Kansas Jayhawks is 3-4 on the season, 3-4 against the spread, and holds a power rating of +4.0. Kansas Jayhawks is covering at just 39% since the start of last season (7-11-1), below the FBS average, a notable trend for spread bettors. The Kansas Jayhawks head to TCU next in Week 9.
In Week 8 of 2026 the Kansas Jayhawks Power Rating of +4.0 is 4.0 points above the FBS average according to Blue Chip Analytics. Kansas Jayhawks have logged 10,687 miles of travel so far, out of a season total of 13,661 miles, ranking 12th heaviest in the FBS.
Cole Ballard QB, Isaiah Marshall QB, Dylan Edwards RB, Yasin Willis RB, Jalen Dupree RB, Cam Pickett WR, Nik McMillan WR, Nahzae Cox WR, Tate Nagy WR, Carson Bruhn TE, Jailen Butler TE, Calvin Clements OL, Amir Herring OL, Nick Morrow OL, Kasen Carpenter OL
Leroy Harris III EDGE, Alex Bray EDGE, Dakyus Brinkley EDGE, David Santiago EDGE, Blake Herold DL, Trey Lathan LB, Bam Crouch LB, Jibreel Al-Amin LB, Austin Alexander CB, Jalen Todd CB, Syeed Gibbs CB, Taylor Davis S, Corey Gordon S, Roman Pearson CB, Khijohnn Cummings-Coleman CB, Jaden Harris S
Martin Connington K, Matthew Gill P
| After | Record | ATS | O/U |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 0 | 1-0 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| Week 1 | 2-0 | 1-1 | 0-2 |
| Week 2 | 2-1 | 1-2 | 0-2 |
| Week 4 | 3-1 | 2-2 | 0-3 |
| Week 5 | 3-2 | 2-3 | 1-3 |
| Week 6 | 4-2 | 3-3 | 1-4 |
| Week 7 | 4-3 | 3-4 | 2-4 |
| Week 9 | 4-4 | 3-5 | 3-4 |
| Week 10 | 5-4 | 3-6 | 4-4 |
| Week 11 | 5-5 | 4-6 | 4-5 |
| Week 13 | 5-6 | 4-7 | 4-6 |
| Week 14 | 5-7 | 4-7-1 | 4-7 |
A season record is a record, not a forecast. Blue Chip Analytics' own research finds that beating the closing line repeats at close to zero from one season to the next - see most underrated and overrated teams. Read the table as what happened, not as what is likely to happen next.
Opened +4.4 in the preseason and finished +4.0 after week 9, a move of -0.4 points. High +5.7 (week 2), low +1.6 (week 5).
PreW9
SP+ is an independent opponent-adjusted efficiency rating, one of the systems blended into the Blue Chip Analytics power rating rather than a Blue Chip Analytics number itself. Defensive SP+ measures points allowed, so a lower figure is a better defence - the rank beside it already accounts for that.
Source spread is how far apart the independent rating systems are on this team, not a margin of error on our own number. A wide spread means the models disagree, which is itself worth knowing.
The measured home field advantage of +3.9 is regressed to +2.8 before it is applied, a difference of 1.0 points. A single venue's raw result carries a lot of noise, so the applied figure is pulled toward the league pattern. See how much is home field advantage really worth.
| Opponent | Met | Record | ATS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | 1 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| Arizona State | 1 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| Utah | 1 | 0-1 | 0-0-1 |
| Kansas State | 10 | 0-10 | 5-5 |
| Baylor | 8 | 0-8 | 0-8 |
| TCU | 8 | 1-7 | 3-4-1 |
| UCF | 2 | 2-0 | 2-0 |
| West Virginia | 9 | 2-7 | 7-2 |
| BYU | 2 | 2-0 | 2-0 |
| Oklahoma State | 9 | 2-7 | 2-6-1 |
No meeting on record since 2016: Long Island University, Middle Tennessee.
Week 013,661 mi total
| Week | Opponent | Distance | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 0 | - | Bye | |
| Week 1 | Long Island University | Home | 0 mi |
| Week 2 | Missouri | Home | 0 mi |
| Week 3 | Arizona State | 4,379 mi | 8,759 mi |
| Week 4 | - | Bye | |
| Week 5 | Middle Tennessee | Home | 8,759 mi |
| Week 6 | Utah | 890 mi | 10,539 mi |
| Week 7 | Kansas State | 74 mi | 10,687 mi |
| Week 8 | Baylor | Home | 10,687 mi |
| Week 9 | TCU | 447 mi | 11,582 mi |
| Week 10 | UCF | Home | 11,582 mi |
| Week 11 | West Virginia | 820 mi | 13,222 mi |
| Week 12 | BYU | Home | 13,222 mi |
| Week 13 | Oklahoma State | 220 mi | 13,661 mi |
| Week 14 | - | Bye | |
| Week 15 | - | Bye | |
| Week 16 | - | Bye | |
| Postseason | - | Bye | |
Isaiah Marshall won the starting quarterback job over Cole Ballard and has shown flashes of arm talent, throwing for a career-high 333 yards at Utah and 235 in London. However, ball security has been a major issue: he threw two interceptions and lost a fumble in the second half against Missouri, turning a tie game into a 14-point deficit, and his late interception in the end zone at Kansas State killed a potential game-tying drive. Marshall has also been effective as a runner, rushing for 116 yards against the Wildcats and 110 against Middle Tennessee. The key for Kansas is whether he can protect the ball against Big 12 defenses while continuing to make explosive plays with his arm and legs.
Kansas has been gashed on the ground by every quality backfield it has faced. Missouri ran for 125 yards with a 64-yard touchdown burst, Utah's Wayshawn Parker went for 171 yards and two scores including a 90-yarder, and Kansas State's Joe Jackson piled up 159 yards. The only clean sheet came against Middle Tennessee, which managed just 55 rushing yards. The transfer additions at defensive end (David Santiago) and linebacker (Bam Crouch, Jibreel Al-Amin) have not solved the problem against Power Four fronts. Until the Jayhawks can slow down opposing run games, they will struggle to get off the field and keep games close.
Despite the defensive issues, Kansas has a stable of playmakers on offense. Cam Pickett had a career-high 134 yards on eight catches at Utah, Nik McMillan went for 130 yards and a score against LIU, and Nahzae Cox added a 47-yard grab in the opener. Tate Nagy returned a punt 72 yards for a touchdown in London and caught a 38-yard score. Dylan Edwards rushed for 137 yards and three touchdowns against Middle Tennessee and added 158 yards on 30 carries against Baylor. Andy Kotelnicki's scheme produced 613 total yards in Week 1 and 706 against Middle Tennessee. If Marshall gets time, the Jayhawks can score quickly and offset their defensive deficiencies.
Kansas has been a different team at home, outscoring LIU and Middle Tennessee by a combined 106-6 in Lawrence. Their three losses came to Missouri, Arizona State (neutral site) and Utah, all quality opponents. The Jayhawks have traveled 5,344 miles this season, including the 4,379-mile round trip to London, and just played a short-week road game at Kansas State on six days of rest. With a full week to prepare and a meaningful home-field advantage, Kansas has shown it can compete. The Baylor win, a 25-24 comeback that snapped a 14-game losing streak to the Bears, was a prime example of the team's resilience at home. The rest of the schedule features a mix of home and away games, and Kansas will need to capitalize on home-field advantage to reach a bowl game.
Kansas has shown big-play potential in the return game, with Tate Nagy's 72-yard punt return for a touchdown in London and Bryson Hayes' 95-yard kickoff return for a score at Kansas State. However, there have also been costly mistakes: a fumbled snap on a punt resulted in a safety against the Wildcats, and kicker Martin Connington missed a 44-yard field goal in London. The blocked field goal by Blake Herold to preserve the Baylor win was a highlight, but consistency in the kicking game and coverage units will be important in close Big 12 games. The Jayhawks need to limit special teams errors while continuing to threaten with returns.
Kansas Jayhawks is 3-4 against the spread in the 2026 season, covering 43% of games.
Kansas Jayhawks holds a Blue Chip Analytics power rating of +4.0, representing their expected point margin against an average FBS team on a neutral field.
Kansas Jayhawks's home field advantage rating is 2.8 points, the venue adjustment Blue Chip Analytics applies for games at their home stadium.
Kansas Jayhawks's consensus regular-season win total for 2026 is 5.5 wins, priced at -150 over and +115 under. This is the betting market's expectation, not a Blue Chip Analytics projection.
Kansas Jayhawks travels 13,661 miles in the 2026 season, ranking 12th heaviest in the FBS.
Cumulative travel distance counts both the outbound and return journey for every away game. For example, if a team travels 374 miles to play an away game, Blue Chip Analytics counts 748 miles (374 miles there, 374 miles back) toward the cumulative total. Home games and bye weeks add zero miles. The per-week Distance column shows the one-way distance only, as the return trip happens after the game is played.
Kansas Jayhawks: 3-4 overall, 3-4 ATS, power rating +4.0 (2026 records).
