# Kansas Football: Midseason Grades for Struggling Jayhawks

> Kansas football at 2-4 with three straight losses, facing bowl eligibility with four wins needed.
- Title: Kansas Football: Midseason Grades for Struggling Jayhawks
- Summary: Kansas football at 2-4 with three straight losses, facing bowl eligibility with four wins needed. Kansas Jayhawks are 2-4 with four losses to top teams…
- Keywords: kansas, jayhawks, football, lance leipold, midseason grades, bowl eligibility, kansas state, mizzou, arizona state, utah, long island university, middle tennessee state
- Source: Kansas Jayhawks On SI — https://si.com/college/kansas/football/kansas-football-midseason-grades-for-the-struggling-jayhawks
- Published: 2026-10-21T20:42:12+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: kansas, jayhawks, football, lance leipold, midseason grades, bowl eligibility, kansas state, mizzou, arizona state, utah, long island university, middle tennessee state
## Kansas Football Midseason
Kansas football program reached midway point of 2026 season after tumultuous first half.
## Record: 2-4
Jayhawks at 2-4 with wins against Long Island University 51-6 and Middle Tennessee State 55-0.
## Losses
Four losses to No. 22 Missouri 38-21, Arizona State 24-17, Utah 41-24, Kansas State 35-24.
## Head Coach Lance Leipold
Leipold faces third straight losing season barring miraculous turnaround against Baylor.
## Offense: B-
Kansas offense ranks No. 54 in passing with 242.5 yards per game, 1,294 yards and nine touchdowns.
## Rushing Game
Dylan Marshall rushed 375 yards with 207 yards per game, 207 yards per game ranking No. 23.
## Third-Down Struggles
Kansas ranks No. 82 in third-down conversion percentage at 38.8% with stalled drives.
## Defense: C-
Kansas defense ranks No. 74 in scoring defense with 24 points per game.
## Run Defense
Kansas run defense ranks No. 106 with 174.3 yards rushing per game.
## Pass Defense
Kansas pass defense ranks No. 27 with 174.3 yards per game and 32.9% third-down conversion.
## Sacks
Kansas defense has six sacks, ranking No. 98 in college football.
## Special Teams: D
Kansas place kicker Martin Connington made six of eight field goals, 75% success rate.
## Punting Issues
Kansas punter Matt Gill averages 39.8 yards per punt, ranking No. 114 in net punting.
## Coaching: F
Leipold and coaching staff have struggled with recruiting, preparation, adjustments, and clock management.
## K-State Loss
K-State loss makes Leipold 0-6 versus Wildcats, killed momentum heading into halftime.
## Fourth Quarter Struggles
Kansas has struggled to close out games despite being within reach against Arizona State, Utah, and K-State.
## Bowl Eligibility
Kansas needs four wins in six remaining games to reach bowl eligibility.
## Key takeaway

Kansas Jayhawks are 2-4 with four losses to top teams, needing four wins in six games to reach bowl eligibility.