1940 Kansas Jayhawks football team

The 1940 Kansas Jayhawks football team represented the University of Kansas in the Big Six Conference during the 1940 college football season. In their second season under head coach Gwinn Henry, the Jayhawks compiled a 2–7 record (0–5 against conference opponents), finished in last place in the conference, and were outscored by opponents by a combined total of 183 to 75.[1][2]

1940 Kansas Jayhawks football
ConferenceBig Six Conference
Record2–7 (0–5 Big 6)
Head coach
CaptainDon Pierce
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1939
1941 →
1940 Big Six Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 7 Nebraska $ 5 0 0 8 2 0
Oklahoma 4 1 0 6 3 0
Missouri 3 2 0 6 3 0
Iowa State 2 3 0 4 5 0
Kansas State 1 4 0 2 7 0
Kansas 0 5 0 2 7 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The team's statistical leaders included Ed Hall with 294 rushing yards, 251 passing yards, and 27 points scored (four touchdowns and three extra points), and Don Pollom with 158 receiving yards.[3] Don Pierce was the team captain.[2]

Kansas was ranked at No. 153 (out of 697 college football teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score system for 1940.[4]

The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas.

Schedule edit

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
October 5at Iowa StateL 0–77,491[5]
October 12DrakeW 20–68,000[6]
October 19Nebraska
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Lawrence, KS (rivalry)
L 2–5313,000[7]
October 26at Kansas StateL 0–2014,000[8]
November 1at VillanovaL 7–3312,000[9]
November 9Oklahoma 
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Lawrence, KS
L 0–135,000[10]
November 16at George WashingtonL 0–6[11]
November 21at MissouriL 20–4517,000[12]
November 28Colorado A&M
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Lawrence, KS
W 26–03,000[13]
  •  Homecoming

References edit

  1. ^ "1940 Kansas Jayhawks Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  2. ^ a b 2017 Kansas Football Media Guide, p. 183.
  3. ^ 2017 Kansas Football Media Guide, pp. 127-138.
  4. ^ Dr. E. E. Litkenhous (December 19, 1940). "Final 1940 Litkenhous Ratings". The Boston Globe. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Brad Wilson (October 6, 1940). "Stewart Saves 7-0 Victory for Cyclones: Backfield Ace Foils Kansas; Lohry Scores". The Des Moines Register. pp. Sports 1, 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Brad Wilson (October 13, 1940). "Kansas Unleashes Power To Defeat Drake, 20-6". The Des Moines Register. p. Sports 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ John Bentley (October 20, 1940). "Huskers bury Kansas under touchdown avalanche, 53-2: Blue scores 18 points in Big Six win". The Nebraska State Journal. pp. 1B, 3B – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Wildcats Defeat KU, 20-0: 14,000 Watch K-State Drive To A Victory". The Morning Chronicle. October 27, 1940. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Perry Lewis (November 2, 1940). "Villanova Routs Kansas; Basca Stars in 33-7 Romp". The Philadelphia Inquirer. pp. 21, 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Harold Keith (November 10, 1940). "O.U. 13-0 Victor: Hamm Sparks Winning Drive in The Late Moments Against Kansas". The Daily Oklahoman. pp. Sports 1, 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Jayhawks finally yield to Eastern opponent, 6 to 0". The Morning Chronicle. November 17, 1940. Retrieved February 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Christman Flips Missouri To 45-20 Win Over Kansas". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. November 22, 1940. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "KU Swamps Foe In 26-0 Upset Win". The Morning Chronicle. Associated Press. November 29, 1940. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.