In its second and final season under head coach George Sauer, the team compiled an 8–1–2 record (4–0–1 against conference opponents).
The Jayhawks received their first ever AP Poll ranking in program history during the season.
The team was undefeated in the regular season before losing to Georgia Tech in the 1948 Orange Bowl.
[3] Halfback Ray Evans was selected by the Associated Press and Grantland Rice as a first-team player on the 1947 All-America team.
Four Kansas players received first-team honors from the United Press on the 1947 All-Big Six Conference football team: Evans; end Otto Schnellbacher; guard Don Fambrough; and halfback Forrest Griffith.