Look, I get it. If you’re checking the kansas university football score lately, you’re probably either a die-hard fan looking for a silver lining or someone wondering why things felt so different this past season. Honestly, it was a weird year. We spent most of the fall waiting for that one big breakout moment that would propel Lance Leipold’s squad back into the bowl conversation, but it just never quite materialized the way we hoped.
The most recent and painful number on the board? A 31-21 loss to No. 13 Utah on November 28, 2025. That was the final whistle on a 5-7 season. It wasn't just a loss; it was a "so close yet so far" kind of afternoon that basically summed up the entire 2025 campaign.
The Reality of the 5-7 Finish
Kansas finished the year with a 5-7 record overall and a 3-6 mark in Big 12 play. It’s tough. For a program that finally tasted a bit of consistent winning recently, going home before the holidays feels like a step backward. But if you actually watched the games—I mean, really watched them—you saw a team that was competitive in almost every single matchup. They weren't getting blown off the field by everyone. They were just... losing.
One of the weirdest stats from the season is that Kansas actually outscored their opponents in total points, 337 to 321. Think about that for a second. You score more points than you give up over 12 games, and you still end up with a losing record. It’s statistically frustrating.
The 2025 Game-by-Game Breakdown
If you need to see the path they took, here’s how the scoreboard looked throughout the year. It started with a lot of hope.
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- Aug 23: Kansas 31, Fresno State 7 (Total dominance to start)
- Aug 29: Kansas 46, Wagner 7 (The offense looked unstoppable here)
- Sep 6: Missouri 42, Kansas 31 (The Border Showdown sting)
- Sep 20: Kansas 41, West Virginia 10 (Maybe the best they played all year)
- Sep 27: Cincinnati 37, Kansas 34 (A heartbreaker at home)
- Oct 4: Kansas 27, UCF 20 (A gritty road win)
- Oct 11: Texas Tech 42, Kansas 17 (This one just got away from them)
- Oct 25: Kansas State 42, Kansas 17 (The Sunflower Showdown... yeah, let's not talk about it)
- Nov 1: Kansas 38, Oklahoma State 21 (Senior Day vibes were high)
- Nov 8: Arizona 24, Kansas 20 (Another one-score game that slipped)
- Nov 22: Iowa State 38, Kansas 14 (A cold day in Ames)
- Nov 28: Utah 31, Kansas 21 (The final nail)
Why the Utah Score Hurt the Most
The Utah game was the one everyone circled. It was the chance to get to six wins. If they beat the Utes, they’re in a bowl game. Simple as that. Early on, it actually looked like it might happen. Jalon Daniels was moving the ball, and the defense was holding up against a very physical Utah front.
But then, the mistakes. Daniels had a couple of uncharacteristic errors in the fourth quarter that turned a tight 17-14 deficit into a 31-21 loss. Even when he led a quick touchdown drive to Leyton Cure to make it 24-21, the momentum just wouldn't stick. Utah did what Utah does—they ground out the clock and sucked the air out of the stadium.
What the Numbers Aren't Telling You
When you just look at a kansas university football score on a ticker, you miss the context of the roster. This was a "rebuilding" year that wasn't supposed to feel like one.
The secondary was incredibly young. We’re talking about true freshmen starting at corner in the Big 12. That’s a tall order for anyone. Against high-powered passing attacks like Texas Tech or even Cincinnati, those growing pains were reflected in the final score.
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And then there’s the Jalon Daniels factor. When he’s on, Kansas is a top-25 team. When he’s struggling with his rhythm—which happened in that 1-7 stretch of games where he completed less than 60% of his passes—the offense stalls. It's a heavy burden for one guy to carry, but that's the reality of modern college football.
The Problem with Close Games
Kansas lost four games by 10 points or fewer this year. If two of those go the other way, we’re talking about a 7-5 team and a trip to the Liberty Bowl or the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. Instead, fans are left dissecting "what ifs."
The defense, led by guys like Joseph Sipp Jr. and Trey Lathan, actually played well in spots. They held Arizona to just 24 points. They kept UCF to 20. But when the offense can’t sustain drives, the defense eventually breaks. You can't ask a unit to stay on the field for 40 minutes and expect them to keep the score down forever.
Is Coach Leipold Still the Answer?
There’s been some chatter on the message boards—as there always is after a 5-7 season. People are asking if the "Leipold Magic" has worn off. Honestly, that feels like a massive overreaction.
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Before Leipold got here, Kansas was lucky to win two games a year. Now, a 5-7 season is considered a disappointment. That shift in expectations is actually proof of the progress he’s made. The program has a foundation now. They have a legitimate recruiting footprint in Texas and Missouri that didn't exist five years ago.
The real test comes now. With the 2025 season in the books, the focus shifts to the transfer portal and internal development.
Actionable Insights for Jayhawk Fans
If you're tracking the future of this program, don't just look at the scores. Watch these three things over the next few months:
- The Quarterback Battle: Jalon Daniels has the experience, but keep an eye on Isaiah Marshall. There’s a lot of buzz that the coaching staff might let them compete openly this spring.
- Defensive Line Depth: Kansas struggled to get a consistent pass rush without blitzing. If they don't land a high-impact edge rusher in the portal, the scores in 2026 might look a lot like the scores in 2025.
- The New Coaching Staff: With some turnover in the assistant ranks, including the return of Andy Kotelnicki as Associate Head Coach, the offensive identity might get a much-needed facelift.
The 2025 season wasn't the "leap forward" many predicted, but it wasn't a total collapse either. It was a year of growing pains and missed opportunities. If you're looking for the kansas university football score to improve next year, it’s going to come down to winning those one-possession games that slipped away this fall.