The 2020 Kansas Jayhawks football team represented the University of Kansas as a member of Big 12 Conference during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the Jayhawks 131st season. It was the second and final year under Les Miles. The team play home games at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas.
The Jayhawks began the season 0–4 and struggled statistically through the first four games, losing by an average of 20.5 points, while being outgained on offense on average 451.8 to 261.3 and having a turnover margin of –4. Through games on October 17, they were one of only two winless teams in the country that had played at least four games.
The Jayhawks finished winless for only the third time in school history and the second time since the 2015 season.
Offseason
Starters lost Overall, the Jayhawks had 25 players run out of eligibility. Below are the starters from 2019 who have run out of eligibility.
Hakeem Adeniji T Jelani Brown DT Daylon Charlot WR Hasan Defense CB Azur Kamara LB Mike Lee S Clyde McCualley III G Ben Miles FB Darrius Moragne DE Carter Stanley QB Najee Stevens-McKenzie LB Bryce Torneden S Andru Tovi C
Coaching staff changes Clint Bowen Safeties Jordan Peterson Todd Bradford Linebackers D. J. Elliot* Tony Hull Running backs Jonathan Wallace Vacant Special teams Outside linebackers Chidera Uzo-Diribe Luke Meadows† Offensive line John Morookian
Recruiting The Jayhawks have 26 commitments for their 2020 recruiting class. Below is the breakdown. In addition to their 26 recruited freshmen, the Jayhawks also have 13 walk-on freshmen. The only positions KU did not have any recruits for were running back, kicker, and punter.
Overall class ranking Rivals 50 8 0 19 247 Sports 57 10 0 26
Positional breakdown WR 6 TE 2 QB 1 OL 5 LB 3 DL 2 DB 4 ATH 2
Left team during the season Pooka Williams Jr. RB Dru Prox LB Kyle Thompson P
Big 12 media poll The 2020 preseason poll was released on July 17, 2020. The Jayhawks were picked last for the 10th consecutive season, receiving 80 out of 90 possible last place votes.
Big 12 media poll 1 Oklahoma 888 (80) 2 Oklahoma State 742 (6) 3 Texas 727 (4) 4 Iowa State 607 5 Baylor 489 6 TCU 477 7 Kansas State 366 8 West Virginia 287 9 Texas Tech 267 10 Kansas 100
Schedule
COVID-19 impact
On June 20, 2020, the University of Kansas announced it had tested 86 football players and 110 staff members. Only one player tested positive and no staff members. One player tested positive for the antibody test, indicating the player had it in the past, but no longer had it. On July 3, the team announced that another 11 players had tested positive and that they would be suspending in-person voluntary workouts. Kansas was scheduled to play New Hampshire, but the game was canceled following the CAA’s decision to not play football during the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the cancellation, KU athletic director Jeff Long said in a statement that they will look into finding an opponent to replace New Hampshire in the opening of the schedule. On July 25, Kansas announced it had replaced the game with New Hampshire with a game on August 29 against Southern Illinois, but that game was later cancelled. On July 29, their game against Boston College was also canceled. On August 3, the Big 12 announced they would play a 10-game schedule that included all conference games and one non-conference game. On August 12, the Big 12 announced the conference portion of the revised schedule. On August 31, the school announced that they will begin the season without fans in attendance, but did not specify how many games will be played without fans. On September 24, Long announced a maximum of 10,000 fans would be allowed to attend through the month of October. On October 8, head coach Les Miles announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19. Because of his positive test, he did not coach the game against West Virginia. A few days before the Jayhawks November 21 game against Texas, it was rescheduled for December 14, then it was cancelled altogether on December 10. In total, four of the Jayhawks games were cancelled due to COVID-19.
Season schedule Every game listed below had a limited or no attendance due to COVID-19.
Source:
Roster 2020 Kansas Jayhawks FootballQuarterback 3 Miles Kendrick Junior 7 Thomas MacVittie Senior 13 Jordan Preston Freshman 14 Jordan Medley Freshman 15 Miles Fallin Junior 17 Jalon Daniels Freshman
Running back 0 Velton Gardner Sophomore 6 Jack Codwell Freshman 12 Torry Locklin Freshman 20 Daniel Hishaw Jr. Freshman 22 Rob Fiorentino Sophomore 23 Amauri Pesek-Hickson Freshman 25 Gayflor Flomo Junior 29 Ben Miles FB Junior 33 Spencer Roe FB Sophomore 46 Sam Schroeder FB Junior 47 Jared Casey FB Freshman
Wide receiver 2 Lawrence Arnold Freshman 4 Andrew Parchment Senior 5 Stephon Robinson Jr. Senior 8 Kwamie Lassiter II Senior 10 Tristan Golightly Freshman 11 Ezra Naylor II Senior 16 Takulve Williams Junior 18 Jordan Brown Freshman 19 Steven McBride Freshman 24 Malik Johnson Freshman 27 Kyler Pearson Freshman 36 Lawrence Shadd III Freshman 80 Luke Grimm Freshman 81 Kameron McQueen Senior 83 Quentin Skinner Freshman 85 Hunter Kaufman Junior 88 Jamahl Horne Sophomore
Tight end 34 Will Huggins Freshman 45 Trevor Kardell Freshman 82 James Sosinski Senior 84 Jack Parks Sophomore 86 Mac Copeland Sophomore 87 Jack Luavasa Senior 89 Mason Fairchild Sophomore Offensive line 55 Armaj Reed-Adams Freshman 56 Ronaldo Sigers Freshman 58 Api Mane Senior 59 Jack Murphy Sophomore 61 Malik Clark Senior 62 Garrett Jones Freshman 64 Jalan Robinson Sophomore 66 Danny Robinson Freshman 68 Earl Bostick Jr. Junior 69 Joe Krause Freshman 70 Nick Williams Sophomore 71 Jacobi Lott Sophomore 72 Adagio Lopeti Senior 73 Jack Werner Freshman 74 Jackson Satterwhite Freshman 76 Chris Hughes Senior 77 Bryce Cabeldue Freshman 78 Nicholas Martinez Freshman 79 Joseph Gilbertson Junior
Defensive line 38 Clinton Anokwuru Freshman 50 Marcus Harris Freshman 51 Jack Stallard Freshman 53 Caleb Taylor Freshman 90 Jereme Robinson Freshman 91 Jelani Arnold Junior 93 Sam Burt Senior 95 DaJon Terry Freshman 96 Zack Biddison Junior 97 Kenean Caldwell Freshman 98 Caleb Sampson Junior 99 Malcolm Lee Junior
Linebacker 14 Steven Parker Freshman 15 Kyron Johnson Senior 18 Denzel Feaster Senior 19 Gavin Potter Sophomore 23 Alonso Person Freshman 28 Taiwan Berryhill Freshman 30 Cooper Root Junior 32 Dylan Downing Freshman 37 Hayden Hatcher Junior 43 Jay Dineen Junior 49 Krishawn Brown Freshman Defensive back 1 Kenny Logan Jr. CB Sophomore 3 Ricky Thomas S Senior 4 Elijah Jones CB Senior 5 Gabe Garber S Freshman 6 Valerian Agbaw Jr. CB Freshman 7 Davon Ferguson S Junior 8 Kyle Mayberry CB Senior 9 Karon Prunty CB Freshman 10 Julian Chandler S Senior 11 Johnquai Lewis CB Freshman 13 Ra'Mello Dotson CB Freshman 17 Corione Harris CB Junior 20 Donovan Gaines CB Freshman 22 Duece Mayberry CB Freshman 25 David Carter CB Junior 26 Cody McNerney S Sophomore 34 Nate Betts S Senior 35 Nick Caudle S Junior 39 Ryan Malbrough S Sophomore 41 Nick Channel S Sophomore 45 Tyler Stottle S Freshman
Special teams 24 Reis Vernon P Freshman 44 Tabor Allen K Freshman 46 Liam Jones K Senior 57 Emory Duggar LS Freshman 60 Luke Hosford LS Freshman 67 Logan Klusman LS Senior 83 Jacob Borcila K Freshman 91 Cole Brungardt K Junior 92 Donovan Gagen P/K Senior
Positional breakdown QB 6 RB 12 WR 17 TE 7 OL 19 DL 12 LB 12 DB 21 ST 10 Total 116
Breakdown by class 39 16 22 39
Game summaries Game lines listed below are subject to multiple changes leading up to the game. The line listed is the last available line. Lines are from Bovada.
Coastal Carolina
Statistics CCUKU First downs 19 23 Total yards 318 367 Rushing yards 185 178 Passing yards 133 189 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 30:25 29:35
Team Category Player StatisticsCoastal Carolina Passing Grayson McCall 11–18, 133 yards, 3 TD Rushing C. J. Marable 21 carries, 75 yards Receiving Jaivon Heiligh 3 receptions, 74 yards, 1 TDKansas Passing Miles Kendrick 15–24, 156 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing Velton Gardner 11 carries, 81 yards, 1 TD Receiving Kwamie Lassiter II 5 receptions, 63 yards, 1 TD
The game was originally scheduled for September 26 at Brooks Stadium in Conway, South Carolina, but was moved to Lawrence. The Chanticleers began the game with a 28–0 run, shutting out Kansas until they kicked a field goal as time expired in the first half. The Jayhawks would outscore Coastal Carolina 20–10 in the second half, but the Chanticleers still held on to win the game.
At Baylor
Statistics KUBAY First downs 20 24 Total yards 328 352 Rushing yards 169 203 Passing yards 159 149 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 31:30 28:30
Team Category Player StatisticsKansas Passing Jalon Daniels 19–33, 159 yards Rushing Pooka Williams Jr. 14 carries, 76 yards, 2 TD Receiving Kwamie Lassiter II 6 receptions, 65 yardsBaylor Passing Charlie Brewer 15–23, 142 yards, 1 TD Rushing John Lovett 17 carries, 78 yards, 1 TD Receiving Trestan Ebner 2 receptions, 53 yards, 1 TD
The Jayhawks scored 3 minutes and 31 minutes into the game on a 21-yard run by Pooka Williams Jr. After that, Baylor would score 40 unanswered points scoring 5 touchdowns, a field goal, and a safety, including a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown at the start of the second half. Williams added another touchdown late in the game, as did Baylor running back Craig Williams. The Jayhawks would lose 14–47, extending their Big 12 road conference losing streak to 46 games dating back to October 4, 2008, when the Jayhawks defeated Iowa State 35–33.
No. 17 Oklahoma State
Statistics OKSTKU First downs 31 12 Total yards 593 193 Rushing yards 295 101 Passing yards 298 92 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 31:54 28:06
Team Category Player StatisticsOklahoma State Passing Shane Illingworth 17–23, 265 yards, 3 TD Rushing Chuba Hubbard 20 carries, 145 yards, 2 TD Receiving Tylan Wallace 9 receptions, 148 yards, 2 TDKansas Passing Miles Kendrick 11–19, 90 yards, 1 INT Rushing Daniel Hishaw Jr. 5 carries, 51 yards Receiving Kwamie Lassiter II 4 reception, 41 yards
The game featured two of the premier running backs in the Big 12, Pooka Williams Jr. of Kansas and Chuba Hubbard from Oklahoma State, who are both top 10 all-time in career rushing yards at their respective schools. Williams was held to a season low 32 yards rushing and a 2.2 yard average, while Hubbard ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns. The Jayhawks were dominated on both sides of the ball throughout the game as they were held to only 193 yards of total offense and allowed 593 yards on defense. The Jayhawks were shut out through the first three quarters of the game and didn't score until Oklahoma State had taken their starters out of the game. The loss extended the Jayhawks losing streak against teams ranked in the AP poll to 39 games.
At West Virginia
Statistics KUWVU First downs 7 29 Total yards 157 544 Rushing yards 62 226 Passing yards 95 318 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 27:05 32:55
Team Category Player StatisticsKansas Passing Miles Kendrick 14–23, 95 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT Rushing Velton Gardner 11 carries, 43 yards Receiving Andrew Parchment 6 receptions, 65 yards, 1 TDWest Virginia Passing Jarret Doege 26–44, 318 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT Rushing Leddie Brown 18 carries, 195 yards, 1 TD Receiving Bryce Ford-Wheaton 5 receptions, 89 yards, 1 TD
The team played the game without Les Miles due to his positive COVID-19 test. Joshua Eargle served as the interim head coach for the game. The Jayhawks jumped ahead to an early 10–0 lead including forcing their first turnover of the season. The Mountaineers would score 38 unanswered points before the Jayhawks would score again. The loss extended the Jayhawks losing streak in road conference games to 51. Following the game, two-time first team All-Big 12 running back Pooka Williams Jr. opted out of the remainder of the season.