Kansas Football: Way-too-early game-by-game predictions for 2020

Les Miles will look to take Kansas football to its first bowl game since 2008 in his second year in Lawerence. How will the Jayhawks fare in 2020? rnThe Kansas Jayhawks are coming off a 3-9 season in 2019 as the first year of the Les Miles era in Lawerence.rnrnWhile it was another long year for the Jayhawks, the team did show some signs of improvement as they defeated ACC foe Boston College on the road, took down conference foe Texas Tech and nearly pulled off a massive upset in Austin over Texas .rnrnIn 2020, the Jayhawks will return much of their roster from a year ago and enter the second year of the Miles era as he looks to rebuild the laughing stock of Power Five Football into a. winner.rnrnCan Miles improve Kansas' win total in year two? Here's a way-too-early game-by game projection.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Games%201-2" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_181076" align="aligncenter" width="3200"] Carter Stanley, Kansas football (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)[/caption]rnrn[draft_pick rank="1" firstname="New Hampshire" lastname="Wildcats" position="Sept. 5" school="Lawrence (Kan.)" league="5" division="Select" team="team" link_text="Scouting Report" link_text2="Pick Analysis" /]rnrnThe Jayhawks will open up the 2020 season by hosing the New Hampshire Wildcats of the FCS. New Hampshire is coming off a 6-5 season and lost both of their games against FBS foes in Colorado and Florida International.rnrnThere haven't been any 'gimmes' for the Jayhawks during their programs long rebuilding process as they've lost to FCS foes such as Nicholls State and South Dakota State in recent years.rnrnWith Miles at the helm, however, the Jayhawks likely won't fall to a New Hampshire program that hasn't had any luck against even the lower levels of the FBS.rnrn Final Score: Kansas 31, New Hampshire 20 (1-0)rnrn[draft_pick rank="2" firstname="Baylor" lastname="Bears" position="Sept. 12" school="Waco (Texas)" league="5" division="70" team="860" link_text="Scouting Report" link_text2="Pick Analysis" /]rnrnKansas will open Big 12 Conference play with a tall task as they'll travel to Waco to take on the Baylor Bears .rnrnBaylor went 11-3 in 2019 with an 11-1 regular season. Two of their losses came to Oklahoma and the other to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. While the Bears lost head coach Matt Ruhle to the NFL, they found perhaps the perfect replacement in LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda .rnrnFor the Jayhawks, it's almost impossible to predict they'll be able to upset one of the conferences best teams' early in the season on the road. This game should be a beneficial learning experience but not a fun one for Kansas.rnrn Final Score: Baylor 42, Kansas 17 (1-1, 0-1 Big 12)rnrn[nextslide teaser="Games%203-4" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_181077" align="aligncenter" width="3200"] Les Miles, Kansas football (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)[/caption]rnrn[draft_pick rank="3" firstname="Boston College" lastname="Eagles" position="Sept. 19" school="Lawrence (Kan.)" league="5" division="67" team="826" link_text="Scouting Report" link_text2="Pick Analysis" /]rnrnLast season, Les Miles announced his return to college football by leading his Jayhawks to a massive upset victory over Boston College in Chestnut Hill. The two teams will complete their series in 2020 when the Eagles travel West to Lawerence for a Week 3 matchup.rnrnThe Eagles will be under new leadership in 2020 as Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley was hired as the program's new head coach. He and the Eagles will be entering a rebuilding stage with several players, including star running back A.J. Dillon gone and a new coaching staff in play, which could make this a winnable game for the Jayhawks.rnrnWith home field, the Jayhawks could even enter the matchup as favorites, but it's hard to predict them sweeping a series from a power-five foe this early in the Miles era.rnrn Final Score: Boston College 27, Kansas 20 (1-2, 0-1)rnrn[draft_pick rank="4" firstname="Coastal Carolina" lastname="Chanticleers" position="Sept. 26" school="Conway (S.C.)" league="5" division="Select" team="team" link_text="Scouting Report" link_text2="Pick Analysis" /]rnrnIn Week 4, the Jayhawks will look to avenge a 2019 home loss when they travel to the East Coast to take on the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers.rnrnCoastal Carolina upset the Jayhawks with a 12-7 victory in Lawrence in 2019 to hand coach Miles his first loss as Jayhawks head coach. The Chanticleers went onto finish the season 5-7 and just 2-6 in Sun Belt play as they missed out on a bowl game.rnrnThis game will be important for Kansas not just to get revenge and pickup a road win but prove that their program is indeed improving. Thus, the Jayhawks should be to find a win.rnrn Final Score: Kansas 31, Costal Carolina 23 (2-2, 0-1)rnrn[nextslide teaser="Games%205-6" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_181079" align="aligncenter" width="3200"] La'Michael Pettway of Iowa State football is tackled by Kyle Mayberry, Mike Lee and Najee Stevens-McKenzie of Kansas football (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)[/caption]rnrn[draft_pick rank="5" firstname="Iowa State" lastname="Cyclones" position="Oct. 3" school="Lawrence (Kan.)" league="5" division="70" team="837" link_text="Scouting Report" link_text2="Pick Analysis" /]rnrnThe Jayhawks will play host to Iowa State on Oct. 3 to kick off eight straight weeks of Big 12 play. Matt Campbell and the Cyclones continue to improve seemingly each year as they've played in three straight bowl games, including taking on powerhouse Notre Dame in the 2019 Camping World Bowl.rnrnLast season, the Cyclones took down the Jayhawks 41-31 in Ames, but Kansas did enter the fourth quarter with a 24-21 lead. Thus, this game may be a bit closer with the Jayhawks having home field, but it's hard to pick them over one of the top quarterbacks in the conference in Brock Purdy and a rising Cyclones program.rnrn Final Score: Iowa State 35, Kansas 30 (2-3, 0-2)rnrn[draft_pick rank="6" firstname="Kansas State" lastname="Wildcats" position="Oct. 10" school="Manhattan (Kan.)" league="5" division="70" team="823" link_text="Scouting Report" link_text2="Pick Analysis" /]rnrnIt's hard to remember the Jayhawks actually lead the all-time series with instate foe Kansas State by a wide 64–47-5 margin given how the Wildcats have owned them the last decade.rnrnThe Wildcats have won each of the 11 matchups with Kansas with just two games being within one possession and a 38-10 victory in Lawerence a year ago. Could this be the year the Jayhawks finally breakthrough? It just might be.rnrnKansas State's offensive line is quite inexperienced with many veterans gone and they have also struggled at getting to the quarterback in recent years. If the Jayhawks can find ways to apply pressure and take advantage of time to throw, they may just pull off a road upset.rnrn Final Score: Kansas 30, Kansas State 28 (3-3, 1-2)rnrn[nextslide teaser="Games%207-8" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_181080" align="aligncenter" width="3200"] Mason Fairchild, Kansas football (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)[/caption]rnrn[draft_pick rank="7" firstname="Oklahoma State" lastname="Cowboys" position="Oct. 17" school="Lawrence (Kan.)" league="5" division="70" team="856" link_text="Scouting Report" link_text2="Pick Analysis" /]rnrnIt's been 10 years since the Jayhawks have knocked off the Oklahoma State Cowboys who many believe are entering a break or break for the future of long-time head coach Mike Gundy.rnrnLast season the Cowboys held the Jayhawks to just 13 points as Kansas fell 31-13 in Stillwater. This season the Pokes will travel to Lawrence in hopes of continuing their dominance over the Big 12 foe.rnrnOklahoma State is among one of the more under appreciated programs in the nation as year in, and year out, they're putting together winning seasons and challenging the Sooners near the top of the league. With Gundy's future on the line, it's hard to pick against them against a Jayhawks program still far from being a winner.rnrn Final Score: Oklahoma State 42, Kansas 27 (3-4, 1-3)rnrn[draft_pick rank="8" firstname="West Virginia" lastname="Mountaineers" position="Oct. 24" school="Morgantown (W.V.)" league="5" division="70" team="877" link_text="Scouting Report" link_text2="Pick Analysis" /]rnrnSince West Virginia joined the Big 12 in 2012, Kansas' is just 1-6 against the Mountaineers with their lone victory coming in 2013.rnrnThe Mountaineers program is in a rebuilding stage with Neal Brown entering just his second season as head coach after Dana Holgorsen fled Morgantown for Houston. Last season, WVU beat Kansas by just five (29-24) in Lawerence and this seasons' matchup should be another close call.rnrnWhile it may be close, it's hard to pick against the Mountaineers in Morgantown, with Kansas still having much more work to do.rnrn Final Score: West Virginia 38, Kansas 28 (3-5, 1-4)rnrn[nextslide teaser="Games%209-10" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_181082" align="aligncenter" width="3200"] Antoine Frazier vs. Texas, Kansas football (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)[/caption]rnrn[draft_pick rank="9" firstname="Texas" lastname="Longhorns" position="Nov. 7" school="Lawrence (Kan.)" league="5" division="70" team="851" link_text="Scouting Report" link_text2="Pick Analysis" /]rnrnIn 2016, the Jayhawks defeated Texas for the first time since 1938. They nearly did so again last season as Cameron Dicker nailed a 33-yard field goal as time expired to give Texas a 50-48 victory in Austin.rnrnWith Kansas clearly proving they can play with the Longhorns the past handful of seasons, the 2020 matchup figures to be closer than many will predict, especially with the Jayhawks playing at home.rnrnStill, it's hard to pick against the Longhorns with a veteran quarterback in Sam Ehlinger and perhaps a head coach in Tom Herman with his job on the line as the last Texas coach to lose to Kansas (Charlie Strong) was fired as a result.rnrn Final Score: Texas 42, Kansas 35 (3-6, 1-5)rnrn[draft_pick rank="10" firstname="Texas Tech" lastname="Red Raiders" position="Nov. 14" school="Lubbock (Texas)" league="5" division="70" team="874" link_text="Scouting Report" link_text2="Pick Analysis" /]rnrnIn 2019, the Jayhawks snapped a 12-game losing streak to the Texas Tech with a 37-34 victory in Lawerence. It was just the second victory in program history over the Red Raiders for the Jayhawks and marked the first conference victory of the Les Miles era.rnrnDespite some outstanding talent such as Patrick Mahomes wearing the red and black the last handful of seasons, Texas Tech has not been to a bowl game since 2016 and will need to defeat teams such as Kansas to get back.rnrnWith the game being played in Lubbock and Texas Tech likely to play with a sense of desperation, it's hard to pick Kansas here.rnrn Final Score: Texas Tech 48, Kansas 33 (3-7, 1-6)rnrn[nextslide teaser="Games%2011-12" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_181081" align="aligncenter" width="3200"] TCU football's Terrell Cooper vs. Kansas football's Carter Stanley (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)[/caption]rnrn[draft_pick rank="11" firstname="Oklahoma" lastname="Sooners" position="Nov. 21" school="Norman (Okla.)" league="5" division="70" team="815" link_text="Scouting Report" link_text2="Pick Analysis" /]rnrnOklahoma has dominated the Big 12 conference the last decade and Kansas has had virtually no shot of beating them. The Sooners have won 16 straight against the Jayhawks with Kansas' last victory coming in 1997.rnrnLast season, the Jayhawks stood their ground for much of the game but still ended up falling 45-20 on their home turf in Lawerence.rnrnEven with both Jalen Hurts , Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield gone, Oklahoma will find a way to dominant the conference and with late-season wins a must to make it to the postseason, there's no chance they lose at home to Kansas.rnrn Final Score: Oklahoma 54, Kansas 24 (3-8, 1-7)rnrn[draft_pick rank="12" firstname="TCU" lastname="Horned Frogs" position="Nov. 28" school="Lawrence (Kan.)" league="5" division="70" team="872" link_text="Scouting Report" link_text2="Pick Analysis" /]rnrnWith bowl hopes projected to have vanished, the Jayhawks will look to play spoiler when TCU comes to town to finish the 2020 season.rnrnTCU blew by the Jayhawks 51-14 last season and have won each of the last six matchups between the two programs with Kansas' last victory over the Horned Frogs coming in 1997.rnrnWith the Horned Frogs very possibly entering play 5-6 and needing a victory to clinch a bowl berth, it's hard to see Kansas pulling off the upset though the game should prove closer than last seasons matchup.rnrn Final Score: TCU 30, Kansas 20 (3-9, 1-8)rnrn[story_link_next description="Ranking%20college%20football's%20top%2050%20fanbases" url="https://saturdayblitz.com/2019/08/26/college-footballs-top-50-fanbases/" /]

Kansas Football: Way-too-early game-by-game predictions for 2020

Les Miles will look to take Kansas football to its first bowl game since 2008 in his second year in Lawerence. How will the Jayhawks fare in 2020?

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