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College football: Predicting who finishes in last place of every conference

By Maitland Rutledge

CHICAGO, IL - JULY 24: Illinois Football head coach Lovie Smith speaks to the media during the Big Ten Football Media Days event on July 24, 2018 at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - JULY 24: Illinois Football head coach Lovie Smith speaks to the media during the Big Ten Football Media Days event on July 24, 2018 at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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LAWRENCE, KS – NOVEMBER 18: Kansas Jayhawks head coach David Beaty stalks the sidelines in the first quarter of a Big 12 game between the Oklahoma Sooners and Kansas Jayhawks on November 18, 2017 at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, KS. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KS – NOVEMBER 18: Kansas Jayhawks head coach David Beaty stalks the sidelines in the first quarter of a Big 12 game between the Oklahoma Sooners and Kansas Jayhawks on November 18, 2017 at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, KS. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Big 12: Kansas

Kansas will be looking to finally climb out of the Big 12 basement, having struggled over the past decade.

There is one guarantee every college football season: Kansas finishing last in the Big 12. It is hard to believe, but in 2007 the Jayhawks were actually one of the top teams in the country and had their best season, winning 12 games and the Orange Bowl. Under Mark Mangino, Kansas became a competitor in the Big 12. Unfortunately, Mangino resigned after 2009 and the Jayhawks sunk deep into the abyss.

David Beaty arrived in 2015, but it has mostly been the same results under Turner Gill and Charlie Weiss. Kanas went winless in Beaty’s first season, followed two-win and one-win years. Their biggest win during that stretch came late in 2016 against Texas in overtime, their first win over the Longhorns since 1938.

Beaty signed an extension through 2021 before the 2017 season and fans were optimistic. Coming off the win over Texas and hiring Doug Meacham as offensive coordinator, some thought Kansas would be on the rise. Nothing changed. The team was last in the Big 12 in total offense and total defense.

The team returns some talent but defensive end Dorance Armstrong Jr. is the biggest loss. Armstrong was the team’s best defensive lineman, racking up 63 tackles and two sacks. Fortunately, linebacker Joe Dineen and safety Mike Lee are returning.

Quarterbacks Peyton Bender and Carter Stanley will battle once again for the starting job, but neither can separate themselves. Receiver Steven Sims Jr. was named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list and running back Khalil Herbert is also returning but are the only true weapons on this offense.

Overall this team looks almost identical to last year’s which won only one game. This looks like a two-win, three-win team at best. If Beaty cannot start accumulating conference wins soon, it could be over for him.