Big 12 Football: Each team’s trap and peak games in 2021

Kansas

Trap Game: South Dakota

The lone probable win on the 2021 schedule for Kansas is the South Dakota Coyotes. The Jayhawks ranked last among Big 12 football teams in six of the eight major categories, with rushing offense landing ninth.

With Lance Leipold joining the program, he has brought a few key contributors from Buffalo that can be instant starters. Offensively, the Jayhawks rely upon the backfield with running threat Jason Bean and returning running back Velton Gardner.

The Jayhawks receiving core took a hit, with the losses of Andrew Parchment and Stephon Robinson. The unit has experience, but no projected starter is above 6’1.

Kansas has the talent edge, and definitely has the coaching edge over the Coyotes. However, the Jayhawks have lost to two FCS teams since 2015 and have played down to their competition previously.

The first game under Leipold and a roster that isn’t considerably better than their 0-9 campaign in 2020.

Peak Game: Texas Tech

The lone competitive game of the 2020 season came in their season finale, in a 13-16 loss to Texas Tech. It was far and away, the Jayhawks best performance of the season on defense and forced four turnovers.

In 2019, the Red Raiders were the lone Big 12 school Kansas was able to conquer. With a new quarterback, young talent around him and a below average defense, Texas Tech is winable game for the Jayhawks.

Like the past decade, the re-build in Lawrence will be treacherous. However, a Big 12 win under Leipold’s belt in year one would be massive for the program.

Texas Tech is looking like the most likely option and with solid reasoning, considering the past two seasons contests.