K-State (4-1, 2-0) and KU (5-0, 2-0) are both ranked in football for the first time since 2007. Both teams are coming off wins on Saturday with KU holding off Iowa State 14-11, and K-State getting explosive plays to lift them past Texas Tech 37-28.

After Associated Press voters received backlash from members of college football media, KU fans and college football fans around the country, the Jayhawks finally made the AP Top 25 poll. The biggest story of the 2022 college football season so far has been the Jayhawks’ historic return to success after years of futility.

As for the team that was referred to as “Futility U” in an edition of Sports Illustrated back in 1989, Kansas State continued to run their way to victory and respond to the critics who may have thought last week’s win in Norman was a fluke.

KU is 5-0 for the first time since 2009. However, they would go on to finish just 5-7 that year. K-State is 4-1 for the second time under Chris Klieman. However, the first time they did it in 2020, they finished 4-6.

Both teams are led by quarterbacks that are currently generating Heisman buzz. Jayhawk quarterback Jalon Daniels was heralded by many as the September Heisman winner after passing for 890 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also had a completion percentage of 70.9% with four rushing touchdowns. He took a step back this past week, though, after going just 7-for-14 with only 93 passing yards.

K-State quarterback Adrian Martinez’s Heisman argument was established after their primetime road win against Oklahoma in which he totaled five touchdowns. He added four more in last week’s win against the Red Raiders. As of when this article was published, Martinez has the fourth-highest odds to win the award. Daniels is not far behind with the 13th-best odds, and K-State running back Deuce Vaughn has the 18th-best odds.

This year’s Sunflower Showdown will be the most anticipated meeting since 2008 when Ron Prince-led K-State was 4-3 and KU was 5-3 entering the matchup. The Jayhawks won that game decisively 52-21. We have to wait a bit for the game, though, as it will be the last game of the regular season on November 26th.

More important than anything, both teams are 2-0 in Big 12 play and control their own destiny in getting to Arlington for the Big 12 Championship game on December 3rd.

The Jayhawks will host TCU (4-0, 1-0) this Saturday at 11 a.m. with ESPN’s pregame show “College Gameday” coming to Lawrence for the first time ever. Kansas upset TCU in Lawrence back in 2018 which is their lone win against the Horned Frogs since they joined the Big 12 in 2012. Saturday’s game will be KU’s toughest opponent yet with TCU entering the game ranked 17th after their blowout 55-24 win at OU.

The Wildcats go on the road for the second time this season against their rival Iowa State (3-2, 0-2) for “Farmageddon”. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. from Jack Trice Stadium and can be heard on KMZA 92.1 FM and KNZA 103.9 FM. Our pregame coverage will begin at 4:30 p.m. Chris Klieman is just 1-2 against the Cyclones. They will hope to defeat Iowa State in Ames for the first time since 2016.