Conference Big 12 Conference Coaches No. 7 2007 record 12–1 (7–1 Big 12) | Division North AP No. 7 | |
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Head coach Mark Mangino (6th year) | ||
The 2007 Kansas Jayhawks football team (variously "Kansas", "KU", or the "Jayhawks") represented the University of Kansas in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Looking to improve on the previous season's 6–6 overall record (3–5 in the Big 12 Conference), the team finished the 2007 season with a 12–1 overall record (7–1 in their conference) and one of the best seasons in the school's 118 years of intercollegiate football. The twelve victories set a new record, and the defeat of the Virginia Tech Hokies in the Orange Bowl was the school's first only Orange Bowl and BCS bowl game victory. Their only loss was versus a North Division rival, the Missouri Tigers, in their final regular season game which denied them the division title and a trip to the Big 12 Championship Game. For their achievements the team was awarded the Stanley Tools Breakthrough of the Year Award.
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Mark Mangino, in his sixth season as the team's head coach, received several coaching awards. The team's new offensive coordinator was Ed Warinner (3rd year overall), and their defensive coordinators were Bill Young (6th year) and Clint Bowen (7th year). The team captains were senior running back Brandon McAnderson, senior tight end Derek Fine, senior defensive lineman James McClinton, and junior cornerback Aqib Talib. The starting quarterback position was held by sophomore Todd Reesing with sophomore Kerry Meier as a backup and wide receiver.
They played their home games on Kivisto Field at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas.
Coaching staff
The team was led by Mark Mangino in his sixth season as head coach. The team's twelve wins raised his overall coaching record to 37–36 (.507) and gave him his second bowl game win. At the end of the season Mangino was named the Big 12 Coach of the Year by the Big 12 coaches and Big 12 Co-Coach of the Year by the Associated Press. Other awards received include The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award, Walter Camp Coach of the Year, Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year, Paul "Bear" Bryant Award, and the Woody Hayes National Coach of the Year.
With the departure of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Nick Quartaro at the end of the prior season, Ed Warinner returned from a two-season stint as University of Illinois's run-game coordinator and offensive line coach. He brought in a new, more aggressive, faster-paced, no-huddle offense. This was Warinner's third season with the Jayhawks since he had previously coached the offensive line and served as run-game coordinator in 2003–2004.
Bill Young (6th year) and Clint Bowen (7th year) were defensive coordinators. Tim Beck (3rd year) was the wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator.
Rankings
According to the Big 12 Media Preseason Poll, the Jayhawks were projected to finish fourth in the Big 12 North Division.
Following their victory over Iowa State, the Jayhawks reached their highest ranking in school history when they were ranked second in the nation in all four major polls (Bowl Championship Series, Associated Press, USA Today and Harris Interactive). Previously, the 1968 team was ranked third by the Associated Press for three weeks.
Entering November, the University of Kansas was the only school with its football team and men's basketball team both ranked in the top ten.