Welcome to the Ultimate College Football Preview for 2023. Every team in FBS Football will be covered in this daily blog release. All of your favorite teams from the ACC, AAC, Big 12, Big 10, C-USA, MAC, Mountain West, PAC 12, SEC, Sun Belt & even every Independent. Think of these daily college football previews as a cheat sheet going into next year.
2022 Recap:
Each college football preview is different because of history and expectations. Today we have a team that went 6-6 in the regular season san 6-7 after losing a bowl game. Now for most teams that would be considered a bad season. In Lawrence Kansas this was a season of hope. They finally saw a team that was competitive vs. the rest of the Big 12. A team that actually showed signs of life and heart. They have only been to 13 bowl games in 133 years of playing college football. For them to make it last year, albeit they did suffer a loss is a step in the right direction. After this .500 regular season record their is a glimmer of hope that Kansas might not be just a basketball school anymore.
Head Coach:
The reason for all this hope starts and ends with the great hiring of Coach Lance Leipold. If you do not know of Leipold that is because he was in Division 3 football from 2007-2014. He was the head coach of D3 power UW-Whitewater and all he did their in 8 years was win 6 national titles and was runner up the 2 other times. What does that mean? It means he knows how to build a winning program, and how to win. No matter what level to win that much means there is something about you, and you know how to lead players. To further prove that point, after 2014 he moved on to the University of Buffalo. To put things into prospective before Leipold Buffalo went to three bowl games ever in their 106 years a the Division 1 level. Leipold in his 6 years went to three himself winning 2 of the bowl games. He also added 2 MAC east championships while he was there, something that was never accomplished previously by any Buffalo coach. Again proving he is a winner and can turn around programs. This is why the hire of Leipold is huge for Kansas because he can get it done. I truly believe that Leipold and his great offensive mind will get Kansas out off the bottom of the Big 12. After a 2-10 first year, that 6-6 last year already started the turn around process.
Key Players:
Kansas has its most dynamic player coming back in QB Jalon Daniels. In 9 games due to injury Daniels had a 66.1% completion percentage. He threw for 2,014 yards, 18 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Oh and another 425 yards rushing and 7 more touchdowns. If he stays healthy Daniels is a top 3 coach in the Big 12 no doubt about that. To help Daniels with the running game leading rusher Junior Devin Neal is back. Last year he had 1,090 yards, averaging 6.1 yards per carrying and 9 touchdowns. Also he has his boys on the outside coming back to make big plays in the passing game. His four leading pass catchers last year were Lawrence Arnold, Luke Grimm, Quentin Skinner and tight end Mason Fairchild are all back. That is a combined 157 catches for 2,222 yards and 21 touchdowns. That is so much production coming back, their offense is going to be fucking good. Their leading tackler and guy who pops on tape Kenny Logan Jr is back. He had 106 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 2 Ints, 5 Pds and 1 FF from his safety spot. At the linebacker position Craig Young will lead that group after having 60 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, an int and ff. They have to replace their leading sack man in Lonnie Phelps. I believe that will be filled by DE Jereme Robinson who had 8.5 TFLs and 3 sacks himself. Most of the starters are back on defense and are only going to get better this year.
2023 Prediction:
Looking at Kansas’ non-conference schedule it is very favorable. They should easily handle Nevada and Missouri State. The Illinois game is also very winnable because the Illini lost a lot of players last year. At worst 2-1 in the non-conference but most likely 3-0. The home conference games are definitely tough with Kansas State, Oklahoma, BYU, UCF, and Texas Tech. They could go 3-2 in that stretch and at worst 2-3. The road games are Texas, Iowa State, Oklahoma State and Cincy. I think they beat Cincy who will be at the bottom this year. With all the talent back they should get another road win and be 2-2. I think the ceiling is 9-3 and the floor being another 6-6 year which again they are building. I am betting them over 8.5 wins for sure, I think 9 is very gettable for the Jayhawks this year. Who would have thought 5 years ago I have Kansas at 9 wins in a college football preview. Crazy.
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