Eighteen consecutive losses to Kansas State. Read that again. Eighteen.
Kansas Jayhawks fans have watched an entire generation of players come and go without celebrating a Sunflower Showdown victory. And unless something changes, that number could reach 20 before anybody in Lawrence figures out how to stop it.
Enough with the excuses.
Lance Leipold deserves credit for rescuing Kansas football from the disaster he inherited. Nobody should dispute that. But past accomplishments don't excuse what's happening today, and a 3-5 record in his sixth season should have people asking some uncomfortable questions.
Where exactly is this program headed?
More importantly, what's the plan to get there?
Kansas football needs accountability, not another rebuilding speech
K-State isn't Alabama or Georgia. The Wildcats are 4-4, have dealt with quarterback injuries, and aren't particularly impressive themselves.
Yet they still beat Kansas 35-24.
The Jayhawks surrendered 359 rushing yards and allowed 17 unanswered points to close the game. That's not simply getting outplayed by a superior opponent. That's a failure in preparation, execution, and making adjustments when the game starts slipping away.
So who answers for it?
Defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald needs to explain why his unit couldn't stop the run. Leipold needs to explain why his team couldn't protect a lead. And athletic director Travis Goff needs to establish what the expectations actually are.
Because if simply reaching bowl eligibility every few years is considered success, somebody should tell the fans.
Lance Leipold needs to make real changes at Kansas
Start with the defensive line. Kansas cannot continue to get pushed around by conference opponents. That means evaluating the position coaches, recruiting bigger and more physical players, and using the transfer portal to find experienced linemen who can contribute immediately.
Next, address the offense's inability to finish drives.
Kansas outgained TCU 451-286 and still lost 22-16. That's unacceptable. Offensive coordinator Jim Zebrowski needs to examine the red-zone play calling and quarterback decision-making, whether it be Cole Ballard or Isaiah Marshall. And determine if the offense is built to produce points or merely accumulate yards.
Then comes recruiting.
Kansas should be aggressively competing for the best players in its own state, particularly those considering Kansas State. Losing recruiting battles is one thing. Losing the rivalry for nearly two decades while failing to establish a stronger talent pipeline is another.
And Goff needs to hold the coaching staff to measurable expectations. That means improvement in conference victories, defensive efficiency, recruiting results, and performances against the rival Wildcats
Not vague promises about progress.
Actual results.
Kansas Jayhawks fans deserve a timeline for improvement
Nobody is demanding that Leipold be fired tomorrow. But his success in rebuilding Kansas shouldn't provide unlimited protection from criticism.
He's had six seasons to establish a foundation. The facilities have improved, the program has greater financial support, and Kansas has demonstrated that it can compete in the Big 12.
Now comes the part that separates a successful rebuild from a successful football program.
Winning consistently.
KU has two more chances to prevent its losing streak against K-State from reaching 20. That should be an enormous source of urgency inside the football facility.
Leipold needs to identify what isn't working, make the necessary coaching and personnel changes, and explain how Kansas intends to compete for conference championships.
And Goff needs to make clear what happens if those changes don't produce results.
Kansas fans have been patient long enough.
They don't need another speech about how far the program has come.
They need somebody to explain why it hasn't gone further, and a plan to improve going forward.
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