Things have not gone as expected for the Kansas football team in 2024. This was supposed to be the year they challenged for a Big 12 title and maybe even earned a spot in the new, expanded 12-school College Football Playoff.
Despite having a talented, experienced roster, KU quickly faltered, dropping five straight games to inferior opponents. The frustrating part is that the Jayhawks blew fourth-quarter leads in all five of the gut-wrenching losses.
Kansas finally turned things around vs. Houston last week, but the Cougars were probably the worst team KU has faced since its opening-night win against an overmatched Lindenwood team.
A potential Kansas football upset at Kansas State would go a long way
KU has its back against the proverbial wall right now. It cannot suffer more than one loss to qualify for a bowl game. Not qualifying would be a giant step backward, especially for a team with such high expectations.
If they lose in Manhattan, the Jayhawks would have to run the table against the meat of their schedule. Not only do the Jayhawks still have to play 16th-ranked K-State, but they also have to play 10th-ranked Iowa State, 11th-ranked BYU, a talented Colorado squad, and Baylor. Somehow, Kansas has to win four of those five games.
In August, it seemed possible that Kansas and K-State would both be undefeated going into the Sunflower Showdown. The Wildcats have just one loss to a surprising BYU squad. Meanwhile, Kansas suffered a brutal five-game losing streak against teams they should have beaten.
Considering the chances that KU won't qualify for a bowl game are very high, pulling off a big upset over KSU would go a long way toward salvaging something from this lost season. It would give the departing seniors who have done so much to drag the program out of obscurity one last hurrah. It would give them one shining, positive memory despite the overwhelming disappointment of this season.
Kansas State is an excellent team. They have a terrific young quarterback and a powerful running game. They are athletic on defense and will play their hated rivals in their home stadium. The Jayhawks have the talent and experience to pull off such an upset if everyone plays well and they don't turn the ball over.
It's possible, if not likely. In August, Bet MGM listed the Jayhawks as a seven-point underdog; now, they are a 10-point underdog. That is not a good sign for Kansas, nor is the fact that KU will probably be without Daniel Hishaw Jr.
Despite the awful season to date, something can be salvaged with a win against K-State. It would be a tremendous reward for those loyal seniors who have endured so much in this program. If KU can somehow beat the Wildcats, maybe it will give them the momentum to survive the gauntlet of games before them and allow them to qualify for a bowl despite the disappointing start to the season.