“With a win over Iowa State this weekend, the Kansas Jayhawks will become bowl-eligible.”

Before the 2003 football season, that sentence would have gotten a few laughs, but, with Kansas’ hot start to the season and the Cyclones’ eight-game skid, it has become a reality for head coach Mark Mangino and his Jayhawks.

At 5-6, Kansas needs just one more win to be eligible for its first bowl game since 1995. Even though Saturday’s game is his team’s last chance to get crucial win number six, Mangino said there is no pressure.

“Most people didn’t think these kids would win more than three or four games,” Mangino said. “All summer long, people were saying that. Now we have a chance to get six, so our kids don’t feel any pressure. They feel some hunger and want to get it done.”

A big factor contributing to Kansas’ success this year has been the play of senior quarterback Bill Whittemore. Before a collarbone injury that has kept him out of the last three games, Whittemore was among the best in the nation in most passing categories, and he is still third in the nation in passer rating. Although he has faith in his other quarterbacks, Mangino is optimistic Whittemore will play Saturday.

“On Monday, Bill had his most intense workout on the field since he was injured. He looked good but certainly not perfect,” Mangino said.

“He certainly has a chance to play Saturday, there’s no question. I don’t think anything would be more deserving than for Bill to play this week, play well and win his last game at Memorial Stadium.”

Replacing Whittemore at first was freshman quarterback Adam Barmann, who played well, but went down in the Jayhawks’ last game against Oklahoma State. Third-string sophomore Brian Luke came in and made few mistakes, although Kansas lost the game. Barmann has thrown for 564 yards and four touchdowns for the year, and Luke was 22-of-38 for 193 yards and two touchdowns in the loss to Oklahoma State.

Senior offensive tackle Danny Lewis said he gives the offensive line a lot of credit in the quarterbacks’ success.

“I like to think the O-line has something to do with it,” Lewis said.

“We’ve played really well and given them plenty of time to make their reads.”

Although the Jayhawks are a clear favorite over the struggling Cyclones, Lewis said he still feels that Iowa State will come to play.

“We’re definitely not taking them lightly by any means,” Lewis said. “I’m really impressed with their defense. I think they play really well for how young they are.”

Mangino said he will also be careful not to look past Iowa State because he has been in Dan McCarney’s shoes and he knows how brutal the Big 12 can be, no matter what team you play.

“Dan McCarney is a great coach, he’s done an outstanding job there,” Mangino said. “When you’re a team that is trying to climb into the top echelon of this conference and stay there, you can’t afford any injuries or bad games. The margin of error is very small. Iowa State is still a team with a lot of pride and they won’t back off of anybody.”

Although Mangino said his team feels no pressure, he still knows how big a win this weekend could be for his Kansas team.

“I’m looking at the big picture here and there’s no question that winning this game means a lot to our program,” Mangino said. “Our players deserve an opportunity to become bowl-eligible.”

Lewis said he and his fellow seniors have the same goal — to go out on top.

“All [of] us seniors see this as a chance to end our careers at KU on a high note. Picking up a win in front of our family and friends on senior day is the way we’re approaching it,” Lewis said.

“It would definitely erase a lot of bad memories.”