Considered a legitimate contender to win their first outright Big 12 North title just two months ago, the Kansas Jayhawks are in free-fall mode. Mark Mangino’s team has lost five in a row, its longest skid since a seven-game losing streak to finish the 2002 season, Mangino’s first year in Lawrence, Kan.

The fading Jayhawks could match that streak before the season is over: They wrap up the regular season with Saturday’s game at No. 2 Texas and the Border Showdown against Missouri in Kansas City on Nov. 28. Two losses would keep KU home for the postseason and clinch its first losing season since 2004.

With two chances to become bowl-eligible, Mangino hasn’t lost faith

“It’s painful, but we’re going to scratch and claw to get a win here and get bowl eligible,” Mangini said. “That’s what we do here.”

The Jayhawks figured to have another explosive offense this season with the return of career passing leader Todd Reesing and two prolific receivers in Kerry Meier and Dez Briscoe. But with an inexperienced offensive line, KU has struggled to create a productive running game, while yielding 24 sacks, third-most in the conference.

Mangino said the blocking was better against Nebraska’s vaunted defensive line in Saturday’s 31-17 loss to the Huskers, but the most troubling trend has been KU’s play in the fourth quarter. Opponents have outscored Mangino’s team 77-31 in the fourth quarter the last five weeks.

“I think there’s some guys out there who don’t understand the urgency of fourth-quarter play,” he said. “But that’s our job to get them focused.”

MISSOURI UPDATE

Missouri will have to do without its second-leading receiver in the final two games of the regular season. In Saturday’s 38-12 win at Kansas State, senior Jared Perry suffered what’s been diagnosed as a slight fracture of his right tibia, specifically the tibial plateau, MU announced today. Perry might be able to return in time to play in MU’s bowl game.

The team’s starting X-receiver is MU’s second-leading receiver in all three major categories with 46 catches for 696 yards and six touchdowns.

In better news for the MU receiving corps, senior wideout Danario Alexander was named the Big 12 offensive player of the week for his performance at K-State: 10 catches for 200 yards and three touchdowns. In the 14 seasons of the Big 12, Alexander is the first wide receiver to win the weekly offensive award twice in the same season.

LEACH commiserates

Texas Tech’s Mike Leach wasn’t watching last night’s Patriots-Colts game when New England’s Bill Belichick made the gutsy call to try a fourth-and-2 conversion in his own territory — a move that backfired and has scores of second-guessers ripping the decision.

When told of the scenario, Leach said he’d consider making the same move.

“It’s not as bad a call as it’s going to be scrutinized,” said Leach, whose offense consistently ranks among the top Big 12 teams in fourth-down attempts. “I think his feel of the game is probably more accurate than the people looking over his shoulder.”

Leach wasn’t done.

“Honestly, if Bill Belichick would have valued my opinion, your opinion, all the fans’ opinions … he would have invited us to his meeting while he was game-planning for Indianapolis,” he said.

TRIBUNE POWER POLL

1. Texas (10-0, 6-0)
2. Oklahoma State (8-2, 5-1)
3. Nebraska (7-3, 4-2)
4. Oklahoma (6-4, 4-2)
5. Texas Tech (6-4 3-3)
6. Missouri (6-4, 2-4)
7. Kansas State (6-5, 4-3)
8. Texas A&M (5-5, 2-4)
9. Iowa State (6-5, 3-4)
10. Baylor (4-6, 1-5)
11. Colorado (3-7, 2-4)
12. Kansas (5-5, 1-5)

GAME OF THE WEEK

Kansas State at Nebraska, 6:45 (ESPN)

Reach Dave Matter at 573-815-1781 or e-mail dmatter@columbiatribune.com.

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