Here’s what it had to say about LL
Coach: Lance Leipold
Team record in 2020: 0-8
Hiring grade: A-
2021 record: 2-10
First-year grade: B+
I debated between B+ and A- for Leipold, ultimately deciding that a two-win season cannot merit an A-grade. But Leipold did good work under extremely challenging circumstances, taking over at Kansas only in late April, after almost all of spring practice had been completed. He inherited an incredibly challenging roster situation and a team that failed to win a game in 2020, and had won just nine over the previous six seasons.
Kansas prevailed only twice under Leipold but began to form an identity, especially on offense, his specialty. A 31-point underdog at Texas, the Jayhawks outlasted the Longhorns in overtime to end their 56-game Big 12 road losing streak. They also outplayed Oklahoma for most of a 35-23 loss, and ended the season with single-digit defeats to TCU and West Virginia. Leipold has won everywhere he has been, and while Kansas' challenges aren't going away, more victories likely are on the way in Year 2.
Coach: Lance Leipold
Team record in 2020: 0-8
Hiring grade: A-
2021 record: 2-10
First-year grade: B+
I debated between B+ and A- for Leipold, ultimately deciding that a two-win season cannot merit an A-grade. But Leipold did good work under extremely challenging circumstances, taking over at Kansas only in late April, after almost all of spring practice had been completed. He inherited an incredibly challenging roster situation and a team that failed to win a game in 2020, and had won just nine over the previous six seasons.
Kansas prevailed only twice under Leipold but began to form an identity, especially on offense, his specialty. A 31-point underdog at Texas, the Jayhawks outlasted the Longhorns in overtime to end their 56-game Big 12 road losing streak. They also outplayed Oklahoma for most of a 35-23 loss, and ended the season with single-digit defeats to TCU and West Virginia. Leipold has won everywhere he has been, and while Kansas' challenges aren't going away, more victories likely are on the way in Year 2.
