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 3rd season, 18–21 (.462)
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	9 (1892, 1893, 1895, 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 represents the University of Kansas in college football. They play in the top division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), called Division I FBS. The team is part of the Big 12 Conference and is currently coached by Lance Leipold.

The Jayhawks started playing football in 1890, making them one of the oldest college football teams. Their home games are played at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, which opened in 1921. This stadium is also one of the oldest college football stadiums in the country. In 2014, a running track around the field was removed. A new indoor practice facility was built next to the stadium in 2019, thanks to donations from alumni like David Booth.

As of the end of the 2023 season, the Jayhawks' overall record was 608 wins, 685 losses, and 58 ties. The team had a successful period under coach Mark Mangino, who won 50 games in eight seasons. After Mangino left, the team struggled until 2021, winning only 22 games and often having losing streaks. However, in the 2022 season, they beat 18th-ranked Oklahoma State 37–16, ending a long streak of losses against ranked teams. They also became eligible for a bowl game for the first time since 2008.

Kansas has had many talented players. While they haven't had a Heisman Trophy winner, David Jaynes was a finalist, and John Hadl and Bobby Douglass also received votes. Famous players who went on to the Pro Football Hall of Fame include Gale Sayers, John Riggins, and Mike McCormack. Other great players include All-Americans Nolan Cromwell, Dana Stubblefield, Aqib Talib, and Anthony Collins. Even some Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame members, like Phog Allen and Ralph Miller, were involved with Kansas football. Jim Bausch, an Olympic gold medalist, also played for the team.

The Jayhawks have played in twelve bowl games, including three Orange Bowls (in 1948, 1969, and 2008). They have won nine conference championships, with the most recent being in 1968. Kansas was also part of the first nationally televised college football game in 1952 against TCU.

Kansas was a founding member of the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 1907, which later became the Big Eight Conference. When the Big Eight joined with other teams to form the Big 12 in 1996, Kansas was the only original MVIAA member still in the new conference.

Team History: From Early Days to Today

The Kansas Jayhawks football program began in 1890, making it one of the oldest in the country. The team had a very successful period from 1890 to 1952. During this time, they had four seasons where they didn't lose any games. They won over 300 games, earned several conference championships, and played in important bowl games.

From 1953 to 1968, the Jayhawks continued to do well, sharing three conference titles and playing in more bowl games. However, their overall winning percentage during this time was a bit lower. From 1969 through the 2009 season, the team's winning record dipped. Still, they had some good moments, like finishing in the top 10 of the AP Poll twice. This included a great 12–1 season in 2007, which ended with an Orange Bowl victory.

The team faced significant challenges from 2010 to 2021, with a tough 23–118 record. This period included two of the three winless seasons in the program's history. In 2012, for the first time since 1890, the team's all-time winning percentage dropped below .500. However, things started to change in 2021 with the hiring of coach Lance Leipold, who has greatly improved the team's performance.

Early Years: Building the Program (1890–1947)

The University of Kansas played its first football game in 1890. The team was led by player-coach Will Coleman. Their first game was against Baker University, which was also the first college football game ever played in Kansas. After a short three-game season in 1890, KU played a full schedule in 1891 and did very well, finishing with a 7–0–1 record under coach E. M. Hopkins. The 1891 season also saw the first game against the University of Missouri, starting the long-running Border War rivalry. Kansas won that first game 22–8.

In 1899, Hall-of-Famer Fielding H. Yost coached Kansas for one season, leading them to a perfect 10–0 record. After 1900, Hall-of-Famer John Outland, who had played at KU, returned as head coach in 1901 but had a tough 3–5–2 season. The 1902 season marked the first game against Kansas State, which Kansas won 16–0.

A. R. Kennedy became coach in 1904 and stayed for seven very successful seasons until 1910. Kennedy's record at Kansas was 52–9–4, which is still the most wins for any Kansas head coach. His best season was 1908, when the Jayhawks had another undefeated season (9–0) and won their first major conference championship in the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Kansas hasn't had a perfect season since 1908.

After Kennedy, there were many coaching changes. Herman Olcott had a good three-year run from 1915 to 1917, with a 16–7–1 record. Basketball coach Phog Allen also coached the football team for one year in 1920, finishing 5–2–1. Potsy Clark brought some stability, coaching for five seasons from 1921 to 1925. He later became a successful NFL coach.

Bill Hargiss, known for being one of the first coaches to use the huddle and forward pass, was hired in 1928. He led the team to a Big Six championship in 1930. However, he was fired in 1932. By the end of Hargiss's time, Kansas football had been very successful, with most coaches having winning records. But starting with his successor, Adrian Lindsey, the team began to struggle more often.

Adrian Lindsey, a KU alum, coached from 1932 to 1938, with an overall record of 23–30–8. In 1939, Gwinn Henry, a former coach for rival Missouri, took over but had a difficult 9–27 record and was fired in 1942. Henry Shenk followed, but his teams also struggled to achieve winning records.

George Sauer coached for only two years (1946–1947) but made a big impact. Both of his teams won a share of the Big Six Conference titles, with records of 7–2–1 and 8–1–2. His 1947 team was invited to KU's first bowl game, the Orange Bowl. Even though they lost 20–14 to Georgia Tech, Kansas finished the season ranked No. 12, their first time appearing in a final poll. Sauer then left for Navy. His 15–3–3 record gave him the highest winning percentage since A. R. Kennedy. He was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player.

Jules Sikes coached Kansas from 1948 to 1953. He had several winning seasons, including 7–3 in 1948 and 1952, and 8–2 in 1951. However, a tough 2–8 season in 1953 led to his firing. His final record was 35–25.

Mid-Century Success and Challenges

Chuck Mather became the head coach in 1954. His first season was 0–10, the first time KU had a winless season. Mather struggled throughout his time, leaving in 1957 with an 11–26–3 record.

Jack Mitchell took over in 1958. He coached for nine seasons, with a record of 44–42–5. He led Kansas to 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. Many saw Mitchell as a key figure in improving the Jayhawk football program.

Pepper Rodgers became head coach after Mitchell retired. Rodgers led the Jayhawks to the Big Eight Conference title in 1968, which is Kansas's most recent conference championship. That year, the team finished 9–2 and played in the Orange Bowl (losing a close 15–14 game to Penn State). They finished ranked No. 6 and No. 7 in the polls. Rodgers finished with a 20–22 record in four seasons before leaving for UCLA.

The 1970s and 1980s: Ups and Downs

Longtime Kansas assistant coach Don Fambrough became head coach in 1971. In his first period as head coach, his only winning season was in 1973, when the Jayhawks finished 7–4–1 and played in the Liberty Bowl. Kansas finished that season ranked No. 15 and No. 18. Fambrough resigned after the 1974 season.

Fambrough returned as head coach in 1979. His second time as coach is best known for the 1981 season, where the Jayhawks had an 8–4 record and played in the All-American Bowl. Fambrough was fired after the 1982 season. His total record at KU was 37–48–5 over eight seasons. In 1983, Kansas faced penalties from the NCAA due to recruiting issues involving one of Fambrough's assistants.

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, ending the Sooners' 37-game winning streak. After beating Missouri, the Jayhawks went to the Sun Bowl, finishing the season 7–5. Moore was the first KU coach since Jack Mitchell to have back-to-back winning seasons. However, after a tough 1–10 season in 1978, Moore was fired.

In 1983, KU hired Mike Gottfried. Gottfried's teams showed some improvement, with records of 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 struggled, with a 4–17–1 record in two seasons. He was fired at the end of the 1987 season.

The Glen Mason Era (1988–1995)

KU hired Glen Mason in late 1987. Mason brought new hope to the football program. He led the team to four winning seasons in his nine years and won two bowl games: the 1992 Aloha Bowl and the 1995 Aloha Bowl. These were Kansas's first bowl victories since 1961. In those successful years, the Jayhawks finished 8–4 and 10–2. The 10–2 record tied a school record for most wins in a single season, first set in 1899.

In 1995, Mason first accepted a job at Georgia but then decided to stay with the Jayhawks for the Aloha Bowl. However, he left for Minnesota one season later. His final record at Kansas was 47–54–1.

A Period of Decline

Coach Terry Allen took over after Glen Mason. Despite hopes for continued success, 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.

The Mark Mangino Era (2002–2009)

The Jayhawks hired Mark Mangino in late 2001. The team had not had a winning season in the six years before he arrived. Mangino, known for his intense coaching style, brought success that previous coaches hadn't. In 2003, his second season, he led the Jayhawks to the 2003 Tangerine Bowl, their first bowl game since 1995.

In 2005, his fourth season, the team finished the regular season 6–5, earning its first winning record under Mangino. They then played in the 2005 Fort Worth Bowl. Among their wins was a 40–15 victory over Nebraska, ending a losing streak against them that had lasted since 1969. Mangino also built a strong defense that year.

In 2007, Mangino coached the Jayhawks to an amazing 12–1 record and a trip to the 2008 Orange Bowl. The Jayhawks defeated Virginia Tech 24–21 in that game, marking their first and only BCS Bowl Game appearance and victory. Mangino's defense was ranked 12th nationally, and their offense, led by Quarterback Todd Reesing, was second in scoring.

After a win against Iowa State, Mark Mangino became the first KU football coach with a winning career record since Jack Mitchell in 1966. During his time at Kansas, Mangino led the Jayhawks to 19 consecutive weeks in the national polls and achieved the school's highest-ever ranking at No. 2. He also led the team to 20 wins in a two-year period for the first time in school history. Mangino won three bowl games, matching the total number of bowl wins in the program's entire 102-year history before his arrival. He also won the 2005 Fort Worth Bowl and the 2008 Insight Bowl.

With 50 victories, Mangino has the second-most wins in Kansas coaching history. He received many coach of the year awards in 2007, including AFCA Coach of the Year and AP Coach of the Year.

In 2009, the Jayhawks started 5–0 but lost their final seven games, finishing 5–7. In November 2009, there were concerns about Mangino's behavior towards his players. After discussions, the university and Mangino agreed for him to resign in December 2009.

Mangino's final record at KU was 50–48. He was the first head football coach to leave the Jayhawks with an overall winning record since Jack Mitchell in 1966.

Another Period of Struggle

On December 13, 2009, Turner Gill was hired as 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 seven games under Mangino.

On September 4, 2010, Gill lost his first home game as Kansas coach to North Dakota State. However, 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 season started 2–0 but ended with a 10-game losing streak.

Sheahon Zenger, the KU athletics director at the time, fired Gill after just two seasons. Gill's overall record was 5–19.

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's 2012 team finished with a 1–11 record. In 2013, the 3–9 Jayhawks ended a 27-game Big 12 Conference losing streak with a 31–19 home victory over West Virginia. Weis was fired on September 28, 2014, for "lack of on-field progress" after four games into the 2014 season. His teams had an overall record of 6–22. Defensive coordinator Clint Bowen became the interim head coach, finishing 1–7.

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

The 2018 season started with a home loss but included road wins against Central Michigan and Rutgers. The win against Central Michigan ended a 46-game road losing streak. Kansas also got their first Big 12 win of the season against TCU.

On November 4, 2018, it was announced that Beaty would be fired at the end of the season. Beaty's record was 6–42 over four seasons.

On November 18, 2018, former Oklahoma State and LSU head coach Les Miles was hired. Miles had a strong coaching background, including winning a national championship at LSU. His first season ended 3–9. His second season, shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, was 0–9. Miles left the program in March 2021 due to past misconduct allegations from his time at LSU.

The Leipold Resurgence (2021–Present)

Lance Leipold was hired on April 30, 2021. He had little time to prepare for the season. The Jayhawks won their first game under Leipold, defeating 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 with a 57–56 overtime victory over the Texas Longhorns.

A New Era of Success

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, winning their first conference opener since 2009. After starting the 2022 season 3–0, Kansas began receiving votes to be ranked for the first time since 2009. The next week, they entered the polls at No. 19 after starting 5–0. The Jayhawks finished the regular season 6–6 and played Arkansas in the 2022 Liberty Bowl, their first bowl appearance since 2009. Arkansas won a close game 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 had started 4–0 in back-to-back seasons since 1913-1915. Four weeks later, the Jayhawks defeated Oklahoma.

The win over Oklahoma was very important: It was Kansas's first home win over a top-10 ranked team since 1984, their first win over Oklahoma since 1997, and their first win over a top-10 opponent since the 2008 Orange Bowl. This victory also made Kansas eligible for a bowl game for the second season in a row, only the third time in program history. On December 26, 2023, Kansas defeated the UNLV Rebels 49–36 in the 2023 Guaranteed Rate Bowl, earning the team's first bowl victory since 2008. Quarterback Jason Bean had an outstanding game, throwing for six touchdowns and 449 yards, setting new Kansas bowl records.

Memorable Games in Jayhawks History

• November 22, 1890: Kansas played its first game ever against Baker, which was also the first college football game in Kansas. Kansas lost 22–9.
• December 8, 1890: Kansas won its first game in program history, beating Baker 14–12.
• October 31, 1891: Kansas played Missouri for the first time, starting the Border War rivalry. Kansas won 22–8.
• December 22, 1891: Kansas tied Washington University 6–6, completing their first undefeated season (7–0–1).
• November 26, 1892: Kansas beat rival Missouri 12–4 to win their first Conference Championship.
• November 30, 1899: Kansas defeated rival Missouri 34–6 to finish the season 10–0, their first undefeated and untied season.
• October 7, 1902: Kansas played its first game against Kansas State in the Sunflower Showdown rivalry. Kansas won 16–0.
• November 26, 1908: Kansas finished the season undefeated by beating rival Missouri 10–4, winning 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 scored a program record 86 points against South Dakota, winning 86–6.
• January 1, 1948: Kansas played in its first bowl game, the 1948 Orange Bowl, losing to Georgia Tech 20–14.
• December 17, 1961: Kansas defeated Rice 33–7 in the 1961 Bluebonnet Bowl for their first bowl game victory.
• September 8, 1984: Kansas defeated Wichita State 31–7 in their final game against Wichita State before the school stopped its football program.
• October 9, 2004: Kansas defeated rival Kansas State 31–28, ending an 11-game losing streak to them.
• November 5, 2005: Kansas defeated Nebraska 40–15, ending a 36-game losing streak to them.
• November 3, 2007: 8th-ranked Kansas defeated Nebraska 76–39, the most points they had scored since 1947 and the most points Nebraska had ever allowed.
• November 17, 2007: The 4th-ranked Jayhawks defeated Iowa State 45–7 to start their season 11–0 for the first time ever. Kansas was then ranked No. 2, their highest ranking in program history.
• 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 Kansas'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, their first win over Texas since 1938.
• September 8, 2018: Kansas defeated Central Michigan on the road, ending a 46-game road losing streak.
• November 13, 2021: Kansas defeated Texas in Austin for the first time in program history in overtime, 57–56. This also ended a 56-game conference road losing streak.
• October 1, 2022: Kansas defeated Iowa State 14–11, starting 5–0 for the first time since 2009. This earned the Jayhawks a top-20 ranking.
• October 8, 2022: Kansas hosted College Gameday for the first time. Kansas lost to No. 17 TCU 38–31.
• November 5, 2022: Kansas defeated No. 18 Oklahoma State 37–16, becoming bowl eligible for the first time since 2018.
• December 28, 2022: Kansas played in their first bowl game since 2008 against Arkansas in the Liberty Bowl. Kansas lost in triple overtime, 53–55.
• October 28, 2023: Kansas defeated No. 6 Oklahoma 38–33, their first win over the Sooners since 1997. This improved their record to 6–2, their best start since 2008.
• December 26, 2023: Kansas defeated UNLV in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl 49–36, marking their first bowl victory since 2008. Quarterback Jason Bean was named MVP.
• November 16, 2024: Kansas defeated No. 6 BYU in Provo, their first top-10 road victory ever.

Conference Affiliations: Where Kansas Has Played

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

*While there is an active FCS conference with the name Missouri Valley, it is officially and legally a separate entity from the MVIAA. Both previously mentioned Missouri Valley Conferences are also separate entities from the Missouri Valley Conference.

Championships: Winning Titles

Conference Championships

Kansas has won nine conference championships:

Year	Conference	Coach	Conference record
1892	WIUFA	A. W. Shepard	3–0
1893†			2–1
1895†		Hector Cowan	2–1
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

Division Championships

The Big 12 Conference 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 Games: Postseason Appearances

The Jayhawks have played in 14 bowl games, winning 7 and losing 7. They won their only BCS Bowl game, the 2008 Orange Bowl. The longest time Kansas has gone without a bowl game is 12 years, which happened 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

Rivalries: Big Games Against Other Teams

Missouri: The Border War

The University of Kansas has a long-standing rivalry with the Missouri Tigers. This rivalry has been on hold since Missouri moved to the Southeastern Conference in 2012. Missouri currently leads the series 57-54-9.

Before it became inactive, this was known as the oldest rivalry west of the Mississippi River. They played almost every year from 1891 to 2011. The rivalry was called the "Border War," named after real conflicts during the Civil War between "Jayhawkers" from Kansas and "Bushwhackers" from Missouri. In 2004, the rivalry was officially renamed the "Border Showdown," but many still used the historical name. The winner of the game used to receive a traveling trophy called the Indian War Drum.

In 1911, over 1,000 people in Lawrence, Kansas, watched a "mechanical reproduction" of the game while it was being played. A telegraph wire sent updates from Missouri, and people used a large model of a football field to show the plays, cheering as if they were at the actual game.

Kansas State: The Sunflower Showdown

Kansas also has a rivalry with the Kansas State Wildcats called the Sunflower Showdown. The winner of the football game receives the Governor's Cup. Kansas leads the series 64-53-5, but Kansas State has won most of the recent games. As of 2023, Kansas is on a 16-game losing streak against Kansas State.

The two teams first played in 1902 and have played every year since 1911. This makes it the fifth-longest continuous rivalry in NCAA college football history.

Nebraska: A Long-Standing Rivalry

The Kansas-Nebraska series was the longest uninterrupted rivalry in college football until Nebraska left for the Big Ten Conference in 2011. Kansas and Nebraska first met in 1892 and played annually from 1906 to 2010.

Kansas has a tough all-time record against Nebraska (23–90–3). From 1969 to 2004, Nebraska won 36 games in a row against Kansas. This long streak ended on November 5, 2005, when Kansas defeated Nebraska 40–15. They beat Nebraska again 76–39 in 2007. This 2007 game saw Kansas score the most points ever against Nebraska.

Team Records and Statistics

In the Polls: How Kansas Has Been Ranked

The Jayhawks have finished ranked in the AP poll eight times. They have appeared in the poll at some point in 19 different seasons. In the 2007 season, the Jayhawks reached a No. 2 ranking in the AP poll and BCS rankings, which is the highest the team has ever been ranked. Their highest postseason ranking was 7th for the 2007 season. In 2023, Kansas was ranked in the College Football Playoff poll for the first time.

AP Poll Rankings

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	–	–	–

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

Notable Players: Jayhawks Who Made a Mark

First-Team AP All-Americans

• 1947– Ray Evans, RB
• 1947– Otto Schnellbacher, WR
• 1951– George Mrkonic, G
• 1952– Ollie Spencer, T
• 1960– John Hadl, RB
• 1961– John Hadl, QB
• 1963– Gale Sayers, RB
• 1964– Gale Sayers, RB
• 1968– Bobby Douglass, QB
• 1968– John Zook, DE
• 1973– David Jaynes, QB
• 2007– Anthony Collins, T
• 2007– Aqib Talib, CB

Heisman Trophy Voting

Kansas has never had a Heisman Trophy winner, but three players have received votes. Quarterback David Jaynes was the only Heisman finalist from the program.

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 at Memorial Stadium celebrates Kansas All-Americans and other players who made important contributions to the football program.

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

Coaches in University of Kansas Athletics Hall of Fame

Former Kansas football coaches are 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 Numbers

No.	Player	Position	Career
21	John Hadl	QB/RB	1959–61
42	Ray Evans	RB/DB	1941–42, 1946–47
48	Gale Sayers	RB	1962–64

College Football Hall of Fame Inductees

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

Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductees

Year	Player	Position
1977	Gale Sayers	HB
1984	Mike McCormack	OT
1992	John Riggins	RB

Canadian Football League Hall of Fame Inductees

Year	Player	Position
2005	Willie Pless	LB
2019	Jon Cornish	RB

Former Players in Other Fields

Player	Position	Career	Occupation
Bob Dole	End	1941–44	Politician
Bud Adams	QB	1942	Businessman
Keith Loneker	G	1989–92	Actor
Micah Brown	WR	2005–08	Filmmaker

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers

Two people in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame have been connected 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

Here are some former Kansas football players currently on an active NFL roster:

• Hakeem Adeniji, T, Cleveland Browns
• Dorance Armstrong, DE, Washington Commanders
• Earl Bostick, T, Dallas Cowboys
• Kyron Johnson, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
• Lonnie Phelps, DE, Cleveland Browns
• Dominick Puni, G, San Francisco 49ers

UFL Players

• Logan Klusman, LS, Houston Roughnecks
• Bruce Torneden, S, Michigan Panthers
• Daniel Wise, DT, Michigan Panthers
• Pooka Williams Jr., RB, DC Defenders

Jayhawks as Coaches

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

Head Coaches: Leading the Team

The Jayhawks have had 38 official head coaches. The current head coach since 2021 is Lance Leipold. The team has played over 1200 games in its 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), and he and Jack Mitchell are tied for the most years coached (nine). A. R. Kennedy has the most wins with 52. Wylie G. Woodruff has the best winning percentage among coaches who coached more than one year (.833). Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member and longtime Kansas men's basketball coach Phog Allen also coached the football team in 1920, with a 5–2–1 record.

Only a few coaches, like Cowan and Yost, have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Mark Mangino received nine different coach of the year awards in 2007 for his outstanding season.

Future Opponents: Who's Next for the Jayhawks?

Conference Games

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 Games

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