Kansas named Big 12 Conference team most likely to make College Football Playoff

The idea of the Kansas Jayhawks in the College Football Playoff could melt the minds of football fans not just in the Midwest but all over the country.

ESPN’s Football Power Index has given 30 teams at least a 10 percent chance of making the new, 12-team CFP and has Kansas as the team from the Big 12 Conference most likely to earn a playoff spot at 24 percent — although with a 0.9 percent chance of actually winning the championship.

From ESPN: “With six road games, it's not fair to call this schedule easy, but the reality is that there aren't any blockbuster matchups in the lineup. If Kansas is going to earn an at-large spot, it has to leave no doubt it looks the part -- and do it on a consistent basis. The selection committee is more impressed by wins against CFP top-25 teams, but there is certainly respect in the room for beating a bowl-bound team, especially on the road in convincing style.”

Kansas achieved its highest CFP ranking at No. 16 in 2023 after the Jayhawks went 9-4 and closed the season with a 49-36 win over UNLV in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.

The Jayhawks have quarterback Jalon Daniels back after he only played three games in 2023 due to a back injury — he was an All-Big 12 pick in 2022. Kansas also has a potential high NFL Draft pick in cornerback Cobee Bryant and a pair of running backs on the Doak Walker Award preseason watch list in Devin Neal and Daniel Hinshaw Jr.

Kansas opens the season on Thursday, Aug. 29 at home against Lindenwood.