The Kansas Jayhawks enter the 2024 college football season in rare territory.
For the first time since the 2009 preseason poll when the Jayhawks clocked in at No. 25, Kansas is ranked heading into the year, checking in at No. 22 in the inaugural edition of the 2024 AP Poll.
While head coach Lance Leipold appreciates the strides that the program, a laughingstock for much of the 2010s, has made, he also noted it doesn’t mean much without results.
“It doesn’t mean much, especially as we get close to kicking off. But I also have to make sure that it does mean something for this program considering where we’re at, what it’s been. We need to make sure that we’re taking strides from last year and then enough this year that people are recognizing this program and recognizing the talent on this team and some of the things that we’ve been able to do,” Leipold told the media earlier this week, via On3.
Kansas went 9-4 in the 2023 season, their best season since 2007’s 12-1 finish. Quarterback Jalon Daniels played just three games for the Jayhawks last season due to injury, and with the 2022 All-Big 12 second teamer expected to return and be under center in Lawrence this season, expectations surrounding Leipold’s bunch are high.
Should the Jayhawks make it to a bowl game this season, it would make their third straight bowl trip, which would be a first in school history.
[On3]
