Kansas Football: Ranking the Toughest Games on the Jayhawks Schedule
Written by Charlie Beuttel
Twitter: @charlie_cds3
The Kansas football program is entering their second season under head Coach Les Miles. In Year 1 the Jayhawks finished 3-9 with just one win coming in conference play for the second straight season. Despite the struggles a year ago, there were some bright spots including blowing out Boston College on the road and defeating Texas Tech on a last second field goal on homecoming night. Optimism has spread like a wildfire in the fan base after their team lost to Coastal Carolina, West Virginia, and Texas by a total of 12 points, Kansas could have easily been in play for a bowl game for the first time in a decade.
The Jayhawks have a favorable non-conference schedule which features home games against New Hampshire and Boston College and finally a trip to Coastal Carolina in Week 4. Kansas could easily go 3-0 against these teams. However, sandwiched in between the first two home games will be a road trip to Baylor in Week 2 of the season so a 4-0 start is unlikely. Homecoming, on Oct. 3, is also the first conference home game coming against Iowa State. In Week 6, Kansas State will host the Jayhawks as the annual Sunflower Showdown is played in Manhattan on Oct. 10. On Oct. 17, Kansas returns home to battle Oklahoma State. Week 8 will be the beginning of a tough stretch of games for the Jayhawks as they travel to West Virginia, host Texas then play at Texas Tech and Oklahoma respectively. Kansas closes the season on Nov. 28 welcoming the Horned Frogs of TCU.
Entering into 2020, Coach Miles has settled in and has a firm grasp on the program with young stars on the squad that have even more experience under their belt. There are hopes of going bowling for the first time since the 2008 campaign when Mark Mangino was on the sidelines at the Big 12 actually had 12 teams.
Now let’s break down the schedule, rank their toughest games and find out if the Jayhawks can eclipse the three-win mark and contend for a bowl game in their second year under Coach Miles.
Kansas’ Toughest 2020 Games
12. Sept. 5 vs. New Hampshire
The Jayhawks open the season by hosting New Hampshire and are looking to start 1-0 for the second consecutive year. The Wildcats finished 6-5 last season and lost in the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs to South Dakota State. New Hampshire scored 18.2 points a game last season and bring back the leader of the offense, sophomore quarterback Max Brosmer, who threw for 1,967 yards, 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions during his freshman season.
The Wildcats are led on defense by senior safety Evan Horn who racked 70 total tackles including seven for a loss, four sacks and four sacks in 2019. Kansas should easily get past the Wildcats to open 2020 with a win.
11. Sept. 26 at Coastal Carolina
Kansas is on a mission for revenge after getting upset 12-7 in Lawrence last season. Coastal Carolina wrapped up the 2019 season at 5-7 including 2-6 in the Sun Belt. The Chanticleers bring back workhorse running back CJ Marable, who rushed for 1,085 yards and 11 touchdowns in his junior year including 148 yards with a touchdown rushing and receiving in the win against the Jayhawks. Coastal Carolina is led on defense by senior linebacker Teddy Gallagher, who put double digit tackles against Kansas. The Jayhawks have just enough firepower to avoid a second straight upset and escape Conway (SC) with a victory.
10. Sept. 19 vs. Boston College
The Jayhawks won 48-24 in Chestnut Hill in 2019 and now take on Boston College in the friendly confines of David Booth Memorial Stadium in Lawrence. The Eagles finished 2019 at 5-7 that includes a bowl game loss (38-6) against Cincinnati. Kansas will be ready to get home after battling Baylor in Waco the week before and will be ready to unleash their fury and grab their second win of the young season.
The Eagles bring back quarterback Anthony Brown who threw for 195 yards and a touchdown against Kansas last year. Boston College is led on defense by senior linebacker John Lamot and Max Richardson. The Jayhawks should escape past the Eagles in a close game.
9. Nov. 14 at Texas Tech
The lone conference win for the Jayhawks in 2019 came against the Red Raiders (37-34). Texas Tech finished ninth in the Big 12 last season with a record of 4-8. The Red Raiders are led on offense by senior quarterback Jett Duffey who threw for 2,840 yards and 18 touchdowns a year ago including 271 yards and three touchdowns in the battle in Lawrence.
The returning leader in tackles is senior linebacker Riko Jeffers, who had seven tackles against Kansas in 2019. The Red Raiders seek their revenge against the Jayhawks in a close game.
8. Oct. 24 at West Virginia
West Virginia squeaked past the Jayhawks (29-24) in Lawrence last year. The Mountaineers finished 2019 at 5-7, seventh in the Big 12. The best weapon on the offensive side of the ball is sophomore wide receiver Sam James who led the team with 69 receptions for 677 yards and two touchdowns in his freshman season. The leader on the defense is senior defensive lineman Darius Stills who racked up 46 total tackles during his junior campaign.
This is a possible chance for Kansas to pick up a conference win but West Virginia’s talent could be too much.
7. Nov. 28 vs. TCU
TCU destroyed the Jayhawks in Fort Worth (51-14) in 2019. In 2020, Kansas hosts the Horned Frogs to close the regular season. TCU finished last season with a 5-7 record but return some key players from last year’s squad including sophomore Max Duggan. The dual-threat quarterback threw for 2,077 yards and 15 touchdowns while rushing for 555 yards and six more scores. Senior linebacker Garret Wallow returns after racking up 125 total tackles and 3.5 during his junior season.
This is another good opportunity to pick up a conference win and I predict Kansas will do just that to close out the season on a high note.
6. Sept. 12 vs. Baylor
This will be the first test for Kansas in 2020 as the Jayhawks travel to Waco in Week 2. Coming off a win in the season opener, the Jayhawks will look to keep up with Baylor after being embarrassed (61-6) in Lawrence last year. In 2019, the Bears rolled to an 11-3 record including a loss to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship Game and a loss to Georgia (26-14) in the Sugar Bowl. Quarterback Charlie Brewer returns for a final season after throwing for 3,161 yards and 21 touchdowns last year. Baylor returns just two starters on defense and are rebuilding on the defensive side of the ball.
With an impressive offensive showing in Waco, Kansas has potential to stay close to the Bears but ultimately will lose their first game of 2020.
5. Oct. 3 vs. Iowa State
Last season, Iowa State escaped past the Jayhawks (41-31) in Ames. In 2020, Kansas hosts the Cyclones for homecoming with payback on the mind. In 2019, Iowa State finished 7-6 including a bad loss to Notre Dame (33-9) in the Camping World Bowl. Junior quarterback Brock Purdy will once again lead this offense after throwing for 3,982 yards and 27 touchdowns. Senior safety Greg Eisworth is the playmaker on the defensive side of the ball after making 65 total tackles, snagging one interception and broke up ten passes during his junior season.
With a potential 3-1 start to the season, Kansas could grab their first conference win in 2020, however Iowa State should escape in a nail-biter.
4. Oct. 10 at Kansas State
The Wildcats destroyed the Jayhawks (38-10) in 2019 and will be looking for another dominating performance in the Sunflower Showdown. Kansas State finished 8-5 in 2019 including a loss to Navy in the Liberty Bowl. The leader of this squad, dual-threat quarterback Skylar Thompson, returns for his senior season after throwing for 2,315 yards and 12 touchdowns while rushing for 405 yards with 11 more scores. The defense has some question marks with only one returning starter, junior defensive end Wyatt Hubert Jr, but has some talented new starters.
The Kansas State offense is improved and with a better defense than Kansas, the Wildcats should win again easily in this rivalry.
3. Oct. 17 vs. Oklahoma State
The Cowboys dominated the Jayhawks (38-13) in Stillwater last year going on to finish 2019 with an 8-5 record that included 24-17 loss to Texas A&M in the Texas Bowl. In 2020, the Cowboys are improved and are going to be in contention for the Big 12 title. Junior running back Chuba Hubbard is back after rushing for over 2,000 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2019 and will help lead this explosive unit. On defense, 12 of the top 13 tacklers return including senior linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga who had 100 total tackles including 15.5 for a loss and five sacks.
It will be a tough challenge for Kansas to keep up with Oklahoma State, the Jayhawks can only hope to keep this contest close.
2. Nov. 7 vs Texas
In one of the best performances for the Jayhawks in 2019, Kansas went blow for blow against Texas last season but ultimately lost 50-48 on a last second field goal. Texas ended up finishing the year 8-5 including blowing out Utah (38-10) in the Alamo Bowl.
Senior quarterback Sam Ehlinger is coming back for his senior season after throwing for 3,663 yards and 32 touchdowns. The defense has some issues but should be improved by the time these two teams battle in Lawrence. Junior linebacker Josapeh Ossai is the playmaker on the defense after racking up 90 total tackles, five sacks and two interceptions in 2019.
After barely beating Kansas last year and competing to stay at the top of conference, the Longhorns will look to show their dominance in Lawrence. Kansas will be no match for this motivated Texas squad.
1. Nov. 21 at Oklahoma
The Sooners dominated Kansas (45-20) last year while on their way to a 12-2 record and an appearance in the College Football Playoff. With a reloaded offense after losing several stars to the NFL, Oklahoma will once again be the team to beat in the Big 12.
Redshirt freshman Spencer Rattler and junior running back Kennedy Brooks will be the leaders of the offense. The dominating defense returns 12 of the top 15 tacklers from last year’s squad and will put this team in a position to win the conference and once again potentially go back to the College Football Playoff.
It will take a miracle for Kansas to upset the Sooners in Norman.
Prediction
Kansas goes 3-0 in the non-conference portion of the schedule and grabs two conference wins to finish 2020 with a 5-7 record.
Photo credit: USATODAY.com; Head Coach Les Miles leads his Jayhawks