Lance Leipold believes Kansas can contend for Big 12 Championship

Kansas has done nothing but ascend since Lance Leipold took over. Once at the bottom of the college football world, the Jayhawks just pulled off their first winning season since 2008. Another win was added to the 8-4 regular season after taking down UNLV in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.

Even with a ton of progress being made, Leipold is still looking to take another step forward. He believes Kansas has the opportunity to compete for a Big 12 Championship. Not just in the future but beginning in 2024 thanks to the players returning the Lawrence.

“We’ve talked about putting ourselves in a position, with the amount of players we have returning, that we can be in a conversation to compete for a conference championship,” Leipold said. “I don’t think I ever thought I would be saying that this quick into this time here at Kansas. And it’s because of [the players] and what they’ve done.

“Their belief in one another, belief in what we do, and continually striving to get better each and every day. Hopefully, this is just the beginning of having these type of opportunities.”

To find Kansas’ last conference championship in football, you would have to go back to 1968 when the Big 8 was still around. There are eight in total, with three of them coming before the 20th century. It’s been a long time for the Jayhawks but Leipold is confident in where the program stands.

A lot of attention will be on the offensive firepower returning. Quarterback Jalon Daniels spent most of the 2023 season injured but announced he will play for one more season. Running back and local product Devin Neal could have left in favor of the NFL but wants to run it back with the Jayhawks.

Having a new-look Big 12 plays into the equation as well. Texas and Oklahoma are heading out, while four more programs are being added to the conference. Confidence will come from the four corner schools but long-time Big 12 members want to hold their own ground.

The next schedule has not yet been released but the Kansas 2024 opponents are known. Sticking with nine Big 12 games, five of them will wind up being on the road. Leipold will have to have his team ready to go away from Lawrence in order to win a conference title.

And if he can pull it off, Kansas is going to be in the College Football Playoff — a sentence not too many people would have believed a few years ago. The belief is certainly there from Leipold, having a full offseason to have others join him before the fall.