Big 12 Power Rankings: Oklahoma State Cowboys Retake Throne

Nov 23, 2013; Ames, IA, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defender

(52) tackles Kansas Jayhawks running back

(29) in the first quarter at Jack Trice Stadium. Iowa State won 34-0. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

10. Kansas Jayhawks

Record: 3-8 (1-7)

Previous Ranking: 7

Last Week: ISU 34, KU 0

This Week: vs Kansas State

Sigh…

It isn’t that Kansas lost to Iowa State – the game was on the road and the Jayhawks are by no means a good football team – but it was the way they lost. KU seemed about as interested in playing football last week as they were having their teeth pulled without novocain. Montell Cozart, KU’s newest savior at the quarterback position, was the poster boy for this feeling of football apathy.

Whether it was that performance in particular or if it was something that was planned all along, Kansas has already started to make changes to their staff for the 2014 season. Gone is offensive line coach Tim Grunhard, whose offensive line unit has arguably been the worst unit in all of the Big 12 the past two seasons.

In is Rice offensive coordinator John Reagan, who will take over Grunhard’s old job and become KU’s new offensive coordinator. Charlie Weis had been the offensive coordinator for the past two seasons.

If John Reagan’s name seems familiar it is because it is. Reagan served as offensive line coach and run-game coordinator under Mark Mangino, and had a great deal of success in the ground game during his tenure. At Rice (8-3 overall), he has directed the offense to an average of 31.8 points per game, 250 rushing yards per game (14th in the nation), and a win over the Jayhawks on September 14. Rice also put up 31 points on Texas A&M on the road and has eclipsed 30 points in a game seven times this season (KU has scored 31 points twice).

How this changes Kansas moving forward is uncertain, but the fact that Weis has let go of the reigns on offense and has hired a coordinator from KU’s most recent successful run says something about the pressure he is starting to feel. Next year has to lead to a bowl game or else KU may be on the market for a head coach yet again.