on a 77-yard connection between quarterback Peyton Bender and wide receiver Steven Sims Jr. Bender would toss three more scores on his way to a 38-16 victory over the visiting Southeast Missouri State Redhawks.

The Redhawks are a FCS school (formerly known as Division I-AA), so while it’s nice seeing Kansas get a win in the opener, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Sims Jr. seems to be the big-play target for Kansas, hauling in two of Bender’s touchdown tosses – the opener for 77 yards, and a score right before the half from inside the redzone; he finished with four catches for 142 yards.

More: Is Dorance Armstrong the real deal?

It was an impressive showing from the Kansas defense too, allowing only 264 total yards by their opponent. Joe Dineen led the way with a team-high 15 tackles. They only generated one sack (Daniel Wise), but broke up seven passes as a unit. Allowing only 16 points is encouraging for a defense that gave up 37.6 points per game a year ago.

Kansas will host Central Michigan this weekend for a chance to start the season 2-0 for the first time since 2011.

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