“They need to go to an upper-tier bowl, win a North division championship, have a major conference road win at Nebraska or Texas A&M and show that kick-ass, take-no-prisoners mentality. When the opportunities are there to put teams away and send a message, they need to recognize it and do it. A message-sending season — that we are not a fluke — will make the jokes and laughing end!”

— Tom Olthoff, alumnus, Kansas City

“A successful season would be 10 arrests, 0 convictions. Now, being serious, a Big 12 North title would make the season a success. I see one or two regular season losses this year, none of which are against Iowa.”

— Chris Schroeder, senior in accounting

“They need to improve their record from last year, and I’d love to see them beat Iowa, because I hate Iowa. Plus, they need to get back to a bowl game.”

— Kurt Anders, freshman in management and international business

“They need to repeat as Big 12 North champs, improve last season’s record, and go to another bowl game and win. The bowl game should be more prestigious than the Independence Bowl.”

— Nate Strei, senior in horticulture