The Kansas football team should have an easier path to a winning record than they had last season, at least according to Phil Steele’s Big 12 strength of schedule rankings (purchase necessary).
The Jayhawks' schedule is quite tough on paper. They will play home games against Fresno State, Wagner, West Virginia, Cincinnati, K-State, Oklahoma State, and Utah. They take to the road to play Missouri, UCF, Texas Tech, Arizona, and Iowa State.
Why is the Kansas football schedule considered weak this season?
Steele, according to On3, ranks the Kansas football schedule as the 14th toughest in the Big 12 and 57th nationally. Steele bases his strength of schedule on his own conference rankings.
While the ESPN College Football Power Index and Athlon Sports both had K-State ranked first, Steele has them ranked fifth. Athlon has Iowa State ranked third, but Steele has them ranked sixth. Those are two big disparities.
KU does avoid Baylor, Arizona St, TCU, and BYU this season, and all four of these teams could challenge for the Big 12 title.
The Big 12 is also still struggling to establish an identity. The departure of Texas and Oklahoma before the 2024 season left a void. Several schools are vying to become the new perennial powers in the Big 12. It will take a few seasons for programs to emerge as top dogs.
For fans, having a wide-open conference is a great thing. There is hope that during any given season, any school may challenge for the title. Over time, however, powers will rise.
Because KU is playing Missouri on the road, as well as Texas Tech, Arizona, and Iowa State, it seems the Jayhawks’ schedule may be more challenging than Steele gives it credit for. Because the Big 12 currently lacks a consistent national powerhouse or two, the conference isn’t considered as strong.
While competitiveness is great for fans, it may seem like a weakness nationally. Last season, KU played a top-10 ranked team four weeks in a row, beating three of them and almost beating the fourth. The conference will be stronger than people think, and KU’s schedule will be more demanding in hindsight than it was in the preseason.