Kansas defeated Iowa State, 41-36, in their 2009 Big 12 opener. A week later, Kansas football died.
The Jayhawks lost their Big 12 opener in 2010, a 55-7 demolition at Baylor. They lost their Big 12 opener in 2011…and 2012…and 2013…and 2014…and 2015…and 2016…and 2017…and 2018. Average margin of defeat in their last 10 conference openers: 26.2 points. They never lost by fewer than 11 points.
Over the last 13 months, Kansas has eradicated some stench from the tsunami of sewage drowning the program. They ended a nine-year road losing streak last September with a blowout of Central Michigan and an 11-year road Power Five losing streak (and 27-year road non-conference Power Five losing streak) in Week 3 with a blowout of Boston College.
“I certainly have heard some of those things,” Les Miles said of the dubious streaks, “but I don’t have a good memory for all that crud.”
Next up in the crud: First 1-0 start in Big 12 play since 2009.
Following last week's win in Chestnut Hill, Kansas hosts West Virginia, who is one of only four active Big 12 teams the Jayhawks have defeated since 2009. Kansas opened as a four-point underdog, the first time since Nov. 8, 2014, they're an underdog of fewer than seven points.
It's a significant hurdle. Kansas has six conference wins since 2009. They have more 40-point conference losses than total conference wins over that time. It is, however, for once, a hurdle that feels attainable. Victory in Chestnut Hill didn't feel attainable, nor did victory in more than 90 percent of their games over the last decade.
