The year was 2007. West Virginia's football team was one win from playing for a national title. 

 

You know who else was among the nation's elite football teams that year? Kansas. Yes, you read that correctly. 

 

Less than a decade ago, the Jayhawks had it rolling in football. The 2007 Kansas football team finished the year 12-1 and won a BCS game, beating Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. 

 

It's hard to believe a program can tumble so far so quickly. Since that Orange Bowl season in 2007, Kansas has gone 25-70. I'll do the math for you ... that's a winning percentage of just above 26 percent.

 

The program is on its fifth full time head coach since Mark Mangino was terminated. 

 

Current head coach, David Beatty is highly regarded. A former, KU assistant, Beatty was most recently on Kevin Sumlin's staff at Texas A&M.  Will he be the one to turn Kansas football around? 

 

Kansas comes into the game today against West Virginia either last or next to last in the Big 12 in nearly every statistical category. The Jayhawks are 120 or worse nationally in eight statistical categories. Keep in mind, there are only 128 FBS teams.

 

Put simply, this team doesn't do anything well. And it's young. The Jayhawks are one of the youngest teams in the country, having 33 first time starters. That leads the country. 

 

I know coaches get all flipped out when people talk (and write) things like this, but there's almost no way West Virginia can lose this game. 

 

Before you tweet me, yes I remember 2013. West Virginia went to Lawrence, forgot to play and got beat. The win broke Kansas' 27 game conference losing streak. It was ugly. I remember. 

 

This is different. That was a bad West Virginia team. One in the midst of a stunningly bad 4-8 season that included losses to both Kansas and Iowa State. 

 

I realize this Mountaineer team doesn't have any signature wins during the 2015 season, but it's not even close to that 2013 team. The running game behind Wendell Smallwood has been fantastic lately. Smallwood has gone for career highs in rushing yards in back to back weeks. He stands only 346 yards from breaking the WVU single season rushing record for a junior. 

 

Kansas is awful against the run. Maybe not Texas Tech bad, but bad nonetheless. The Jayhawks rank ninth in the Big 12 in rushing defense. Only Texas Tech has more trouble stopping the run. It's close though. The Red Raiders only allow four more yards rushing per game than Kansas does. Smallwood should once again put up big numbers. 

 

Offensively, KU really struggles. True freshman Ryan Willis has shown flashes, but hasn't been able to consistently find success. The offensive line features three freshman. 

 

This is a Kansas team that may have some upside if those young freshman blossom. That will take time, though.

 

Barring a complete disaster, West Virginia wins today. And wins easily.

 

Editor's Note: Photos by www.benqueenphotography.com.