Steve Sarkisian addresses Kansas' improved physicality under Lance Leipold

No. 3 Texas is set to take on No. 24 Kansas in a somewhat unlikely meeting of unbeaten teams one month into the season. But thanks to Kansas’ improved physicality, the unbeaten matchup is no mere coincidence.

The Jayhawks have gotten out to a 4-0 start, taking down two Power 5 opponents, by virtue of their physicality on both sides of the ball.

“I think coach (Lance) Leipold historically, everywhere he’s been he’s had physical teams,” Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian said. “They believe in running the ball offensively. Then defensively sometimes it’s getting the pieces to the puzzle right. Obviously they hit the portal really hard on the defensive front this offseason and they’ve got some real playmakers up there, guys who not only do well against the run but affect the quarterback and have gotten some sacks.”

Kansas ranks No. 21 in total defense and has been reasonably balanced, too, checking in at No. 25 against the run and No. 47 against the pass. The scoring defense lags a little bit at No. 58 nationally, but the Jayhawks have managed games well.

Sarkisian knows Kansas’ improved physicality will present a challenge, particularly when his offense is on the field.

“The other thing that you see defensively out of them is they believe in the scheme,” Sarkisian said. “They’ve got a veteran secondary. They’ve got veteran linebackers that all work well together. You just don’t see kind of the lapse in coverage and things from Year 1, and it gets better in Year 2, and now they’re in Year 3.

“I think they’re playing that physical style up front. They’re playing sound in the back end. Then now, four games in they’re playing with a lot of confidence. Confidence is probably the biggest key as you develop as a defense.”

At 4-0, Kansas will come into the game riding sky high. Of course, Kansas started hot last year too before reality set in.

Last year’s team went 5-0 before coming back down to earth a bit against another Texas team, TCU. Of course, an injury to starting quarterback Jalon Daniels was part of that, too.

That won’t be an issue going into Saturday’s showdown, which should allow Kansas’ improved physicality to shine through.

Texas had better be ready to handle it.

“There’s levels to it but I do think that that physicality is showing up more because they’re playing a really confident brand of football,” Sarkisian said.