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PAGE 10
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18,2014
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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JAMES HOYT/KANSAN
Junior tailback Aaron Green from Texas Christian University outruns Kansas cornerback Dexter McDonald and the rest of the Kansas defense. TCU survived an upset scare from Kansas 34-30 on Saturday in Lawrence.
Power Rankings: TCU holds No.1 spot after narrow victory
SHANE JACKSON
@jacksonshane3
With 2:38 to go in the third quarter, the Horned Frogs took their first lead of the game over the Jayhawks and never looked back. Although it was a lot closer than most expected, TCU survived to stay atop the Big 12 by virtue of the two other teams on a bye.
Both one-loss Baylor and two-loss Kansas State remain in the heat for a chance at the conference title. But what Saturday proved is it may be difficult for a one-loss Big 12 team to crack the four-team playoff. TCU was sitting in fourth but will likely be knocked back a couple spots after Saturday's shaky performance.
Just three games took place Saturday as four teams were on bye. Eight Big 12 teams will play this week; the conference shakeup is becoming clearer as the season begins to wind down.
POWER RANKINGS
1. TCU 9-1 (G-1 Big 12)
Last time out: Won at Kansas
34-30
The Horned Frogs saw their playoff chances diminish as they went to the wire against the Jayhawks. The lone special teams touchdown in the conference this week, a 69-yard punt return, was enough to lift TCU.
TCU stays atop the Big 12 with just one loss. The team will need to win its final pair of games convincingly to get back in the playoff hunt. Quarterback Trevone Boykin has the school's single season record for passing yards (3,021) and total offense (3,586).
Trending: Same
Next up: Bye week
2. Baylor 8-1 (5-1)
Last time out: Bye
You could practically hear the cheers from Waco, Texas, as the Bears were hoping the Jayhawks could pull off the major upset Saturday. A loss by the Horned Frogs would have placed the Bears alone atop the Big 12.
Instead the Bears will have three games with Oklahoma State, at Texas Tech and Kansas State to end their season. For now, the Bears sit
in second because they did not play anyone last week.
Trending: Same
Next up: vs. Oklahoma State.
Even in-state rival Kansas State was hoping Kansas could pull off the upset, as it would have helped the Wildcats' title hopes. For now Kansas State has a shot to claim at least a share of the Big 12 title, but have just three games remaining. Kansas State travels to West Virginia in addition to home games with Kansas and Baylor.
3. Kansas State 7-2 (5-1)
Last time out: Bye
Trending: Same
Trending: Same Next up: At West Virginia
4. Oklahoma 7-3 (4-3)
Last time out: Won at Texas Tech
42-30
Oklahoma has climbed the rankings after handling Texas Tech. Freshman running back Samaje Perine had a three-touchdown day on the ground for the third time this season. He is the first Oklahoma freshman running back to rush over 1,000 yards since Adrian Peterson.
Trending: Up
Next up: vs. Kansas
5. Texas 6-5 (5-3)
Last time out: Won at Oklahoma
State 28-7
The Longhorns are bowl-bound after their third conference road win of the season. Texas has won three of its four road conference contests. Texas was a season-best 11 of 19 (57.9) on third down conversions while holding the Cowboys to 2 of 13 (15.4) on third down. Texas will have the week off before taking on TCU on Nov. 27.
Trending: Up
Next up: Bye
The Mountaineers will try to pad their bowl resume with a Thursday night showdown on senior night against Kansas State. West Virginia will have just one game remaining after this week on the road against the bottom-feeder Iowa State Cvclones.
6. West Virginia 6-4 (4-3)
Last time out: Bye
Trending: Up
Next up: vs. Kansas State
7. Oklahoma State 5-5 (3-4)
Last time out: Lost to Texas 28-7 The Cowboys find their way to the bottom half of the conference after a loss at home to Texas. The loss ended the Cowboys' 26-game winning streak against unranked opponents in Boone Pickens Stadium, a streak that dated back to 2009. Oklahoma State has recorded at least two sacks in 10 of its last 11 games, and will try to get after Baylor this weekend.
Trending: Down Next up: at Baylor
8. Texas Tech 3-7 (1-6)
Last time out: Lost to Oklahoma
42-30
Freshman quarterback Patrick Mahomes had a career day in a loss to the Sooners. Mahomes completed 27 of his 50 pass attempts for 393 yards and four touchdowns. Tech was able to snap a 17-game streak of losing the turnover battle after forcing three Oklahoma turnovers while not committing one.
Trending: Same Next Up: vs. Iowa State
9. Kansas 3-6 (1-5)
Last time out: Lost to TCU 34-30 Kansas nearly did the impossible, knocking off a then-No. 4 TCU team. Junior quarterback Michael Cummings threw a career-high 332 yards, the most by a Kansas quarterback since Todd Reesing's 338 against Duke in 2009. Kansas' opening drive consisted of 17 plays, the longest score drive in the conference this season.
Trending: Same
Next up: at Oklahoma
10. Iowa State 2-7 (0-6)
Last time out: Bye
After a loss to Kansas, Iowa State may have permanently placed themselves at the bottom of the conference. However, Iowa State will have a favorable three-game slate to remove itself away from that title. Aside from concluding it's season with TCU, Iowa State will have a pair of home games against Texas Tech and West Virginia.
Next up: vs. Texas Tech
— Edited by Rob Pyatt
Trending: Same
Next un. vs. Texas Tech
JAMES HOYT/KANSAN
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Fresh off one of his best statistical outings of his Kansas career, the most receiving yards by a Jayhawk tight end since 1974, senior Jimmay Mundine has been named one of eight semi-finalists for the John Mackey Award.
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"He's a big guy that can go on on the perimeter, runs good routes and has good hands," Bowen said. "Couldn't be more proud of the effort and what he's brought to our team."
Mundine's name is in the hat for several reasons.
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Part of the National College Football Awards Association, the John Mackey Award is given annually to the most outstanding collegiate tight end. Mundine becomes the first Jayhawk in school history to be named a semi-finalist for the prestigious honor.
Those skills haven't been more evident than in the past five games, especially during his heyday against No. 4 TCU, during which he made a career-best seven receptions for 137 yards and a touchdown. Mundine has only increased his production since changes were made to the head coach and quarterback positions.
Kansas interim coach Clint Bowen congratulates senior tight end Jimmy Mundine on the sideline following a touchdown against Texas Christian University on Saturday.
"They're starting to develop some chemistry," Bowen said
Over the past five games, under Bowen's tutelage and quarterback Michael Cummings' direction, Mundine has seen an increase in receptions, tallying 29 for 412 yards and three touchdowns, as opposed to 11 receptions for 124 yards and no touchdowns through the first five.
The blocking is better, the drops are down and Mundine is finally flashing his best attribute.
"I always pride myself in not letting the first guy tackle me," Mundine said.
That skill was no better
Over the summer before his senior year, Mundine recommitted himself to those facets, spending extra time in blocking drills and catching upwards of 1,000 passes a day from a JUGS machine.
"My size, my athleticism and ability to really understand the game as far as who's got me, what zones they have," Mundine said. "You can manipulate [the defender]."
Blocking and dropped passes plagued the tight end earlier in his career.
At 6 feet 2 inches and 240 pounds, raw talent has never been a question for the Denison, Texas, native.
"I was really good at routes and struggling at blocking," Mundine said in August.
typified than on a 67-yard rumble against the Horned Frogs, where he broke two would-be tacklers.
"I wasn't surprised he broke so many tackles," Cummings said of Mundine's rousing run. "I was surprised he didn't get in the end zone."
The senior will be competing with Iowa State's E.J. Bibbs, Ole Miss' Evan Engram, Notre Dame's Ben Koyack, Florida State's Nick O'Leary, Massachusetts' Jean Sifrin, Miami's Clive Walford and Minnesota's Maxx Williams for the award.
of the Cummings-Mundine connection. "I believe it's a result of the way we practice, the way we prepared, and it's starting to show up."
His chances are as good as any. The senior leads all Big 12 tight ends and ranks fourth nationally among the position group with 537 receiving yards on 40 catches. No Kansas receiver has been more clutch this season. Thirty of his 40 catches have resulted in first downs.
Finalists for the award will be notified Nov. 24, followed by an announcement of the recipient at the end of the season on Dec. 10. The recipient will also be presented with the award live on ESPNU on Dec. 11.
Edited by Rob Pyatt
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