In retrospect, the 2003 season looks like something of a beginning for the brief five-year resurgence of Kansas football. Sure, that team took its fair share of hard knocks (big losses to K-State, Oklahoma State, and Nebraska are the most notable), but it also came out of a brutal Big 12 with a 6-6 overall record, and yes I’m aware of the win over Jacksonville State. That win allowed KU to use an exemption to become bowl eligible and take on North Carolina State and quarterback Philip Rivers in the Tangerine Bowl.
But before that could happen KU had work to do, and their most notable win came over the (then) rival Tigers of Missouri, who entered the contest as 10-point favorites and ranked #23 in the country.