I know you’ll think I’m nuts, that the dog-day heat of mid-July has turned my brain into cooked sausage, but I’ve been musing that Kansas University football — down so long the Jayhawks can’t spell up — could finish with a non-losing record this fall.

Whoa. Don’t call 911. Hear me out. I think I can make you believe the Jayhawks can finish with at least a 6-6 record, maybe even 7-5. Well, OK, maybe 7-5 is out of reach, but let’s go over the schedule.

Aug. 30 — Northwestern. Jayhawks customarily play well in home openers and Northwestern, once a doormat in the Big 10 Conference, is hearing foot scrapes again. Senior quarterback Bill Whittemore, who has never started a home opener for Kansas, should be pumped after missing the last three games of the 2002 season with a knee injury. KU record: 1-0.

Sept. 6 — Nevada-Las Vegas. Another Saturday night game and nothing is tougher in college football than winning under the lights on the road. Jayhawks bowed to Rebels in night game in Vegas last year. In retrospect, of the 10 games KU lost last season that was one they probably had the best chance to win, and may have if Whittemore hadn’t been making his debut in a KU uniform. KU record: 2-0.

Sept. 13 — at Wyoming. Fortunately for the Jayhawks, this will be an afternoon game with a 3 p.m., Central time, start. Cowboys’ defense in 2002 was even worse than the Jayhawks, but optimism prevails in Laramie with Joe Glenn taking over as head coach. As we know, however, college football programs rarely turn around under a new coach because first-year coaches are usually there because last year’s team was awful. KU record: 3-0.

Sept. 20 — Jacksonville State. It’s the obligatory NCAA Div. I-AA team on the Jayhawks’ schedule. Alabama school will have the coincidental distinction of playing against Whittemore, then two weeks later playing host to Tennessee-Martin, Whittemore’s former school. KU record: 4-0.

Sept. 27 — Missouri. No kickoff time set, but I’ll be surprised if this game isn’t televised. Tigers are moodiest team in Big 12 Conference. Sometimes they play like Tigers, sometimes like Tabbies. Jayhawks definitely have the incentive in this one after last year’s loss in Columbia when several MU players encouraged their fellow students to come out of the stands and tear down a goal post, which they did. KU record: 5-0.

Oct. 4 — Open date comes at perfect time with Jayhawks able to lick their physical wounds, but bask in the confidence-enhanced glow of a winning record. Week off also gives Jayhawks two weeks to prepare for Colorado. KU record: Still 5-0 and don’t you love it. (Now is the time, incidentally, for KU officials to make hay while the sun shines in terms of ticket sales and donations.)

Oct. 11 — at Colorado. Two weeks aren’t enough to prepare for the powerful Buffaloes who usually bison-ize the Jayhawks in Boulder, and have the added impetus of trying to knock Kansas from the ranks of the unbeaten. Buffs have been known to sleepwalk in Lawrence, but they’re always wide-eyed at Folsom Field. KU record: 5-1.

Oct. 18 — Baylor. Every Kansas University football player who was in Waco last year had to be red-faced after the hapless Bears rallied late to win their first Big 12 Conference game since Gen. MacArthur invaded Inchon. Yes, a goal post went down, making Kansas surely the only 2-10 team in the country to precipitate a pair of post razings. KU record: 6-1.

Oct. 25 — at Kansas State. By now everybody is buzzing about the Jayhawks. Some people will be even talking about a bowl game, but coach Mark Mangino will be quick to point out that Iowa State came out of the chute like gangbusters last season only to run afoul of a brutal schedule down the stretch. Wildcats don’t need any added incentive anyway. They’ve owned the Jayhawks for a decade. KU record: 6-2.

Nov. 1 — at Texas A&M. Once upon a time, Terry Allen was picked over Dennis Franchione to become the Jayhawks’ head coach. Now Allen is tight ends coach at Iowa State and Franchione is head coach at Texas A&M. The Aggies, who flogged the Jayhawks in Lawrence last season, should have little trouble disposing of KU in College Station. Unless they allow the 12th Man to play for Kansas. KU record: 6-3.

Nov. 8 — Nebraska. Until it finally happens, I’m not going to predict that it will. Kansas hasn’t beaten Nebraska in football since 1968. Sure, the Cornhuskers aren’t the powerhouse they have been for decades and a couple of times over the years KU has caught the Huskers napping in Lawrence. Yet the streak goes on and it won’t be over until it’s over. KU record: 6-4.

Nov. 15 — at Oklahoma State. Jayhawks could catch Cowboys looking ahead to arch-rival Oklahoma, but probably not. Les Miles is envy of every coach who ever inherited a downtrodden program. ‘Pokes are always tough in Stillwater, too. KU record: 6-5.

Nov. 22 — Iowa State. Jayhawks could be mentally drained after four straight losses, three on the road, but Cyclones might be just what the doctor ordered, especially if the game is meaningless for Iowa State. Regardless, if a bowl bid hangs on outcome, Jayhawks would certainly bring their A-Game. Biggest question is whether anybody would be at Memorial Stadium on a late November day after KU had lost four in a row. KU record: 7-5.

Well, there you have it. Am I having a midsummer night’s dream. Or am I hallucinating? Maybe. Maybe not. Youneverknow.