Here's what the New York Times has to say about Kansas' 2009 football season

It’s hard to take Kansas seriously as a Top 20 contender when the Jayhawks continue to struggle against the better teams on its schedule. Even in 2007, when K.U. won a school-record 12 games, only one victory came against a B.C.S.-conference opponent with more than seven wins. The story continued a season ago, with the Jayhawks struggling through a 3-5 mark – 2-4 in the Big 12 – against opponents who finished the season with a winning record. Is there any reason to think this season will be any different? Kansas gets Nebraska – this one is big – and Oklahoma at home, but must go to Colorado, Texas Tech and Texas while facing Missouri at a neutral site. This is not a schedule conducive to success. In no way am I saying Kansas will struggle for a bowl bid, or does not have at least a solid chance at winning nine or 10 games; I just cannot put the Jayhawks in the Top 25 when given my confidence that the team will lose four games. (Senior quarterback Todd) Reesing is a marvel and the two top receivers as good as any pair in the country; the secondary talented enough to slow down some of the Big 12’s explosive passing attacks; and, as always, K.U. has a terrific coach in Mark Mangino. Nevertheless, in my mind, this is an eight-win team, but no more. Even if Kansas does beat Nebraska, I don’t think its over all conference record will be good enough to take the North.