There was a lot to celebrate in Lawrence KS this past weekend. The Jayhawks take down bitter rival Oklahoma in a showdown. The matchup consisted of the unranked Jayhawks playing the number 6 Sooners. This was a mid to late season matchup for both teams and it was a crucial one to win for the Sooners. They needed the win to ensure their safety for the week in regard to the polls. The Sooners were looking to keep their playoff dreams alive in hopes of an undefeated season until they came into Lawrence.
Late Drive Win
Kansas already has two losses on the season and were the underdogs going into this one. They did have homefield advantage which ultimately worked to their benefit. A late drive is what sealed the deal for the Jayhawks. They are led by backup quarterback Jason Bean. Bean’s stats don’t do justice for the game he had against Oklahoma. Being a backup quarterback in a game like this is already going to be a challenge. He threw an average 15-32 for 218 yards and had 2 interceptions. One interception he threw should’ve given the Sooners the win, but the Jayhawk’s defense was all over them.
Penalties
Kansas’ defensive performance was impressive forcing the Sooners to punt 4 times. The defense was also able to get the ball back in much needed times. They only allowed Dillon Gabriel and the Sooners to have possession for 29 minutes of the game. Gabriel is a dangerous quarterback in the Big 12 so to contain his offense like Kansas did is impressive. Penalties is another important feature to note in this specific game. Kansas only had 5 penalties for 55 yards while Oklahoma had 11 for 101 yards.
Jayhawks’ Outlook
As the Jayhawks go deeper into the season, they have an impressive record of 6-2 and are in the top 25. There last few games should still be a challenge, but not nothing that they cannot handle. Only one of their four final games is against a top 25 team being in state rival Kansas State. If Kansas were to win out the rest of the season, that would ultimately put them at 10-2 on the season and a shot at a good bowl game. Although many college football fans don’t think Kansas has a strong enough schedule, 3 of their games are played against a top 25 opponent. One of those games they prevailed and came out on top so far. Kansas is a good team and has the leadership to do what it takes to make a good bowl game.
Bowl Eligible
Kansas hasn’t been the best program around but has changed in the last few seasons. The Jayhawks used to be considered the “laughingstock” of college football barely able to get 3 wins in a season. This year has proven that Kansas has the potential to go far. This game has also proven that they can beat a good team regardless of their record or ranking. With their performance this year, they are also not at the bottom of the Big 12 rankings. With the win over the Sooners, the Jayhawks are now bowl eligible. Being bowl eligible for Kansas is a big accomplishment as they have only been bowl eligible back-to-back two times in program history.
OU&KU History
Looking at the history between Kansas and Oklahoma, the Jayhawks haven’t one since 1997. The win last weekend gave Kansas their first win against Oklahoma in 26 years! If we think about that, most (if not all) undergraduate students were not even born yet. This statistic is interesting to think about because the undergraduate students who were alive last time are somewhere in their 40s or 50s now. The long streak and drought for the Jayhawks is over and they can rest well knowing they accomplished this challenge.
Sooner’s Outlook
Now that we have looked at what the future holds for the Jayhawks, let’s check what’s next for the Sooners. Oklahoma has a lighter end to their schedule as well. The next game on their schedule is against in state rival Oklahoma State. Although the Sooners will likely prevail over the cowboys, they can never be too sure. After that, Oklahoma goes back to Norman to face the Mountaineers of West Virginia. They wrap up the season and the last two games against BYU and TCU. The outlook for Oklahoma does not look bad as long as they can win out for the rest of their season. After the loss, the Sooners still remain in the top 10. Anything is possible for the Sooners to fight for a chance in the college football playoffs.
One Loss Potential
There are some talented one loss teams that still have the potential to make the college football playoffs. Oklahoma coaches, players, and the fanbase have to remain optimistic about the outcome of their future. Regardless of if they make the playoffs or not, they still have the potential to clinch a good bowl game this season. They cannot keep their heads down after a loss like this. It was a hard-fought game and again they are still in the top 10 after this weekend.
More Than Basketball
With a season like the Jayhawks are having; one begins to wonder if they are just primarily a basketball school still. Kansas is known for having remarkable record-breaking seasons in basketball, but not so much in football. This season could be the x factor for them to change the stigma that has been placed upon them throughout the years. With basketball season quickly approaching, fans aren’t giving up on football just yet. This will be interesting if Kansas can keep up the work on the gridiron as much as the hardwood.
Lance Leipold
Coach Lance Leipold has been leading the Jayhawks since 2021 and has a record of 14-19 since his start. Although the record isn’t appealing, he has been in the midst of rebuilding a program from the ground up. Kansas has been impressed so far with how he is turning the Jayhawks program around. He has no intentions of leaving Lawrence for any other job as this is his main focus. The fans of Kansas have to admire the commitment that Coach Leipold has for his team. Lance Leipold’s contract with Kansas has him as their head coach until 2029 and begins at a whopping 5 million dollars.
Bright Future In Lawrence
If the team leadership and the coaching staff continues to improve, then Lawrence will have more to celebrate than just basketball. This team is improving game by game and season by season. There’s a lot to look forward to in regard to Kansas football and what the future could hold. They have the potential to place in the top 25 year after year and continue to be bowl eligible if they continue to hold high standards. The Big 12 will have to watch out if Kansas keeps improving. With Oklahoma and Texas leaving the Big 12 after this year, could we potentially see a new front runner in this conference? Kansas could be the new leaders and take over the Big 12 with performances like last week. Time will tell for the Kansas but for now they’ll keep this victory held high among the Sooners from season to season.
