Lance Leipold on Kansas’ mentality heading into Utah game

Kansas has one chance left to reach bowl eligibility, facing Utah on the Jayhawks’ senior day. Lance Leipold spoke to the media on Monday. He discussed how his team is approaching a short week and senior day, and what he’s seen from Utah.

Kansas wants to play its best football for its seniors

The Jayhawks will have 33 seniors honored ahead of their final home game. Leipold said that no matter how long a player has been at Kansas, he wants to be able to send them out with a win.

“On a game like this, you know, guys want to, especially for those seniors and hopefully for this whole building, is that we want to make sure we go out and play our best football for these 33 seniors,” Leipold said. “No matter how long they’ve been here, we’ve had a lot of guys that have been here a long time and have given a lot to this program and university. And for us to go out and play well and play hard and give us the best opportunity to play our best football to date and go get a win is going to be important.”

Kansas has a combination of transfer portal guys and players who have been a Jayhawk for as many as six years. Leipold said a group of this year’s seniors were responsible for raising expectations at Kansas. It will be an emotional day, but he thinks the Jayhawks can make the most of it.

“There’ll be some emotions,” Leipold said. “But I think if we continue to talk about some of the things we had about making sure you make the most of it, embrace the day and make sure you kind of lay it all on the line and let the chips fall there, I think is the best to be there.”

Leipold likes the Jayhawks’ attitude heading into a short week

Kansas’ ability to turn the page from a loss will be tested this week, as the Jayhawks play on Friday. Leipold has emphasized that win or loss, Kansas’ approach to practice doesn’t change. He’s been pleased with their response to a challenge to finish the season strong.

“There’s disappointment and probably frustration that goes along with that of, you know, the last month,” Leipold said. “But I was pleased with the way of and the attitude about where they’re at and wanting, challenging them. You know, ‘how do you want this to finish? How do you want this team [to be remembered]?’”

Leipold said it was probably easier for Kansas to turn the page with it being a short week. He said they’ve been limited to start the week, but their staff did a good job of working ahead.

“Between watching the film and, you know, again and during the open week, our support staff, analysts, grad assistants were working ahead and getting stuff, getting some stuff ready to go,” Leipold said. “We knew we’d be pretty limited yesterday, really, mainly a walk through and then still pretty limited today. But yeah, you have to turn the page in these situations.”

Kansas wants to replicate Kansas State’s success running the ball on Utah

The Jayhawks were able to watch Utah’s previous game against Kansas State on the bus ride home from Ames. The Wildcats lost 51-47 but racked up 472 rushing yards. Leipold said Utah will make adjustments, but he’s looking to run the ball in a similar way.

“Kansas State had a lot of success against them offensively, and it was a heck of a football game,” Leipold said. “Obviously there’s things that we want to try to, you know, replicate success and obviously some of that will be the way they ran the football. And I’m sure they’re going to make adjustments needed as well.”

Utah sits on the bubble of the College Football Playoff. The Utes ranked 12th in the rankings but out of the current bracket due to the Group of 5 champion spot. Leipold said Utah has an impressive team.

“They’re solid in all phases. Physical football team. They’re top two or three in the league in almost every important category,” Leipold. “They’ve been explosive on offense. I think they’re tops in the country in win differential this season. You know, a lot of playmakers. Again, the physicality and consistency in which coach Whittingham has gone about it is, you know, his whole time there has been impressive.”