KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Kansas football couldn’t pull out a win this past Saturday at home against TCU, losing 38-27 in Big 12 Conference play.

Here are a few more takeaways from the loss the Jayhawks (1-4, 0-2 in Big 12) suffered against the Horned Frogs (3-2, 1-1):

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Taiwan Berryhill Jr. flew in day of game, after attending his mother’s wedding

With redshirt senior linebacker Cornell Wheeler unavailable, senior linebacker Taiwan Berryhill Jr. had to step up for Kansas. Berryhill took on the key role of primary MIKE linebacker for the Jayhawks against TCU, a position crucial for organizing the defense and ensuring everyone knows their assignments. However, Berryhill faced additional challenges that required extra determination on game day.

Berryhill’s mother got married on Friday in Louisiana, head coach Lance Leipold explained, and that necessitated Berryhill getting up early Saturday morning to fly back. Berryhill, noting postgame he’d been up since likely 2 a.m., acknowledged it was stressful worrying about flight times and weather. But it all worked out, he was able to enjoy the wedding and reception, and following that he played the whole game for the Jayhawks.

Kansas’ defensive effort became a bit sloppy in 2nd half

TCU’s offense turned the ball over three times, but still amassed more than 500 yards of total offense. Most of that came through the air, but by game’s end the Horned Frogs enjoyed some success running the ball, too. And part of that came because, in the second half, Kansas’ defensive struggles included too many missed tackles.

Leipold acknowledged things got a bit sloppy, and that’s concerning. Although the Jayhawks were missing some guys, including Wheeler, redshirt freshman linebacker Logan Brantley, redshirt sophomore safety Mason Ellis and redshirt junior safety Devin Dye, Leipold noted that’s not an excuse. That might have meant some guys playing longer in some spots, but the effort needs to continue and the coaching must improve.

Inside an effort Kansas is making offensively

There’s an inconsistency that’s occurring offensively for Kansas, and Leipold knows it. The Jayhawks are looking for things to generate some sparks, and they didn’t get enough against TCU. But Kansas is looking, and one thing it’s starting to do more is play more offensive linemen so that group can remain fresh for a longer period of time.

Because redshirt freshman offensive lineman Calvin Clements is at a place health-wise where he can help more, that’s an asset Kansas will use. He factors into the rotation at tackle, which has senior offensive lineman Bryce Cabeldue starting on the left and redshirt junior offensive lineman Logan Brown starting on the right. Leipold thought in fall camp they could have seven or eight guys, and it seems that’s where they are — including redshirt senior offensive lineman Shane Bumgardner.

Jordan Guskey covers the University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Insight on Kansas football linebacker Taiwan Berryhill Jr.’s weekend