For as long as I have been covering the Big 12, there has always been a surprise or two every single year. Whether they are good or bad, it’s bound to happen no matter what.
Take last year, for example, Utah was the consensus favorite to win the Big 12, and they ended up sitting at home during bowl season. Meanwhile, Arizona State was picked to finish last and ended up winning the conference.
Perhaps it’s the media’s fault for not always having a clear understanding, or maybe it’s just the way things unfold. Either way, it always makes for an entertaining season.
Big 12 Football Dark Horses are Plentiful
But who can be that team that comes out of nowhere and shocks everyone? Baylor and TCU would be my two choices, but those two aren’t exactly on the outside looking in. However, there is one team in particular that nobody seems to be talking about.
That team is none other than the Kansas Jayhawks. Most people have them finishing towards the middle of the pack or even lower. In fact, I have yet to see one person put Kansas in their top five when it comes to their Big 12 rankings.
It all starts with quarterback Jalon Daniels. Two years ago, he was the popular pick to win Big 12 preseason player of the year. He was the subject of everyone’s conversation at Big 12 media days that year.
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Instead, he ended up getting hurt that season and didn’t play a single snap after the month of September. Despite that, Kansas ended up winning nine games that season.
Last year was a bit of a mystery. Daniels struggled early on before finally showing flashes of his greatness. Unfortunately, it was too little too late for the Jayhawks as they ended up going 5-7 last season. Yet oddly enough, there was a time last year when they were playing as good as anyone in the Big 12.
Kansas vs. Fresno State
Saturday is a fresh start and a new opportunity for the Jayhawks. Although they may have lost some key players from last year, they still have some talent returning. Daniel Hishaw Jr. is one of the most underrated backs in the conference, and bringing in a receiver like Emmanuel Henderson Jr. from Alabama helps stretch the field with his speed.
On top of that, Kansas returns three starters up front as well. Between the players coming back and the guys they brought in, don’t be shocked to see this offense put up a ton of points and keep them in every game they play in.
Related: Kansas State vs. Fresno State Prediction
While the offense has tons of potential, it’s the defense that will make or break this team. Dean Miller, D.J. Withers, and Tommy Dunn Jr. return up front, but outside of those three, everyone else will be brand new.
The Jayhawks went out and filled their defense with a large number of players from the transfer portal, and sometimes, you just never know how it will work out with so many new faces. If Kansas can improve defensively, then I have no question about them being a Big 12 title contender.
Call me crazy, but if you look at their schedule, it sets up nicely in the beginning. Fresno State, Wagner, Missouri, West Virginia, Cincinnati, and UCF are all winnable games. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if the Jayhawks went into mid-October undefeated. Or at the very least, 5-1.
I know everyone is going to be talking about Farmageddon in Ireland and rightfully so, but don’t sleep on Kansas this weekend either. Their game against Fresno State could be a glimpse into what we can expect from them this season. And if there’s one thing I know, you can never count out a Lance Leipold-coached team. Especially when they have a player as talented as Jalon Daniels at quarterback.
