Yesterday, the Kansas football season came to an end. For back-to-back seasons, the Jayhawks suffered a 5-7 season, and for the second time in two years, Kansas had the chance to secure bowl eligibility under head coach Lance Leipold heading into the final game. When speaking with the media following the Jayhawks’ 31-21 loss to the No. 13 Utah Utes, Leipold spoke with the media about why the team’s momentum has stalled record-wise over the previous two seasons.
"There are probably lots of reasons,” quoted the former Buffalo head coach.
“Again, those will be things we continue to look at. I would say I have to do a better job as a head coach. I think we have to be better at closing out football games.”
If you were to look at the last two seasons with a level-100 scope, you would see a number of close games. This season, while the Jayhawks fell in just two one-score games (37-34 Cincinnati, 24-20 Arizona), avid watchers remember that the 41-32 loss to the Missouri Tigers, the game was even led by Kansas with 8:45 to play before back-to-back Mizzou touchdowns sandwiched a quick Kansas punt.
Even against the Utes, Kansas had the lead in the fourth quarter with a 14-10 lead with just under 14 minutes, before Jalon Daniels’ attempted throwaway pass landed right in the hands of Jackson Bennee, which ultimately iced the game, as Utah outpaced Kansas 21-7 to end the game.
Last season was another story of close losses, as Leipold’s squad lost six games that were defined by one score.
“As we continually look at recruiting and how we're putting the roster together, and how we go about that to make sure that we do that fits what we're looking to do."
Jalon Daniels 'heartbroken' after 31-21 loss in final collegiate game
Heading into the offseason, the Jayhawks rank 55th in the 247Sports class rankings, with the highest-rated recruit, offensive tackle Kaden Snyder. Snyder ranks as the third-best recruit in the state of Kansas and the 28th-ranked offensive tackle in the class.
Of course, the portal has now become its own separate recruiting cycle where Kansas will have a number of holes to recruit, with the biggest position questions revolving around filling in for the absent Jalon Daniels.
For now, the Jayhawks shift their focus to smoothing out some glaring stats from last season. The two biggest being Kansas' woeful 38.13% third-down conversion rate, and the Jayhawks' 184.1 rushing yards allowed per game.
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