"I think Kansas has a really high ceiling": Greg McElroy makes promising prediction for Big 12 powerhouse ahead of 2024 season
Former Alabama quarterback and current ESPN analyst Greg McElroy has made a prediction about the University of Kansas football team ahead of the 2024 season.
According to ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) rankings, the Kansas Jayhawks are No. 17 and the highest-rated team in the Big 12. This optimism stems from the Jayhawks' impressive performance, having achieved back-to-back bowl seasons for the first time since 2007-2008 under head coach Lance Leipold.
Despite losing Big 12 Player of the Year Jalon Daniels to an injury three games into last season, the Jayhawks managed a strong 9-4 finish. This year, the quarterback is coming back, and this has raised their expectations even higher.
Nonetheless, McElroy is not getting carried away and insists that Kansas’ fortunes will hinge on whether Daniels can stay fit. On his podcast, "Always College Football," McElroy said:
"They are, according to the FPI, the top-ranked team in the Big 12. I think Kansas has a really high ceiling, but it's almost exclusively dependent on the health and availability of Jalon Daniels at quarterback."
(from 20:03 mark)
For Kansas to compete for a Big 12 title, they will need a healthy Daniels as McElroy said. The team boasts considerable talent, including running back Devin Neal, who is poised to become the Jayhawks' all-time leading rusher.
The tight end and wide receiver positions are filled by veterans while Logan Brown – who missed last year due to injury – is expected to make significant contributions after transferring from Wisconsin, having been a five-star recruit previously.
Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, recently of Baylor, will be stepping in to fill the gap left by Andy Kotelnicki’s departure to Penn State. The Jayhawks’ offense is anticipated to maintain its versatile approach.
In 2023, the Jayhawks went 9-4, ranked 23rd in the final AP Poll and had a 5-4 conference record. Offensively, they averaged 240.1 passing yards, 206.0 rushing yards and 34.6 points per game. On defense, they gave up 216.7 passing yards, 161.5 rushing yards and 25.5 points per game.
Kansas football navigates change amid facility renovations
The Kansas football program faced significant challenges in early 2024. Upon returning from the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, players found their facilities under construction, prompting major adjustments.
With David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium and the Anderson Family Football Complex undergoing renovations, the team adapted by transforming their indoor practice facility into an all-purpose space for workouts, meals, practices and meetings. The players also had to use the much smaller visitors' locker room on the east side of the stadium.
However, in spite of all these obstacles, the team started their summer workouts on time. The team is expected, however, to have access to the renovated training facility during the 2024 season.
According to 247Sports, the renovations include a new sports medicine center, a state-of-the-art virtual reality training room, a 1,200 sqft content studio and a 2,400 sqft student services center with study rooms. Furthermore, offices for coaches will also be expanded and improved.
The Jayhawks begin their season on August 29, 2024. The first game will be against Lindenwood at Children’s Mercy Park. The team will then go to Illinois on September 7 before hosting UNLV at home on September 14.
After that, they start playing Big 12 games by traveling to West Virginia on September 21 before consecutive games against TCU and Arizona State in Lawrence the following weeks.