LAWRENCE — Just four games remain in the regular season, and the Kansas Jayhawks will have to win out to make a bowl game.
First up is Saturday’s game against the No. 17 Iowa State Cyclones, a team the Jayhawks have defeated the last two years.
“I want to see us to continue to play at a level where no one questions our effort,” KU coach Lance Leipold said. “We want to execute better at the key moments. As I’ve been saying for many weeks, we continue to see that winning is not easy. And the difference of winning and losing is a few plays and where I can continue to put ourselves in a position to play winning football.
“I think guys understand that. They want to get it done. I want to continue to see us see the improvement that we’ve seen in certain areas and increase the improvement in the areas that we have not.”
KU (2-6) has had plenty of opportunities to close out games but five of its six losses have been by six points or less. Iowa State (7-1) is coming off a 23-22 loss to Texas Tech, but Matt Campbell’s Cyclones have allowed 30 points just once this season.
“Matt’s done such an outstanding job of building that program,” Leipold said. “And he’s done it in the way of his culture and his beliefs of building a football program for not just periodic success but sustained success.”
While the Jayhawks remain hopeful they can play in a bowl game for the third year in a row, Leipold said he’s proud of how the team has continued to work hard despite a disappointing season.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am of this football team and how they’ve stuck together through frustration and disappointment,” Leipold said. “They continued to work hard and be coachable.
“They continue to see the margin is very small and own it that we haven’t made the plays at the right opportunities. But at the same time, they continue to work hard and see that winning football is not far from our grasp.”
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KU running back Devin Neal needs just seven yards to set the KU all-time rushing mark currently held by June Henley with 3,841 yards. Neal is also tied with Henley for career rushing touchdowns with 41.
“What I’ll always remember is the guy who walks in the building every day,” Leipold said. “And from where he was as a freshman to where he is now as a confident young adult is probably what impresses me most.”