The shine on the 2024 Kansas football team quickly wore off after it finished its nonconference slate with a 1-2 record and opened Big 12 play with consecutive defeats. This past week's loss to TCU seriously jeopardized KU's chances at reaching bowl eligibility, and head coach Lance Leipold must string multiple wins together to salvage any hope left this year.
Quarterback Jalon Daniels needs to be better, but so does new offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes. Much of the blame for the Jayhawks' offensive struggles has been placed on him, and the transition from Andy Kotelnicki has not been as seamless as some imagined. Apparently, Kansas is not the only school that has regressed after bringing Grimes on board, because his track record looks pretty dreadful right now.
It’s been 717 days since Jeff Grimes topped an FBS opponent… at home.
— Adam Sullivan (@Sully_2029) September 28, 2024
The last time Grimes won a home game against an FBS opponent was 10/12/22 against…. Lance Leipold and Kansas.
Jeff Grimes' track record as an OC is atrocious
Many Jayhawk fans are probably wondering: Can it get worse from here? Clearly it can, because Grimes has been the grim reaper of offenses since his days at Baylor. He hasn't guided a team to a FBS home win since BU defeated the Jayhawks in 2022.
Baylor was terrific in Grimes' first year as OC, going 12-2 and winning the Sugar Bowl. But in 2022, the Bears lost their final four contests, including the Armed Forces Bowl to Air Force. Since then, he went 2-8 against FBS opponents in his final campaign in Waco and obviously lost his first four at KU vs. Illinois, UNLV, West Virginia, and TCU.
Even if Kansas defeats Houston on Oct. 19, it will still mark over two years since a Grimes-coached team last beat an FBS opponent at home. Following that game, the Jayhawks will face stronger home challenges against Iowa State and Colorado, both of whom have outperformed KU this season.
Successful coordinators adjust to their players’ strengths, but Kansas fans have watched an offense that is predictable, inconsistent, and crumbles under pressure. Maybe it is Daniels and his terrible reads on defenses, or the offensive line is failing its signal-caller. Either way, something's got to give with Grimes.
It's wishful thinking to believe the coaching staff will make a change nearly midway through the season. Leipold has shown no indications that he is willing to make a change at quarterback or internally. However, KU's ceiling will continue to be capped until Grimes is removed from his play-calling duties.