2008 record: 8-5, 4-4 (3rd in Big 12 North)
2008 bowl: Beat Minnesota 42-21 in Insight
2008 final AP/coaches' ranking: 7/7
Coach: Mark Mangino (45-41, 8th year)
Offensive coordinator: Ed Warinner (3rd year)
Defensive coordinator: Clint Bowen (4th year)
Returning offensive starters: 7
Returning defensive starters: 7
Location: Lawrence, Kan.
Stadium: Memorial Stadium (AstroPlay; 50,071)
Last league title: 1968 (tie, Big Eight)
2009 schedule: [view]
2009 roster: [view]
2008 statistics: [view]

Offensive: Kansas has one of the best offensive attacks in the Big 12 Conference, if not the nation. The triggerman is senior quarterback Todd Reesing, entering his third season as a starter, who has the escapability, panache and intangibles of a college-level Brett Favre. Reesing benefits from one of the nation’s deepest and most talented collection of receivers, including game-breaking junior Dezmon Briscoe and ultra-dependable senior Kerry Meier (97 receptions in 2008). Senior Jake Sharp (860 yards, 12 touchdowns) is a nice rushing option on a pass-first team. 

Defensive: The Jayhawks must, at the very least, provide more resistance in holding back Big 12 offenses. At times last season, the opponents left skid marks. On paper, the pass rush appears respectable with three returning starters, but there wasn’t enough of a push up front. Junior-college transfer Quintin Woods, who once signed with Michigan, should help on the edge. The help-wanted sign is out at linebacker. Collectively, the secondary wasn’t a strength. But individually, senior strong safety Darrell Stuckey (team-leading 98 tackles and five interceptions) is a difference-maker.

Specialists: The kicking game is adequate with junior Jacob Branstetter at place-kicker and junior Alonso Rojas at punter. The return game (Big 12-low 17.2-yard average on kickoff returns) must improve drastically.

Coaching: Mark Mangino inherited a depleted program, took his lumps while building things the right way, and now has Kansas operating at an efficient level. The Kansas administration has backed him all the way with support and resources. Mangino probably can’t produce a year-in, year-out BCS bowl program, but Big 12 contention and expectations show that the Jayhawks have come a long way.

Heisman Hopefuls: Reesing is a second-tier candidate in a league with last season’s top two Heisman finishers (Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford, Texas’ Colt McCoy). Now those are some difficult odds. But if Reesing comes out slinging like usual, he might be able to wrangle a New York invitation, particularly if the Jayhawks are playing for the Big 12 championship. 

Game of the year Nov. 28 vs. Missouri at Kansas City, Mo. The “Border War,’’ once terribly insignificant on the national scale, has become a can’t-miss rivalry. Kansas prevailed 40-37 in last season’s snowy atmosphere. This year’s clash could decide the Big 12 North title.

Overview: Kansas should score points — lots and lots of points. There are question marks on defense, particularly in the secondary, which ranked 114th nationally against the pass. But then again, this is the Big 12, a league of shootouts. As long as Kansas can keep scoring more points than the opponents, it looks headed for another nice bowl and a possible spot in the Big 12 Championship Game.

Next up: No. 24 Tennessee

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