Editor’s note: Part of a continuing series examining the Power 5 and top Group of 5 teams for the 2019 college football season.



LAWRENCE, Kan. — Sunlight beckons through 10 giant garage doors on the east side of Kansas’ new indoor practice facility, modern and complete with painted end zones, a sky-high ceiling and plenty of room for big dreams.



Gone forever, as of February with the opening of this 89,000-square-foot structure built for $26 million, are the days of rolling up the carpet on which the Jayhawks practice.



“This puts us right in the mix of being competitive,” first-year Kansas coach Les Miles said.



If only it were so simple.



Miles, 65, knows as well as anyone that the road remains long for Kansas football. The former LSU and Oklahoma State coach, he takes over a program that won six games in four seasons under former coach David Beaty and has not enjoyed a winning record since 2008. In fact, KU has...