What Is 1933 Kansas Jayhawks football team

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1933 Kansas Jayhawks football team represented the University of Kansas during the 1933 college football season, finishing with a 3–5 record under head coach Phog Allen, who was in his first year leading the program.

Key Facts

The 1933 Kansas Jayhawks had a 3–5 overall record
Phog Allen became head coach in 1933, marking his first year in football
The team played as an independent with no conference affiliation
Home games were held at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas
Kansas defeated Oklahoma 13–0 in a notable season highlight

Overview

The 1933 Kansas Jayhawks football team represented the University of Kansas in the 1933 college football season. Competing as an independent, the team was led by legendary basketball coach Phog Allen, who took over the football program on an interim basis after the resignation of A. R. Bristow.

Playing their home games at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, the Jayhawks struggled to find consistency, finishing the season with a 3–5 record. Despite the losing record, the team showed flashes of promise, including a decisive victory over rival Oklahoma.

3–5 record: The Jayhawks won three games and lost five, marking a below-average season by historical standards.
Phog Allen's debut: Though better known for basketball, Allen served as head football coach for the 1933 season only.
Independent status: Kansas did not belong to a conference, scheduling games against regional opponents without league obligations.
Memorial Stadium: The team played all home games at the 35,000-seat stadium, which opened in 1921.
Notable win: A 13–0 shutout of Oklahoma stood as the season’s highlight and a rare bright spot.

Season Performance

The 1933 campaign was marked by inconsistency, with Kansas starting strong but fading in the second half of the season. The Jayhawks opened with a win over Kansas State but suffered lopsided losses to Nebraska and Missouri.

September 30: Kansas defeated Kansas State 13–7 in the season opener, setting a positive tone.
October 14: A 34–0 loss to Nebraska exposed defensive weaknesses against top-tier competition.
October 21: The 13–0 win over Oklahoma was the first victory in the series since 1929.
November 4: Missouri crushed Kansas 34–7, highlighting offensive inefficiency.
November 11: A 14–13 loss to Iowa State showed improvement but ended in heartbreak.
November 25: The season concluded with a 27–7 loss to Missouri in the annual border war game.

Comparison at a Glance

The 1933 season can be better understood by comparing it to adjacent years in program history.

Year	Record	Head Coach	Conference	Notable Result
1931	2–5–1	A. R. Bristow	Independent	Lost to Nebraska 27–0
1932	2–5–1	A. R. Bristow	Independent	Tied Missouri 7–7
1933	3–5	Phog Allen	Independent	Beat Oklahoma 13–0
1934	4–5	Potsy Clark	Independent	Lost to Nebraska 20–0
1935	3–5–1	Potsy Clark	Independent	Tied Kansas State 7–7

This table illustrates that 1933 was a slight improvement over previous seasons, though still below .500. The hiring of Phog Allen, though temporary, signaled a shift in leadership. Kansas remained unaffiliated with a conference until joining the Big Six in 1948. The 1933 season also preceded a long period of mediocrity, with no winning seasons until the late 1940s.

Why It Matters

While not a standout year, the 1933 season holds historical significance for several reasons. It marked a transitional moment in Kansas football and introduced one of the most famous coaches in college sports history to the gridiron, albeit briefly.

Phog Allen’s legacy: Though known for basketball, Allen’s brief football tenure adds nuance to his coaching career.
Interim leadership: The university’s decision to appoint Allen reflected instability in the program.
Rivalry win: The victory over Oklahoma was significant, breaking a losing streak in the series.
Stadium continuity: Memorial Stadium remained a constant, hosting games through decades of fluctuating performance.
Pre-conference era: The team operated independently, a common practice before conference realignment.
Historical context: The Great Depression influenced college sports, with limited travel and reduced budgets affecting scheduling.

The 1933 Kansas Jayhawks football team may not be remembered for championships or records, but it occupies a unique place in the program’s timeline. It reflects a period of adjustment, leadership change, and regional competition that shaped the future of Kansas football.