photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas quarterback Ryan Willis (13) is sacked by Baylor defensive end Jamie Jacobs (43) during the third quarter on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016 at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas.

Once Big 12 expansion talk lost momentum in recent months on the way to its official end Monday night, part of me was disappointed because the nine-game conference schedule makes it even more difficult for the Kansas football program to reverse course.

But the truth is Kansas football is in such a deep hole that the only path out must be one that comes from within. One more winnable game on the schedule wasn’t going to make bowl eligibility any more realistic in the foreseeable future.

No outside circumstances can be blamed for the current state of Kansas football and no outside forces will do anything to lend a hand up.

The SEC’s dominance and the addition of Texas A&M has made recruiting Texas a tougher deal for almost every Big 12 program, Kansas included.

Head coach David Beaty and cornerbacks coach Kenny Perry have strong ties to several high school coaches, which will benefit Kansas. But so many programs with winning traditions mine the same talent.

Give Beaty credit for putting New Orleans high school coach Tony Hull on the staff and it’s already paying dividends with commitments.

More pro-active work on the Kansas walk-on front, much of it done by Gene Wier, director of high school relations, is beginning to gain momentum.

Once more walk-ons from Kansas high schools bring home positive reviews of the student-athlete experience that extend beyond the weekly final score, more scholarship players from the state will consider the state’s flagship university.

The subtle gains won’t translate to victories until an adequate offensive line can be built through recruiting and development, the slowest, toughest area of a football team to improve.

Evaluating quarterbacks, never easy, becomes so much tougher when an offensive line doesn’t block well enough to establish a running game and give the quarterback time to run through his progressions.

It remains to be seen if Kansas has upgraded its recruiting of offensive linemen — tough to judge that position until the player has been in the program two or three years — but some gains elsewhere are evident.

Sophomore defensive end Dorance Armstrong could be the most talented, productive high school recruit at his position Kansas has had this century. Isaiah Bean, a freshman at the same position from the same city (Houston), shows promise as well. True freshman running back Khalil Herbert shows speed, sharp cutting ability and toughness. He looks like a terrific prospect whose talent will result in production if the line develops.

Steven Sims and LaQuvionte Gonzalez have upgraded the wide receiver position and Chase Harrell looks like a solid prospect. Alabama transfer Daylon Charlot will make a difference as a receiver and return man when he is eligible next season.

Still, the biggest key remains developing an offensive line, which at the very least would enable a truer evaluation of quarterbacks.

Sure, a 12-team conference would have meant having two-year pockets without having to play Oklahoma and other powers from the South, but until Kansas can become competitive vs. schools from outside the Power Five, it’s a moot point.

The solutions, which must include avoiding the temptation of chasing quick-fix approaches, must come from within.