Week 4: @ NIU 2011: 11-3 (8-1)

Source: NIU Today

After the conference opener against TCU, Kansas will leave the friendly confines of Memorial Stadium for a brief 2 game road trip featuring Northern Illinois and in-state rival Kansas State. After two straight home field drubbings under Turner Gill, the trip to K-State game looms large, but Kansas must first get through their last non-conference task, the Huskies in DeKalb. Nothing from last years' game says that it will be easy (4 ties and 7 lead changes).

Week 3: vs. TCU 2011: 11-2 (7-0)

Source: Athlon Sports

I'm trying to think of the last time a game this early in the season meant so much to Kansas Football. Georgia Tech in '10 was nice, South Florida in '08 was a big one... but were they "circled" on the schedule-- I don't know? Charlie Weis has made it pretty clear that he wants this one.

Kansas christens TCU into the Big 12, and needs to do so with a victory if it wants any chance at post-season play. Sure, it only marks the 1/4 point of the season, and there are a lot of games left to be played, but Kansas plays 6 of its next 9 on the road. 5 of the 6 road games in the Big 12. Here is how this one breaks down...

Big 12 Media Day Coverage 2012

Source: Twitter

We are still a few days away from Big 12 Media Day, but once it gets going, check back here for updates on the Jayhawks and the rest of the league. I always consider this the "hump", and once we got over this, it is downhill from here until kickoff. August 1st, the players report, then Kansas has its own Media Day, then classes start, and then it is only a matter of days. But for the time being, check out the new addition to the KU Football uniform. Updates after the jump.

Week 2: vs. Rice 2011: 4-8 (3-5)

Source: Chron

In the event that the South Dakota State Jackrabbits don't crash the party like their brother's from the north did, Kansas will be 1-0 and set to play the Rice Owls, from Conference USA, in the second of three non-conference games. If that is the case, Kansas will have a shot to tie their win total from last year. Not in conference. Not against their rivals. But from the entire season... it has been some pretty trying times around the Anderson Complex lately.

Week 1: vs. SDSU (FCS) 2011: 5-6

Source: GOJACKS.com

Today marks Part 1 of a 12 part series, breaking down the 2012 KU Football schedule. In this series, I hope to analyze each opposing team (positions, coaching, maybe a little obeisance to the mascot) and how they match up with KU. I don't feel terribly comfortable making predictions before the season has even started, but I'll give it a shot. It'll be fun.

First up on the schedule, a game set for September 1st with a team from Brookings, South Dakota, the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State.