GAME NOTES: One of the few remaining undefeated teams in the nation will take its game on the road Saturday as the 12th-ranked Kansas Jayhawks do battle with the Texas A&M Aggies. Kansas is nationally ranked for the first time since 1996 and has its highest ranking since 1995. Last weekend, the Jayhawks scored a hard-fought road victory over Colorado by a 19-14 final. Many fans and analysts are quick to point out that the schedule for Kansas has been rather soft thus far, and the fact that the club won't face either Texas or Oklahoma during the regular season is rather odd. Texas A&M became bowl eligible last weekend with a 36-14 romp over Nebraska on the road. The Aggies are now 6-2 overall, including 3-1 in Big 12 play. With Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas on the schedule in succession to close out the campaign, Texas A&M has a chance to prove itself worthy of being considered the class of the Big 12. The Aggies have won seven of their eight all-time meeting with the Jayhawks.

Against Colorado last weekend, Kansas put together a 15-play, 94-yard drive that spanned over seven minutes. That drive culminated in a four-yard touchdown pass from Todd Reesing to Derek Fine in the fourth quarter, proving to be the game-winning score. The Jayhawks finished with 333 total yards, including 180 rushing yards on 33 attempts. Reesing ran for 84 yards on only seven carries and completed 20-of-29 passes for 153 yards without an interception. Kansas has had no trouble moving the ball and scoring points this season, as the club is averaging 45.9 ppg and 489.7 total ypg. With over 200 ypg both running and passing, the Jayhawks are tremendously balanced offensively. Jake Sharp has rushed for 551 yards and six scores, while teammate Brandon McAnderson has contributed 505 yards and seven touchdowns. Both players are gaining over six yards per rushing attempt. As for Reesing, he has completed 58.6 percent of his passes for 1,805 yards with 17 touchdowns and only four interceptions.

Defensively, Kansas limited Colorado to 353 total yards, including just 66 rushing yards on 33 attempts. Sure, the Jayhawks did yield a rather high total of 287 passing yards, but the Buffaloes finished with 45 pass attempts. Also worthy of mention is the fact that Kansas intercepted two passes, key to the victory. Through seven games, the Jayhawks are permitting a mere 10.1 ppg and 256.1 total ypg, tremendous numbers that rank among the nation's elite. Stopping the run has certainly been an area of strength, as foes are managing a mere 78.0 ypg on 2.7 ypc. Opposing offenses have a grand total of eight touchdowns against Kansas all season, and only two of the scores have come on the ground. The pass defense has been tremendous as well, as opposing quarterbacks have six touchdowns against 14 interceptions and are averaging a lowly 8.6 yards per completion. Joe Mortensen has made a team-high 66 total tackles, including 11 TFLs.

Texas A&M walked into Lincoln last weekend and established its dominance over the hometown Cornhuskers with a power rushing attack. When the final second had ticked off the clock, the Aggies had amassed 359 rushing yards on 66 attempts, an average of 5.4 ypc. Quarterback Stephen McGee was the leading ground gainer, as he carried 35 times for 167 yards. Big Jorvorskie Lane was extremely effective as well, as he carried 15 times for 130 yards and four touchdowns, proving once again to be college football's premier short yardage back. As a passer, McGee completed 13-of-22 passes for 100 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. Of the 32 offensive touchdowns that A&M has scored this season, 25 have come on the ground. Lane has already reached the end zone 15 times to go along with his 575 yards. McGee has 711 rushing yards and four touchdowns, and he has completed 55.8 percent of his passes for 1,139 yards with five touchdowns and four interceptions. No receiver demands double coverage.

Defensively, Texas A&M deserves a great deal of credit for holding Nebraska to 14 points on its own field. The Aggies did allow 405 total yards, a rather high figure, but a trio of fumble recoveries turned what could have been a close game into a blowout. Opponents are scoring 22.8 ppg against the Aggies, who have given up their share of big plays through the air. To be specific, foes are averaging 12.6 yards per completion with 12 touchdowns and only six interceptions. The Aggies have been better against the run, although there is some marginal room for improvement in that area as well. Mark Dodge leads A&M in tackles with 77, 17 more than his closest teammate.

Everyone is waiting for Kansas to come back to Earth and lose a game, and this will be the week it happens. Texas A&M will get a ton of support from the hometown crowd, and the Aggies actually have the type of ground attack that can challenge one of the nation's premier defensive units. Expect a thriller.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Texas A&M 23, Kansas 20