As the preseason magazines start rolling out, Kansas is once again drawing attention from inside the Big 12 - and not just because of the roster. Athlon’s anonymous coach quotes have become one of the more revealing parts of this time of year, and the Jayhawks are right in the middle of the conversation heading into 2026.
The biggest question mark, according to one coach, sits under center.
"I don't know what to make of their quarterback situation," one coach told Athlon ahead of the 2026 season. "But Leipold brought back his old offensive coordinator (Andy Kotelnicki) from Penn State.
That's gonna be good because they also kept their quarterbacks coach (Jim Zebrowski). When Leipold has had the most success, it's been when he's paired with Kotelnicki."
That uncertainty makes sense. KU’s quarterback competition will carry into training camp, with Cole Ballard and Isaiah Marshall battling for the job and Chase Jenkins listed behind them. No matter who wins, it will be that player’s first season starting at a Power 4 program.
What does give Kansas some familiar footing is the coaching setup around that position. The Jayhawks have the key pieces back together from the 2022 and 2023 offenses that were among the Big 12’s best.
Kotelnicki, Zebrowski and Matt Lubick were last on staff together in 2023, when KU finished fourth in the league in points per game at 33.6. That offense also led the Big 12 in yards per play at 7.0, ranked second in yards per carry at 5.4 and topped the conference in yards per pass attempt at 10.
Another coach pointed to the program’s financial growth.
"They have money in the program now," a coach said. "(Coach) Lance Leipold has some juice."
Kansas has spent heavily on fundraising to finish Phase II of the Gateway District, and the east side of the football stadium is expected to be fully complete for the 2027 season. For this fall, though, capacity will be limited.
Even with revenue sharing money and outside NIL deals in place, KU’s football roster budget is not believed to be in the top half of the Big 12.
Still, the perception around Kansas has changed. One coach summed it up this way:
"They're intriguing," another coach said. "You're no longer the old Kansas, obviously, and now every week, people know that you're not the old Kansas, and you still get everyone's best."
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