2021-2022 CFB Big 12 preview part 1: Key players, schedule, predictions

Kansas Jayhawks: Big 12 preview

Kansas v Texas Tech

Kansas finished 2020 winless, leaving several question marks regarding the roster. Lance Leipold will take over as head coach after winning six D-lll championships at UW-Whitewater. Leipold also helped make Buffalo a contender before moving on to Kansas.

Back in 2007, the Jayhawks were just a game away from being in the Big 12 Championship. Fast forward to 2020 and all but one loss was a blowout. Kansas averaged 16 points per game and less than 260 yards per game. Their offensive line gave up an average of 5.5 sacks... per game.

2021-2022 Big 12 conference preview: Kansas Jayhawks

Kansas' strengths: Their non-QB skilled players are the lifeline of the offense. The RB duo of Velton Gardner and Daniel Hishaw combined for nearly 600 rushing yards and each had 2 TDs.

The duo could improve on a more balanced offense. TE Will Huggins is a strong receiver while Mason Fairchild is a sound blocker. The team has two solid WRs in Kwamie Lassiter and Like Grimm, both of whom have decent potential.

Kansas' weaknesses: The offensive line borders on the disastrous, which helped the team have the second-fewest rushing yards in the Big 12. They allowed a total of 47 sacks in 9 games, averaging 5.5 per game.

Kansas Jayhawks key players: Offense

WR: Kwamie Lassiter - Lassiter's stats struggled with poor QB play but he's developing into a solid mid-range receiver. With the right QB, he could stuff the stat sheet and find the end zone more often.

QB: Jason Bean - The North Texas transfer threw for 14 TDs and 5 INTs and rushed for 5 TDs last year. Bean's arm isn't the strongest, but that pairs well with Lassiter's skillset. Bean should be able to beat out the other QBs and help a poor offense start to revive itself.

Kansas Jayhawks key players: Defense

LB/DE: Kyron Johnson - Kyron will help the defensive line and could thrive as an undersized, quick pass rusher. He had 3 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss over nine games. He's one of the few good players on the defensive side of things in Kansas.

DT: Sam Burt - Burt has become the leader of the defense. With 30 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 2020, the Jayhawks could use Burt as their centerpiece and a building block for the front seven.

2021-2022 Kansas Jayhawks Big 12 schedule

Week 1: Friday, September 3, vs. SDAK

Week 2: Friday, September 10, at Costal Carolina

Week 3: Saturday, September 18, vs. Baylor

Week 4: Saturday, September 25, at Duke

Week 5: Saturday, October 2, at Iowa State

Week 6: Saturday, October 16, vs. Texas Tech

Week 7: Saturday, October 23, vs. Oklahoma

Week 8: Saturday, October 30, at Oklahoma State

Week 9: Saturday, November 6, vs. Kansas State

Week 10: Saturday, November 13, at Texas

Week 11: Saturday, November 20, at TCU

Week 12: Saturday, November 27, vs. West Virginia

2021-2022 Kansas Jayhawks Big 12 prediction (2-9 overall, 0-9 Big 12)

Kansas still won't find a win inside the Big 12 but will register two wins earlier in the season against South Dakota and Duke, a small step forward. They should have a better run game and fewer mistakes and turnovers compared to 2020. The offensive line will be a bigger challenge to overcome, though.