The Sunflower Showdown brings another Kansas vs. Kansas State meeting on Saturday, and the setup is familiar: the Wildcats are favored, the Jayhawks are looking to snap a long skid, and the series history still belongs to Kansas State.
Kansas State has owned this matchup for years, riding a 17-game winning streak that dates back to 2009. Kansas came close in 2024, falling 29-27, but the Jayhawks still walk into this one with the streak intact and a real chance to end it.
A big reason Kansas State remains the team to beat is Avery Johnson. He’s been one of college football’s most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks, throwing for 1,092 yards and nine touchdowns while also piling up 330 rushing yards, which leads the Wildcats. If Kansas wants to stay in this game, slowing him down has to be a priority.
What makes this matchup interesting is how little separates the two teams in the numbers. Kansas and Kansas State are clustered together in a lot of key efficiency categories, with Kansas sitting 24th and Kansas State 43rd in adjusted net EPA per play, while the Wildcats are 24th and the Jayhawks 47th in net success rate. Kansas has shown more big-play juice, but Kansas State has been steadier on a snap-to-snap basis.
The clearest strength-on-strength battle comes on the ground. Kansas State’s rushing offense ranks 13th nationally in EPA per rush, while Kansas counters with a run defense that ranks 21st in opponent EPA per rush.
That’s why the points feel appealing here. With these teams lined up so closely in several metrics, the value sits with the side getting the cushion, and this one has the ingredients for a tight game. Kansas may finally have the opening it has been chasing for years.
In Other News...
Curt Cignetti Just Gave Kansas Coaches A Respectful Nod Fans Will Love
Kansas coaches got a little extra validation this week when Indianas offense showed a fourth-and-1 play-action look that felt familiar to anyone who has spent time around the Jayhawks recent playbook. Associate head coach Andy Kotelnicki pointed out the connection, noting that the Hoosiers had leaned on a concept Kansas ran back in 2022, and the detail quickly became a small but meaningful reminder of how ideas can travel through college football.
Curt Cignetti backed up the observation and said Indiana had picked up the play years ago, then talked through how it has shown up in recent games. For Kansas fans, the exchange was less about ownership than recognition, the kind of respectful nod that suggests a clever wrinkle from one sideline can earn a lasting place on another. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Fans Now Know When The Biggest Early Showdowns Will Hit
Kansas basketball fans can now circle a few of the seasons earliest must-watch nights after the program released its television schedule for 2026-27. The slate includes exhibition games against Pitt State, Louisville and Duke, giving the Jayhawks a string of high-profile tuneups before the games start counting for real, while the broader schedule again figures to keep Kansas in the national spotlight.
The marquee matchups are already set for major network air time, including the Champions Classic meeting with Kentucky and the Players Era Tournament opener against UNLV. Add in the Big 12 games that will land on ESPN throughout the season, and Kansas is set up for a schedule packed with familiar stage lights, even if the exact rhythms of the year will still depend on how the rest of the calendar falls into place. [Read more 🡒]
Devin Neals NFL Fight Just Took Another Turn
Devin Neals pro career keeps taking an interesting route, and the latest stop came with Washington. The former Kansas running back, a 2025 sixth-round NFL Draft pick, signed with the Commanders practice squad after being released by the Vikings, continuing a stretch that has already included time with the Saints and Minnesota. Neal has not played this season because of injuries, so the new landing spot gives him another chance to get back into the mix and keep his NFL path moving.
Luke Grimm also found a new opportunity after leaving his original situation behind. The former Jayhawks wide receiver was added to the Chargers practice squad after being waived with an injury settlement, another reminder of how many Kansas alumni are trying to carve out roles at the next level. For Jayhawks fans, its a familiar kind of update: more movement, more roster churn, and still the hope that these names can turn practice-squad chances into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]