It's almost certain that the Kansas Jayhawks aren't going to contend for the National Championship, but fans are craving a season that is miles better than last year's 5-7 overall record.
Unfortunately, professionals in the world of college football don't have high hopes for the Jayhawks. Recently, the USA Today sports writers released their Big 12 preseason poll, and Kansas found itself in ninth place. Not great for a 16-team conference.
Last year, the Jayhawks finished 10th in the Big 12, so the ninth-place projection is, quite literally, just one step better from last season's outcome.
What's even worse than USA Today placing the Jayhawks in the back half of the conference? The sports writers projected their rivals, the Kansas State Wildcats, to come out on top in the Big 12.
USA Today Big 12 preseason poll
- Kansas State Wildcats
- Texas Tech Red Raiders
- Arizona State Sun Devils
- Iowa State Cyclones
- Baylor Bears
- TCU Horned Frogs
- Utah Utes
- BYU Cougars
- Kansas Jayhawks
- Colorado Buffaloes
- Cincinnati Bearcats
- Oklahoma State Cowboys
- Arizona Wildcats
- Houston Cougars
- UCF Knights
- West Virginia Mountaineers
Kansas head coach Lance Leipold is under pressure. No, he probably won't get fired if the Jayhawks don't have a great year, but he will be on the hot seat. Over four years with the program, Leipold has led the team to a disappointing 22-28 overall record and just one bowl game victory.
The Jayhawks are going to have to pull off a handful of impressive wins this year when they face a slate of nine conference opponents, including Kansas State and Texas Tech, who USA Today projected to finish No. 1 and No. 2 in the Big 12.
Fortunately, the Jayhawks will play the UCF Knights, West Virginia Mountaineers, Arizona Wildcats, Oklahoma State Cowboys, and Cincinnati Bearcats, who are all projected to finish below Kansas in the Big 12 standings.