Kansas Jayhawks football facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kansas Jayhawks football
First season	1890; 135 years ago
Athletic director	Travis Goff
Head coach	Lance Leipold 5th season, 22–28 (.440)
Stadium	David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium (Capacity: 47,233)
Field surface	FieldTurf
Location	Lawrence, Kansas
NCAA division	Division I FBS
Conference	Big 12 Conference
Past conferences	Kansas Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1890–1891) Western Interstate University Football Association (1892–1897) Independent (1898–1906) Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1907–1928) Big 6/7/8 Conference (1929–1995)
All-time record	608–685–58 (.472)
Bowl record	7–7 (.500)
Conference titles	6 (1908, 1923, 1930, 1946, 1947, 1968)
Division titles	1 (2007 Co-Big 12 North Division)
Rivalries	Missouri (The Border War) Kansas State (The Sunflower Showdown) Nebraska (rivalry)
Consensus All-Americans	13
Colors	Crimson and Blue
Fight song	"I'm a Jayhawk"
Mascot	Big Jay, Baby Jay
Marching band	Marching Jayhawks
Website	kuathletics.com

The Kansas Jayhawks football team plays college football for the University of Kansas. They are part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Bowl Subdivision (FBS). This means they are in the highest level of college football. The team competes in the Big 12 Conference. Their current head coach is Lance Leipold.

The Jayhawks started playing football in 1890. This makes them one of the oldest college football teams around. Their home field is David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. It opened in 1921 and is also one of the oldest stadiums in the country. In 2014, a running track around the field was removed. A new sports complex opened for the track team. In 2019, a new indoor practice facility was built next to the stadium. It was paid for by donations from Kansas alumni, especially David Booth.

As of the end of the 2024 season, KU's overall record is 610 wins, 686 losses, and 58 ties. The team had a great period under coach Mark Mangino, who won 50 games in eight seasons. After Mangino left, the team struggled until 2021. During that time, they won only 22 games and had many losing streaks. They also lost 46 straight road games and 56 straight road conference games. In 2022, they finally broke a long losing streak against ranked teams. They beat 18th-ranked Oklahoma State 37–16. Under coach Lance Leipold, the Jayhawks have played in two bowl games in four years.

Kansas has not had a Heisman Trophy winner, but three players received votes for the award. These players were John Hadl, Bobby Douglass, and David Jaynes. Jaynes was the only one to be a finalist. Other famous former Kansas players include Pro Football Hall of Fame members Gale Sayers, John Riggins, and Mike McCormack. All-Americans like Nolan Cromwell, Dana Stubblefield, Aqib Talib, and Anthony Collins also played for Kansas.

Kansas has played in 12 bowl games. This includes three trips to the Orange Bowl (in 1948, 1969, and 2008). They have won six conference championships, with the most recent one in 1968. Kansas also played in the first college football game ever shown on national television. This was on September 20, 1952, against TCU.

Kansas was a founding member of the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 1907. This group later became the Big Eight Conference. The Big Eight joined with other teams to form the Big 12 in 1996. Kansas is the only original member of the MVIAA still in the Big 12.

Team History

The Jayhawks football program started in 1890. The team had its most successful time from 1890 to 1952. During these years, they had four seasons without any losses. They won over 300 games, earned several conference championships, and played in big bowl games. From 1953 to 1968, the Jayhawks continued to do well. They shared three conference titles and went to more bowl games.

From 1969 through the 2009 season, the team's winning record dropped. However, they still had some good moments. They finished in the top 10 of the AP Poll twice. This included a 12–1 season in 2007, which ended with an Orange Bowl win.

The team faced many challenges from 2010 to 2021. They had a record of 23 wins and 118 losses. This included two seasons where they didn't win any games at all. In 2012, their overall winning record dropped below .500 for the first time since 1890. But in 2021, Lance Leipold became the new coach. He has greatly improved the team's performance in his three seasons.

Early Years (1890–1947)

The University of Kansas started its first football team in 1890. Will Coleman was their player-coach. Kansas played its first college football game in Kansas against Baker University. After a short three-game season in 1890, KU played a full schedule in 1891. They did very well, with 7 wins, 0 losses, and 1 tie. That season also included their first game against the University of Missouri. This game started the long-running Border War rivalry. Kansas won that first game 22–8 in Kansas City.

In 1899, Hall-of-Famer Fielding H. Yost coached KU for one season. He led the team to a perfect 10–0 record. After 1900, Hall-of-Famer John Outland, who played at KU, returned as head coach. He had a tough season in 1901, with 3 wins, 5 losses, and 2 ties. In 1902, the team played its first game against Kansas State. This started the Sunflower Showdown rivalry. Kansas won that game 16–0.

The program had many coaches in its first 14 seasons. But A. R. Kennedy became coach in 1904 and stayed for seven successful seasons until 1910. Kennedy's record at Kansas was 52 wins, 9 losses, and 4 ties. This is still the most wins for any Kansas head coach. Kennedy's best season was 1908. The Jayhawks had another perfect season (9–0) and won their first major conference championship. This was in the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association. KU has not had another perfect season since 1908.

After Kennedy, there were many coaching changes again. Herman Olcott coached for three years from 1915 to 1917, with a record of 16–7–1. Basketball coach Phog Allen also coached football for one year in 1920, with a 5–2–1 record. Potsy Clark brought some stability, coaching for five seasons from 1921 to 1925. He had a 16–17–6 record.

Football innovator Bill Hargiss became KU's head coach in 1928. He was one of the first coaches to use the huddle and the forward pass. Hargiss led the team to a Big Six championship in 1930. But he was fired in 1932. His overall record was 18–16–2. By 1932, the Jayhawks football program had been very successful. Only four of their first twenty coaches had losing records.

KU alum Adrian Lindsey took over as head coach in 1932. His teams struggled, and he finished with a 23–30–8 record. He was replaced after the 1938 season. In 1939, Gwinn Henry, a former coach for rival Missouri, was hired. In four seasons, Henry had a tough time, with a 9–27 record. This was the worst record for any KU head coach at that time. Henry Shenk replaced Henry but also struggled, with an 11–16–3 record.

George Sauer coached KU for only two years, but he made a big impact. Both of his teams won a share of the Big Six Conference titles. His 1947 team was invited to KU's first bowl game, the Orange Bowl. Even though they lost 20–14 to Georgia Tech, KU finished the 1947 season ranked No. 12 in the AP Poll. This was the team's first time in a final poll. Sauer left after 1947 to coach at Navy. His final record at KU was 15–3–3. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1954.

Jules Sikes came to Kansas in 1948. He had successful seasons, including 7–3 records in 1948 and 1952, and an 8–2 record in 1951. But a 2–8 season in 1953 led to his firing. His final record was 35–25.

Mid-Century Era

Chuck Mather became the 27th head coach in 1954. He started with an 0–10 season, the first time KU had no wins. Mather struggled and left after the 1957 season with an 11–26–3 record.

Jack Mitchell came to Kansas in 1958. His record was 44 wins, 42 losses, and 5 ties in nine seasons. Mitchell's teams played in one bowl game, the 1961 Bluebonnet Bowl, which KU won. That year, the Jayhawks finished 7–3–1 and were ranked No. 15. Mitchell's 1960 team also did well, finishing 7–2–1 and ranked No. 9 and No. 11. Many saw Mitchell as the person who saved the Jayhawk football program.

Pepper Rodgers became head coach after Mitchell retired. Rodgers led the Jayhawks to the Big Eight Conference title in 1968. This is the Jayhawks' most recent conference championship. That year, the team finished 9–2 and played in the Orange Bowl. They lost 15–14 to Penn State but finished ranked No. 6 and No. 7. Rodgers left after the 1970 season.

1970s and 1980s

Don Fambrough, a longtime Kansas assistant, became head coach in 1971. In his first time as head coach, his only winning season was in 1973. The Jayhawks finished 7–4–1 and played in the Liberty Bowl, which they lost. Kansas was ranked No. 15 and No. 18 that year. Fambrough resigned in 1974.

Fambrough returned as head coach in 1979. His second time as coach is best known for the 1981 season. The team finished 8–4 and played in the All-American Bowl, which they lost. Fambrough was fired after the 1982 season. His total record at KU was 37 wins, 48 losses, and 5 ties.

Kansas hired Bud Moore in 1975. In his first season, Moore was named Big Eight Coach of the Year. He led his team to a big 23–3 upset win over Oklahoma, who was the national champion that year. This win broke Oklahoma's 37-game winning streak. After beating Missouri, the Jayhawks went to the Sun Bowl, losing to Pitt. They finished the season 7–5. In 1976, the Jayhawks started 4–0 and were ranked 8th. But after their quarterback, Nolan Cromwell, got hurt, they finished 6–5. Moore was the first KU coach with two winning seasons in a row since Jack Mitchell. But after two tough seasons, Moore was fired.

In 1983, KU hired Mike Gottfried. Gottfried had a decent time as coach, improving each season. His records were 4–6–1, 5–6, and 6–6. His final record at KU was 15–18–1. Gottfried left Kansas after three seasons. He was replaced by offensive coordinator Bob Valesente. Valesente's teams had a record of 4–17–1 in two seasons. He was fired at the end of the 1987 season.

Glen Mason Era (1988–1995)

KU hired Glen Mason in late 1987. Mason brought new hope to KU's football program. He had four winning seasons in his nine years. He also led the team to two bowl victories: the 1992 and 1995 Aloha Bowls. They beat BYU and UCLA. These were KU's first bowl wins since 1961. In those years, the Jayhawks finished 8–4 and 10–2. The 10–2 record tied a school record for wins in a single season.

In 1995, Mason accepted a coaching job at Georgia. But he changed his mind and stayed with the Jayhawks. He left for Minnesota one season later. His final record at Kansas was 47 wins, 54 losses, and 1 tie.

First Decline

Coach Terry Allen came to KU after Glen Mason left. Despite high hopes, Allen's teams struggled. They did not have a winning season in his five years, finishing with a 21–35 record. Allen was fired with two games left in his fifth season. His best season was 5–6 in his first year.

Mark Mangino Era (2002–2009)

The Jayhawks hired Mark Mangino in late 2001. He had been the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma. Before he arrived, the program had not had a winning season in six years. Mangino was a tough coach, but he brought success to KU. In 2003, his second season, Mangino led the Jayhawks to the Tangerine Bowl. This was KU's first bowl game since 1995. In 2005, his fourth season, the team finished 6–5 and went to the Fort Worth Bowl. One of their wins was a 40–15 victory over Nebraska. This ended a losing streak against Nebraska that had lasted since 1969.

In 2007, Mangino coached the Jayhawks to an amazing 12–1 record and the 2008 Orange Bowl. The Jayhawks beat Virginia Tech 24–21 in that game. This was KU's first and only BCS Bowl Game appearance and victory. Mangino's defense was ranked 12th in the nation. Their offense was 2nd in scoring, led by Quarterback Todd Reesing.

After a win against Iowa State, Mark Mangino became the first KU football coach with a winning career record since Jack Mitchell in 1966. While at Kansas, Mangino led the Jayhawks to 19 straight weeks in the national polls. They had 20 wins in a two-year period, a first for the school. They also set attendance records and reached the school's highest ranking ever at No. 2. Mangino's teams also had the top three total offense seasons in school history. They won three Bowl games, which was the same number they had won in their entire history before he arrived.

With 50 victories, Mangino has the second-most wins in Kansas coaching history. He won many Coach of the Year awards in 2007. In 2009, the Jayhawks started 5–0 but lost their final 7 games to finish 5–7. Mangino resigned in December 2009. His final record at KU was 50 wins and 48 losses. He was the first head football coach to leave the Jayhawks with an overall winning record since Jack Mitchell in 1966.

Second Decline

On December 13, 2009, Turner Gill became the new head coach. He was the first African American head football coach in KU history. Gill took over a team that had lost its last 7 games. On September 4, 2010, Gill lost his first home game to North Dakota State. But the next week, the Jayhawks upset No. 15 Georgia Tech 28–25. This upset was a highlight in an otherwise tough 3–9 season.

The 2011 Jayhawks started 2–0 but then lost 10 games in a row. They had big losses to teams like Georgia Tech (66–24) and Oklahoma State (70–28). The Jayhawks ranked very low in many stats and were outscored 525–238. KU athletics director Sheahon Zenger fired Gill after just two seasons. Gill's record was 5–19 overall.

Zenger then hired former Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis in December 2011. Weis was a well-known coach, and fans hoped he would bring in new talent and rebuild the program. Weis' 2012 team struggled to a 1–11 record. In 2013, the 3–9 Jayhawks ended a 27-game Big 12 Conference losing streak. They beat West Virginia 31–19 at home. Weis was fired on September 28, 2014, after four games into the 2014 season. His teams had a 6–22 overall record. Defensive coordinator Clint Bowen became the interim head coach. Bowen had a 1–7 record.

On December 5, 2014, KU hired David Beaty. Beaty finished his first season (2015) with an 0–12 record. This was KU football's first winless season since 1954. In 2016, Kansas beat Rhode Island 55–6 for their first win since 2014. On November 19, 2016, Kansas beat the Texas Longhorns 24–21 in overtime. This was KU's first win over Texas in over 75 years.

The 2018 season started with a home loss. However, the Jayhawks then beat Central Michigan 31–7 and Rutgers 55–14. The win against Central Michigan was KU's first road win since 2009, ending a 46-game road losing streak. Kansas also got their first Big 12 win of the season against TCU, winning 27–26. On November 4, Beaty was fired but coached the final three games. His record was 6–42 over four seasons.

On November 18, 2018, Les Miles was hired as the new head coach. Miles had a strong background, including winning a national championship with LSU in 2007. His first season ended with a 3–9 record. They ended a 48-game losing streak in road games against major conference opponents with a 48–24 win at Boston College. His second season, shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, ended with an 0–9 record. Miles left the team in March 2021 due to concerns about his past actions from his time at LSU. Wide receivers coach Emmett Jones was named interim coach.

2021–Present: A New Era

Lance Leipold was hired to replace Miles on April 30, 2021. He had only one full month of practice with the team before their first game. The Jayhawks won their first game under Leipold, beating South Dakota 17–14 on September 4. This was Kansas's first win since 2019. On November 13, the Jayhawks ended a 56-game road losing streak in Big 12 play. They won an overtime game against the Texas Longhorns 57–56. Later in the season, the Jayhawks almost beat Oklahoma, who was ranked 2nd. They held Oklahoma to zero points in the first half.

Resurgence

At the start of Leipold's second season in 2022, the Jayhawks beat Tennessee Tech 56–10. In week 2, they beat West Virginia 55–42. This was their first conference opener win since 2009. After starting the 2022 season 3–0, Kansas received votes to be ranked for the first time since 2009. The Jayhawks entered the polls at No. 19 after starting 5–0. They finished the regular season 6–6 and played Arkansas in the 2022 Liberty Bowl. This was KU's first bowl appearance since 2009. Arkansas beat KU in three overtimes, 55–53.

In 2023, Kansas started the season 4–0 for the second year in a row. This was the first time the Jayhawks started 4–0 in back-to-back seasons since 1913-1915. Four weeks later, the Jayhawks defeated Oklahoma. This win over Oklahoma was the first home win for Kansas over a top 10 ranked team since 1984. It was also the first win over Oklahoma since 1997. The victory made Kansas eligible for a bowl game for the second season in a row. On December 26, 2023, Kansas defeated the UNLV Rebels 49–36 in the 2023 Guaranteed Rate Bowl. This was the team's first bowl victory since 2008. Quarterback Jason Bean threw for six touchdowns and 449 yards. He set records for most passing touchdowns in Kansas bowl history.

Memorable Games

• November 22, 1890: Kansas played their first game ever against Baker. It was also the first college football game played in Kansas. Kansas lost 22–9.
• December 8, 1890: Kansas won their first game in team history, beating Baker 14–12.
• October 31, 1891: Kansas played Missouri for the first time. This started the Border War rivalry. Kansas won 22–8.
• December 22, 1891: Kansas tied Washington University 6–6. This secured their first undefeated season, finishing 7–0–1.
• November 26, 1892: Kansas beat rival Missouri 12–4. This clinched their first Conference Championship.
• November 30, 1899: Kansas defeated rival Missouri 34–6 to finish the season 10–0. This was their first undefeated and untied season.
• October 7, 1902: Kansas played their first game in the Sunflower Showdown against Kansas State. Kansas won 16–0.
• November 26, 1908: Kansas finished the season undefeated after beating rival Missouri 10–4. They won the Missouri Valley Conference Title.
• October 29, 1921: Kansas played Kansas State in Memorial Stadium for the first time since it opened. Kansas won 21–7.
• October 11, 1947: The Jayhawks defeated South Dakota 86–6. The 86 points set a program record for points in a game.
• January 1, 1948: Kansas played in the 1948 Orange Bowl, their first bowl game. They lost 20–14 to Georgia Tech.
• December 17, 1961: Kansas defeated Rice 33–7 in the 1961 Bluebonnet Bowl. This was their first Bowl Game victory.
• September 8, 1984: Kansas defeated Wichita State 31–7 in their final game against Wichita State.
• October 9, 2004: Kansas defeated rival Kansas State 31–28. This ended an 11-game losing streak to Kansas State.
• November 5, 2005: Kansas defeated Nebraska 40–15. This ended a 36-game losing streak to Nebraska.
• November 3, 2007: 8th-ranked Kansas defeated Nebraska 76–39. This was their second win over Nebraska in three years. It was also the most points they had scored since 1947.
• November 17, 2007: The 4th-ranked Jayhawks defeated Iowa State 45–7. This made their season record 11–0 for the first time ever. After this game, Kansas was ranked No. 2 in major polls, their highest ranking ever.
• November 24, 2007: Kansas (ranked 2nd) and Missouri (ranked 3rd) played in Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas lost 36–28.
• January 3, 2008: Kansas defeated Virginia Tech 24–21 in the 2008 Orange Bowl. This was KU's only BCS Bowl game appearance and victory.
• December 31, 2008: Kansas defeated Minnesota 42–21 in the 2008 Insight Bowl. This was the first time Kansas won a bowl game in back-to-back seasons.
• November 26, 2011: Kansas played rival Missouri in the last game of their rivalry as conference opponents. Missouri won 24–10.
• November 19, 2016: Kansas defeated Texas 24–21 in overtime. This was their first win over Texas since 1938.
• September 8, 2018: Kansas defeated Central Michigan on the road. This was their first road victory since 2009, ending a 46-game losing streak.
• November 13, 2021: Kansas defeated Texas in Austin for the first time ever in overtime, 57–56. This game also ended a 56-game conference road losing streak.
• October 1, 2022: Kansas defeated Iowa State 14–11. This made them 5–0 for the first time since 2009.
• October 8, 2022: Kansas hosted College Gameday for the first time. They played No. 17 TCU and lost 38–31.
• November 5, 2022: Kansas defeated No. 18 Oklahoma State 37–16. This made them eligible for a bowl game for the first time since 2008.
• December 28, 2022: Kansas played in their first bowl game since 2008 against Arkansas in the Liberty Bowl. Kansas lost in triple overtime, 55–53.
• October 28, 2023: Kansas defeated No. 6 Oklahoma 38–33. This was their first win over Oklahoma since 1997.
• December 26, 2023: Kansas defeated UNLV in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl 49–36. This was the Jayhawks' first bowl victory since 2008. Quarterback Jason Bean won the MVP Award.
• November 16, 2024: Kansas defeated No. 6 BYU in Provo. This was their first top 10 road victory ever.
• November 23, 2024: Kansas defeated No. 16 Colorado. They became the first NCAA team to win three ranked games in a row as the underdog.

Conference History

Kansas has been part of several conferences over the years:

Conference	Years	Reason left
Kansas Intercollegiate Athletic Association	1890–1891	Joined WIUFA
Western Interstate University Football Association	1892–1897	Conference ended
Independent	1898–1906	Joined MVIAA
Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association*	1907–1928	Conference ended
Big Six/Seven/Eight Conference	1929–1995	Conference ended
Big 12 Conference	1996–present	N/A

*The current Missouri Valley is a different group.

Championship Wins

Conference Championships

Kansas has won six conference championships:

Year	Conference	Coach	Conference record
1908	MVIAA	A. R. Kennedy	4–0
1923		Potsy Clark	3–0–3
1930	Big Eight Conference	Homer Woodson Hargiss	4–1
1946†		George Sauer	4–1
1947†			4–0–1
1968†		Pepper Rodgers	6–1

† Co-championship (shared with another team)

Division Championships

The Big 12 used to have North and South divisions. Kansas won one division title:

Year	Conference	Coach	Conference record
2007†	Big 12 North	Mark Mangino	7–1

† Co-championship

Bowl Game Appearances

The Jayhawks have played in 14 bowl games, with a record of 7 wins and 7 losses. They played in one BCS Bowl game, the 2008 Orange Bowl, which they won. The longest time Kansas went without a bowl game was 12 years, twice.

Year	Coach	Bowl	Opponent	Result
1947	George Sauer	Orange Bowl	Georgia Tech	L 14–20
1961	Jack Mitchell	Bluebonnet Bowl	Rice	W 33–7
1968	Pepper Rodgers	Orange Bowl	Penn State	L 14–15
1973	Don Fambrough	Liberty Bowl	NC State	L 18–31
1975	Bud Moore	Sun Bowl	Pittsburgh	L 19–33
1981	Don Fambrough	Hall of Fame Classic	Mississippi State	L 0–10
1992	Glen Mason	Aloha Bowl	BYU	W 23–20
1995		Aloha Bowl	UCLA	W 51–31
2003	Mark Mangino	Tangerine Bowl	NC State	L 26–56
2005		Fort Worth Bowl	Houston	W 42–13
2007		Orange Bowl	Virginia Tech	W 24–21
2008		Insight Bowl	Minnesota	W 42–21
2022	Lance Leipold	Liberty Bowl	Arkansas	L 53–553OT
2023		Guaranteed Rate Bowl	UNLV	W 49–36

Team Rivalries

Missouri Tigers

The University of Kansas has a rivalry with the Missouri Tigers. This rivalry has not been played since Missouri moved to the Southeastern Conference in 2012. Missouri leads the series 57-54-9.

Before it became inactive, this was known as the oldest rivalry west of the Mississippi River. First played in 1891, the Jayhawks and Tigers met every year until 2011, except for 1918. The game was called the "Border War." This name came from actual fighting during the Civil War between "Jayhawkers" from Kansas and "Bushwhackers" from Missouri. The name of the rivalry was officially changed to the "Border Showdown" in 2004. The winner of the game used to get a traveling trophy called the Indian War Drum. Kansas lost the last Border War game to Missouri in 2011, 24–10.

In 1911, over 1,000 people gathered in downtown Lawrence, Kansas to watch a "mechanical reproduction" of the game. A telegraph wire was set up from Missouri. People would announce the results of each play and use a large model of a football field to show what happened. Those watching cheered as if they were at the live game.

Kansas State Wildcats

Kansas has a rivalry with the Kansas State Wildcats called the Sunflower Showdown. The winner of the football game gets the Governor's Cup. Kansas leads the series 64-53-5. As of 2025, Kansas is on a 16-game losing streak to Kansas State. In the last 21 years, KU has only beaten the Wildcats four times.

The two teams first played in 1902. They have played every year since 1911. This is the fifth-longest continuous series in NCAA college football history.

Nebraska Cornhuskers

The Kansas-Nebraska series was the longest continuous rivalry in college football. This was true until Nebraska left for the Big Ten Conference in 2011. Kansas and Nebraska first met in 1892. They played every year from 1906 until 2010. Kansas has a record of 23 wins, 90 losses, and 3 ties against the Cornhuskers. From 1969 to 2004, Nebraska won 36 games in a row. This was the second-longest streak in NCAA Division I.

That streak ended on November 5, 2005, when Kansas defeated Nebraska 40–15. They beat Nebraska again 76–39 on November 3, 2007. This was the most points Nebraska had ever given up in a game. The Jayhawks also set records for most points against Nebraska in a half (48 points) and a quarter (27 points).

Team Records and Rankings

Rankings in Polls

The Jayhawks have finished ranked in the AP poll eight times. They have appeared in the poll at some point in 19 different seasons. They have only been ranked in a preseason poll 6 times. In the 2007 season, the Jayhawks reached a No. 2 ranking in the AP poll. This is the highest the team has ever been ranked. Their highest ranking after a season was 7th in 2007. In the final poll of the 2007 season, the Jayhawks even received one 1st place vote.

The Jayhawks were ranked in the poll released on October 2, 2022. This was the first time they had been ranked since October 18, 2009. The most consecutive weeks the Jayhawks have been ranked in the AP poll is 16 weeks. In 2023, Kansas was ranked in the College Football Playoff poll for the first time.

AP Poll History

Season	Preseason	Highest Rank	Final Ranking	Games played while ranked
1947	–	12	12	3
1950	–	19	–	1
1951	–	20	–	1
1952	17	7	–	10
1960	–	5	11	6
1961	8	8	–	2
1968	–	3	7	10
1973	–	17	18	7
1974	–	13	–	2
1975	–	17	–	2
1976	19	8	–	6
1992	–	13	22	7
1995	–	6	9	8
1996	24	20	–	3
2007	–	2	7	8
2008	14	13	–	8
2009	25	16	–	7
2022	–	19	–	2
2023	–	16	23	4
2024	22	19	–	2

BCS Rankings (1998–2013)

Season	Highest BCS Rank	Final Ranking	Games played while ranked
2007	2	8	7
2008	23	–	1
2009	25	–	1

College Football Playoff Poll

Season	Highest Rank	Games played while ranked
2023	16	3

Famous Players

First-Team All-Americans

These players were recognized as the best at their positions in college football:

• 1947– Ray Evans, Running Back
• 1947– Otto Schnellbacher, Wide Receiver
• 1951– George Mrkonic, Guard
• 1952– Ollie Spencer, Tackle
• 1960– John Hadl, Running Back
• 1961– John Hadl, Quarterback
• 1963– Gale Sayers, Running Back
• 1964– Gale Sayers, Running Back
• 1968– Bobby Douglass, Quarterback
• 1968– John Zook, Defensive End
• 1973– David Jaynes, Quarterback
• 2007– Anthony Collins, Tackle
• 2007– Aqib Talib, Cornerback

Heisman Trophy Voting

The Heisman Trophy is given to the most outstanding player in college football. Kansas has never had a Heisman winner, but three players received votes. Quarterback David Jaynes was the only Heisman finalist from Kansas.

Year	Player	Position	Place	1st place votes	Points
1961	John Hadl	QB	7th	33	172
1968	Bobby Douglass	QB	7th	9	132
1973	David Jaynes*	QB	4th	65	394

*Indicates a finalist

Ring of Honor Members

The Ring of Honor celebrates Kansas All-Americans and other important players. It is located at Memorial Stadium.

Player	Career	Position
Ray Evans	1941–42, 1946–47	Defensive Back / Running Back
Otto Schnellbacher	1942, 1946–47	End
Mike McCormack	1948–50	Offensive Tackle
George Mrkonic	1950–52	Guard
Ollie Spencer	1950–52	Tackle
Gil Reich	1952	Defensive Back
John Hadl	1959–61	Quarterback / Running Back
Curtis McClinton	1959–61	Running Back
Gale Sayers	1962–64	Running Back
Bobby Douglass	1966–68	Quarterback
John Zook	1966–68	Defensive End
John Riggins	1968–70	Running Back
David Jaynes	1971–73	Quarterback
Nolan Cromwell	1973–76	Quarterback / Safety
Bruce Kallmeyer	1980–83	Placekicker
Willie Pless	1982–85	Linebacker
Aqib Talib	2005–07	Cornerback
Anthony Collins	2004–07	Tackle
Gilbert Brown	1989–92	Defensive Tackle
Chris Harris	2007–10	Cornerback
Todd Reesing	2006–09	Quarterback
Larry Brown	1967–70	Tackle
Darrell Stuckey	2006–09	Safety
Nick Reid	2002–05	Linebacker
Tony Sands	1988–91	Running Back

Coaches in Kansas Athletics Hall of Fame

Former Kansas football coaches honored in the Kansas Athletics Hall of Fame:

Coach	Tenure
Phog Allen*	1920
Don Fambrough	1971–1974 1979–1982
Mark Mangino	2002–2009
Glen Mason	1988–1996
Bud Moore	1975–1978
John Outland	1901
Pepper Rodgers	1967–1970
George Sauer	1946–1947

*Inducted as men's basketball coach

Retired Jersey Numbers

Kansas has retired these jersey numbers to honor special players:

Kansas Jayhawks Retired Numbers
No.	Player	Pos.	Tenure	Ref.
21	John Hadl	Halfback/Quarterback	1959–1961
42	Ray Evans	Halfback	1941–1942, 1946–1947
48	Gale Sayers	Running Back	1962–1964

College Football Hall of Fame Members

These Jayhawks have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame:

Year	Player	Position
1951	Fielding H. Yost	Coach
1954	Jim Bausch	Halfback
1964	Ray Evans	Halfback
1977	Gale Sayers	Halfback
1994	John Hadl	Quarterback
2001	John H. Outland	Tackle/Halfback

Pro Football Hall of Fame Members

These Jayhawks have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame:

Year	Player	Position
1977	Gale Sayers	Halfback
1984	Mike McCormack	Offensive Tackle
1992	John Riggins	Running Back

Canadian Football League Hall of Fame Members

Year	Player	Position
2005	Willie Pless	Linebacker
2019	Jon Cornish	Running Back

Former Players in Other Fields

Some former Jayhawks players became famous in other areas:

Player	Position	Career	Occupation
Bob Dole	End	1941–44	Politician
Bud Adams	Quarterback	1942	Businessman
Keith Loneker	Guard	1989–92	Actor
Micah Brown	Wide Receiver	2005–08	Filmmaker

Basketball Hall of Famers with Football Ties

Two members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame have connections to Kansas football:

Name	Reason associated with Kansas football
Phog Allen	Head coach 1920 season
Ralph Miller	Quarterback on team 1937–1941

Jayhawks in Professional Football

NFL Players

These former Kansas football players are currently on active NFL rosters:

• Hakeem Adeniji, Tackle, Cleveland Browns
• Dorance Armstrong, Defensive End, Washington Commanders
• Earl Bostick, Tackle, Dallas Cowboys
• Kyron Johnson, Linebacker, Pittsburgh Steelers
• Lonnie Phelps, Defensive End, Cleveland Browns
• Dominick Puni, Guard, San Francisco 49ers

UFL Players

• Logan Klusman, Long Snapper, Houston Roughnecks
• Brice Torneden, Safety, Michigan Panthers
• Daniel Wise, Defensive Tackle, Michigan Panthers
• Pooka Williams Jr., Running Back, DC Defenders

Jayhawks as Coaches in Football

Some former Jayhawks players have become coaches:

• Joe Dineen (Linebacker, 2014-18), Purdue rush ends coach
• Connor Embree (Running Back, 2011–13), Kansas City Chiefs wide receivers coach
• Kevin Kane (Linebacker, 2002–05), Purdue assistant head coach and outside linebackers coach
• Darrin Simmons, (Punter, 1993–95), Cincinnati Bengals assistant head coach/special teams coordinator
• A.J. Steward (Wide Receiver, 2007–11), Baylor assistant head coach and running backs coach

Head Coaches Overview

The Jayhawks have had 38 official head coaches. Will Coleman was an unofficial player-coach in their first year, 1890. The current head coach since 2021 is Lance Leipold. The team has played over 1200 games in 123 seasons. Seven head coaches have led the Jayhawks to postseason bowl games: George Sauer, Jack Mitchell, Pepper Rodgers, Don Fambrough, Bud Moore, Glen Mason, and Mark Mangino. Six coaches have also won conference championships.

Glen Mason coached the most games (101). Mitchell and Mason are tied for the most years coached (nine). A. R. Kennedy has the most wins (52). Wylie G. Woodruff has the best winning percentage among coaches who coached more than one year (.833). Phog Allen, the famous Kansas men's basketball coach, also coached the football team in 1920. In his one season, the Jayhawks had a 5–2–1 record.

Of the 37 different head coaches, only Cowan and Yost are in the College Football Hall of Fame. Mark Mangino received 9 different coach of the year awards in 2007.

Future Games

Conference Opponents

Home Games

2025	2026	2027
Utah	Arizona State	Arizona
Oklahoma State	BYU	Texas Tech
Kansas State	Baylor	Oklahoma State
Cincinnati	UCF	Kansas State
West Virginia		Iowa State

Away Games

2025	2026	2027
Arizona	Utah	BYU
Texas Tech	TCU	Colorado
Iowa State	Oklahoma State	Houston
UCF	Kansas State	Cincinnati
	West Virginia

Non-Conference Opponents

Future schedules are based on official announcements from Kansas.

2025	2026	2027	2028	2029	2030	2031	2032
Fresno State	LIU	at Washington State	at Hawaii	Colgate	Virginia	at Missouri	Missouri
Wagner	Missouri	Louisiana Tech	Lindenwood	at Virginia	at Fresno State	Fresno State	Hawaii
at Missouri	Middle Tennessee		Washington State	Nevada
			at Louisiana Tech

More About Football

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