Kansas Breaks into Top 20 of AP, Coaches Polls

The Jayhawks are climbing the rankings after a second win in a row.

The Kansas Jayhawks are reaping the rewards of another big win to improve to 7-2 on the year. KU will spend the week at No. 19 in the AP Top-25 Poll and No. 18 in the USA Today Coaches' Poll after defeating Iowa State on the road 28-21 Saturday. 

This is the Jayhawks' second straight week as a ranked team and fourth week on the season. Kansas came in at No. 24 after starting the season 4-0 but then lost to Texas. The Jayhawks returned to the polls after demolishing UCF, but then fell to Oklahoma State in Stillwater the next week.

Now the Jayhawks have held onto their ranking for multiple weeks and are in the top 20 for the first time this year. 

Ahead of KU are three teams that all lost this week – Missouri, Oklahoma, and LSU – while Kansas is a spot ahead of Tulane, followed by James Madison. The Jayhawks are one of four Big 12 teams ranked this week, with Texas coming in at No. 7, Oklahoma State at No. 15, and OU at No. 17. 

KU will return home on Saturday to face the 4-5 Texas Tech Red Raiders.