2023 Kansas Jayhawks football team
The 2023 Kansas Jayhawks football team represents the University of Kansas in the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It is the Jayhawks' 134th season. The Jayhawks play their home games at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas, and compete in the Big 12 Conference. They are led by third-year head coach Lance Leipold. They entered the season with their highest expectations in several years. They were picked 9th out of 14 teams in the conference, their highest selection since the Big 12 eliminated divisions. In the preseason Coaches poll released on August 7, Kansas received a vote to be ranked. It was their first vote in a preseason poll since 2009. They also received 10 votes in the AP poll. They had 4 different players selected to the watch lists of 7 awards and five preseason All-Big 12 selections. Quarterback Jalon Daniels was also named the preseason Player of the Year for the Big 12. The Jayhawks won their first four games to start 4–0 back-to-back seasons for the first time since starting 4–0 three straight seasons from 1913 to 1915. After defeating 6th ranked Oklahoma on October 28, Kansas became bowl eligible for the 2nd consecutive season, the first time being bowl eligible back-to-back seasons since 2007 and 2008. The win also gave the Jayhawks their first win over Oklahoma since 1997, their first win over a top 10 ranked team since defeating 3rd ranked Virginia Tech in the 2008 Orange Bowl, and their first win over a top 10 ranked team at home since defeating 2nd ranked Oklahoma in 1984. Offseason

Coaching staff changes
The Jayhawks did not lose a single member of their coaching staff from the previous season. Starters lost
Starters are based on starters from the final game of the 2022 season. Players listed below have run out eligibility. In total, the Jayhawks had 4 players run out of eligibility. Entered NFL Draft

Transfer portal
Incoming

Outgoing
Transfers listed below are only players who announced intention to transfer after the final regular season game of 2022. Recruiting

Highest rated recruit

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Preseason

Big 12 preseason poll
The Big 12 preseason poll was released on July 6. Kansas was picked 9th in the conference, their first time not being selected in last place since the Big 12 eliminated divisions in 2010. First place votes in parentheses. Preseason awards

QB Jalon Daniels
 1st Team All-Big 12
 Big 12 Player of the Year
 Walter Camp Award watch list
 Davey O'Brien Award watch list
 Manning Award watch list

CB Cobee Bryant
 1st Team All-Big 12
 Jim Thorpe Award watch list
 Bednarik Award watch list

RB Devin Neal
 1st Team All-Big 12
 Doak Walker Award watch list

RB Daniel Hishaw Jr.
 Doak Walker Award watch list

C Mike Novitski
 1st team All-Big 12

Schedule

Roster

Game summaries
Rankings are from AP poll through Oklahoma game and the College Football Playoff poll beginning with the Iowa State game through the end of the season. Missouri State

The Jayhawks were without preseason conference player of the year Jalon Daniels who was still nursing an injury suffered in the Jayhawks bowl game the previous season. After trailing 10–7 early, the Jayhawks never trailed again. They would outscore the Bears 41–7 for the remainder of the game. It was the Jayhawks 3rd straight opening game win. Illinois

The Jayhawks raced out to a 21–0 first half lead before allowing a touchdown, but Kansas responded to their first touchdown allowed with one themselves. The Illini would outscore the Jayhawks in the 2nd half 16-6 but it wouldn't be enough as the Jayhawks won 34–23. at Nevada

Despite entering the game as a 4 touchdown favorite, the Jayhawks struggled early in the game. It was 10–10 at halftime. In the second half, the teams traded touchdowns, but in the end the Jayhawks would score the game winning touchdown with 6 minutes left to win. BYU

Kansas was Big 12 newcomer BYU's first conference game. The teams traded touchdown early before BYU took a 3-point halftime lead. The Jayhawks would go on a 21–3 run to take the lead. Kansas would win 38–27 to start the season 4–0. at No. 3 Texas

The Jayhawks and Longhorns played each other as ranked teams for the first time in the history of the series. It was also the final matchup before Texas leaves the Big 12 for the SEC. Quarterback Jalon Daniels re-aggravated a preseason back injury in warmups and did not play. The Jayhawks kept the game close early, until the second half when they were outscored 27–7 giving the Jayhawks their first loss of the season. UCF

In the Jayhawks first ever meeting with new Big 12 member UCF, they jumped out to an early 31–0 lead despite Jalon Daniels being out for the 2nd straight week. UCF would only manage 3 touchdowns, while the Jayhawks would score 51 points. Their 28 point margin of victory was the largest in a conference game since defeated rival Kansas State by 31 in 2008.

at Oklahoma State

The Jayhawks fell into an early 14–0 deficit. Despite two special teams miscues resulting in mixed extra points, they fought back to gain a 19–17 lead. After trading touchdowns but KU missing a 2-point conversion attempt, the Jayhawks took a slim 2 point into halftime. The Cowboys outscored the Jayhawks 15–7 in the second half, partially due to two interceptions from quarterback Jason Bean leading to the Jayhawks loss. No. 6 Oklahoma

In the last matchup with the Sooners before they leave for the SEC, Kansas got out to a 14–0 lead. Oklahoma responded with a 21–0 run to take a 21–17 lead into halftime. KU would go on a 9–0 run to start the second half. The teams traded touchdowns. Kansas got the ball with 1:56 left. They marched down the field to score the game winning touchdown with 55 seconds left to become bowl eligible. The win was also the Jayhawks first win over Oklahoma since 1997, first win over top 10 team at home since 1984, and first win over a top 10 team period since 2008.

at Iowa State

Rankings

References

Kansas
Kansas Jayhawks football seasons
Kansas Jayhawks football