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Turner Gill and Tommy Tuberville face much different challenges going into Week 2, after the Big 12's two new coaches experienced much different debuts in Week 1.
After losing 6-3 at home to lower-division FCS team North Dakota State in Gill's first game, things could get really difficult for the Jayhawks now. They have to get ready to play 16th-ranked Georgia Tech (1-0) and its option offense.
''I think that will get everybody focused and ready to get better,'' Gill said Monday on the Big 12 coaches teleconference. ''You have to keep everything in perspective, and you have to keep everything going in the right direction.''
The Jayhawks were the only Big 12 team to lose on the opening weekend, and carry an eight-game losing streak into Saturday's game. Georgia Tech, which played in the Orange Bowl last season, had a season-opening 41-10 victory over FCS team South Carolina State.
Texas Tech nearly blew all of a 21-point lead in Tuberville's debut, but held on for a 35-27 victory. SMU got its last touchdown Sunday on a short drive after Tuberville opted not to punt on fourth-and-1 from the Red Raiders 34 with 9 1/2 minutes left and they botched the play.
Tuberville now has to get his team focused on getting better, and not distracted by the fact that New Mexico is coming off a 72-0 loss to Oregon. The Red Raiders visit the Lobos on Saturday night.
''We don't worry too much about the other team, especially with a new team,'' Tuberville said. ''The second game, you worry about your team and the fundamentals, and getting back to basics.''
Especially knowing the Big 12 opener is the following weekend, at home against fifth-ranked Texas.
Gill and Tuberville became the 25th and 26th head coaches to make their Big 12 debuts since the league's inception in 1996. Tuberville was the 13th to win his opener.
The only other Big 12 coach who lost his first game to a lower-division team was Colorado's Dan Hawkins in a 19-10 loss to Montana State in 2006.
Kansas had its fewest points in a loss since a 6-3 game against TCU in 1962, and was held to only a field goal for the first time in five years.
''We know that we have to implement our offense, and learn our defense. It takes time,'' Gill said. ''Obviously, it's going to take a little bit more (time) for us to get things going in the right direction.''
Making it more difficult for Gill is ''trying to find your starting quarterback.''
Sophomore Kale Pick started the opener for the Jayhawks, and was replaced late by redshirt freshman Jordan Webb. It is unclear who will start against Georgia Tech.
''We're definitely evaluating that position for sure,'' Gill said.
At least Tuberville isn't dealing with a quarterback controversy after choosing Taylor Potts over Steven Sheffield during preseason drills.
Potts hit 34 of 53 passes for 359 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.
''You look at leadership, how he ran the offense, got us in the right plays,'' Tuberville said. ''He got hit seven times after throws and was sacked two times. He held his composure very well. ... He handled the offense beginning to end very, very well.''
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NOTES: For only the third time in Big 12 history, there were three 200-yard rushers on the same weekend - Oklahoma State's Kendall Hunter (257), Kansas State's Daniel Thomas (234) and Oklahoma's DeMarco Murray (218). The other times there were a trio of 200-yard rushers were both during the 1998 season. ... Texas coach Mack Brown says Garrett Gilbert's first start at quarterback (14-of-23 passing, 172 yards) was similar to the starting debuts of Colt McCoy and Vince Young. McCoy was 12 of 19 for 178 yards with three TDs. Young was 11 of 15 for 136 yards and ran 10 times for 58 yards. ... There have been only four season openers in Big 12 history with a more lopsided score than Oklahoma State's 65-17 win over Washington State. ''From a coach's standpoint, it's never perfect,'' Cowboys coach Mike Gundy said. ''But it's hard for me to complain.'' ... Nebraska coach Bo Pelini admits that part of the reason Taylor Martinez wasn't named the starting quarterback until just before the season opener was to avoid a media circus for the redshirt freshman and the returning quarterbacks he beat out, Zac Lee and Cody Green. Pelini says he feels ''real good'' about all three quarterbacks. Martinez passed for 136 yards and ran for 127 in the eighth-ranked Huskers' 49-10 win over Western Kentucky.
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QUOTABLE: ''I don't know what top of what world they're talking about. But in the end, we're far from that. You'd think (the players) would have enough sense to understand that. I've sure tried to explain that to them.'' - Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, about a player saying the seventh-ranked Sooners thought they were on top of the world and wouldn't get much of a challenge from Utah State. Oklahoma held on to win 31-24 after building a three-touchdown lead.
