The 2021 Kansas Jayhawks football team represented the University of Kansas in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the Jayhawks 132nd season. They were members of the Big 12 Conference. They played their home games at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. They were coached by Lance Leipold in his first year as head coach.
The Jayhawks entered the season with multiple losing streaks: 41 games to AP ranked teams, 54 road conference games, twelve conference games, and an overall losing streak of thirteen. Only one of the streaks would still be standing by the end of the season. They would end their thirteen game overall losing streak with their victory over South Dakota on September 3, 2021. Their victory over Texas on November 13 ended several more losing streaks: 8 straight overall losses, 18 straight within the Big 12, 20 straight to FBS opponents, and 56 straight in road conference games. They lost all their games against AP poll ranked teams during the season extending the streak to 44 games. The Jayhawks also failed to qualify for a bowl game for the 13th consecutive season, dating back to the 2008 season. They finished last in the Big 12 for the 7th consecutive season.
Les Miles departure
On March 5, 2021, head coach Les Miles, was placed on administrative leave following allegations of inappropriate comments and actions with female students while the head coach at LSU. Kansas and Miles agreed to mutually part ways on March 8, 2021. Wide receivers coach Emmett Jones served as interim coach from March 11 through the team's spring practices at the end of April. On April 30, Lance Leipold was hired as the head coach.
Offseason
Starters lost
Overall, the Jayhawks had 17 players run out of eligibility. Below are the starters from 2020 who have run out of eligibility.
Coaching staff changes
Including new head coach Lance Leipold, the Jayhawks will have five new coaches on their coaching staff replacing five coaches, which includes filling one position that was officially vacant the previous season.
Recruiting
The Jayhawks have 22 commitments for their 2021 recruiting class. Below is the breakdown. The only positions KU did not have any recruits for were kicker and punter.
Overall class ranking
Positional breakdown
Transfers
Only notable transfers are listed below. Kansas had 27 players transfer out and 13 transfer in.
Incoming
Outgoing
Entered NFL draft
Left during season
Big 12 media poll
The 2021 media poll was released on July 8, 2021. The Jayhawks were picked last for the 11th consecutive season receiving all 39 potential last place votes.
Schedule
Source:
Roster
Coaching staff
Game summaries
Vs. South Dakota
In the first game of the Lance Leipold era, the Jayhawks played South Dakota. The Jayhawks would score a touchdown first in the second quarter with a 8-yard pass by Jason Bean, a transfer from North Texas. After halftime, Kansas would take a 10–0 lead after a 30-yard field goal by Jacob Borcila. South Dakota would score two touchdowns to take their first lead with 5 minutes and 13 seconds left in the game. Kansas would then answer that touchdown with their own touchdown after Bean's second passing touchdown of the game with 1 minute and 3 seconds left. South Dakota would turn the ball over on downs after the kickoff to give the Jayhawks their first win since October 26, 2019, breaking a 13-game losing streak.
At No. 17 Coastal Carolina
Kansas would strike first kicking with a 46-yard field goal in their first road game of the season. Coastal Carolina would respond with a touchdown on the following drive to take the lead, only for the Jayhawks to take the lead back 9–7. They would not hold a lead for the rest of the game as Coastal Carolina would outscore the Jayhawks 42–13 the rest of the game. The loss extended the Jayhawks losing streak to teams ranked in the AP poll to 42 games.
vs Baylor
In the Jayhawks Big 12 opener, they struggled to keep up with Baylor being outgained by Baylor 576–166. Jason Bean also had his fewest passing yards of the season to that point in the game with only 57, but was still the Jayhawks leading rusher. The Jayhawks lost the game after never leading at any point 7–45. The loss was the Jayhawks' 15th consecutive loss to FBS opponents and their 13th consecutive loss in the Big 12.