1940 Kansas Jayhawks football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1940
| team = Kansas Jayhawks
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Big Six Conference
| short_conf = Big 6
| record = 2–7
| conf_record = 0–5
| head_coach = Gwinn Henry
| hc_year = 2nd
| captain = Don Pierce
| stadium = Memorial Stadium
}}
{{1940 Big Six Conference football standings}}
The 1940 Kansas Jayhawks football team represented the University of Kansas in the Big Six Conference during the 1940 college football season. In their second season under head coach Gwinn Henry, the Jayhawks compiled a 2–7 record (0–5 against conference opponents), finished in last place in the conference, and were outscored by opponents by a combined total of 183 to 75.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kansas/1940-schedule.html|title=1940 Kansas Jayhawks Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|access-date=September 21, 2017}}2017 Kansas Football Media Guide, p. 183.
The team's statistical leaders included Ed Hall with 294 rushing yards, 251 passing yards, and 27 points scored (four touchdowns and three extra points), and Don Pollom with 158 receiving yards.2017 Kansas Football Media Guide, pp. 127-138. Don Pierce was the team captain.
Kansas was ranked at No. 153 (out of 697 college football teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score system for 1940.{{cite news|title=Final 1940 Litkenhous Ratings|newspaper=The Boston Globe|author=Dr. E. E. Litkenhous|date=December 19, 1940|page=22|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123126338/final-1940-litkenhous-ratings/|via=Newspapers.com}}
The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| attend = y
| source = y
|October 5|at|Iowa State|Clyde Williams Field|Ames, IA|L 0-7|7,491|{{cite news|title=Stewart Saves 7-0 Victory for Cyclones: Backfield Ace Foils Kansas; Lohry Scores|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|author=Brad Wilson|date=October 6, 1940|pages=Sports 1, 3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115407127/stewart-saves-7-0-victory-for-cyclones/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 12||Drake|Memorial Stadium|Lawrence, KS|W 20-6|8,000|{{cite news|title=Kansas Unleashes Power To Defeat Drake, 20-6|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|author=Brad Wilson|date=October 13, 1940|page=Sports 3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115407645/kansas-unleashes-power-to-defeat-drake/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 19||Nebraska|Memorial Stadium|Lawrence, KS (rivalry)|L 2-53|13,000|{{cite news|title=Huskers bury Kansas under touchdown avalanche, 53-2: Blue scores 18 points in Big Six win|newspaper=The Nebraska State Journal|author=John Bentley|date=October 20, 1940|pages=1B, 3B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115408350/huskers-bury-kansas-under-touchdown/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|October 26|at|Kansas State|Memorial Stadium|Manhattan, KS (Sunflower Showdown)|L 0-20|14,000|{{cite news|title=Wildcats Defeat KU, 20-0: 14,000 Watch K-State Drive To A Victory|newspaper=The Morning Chronicle|date=October 27, 1940|page=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115408765/wildcats-defeat-ku-20-0-14000-watch/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 1|at|Villanova|Shibe Park|Philadelphia, PA|L 7-33|12,000|{{cite news|title=Villanova Routs Kansas; Basca Stars in 33-7 Romp|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer|author=Perry Lewis|date=November 2, 1940|pages=21, 22|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115409142/villanova-routs-kansas-basca-stars-in/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 9||Oklahoma
|November 16|at|George Washington|Griffith Stadium|Washington, DC|L 0-6||{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/70886256/jayhawks-finally-yield-to-eastern/|work=The Morning Chronicle|title=Jayhawks finally yield to Eastern opponent, 6 to 0|date=November 17, 1940|accessdate=February 15, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 21|at|Missouri|Memorial Stadium|Columbia, MO (Border War)|L 20-45|17,000|{{cite news|title=Christman Flips Missouri To 45-20 Win Over Kansas|newspaper=Rochester Democrat and Chronicle|date=November 22, 1940|page=22|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29868141/christman_flips_missouri_to_4520_win/|via=Newspapers.com}}
|November 28||Colorado A&M|Memorial Stadium|Lawrence, KS|W 26-0|3,000|{{cite news|title=KU Swamps Foe In 26-0 Upset Win|newspaper=The Morning Chronicle|agency=Associated Press|date=November 29, 1940|page=3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115406267/ku-swamps-foe-in-26-0-upset-win/|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}