| Year: | 2008 |
| Team: | Kansas Jayhawks |
| Conference: | Big 12 Conference |
| Division: | North |
| Short Conf: | Big 12 |
| Record: | 8–5 |
| Conf Record: | 4–4 |
| Hc Year: | 7th |
| Oc Year: | 2nd |
| Dc Year: | 3rd |
| Stadium: | Memorial Stadium (Capacity: 50,071) |
| Champion: | Insight Bowl champion |
| Bowl Result: | W 42–21 vs. Minnesota |
The 2008 Kansas Jayhawks football team represented the University of Kansas in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the school's 119th year of intercollegiate football. The team was looking to continue the success of the prior season in which they lost only a single conference game and went on to win the Orange Bowl. In the ninth week, after defeating Kansas State 52–21, the Jayhawks became Bowl eligible for the fourth consecutive year, a school record. Also, for the first time in school history, Kansas made back-to-back appearances in a Bowl game after accepting the invitation to play in the Insight Bowl versus the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The team finished the regular season with a victory over their archrival, the Missouri Tigers (who was then ranked 13th in the BCS Poll), in the Border War. The Jayhawks concluded the season with an 8–5 overall record (4–4 in the Big 12 Conference).
The team was led by head coach Mark Mangino, in his seventh season, with Ed Warinner as the offensive coordinator for his second season (fourth year overall) and Clint Bowen (eighth year) in his first season as the defensive coordinator, having served the previous two seasons as co-defensive coordinator. Junior Todd Reesing returned to the starting quarterback position after a record-setting performance in the previous season.
They played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas.
Following the, season the NCAA ranked the Jayhawks schedule as the seventh toughest in NCAA Division I FBS, out of 119.[2]
KU dismissed junior cornerback Anthony Webb in June for violating team rules. At the same time, senior defensive tackle Todd Haselhorst left the team for health reasons. KU lost three running backs in August. Carmon Boyd-Anderson transferred to Southwest Baptist University. Donte Bean and Kyle Winkley left the team for Washburn University. Sean Ransburg did not qualify academically for the fall. Kicker Stephen Hoge quit the team in mid-August. Tight end and defensive end Kevin Glover left the team for personal issues.
Heading into the game against Iowa State, Kansas was ranked #16 in the AP Poll. This made the 16th consecutive week that Kansas was ranked in the Top 25 (dating back to 2007), a school record. Coming off a bye-week, Kansas entered the game 17 point favorites. However, Iowa State started the game with a flawless performance. Iowa State Quarterback Austen Arnaud started the game with six straight completions and a touchdown as Iowa State took an early 14 to 0 lead. Iowa State then added two field goals in the second quarter to go up 20 to 0 at halftime. Kansas started the second half well when running back Jake Sharp caught at 67-yard touchdown pass from Todd Reesing. Kansas scored again with an Angus Quigley touchdown run that cut Iowa State's lead to six. On Kansas' next possession they found themselves with a 4th and 6 on the Iowa State 23-yard line. Kansas decided to go for it and Kerry Meier caught a touchdown on the play as Kansas took its first lead 21 to 20. In the 4th Quarter Dexton Fields caught a 50-yard pass, but Todd Reesing fumbled it on the next play. Arnaud then threw an interception and Kansas capitalized with a Jake Sharp touchdown run to go up 28 to 20. After Iowa State scored its first touchdown of the second half, Kansas responded when Kerry Meier caught a 21-yard touchdown to put Kansas up 35 to 26. Arnaud led Iowa State to another touchdown to cut the lead to 35 to 33 with 1 minute 15 seconds left in the game. Iowa State then recovered an onside kick, but failed to advance the ball. Kansas' victory was the third largest comeback win in school history. Reesing finished with 319 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Kerry Meier led Kansas in receiving again with 7 receptions for 125 yards and two touchdowns. Jake Sharp had his best performance of the season with 79 yards rushing, 109 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
See also: 2008 Colorado Buffaloes football team.
See also: 2008 Texas Longhorns football team. Played in alternating snow and light rain, Kansas claimed a victory over Missouri in thrilling fashion. Kansas scored first, taking advantage of an early Darrell Stuckey interception, and Darrell Stuckey's forced fumble on a long Chase Daniel run. Missouri came back in the second half, pulling into the lead late in the game on a Derrick Washington touchdown run. But Kansas marched down the field quickly, scoring when Todd Reesing eluded defensive pressure and lofted a pass to Kerry Meier as Meier ran across the goal line. Missouri raced downfield just as quickly, but a last-second field goal was blocked to preserve a 40–37 win for Kansas. This was the last victory over a team ranked in the AP poll for the Jayhawks until Nov. 5th 2022 against #18 ranked Oklahoma State.
See also: 2008 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team and 2008 Insight Bowl.