Kansas plays at Nevada on Saturday night. The Jayhawks are 2-0 after victories over Missouri State and Illinois.
Nevada is 0-2 after losses to USC and Idaho. Kansas is a near four-touchdown favorite over the Wolf Pack. This is the first meeting between the teams.
Kansas will be short-handed because of suspensions for targeting and is battling some injury concerns.
A 3-0 start will be the Jayhawks second in a row, the first time they have put together such starts in consecutive years since 1991 and 1992.
Kansas (2-0) at Nevada (0-2), Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
Line: Kansas by 27 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Series record: First meeting.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Barring a major upset, Kansas will be able to run its nonconference record to 3-0 before entering Big 12 Conference play. If the Jayhawks live up to expectations and win big, that should set them up as serious contenders to make a bowl for the second year in a row. Nevada is trying to find something positive after losing 66-14 at No. 5 USC and 33-6 to FCS team Idaho.
KEY MATCHUP
Kansas’ offensive line versus Nevada’s defensive front. The Jayhawks’ veteran line has allowed just one sack and keys a run game that has averaged 253.5 yards. It’s a lot to ask out of a Nevada defensive front that has allowed 6.3 yards per rush.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kansas: QB Jalon Daniels completed 21 of 29 passes for 277 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday’s 34-23 victory over Illinois. It was a great sign for the Big 12 preseason offensive player of the year, who missed the season opener against Missouri State after dealing with back tightness in training camp.
Nevada: WR Jamaal Bell. He has been on the few bright spots for the Wolf Pack. Bell has 16 receptions for 188 yards and a touchdown through two games. That includes an impressive eight catches for 121 yards and a 77-yard TD against USC.
FACTS & FIGURES
The Jayhawks are attempting to open 3-0 for the second year a row, which would be the first time since 1991 and 1992. … Kansas will be short-handed for at least part of the game. CB Cobee Bryant and DE Austin Booker will not play in the first 30 minutes after they were flagged for targeting in the second half against Illinois. A handful of other players are battling injuries, including Daniels and RB Devin Neal. Neal has rushed for 214 yards and two touchdowns. … The Jayhawks gained more than 500 yards in each of their first two games. They have reached that figure in eight of their past 15 games. Kansas 530-yard average is second in the Big 12 and 10th nationally … The Jayhawks’ six sacks against Illinois was their highest total in 14 years. … Neal rushed for 120 yards against the Illini, making him the 13th player in program history to surpass 2,000 yards in his career. He has 2,011. … Kansas will become the first Big 12 team to play in Reno, Nevada, since Missouri in 2009. The Tigers won that meeting 31-21. Purdue was the last power-conference team to play at Nevada, which beat the Boilermakers 34-31 in 2019. … Since moving up to FBS (then Division I-A) in 1992, the Wolf Pack are 0-7 against the Big 12.
