By RICHARD CROOME
Eagle Columnist

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"Basketball." That was the response from Texas A&M tight end and former power forward Martellus Bennett when asked if he expected Kansas to visit College Station ranked in the Top 10 before the season started.

The response, which was meant with no disrespect, got a chuckle from those gathered around.

It likely would have rendered the same reaction in Lawrence, Kan., where the football team has played second fiddle to the round-ballers for decades.

Two years ago at the Big 12 media days, former all-Big 12 offensive lineman David Ochoa filled reporters' notepads with comments on how enjoyable it was to walk across campus and be recognized. That recognition was based merely on the Jayhawks coming off a 7-5 season and a victory in a minor bowl game.

They could be getting their books carried for them this week after reaching 7-0 and No. 9 in the Bowl Championship Series standings.

What in the name of Danny Manning is going on here?

This is Kansas, the Jayhawks, a school that spent as much time in last year's Top 25 men's basketball poll as the football team had spent in the national rankings (before this year) since 1976.

This is a university in which its own Hall of Fame has inducted 34 basketball players to 16 football players.

It's a school where a backup sophomore shooting guard can make the cover of a preseason national basketball magazine while the casual Big 12 football fan has trouble naming three members of the Kansas football team, two of which -- cornerback Aquib Talib and defensive tackle James McClinton -- could make a strong case for being the best at their position in the Big 12.

Memorial Stadium's "Ring of Honor" in Lawrence boasts the names of Gale Sayers, John Hadl and John Riggins. From there, it falls off to a few notables Big 8 fans might remember, names like Nolan Cromwell, Bobby Douglass and David Jaynes. After that, one would have to claim a passionate interest in KU football to recall the other members of the Ring.

Last year, when the Jayhawks hosted the Aggies, there were more fans on the hill outside the stadium tailgating than inside watching the second half kickoff -- and the Jayhawks were winning. I personally know an avid KU football fan (a fan who follows football more than basketball, of which, there are few) and even he was one of those on the outside looking in that Saturday. He eventually made it back to his stadium seat but says he knew what was coming: an inevitable, disheartening, last-second loss.

To his credit, he entertained ideas of KU coming to Aggieland undefeated before the season began. He looked at the schedule and proclaimed the game at Manhattan, Kan., as the one real hurdle.

Therein lies the hurdle for taking Kansas football seriously: the schedule.

It's hard for anyone outside earshot of Allen Fieldhouse to give the Jayhawks their due props because their schedule so far, played almost exclusively at Memorial Stadium, ranks just 93rd nationally. A&M's, by comparison, ranks 31st.

What's left on Kansas' schedule, including the Aggies, ranks 48th nationally in terms of toughest schedule. A&M, Aggie fans will enjoy hearing, must face the nation's toughest schedule.

And that includes the Jayhawks, who have taken care of business against those they were supposed to beat and by scores they were supposed to beat them by. That's saying something this season.

And beating rival Kansas State on the road the week after the Wildcats had sprinted past the Longhorns in Austin was no small feat. Neither was beating the Buffaloes in the same stadium where Colorado had upset the then-No. 3 and undefeated Sooners. Both of those KU victories should make Aggie fans take note.

The bookies did, installing the Jayhawks as a 2-point favorite. The last time KU came to College Station as favorites was, well in basketball.

• Richard Croome's e-mail address is richard.croome@theeagle.com.

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