| Year: | 2018 |
| Team: | Kansas Jayhawks |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Big 12 Conference |
| Short Conf: | Big 12 |
| Record: | 3–9 |
| Conf Record: | 1–8 |
| Head Coach: | David Beaty |
| Hc Year: | 4th |
| Off Coach: | Doug Meacham (2nd season; first six games) David Beaty (interim) |
| Def Coach: | Clint Bowen |
| Dc Year: | 5th |
| Stadium: | David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium |
The 2018 Kansas Jayhawks football team represented the University of Kansas in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the Jayhawks 129th season. The Jayhawks were led by fourth-year head coach David Beaty. They were members of the Big 12 Conference. They played their games at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, formally Memorial Stadium. The stadium was renamed following the Jayhawks 2017 season in December 2017 after a $50 million renovation was completed that was donated by Kansas alumnus David Booth.[1]
The Jayhawks ended multiple losing streaks during the season, the longest being a 46 game road losing streak which ended with a 31–7 win over Central Michigan. The win also ended a 12 game losing streak against FBS opponents.[2] With a 27–26 win over TCU, KU ended a 10 game losing streak against Big 12 teams. With back–to–back wins over Central Michigan and Rutgers, Kansas earned back-to-back wins against any opponent for the first time since 2011 and their first back-to-back wins over FBS opponents since 2009.[3] Two other major losing streaks were still active at the end of the season, they have lost 44 consecutive road games in the Big 12 as well as 30 consecutive losses against teams ranked in the AP Poll. Following their 7th loss of the season to Kansas State, the Jayhawks became ineligible for a bowl game for the 10th consecutive season.
On November 5, Kansas athletic director Jeff Long announced that Beaty will not be retained as head coach but he was able to finish the season and was officially fired at the end of the season.[4]
| Position | Player | 1st/2nd/ | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE | 2nd | Graduation | |
| DL | 2nd | Entered NFL draft | |
| Position | Player | Year | 1st/2nd/ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DL | Sr. | 1st | ||
| OL | Jr. | HM | ||
| WR/KR/PR | Sr. | HM | ||
| DB | Bryce Torneden | Jr. | HM | |
| K | Gabriel Rui | Sr. | HM |
The Big 12 media poll was released on July 12, 2018 with the Jayhawks predicted to finish in last place receiving all last place votes.[5]
| Media poll | |||
| 1 | Oklahoma | 509 (46) | |
| 2 | West Virginia | 432 (2) | |
| 3 | TCU | 390 (1) | |
| 4 | Texas | 370 (1) | |
| 5 | Oklahoma State | 300 | |
| 6 | Kansas State | 283 (2) | |
| 7 | Iowa State | 250 | |
| 8 | Texas Tech | 149 | |
| 9 | Baylor | 125 | |
| 10 | Kansas | 52 | |
Source:[6]
See also: 2018 Nicholls Colonels football team.
See also: 2018 Central Michigan Chippewas football team.
See also: 2018 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team.
See also: 2018 Baylor Bears football team.
See also: 2018 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team.
See also: 2018 West Virginia Mountaineers football team.
See also: 2018 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team.
See also: 2018 TCU Horned Frogs football team.
See also: 2018 Iowa State Cyclones football team.
See also: 2018 Kansas State Wildcats football team and Sunflower Showdown.
See also: 2018 Oklahoma Sooners football team.
See also: 2018 Texas Longhorns football team.