KU picked 4th in Big 12 preseason poll. Corners earn All-Big 12 first-team honors

The Kansas Jayhawks football team is picked to finish fourth in the league in the 2024 Big 12 preseason poll released on Tuesday.

It’s KU’s highest ranking since the conference went to a non-divisional format in 2011.

Utah (906) was picked first in the preseason poll. After Utah comes Kansas State (889), Oklahoma State (829) and Kansas (772).

The Jayhawks had five first-place votes. Utah led the way with 20 first-place votes, followed by Kansas State (19) and Oklahoma State (14).

KU’s Big 12 media day representatives for the July 10 session in Las Vegas will be head coach Lance Leipold, quarterback Jalon Daniels, running back Devin Neal, cornerback Mello Dotson and defensive end Jereme Robinson.

Jayhawks cornerbacks Cobee Byrant and Mello Dotson also earned preseason All-Big 12 first team honors on Tuesday. Bryant earns preseason All-Big 12 honors for the second time, while Dotson makes his first appearance on the list.

Bryant started 12 of KU’s 13 games last fall after missing a half against Nevada due to a suspension for targeting. Bryant was rarely targeted in coverage but finished with 32 tackles, nine pass deflections and four interceptions.

Dotson finished last season with 48 tackles, three tackles for loss, 15 pass breakups and four interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns.

KU has made back-to-back bowl appearances for the second time in program history and the first since 2007-08. The Jayhawks (9-4) defeated UNLV in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.