What Is 1946 Kansas Jayhawks football team

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1946 Kansas Jayhawks football team represented the University of Kansas during the 1946 college football season, finishing with a 4–5 record under head coach Henry Shenk. They competed in the Big Six Conference and played home games at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas.

Key Facts

The 1946 Kansas Jayhawks finished the season with a 4–5 overall record
They were coached by Henry Shenk in his fifth season leading the program
The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas
Kansas competed in the Big Six Conference, going 2–3 in conference play
Their season included notable wins over Colorado and Missouri

Overview

The 1946 Kansas Jayhawks football team represented the University of Kansas in the NCAA college football season, marking a transitional year following World War II. Many college programs, including Kansas, were readjusting as veterans returned to campus and rosters stabilized after wartime disruptions.

Under head coach Henry Shenk, the Jayhawks competed in the Big Six Conference and played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence. The team finished the season with a 4–5 overall record and a 2–3 mark in conference play, placing them in the middle of the league standings.

Season record: The Jayhawks posted a 4–5 overall record, reflecting a moderate level of competitiveness during the 1946 campaign.
Conference performance: Kansas went 2–3 in Big Six Conference games, competing against regional rivals like Missouri and Oklahoma.
Head coach: Henry Shenk led the team in his fifth season, having taken over in 1942 and guiding the program through wartime challenges.
Home stadium: All home games were played at Memorial Stadium, a 35,000-seat venue in Lawrence that opened in 1921.
Notable opponents: The schedule included matchups against Colorado, Missouri, and Nebraska, all of which were key rivals in the regional football landscape.

Season Performance

The 1946 season showcased both resilience and inconsistency, as the Jayhawks struggled to maintain momentum across the full schedule. Wins came against Colorado (19–13) and Missouri (20–13), while losses included a close 13–12 defeat to Oklahoma and a 33–13 loss to Nebraska.

Key victory: A 20–13 win over Missouri highlighted the team’s defensive strength and ability to perform in rivalry games.
Offensive output: Kansas scored 132 total points across nine games, averaging about 14.7 points per game during the season.
Defensive struggles: The Jayhawks allowed 164 points, averaging 18.2 points per game against, indicating defensive vulnerabilities.
Season opener: The team began with a 20–13 victory over Missouri, setting an optimistic tone for the campaign.
Final game: The season concluded with a 33–13 loss to Nebraska, underscoring challenges against stronger conference opponents.
Winning streak: The Jayhawks never won more than two games consecutively, reflecting inconsistency in performance.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 1946 Jayhawks compared to other Big Six Conference teams during the season:

Team	Overall Record	Conference Record	Points For	Points Against
Kansas	4–5	2–3	132	164
Oklahoma	7–4	4–1	182	108
Missouri	6–4	4–1	162	107
Nebraska	4–5	3–2	155	138
Kansas State	3–6	1–4	108	167

The table shows that Kansas was outperformed by Oklahoma and Missouri, who both had winning conference records. While Nebraska matched Kansas’s overall record, the Cornhuskers held a better conference performance. This placed the Jayhawks in the lower half of the Big Six standings, reflecting mid-tier performance during the 1946 season.

Why It Matters

The 1946 season was significant as it marked the return to normalcy in college football after World War II, with increased enrollment and renewed fan interest. For Kansas, it was part of a rebuilding phase that laid groundwork for future improvements under new leadership.

Post-war transition: The 1946 team reflected broader national trends as colleges reintegrated veterans into athletics and academics.
Program continuity: Henry Shenk’s leadership provided stability after the disruptions of wartime coaching changes and roster turnover.
Rivalry emphasis: Games against Missouri and Nebraska maintained regional interest and fueled long-standing competitive traditions.
Stadium legacy: Playing at Memorial Stadium reinforced the importance of home-field advantage and fan support in Lawrence.
Statistical benchmark: The season’s point totals and win-loss record became reference points for future team evaluations.
Conference context: Competing in the Big Six helped shape Kansas’s identity ahead of later conference realignments, including the formation of the Big 8.

The 1946 Kansas Jayhawks may not have achieved national prominence, but they played a role in the postwar revival of college football and contributed to the enduring legacy of the program.