Kansas has fallen in ESPN’s Football Power Index after its loss to rival Missouri.
The Jayhawks dropped to No. 34 in the nation and No. 6 in the Big 12, carrying an FPI score of 8.8. They had cracked the top 25 last week after opening the season with wins over Fresno State and Wagner, but the Border War loss knocked them back down.
"We have work to do, that's the biggest thing," said coach Lance Leipold following the loss. "When you play against good teams like this that have a fine football team with a lot of weapons just like we talked about all week, and you saw them all get utilized today, whether it be the tight end, the backs, the receiver, the quarterback makes plays with his legs. So, everything we thought they were."
One of Kansas’ biggest areas for improvement is its running game. The Jayhawks’ running backs managed just 11 yards against Missouri, and without support on the ground, the offense became predictable, leading to short drives in the second half.
Kansas will be favored in its first three conference games, starting with West Virginia after the bye week. The Jayhawks will need to build momentum at home before a tough road trip to Lubbock to face a Texas Tech team that has looked strong so far.
Analysts Say Kansas' Playoff Hopes Are A Longshot, But Alive
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.