Leipold's Make-or-Break Year at Kansas
Lance Leipold is entering his sixth year as the Kansas Jayhawks’ head coach, a tenure marked by incremental progress but also by a looming crossroads. The program’s modest win total last season set the stage for a critical evaluation, with analysts projecting a 5.5‑win campaign that could determine whether Leipold remains at the helm.
The offense carries a promising arsenal in the backfield, where Dylan Edwards, Yasin Willis and Jalen Dupree combine speed and elusiveness. Yet the most pressing question is the quarterback slot, as Cole Ballard, Isaiah Marshall and Chase Jenkins battle for the starting nod in a competition that remains unsettled.
Adding to the offensive uncertainty, the line features veterans Calvin Clements and Amir Herring, whose performance will be scrutinized as the team seeks consistency in pass protection and run blocking.
At receiver, Nik McMillan is the primary target, while Cam Pickett hopes to build on a recovery from injury that limited his impact last year.
Defensively, Trey Lathan emerged as the unit’s workhorse, leading the team with 86 tackles last season, but the secondary still lacks a signature play — no interceptions were recorded a year ago, leaving the group with something to prove.
External forecasts from Vegas oddsmakers and ESPN’s SP+ model echo the internal narrative: Kansas is positioned to fight for bowl eligibility, but the margin for error is thin.