The Kansas football team received the No. 22 spot in the Associated Press’ college football poll on Monday, marking the first time since 2009 that the Jayhawks have been recognized in the preseason media poll.
“It doesn’t mean much, especially as we get close to kicking off, but I also have to make sure that it does mean something for this program, considering where we’re at, what it’s been,” head coach Lance Leipold said Monday. “We need to make sure that we’re taking strides from last year and enough this year that people are recognizing this program and recognizing the talent on this team.”
The ranking reflects a newfound level of positive national sentiment about KU’s program after it went 9-4 during the 2023 campaign and won the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, its first postseason victory since the 2008 season.
The Jayhawks previously earned the No. 24 spot in last week’s US LBM Coaches Poll last week.
KU has been ranked in the preseason AP poll on six additional occasions: 1952 (No. 17), 1961 (No. 8), 1976 (No. 19), 1996 (No. 24), 2008 (No. 14) and 2009 (No. 25).
Last year, the Jayhawks began the year unranked but ended up appearing in six editions of the poll, including as high as No. 19 on Nov. 5 after victories over Oklahoma and Iowa State in consecutive weeks. KU earned a No. 23 ranking in the final poll of the season at the start of January after its bowl victory.
The Jayhawks return a slew of prominent players from the 2023 season on a highly experienced team that lists 30 seniors on its roster. Key contributors back from last year include quarterback Jalon Daniels; running backs Devin Neal and Daniel Hishaw Jr.; wide receivers Lawrence Arnold, Luke Grimm and Quentin Skinner; cornerbacks Cobee Bryant and Mello Dotson; and safeties O.J. Burroughs and Marvin Grant.
