 "Photo: David Zalubowski — Associated Press")
Texas A&M Head Coach Dennis Franchione knew that the four game stretch ending A&M's football season would be tough. With four Top 25 ranked teams left on the schedule (Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas) he was unaware just how difficult it would be.
"We have the toughest remaining schedule of anyone in the nation. You learn that November will be that way," Franchione said. "And for us November means we'll be playing the Big 12 South, with the addition of two tough [North] teams."
Saturday, Franchione became the second A&M coach to win in Lincoln, Neb., the other was Paul "Bear" Bryant. Franchione is aware he has little time to relish the accomplishment.
"This [Kansas] is a good football team," said Offensive Coordinator Les Koenning. "They don't stay blocked very long: they're down, they're up, and they fly to the ball. They're playing really well as a team right now."
Statistically, Kansas is having the best season in school history. The Jayhawks are setting new records for themselves, for the Big 12 and for the nation.
Kansas is 7-0 for the first time since 19995, and is one of four schools in the nation with a Top 10 defense in rushing, passing, total defense and scoring defense.
The Jayhawks are one of two schools with Top 25 offenses in both rushing and passing. They're holding Big 12 opponents to less than 100 yards rushing and they have the third best scoring offense in the nation.
Out of 420 total minutes played in 2007, the Jayhawks have trailed their opponents for 20 minutes and seven seconds.
However, the Jayhawks have the 114th most difficult schedule in the nation, meaning only five schools have played easier opponents. Texas A&M has the seventh most difficult schedule.
The Aggies are putting aside statistics and are focusing on the football team they're facing, and not the legacy Kansas brings.
"We're going do whatever it takes to win this football game," Koenning said. "Obviously against Nebraska the running game became the main tool, however last year against Kansas we passed the ball 40 times."
"And we're facing basically the same defense," Franchione said.
A&M leads the all-time series 7-1, with the Aggies losing the first game, but winning the next seven matchups. A&M is 4-0 against Kansas at Kyle Field.
The 2007 season has been unforgiving for Top 10 teams facing unranked teams. Franchione and the Aggies hope that with the statistics leading into this game, the biggest one that emerges is another tally in the win column.
"Sundays are always more pleasant after a W," Franchione said.
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