Kansas Coach Lance Leipold’s Final Coaches Poll Ballot Reflects a Season of Shifting Power
As the dust settles on the college football season and Indiana celebrates its first national championship, the final US LBM Coaches Poll ballots offer a fascinating look into how coaches saw the landscape play out. One of the more intriguing submissions came from Kansas head coach Lance Leipold, whose top 25 ranking gives us insight into how he evaluated the season’s contenders, surprises, and conference dynamics - especially within the Big 12.
Leipold gave Indiana the top spot after its title-clinching win over Miami (Fla.), placing the Hurricanes at No. 2.
That’s a nod to both programs’ strong finishes and postseason performance. But it’s what follows that really starts to tell a story.
Rounding out Leipold’s top five are Mississippi at No. 3, Oregon at No. 4, and Ohio State at No.
- Each of those teams had compelling cases this season - whether it was the Rebels’ explosive offense, the Ducks’ balanced dominance on both sides of the ball, or the Buckeyes’ continued presence among the nation’s elite.
But Leipold’s ballot also shows love for some teams that didn’t make every coach’s top 10. Texas Tech, for instance, landed at No. 7 - a clear sign of respect for what the Red Raiders accomplished this season.
That’s especially notable considering they handed Kansas one of its toughest losses, a game that likely left an impression on Leipold. Brigham Young also cracked his top 10 at No. 9, despite the Jayhawks not facing them this year.
In total, Leipold ranked five Big 12 teams in his final top 25:
- Texas Tech (No. 7)
- Brigham Young (No. 9)
- Utah (No. 14)
- Houston (No. 19)
- TCU (No. 24)
That’s a wide spread of conference representation, and it reflects just how deep and unpredictable the Big 12 was this season. Utah, who closed Kansas’ season with a win in Lawrence, earned a mid-tier spot at No.
- Houston and TCU, both of whom had up-and-down years, still did enough in Leipold’s eyes to warrant top 25 recognition.
Notably absent from the list? Kansas itself.
The Jayhawks finished 5-7, falling short of bowl eligibility. Losses to both Utah and Texas Tech - two teams Leipold ranked - helped define a frustrating end to the season.
KU didn’t face BYU or Houston, which makes their inclusion on the ballot even more interesting, suggesting Leipold was evaluating the broader national picture, not just teams he saw firsthand.
Here’s a full look at Leipold’s final top 25 ballot:
- Indiana
- Miami (Fla.)
- Mississippi
- Oregon
- Ohio State
- Georgia
- Texas Tech
- Texas A&M
- Brigham Young
- Notre Dame
- Alabama
- Texas
- Oklahoma
- Utah
- Vanderbilt
- Iowa
- Virginia
- Michigan
- Houston
- Washington
- Tulane
- Illinois
- James Madison
- TCU
- Navy
There’s a healthy mix of blue bloods and emerging programs here. Georgia, Alabama, and Ohio State remain fixtures in the top tier, but teams like James Madison and Navy rounding out the list show that Leipold wasn’t afraid to reward strong seasons outside the Power Five.
Vanderbilt at No. 15 and Virginia at No. 17 may raise some eyebrows, but again, this ballot gives us a glimpse into how a coach sees the game - factoring in not just wins and losses, but strength of schedule, momentum, and maybe even how teams looked on film.
As for Kansas, the offseason is now in full swing. After a season that started with promise and ended in disappointment, Leipold and the Jayhawks will be looking to regroup, reload, and re-enter the national conversation - perhaps even earning a spot on a few ballots of their own next year.