2022 Kansas Jayhawks football team

2022 Kansas Jayhawks football
Liberty Bowl, L 53–55 3OT vs. Arkansas
ConferenceBig 12 Conference
Record6–7 (3–6 Big 12)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorAndy Kotelnicki (2nd season)
Offensive schemePro spread[1]
Defensive coordinatorBrian Borland (2nd season)
Base defense4–3[2]
Home stadiumDavid Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium
Uniform
Seasons
← 2021
2023 →
2022 Big 12 Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 2 TCU y^   9 – 0     13 – 2  
No. 14 Kansas State y$   7 – 2     10 – 4  
No. 25 Texas   6 – 3     8 – 5  
Texas Tech   5 – 4     8 – 5  
Oklahoma State   4 – 5     7 – 6  
Baylor   4 – 5     6 – 7  
Oklahoma   3 – 6     6 – 7  
Kansas   3 – 6     6 – 7  
West Virginia   3 – 6     5 – 7  
Iowa State   1 – 8     4 – 8  
Championship: Kansas State 31, TCU 28OT
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2022 Kansas Jayhawks football team represented the University of Kansas in the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the Jayhawks 133rd season. The Jayhawks played their home games at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas, and competed in the Big 12 Conference. They were led by second-year head coach Lance Leipold. The Jayhawks finished the season 6–7 overall and 3–6 in the Big 12. They qualified for the 2022 Liberty Bowl where they lost to Arkansas.

The Jayhawks won their first two games to start the season 2–0 for the first time since 2011.[3] With a win over West Virginia on September 10, the Jayhawks won their opening conference game of the season for the first time since a victory over Iowa State in 2009.[4] After defeating Houston the following week, the Jayhawks improved to a 3–0 record, their best start since 2009. In the AP poll released on September 18, the Jayhawks received votes to be ranked for the first time since the 2009 season.[5] Following what was at the time career highs in yards (324) and passing touchdowns (4) against Duke on September 23,[6] some websites began calling junior quarterback Jalon Daniels a candidate for the Heisman Trophy.[7][8][9][10] However, two weeks later he suffered a shoulder injury. The injury was initially reported as season ending, but Daniels denied the report.[11] The Jayhawks' victory over Iowa State on October 1 gave the Jayhawks their second conference victory. It was the first time Kansas won more than one conference game since 2008, and marked their first five-game winning streak since 2009. That season was also the last time Kansas started 5–0. In the AP poll released on October 2, Kansas was ranked 19th, thereby earning an AP poll ranking for the first time since 2009. After losing back-to-back games, the Jayhawks fell out of the rankings. After defeating Oklahoma State for their sixth victory of the season, the Jayhawks became bowl eligible for the first time since 2008. The victory also gave the Jayhawks their first victory over an AP-ranked team since 2010 and their first ever victory over a team ranked in the College Football Playoff poll since it was first released in 2014.[12]

The Jayhawks finished the season with three conference victories, the team's highest conference win total since 2008. The 2022 season was the first time Kansas did not finish last in the Big 12 since the 2014 season. Their eighth place finish was the best the Jayhawks had finished since the Big 12 eliminated divisions after the 2010 season. The Jayhawks qualified for the 2022 Liberty Bowl but lost a triple-overtime game to Arkansas, 55–53. Daniels, who had returned from injury during the regular season, set a team record and a Liberty Bowl record by throwing for 544 yards in the loss.[13]

  1. ^ Olson, Max (October 7, 2022). "How Kansas' offense under Andy Kotelnicki is terrorizing defenses: 'Let's get crazy'". The Athletic. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  2. ^ Chasen, Scott (May 18, 2021). "New Kansas DC Brian Borland talks scheme change, goals in Lawrence". 247Sports. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  3. ^ "Jalon Daniels, Bryant lead Kansas over WVU 55-42 in OT". ESPN.com.
  4. ^ "Jayhawks Win in Overtime at West Virginia, Move to 2-0". KUAthletics.com.
  5. ^ "Kansas football earns votes in AP, Coaches polls". 247Sports.com.
  6. ^ "Daniels leads Kansas over Duke 35-27, goes to 4-0". ESPN.com.
  7. ^ "Absolutely no one saw this Heisman dark horse coming". Fansided.com.
  8. ^ "Is C.J. Stroud competing with a Kansas quarterback for the Heisman trophy? KU thinks so". Dispatch.com.
  9. ^ "Is unbeaten KU Jayhawks' Jalon Daniels a candidate for Heisman? His numbers are worthy". KansasCity.com.
  10. ^ "Kansas' Jalon Daniels officially entered the Heisman Trophy race after demolishing Duke". USAToday.com.
  11. ^ "Report: Kansas QB Jalon Daniels denies report he's out for season with shoulder injury". Yahoo.com.
  12. ^ "Neal leads Kansas past No. 18 Oklahoma State, 37-16". ESPN.com.
  13. ^ Swaffar, Nathan (December 29, 2022). "Jalon Daniels delivers historic, record-setting performance in Liberty Bowl". 247sports.com.