Week 1 •
Memorial Stadium

Wagner7 @FINAL 46Kansas , Week 1, Aug 29, 2025

0-0 NEC Power rating: -34.4
1-0 Big 12 Power rating: 8.6

How did the line hold up?

Market line
KU -45.5
PM Implied
KU -22.7
Blue Chip model
KU -46.2
Edge
+0.7KU
See details
◂ favors WAGfavors KU ▸Market: KU -45.5
43.0 › KU
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1 WAG1 KU2 WAG2 KU3 WAG3 KUModel: KU -46.2

Betting information

Spread
KU -45.5
Total
57.5
Odds implied score
WAG 6.0 – 51.5 KU
Prediction markets
KU 98% win chance (Kalshi)

ESPN Bet · as of July 10, 2026

Kansas defeated Wagner 46–7 in a dominant performance. Wagner covered by 6.5; Game went Under by 4.5. The market closed at Kansas -45.5 and the Blue Chip model made it Kansas -46.2. The two were within a point of each other, so there was no meaningful edge in this line.

What are the key factors for Wagner vs Kansas?

Wagner

Offensive struggles against FBS opponent

Wagner managed only 143 total yards (90 passing, 53 rushing) and 6 first downs, with no rusher gaining more than 25 yards. This indicates a significant gap in talent and execution against a higher-level defense.

Defensive bright spot with red-zone interception

Jayden Brown's one-handed interception in the end zone late in the first half was a highlight, showing the defense can make plays against a strong offense. However, overall the defense allowed 623 yards and 46 points.

Quarterback performance under pressure

Jack Stevens completed 13 of 20 passes for 90 yards and a touchdown, but the offense lacked explosive plays and sustained drives. The passing game will need to improve to compete in future games.

Next game against Georgetown

Wagner faces Georgetown on the road on Sept. 6. This is a more evenly matched FCS opponent, and the team will need to address offensive consistency and defensive discipline to have a chance at victory.

Kansas

Dominant offensive performance with room for improvement

Kansas outgained Wagner 623-143 and scored 46 points, but two red-zone turnovers (including a Daniels interception) and a 4-of-10 third-down conversion rate highlight areas to clean up before facing Missouri.

Jalon Daniels' efficiency and mistake

Daniels threw for 280 yards and 4 TDs but had a red-zone interception, which he acknowledged as a critical error. He played only one drive in the second half, suggesting the coaching staff wanted to limit exposure and build confidence.

Strong rushing attack and receiver connection

Daniel Hishaw rushed for 89 yards and a TD in the first half, while Emmanuel Henderson caught 6 passes for 130 yards and 2 TDs. The balanced ground game (285 yards) and deep passing threat will be key against Missouri's defense.

Defensive dominance against FCS opponent

Kansas held Wagner to 143 total yards, 53 rushing yards, and only one drive over 20 yards. The defense forced no turnovers but limited big plays, setting a high standard for the upcoming rivalry game.

Next game: rivalry matchup at Missouri

Kansas travels to Missouri for the first time since 2011. The Jayhawks will need to eliminate turnovers and improve third-down efficiency to compete against a tougher SEC opponent.

What were the weather conditions for Wagner vs Kansas?

At kickoff, conditions at Memorial Stadium were Clear, 66°F with winds of 5 mph. Weather is not expected to be a meaningful factor in this game. Historical weather data for this game is preserved in the panel alongside. Weather data is sourced from WeatherAPI.com.

What happened in the game?

Wagner travels 1,129 miles to this game, a significant road trip.

Wagner arrives with a 1-hour westward body clock shift, short of the two-zone westward threshold where travel starts to price.

Kansas won by 39 in a dominant performance.

Wagner covered the spread.

The total went Under by 4.5 points.

How do Wagner and Kansas compare on power ratings?

Blue Chip Analytics power ratings favor Kansas (8.6) over Wagner (-34.4) by 43.0 points on a neutral field. After adding home field advantage, the rating-implied line may differ meaningfully from the market spread. Kansas brings a meaningful home field advantage to this matchup (Blue Chip HFA: 2.8). Add this to the neutral-site differential to arrive at a venue-adjusted line.

Blue Chip Analytics power ratings represent expected point margin against an average FBS opponent on a neutral field, calculated from game data sourced via CollegeFootballData.com (CFBD). They are one input: cross-reference with the travel, rest, and weather data above before drawing conclusions.

Sources

Weather

Kansas won and Wagner covered the spread.

Conditions

as of August 29, 2025 Game-time

Clear

66°F

Rain0%
Precip0.00"
Humidity84%
Wind5 mph S
Gusts10 mph
Wind map for Wagner at Kansas: aerial view of Memorial Stadium, wind from the S at 4.7 mph, gusting to 9.8 mph

Quick facts

Week
Week 1
Kickoff (local)
06:30 PM CDT
Venue
Memorial Stadium
Capacity
52,530
Elevation
935 ft
Surface
Artificial Turf

Travel and rest

Measure WagnerAway KansasHome
This week1,129 miles0 miles
Last weekBye weekHome game
Season total1,129 miles0 miles
Body clock19:3018:30
RestSeason opener6 days