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By DOUG TUCKER
AP Sports Writer

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) -- So what now, Kansas, for an encore?

Following the greatest season in school history can't be easy. But with a 6 p.m. CDT kickoff Saturday night against Florida International, the No. 14 Jayhawks will do just that, opening their 2008 season in a sold-out Memorial Stadium.

In the back of their minds, many of those fans probably will not help but wonder if the Jayhawks will build on their 12-1 season or begin sinking back into the mediocrity that characterized Kansas football decade after decade before last year's breakthrough season.

Senior Joe Mortensen, one of the stars in a 24-21 victory over Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl, says the Jayhawks have an even bigger chip on their shoulder than the one they carried into 2007.

"I think we've still got a lot of stuff to prove," said the All-Big 12 linebacker. "A lot of people think (2007) is going to turn out to be a fluke. A lot of people think it's going to be a one-year wonder, and that's what drives us. Kansas has never been to two bowls back-to-back and we're looking to do that. The chip on the shoulder is still there. We always feel like we're the underdogs."

Underdogs? Against Oklahoma or Texas, perhaps. But forgive the Golden Panthers if they laugh at the notion the Jayhawks could be scared of them. Their visit to Kansas last year resulted in a 55-3 embarrassment as quarterback Todd Reesing accounted for 415 yards.

"Kansas is probably one of the best football teams in the country," said second-year Florida International coach Mario Cristobal. "We felt so last year even before they received all the publicity they received. They return a lot of starters. Their quarterback is one of the best in the entire country. He's a guy who makes things happen."

Reesing wound up setting more than 15 school passing records and is back for his junior season. But he'll be operating behind two redshirt freshmen tackles and won't have 1,000-yard rusher Brandon McAnderson to hand the ball to.

"I'm very excited to get back out there," said Reesing. "I've been waiting for this day for a long time. Two-a-days go by pretty slow. Those first 30 practices really take (the energy) out of you. It's exciting to finally be in game week and get out there."

The Golden Panthers wound up 1-11 in Cristobal's first season, but the coach is talking confidently.

"We had a great offseason," Cristobal said. "I think our guys have more confidence. We run better, we accelerate better. I think we've progressed tremendously in this offseason and in the fall."

Both teams have new faces at key coaching positions. Clint Bowen was promoted from the Kansas staff to replace defensive coordinator Bill Young. Bill Legg is the new offensive coordinator for Florida International.

The Golden Panthers planned to play both junior Paul McCall and sophomore Wayne Younger at quarterback.

"We feel comfortable with both. We're going to play both," Cristobal said.