Next week will be the last chance for the Kansas Jayhawks to secure a third bowl appearance under head coach Lance Leipold. After a strong 4-2 start, Leipold’s squad has failed to build lasting momentum and has since won just one of its last five games.
In all fairness, while preseason projections gave Kansas one of the lowest conference strengths of schedules. Several of the Jayhawks’ opponents are in consideration for the nation’s elite bowls, including the Jayhawks’ next opponent, the 9-2 Utah Utes.
ESPN’s matchup predictor has already given Utah an astounding 82.9% chance of knocking Kansas out of bowl contention.
This season, Utah has seen two hiccups in its 11 games. Texas Tech dismantled the Utes 34-10, four games into the season, which knocked Utah off its undefeated perch. Following two massive wins by an aggregate of 90-24 between West Virginia and Arizona State, the BYU Cougars took down Kyle Whittingham’s side in a narrow 24-21 loss for Utah.
Since the deflating 2-2 stretch, Utah has been on an offensive tear, with scores ringing 53,45,55,51, all resulting in mostly blowout wins.
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Utah ranks fourth-highest in yards per game in the nation with 481.1. The worst part about Utah’s attack is its elite rushing attack. The Utes rank second-highest in rushing yards in the nation with 280.3. Kansas’ rushing defense? It has been well-documented how porous the defense has been, with the Jayhawks allowing the 111th-worst rushing defense with 186.4 yards per game.
Overall, Kansas' total defense sits 94th in the land with 409 yards allowed per game, which only adds to the reason for the slanted percentages.
On the offensive side, the Jayhawks currently rank 85th in the nation with 358 yards per game. Leipold’s offense rushes for 144.6 yards per game, which sits 74th in the nation. The Jayhawks’ passing attack does not fare much better, with 213.4 yards per game in the air, which ranks 83rd.
As the short week wears on and the availability reports the chance may slightly vary, but expect next Friday to be grueling in order for the Jayhawks to snatch bowl eligibility.
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