Grading the First Half of Year 2 - 99 Days Until Kansas Football
We'll be starting the first few days of our 100 Days Until Kansas Football countdown diving into a bunch of review of last season and the offseason so far. But unlike last year, when we noted that the first year of the Lance Leipold tenure was anything but ordinary, the Jayhawks got a full offseason to develop their players and find pieces in the transfer portal, and they took full advantage.
Kansas got off to one of the hottest starts that we have seen in Lawrence in a long time. The excitement generated by that start helped push the Jayhawks in a way that hasn't been possible with any of the previous four coaches. Today, we'll be grading the first half of last season on the field, through the TCU game. Tomorrow, we'll take a look at the rest of the season.
Week 1: vs Tennessee Tech
Result: 56-10 Win
The Jayhawks started the 2022 season off with style, as the offense raced out to a huge lead while the defense held down an overmatched opponent. Devin Neal only needed 4 carries to go over 100 yards, and Kansas scored six times on the ground. The passing offense didn't need to do much, as the defense and special teams both come up with big plays to keep the Golden Eagles from seeing any success.
With the benefit of hindsight, it's easy to say that this game should have been a bigger blowout. It's hard to justify the three turnovers, but given the struggles that prior teams had to get wins against even the worst teams, it was impossible to be unsatisfied.
Grade: A
Week 2: at West Virginia
Result: 55-42 (OT) Win
This game started out about as bad as you could imagine, with West Virginia scoring quickly on their first possession, forcing a Kansas punt and then driving down methodically for a two-touchdown lead. Then the defense wasn't able to stop West Virginia on anything in the first half.
But the Jayhawks put on their first show of resiliency, getting a late touchdown to end the half and pull the game within a single score, and then taking the first possession of the second half down for a score. From there, Kansas took a lead, pushing it all the way to 11 before a collapse in the final 3 minutes allowed the Mountaineers to tie it.
Overtime saw the Jayhawks capitalize on mistakes, as the Mountaineers had a crucial penalty to set up the Kansas 1st and Goal at the 10. Jalon Daniels completed the touchdown pass, and then the defense got a huge stop, capped by a 4th and Goal interception that Cobee Bryant returned for a touchdown.
It was a huge win on the road for Kansas, but there were definitely some worrying signs, as the defense both spotted West Virginia a big lead and then blew one at the end of the game. But a win is a win.
Grade: B-
Week 3: at Houston
Result: 48-30 Win
For the second straight week, Kansas fell behind early but then rallied for a big win. But this time, they spotted Houston two touchdowns in less than 8 minutes. However, the offensive explosion was immediate, as Kansas scored twice in less than two minutes to tie it up before the end of the quarter. The Jayhawks kept the momentum going though, building a big lead at half and then matching Houston the rest of the way.
The defense played well in this one, holding a potent offense to just 16 points after the first quarter. Jalon Daniels had a breakout game, following up a good West Virginia outing with a dominant 5-TD outing with almost 300 yards.
Grade: B+
Week 4: vs Duke
Result: 35-27 Win
Jalon Daniels' 324 passing yards were matched by Duke quarterback Riley Leonard, but Kansas' quarterback was responsible for all 5 scores as the Jayhawks moved to 4-0 and get people talking about a ranking for the first time in over a decade.
The Jayhawks never trailed in this one, but the defense needed a few big stops down the stretch, as they were only able to tally one sack and couldn't quite make the game uncomfortable for the Blue Devils.
Grade: C+
Week 5: vs Iowa State
Result: 14-11 Win
If there was ever a win that deserved a failing grade, this would be the game. Iowa State's suffocating defense held Kansas to just two rushing touchdowns and 213 total yards. But the Cyclones couldn't get out of their own way on offense, turning the ball over twice and missing three extremely makeable field goals.
Kansas snuck through to stay undefeated, setting up a ranked matchup with TCU and a visit from College Gameday. But this was a game that a lot of people wished they could have forgotten.
Grade: D-
Week 6 vs #17 TCU
Result: 38-31 Loss
The Jayhawks and Horned Frogs put on a show in the second half of this one, as Jason Bean entered for the injured Jalon Daniels and almost led the Jayhawks to a huge win in their first game as a ranked team in over a decade.
But Max Duggan and Quinten Johnston did enough in the second half to match everything Kansas through at them, and a last chance drive wasn't enough. But despite the loss, this was a highly successful game that had the fans and nation talking about this team.
Grade: A
We'll finish up with the second half of the schedule and an overall grade tomorrow.
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