Aside from the last two college football seasons, the last 15 years have not been kind to fans of the Kansas Jayhawks. Fans have endured the lowest of lows, but those who have stuck with the program are now being handsomely rewarded. It’s all coming together thanks to head coach Lance Leipold.
KU finished the 2023 season 9-4, its first bowl win since 2009. The current roster has even higher potential, however, and the 2024 team could be playing for more than anyone could have expected a decade ago. When asked who would represent the Big 12 in the new 12-team College Football Playoff format, Rece Davis of ESPN’s College GameDay chose none other than Kansas. How about that?
“The answer is Kansas. They’re going to the playoffs.”
– Rece Davis
Under the new format, the conference champions of each Power 4 conference will automatically earn a spot in the CFP. Davis believes Kansas will defeat other rival schools such as Oklahoma State, Utah and Arizona.
The best players returning include running back Devin Neal, cornerbacks Cobee Bryant and Mello Dotson, and a strong core of receivers consisting of Lawrence Arnold, Luke Grimm and Quentin Skinner. Star quarterback Jalon Daniels only played three games last season due to a recurring back injury, but KU’s QB1 is expected to be fully healthy for the regular season.
While this wasn’t an outcome Jayhawk fans could have imagined years ago, Leipold has turned the football program around completely. A CFP appearance might be a bit over the top, but the squad is definitely capable of competing with the best teams in the conference on any given night.
