Kansas Football Banking on Continuity, Experience to Spark Defensive Growth in 2026
As Kansas heads into the 2026 season, head coach Lance Leipold is doubling down on stability and internal growth - especially on the defensive side of the ball. D.K. McDonald returns for his second year as defensive coordinator, and Leipold is betting that consistency in the coaching staff, combined with a more experienced roster, can help the Jayhawks take a meaningful step forward.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: the defense struggled last season. Kansas finished 11th in the Big 12 in yards allowed per game (387.2) and 12th in points allowed (26.8).
Those numbers mirrored what we saw in 2023 and 2024, suggesting the unit has been stuck in neutral for a few years. Even when you dig into the advanced metrics, the picture doesn’t get much rosier - KU allowed just 52.3% of available yards, their best under Leipold, but that still ranked 99th nationally.
The success rate allowed (41.5%) was more respectable, coming in at 57th, but still left plenty of room for improvement.
Leipold, though, isn’t pressing the panic button. In fact, he’s preaching patience.
“I’ve been told about how disappointing last year was in defense,” Leipold said this week. “And sometimes I pause and go, ‘We had a whole new back seven.’ And there are growing pains with that.”
He’s not wrong. Replacing the entire back end of a defense is no small task, especially while transitioning to a new scheme.
Under McDonald, Kansas shifted away from the traditional four-down front that had been a staple under former coordinator Brian Borland. Instead, McDonald implemented a more flexible, multiple-front system - mixing in three-down and five-down looks as often as even fronts.
That kind of change requires time, communication, and a learning curve that doesn’t always show up in the win column right away.
“There were a lot more schematic changes than I ever let on,” Leipold admitted. “I gave DK the latitude to do that. And I think it will be beneficial for us in the long run.”
Rather than overhaul the staff after one rocky year, Leipold opted for continuity. The only staff move on defense was a promotion - Joe Dineen moved from an analyst role to defensive ends coach, replacing Taiwo Onatolu, who shifted over to special teams. It’s a clear sign Leipold believes the foundation is there, and that another year in McDonald’s system - with more experienced players - can yield better results.
“We’re in a society right now where we want everything and instantly,” Leipold said. “We want change right away when something doesn’t go right.
And I wasn’t about that. I’ve never been about that, and I won’t be about that.”
Instead, he’s looking at the long game. And there are reasons for optimism.
Kansas brings back some key pieces in the defensive front seven, starting with defensive ends Leroy Harris III and Dakyus Brinkley, along with defensive tackle Blake Herold. At linebacker, Trey Lathan returns to anchor the middle of the defense. In the secondary, cornerback Jalen Todd is back, adding experience to a unit that had to learn on the fly last year.
“I really like the bodies and the people that we’ve added in the portal,” Leipold said. “That will give us a chance to take a step defensively again.”
That’s the goal - take a step. Not a leap, not a miracle turnaround.
But a step forward. With a year of experience in McDonald’s system, a more seasoned roster, and a coaching staff that’s had time to gel, the pieces are in place for Kansas to move the needle on defense in 2026.
And if that happens, the Jayhawks could find themselves in a very different conversation come fall.