KANSAS JAYHAWKS NOTES:
KANSAS MAKES SECOND STRAIGHT BOWL APPEARANCE VS. UNLV IN GUARANTEED RATE BOWL
Playing in its second bowl game in as many seasons for just the second time in school history, the Kansas Jayhawks will take on the UNLV Rebels in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl in Phoenix, Arizona on Tuesday, December 26 inside Chase Field. The bowl appearance marks Kansas’ 14th in program history, where the Jayhawks hold a 6-7 record all-time. Kansas most recently played in the 64th AutoZone Liberty Bowl on December 28, 2022, falling to defeat in a thrilling shootout, 55-53 in 2OT. This season, Kansas is 8-4 (5-4 Big 12), marking its first eight-win regular season since 2007 and 15th eight-win season in program history. The Jayhawks will play in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl (formerly the Insight Bowl) for the second time in program history, after defeating Minnesota 42-21 in Tempe, Arizona in 2008. Kansas and UNLV will meet for the third time in the series history, as the two teams played in a home-and-home series in 2002 and 2003. Kansas won the most recent meeting in 2003, 46-24, while UNLV won the inaugural matchup in Las Vegas in 2002, 31-20. The Jayhawks enter the Guaranteed Rate Bowl with the No. 4 total defense in the Big 12, allowing an average of 377.6 yards per game. Kansas’ offense averages 33.6 points per game, which enters bowl game ranked 29th nationally. UNLV is making its first bowl appearance since 2014 and seventh bowl game overall. The Rebels are led by 2023 Mountain West Coach of the Year Barry Odom, who is in his first season at the school and led the program to its most victories since 1984. Kickoff for the Guaranteed Rate Bowl is set for 8 p.m. CT with Beth Mowins (Play-by-Play), Kirk Morrison (Analyst) and Stormy Buonantony (Sideline) on the call. J
AYHAWK QUICK HITS
• The Jayhawks enter postseason play with both an offense and defense that rank in the top-half of the Big 12 Conference this season. Kansas’ offense averages 33.6 points per game, which ranks sixth in the Big 12 Conference, to go along with 434 yards per game, which is the 28th most nationally. Kansas’ rushing attack led by junior Devin Neal, ranks eighth nationally with 211.3 rushing yards per game. • Kansas’ defense has shown great improvement from a season ago, ranking in the top-five in the Big 12 Conference in many statistical categories. The Jayhawk defense has allowed just 377.6 yards per game, which ranks fourth in the Big 12, while allowing just 25.8 points per game. Compared to a season ago, Kansas allowed an average of 451.6 yards per game and 33.8 points per game, each ranking 10th in the Big 12. Kansas’ 25.8 points per game allowed is the fewest in a season by the Jayhawks since 2007, while their 13 touchdowns allowed through the air are the fewest since 2000. • The Jayhawks special teams unit has also shown signs of improvement, holding a net punt average of 39.77, which is the best since at least 2012. Kansas’ punt coverage unit ranks atop the country, allowing an average of -3 return yards this season. • Kansas’ offensive attack is led by running back Devin Neal, who is playing for his hometown Kansas Jayhawks. Neal enters the Guaranteed Rate Bowl as one of the nation’s top running backs, averaging 6.6 yards per carry, which ranks ninth nationally and first in the Big 12. Neal has rushed for 1,209 yards and 15 touchdowns on 183 carries this season, while catching 24 passes for 214 yards and a score. Neal’s 1,209 rushing yards puts him over the 1,000-yard plateau for the second-straight season, as he is just one of three Jayhawks in school history to accomplish such a feat, joining Pooka Williams Jr. (2018-19) and James Sims (2012-13). • Kansas’ defense is led by a cornerback duo of Cobee Bryant and Mello Dotson who have combined for seven interceptions this season, the most by a KU cornerback duo since 2007 (10 – Justin Thornton, Aqib Talib). Of those seven interceptions, two have been returned for touchdowns by Dotson, who became the first Jayhawk in school history to return interceptions for touchdowns in back-to-back games (Oklahoma, at Iowa State). • The Jayhawk has created havoc for opposing offenses by forcing 25 sacks this season, along with four defensive touchdowns, which are the most in the Big 12 Conference and seventh-most nationally. The Kansas pass rush is led by redshirt sophomore defensive end Austin Booker, who has recorded 8 sacks, ranking third in the Big 12 Conference this season.
A KU WIN WOULD …
• Move Kansas to 606-679-58 all-time, including 18-20 in the Lance Leipold era. Leipold’s career record would improve to 164- 59 overall and he would move to 3-2 in bowl games, 1-1 at Kansas. • Give Kansas a final record of 9-4 for the 2023 season, which would be KU’s seventh 9-win season in program history and first since 2007. • Be KU’s first bowl victory since 2008 and and improve the Jayhawks to 7-7 all-time in bowl games. • Make Kansas 2-0 all-time in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl and 2-1 all-time against UNLV.
BOWL MUST KNOWS
• This year’s appearance in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl marks the 14th all-time bowl game in Kansas history. After last year’s appearance in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, Kansas has now appeared in back-to-back bowl games for just the second time in school history (2007- 08). • Of Kansas’ 14 bowl appearances, the Jayhawks are 6-7 all-time, picking up wins in the following bowl games: o 1961 BlueBonnet Bowl (Kansas 33, Rice 7) o 1992 Aloha Bowl (Kansas 23, BYU 20) o 1995 Aloha Bowl (Kansas 51, UCLA 30) o 2005 Fort Worth Bowl (Kansas 42, Houston 13) o 2008 Orange Bowl (Kansas 24, Virginia Tech 21) o 2008 Insight Bowl (Kansas 42, Minnesota 21) • Laverne Smith holds the Kansas bowl game record with 118 rushing yards, which he did on 16 carries in the 1975 Sun Bowl versus Pittsburgh. • In the 2022 AutoZone Liberty Bowl, Jalon Daniels set program bowl records for passing yards (544) completions (37), attempts (55) and passing touchdowns (5). • This year’s appearance is the second all-time appearance for Kansas in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl (formerly the Insight Bowl), as Kansas defeated Minnesota 42-21 in the 2008 Insight Bowl. • This year’s Guaranteed Rate Bowl vs. UNLV will be the first against a Mountain West opponent in a bowl game.
THE TURNAROUND IS REAL
• Under the direction of head coach Lance Leipold, the Jayhawks have seen an unparalleled turnaround, as Kansas has reached bowl eligibility in back-to-back seasons for just the second time in school history. • Over the last two seasons, Leipold has led Kansas to a 14-11 overall record, including two wins against top-25 opponents. Kansas has defeated #6 Oklahoma (38-33, Oct. 28, 2023) and #18 Oklahoma State (37-16, Nov. 5, 2022). From 2010-2021, Kansas was 0-43 against top-25 foes with its last win coming against No. 15 Georgia Tech on Sept. 11, 2010. • This season, Kansas has already secured its first winning season since 2008, while its 8-4 regular season record is its best regular season finish since 2007, when Kansas started 9-0 and finished with a 12-1 overall record and a victory in the FedEx Orange Bowl. • Since Leipold’s arrival, Kansas has recorded Big 12 road wins against Texas in 2021, which was the program’s first win in Austin, against West Virginia in 2022, which was the program’s first win in Morgantown and against Iowa State in 2023, Kansas’ first win in Ames since 2008. Prior to Leipold’s arrival, the Jayhawks were 1-54 in Big 12 road games from 2008-2020. • The success has also come at home for the Jayhawks, as Kansas has won nine of its last 13 games at home, including 5-2 in 2023. Kansas’ five wins at home in 2023 were the most since the 2008 season. Prior to Leipold’s arrival, the Jayhawks won nine home games dating back to 2014 with an overall home record of 6-91 in Big 12 play from 2010-2021. • With the win over No. 6 Oklahoma on Oct. 30, Kansas registered its first win over a top 10 opponent since Jan. 3, 2008 over No. 5 Virginia Tech in the FedEx Orange Bowl. It was also Kansas’ first top 10 win against a conference opponent since Oct. 7, 1995 (at No. 4 Colorado) and the first over a top 10 opponent at home since Oct. 27, 1984 (No. 2 Oklahoma). • Kansas was ranked in the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history in 2023 and made the Playoff Rankings three times in 2023, appearing as high as #16. • Since 2022, Kansas has appeared in the AP College Football rankings six times, ranking as high as #19. Kansas’ appearance in 2022 was the first for the Jayhawks since 2009. • In just his third season at the helm, Leipold has guided Kansas to 15 wins and is the ninth-fastest KU coach in school history to 15 wins and is the latest since Mike Gottfried won 15 games in his first 34 games coached from 1983-85. • Following Kansas’ upset win over No. 6 Oklahoma, Leipold was named the Bear Bryant Coach of the Week and the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week, while Kansas earned Cheez-It National Team of the Week honors.
UNLV REBELS NOTES:
GUARANTEED RATE BOWL PREVIEW…
Playing a 14th game in a season for the first time in program history, UNLV (9-4/6-2) is in Phoenix to play Kansas (8-4/5-4) in Tuesday’s Guaranteed Rate Bowl at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks … The Rebels, who were on both CBS and FOX this season, will be making their first appearance on either ESPN or ESPN2 since playing at Arizona State in 2021 … This will mark the first time UNLV plays on a grass field since Nov. 5, 2022, at San Diego State … San Diego was also the site of the most-recent Rebel game played at a stadium that housed a MLB team as the Padres still called the Aztecs’ Qualcomm Stadium home when UNLV competed there in 2002 … The Rebels also played at Houston in 1990 when the Astros still made their home inside the Astrodome … The Rebels are bowl-eligible for the first time since playing in the Heart of Dallas Bowl after the 2013 season … UNLV has reached the nine-win mark for only the sixth time in history and first time since finishing 11-2 in 1984 when Randall Cunningham lined up at QB … The Rebels are 2-5 all-time playing in the Grand Canyon State with their most-recent victory coming vs. the Sun Devils in 2008 … UNLV is 3-1 all-time in bowl games (won 1984 Cal Bowl, won 1994 and 2000 Las Vegas Bowls, lost Heart of Dallas Bowl played on New Year’s Day 2014 … A win in the GRB would tie the Rebels with FAU (4-1) for second-best bowl-game win percentage in the nation (minimum 5 appearances) behind only Appalachian State (.875 at 7-1) …
REBELS vs. JAYHAWKS NOTES…
Tuesday’s winner will take a 2-1 lead in the all-time series as UNLV and KU split a home-and-home two decades ago as the Rebels won 31-20 at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas in 2002 and the Jayhawks won 46-24 in Lawrence one year later … The schools are scheduled to meet again at Kansas next season on September 14 … The Jayhawks will face both Silver State FBS teams this season as they won at UNR on September 16 … UNLV will face a Big 12 team for the first time since hosting Iowa State in 2021 and is 3-11 in games vs. teams who were members of the conference at the game … Barry Odom went 3-0 vs. KU while serving as an assistant coach at Missouri from 2009-11 … KU WR coach Terrence Samuel held the same position at UNLV in 2020
MORE REBELATIONS…
Heading into bowl season, UNLV ranked second in the nation with 37 rushing touchdowns (Liberty had 39), which ranks second in school history behind only the 38 scored in 13 games during the 1974 season … UNLV is currently tied for 24th nationally in turnover margin at plus-7 and the Rebel defense has forced at least one turnover in 17 of its last 18 games … The Rebels are tied for fourth nationally in third-down conversion rate at 50.3% and their 98 third-down conversions overall are six more than any other team … The Rebs’ Go-Go Offense shattered program records for 40+point games for both consecutive outings (four) and overall in a season (six) while also scoring at least 24 points in 10 straight games for the first time ever (streak snapped in MW Championship) … UNLV won at least five home games (5-2) for the first time since John Robinson’s 2000 squad went 6-0 at Sam Boyd Stadium … UNLV boasted a school-record 11 MW weekly honors in 2023 — led by QB Jayden Maiava’s conference-record five Freshman of the Week nods … The Rebels’ victory at Air Force on November 18 gave them at least four road wins for only the third time in program history (4-2 in 2023, 5-1 in 1984 and 4-1 in 1979) … All-American Jacob De Jesus leads college football in combined kick return yards with 1,019 (a full 157 yards ahead of No. 2 player) and is the only player in the nation to rank in the top 15 for both punt and kickoff returns. He sits third in PR with 16.1 yards per attempt and 12th in KOR with 26.3. His 96-yard KOR in the season opener was the fourth-longest in school history and his 59-yard punt return at UNM was the longest by a Rebel since 2003. In fact, his 112 yards on just two PR vs. the Lobos were more than ANY ENTIRE UNLV TEAM HAS POSTED IN A FULL SEASON SINCE 2014 … Incredibly, UNLV had three touchdown drives that lasted less than 10 seconds at UNM (:07 after a long punt return, :06 after a fumble recovery and :08 on a long TD pass) and the Rebels’ Go-Go Offense tied for the national lead with 11 touchdown drives under a minute during the regular season … The Rebels have allowed only four individual 100-yard rushers this season and held entire teams under the 100-yard mark four times in 2023 … The Rebels are tied for 17th in the nation with 14 interceptions, which have come from eight different players: DBs Jaxen Turner (tied for 14th in the nation with four), Cameron Oliver (three) and Johnathan Baldwin (two) are those with more than one pick this fall … The Rebs stand 36th in the nation in rushing with 179.5 YPG and their 37 rushing TDs are the second-most in school history. Those ground scores have come from eight different players, led by true freshman Jai’Den “Jet” Thomas with a dozen … Amazingly, no Rebel has rushed for more than 100 yards in a game so far as Thomas is the only one to even reach the century mark with exactly 100 net yards at UTEP … The Rebel defense has 25 total sacks spread out among 16 players and the team leader remains Jerrae Williams, who has 3.0 takedowns who missed eight games because of an injury suffered at UTEP … Punter Marshall Nichols, who booted a career-long 60-yarder at Michigan, ranks eighth in the nation with a 46.7-yard average … No less than 17 different Rebels caught at least one pass through 13 games … Ricky White leads the team in both receptions (81) and yards (1,386) and he has his 111-yard day vs. SJSU marked his seventh 100-yard game this fall (ranks second in UNLV single-season history), his eighth as a Rebel (tied for fourth) and ninth overall (one at Michigan State) … With Jose Pizano now an eye-popping 25-of-27 on field goal attempts this season after transferring in from Missouri State, UNLV as a program has made a stunning 64 of its last 70 FGA (91%) over the last four seasons … Rebel kickers are also 157-for-159 in extra points (99%) in the last five seasons combined … Despite missing the second half vs. Vanderbilt after a targeting infraction, Arkansas transfer LB Jackson Woodard is 34th in the nation with 114 tackles… Pitt transfer RB Vincent Davis made quite a first impression in Las Vegas as his first carry as a Rebel went for a 69-yard TD on the opening play from scrimmage. Davis also popped a 56-yarder at UTEP and another 61-yard scamper vs. SJSU and currently leads UNLV with 722 yards … UNLV has not returned a punt for a touchdown in 22 years — the longest drought in the nation. The last Rebel to do it was Troy Mason, who went 52 yards vs. San Diego State on Oct. 13, 2001, at Sam Boyd Stadium … In addition, UNLV’s last kickoff return for a TD came a dozen years ago when Deante “Never Nervous” Purvis sprinted 98 yards to the end zone vs. Colorado State on Oct. 29, 2011 … Barry Odom became the first UNLV head coach to win six of his first seven games at the school since Ron Meyer started 6-1 in 1973 when the program was on the D-II level … The Rebels listed a school-record 110 players on the Week One roster and exactly half of them — 55 — were not on the team a year ago … UNLV true freshman LB JT Odom is the elder son of new head coach Barry Odom, which creates the first father-son head coach-player combo in UNLV football history.
