Big 12 Media Days are in full swing in Frisco, Texas, and Kansas is about to put six representatives in front of the microphones on Wednesday. There will be no shortage of topics when the Jayhawks take the stage, but the bigger answers for 2026 won’t come until training camp wraps and the season gets rolling.
For KU, year six under Lance Leipold comes with a familiar kind of uncertainty: not whether the questions exist, but which ones will actually get answered in time. On defense, one issue sits at the center of everything for the front seven.
The defensive line’s biggest question is simple: how often does KU change up its fronts?
That was one of the defining themes of last season. After spending Leipold’s first three full offseasons building toward a true four-man front, Kansas shifted into a more multiple look under D.K.
McDonald, with three-down tendencies showing up often in his first year calling the defense. The fit wasn’t always seamless.
At times, the Jayhawks seemed to be forcing players into roles that didn’t quite match their skill sets, whether it was 6-foot-2 Justice Finkley sliding inside to work on the interior or traditional even-front tackles like Tommy Dunn taking on a different kind of assignment.
This offseason, Kansas has started recruiting with that three-down structure in mind, especially at defensive tackle. Tre'Von McAlpine and Eamon Smalls look like natural fits in an odd front.
Jibriel Conde brings a Blake Herold-like profile, with the ability to play end in a three-down setup or move inside as an athletic tackle in a four-down look. Kevin Oatis, meanwhile, could work in either system.
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Darryn Peterson Just Reopened A Painful Bill Self Debate At Kansas
Darryn Petersons first NBA Summer League game with the Utah Jazz offered a fresh look at what Kansas fans thought they were getting when the former five-star arrived in Lawrence. Peterson said he is enjoying being on the ball as a point guard at the next level, a role that has let him handle more of the offense than he did at Kansas, where he spent much of his time working as a shooting guard and wing option.
That contrast has reopened an old discussion around Bill Selfs usage of Peterson and whether the Jayhawks ever found the best way to deploy him. Selfs side of it was always tied to roster needs and Petersons availability, with cramping issues and injuries limiting how often Kansas could build around him, but the NBA setting is putting the difference in roles back in the spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Lance Leipold Just Addressed Kansas Fans' Biggest Wembley Fear
As Lance Leipold heads into his sixth season at Kansas, one of the biggest talking points around the Jayhawks is not a Big 12 opponent or a depth-chart battle, but a trip overseas. Kansas is set to meet Arizona State at Wembley Stadium as part of the Union Jack Classic, giving the program a rare international showcase before the season settles into its usual grind.
Leipold acknowledged the challenge of the travel, but he also pointed to a built-in cushion that should matter to Kansas fans worried about the aftermath. The game comes in Week 3, and the Jayhawks get a bye week afterward before turning to a demanding nine-game finish, so the staff has time to manage the transition back and reset for the Oct. 3 matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Lance Leipold Thinks Kansas Finally Has An Answer In Close Games
At Big 12 Media Days, Lance Leipold sounded encouraged by what Kansas has built heading into the season, pointing to a roster that looks sturdier across the board. The Jayhawks believe they have more reliable depth in the trenches and at several key spots on defense and in the backfield, and that matters for a program trying to turn more of its competitive Saturdays into wins.
Leipold also tied that stability to the changing college football landscape, saying the new revenue-sharing model has helped Kansas allocate resources more effectively. He added that the single transfer portal window has made it easier to keep the roster together, and for a team that has been searching for a better way to finish tight games, that kind of continuity could be as important as any single player on the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]