What If Everything Goes Right for Kansas Football in 2025?

College football is back this week with Week 0, and Kansas football will be kicking things off at home this Saturday at 5:30. What type of season can the Jayhawks have? Will they be able to get back to the postseason?

Let’s break down the schedule and see the potential this squad has ahead of them. 

Fresno State at Kansas

The Jayhawks will be fired up at the opening of the newly renovated David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. While both teams had a lot of movement, both in and out, the Jayhawks, having quarterback Jalon Daniels back leading the offense, should give Kansas a major advantage in this one. 

Kansas 38, Fresno State 17 

Wagner at Kansas

After a Week 0 warm-up against Fresno State, Wagner won’t have a chance at an upset bid in this one. The Seahawks are coming off a 4-8 season in 2024 and ended the season on a four-game losing streak. Expect the losing streak to continue into the 2025 season, and a big win for the Jayhawks. 

Kansas 45, Wagner 10 

Kansas at Missouri

The Border Showdown is back! Mizzou will have one game to figure out its quarterback situation before KU arrives in Columbia. The Tigers feel like they have two good options, and both guys may play, but Kansas should have an edge there with Daniels. This one should be a very close, entertaining game that comes down to the wire. The obvious choice would be to give Missouri the win due to home-field advantage, but I’m taking Kansas in a thriller due to a late touchdown run by Daniels! 

Kansas 27, Missouri 24 

West Virginia at Kansas

Rich Rodriguez is back at West Virginia. He will get the Mountaineers back in the mix, but probably not in year one as he rebuilds the roster. West Virginia doesn’t have great depth at any position, and Kansas can look to exploit that on both sides of the ball. 

Kansas 31, West Virginia 20

Cincinnati at Kansas

Cincy could be a lot better this season, but they still have a lot to prove. After a tough opening game against Nebraska, the Bearcats should pick up a couple of non-conference wins before jumping into conference play against KU. It will be a tough task to come into Lawrence and pick up a win. It feels like a game that will be close in the first half, with KU pulling away in the second half. 

Kansas 34, Cincinnati 23 

Kansas at UCF

Scott Frost is back at UCF and should help get them back in the mix to compete in the Big 12. Year one might be tough, but keep an eye on them moving forward. For this game, the Jayhawks will keep their winning streak going and move to 6-0 on the season. 

Kansas 49, UCF 24 

Kansas at Texas Tech

The Jayhawks won’t go undefeated this year, and the Red Raiders will be the first team to beat KU in 2025. Tech starts the year in the Top 25 and has the better team on paper. If this game were played in Lawrence, it might be a different story, but Texas Tech will get the best of Kansas in this one. 

Kansas 27, Texas Tech 34 

Kansas State at Kansas

If Kansas State is undefeated and Kansas only has one loss to its name, this could be a game targeted by ESPN’s College GameDay or Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff program. A lot of things would have to go right for that to be the case, but it is a possibility. Kansas has been close in each of the last two meetings. Kansas State has won 16 in a row over the Jayhawks. Both teams will have a bye to prepare for this one. It will be a huge upset, but the streak comes to an end in the first Sunflower Showdown played at the new version of The Booth. 

Kansas 27, Kansas State 24 

Oklahoma State at Kansas

Oklahoma State did not look good last year, and they will need to do a lot to make this a competitive game. Kansas will be coming off a big win over the Wildcats, so there could be a letdown alert in this one, but the Jayhawks should do more than enough to score a lot of points and get another win at home. 

Kansas 41, Oklahoma State 20 

Kansas at Arizona

Arizona has a lot of experience on both sides of the ball and a returning three-year starter at quarterback. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is a Big 12 after dark game, as Arizona will be in the Pacific Time Zone at this point in the season. Kansas will have a tough time on the road, and Arizona will get the best of them despite a close game. 

Arizona 34, Kansas 31 

Kansas at Iowa State

Iowa State will be one of the best teams in the Big 12 this season. That doesn’t bode well for Kansas, which will be playing on the road. Despite the Jayhawks getting a bye to prepare for the game, the Cyclones and their defense will get the best of Kansas in this one. 

Kansas 17, Iowa State 27 

Utah at Kansas

Kansas wants to finish the season on a high note, at home, on Senior Day. Utah has been a traditionally tough program over the past few decades, but with the emotional support surrounding the Jayhawks, this one will come down to a late field goal to send KU to victory to close the regular season. 

Kansas 23, Utah 20 

This is probably the absolute best-case scenario for the Jayhawks. If the season were to play out like this, the Jayhawks would finish the regular season with a 9-3 record. Most people will have this team losing to Missouri and Kansas State. Some will even have UCF and Utah beating Kansas.

The range of 4-8 to 9-3 with most people thinking KU will win around six games is a wide net that is being cast, but it reflects how even the Big 12 can be and the possibility that KU can bounce back from a season that saw each of their losses but one come by one score.

The Jayhawks should absolutely compete for bowl eligibility with the highest ceiling, finishing top five in the conference.