Kansas Jayhawks

Isaiah Marshall won the starting job over Cole Ballard and delivered a strong debut, throwing for 246 yards and two touchdowns in the 51-6 win over LIU. Marshall showed the dual-threat ability that made him a highly touted recruit, connecting on deep passes to Nik McMillan and Nahzae Cox to ignite the offense after a slow start. Ballard still saw action in mop-up duty, so the Jayhawks have a capable backup, but Marshall's performance suggests the offense can thrive under his leadership. The real test comes against Missouri, a Power 4 opponent with a much faster defense, and how Marshall handles that pressure will define Kansas's ceiling this season.

Andy Kotelnicki's return as offensive coordinator paid immediate dividends, as Kansas racked up 613 total yards against LIU. The Jayhawks showed big-play ability with scoring passes of 46, 47, and 19 yards, and the running back committee of Yasin Willis and Jalen Dupree combined for multiple touchdowns. Willis, a Syracuse transfer, ran for 72 yards and two scores in his debut, while Dupree added a short touchdown plunge. The offensive line, which returned starters Calvin Clements and Amir Herring and added transfers, gave the quarterbacks time and opened holes all night. If this unit can maintain that balance and explosiveness against tougher Big 12 defenses, Kansas will be a tough out.

The Jayhawks' rebuilt defense dominated an overmatched LIU offense, holding the Sharks to just 146 total yards and forcing a shutout until the fourth quarter. The front seven, led by Trey Lathan and new transfers like David Santiago, controlled the line of scrimmage, and the secondary, which added several portal pieces, limited big plays. However, LIU is an FCS program that lost to North Dakota the week before, so this performance tells us little about how Kansas will fare against Missouri's high-powered attack or the rest of the Big 12 schedule. The true test for defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald's unit comes next week, and the Jayhawks will need to generate takeaways and stop the run, areas that plagued them in 2025.

Kansas got contributions from across the roster in the opener, with 86 players seeing the field, a sign of the depth Lance Leipold has built. Tate Nagy, a returning receiver, caught a touchdown pass off a deflection and also provides a threat in the return game alongside Dylan Edwards. New placekicker Martin Connington, a Michigan State transfer, handled kicking duties, and Australian punter Matthew Gill debuted. The Jayhawks' ability to rotate players freely against LIU should keep starters fresh for the grueling Big 12 slate, and the special teams unit looks solid with Nagy and Edwards as return options.

Kansas's season will be defined by the next two games: a home clash with Missouri, a bitter rival, followed by a trip to London to face Arizona State. The Jayhawks are underdogs in both, according to the betting market, and these games will reveal whether the team is truly improved or just feasted on an FCS opponent. Missouri comes in with a 54-14 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff and a potent offense, while Arizona State is a Big 12 contender. If Kansas can split these games or even win one, it would signal a major step forward under Leipold. A loss in both would not doom the season, but it would make the path to a bowl game much steeper, especially with a challenging conference schedule ahead.