ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

The surprise benching of Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing by coach Mark Mangino in the Jayhawks' loss at Texas Tech last week still is a huge topic for the slumping team.

Reesing said Tuesday he planned a team meeting where he could clear the air with his teammates about his fourth-quarter benching.

Mangino pulled Reesing against Tech when the offense was struggling in what turned out to be their third consecutive loss.

It was a decision that clearly rankles Reesing several days after it happened, although Mangino insisted his decision to insert backup quarterback Kale Pick into the lineup has been overblown.

"I think (the media) make it a big deal,” Mangino said. “It’s not a big deal. When you look at the circumstances and what has taken place over a period of time, it was the appropriate thing to do.”

But Reesing told the Lawrence Journal-World he viewed the situation differently.

“It was a big deal to me,” Reesing told the Journal-World. "It is what it is. It’s above my pay grade. It’s his decision. (But) I’m still the starting quarterback here, there’s no doubt about that. This job is not up for grabs. I’m going to move forward.”

Reesing also said that Mangino hadn't explained why the move was made several days after the game concluded.

"I guess you can take it for what it is,” he said. “I don’t know if he was trying to send a message, or if he just wanted to let Kale play a little bit. I don’t have an explanation. It happened, it’s over, we’re moving forward.”

Reesing told reporters after the Tech loss that he had been struggling with a groin injury, but was OK to play.

His performance has dropped appreciably during the last three weeks when he’s been responsible for seven turnovers -- five of which led directly to touchdowns by opposing teams.

In his first five games, Reesing completed 69.2 percent of his passes for 13 touchdowns and three interceptions with a pass efficiency rating of 157.57. But in his last three games, those figures have dipped to a 56.3 completion percentage, three touchdowns, four interceptions and a 110.63 pass efficiency rating.

Several weeks earlier, Mangino said that Reesing deserved mention as a Heisman Trophy candidate.

But his decision on Saturday to bench Reesing veers from that sentiment greatly.

Kansas (5-3, 1-3) is still clearly in the hunt for its first undisputed Big 12 North title.

Or the Jayhawks could just as easily lose all of their games and miss a bowl game entirely.

Their schedule, which includes road games at Kansas State and Texas, a home game against Nebraska and a neutral-site contest against Missouri in Kansas City arguably is the toughest of any North challenger.

How the Jayhawks react to this controversy will be one of the most intriguing Big 12 storylines to follow for the rest of the season.