Kansas Football Ranked No. 57 in Initial 2026 SP+ Rankings

ESPN's advanced metric system doesn't view the Jayhawks highly ahead of the new season.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 11:07am

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The Kansas football program, coming off consecutive down years, landed at No. 57 overall in ESPN's initial 2026 SP+ rankings, placing them 12th in the Big 12 Conference. The Jayhawks' offensive and defensive units both ranked in the 50s nationally, with their special teams unit the lone bright spot at No. 9. With a new quarterback and questions on defense, the low ranking reflects the uncertainty surrounding this year's Kansas squad.

Why it matters

Kansas has struggled to close out games and pull away in marquee matchups since their impressive 9-4 season in 2023. Head coach Lance Leipold may be facing a make-or-break year, as the program looks to prove it can consistently compete at a high level in the Big 12.

The details

The Jayhawks are coming off consecutive seasons where they missed out on bowl eligibility. While the team is hopeful that the rehiring of former offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki and the addition of several key transfers can help turn things around, there are still major question marks at quarterback and on the defensive side of the ball. ESPN's advanced SP+ metric, which measures overall team efficiency, ranked Kansas 57th nationally, a step down from their No. 50 preseason ranking last year.

  • The initial 2026 SP+ rankings were released by ESPN on March 30, 2026.
  • The Jayhawks are set to begin the 2026 season in the fall.

The players

Lance Leipold

The head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks football team, who is facing increased pressure to turn the program around after consecutive down seasons.

Jalon Daniels

The former Kansas quarterback who had been with the program since 2020 but is no longer on the team, leaving the Jayhawks with a new signal-caller for the 2026 season.

Andy Kotelnicki

The newly rehired offensive coordinator for the Kansas Jayhawks, who is tasked with reviving the team's offensive production.

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What they’re saying

“Until they prove otherwise, many people will continue to doubt Kansas heading into the upcoming season.”

— Joshua Schulman

What’s next

The Jayhawks will look to prove the SP+ rankings wrong when they kick off the 2026 season in the fall.

The takeaway

Kansas football faces a pivotal season in 2026, with head coach Lance Leipold under pressure to show the program can consistently compete at a high level in the Big 12. The low preseason SP+ ranking reflects the uncertainty surrounding the team's new-look offense and defense, putting added emphasis on the Jayhawks to exceed expectations and return to bowl eligibility.