Colorado @ Kansas preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 17, 2009 ) Kansas 30, Colorado 34

The only Big 12 teams without a conference win square off Saturday in Lawrence, Kan.

Colorado (3-5, 0-4), led by beleaguered coach Dan Hawkins, visits Kansas (2-6, 0-4) and its first-year coach, Turner Gill.

Something has to give, because the Buffaloes have lost 14 straight road games while the Jayhawks have dropped 11 straight conference games.

It shapes up as even matchup. Colorado and Kansas take up the bottom two spots in the Big 12 in 25 of 32 statistical categories kept by the NCAA.

Although Hawkins appears likely to be let go, the Buffaloes could still make it to a bowl even after last Saturday’s 43-10 loss at Oklahoma in which they yielded 600-plus yards. Colorado hosts Iowa State and Kansas State in winnable games following Saturday, before finishing the regular season at No. 10 Nebraska.

Cody Hawkins, the coach’s son, took over as starting quarterback after Tyler Hansen ruptured his spleen in the second quarter against Texas Tech two weeks ago. Against Oklahoma last weekend, Hawkins hit just 17 of 44 throws for 187 yards and a touchdown. Rodney Stewart ran for 85 yards, and Scotty McKnight (five catches, 84 yards, one touchdown) became the first player in school history to surpass 200 career grabs.

Those were about the only highlights for Colorado, which was reeling from narrow losses to Texas Tech and Baylor.

Kansas, on the other hand, has rarely been competitive. The Jayhawks were outscored 159-24 in their first three conference games until last week’s 28-16 loss at Iowa State.

That game, which Kansas led 9-7 at the half, convinced Gill his team is making progress. The Jayhawks played with third-string quarterback Quinn Mecham, but starter Jordan Webb (shoulder) is expected back for Saturday’s game.

Webb led Kansas to its season highlight: a 28-25 home win over defending ACC champion Georgia Tech. For the season, Webb is 108-for-185 passing, with 1,114 yards and seven touchdowns against six interceptions.

Senior running back Angus Quigley is one of the Jayhawks’ top threats. He led the team with 69 rushing yards against the Cyclones and added four catches for 56 yards.

With games against No. 10 Nebraska, No. 18 Oklahoma State and No. 14 Missouri looming, Saturday could be the Jayhawks' last shot at an unranked foe.

Colorado leads the all-time series 42-24-3. Kansas had won three straight until Colorado prevailed 34-30 in Boulder last year.

Buffaloes receiver/punt returner Travon Patterson is questionable with an ankle injury.