Gotta win 1st, but where might KU go bowling? A look at some Jayhawk projections
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kansas needs one win in final two games to clinch bowl eligibility in 2025.
- Experts project mid tier bowls like Independence or First Responder for KU.
- Coach Leipold emphasizes preparation over pressure as team seeks sixth win.
The Kansas Jayhawks football team is still just one game away from bowl eligibility.
KU (5-5, 3-4 Big 12) had a great opportunity to clinch that requisite sixth victory against Arizona last Saturday, but instead the Jayhawks lost in heartbreaking fashion.
Now, Kansas has two opportunities left to secure bowl eligibility. After this off-week, the Jayhawks face Iowa State on the road Nov. 22 and conclude their regular season at home vs. Utah on Nov. 27.
Win either game and KU earns a bowl berth.
It’s unlikely the Jayhawks will be favored in either of their remaining matchups, but they have a good shot at beating the Cyclones (6-4, 3-4 Big 12). KU has won its last three matchups against Iowa State.
If Kansas can make it to a bowl game this season, it would be the program’s third such appearance in four years. KU defeated UNLV in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl after the 2023 season and lost to Arkansas in the 2022 Liberty Bowl.
Kansas coach Lance Leipold knows what’s at stake but doesn’t want to put extra pressure on his team.
“It’s going to be a challenge,” he said about getting win No. 6. “The ones that have been here understand what we’ve continued to strive through here. I think our newcomers understood what they were walking into. … It’s not a daily talked-about matter.
“We continue to stress preparation in everything that we do and finding a way to get everything done without putting extra pressure on them.”
So what happens if KU wins a sixth or perhaps even seventh game? The Jayhawks still wouldn’t be invited to an upper-tier bowl like the Alamo or Pop-Tarts. And they’re well out of contention for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
The most likely landing spot for the Jayhawks would appear to be the Armed Forces Bowl, or the Independence Bowl. The Jayhawks could also be considered for the Liberty Bowl. But that might be a longshot, since they played Arkansas in the 2022 edition.
Here’s a look at where the experts project the Jayhawks might end up:
Kansas Jayhawks’ 2025 bowl projections
USA Today: Independence Bowl vs. Louisiana Tech
ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura: Independence Bowl vs. Kennesaw State
ESPN’s Mark Schlabach: First Responder Bowl vs. Boise State
