2024 Top 25 Countdown: Can No. 25 Kansas Defy Odds Again?

· Jul 29 - 5 minutes read

Keeping dynamic quarterback Jalon Daniels healthy is the top priority for Kansas.
The Jayhawks return their top rusher and receiver as they eye the program’s first conference title since 1968.
The defense needs to show improvement for Kansas to take the next step
Check out reasons why Kansas is sitting at No. 25 in the BetUS sportsbook list of the Top 25 college football teams in 2024.

There’s some optimism in Lawrence, Kansas, and it has little to do with the men’s basketball program.

2024 Top 25 Countdown: Can No. 25 Kansas Defy Odds Again? — Jalon Daniels #6 of the Kansas Jayhawks/ Ed Zurga/Getty Images/AFP

The Kansas football team had its first winning season since 2008 and finished in the Top 25 in both national polls. The BetUS college football countdown begins with Kansas coming in at No. 25 heading into the 2024 season.

The college football futures odds have Kansas priced at +600 to be among the 12 teams invited to take part in the College Football Playoff field with +15000 odds of winning the national championship.

With 30 seniors returning, there are plenty of pro prospects for the Jayhawks.

11 Jayhawks on the Shrine Bowl 1000 ⭐️👀

📰 https://t.co/bE0rSRModX #RockChalk pic.twitter.com/uT5SBXjEfP

— Kansas Football (@KU_Football) July 23, 2024

Kansas received five first-place votes and was picked to finish four in the Big 12 preseason poll even if the Jayhawks were fifth in the Big 12 title odds.

Keep reading for more on the Kansas Jayhawks as the list of the top 25 college football teams gets underway.

Kansas Jayhawks

2023 record: 9-4
2022 SEC record: 5-4
Head coach: Lance Leipold
Odds to win Big 12 Conference title: +900

The Jayhawks were pretty quiet when it came to working the transfer portal. Michigan State edge rusher Bai Jobe, Iowa State tight end DeShawn Hanika, Iowa State offensive lineman Darrell Simmons, Texas A&M offensive lineman Bryce Foster and Michigan offensive tackle Amir Herring lead the 11 incoming transfers.

The addition of the offensive linemen is crucial as the Jayhawks need to keep quarterback Jalon Daniels healthy after he was limited to 12 games over the previous two seasons. Running back Devin Neal returns after back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons along with top receiver Lawrence Arnold.

Loving the lofty goals set by @Dev_Neal23 for the ‘24 season. Can’t wait to watch him and his teammates go chase them. Here’s to a legacy-cementing final year for a Lawrence legend. #kufball pic.twitter.com/RFob9cwjhb

— Brian Hanni (@BHanni) July 11, 2024

Kansas could be led by defensive backs Cobee Bryant and Mello Dotson as both landed on the All-Big 12 first-team preseason squad. Dotson returned two of his four interceptions for touchdowns last season while Bryant also had four interceptions.

Kansas was fourth in the Big 12 in total defense but just eighth in scoring defense. The Jayhawks ranked last in the Big 12 in red-zone defense with opponents scoring on 49 of 50 red-zone drives and getting touchdowns 70% of the time. If Kansas improves in that area, watch out for the Jayhawks.

Kansas was 5-2 at home last season and 3-1 as a home favorite. The Jayhawks were second only to rival Kansas State with an 8-5 record versus the college football betting line. Seven of the 13 games for the Jayhawks landed over the total last season.

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Kansas 2024 Outlook

Things will look much different in the Big 12 this year with perennial Big 12 title contenders Oklahoma and Texas now in the SEC while Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah left the Pac-12 to join the Big 12.

Kansas is fifth at +900 in the odds of winning the Big 12 title. The last time the Kansas football team won a conference title was in 1968, when Pepper Rodgers coached the Jayhawks to the Big Eight championship.

Kansas does not face three of the four teams with shorter odds of winning the Big 12 title during the regular season.

The toughest non-conference matchup could come on the road against Illinois on Sept. 7. The Oct. 26 clash with rival Kansas State is a huge test for the Jayhawks

Kansas hasn’t won at Kansas State since 2007. The last two trips to Manhattan resulted in 47-27 and 55-14 losses. The most intriguing home game could come on Nov. 23 when Colorado comes to town. Colorado is led by quarterback Shedeur Sanders, one of the front-runners to be the top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Daniels offers good value at +3500 in the odds of winning the Heisman Trophy. Keep in mind that Big 12 newcomers Arizona State and Colorado ranked near the bottom in passing defense in the Pac-12 a season ago. Also, the Jayhawks play four of the five returning Big 12 teams who allowed the most passing yards per game in 2023.

Kansas is priced by the sportsbook odds at +120 to go over 8½ wins during the regular season.

Kansas 2024 Schedule

Aug. 29 vs Lindenwood
Sept. 7 at Illinois
Sept. 13 vs UNLV
Sept. 21 at West Virginia
Sept. 28 vs TCU
Oct. 5 at Arizona State
Oct. 19 vs Houston
Oct. 26 at Kansas State
Nov. 9 vs Iowa State
Nov. 16 at BYU
Nov. 23 vs Colorado
Nov. 30 at Baylor

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Questions Of The Day

When was the last time Kansas had back-to-back winning seasons?

Mark Mangino led the Jayhawks to a 12-1 record and Orange Bowl victory in 2007 when the Jayhawks finished tied for first in the Big 12 North Division. Kansas was 8-5 the following season.