Lance Leipold and Kansas football are once again slated to finish somewhere beneath the table in the Big 12.
The program’s trip to Big 12 Football Media Days in Frisco, Texas, was a no-frills affair as Leipold, entering his sixth season as head coach estimated at 5.5 wins, makes his case for this year’s team following two disappointing 5-7 finishes carrying the same bottom line: Kansas has trouble finishing football games, and until they do, not too many folks are that interested.
Leipold’s 15-minute panel was informative, and he’s historically always played well with the media. There’s an extra spotlight on his team this go around with the Union Jack Classic vs. Arizona State in London serving as the regular season’s gemstone aside from rivalry contests at Kansas State and Missouri in Lawrence.
Kansas being in such a situation, and such a stage at Wembley Stadium, wasn’t imaginable just six years ago. The team was a laughing stock before the transfer portal era, and it certainly looked like they would suffer further until Leipold spurned out a 6-7 finish in Year 2 with a patchwork of talented players, including the school’s all-time leading rusher Devin Neal as a freshman.
Now, five years later and only a single bowl win richer, the Jayhawks are tasked with giving folks a reason to keep watching.
LONDON BRIDGE CAN’T FALL DOWN
The London game is brilliant marketing from the Big 12 and will likely everyone involved a decent penny, but the perception of a defeat on such a big stage may irreparably harm Leipold’s prospects in 2027 and his coaching future at large. Depending on how that game goes, the Jayhawks could either come out with a major momentum booster or a national television disaster.
Arizona State, a program figuring out a puzzle of its own, will challenge Kansas for that same spotlight in Week 3. Safety Lyrik Rawls left Kansas for Tempe this offseason, lending some extra juice to the equation.
Leipold said the game ultimately benefits the conference, but acknowledged of such a contest on Wednesday in Texas:
“I think it’s unity for both programs, for this conference,” Leipold said. “It does have its challenges, but when (Brett Yormark) brought this opportunity to us, first of all, it’s giving up a home game, we’re in phase 2 of our stadium renovation and we’re at a reduced capacity, so that was part of the formula… We’re still about student-athlete experience, and I think we’re offering an opportunity for our student-athletes to have a once in a lifetime experience to go over there and play a football game.”
Leipold, too, doesn’t see Kansas in the pit anymore, and when it comes to the unpredictability of the league, he’s not entirely wrong on the note of “it only takes the right class.”
“The one thing about the parity in this conference that kind of goes through with the balance is we’ve seen the years – the 2021 season, where was Baylor before they won the league in the preseason?,” Leipold said. “TCU was probably more the middle of the pack the year they went to the playoffs. Arizona State was picked at the bottom or near the bottom the year Kenny (Dillingham) took them to the playoffs. There’s a lot of things that can happen in this (league).”
CAN THEY PATCH TOGETHER A BOWL RUN?
Leipold, like a lot of coaches, is working with a limited treasure chest.
You break a few eggs – Lyrik Rawls, Dean Miller, David McComb – these are all guys you would’ve liked to keep around from last year’s squad. But Leipold managed to retain linebacker Trey Lathan, last year’s leading tackler, and even swayed Kansas State running back Dylan Edwards into running back room full of potential.
But between Andy Kotelnicki back in the offensive coordinator’s chair, and the likes of linebacker Trey Lathan returning to lead D.K. McDonald’s defense, Leipold’s encouraged by how little separation’s on his depth chart.
“From the first guy that steps on the field to the next guy, the gap there’s the least its ever been in our time,” Leipold said of his current depth chart on Wednesday in Texas.
Kotelnicki is back from Penn State to sculpt the playbook for one of three eager quarterback candidates – Cole Ballard, Rice transfer Chase Jenkins and Isaiah Marshall – as Kansas moves forward without Jalon Daniels. Aside from that key skill spot, the offensive line must assert itself with Texas transfer Connor Stroh and returning tackle Calvin Clements.
McDonald is out to repair one of the league’s worst defenses, and he’s filled out the gaps with capable transfers: nose tackle Tre’von McAlpine (Tulane) and safety Corey Gordon (Georgia) being standouts. Elsewhere, Austin Alexander and Jalen Todd must make some noise at corner and create takeaways Kansas simply didn’t see enough of last year.
Kansas doesn’t have a room full of stars, and Leipold knows that. But then again, developing Pro Bowlers wasn’t part of the blueprint when he showed up and it still isn’t today.
“I’ll give you five years in the NFL, I’ll give you a five-year career, the odds are don’t have enough money to live the rest of your life and B, you better find something else to do and you won’t even be 30 years old yet,” Leipold said. “You better have some other things to fall back on, and we try to emphasize that daily in our program.”
It’s hard to define the upcoming season for Kansas because it’s just so unclear what kind of team we’ll get – a winner or a competitor. What’s true, though, is most fans will take both of those choices over the last decade in a heartbeat.
