What makes the 2025 campaign for the Kansas Jayhawks that much more agonizing is that it felt like so many mental errors culminated in the eventual 5-7 record.
For example, in games against Missouri, Cincinnati and Arizona, last-minute rushing touchdowns put all three games firmly to bed.
Another stat that won’t go down well amongst the fans is that the Jayhawks finished No. 124 out of a possible 135 teams in red zone scoring rate last season, converting only 71.79% of their attempts inside the 20.
Stats like that would drive any head coach crazy, but for a head coach who has now gone two straight seasons with a 5-7 record, it only amplifies the madness.
When looking at next season, there are several stats or facts like those above that could once again define whether Kansas is bowl-eligible or not. Which is why it was so crucial for head coach Lance Leipold to return the likes of former associate head coach Andy Kotelnicki, or bring in promising defensive ends coach Joe Dineen, all pieces that could help turn these losses into wins. However, perhaps no greater improvement can be made than Kansas’ ability to stay on the field on third downs.
Kansas’ third-down conversion rates will skyrocket under Kotelnicki
In Kotelnicki’s final two seasons, the Jayhawks ranked 9th with a stellar 49.33% rate in 2022, and 12th in 2023 with a 47.76%.
Following the 2023 campaign, Kotelnicki made the move to Happy Valley to work with James Franklin as the Penn State offensive coordinator. In his two seasons away, those numbers got a lot more varied.
Under former offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes in the 2024 season, Kansas ranked No. 2 in the nation with a stellar third-down conversion rate of 50%. However, that wouldn’t last long as Grimes also decided to take a job up in the Big Ten, this time with the Wisconsin Badgers. After Grimes made the move to Wisconsin following the first of two 5-7 seasons. Leipold promoted co-offensive coordinator Jim Zebrowski to the top spot, where things quickly changed.
Kansas finished the 2025 season No. 81 in third-down conversion percentage, measuring out to a 38.13% rate.
While there are so many factors that go into why a team can or can not get the crucial yards needed, one of the biggest is who you have at QB.
Whether it was Kotelnicki, Grimes or Zebrowski, Kansas could rely on Jalon Daniels set up under center. Now, of course, Daniels was far from perfect, but he provided a mostly cool head, and in most games you wouldn’t point to third downs as his biggest flaw.
However, next season the likes of Chase Jenkins, Cole Ballard or Isaiah Marshall will get the call-up, all of whom have unproven parts of their game and none of them have lined up under center for a Big 12 start. So no matter who is wearing the headset, the pressure first falls to the quarterback, making that decision so much more important.
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