Kansas football’s first training camp practice is almost here, and that means the real work is about to begin.
The Jayhawks are set to open camp Tuesday morning as they build toward the 2026 season, and there’s plenty to sort out before they get to Long Island for the opener. With nearly two dozen practices on the schedule, camp is going to be more than just conditioning and install. It’s where jobs get won, depth gets sorted out, and the biggest questions around the roster start getting answers.
At the top of that list sits the quarterback battle, and it’s the one everyone will be watching closest.
Cole Ballard and Isaiah Marshall have been the main contenders, with transfer Chase Jenkins right behind them. Ballard is viewed as having a slight edge heading into camp, but this thing is far from settled.
If Ballard doesn’t separate himself and Marshall proves he can handle the role, the job can swing his way. If Jenkins turns in a big camp while the others stall, he can still force his way to the front.
The door is open.
This has already been going since January, when players reported and the competition began to take shape. At this point, a dramatic shift feels unlikely, but camp reps are where the decision really gets made.
The live work matters now. Consistency matters now.
Whoever performs best over those practices is the one who will come out on top.
The only real question is how quickly Kansas wants to settle it. Maybe the staff makes the call in two weeks.
Maybe it waits until game week gets closer. Either way, there will come a point when KU has to pick a starter, even if that announcement doesn’t come right away.
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What makes the situation worth tracking is that this does not look like a simple winner-take-all race. Leipold has signaled that both quarterbacks could have roles once the season begins, which adds another layer to a room already trying to help the Jayhawks become more efficient on offense. The challenge now is balancing that competition with enough consistency for the attack to take a real step forward. [Read more 🡒]