'Big Noon Kickoff’ featuring Kansas football is another sign of Jayhawks’ progress
LAWRENCE — So much of a college football rebuild, in the early years, comes down to belief.
Belief that, while there may be struggles early on, it’ll all pay off in future years. Belief that, when it all does pay off, the team will be relevant in its conference as it moves on to chase more substantial goals. Before Kansas coach Lance Leipold has even reached the end of his third season leading the Jayhawks, it’s already reached one bowl game and become relevant in the Big 12 Conference as it aims for a second-straight bowl trip.
But in addition to how quick Leipold and company have been able to turn things around, they’ve also brought a level of attention nationally that has enhanced the surprise of the rebuild itself. Back in 2022, ESPN’s “College GameDay” show came to Lawrence to feature Kansas’ game against TCU. And now in 2023, Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff” show is coming to Lawrence to feature Kansas’ Homecoming game Saturday against Oklahoma.
“I think it’s another great opportunity for us to show the progress of our program, to show what this group is all about, where we’re heading,” said Leipold, asked about the Fox show’s arrival coinciding with Homecoming. “Again, same thing if they weren’t coming, that’s great on a national stage for the college football world to see the Kansas Jayhawks. And, at the same time, I think it’s a great opportunity for our alumni and fans that are coming back to Lawrence, or some that maybe haven’t been back in a while, or ones that are coming back for that annual trip, to see the progress of our program.”
Kansas (5-2, 2-2 in Big 12) will have to pull off an upset in order to leave David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium with a win. No. 6 Oklahoma (7-0, 4-0 in Big 12) is the clear favorite, despite its near upset defeat against UCF this past weekend. But the Jayhawks have had their chances each of the past two years they’ve played the Sooners, and Leipold has a better team this year than he’s had the past two.
Oklahoma may as well, now, in the second year of coach Brent Venables’ tenure leading that program. The Sooners are also in a position where they could make the College Football Playoff. But Kansas can still be a threat with redshirt senior quarterback Jason Bean at the helm, if junior quarterback Jalon Daniels misses another game with his back issue, and the Jayhawks have yet to lose at home this season.
Avoiding a slow start will be key. Playing disciplined, complimentary football will as well. And regardless of a win or a loss, if Kansas can meet the moment it could do a lot for what the Jayhawks are aiming to accomplish in recruiting as well.
“Go back to where we were two and a half years ago or wherever, to where we are now, it is — sometimes we don’t have a lot of time to reflect like that,” Leipold said, “but it’s mind-blowing to where we’re at for these things to happen and it’s exciting and I think it hopefully is going to continue to pay dividends for us and then take that and take another step on the field.”
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Jordan Guskey covers the University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: 'Big Noon Kickoff’ featuring Kansas football is a sign of progress
