Teams:
- Arizona
- Arizona State
- Baylor
- BYU
- Cincinnati
- Colorado
- Houston
- Iowa State
- Kansas – At bat
- Kansas State – On deck
- Oklahoma State – In the hole
- TCU
- Texas Tech
- UCF
- Utah
- West Virginia
Portal Team Rankings:
- On3: Big 12 11th | National 52nd
- 24/7 Sports: Big 12 13th | National 53rd
- The Athletic: C+
Via AI:
- Dylan Edwards: Dynamic running back transfer from Kansas State and former top-rated tailback prospect who adds major receiving and rushing utility.
- Yasin Willis: Physical running back transfer from Syracuse who rushed for over 500 yards previously.
- Jalen Dupree: Productive running back transfer who also topped 500 rushing yards last season at Colorado State.
- Nik McMillan: Wide receiver transfer from Buffalo expected to contend for the primary outside receiver role.
- Chase Jenkins: Quarterback transfer from Rice joining the room to compete for snaps under center.
Via The Athletic:
Top players added: RB Dylan Edwards (Kansas State), iOL Connor Stroh (Texas), TE Jailen Butler (Old Dominion), DL Kevin Oatis (Arkansas), DL Tre’Von McAlpine (Tulane)
Kansas lost only two starters to the portal, but had 13 others exhaust their eligibility. After signing more high school recruits than transfers early in his tenure, coach Lance Leipold has relied more on the portal in the last two cycles. Last season, nine of KU’s 25 portal pickups started six or more games. This year’s haul includes 10 starters from other FBS schools and features two running backs, two receivers and two defensive linemen. Edwards, who has played at Colorado and Kansas State, and Oatis were both blue-chip recruits coming out of high school.
At this point, Leipold is hoping to pull a Matt Campbell. After scoring Iowa State’s first-ever top-10 finish in 2020, Campbell’s Cyclones lost 12 of 13 one-score finishes and went a combined 18-20 from 2021 to 2023. Their luck began to reverse in 2023, however, and they won 10 of their next 11 one-score games, which drove an 11-win season in 2024.
Kansas hasn’t enjoyed the same heights under Leipold, but going 9-4 in 2023 with a No. 25 SP+ ranking was shocking for a program that had averaged just 1.9 wins per season from 2010 to 2021. The Jayhawks are still playing at a top-60 level, but they’ve lost nine of their past 11 one-score finishes. (And that doesn’t include a pair of 10-point losses in 2025 that were within three points in the final minutes.) Back-to-back 5-7 records are still impressive considering KU’s recent history, but frustration is rising. And now the offense that has carried the program for a while is undergoing a massive facelift.
There’s more at the link.
Team Recruiting Rankings:
- On3: Big 12 13th | National 62nd
- 24/7 Sports: Big 12 13th | National 61st
Via AI:
- Kaden Snyder (OT): 6-foot-5, 290-pound lineman from Salina Central in Salina, KS. Rated as one of the highest offensive line recruits secured by the Jayhawks in recent cycles.
- Hunter Higgins (EDGE): 6-foot-5, 240-pound defender from Maize South in Wichita, KS. Chose the Jayhawks over major offers from programs like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Nebraska.
- Kory Amachree (RB): 6-foot-0, 195-pound runner out of Haslett, MI. Brings strong athleticism and high composite ratings to the offensive backfield.
Big 12 Power Rankings
- ESPN’s Bill Connelly: 12th in the Big 12
- CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah: 10th in the Big 12
- The Big Lead: 12th in the Big 12
- Desert News’ Brandon Judd: 11th in the Big 12
AI Projection: What is the outlook for Kansas Jayhawks football for 2026?
The 2026 outlook for Kansas Jayhawks football centers on a pivotal sixth year under head coach Lance Leipold, following back-to-back 5-7 seasons, as the team navigates a major quarterback transition and early tough matchups.
Key Roster and Team Changes
Quarterback Battle: Redshirt junior Cole Ballard and redshirt sophomore Isaiah Marshall are competing to replace Jalon Daniels, with Ballard holding a slight edge in experience.
Offensive Additions: Dynamic running back Dylan Edwards joins the backfield, offering explosive potential.
Defensive Concerns: Defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald works to shore up a unit facing depth questions on the defensive line and secondary after allowing over 31 points six times last season.
Schedule and Expectations
Early Tests: The season opens on September 4, 2026, against Long Island, followed quickly by a home game against rival Missouri on September 11 and an unusual neutral-site game against Arizona State in London on September 19.
Bowl Projections: ESPN’s Football Power Index gives the Jayhawks a 58% chance to reach bowl eligibility, though analysts view their ceiling around 6 to 7 wins depending on early toss-up games.