To be a bowl-eligible team Kansas must win seven games -- it plays 12 this year with the Eddie Robinson Classic date against Notre Dame. The schedule may allow Terry Allen's team to end with a flourish. The Jayhawks have three winnable games -- against Baylor, Oklahoma State and Iowa State -- in the last month of the season. But they also have five Top 25 teams on their calendar. Allen will be the first to admit that in his third season, the honeymoon is over. His goal of turning the Jayhawks into a bowl team could be a bit ambitious. It could also be prescient.

Senior quarterback Zac Wegner is trying to overcome concussion complications. He suffered two last year, making it three serious head injuries in seven months. Wegner completed less than 50 percent of his passes in throwing for 1,367 yards with seven touchdowns and six interceptions last season. If he's ready to go, the backup duties will fall to Dylen Smith, an run-pass threat who threw for 2,890 yards at Southern California's Santa Monica City College last year.

While Kansas might be a bit thin at QB, there's no shortage of running backs. David Winbush nearly reached the 1,000-yard mark a year ago, something he is capable of achieving this year. Mitch Bowles is a capable back who provides Kansas with a receiving threat out of the backfield. Four players with some starting experience are back vying for playing time on a line anchored by returning starters Chris Enneking and Dameon Hunt. Enneking, at 6-4, 285, is a mobile center, while Hunt, a guard, is the line's biggest player at 6-2, 310. He is currently battling eligibility problems, however. Bob Schmidt is challenging Enneking -- who has started 21 of KU's past 22 games -- for the starting job. John Oddonetto, a 6-foot-5, 290-pounder who redshirted as a JC transfer a year ago, is expected to be the new starting left tackle.

Four starters must be found at linebacker, but the staff is excited about the speed and pursuit ability of the starting candidates. The return of middle 'backer Darris Lomax after a year working to bring up his grades represents a big step forward in terms of talent. Tim Bowers and Algie Atkinson should man the outside spots. Atkinson played capably as a freshman last year.

Chad Coellner started 10 games last year at free safety and should step into the position in '99, if he can hold off a challenge from JC transfer Carl Nesmith, originally recruited as a receiver. If Nesmith, who brings a big-hitting presence to the secondary, gets the job, expect Coellner to move to cornerback. Whoever it is will work with Greg Erb, slated to take over at strong safety in his senior season.