Kansas football won’t walk into 2026 facing one of the nation’s brutalest slates, but that doesn’t mean the year will be easy. Phil Steele slotted the Jayhawks’ schedule at No. 54 nationally this offseason, which leaves it right in the middle of the Big 12 pack at No. 8 out of 16 teams.
That ranking only tells part of the story, though. Kansas is coming off a second straight 5-7 season, it still has to sort out a new starting quarterback, and the schedule brings a mix of rivalry games, a trip overseas and a late-season finish that could matter a lot. With that in mind, here are the five Kansas games that stand out most in 2026.
The headline event comes first: Kansas vs. Arizona State in London on Sept.
- At Big 12 media days, that game was one of the biggest talking points around KU football, second only to the question of who will start at quarterback.
Officially, it’s “The Union Jack Classic,” and it will be the first college football game ever played at Wembley Stadium. KU receiver Cam Pickett said, “It’s going to be fun.
The first time playing overseas, playing at Wembley Stadium,” KU receiver Cam Pickett said. “I know about the history of Wembley.
It’s a little bit more exciting because of the World Cup now, seeing all the great soccer players being there. So being able to play a football game there will be fun.”
The most emotional game on the schedule may be Kansas at Kansas State on Oct. 17.
The Jayhawks are staring at a 17-game skid against their in-state rival, and that alone pushes this matchup near the top of the list. Last season, Kansas entered with real hope of breaking through, only to get blown out 42-17 after the previous two meetings were close losses.
A new quarterback won’t make the job any easier, but at some point Lance Leipold’s team has to turn rivalry frustration into a win.
Another major date arrives early when Kansas hosts Missouri on Sept. 11.
The Border War returns to Lawrence for the first time since 2005, when KU won 13-3. After a 14-year break, the rivalry resumed last season in Columbia, where Kansas jumped out to a big lead before falling 42-31.
A win this time would snap a four-game losing streak against the Tigers.
Kansas vs. Baylor on Oct. 24 also deserves attention, even if it doesn’t carry the same buzz as the rivalry games.
The Jayhawks have lost 14 straight to the Bears, and the last KU victory in the series came in 2007. Baylor hasn’t looked as formidable as some of its previous teams, and this one comes at home, giving Kansas a chance to finally change the script.
The season closes with Kansas at Oklahoma State on Nov. 28, and that could wind up being one of the most important games on the calendar. In each of the last two seasons, the finale has decided whether Kansas reached bowl eligibility.
Oklahoma State has brought in a new coach in Eric Morris and a new quarterback in North Texas transfer Drew Mestemaker, and the expectation is that the Cowboys should be much better than they were a year ago. Whether that plays out will help shape the Jayhawks’ finish.
In Other News...
Kansas Just Took An Early Blow Up Front Before Camp Settles
Kansas defensive front took an early hit before camp fully settles, with Lance Leipold confirming that TreVon McAlpine will be unavailable for the entire season after undergoing ACL surgery in the spring. The transfer from Texas Tech and Tulane had given the Jayhawks another experienced body inside, and his absence leaves an immediate hole in a spot where depth is never a luxury.
Now the attention shifts to who can hold down nose tackle and keep the interior stable. Eamon Smalls and Jibriel Conde are the names most likely to get a longer look, and for Kansas the next few weeks will matter as much for sorting that competition as for building continuity elsewhere on defense. McAlpine is expected to receive a waiver for an additional year of eligibility, but for this season the Jayhawks have to find a workable answer up front. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Quietly Added Serious Experience Around Lance Leipold
Kansas has spent the offseason quietly building out the sort of support staff that can make a big difference once fall camp and the grind of a season arrive. The program now lists 14 analysts, most of them new this year and working in assistant position coach roles, giving Lance Leipold a deeper bench of football minds around the building as the Jayhawks try to keep raising the standard.
Among the more notable additions are senior analysts Duane Akina and John DeFilippo, two coaches with long resumes that stretch through major college football and the NFL. They are part of a broader wave of hires that adds help at multiple positions, and the sheer variety of experience now surrounding the program suggests Kansas is leaning into every possible edge while trying to maintain its momentum. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Has 5 Players Who Could Decide How 2025 Unfolds
After back-to-back 5-7 seasons, Kansas leaned heavily into roster turnover this offseason, bringing in 31 transfers as it tries to reset the trajectory of the program heading into 2025. Even with that kind of reshaping, the Jayhawks still have a handful of returning players who could wind up steering how this season feels, from the quarterback room to the front lines on both sides of the ball.
Cole Ballard is one of the names worth watching as camp approaches, with the quarterback competition still a central part of the picture. Trey Lathan also looms large after giving Kansas a proven presence at linebacker, while Amir Herring and Leroy Harris III give the Jayhawks key pieces to evaluate up front. Add in wide receiver Nik McMillan, and Kansas has enough familiar faces mixed into the transfer-heavy roster that a few individual decisions could end up shaping the whole year. [Read more 🡒]