Kansas football loses bowl game chance, maybe next season?
When Jeff Long announced Les Miles as the next head coach of Kansas football, Jayhawk fans were excited; some even believed Kansas might reach a bowl game this season. Those hopes were dashed last Saturday afternoon by Oklahoma State.
Another year, another sub .500 record. Kansas football dropped to 3-7 on the season last Saturday against Oklahoma State, which means the Jayhawks are officially eliminated from bowl eligibility.
The last time Kansas football appeared in a bowl game was in 2008 when the Jayhawks beat Minnesota 42-21 in the Insight Bowl. Kansas would finish with an 8-5 record that season, it was the last time the Jayhawks had a winning record.
As Kansas football fans, some of us set out expectations for this team a little too high (me included). The Jayhawks haven’t even won more than three games in a season in over a decade, so expecting a new head coach to take the Jayhawks to six wins, even one as decorated as Les Miles, was totally the wrong approach.
Despite losing out on a bowl game this season, a solid foundation is being built by this squad. Winning doesn’t happen overnight, it’s a long process that takes commitment, tenacity, and a belief that things are going to work.
Looking back this season, the Jayhawks lost three games by five points or less; however, Kansas also won two of their three games by seven points or less. Even the Jayhawks’ two games against non-conference teams at the beginning of the season came down to the wire.
It’s imperative that the Jayhawks get to the point where they’re beating teams like Coastal Carolina and Indiana State without a problem, and losing to a team like Coastal Carolina just isn’t acceptable.
Kansas football still has two games left this season, and winning just one of them would be a huge accomplishment for Les Miles. Not only would it give the Jayhawks four wins on the season, but it would come against a tough opponent.
Next Saturday, Kansas football takes on Iowa State on the road. The Cyclones are coming off of a big win against Texas, and they received votes in the most recent AP Poll. Kansas hasn’t won in Ames since 2008, so maybe this is the year?
On November 30, the Jayhawks will finish the season at home against Baylor. The Bears suffered a brutal loss last Saturday against Oklahoma and dropped to number thirteen in the latest AP Poll. Baylor takes on Texas this Saturday in Waco, which should be a pretty good game.
Related Story. Four wins would be a great start to the Les Miles era. light
If Les Miles somehow pulled off a win in either of these two games, it would be huge for the Kansas football program. It’d be the first season in over 10 years with four or more wins, and that’d certainly help with recruiting and national perception.
Still, the foundation being laid this season is solid, and hopefully, Kansas football will continue to trend up.