The 2007 Kansas Jayhawks football team (variously "Kansas", "KU", or the "Jayhawks") represented the University of Kansas in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Jayhawks, coached by Mark Mangino in his sixth year with the program, finished the season 12–1 overall, a school record for wins, and 7–1 in Big 12 conference play. They defeated Virginia Tech in the 2008 Orange Bowl, the Jayhawks first and only BCS bowl victory. They finished the season ranked No. 7 in both major polls.
Season summary Looking to improve on the previous season's 6–6 overall record (3–5 in the Big 12 Conference), the team finished the 2007 season with a 12–1 overall record (7–1 in their conference). The twelve victories set a new school record. Additionally, the Jayhawks won their first eleven games before their first loss which was the most consecutive wins to start a season in school history. Additionally, the Jayhawks reached a ranking of 2 during their 11–0 start, the highest rank achieved by the team in school history. Their defeat of the Virginia Tech Hokies in the Orange Bowl was the school's first and only Orange Bowl and BCS bowl game victory. Their only loss was versus a Northern Division rival, the Missouri Tigers, in their final regular season game which resulted in a co-champion status of the Northern Division, but denied them a trip to the Big 12 Championship Game. For their achievements the team was awarded the Stanley Tools Breakthrough of the Year Award. The Jayhawks were ranked seventh in the final AP poll, the highest they had been ranked in the final poll since 1968, and they received a first place vote. This was also the first time that the Jayhawks had received a first place vote in any AP poll since November 4, 1968, and it was the first time they received a first place vote in the final AP poll of the season.
Mark Mangino, in his sixth season as the team's head coach, was named consensus coach of the year after winning every major coach of the year award. The team's new offensive coordinator was Ed Warinner (third year overall with Kansas), and their defensive coordinators were Bill Young (sixth year) and Clint Bowen (seventh year). The team captains were senior running back Brandon McAnderson, senior tight end Derek Fine, senior defensive lineman James McClinton, and junior cornerback Aqib Talib. The starting quarterback position was held by sophomore Todd Reesing with sophomore Kerry Meier as a backup and wide receiver.
They played their home games on Kivisto Field at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas.
Three months after the Orange Bowl, the school's men's basketball team won the national championship, making Kansas only the second school in the country to win a BCS bowl game and basketball national championship in the same school year, along with Florida in 2006. The football and basketball teams' combined records were 49–4, which was the most combined victories in NCAA history.
Coaching staff The team was led by Mark Mangino in his sixth season as head coach. The team's 12 wins raised his overall coaching record to 37–36 (.507) and gave him his second bowl game win. At the end of the season Mangino was named the Big 12 Coach of the Year by the Big 12 coaches and Big 12 Co-Coach of the Year by the Associated Press. Other awards received include The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award, Walter Camp Coach of the Year, Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year, Paul "Bear" Bryant Award, and the Woody Hayes National Coach of the Year.
With the departure of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Nick Quartaro at the end of the prior season, Ed Warinner returned from a two-season stint as Illinois's run-game coordinator and offensive line coach. He brought in a new, more aggressive, faster-paced, no-huddle offense. This was Warriner's third season with the Jayhawks as he had previously coached the offensive line and served as run-game coordinator in 2003 and 2004.
Bill Young (sixth year) and Clint Bowen (seventh year) were defensive coordinators. Tim Beck (third year) was the wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator. Louie Matsakis entered the season as the running backs coach and special teams coordinator.
Schedule
Game summaries
Central Michigan
Statistics CMUKU First downs 17 28 Total yards 294 538 Rushing yards 114 230 Passing yards 196 317 Passing: comp–att–int 20–38–0 26–35–0 Turnovers 1 0 Team Category Player StatisticsCentral Michigan Passing Dan LeFevour 19/37, 172 yards, TD Rushing Justin Hoskins 4 rushes, 87 yards Receiving Bryan Anderson 7 receptions, 62 yards, TDKansas Passing Todd Reesing 20/29, 261 yards, 4 TD Rushing Brandon McAnderson 16 rushes, 110 yards Receiving Marcus Henry 7 receptions, 103 yards, TD
For their season-opening game on September 1, the Jayhawks hosted the defending Mid-American Conference champion Central Michigan Chippewas in the teams' first meeting. Central Michigan was led by Butch Jones in his first year as a head coach. Entering the game the Jayhawks had a 5–5 record against opponents from the MAC with the most recent result being the double-overtime loss to the Toledo Rockets in the third week of the 2006 season. The Jayhawks dominated the Chippewas in a 52–7 win to extend their streak of season-opening victories to four.
Southeastern Louisiana
Statistics SELAKU First downs 8 22 Total yards 75 501 Rushing yards -31 221 Passing yards 106 289 Passing: comp–att–int 22–34–0 14–24–0 Turnovers 0 0 Team Category Player StatisticsSoutheastern Louisiana Passing Brian Babin 20/30, 89 yards Rushing Jay Lucas 9 rushes, 12 yards Receiving Byron Ross 2 receptions, 22 yardsKansas Passing Todd Reesing 13/23, 257 yards, 2 TD Rushing Brandon McAnderson 11 rushes, 60 yards, 2 TD Receiving Marcus Henry 5 receptions, 119 yards
On September 8, the Jayhawks hosted the Southeastern Louisiana Lions from the Southland Conference. With the Lions led by first-year head coach Mike Lucas, it was the teams' first meeting and only the second for the Jayhawks versus a Southland opponent; the first was a win at home versus the to begin the previous season. The Jayhawks also recorded their first shutout since 2000.
Toledo
Statistics TOLKU First downs 9 29 Total yards 251 557 Rushing yards 174 232 Passing yards 94 349 Passing: comp–att–int 14–27–3 18–39–0 Turnovers 5 3 Team Category Player StatisticsToledo Passing Aaron Opelt 10/19, 38 yards, 3 INT Rushing DaJuane Collins 14 rushes, 102 yards, TD Receiving Aaron Opelt 1 reception, 21 yardsKansas Passing Todd Reesing 16/35, 313 yards, 3 TD Rushing Brandon McAnderson 12 rushes, 52 yards, 2 TD Receiving Marcus Henry 7 receptions, 133 yards, TD
On September 15, the Jayhawks hosted the Toledo Rockets for their third game in four seasons and fourth overall. Led by head coach Tom Amstutz in his seventh season, the Mid-American Conference team had defeated the Jayhawks the previous year in Toledo in a double-overtime loss. This 45–13 win gave the Jayhawks a 3–1 record versus the Rockets and a 7–5 record versus opponents from the MAC.
FIU
Statistics FIUKU First downs 15 26 Total yards 255 615 Rushing yards 122 224 Passing yards 138 391 Passing: comp–att–int 16–36–2 25–39–1 Turnovers 5 3 Team Category Player StatisticsFIU Passing Wayne Younger 16/33, 133 yards, TD, INT Rushing Wayne Younger 10 rushes, 58 yards Receiving Jason Frierson 4 receptions, 42 yardsKansas Passing Todd Reesing 23/37, 368 yards, TD, INT Rushing Brandon McAnderson 13 rushes, 105 yards, 2 TD Receiving Dexton Fields 4 receptions, 77 yards
For their fourth and final non-conference game on September 22, the Jayhawks hosted the FIU Golden Panthers of the Sun Belt Conference in the teams' first meeting. FIU was led by first-year head coach Mario Cristobal.
At No. 24 Kansas State
Statistics KUKSU First downs 24 17 Total yards 437 363 Rushing yards 170 53 Passing yards 267 316 Passing: comp–att–int 22–35–3 32–49–3 Turnovers 3 3 Team Category Player StatisticsKansas Passing Todd Reesing 22/35, 267 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT Rushing Jake Sharp 16 rushes, 81 yards, TD Receiving Dexton Fields 6 receptions, 78 yards, TDKansas State Passing Josh Freeman 31/48, 305 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing James Johnson 11 rushes, 30 yards Receiving Jordy Nelson 10 receptions, 137 yards, TD
Todd Reesing led the Jayhawks to victory in Manhattan for the first time in eighteen years. Aqib Talib sealed the game by picking off Josh Freeman's pass with less than two minutes left in the game.
The Jayhawks got their first touchdown on Kansas State's home field since 1999 when Jake Sharp, apparently stopped for a short gain, burst out of a gang of tacklers and sped 20 yards to make it 7–7 with 9:11 left in the first half. Sharp had picked up 14 yards the previous play.
The victory was KU's third in the last four Governor's Cup games against KSU, and increased their all-time lead in the Sunflower Showdown to 64–36–5.
The Wildcats came into the game ranked 24th in the nation. It was the Jayhawks first win over a ranked team since 2003 when the Jayhawks defeated 23rd ranked Missouri 35–14.
Baylor
Statistics BAYKU First downs 10 25 Total yards 202 447 Rushing yards 48 236 Passing yards 161 233 Passing: comp–att–int 22–43–4 18–37–0 Turnovers 5 0 Team Category Player StatisticsBaylor Passing Blake Szymanski 18/33, 119 yards, 3 INT Rushing Brandon Whitaker 12 rushes, 54 yards Receiving Brandon Whitaker 7 receptions, 45 yardsKansas Passing Todd Reesing 14/31, 186 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jake Sharp 18 rushes, 110 yards, TD Receiving Marcus Henry 1 reception, 54 yards, TD
Lightning delayed the start of the game 2 hours. Reesing passed for 186 yards as the Jayhawks were 6–0 for the first time since 1995. It was the Jayhawks first game as a ranked team since September 28, 1996.
At Colorado
Statistics KUCOLO First downs 17 19 Total yards 333 353 Rushing yards 180 66 Passing yards 153 311 Passing: comp–att–int 20–29–0 27–45–2 Turnovers 2 3 Team Category Player StatisticsKansas Passing Todd Reesing 20/29, 153 yards, TD Rushing Todd Reesing 7 rushes, 84 yards Receiving Marcus Henry 5 receptions, 81 yardsColorado Passing Cody Hawkins 27/44, 287 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Hugh Charles 11 rushes, 39 yards Receiving Tyson DeVree 7 receptions, 90 yards, TD
At Texas A&M
Statistics KUTAMU First downs 24 16 Total yards 407 318 Rushing yards 227 74 Passing yards 180 244 Passing: comp–att–int 21–33–0 24–45–0 Turnovers 0 1 Team Category Player StatisticsKansas Passing Todd Reesing 21/33, 180 yards Rushing Brandon McAnderson 21 rushes, 183 yards, 2 TD Receiving Dezmon Briscoe 6 receptions, 49 yardsTexas A&M Passing Stephen McGee 24/44, 244 yards, TD Rushing Mike Goodson 9 rushes, 33 yards Receiving Martellus Bennett 8 receptions, 91 yards
This was the Jayhawks' 9th meeting with the Texas A&M Aggies. A&M entered the game leading the series 7–1, and had only lost the first meeting in Lawrence in 1974. Kansas was the only Big 12 team that A&M was undefeated against, ever since the Big 12 formed in 1996. Kansas was the first top 10 team, excluding Oklahoma and Texas, to play at Kyle Field since 2002. A&M had compiled a 6–3 record for games played against top 10 teams (other than OU and Texas) at Kyle Field. In their previous meeting in 2006, A&M outscored Kansas 21–18. One day prior to the game, Las Vegas casinos favored Kansas to win by three points.
Kansas entered the game with a 16th-ranked rushing offense, 25th-ranked passing offense, and a 3rd-ranked scoring offense. Kansas' rushing defense ranked 4th, pass defense ranked 10th, and overall defense ranked 5th. Kansas also had ranked 9th in the weekly BCS standings. A&M came into the game with a 5th-ranked rushing offense, and a 111th ranked passing offense. The pass defense ranked 100th, scoring defense ranked 42nd, and overall defense ranked 73rd.