In a day and age where teams are turning over in college football (and college basketball) more than ever, stability can be incredibly valuable. Stability means your players know each other, they know the playbook, the coaches, and the facilities. And while there’s no advanced analytic to quantify how valuable this is, any coach will tell you having continuity is absolutely worth something.

This note from ESPN College Football reporter Max Olson shared the fewest scholarship players lost to the transfer portal this off-season, and over the last two years. And going back two seasons, the Kansas Jayhawks have had the fewest scholarship players lost to the transfer portal, and ranked in the Top 5 for fewest losses so far this off-season.

Now, this data point hasn’t turned into wins, at least not yet. KU went 5-7 last year, but they started off 1-5 before winning four of five towards the end of the season, once quarterback Jalon Daniels got back in a groove after missing most of the 2023 season with an injury.

Daniels is set to return in 2025 and KU could find itself as a dark horse in the Big 12 going into next season. They were a trendy pick by some last season, including ESPN’s Rece Davis , who picked them to win the conference. But the season quickly went off the rails. However, six of KU’s seven losses were by single digits.

Daniels needs to be healthy in 2025 for KU to be competitive. The quarterback underwent a minor knee procedure this offseason, but he is expected to be ready for spring practices. The sixth-year senior has started 33 games in his career with the Jayhawks but has missed long stretches of action due to injury over the course of his time in Lawrence.

KU opens up the 2025 football season in Week 0 against Fresno State on Saturday, August 23rd.