| Year: | 2007 |
| Team: | Kansas Jayhawks |
| Conference: | Big 12 Conference |
| Division: | North |
| Short Conf: | Big 12 |
| Coachrank: | 7 |
| Aprank: | 7 |
| Record: | 12–1 |
| Conf Record: | 7–1 |
| Hc Year: | 6th |
| Oc Year: | 1st |
| Codc1 Year: | 2nd |
| Codc2 Year: | 6th |
| Stadium: | Memorial Stadium (Capacity: 50,071) |
| Champion: | Big 12 North co-champions Orange Bowl champion |
| Bowl Result: | W 24–21 vs. Virginia Tech |
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.
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,[1] 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.[2] 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.[3]
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.[4] [5]
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.
See also: 2007 Central Michigan Chippewas football team. 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.
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.
See also: 2007 Toledo Rockets football team. 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.
See also: 2007 FIU Golden Panthers football team. 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.
See also: 2007 Kansas State Wildcats football team. 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.[6] It was the Jayhawks first game as a ranked team since September 28, 1996.
See also: 2007 Colorado Buffaloes football team.
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.[7] In their previous meeting in 2006, A&M outscored Kansas 21–18.[8] One day prior to the game, Las Vegas casinos favored Kansas to win by three points.[9]
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.[10] Kansas also had ranked 9th in the weekly BCS standings.[11] 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.[12]
In the game, KU running back Brandon McAnderson rushed for a career-high of 183 yards, and quarterback Todd Reesing completed 21 of 33 passes for 180 yards. Through the first three quarters, the Jayhawks shutout the Aggies' 5th-ranked rushing offense and held them to only 56 yards. A&M running back Jorvorskie Lane had only rushed for 24 yards the entire game. KU gained a 13–0 lead in the third quarter, after kicker Scott Webb kicked two field goals and Reesing led his team to a 54-yard touchdown drive on 6 plays. In the fourth quarter, Reesing led his team to a 43-yard touchdown drive on 4 plays.[13]
For the first time since 1909, the Jayhawks improved to an 8–0 season record. This was also the first time that KU won in Texas since 2001 (not including bowl games).[13]
See also: 2007 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team.