Despite an up-and-down start, some analysts still believe Kansas has a path to the College Football Playoff.
Although the Jayhawks let Missouri rally from 15 points down, the largest comeback win by an SEC team since 2016, Kansas still showed flashes of potential it can build on this season. According to a CBS article, which ranked where each Power Four team stands on the road to the playoffs the Jayhawks were described as "sitting on the shoulder" meaning “technically alive, but path is long, risky, or dependent entirely on outside chaos."
Quarterback Jalon Daniels has looked solid through three games, throwing for 679 yards. Three Jayhawk transfers have led the way in receiving. Alabama transfer Emmanuel Henderson Jr. tops the list with 183 yards, followed by Ball State’s Cam Pickett with 124 and Albany’s Levi Wentz with 103. Together, the trio has recorded five touchdowns.
One area in which the Jayhawks need to improve on is the running game. Last game, Kansas' running backs combined for just 11 yards. Without any support on the ground, the Jayhawks’ offense became one-dimensional in the border war.
Kansas will look to bounce back against its first Big 12 opponent, West Virginia. The matchup will test the Jayhawks’ resilience and ability to learn from mistakes, qualities essential for any playoff contender.
Bill Self, Kansas In The Running For Son Of NBA Champion For 2026
Kansas has its eyes on Tajh Ariza, a rising scorer in the 2026 class and the son of ex-NBA champion Trevor Ariza.
The Jayhawks offered the five-star wing in December 2023, but his recruitment became priority upon the recent hiring of assistant coach Tony bland in August. Bland previously coached Ariza at St. Bernard High School, where the two spent two seasons together before Ariza transferred and Bland left for Washington.
Now at St. John Bosco High School, Ariza is among the most versatile prospects in the 2026 class. At nearly 6-foot-10 he can score from anywhere on the floor and shows polished fundamentals, no doubt influenced by his father.
The five-star wing is scheduled to take an official visit to Lawrence later this month. Ariza cancelled his scheduled trip to North Carolina this weekend, hosted in-home visits with Kentucky and Texas, and recently completed visits to Oregon and USC.
Beating out programs like USC and Oregon won’t be easy for Kansas being that he is a west coast native. With no 2026 commitments on the board, the Jayhawks may have to throw everything at securing a talent like Ariza.