They did it. No, the Kansas Jayhawks didn’t make a bowl game or finish .500, two things which would have the locals in Lawrence partying deep into the night… but KU football did win a Big 12 game. The Jayhawks broke a 19-game Big 12 Conference losing streak. Coach David Beaty won his first Big 12 game as KU’s boss. Kansas beat Texas in football for the first time since 1938. The late-season win was a powerfully emotional moment for a team which lost to Iowa State and remained in the Big 12 cellar. Having that one experience of victory could become a catapult into 2017 and beyond. That’s what every Jayhawk hopes will be the case.
How Did They End 2016
The Jayhawks had that win over Texas in overtime, the moment everyone in the program will remember. However, Kansas also lost to Iowa State – the only team which could be viewed as remotely similar to KU in terms of talent (which is to say, not much). The Jayhawks also lost their in-state rivalry game to Kansas State. The win over Texas was a breakthrough of sorts, but it was not accompanied by any other important achievements in Big 12 Conference play. The challenge for Kansas this next season is to find a way to win at least two Big 12 games, if not three. Being able to replicate accomplishments will begin to create a new culture in Lawrence.
Offseason Changes
The Jayhawks scored a coup in the coaching world when Beaty convinced TCU co-offensive coordinator Doug Meacham to leave the Horned Frogs and come to Lawrence. Meacham had a lot to do with molding Trevone Boykin into an elite quarterback, when TCU crushed Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl and barely missed the College Football Playoff in 2014. With that kind of coaching ability on the offensive staff, Beaty might have the creative presence who can mold his quarterbacks into highly competent Big 12 performers. If the Kansas offensive makeover is as successful as many people hope it will be, the program could be revived to a degree not thought possible heading into this season.
Team X-Factor
The quarterback position holds prominence for this team. Carter Stanley and Peyton Bender are viewed as the leading contenders for the starting job. They were locked in a tight competition back in the spring, and that seems to still be the case in summer, heading into August training camp. How these young men relate to Meacham and Beaty, picking up added dimensions of the Jayhawks’ offense, will have a lot to say about KU’s evolution as a program. The defense has some pieces, but this team can’t go anywhere if the quarterbacks don’t perform up to their capabilities.
What To Expect From The Jayhawks This Year
The Jayhawks have question marks everywhere on their roster except linebacker, where they are really good. Can that translate into a noticeable improvement in performance and results? It’s doubtful. They are once again going to have a hard time competing in the conference. The Big 12 is filled with prolific offenses and the Jayhawks likely won’t be able to keep up on offense. On defense, they don’t have the guns to slow anyone down.
Record Last 5 Seasons
2016: 2-10
2015: 0-10
2014: 3-9
2013: 3-9
2012: 1-11
Schedule & Outlook
Four of the Jayhawks first five games are at home, so there is the opportunity to get a good start. However, that may not happen. They’ll start with SE Missouri State, which should be a win, but hosting Central Michigan in Week 2 is a tossup. After a trip to Ohio, they’ll host Texas Tech and West Virginia. They’ll end the year with three of their toughest games, including a road trip to Texas, a home game with Oklahoma State and a visit to Norman to face the Sooners.
Kansas is recruiting better, but the deck was so stacked against the Jayhawks last season that it will still take time for this program to find its bearings. Another 1-8 finish in the Big 12 would not be very surprising at all, and that would realistically mean a 2-10 season. The challenge with this win total is that you have to get four wins to go over. I don’t see those on the calendar.
Regular Season Win Total Prediction: Under 3
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