Lance Leipold Ranked As One Of The Top Head Coaches in College Football According To CBS Sports
After 13 consecutive losing seasons, Head Coach Lance Leipold has completely changed the outlook on Kansas Football.
The Jayhawks placed last in the Big 12 in 2021 with a record of 2-10. However, Kansas was one of the most surprising teams in college football, finishing with a 6-7 record in 2022, which included a bowl appearance.
As a result, KU was ranked as high as No. 19 in the AP Poll, marking its first time in the rankings since 2009.
This past season, the Jayhawks finished 9-4 and won the Guaranteed Rate Bowl over UNLV.
CBS Sports ranked its Top 25 head coaches of a power five program, with Leipold coming in at No. 12. There was only one Big 12 head coach ranked higher, which was Kyle Whittingham of Utah.
For the last decade, Kansas has been the laughing stock of the Big 12, however with back-to-back successful seasons Leipold has completely shifted that narrative.
His signature win this season came against the No. 6 Oklahoma Sooners, when the Jayhawks shattered the Sooner’s College Football Playoff hopes with a 38-33 victory in Week 8.
A lot of the credit has gone to both quarterbacks Jalon Daniels and Jason Bean, but the gameplan set by Leipold is what sparked the upset. KU ran for four touchdowns, with two coming from star running back Devin Neal and one from Daniel Hishaw Jr. Bean added a rushing touchdown of his own.
The Jayhawks will look to pull off its third-straight season with a bowl game, starting in their season opener against Lindenwood on Thursday, Aug. 29.
