Kansas is already in catch-up mode after a 1-2 start, and that means every game left on the schedule matters if Lance Leipold’s team wants a third bowl trip in six seasons. With nine opponents still ahead, the question now is which ones look manageable and which ones could turn into major problems.
At the top of the “most winnable” end sits Middle Tennessee at home, and even that comes with a warning label. The Blue Raiders are 2-2, with losses to Marshall and Jacksonville State and wins over Murray State and Nevada. They also bring a capable quarterback in Roman Gagliano, who has thrown for 832 yards with 8 touchdowns and 1 interception.
Right behind them is Baylor, another home date that doesn’t exactly inspire fear but also doesn’t come with much comfort. The Bears are 3-1, though the season has been rocky, and head coach Dave Aranda remains on the hot seat. If their showings against Arizona State and TCU don’t improve, Kansas could be catching a team short on confidence in David Booth Kansas Memorial.
UCF lands next on the list. Kansas already survived this matchup last season with a narrow 20-17 road win, but this version of the Golden Knights looks better under Scott Frost.
They’re 3-1, they just beat TCU, and their only loss came in a storm-heavy game against Pittsburgh. If this one were in Orlando again, it would be a much tougher assignment.
TCU checks in at No. 6. Sonny Dykes’ team is 2-2, and while wins over Grambling and Arkansas State don’t tell you much, the Horned Frogs still have three games to sort things out before Kansas arrives.
The first road game that really jumps out is Kansas State. The Wildcats are now led by former star quarterback Colin Klein, not Chris Klieman, and that change alone gives this matchup a different feel. The numbers suggest a strong team, and they are, but the bigger reason this game sits so high is simple: it’s a must-win for Klein if he wants his first season to be judged a success.
West Virginia comes next, and the Rich Rod revival is enough to make this one feel increasingly dangerous. Michael Hawkins Jr. gives the Mountaineers a quarterback who can light things up, and the offense can pound away on the ground with the best of them. Add in the atmosphere at Milan Puskar Stadium, and this is a game that gets scarier by the week.
No. 3 is Oklahoma State, ranked 19th. If you look past the Cowboys’ shocking Week 1 loss to Tulsa, they’re starting to look like the team plenty of people expected. They played Oregon closer than the score suggested and then beat West Virginia, showing that talent can carry over even when it comes from a place like North Texas to the Big 12.
BYU comes in at No. 2, even though there’s a case to be made that this group is stronger than the team at the top of the list. The Cougars have a sturdy offense that can wear opponents down, and this game comes late in the season, as the second-to-last matchup, when BYU will be fully locked in for a College Football Playoff push.
And finally, the toughest remaining game is Utah on the road. A ranked Big 12 game away from home is trouble on its own, and for a Kansas team that looks fragile, this has the feel of the worst possible draw. Devon Dampier is still throwing at an insane clip, and Utah is trying to lock in its place as a CFP contender.
In Other News...
Bill Self Just Opened The Door To More Kansas Roster Changes
Bill Self sounded optimistic when he talked about Kansas roster for the 2026-27 season, and for good reason. The Jayhawks appear to have a blend of returning pieces, transfer help and elite freshman talent, with Tyran Stokes and Taylen Kinney headlining the incoming class. Self also singled out the prospects of Paul Mbiya and Kohl Rosario as part of the mix, while transfers Keanu Dawes and Christian Reeves give Kansas some added size and depth up front.
Tre White is also expected back with the program, which adds another layer to a roster already taking shape in the background. For a Kansas team that is always balancing the present with what comes next, the intrigue now is how many more adjustments Self wants to make before the picture is truly set, and whether the final version ends up looking as settled as it first seemed. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Is Counting On New Help As Injury Problems Keep Growing
Kansas football has turned to two late additions to help steady a roster that has been stretched thin by injuries. Defensive tackle Clifton Thompson and running back Chase Belcher were cleared for eligibility after an injunction in Indiana, giving the Jayhawks some much-needed reinforcement on both sides of the ball as they try to patch together depth heading into the next stretch of the season.
Thompson arrives with experience as a former second-team all-conference defensive tackle at the FCS level, while Belcher comes in as a transfer from Kennesaw State. Coaches and players around the program are optimistic the pair can settle in quickly, and Kansas will be counting on that transition to move smoothly as the injuries keep piling up. [Read more 🡒]
Tre White Just Changed How Kansas Fans See This Team
Tre Whites arrival has given Kansas a much-needed boost at a time when the roster has looked different than it did only a few months ago. After a wave of offseason departures, the Jayhawks have been reshaped by a new group of players, and the overall reaction around the program has already shown up in the preseason rankings. White fits the kind of addition that can steady a team undergoing that sort of turnover, bringing scoring, defense and a seasoned presence to a group that will need all three.
For Kansas fans, the bigger question now is not whether the talent is there, but how quickly it all comes together. White is expected to be one of the players helping bridge the gap between the programs recent exits and its next version, especially with a young roster leaning on newcomers for immediate production. The early signs suggest the Jayhawks are being viewed differently now, but the real test will come once this new mix starts playing for keeps. [Read more 🡒]