The Kansas Jayhawks are about to enter the gauntlet.
Ranked No. 14 in the country, Bill Self’s squad is staring down a brutal stretch of their Big 12 schedule, starting with a marquee matchup against No. 13 BYU. It’s the first of four ranked opponents in the next five games-a stretch that will test every bit of Kansas’ depth, chemistry, and resilience.
And just in time for this run, ESPN dropped its updated NCAA title contenders list, with analysts Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf ranking the top 47 teams most likely to cut down the nets in April. Kansas landed in Tier III, labeled “Second-weekend threats”-a fair placement given both their ceiling and their current concerns.
Let’s unpack what that means.
Kansas: Dangerous, but Unsettled
There’s no denying the Jayhawks have the pieces to make noise in March. This roster is a blend of grit, athleticism, and underrated star power.
Melvin Council Jr. and Tre White might not be household names nationally, but they’ve been key contributors with a knack for making timely plays. Flory Bidunga brings a physical presence in the paint, and when Darryn Peterson is healthy, he’s one of the most explosive scorers in the country, averaging 21.6 points per game.
That’s the good news.
The challenge? Peterson’s availability has been inconsistent-he’s missed half of the team’s 20 games so far.
And while Kansas has shown flashes of brilliance, they haven’t had a long enough stretch with everyone healthy to truly find their rhythm. That lack of cohesion is what’s keeping them out of the top tiers in ESPN’s rankings.
As Borzello and Medcalf noted, “We know what Kansas is capable of when Darryn Peterson is available.” But if those injury issues linger into March, it could limit how far this team can go. Defense has been a strength-Kansas ranks among the top 15 nationally-but even elite defense can only take you so far without offensive consistency.
Who’s Ahead-and What’s Coming
In ESPN’s rankings, Kansas sits behind several Big 12 rivals, including No. 11 Texas Tech, No.
8 Iowa State, and No. 10 Houston.
BYU also landed above them, as did national No. 1 Arizona.
Meanwhile, UCF was slotted a tier below the Jayhawks.
That snapshot says a lot about the depth of the Big 12 this season. There’s no soft spot in this conference, and Kansas is about to feel the full weight of that reality.
Here’s what’s coming: BYU. Then Texas Tech.
Then Arizona. Then a rematch with Iowa State.
The only breather in that stretch? A matchup with Utah-but even that’s no guaranteed win in this year’s landscape.
The Road Ahead
For Bill Self and the Jayhawks, this upcoming stretch is more than just a scheduling challenge-it’s a proving ground. If Peterson can get and stay healthy, and if this team can finally find its full stride, Kansas has the tools to make a deep run in March. But that’s a big “if,” and the clock is ticking.
The good news? There’s still time.
And if there's one thing we’ve learned over the years, it’s that Kansas under Bill Self is never out of the fight. This next stretch might define their season-and if they rise to the occasion, don’t be surprised if they climb back into the top tiers of national title contenders.