Lance Leipold and the Kansas Jayhawks are starting to see a glimpse of what next season’s team will look like. Kansas is coming off two consecutive 5-7 campaigns, and although Leipold has earned the right to have a few down years, Kansas fans are hoping for a return to bowl eligibility, the standard he previously established.
What’s new about the Jayhawks?
Well, many. Kansas lost a number of standout players from last season, with even more joining the NCAA Transfer Portal, meaning next Fall will be a season featuring a lot of new faces on the offense, particularly the quarterback position, which currently includes Cole Ballard (redshirt junior), Isaiah Marshall (redshirt sophomore), and Chase Jenkins (redshirt junior).
KU is also overhauling its offensive line, the wide receiver group, and the running back unit. Compensating for all these adjustments is the return of associate head coach Andy Kotelnicki.
Kotelnicki was a key player during Kansas’ most successful seasons since the Mark Mangino era, before being drawn to…The position of offensive coordinator at Penn State.
The loss of a star quarterback such as Jalon Daniels, wide receiver Emmanuel Henderson Jr., and linemen Kobe Baynes, Bryce Foster, and Enrique Cruz Jr. is a significant setback. With Kotelnicki once again overseeing the offensive playcalling, Kansas’ offense appears much more balanced compared to last season’s performance.No. 77 offense showed (368.8 yards per game).
On the defensive side, Kansas is currently in the process of adding 16 new players from the transfer portal, following a defense that allowed over 500 yards in three games last season against Missouri, Cincinnati, and Texas Tech.
Although there were some positive moments from the previous season, such as the return of the linebackerTre Lathan, the most significant returnee to the Jayhawks is defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald, who will be calling the plays for his second consecutive season.
The top-ranked incoming transfer on the defensive side is a former Arkansas defenderlineman Kevin Oatis, who is rated as an 86 overall prospect through 247Sports.
Kansas’ schedule adds to the challenge.
The Jayhawks’ schedule is far from easygoing.. To begin with, KU will compete in nine consecutive games to conclude the season after a bye week, following their overseas trip for the Union Jack Classic.
Kansas is also scheduled to face teams such as Missouri, Utah, BYU, and Oklahoma State. All of these squads are expected to be ranked within the top 25 this season. When combined with challenging games against Baylor, Texas Christian University, and Kansas State, the route to a third bowl-eligible season under Lance Leipold appears increasingly tough.
Final verdict
The Jayhawks’ maximum potential is probably around eight victories. If Kansas manages to secure three out of their initial four matches (LIU, Missouri, Arizona State, and Middle Tennessee), and then finishes the season with victories over Baylor, TCU, University of Central Florida, and West Virginia University, that would raise the threshold to seven.
Meanwhile, the worst scenario for this team could mean another 5-7 season. Kansas has had difficulty finishing close games over the past few seasons under Leipold. Poor fourth quarters held them back last season,Make sure to save “Through the Phog” for later.and follow us on X and Facebook using the username @
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More Kansas Football News
- Kansas football receives a tough offseason evaluation with a challenging 2026 schedule ahead
- The upcoming season looks promising for Kansas football as its returning players show potential.
- Kansas brings in additional running back talent with the latest 2027 recruit class
- Not a single one, but two former Kansas wide receivers are making their way to the Seattle Seahawks.
This piece was first released on asForecasting the top and bottom outcomes for Kansas Football in the upcoming season.
