Kansas football has put together an incredibly disappointing season in 2024. Despite entering the year with College Football Playoff hopes, the Jayhawks have fallen to the bottom of the barrel in the Big 12 with a conference-low two wins and six losses. It has been a disaster for Lance Leipold and Co.
We're not going to put the blame on one player for the team's mishaps, but poor play from quarterback Jalon Daniels has certainly contributed to KU's struggles. The man once dubbed a Heisman Trophy candidate has committed some terrible mistakes in crucial moments. His performance is now reflected on CBS Sports' most recent Big 12 QB rankings by Shehan Jeyarajah:
Kansas football's Jalon Daniels drops in recent Big 12 QB rankings
"Outside of Utah's Cameron Rising, Daniels has been perhaps the most frustrating story in the Big 12 this year. The junior missed most of last year with an injury and returned to the lineup to disastrous results, throwing eight interceptions in his first five games. Daniels is starting to get back to his old self over the last three games, but Kansas is 2-6 and its season is essentially over. "Shehan Jeyarajah
As much as Jayhawk fans hate to admit it, Jeyarajah is completely right. Daniels was placed in Tier III in the 'disappointing years' ranking along with Noah Fifita and Garrett Greene. Like the Wildcats and Mountaineers, 2024 has not gone accordingly for the Jayhawks or Daniels.
It was exciting for the city of Lawrence to see Daniels back on the field at the beginning of the campaign. He was excellent in the three contests he played in last year, but a lingering back injury held him out for nine games. The program used a redshirt on him, and hopes were high heading into 2024.
Unfortunately, he never looked right from the jump. The junior signal-caller turned the ball over 10 times through the first five games this year (eight interceptions). He currently sits at 1,521 passing yards through eight games, tossing 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions. His play has been better of late, but he hardly looks like the player who led Kansas to a 5-0 start in 2022.
Daniels' blunders have cost Kansas several wins, especially in the fourth quarter. His inexplicable late fumble in the Sunflower Showdown ruined KU's chances of breaking the 16-year losing streak against Kansas State. While the defense has been subpar and other areas of the team are lacking, quarterback play has been insufficient for the Jayhawks.