The University of Kansas football program is charting a course back to the postseason after a two-year absence from bowl games. Head coach Lance Leipold and his staff are emphasizing a return to the Big 12's upper tier, building on the momentum that carried the team to back-to-back bowl appearances in 2022 and 2023.
A New Era for Kansas Football
A central question for the Jayhawks is who will inherit the starting quarterback role after Jalon Daniels opted to pursue a professional career. The competition is shaping up among Cole Ballard, Isaiah Marshall and Chase Jenkins, each of whom brings a different skill set to the field.
Adding to the offensive intrigue is the return of Andy Kotelnicki as associate head coach. Kotelnicki previously helped orchestrate the Jayhawks' offensive surge before departing for Penn State, and his re-entry is expected to bring continuity and fresh ideas to the scheme.
On the defensive side, D.K. McDonald enters his second year as coordinator with a clear mandate to tighten a unit that has shown flashes of promise. Key contributors such as Leroy Harris III, Trey Lathan and Blake Herold are expected to anchor the front line as the defense seeks consistency.
The schedule also offers early tests, beginning with a September 4 opener against LIU and a home matchup with Missouri on September 11. Meanwhile, five Jayhawks — Calvin Clements, Cam Pickett, Blake Herold, Leroy Harris III and Trey Lathan — will represent the program at the Big 12 media days on July 8, raising the team's profile heading into the season.
With a blend of experienced returnees and emerging talent, Kansas hopes to translate its offseason work into wins that will keep bowl eligibility within reach. The coming weeks will reveal how the quarterback battle resolves and whether the defensive upgrades can hold up under conference play.