It is easy to look at all the points the Kansas Jayhawks (3-2) (1-1) and cue in the fact that they have one of the best offenses in the nation. And that isn’t necessarily wrong. In the grand scheme of things, the Jayhawks’ offense ranks as the nation’s 28th-best overall with 450.6 yards per game, averaging out 7.34 yards per play according to the NCAA official stat database.
Quarterback Jalon Daniels has produced his best season to date with 16 touchdowns to just two interceptions, and already 1,262 yards with 14.8 yards per completion. With the ball being spread out to a number of different targets, including Emmanuel Henderson Jr., Cam Pickett, Levi Wentz, Boden Groen, and many more. Oh, and we haven’t even hit October yet.
Yet while things look to be near flawless, some deeper combs can find there is more to the eye than what the 100-level stats may show.
The Jayhawks' third-down conversion rates are… well, to be perfectly honest, pretty bad. Kansas’ 32.1% rate is touted as the 118th-best in the nation. There are 134 FBS schools who were surveyed for these stats.
When you break down their two losses, we look at the 41-32 Border Showdown loss to Missouri and the 37-34 loss to the Cincinnati Bearcats.
Against the Tigers, the Jayhawks went 3-11 on third downs, and against the Bearcats, 3-8.
Now, is this the only reason why Kansas is losing games? Of course not, but when you look at wanting to keep your defense off the field and offense on it, there is a reason why Kansas is ranked 87th in the nation. This comes, of course, with the caveat that no team will intentionally forgo a one-play touchdown drive to stay on the field, but those situations are few and far between, making these numbers worrisome.