This season has been rather disappointing for the Kansas Jayhawks football team. However, the team that has taken the field in November and reminded the Big 12 that they can beat anyone when they are on their game. In the past two games, they have knocked off then No. 17 ranked Iowa State and then-No. 6 ranked (and unbeaten) BYU. Finally, although too late for their liking, they are playing like the team most people thought they would be all season.
A turnaround for the Kansas Jayhawks?
One of the major flaws for the team was the amount of turnovers the offense was giving up. Quarterback Jalon Daniels threw eight interceptions and lost two fumbles across the first five games of the season.
In the two wins against ISU and BYU, Daniels had just a single turnover and the team won the turnover battle in both games. While his numbers still aren’t eye popping (274 total yards and 1.5 touchdowns per game in November), his ability to protect the ball has gotten this team back to the level they expected to play at. Over his past five games, he has a touchdown to turnover ratio of 12:3, which has led to the team playing at a much higher level.
A couple of massive plays swung the BYU game in the Jayhawks’ favor. First, a Mello Dotson interception in the endzone thwarted the Cougars’ attempt to take the lead before halftime.
Then, a Daniels’ pooch punt landed directly on the helmet of a BYU blocker. After a failed recovery attempt by another Cougar, Jayhawks wide receiver Quentin Skinner fell on it at the 3-yard line. Running back Devin Neal would punch it in on the very next play, giving the Jayhawks the lead for good.
In past matchups this season, the Jayhawks were on the wrong side of game-changing plays. A mental error on a kickoff led to a safety against Kansas State. A three-and-out with three minutes left against West Virginia led to blowing an 11-point fourth quarter lead. A turnover on downs and a pick-six in the same quarter against Illinois allowed them to take the lead before halftime. However, the tides appear to be turning in favor of the Jayhawks.
Next up, the Buffs
Next up on the “Win or Miss a Bowl Game. Tour” is the Colorado Buffaloes. The Buffs are led by their pair of enigmatic stars. Shedeur Sanders has put together another strong season and is making his case to be the first quarterback drafted this April.
His partner in crime, Travis Hunter, is making his case to hoist the Heisman Trophy in a little less than a month’s time. They are a dynamic duo that will undoubtedly be the focal point of the Jayhawks’ gameplan.
What makes them so dangerous is that they have multiple other weapons that can hurt a defense. Four other receivers have at least 400 yards, and a receiver not named Travis Hunter has led the team in yards in half of their games this season. As good as Hunter is, their offense is certainly not a one-trick pony.
On defense, the leader of the pack is, you guessed it, Travis Hunter. Along with his 900+ receiving yards, he also has eight passes defended, three interceptions, and a forced fumble. However, it’s more than just him making plays on that side of the ball.
Colorado has three other players with multiple interceptions, nine other players with a forced fumble, and six players with at least three sacks. Sanders and Hunter get all of the shine (somewhat justifiably), but this is a complete team that can hurt you from all over the field.
While Colorado might not be the best football team Kansas has faced (although, they might be), they probably have the most talented roster on the Jayhawks schedule. With a home game against Baylor to round out the season, this is the biggest remaining test on the quest to become bowl eligible for the Jayhawks.
On the flip side, Colorado is likely playing for their CFP lives. Having already lost to Nebraska (which looks much worse now with Nebraska’s slide), another loss would put them in a position that would require a Big 12 Championship to make the CFP. While that wouldn’t be out of reach with a loss, a one-loss (regular season) Power 4 Conference runner-up would at least have an argument to get an at-large bid for the CFP.
The Kansas Jayhawks football team have backed themselves into a very tight corner. They have fought their way out over the past couple weeks, but it’s all for not (in terms of making a bowl game) if they slip up against Colorado.
