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Jahleel Culbreath: Kansas Poses Tough Challenge for UCF’s Run Defense
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- Jahleel Culbreath: Kansas Poses Tough Challenge for UCF’s Run Defense
(NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN)
The UCF Knights face a difficult challenge ahead of their matchup against the Kansas Jayhawks , as they aim to snap a 12-game road losing streak.
Both programs will enter Saturday's game motivated to avenge the previous week's loss. UCF suffered its worst defeat of the season against Baylor, 41-9, and Kansas blew a 13-0 second-half lead to the TCU Horned Frogs .
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Kansas moved to 3-5 after its collapse, but UCF will not downplay its opponent. Linebacker Jahleel Culbreath praised the Jayhawks' offense, saying they have a good running back, a physical offensive line and their quarterback returning from injury.
Dylan Edwards is having a career year under coach Lance Leipold. He's rushed for 573 yards, a personal best, and four touchdowns (one shy of a career-high five in 2024).
Edwards spearheads the seventh-best rushing attack in the Big 12. Kansas is averaging 202.3 yards per game, including a 480-yard team performance in its 55-0 win over the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders on Oct. 3.
Culbreath said the Jayhawks run a gap scheme and that it "challenges our run fit." The offensive line utilized down blocks, wrap blocks and pulling linemen to create open gaps for the junior running back rather than blocking a specific area.
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It's a perfect match for the Kansas State transfer to break open a big run with his explosive speed. He rushed for a season-high 156 yards in a thriller win over Baylor, including a clutch 16-yard run to convert a third-and-1 with under two minutes remaining.
The Jayhawks' explosive speedster poses a challenge for the Knights, but they have the seventh-best run defense in the conference. They allow 126.3 yards per game and had their best performance against the Horned Frogs.
TCU rushed for a whopping 33 yards in its Big 12 road opener at Acrisure Bounce House. A neutralized run game pressured quarterback Jaden Craig to throw 40 times, and he threw two interceptions.
Saturday's game is an interesting test for coach Scott Frost's squad. Road games have been their Achilles' heel since 2024, with a 12-game losing streak away from Orlando.
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Frost went winless on the road last season. The offense couldn't put together long drives, and the defense didn't generate enough takeaways, leading to devastating losses that shut down their bowl hopes.
UCF sits at 4-4 with four games remaining. It must win two more to snap a two-season bowl drought, and breaking a near-historic road losing streak is a much-needed kickstarter .
