Move over folks, there’s a new sheriff in town.
What a time to be alive! The Kansas FOOTBALL Jayhawks are in the preseason top-25 and even received some first-place votes in the conference preseason polls! No longer are we talking ourselves into, well, maybe KU can win three or four games this year… NO. Those times are gone. Now the question is, can KU win 9 or 10 games this year?
And I’m not even kidding. Primarily due to the way the roster has come together and the way the schedule falls, Kansas has a legitimate shot at winning every game on its schedule this year and participating in the first ever 12-team college football playoff.
Now, normally, this kind of talk is crazy talk. But you know what? This year, it’s actually legitimate. Don’t believe me? Ask Rece Davis. There are obviously some big “Ifs” this year, but:
- IF Jalon Daniels (and Devin Neal) stay healthy…
- IF the defensive line comes together…
- IF there’s a smooth transition after losing OC Kotelnicki…
- THEN this could truly be a fantastic season.
But this is not that article. This is more whimsical, more fun, because OF COURSE the Jayhawks will win out. In fact, we’re going all the way baby!
And if you don’t believe it, then you can go hang out over at BOTC with all the other miserable people, because here is how it’s going to go down.
vs Lindenwood
The Lions were picked to finish 8th in the 9-team Ohio Valley Conference this fall. That’s… not good. But consider – their football program began in 1990 (hey! the same year as K-State!) and they played NAIA ball until 2010. From 2011-2021 they played at the D2 level, eventually making the transition to FCS in 2022.
Despite their progress over the last 34 years, this once again brings to mind Georgia Tech vs Cumberland College (1916); the Yellowjackets won 222-0. With Jalon Daniels and Devin Neal looking for a Heisman invite, I fully expect the Jayhawks to score 32 touchdowns on their way to a new record and a huge victory.
Kansas 224, Lindenwood 0
at Illinois
KU is now 2-1 all-time vs Illinois after last year’s statement win, and I don’t expect the Illini to be able to tie up the all-time series before KU’s imminent move to the Big 10. The offensive theme for the season continues with a big Jayhawk W.
Kansas 81, Illinois 30
vs UNLV
For the second year in a row KU will play UNLV, only this time it won’t be a bowl game and the Rebels will have to deal with the raucous atmosphere inside the cozy confines of Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, KS. Let’s just say they it won’t go well for them.
Kansas 46, UNLV 3
at Western Virginia
Still can’t figure out why these guys are in the Big 12? The ‘Hawks are just 2-10 against WVU all-time, but are coming off the overtime victory that really jump-started the Leipold era back in 2022. The first time these two squads met as conference foes back in 2012 and it didn’t go well for Kansas; well well well, how the turntables…
Kansas 59, WVU 10
vs TCU
Close but no cigar has been KU’s recipe against TCU lately. Well, except for the time they had the running clock on national television. Boy, THAT wasn’t embarrassing or anything. Revenge is a dish best served cold, and, well OK, so it’s usually not very cold in Kansas at the end of September, so, I dunno, maybe they could really crank down the A/C in the visitors locker room or something.
Kansas 43, TCU 0 (running clock in 4th quarter)
at Arizona State
Arizona State is known as a party school, yes? Well folks – it’s time for Jayhawk fans to party. The Sun Devils aren’t going to be able to slow down our righteous march to the promised land.
Kansas 66, ASU 6
vs Houston
Ugh, these guys again? KU is 4-0 all-time against Houston and they sure ain’t losing to them this year either.
Kansas 50, Houston 0
at Kansas State
KU was a dropped pick-6 away last year from ending the purple terror’s reign over Lawrence. ‘Cats have now won 15 in a row against us, the longest streak in the series, and it has been SO ANNOYING. This year it finally, mercifully, comes to an end, although perhaps not easily.
Kansas 15, KSU 0
vs Iowa State
No doubt Arrowhead will resemble Jack Trice South for this one, as Iowa State fans will take any excuse to come to KC to party. Honestly who could blame them? If I lived in Iowa I would take every chance I had to leave the state as well. The ‘Clones will present a challenge, but KU will take the W in the end by a score that eerily resembles the all-time series record.
Kansas 42, ISU 33
at BYU
Ah, another Big 12 school that KU is undefeated against! Obviously, we can’t let that streak end this year either. KU was supposed to end BYU’s program with a statement win last year; apparently that wasn’t good enough, so, we’ll try again.
Kansas 76, BYU 27
vs Colorado
Remember the last time KU and CU played? The ‘Hawks trailed 45-17 with 14:52 left in the 4th quarter. KU then scored 35 points in the final frame to notch the huge comeback victory. I don’t care what he said after the TCU game last year, I’m not a believer in Deion, and this might be the second consecutive Colorado-KU game that gets a coach fired. Let’s see, at 35 points per quarter, that’s gonna make it…
Kansas 140, Deion 14
at Baylor
It still really bothers me that these guys still have a football program. (Blank) Baylor.
Kansas eleventy billion, Baylor thoughts and prayers
–
At this point in the season, the Jayhawks are 12-0 and ranked #1 in the country because everyone else has at least two losses already. All that’s left is a conference championship game and the college football playoff. But after dominating a season like this, are you really going to continue to doubt them?
Big 12 Championship – Utah
The Jayhawks and Utes haven’t met up since 1996, which if I remember right, the Utah win on that day was considered a bit of an upset. Time for revenge.
Kansas 45, Utah 42
–
Let’s not overthink the rest of this. We’ll go by the AP’s preseason top-25, adjusted by the fact that KU will be #1 by this time, and assuming all favorites advance.
Quarterfinals – Notre Dame
These two haven’t met since 1999, probably because Kansas has only taken on the Fighting Irish six times. The ‘Hawks have prevailed just once in those six matchups, way back in the first-ever meeting in 1904. Well guess what, it ain’t 1904 anymore. Heck, it ain’t even 1999 anymore. Call it the Dylen Smith revenge game.
Kansas 48, Notre Dame 13
Semifinals – Oregon
Fun fact – KU has never lost a football game to Oregon (1-0-1). Another fun fact – it ain’t happening here either.
Kansas 26, Oregon 17
National Championship Game – Georgia
Georgia was on track for a second-straight appearance in the title game last year until a 3-point loss to Alabama in the SEC title game knocked them out of contention for a spot in the four-team playoff. The Bulldogs promptly went out and laid into Florida State in the Orange Bowl. Unfortunately for UGA, this one is gonna get just as ugly. KU can’t stop won’t stop.
Kansas 63, Georgia 3