Wembley Stadium is ready. The bands have arrived, the Union Jack Classic is here, and for the first time, BIG 12 college football will take centre stage at one of the world’s most famous sporting venues.
Both teams arrive in London at 1-1 following defeats to SEC opposition last weekend, meaning Saturday’s clash isn’t simply about making history at Wembley. It is the opening game of Big 12 play, and both teams have plenty to prove.
With that in mind, here are three things to watch when the Sun Devils and Jayhawks meet.
1. Does the rest disadvantage matter?
ASU Head Coach Kenny Dillingham hasn’t hidden his frustration with the schedule.
Arizona State played Texas A&M on Saturday, while Kansas played Missouri on Friday night, giving the Jayhawks an additional day before making the trip to London. Dillingham pointed out that international games would normally see both teams play on the same day the previous week, allowing for a more conventional preparation schedule.
“Usually you don’t play on different days when you have an international game and things like that. You don’t expect the scheduling to be different when you schedule a game like this, but, at the end of the day, it is what it is, and nobody is going to feel any better or worse for us. There aren’t any excuses; you either get it done or you don’t get it done.” – Coach Kenny Dillingham.
Kansas Head Coach Lance Leipold isn’t convinced it will make much difference.
“When you really break it down, the game ended at close to 11 p.m. and they kicked off at 11 a.m., so I don’t know if it’s exactly as much as we want to make it out. I think they got the advantage maybe to come here and get acclimated, I don’t know.” – Coach Lance Leipold.
Whatever the reality, it is an interesting subplot heading into kickoff. Arizona State has had to manage a quicker turnaround but got to London earlier, while Kansas has had an extra day to recover and prepare.
2. Can Kansas contain Reed Harris and Omarion Miller?
This might be the biggest individual challenge facing the Jayhawks.
Arizona State’s receiving corps has been one of the most explosive units in the country through two games, with Boston College transfer Reed Harris and Colorado transfer Omarion Miller leading the way.
Harris has been particularly impressive, producing 15 catches for 326 yards and four touchdowns through two games, while Miller leads the Sun Devils with 17 receptions.
Kansas Defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald knows exactly what his defense is facing.
“Number 3 at wide receiver. One of the best guys we watched so far this year. He does a good job getting open, using his big body. He did a really good job against Texas A&M. The they got number 4 in that slot. He does a really good job too. They’ve got some weapons. It’s going to be a great challenge for us on Saturday. I’m looking forward to our guys stepping up to the challenge and being ready to go.”
Reed Harris and Omarion Miller are arguably the best receiver tandem in the Big 12, with both having a chance of being top-60 NFL draft picks in April. The Jayhawk secondary will have to be at their best if they’re going to contain this duo.
3. Kansas needs to get the ground game going
Jayhawks Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki was pretty blunt when discussing Kansas’ offensive performance against Missouri.
The Jayhawks didn’t run the football effectively enough, and the combination of Yasin Willis and Dylan Edwards wasn’t given enough opportunity to establish itself.
“In terms of running the ball, well it’s always going to be about making sure we’re attacking. Didn’t do a good enough job of doing that last week, didn’t do a good enough job of calling the plays. I think our strength upfront with the offensive line is their ability to be athletic and their ability to create distortion. We didn’t do too much of that, didn’t do enough of that last week. I’ve got to do a better job of getting the ball to Dylan (Edwards) and Yasin (Willis), and that’s going to happen..”
Kansas doesn’t need Quarterback Isaiah Marshall to win this game by himself. The Jayhawks need to make the Sun Devils respect the run, create manageable down-and-distance situations and take some pressure away from their young quarterback.
If Kansas can establish the ground game, the entire offense should look different.
If it can’t, Arizona State’s defensive line, led by C.J. Fite, can start dictating the game.
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One of these three elements, or a combination of them, could be the difference between leaving London with a win or a loss for either side.
Embrace the atmosphere, enjoy the game and witness history as Wembley Stadium hosts its first ever FBS College Football game!