Isaiah Marshall’s first college start had the kind of rhythm Kansas fans wanted to see: a shaky beginning, then a quarterback settling in and taking control. That mattered against Long Island, where the Jayhawks rolled after a slow opening and crushed the Sharks, 51-6. It will matter even more Friday night, when Marshall gets thrown into the deep end against Missouri in the renewal of the Border War.
Kansas and Missouri both enter the matchup off lopsided wins, with the Tigers coming away with a 54-14 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Both teams also have conference games next week, but this one doesn’t look like a spot either side is likely to treat lightly. For Marshall, it’s the first true proving ground of his career.
Early against Long Island, Marshall looked like a first-time starter. Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki kept the menu simple, leaning on short throws and a few quarterback runs to help him get comfortable.
Kansas scored on the second drive, again using the short game and the backs to move the ball. By the third drive, though, Marshall looked like a different quarterback.
The early nerves showed up in his running style. He looked rushed, didn’t always set up his runs, and sometimes bolted before the field fully opened in front of him. Through the air, he was mostly fine, but he also missed a couple of open receivers and forced some throws into tighter windows than necessary.
As the game wore on, that changed. Marshall started waiting on his blocks and letting the run game develop, and the results improved. His passing tightened up too, and the big plays started coming.
The second quarter gave the clearest glimpse of why Kansas named him the starter. Marshall hit Nik McMillan for 46 yards on a throw that came over a double team and dropped perfectly into McMillan’s path, setting KU up at the five-yard line.
Later, he connected with Nazhae Cox on another deep shot downfield. That throw was more toward the middle and not as cleanly placed, but Marshall still got it over the defense and Cox made the grab to put Kansas inside the 10.
He finished another drive with a 19-yard touchdown to McMillan, a throw that landed right on target and let the receiver catch it in stride and away from the defenders.
JAYHAWKS ON A MISSION 🔥
Isaiah Marshall with a 19-yard TD pass to Nik McMillan
📺 ESPNU pic.twitter.com/Gcq8ANpQaX
- Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) September 5, 2026
Now the challenge gets real. Missouri held its first opponent to 109 passing yards, and even with just one sack, the Tigers still piled up six tackles for loss. That means Kansas’ offensive line has to buy Marshall time, especially when the Jayhawks want to attack downfield.
The ground game has to hold up its end too. Kansas ran for 277 yards in Week 1, and while that kind of number is a tall ask here, the Jayhawks need enough production to keep Missouri’s pass rush honest. That’s where Kotelnicki comes in, because he’ll need to keep mixing things up and hiding what the offense is trying to do.
But it still comes back to Marshall. He has to be sharp from the opening snap, keep the ball moving accurately, and stay patient when he decides to run. He also has to understand that Missouri’s defense brings a different level of athlete than LIU did.
This is the first real test, and based on what Marshall showed in the opener, Kansas has reason to believe he’s ready for it.
In Other News...
Kansas Offense Is Bringing New Pressure To The Border Showdown
Andy Kotelnicki is back on Kansas staff as associate head coach and offensive play caller, a move that gives Lance Leipold another familiar piece as the Jayhawks prepare for a rivalry matchup with Missouri. Kotelnicki and Leipold already know how to work together, and his return brings a coordinator with a reputation for clean structure and a clear offensive identity back into the fold at just the right time.
Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz gave Kotelnicki a notable public nod this week, praising the way he organizes an offense and builds its scheme. For Kansas, that kind of respect from the other sideline only adds to the intrigue around what the Jayhawks are bringing into the border showdown, especially with a play caller whose approach has clearly earned attention well beyond Lawrence. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Heads Into Missouri With Two Starter Questions It Can't Ignore
The run-up to Friday nights Border War has already been complicated for Kansas, with the Jayhawks facing a pair of starter questions as they prepare to visit Missouri. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT on FOX, and the lineup uncertainty starts on defense, where linebacker Bam Crouch is listed as doubtful after getting hurt last week.
The concern does not stop there. Wide receiver Cam Pickett is also a game-time decision because of a leg injury, putting his availability in limbo for a second straight game and leaving Kansas to sort through two important spots before it ever takes the field in Columbia. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Still Doesn't Know If Melvin Council Will Suit Up
Melvin Council Jr.s push to get on the floor at Kansas took another step in court this week, but it still leaves the Jayhawks waiting on clarity. Judge Daniel J. Doyle signed an order to show cause requiring the NCAA to explain why Council should not receive an injunction that would make him eligible to play college basketball, a significant development for a player hoping to gain a sixth season based on the years he spent in junior college.
For Kansas, the timing is still the problem. Councils enrollment status at the university remains unclear, and the next hearing is set for Sept. 23, after the Jayhawks current late-enrollment deadline has already passed. So even with the case moving forward, there is still no answer on whether Council will suit up, leaving his status in limbo as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]