For this week’s inside look at Arizona State, we caught up with Michael Swain, who covers Kansas for Phog.net and the 247Sports network.
Q: Several weeks ago, ESPN’s Power Index indicated Kansas may have been the best team in the Big 12. The Jayhawks were built to have perhaps their best season yet under Lance Leipold but are instead 1-4 (0-2). How surprising is this start, and what are the main factors? is it deceiving?
A: It’s been a very surprising start to the season. There was a lot of hope and optimism around the program that it could take another step to build off its first nine-win season in over a decade. KU returned basically its entire secondary and some key defensive linemen on defense. On offense, KU returned its wide receiver group and its pair of star running backs. Jalon Daniels was back too after he missed almost the entire 2023 season with injury…