Kansas fans won’t have to wait for November to get their first glimpse of Bill Self’s 2026-27 team. KU has three home exhibition games lined up before the regular season begins, and the calendar brings a little bit of everything: an opener against Pittsburg State, then bigger tests against Louisville and Duke.
That stretch will give Jayhawks followers an early read on a roster with plenty of new faces. Self has once again landed the top-ranked high school recruit in Lawrence, and the attention figures to be heavy around Tyran Stokes as he begins his Kansas run after a season of drama surrounding Darryn Peterson.
Stokes already comes with a reputation as something of a lightning rod, so he’ll be under the microscope right away. Fellow freshman Taylen Kinney is also expected to have a major role, while transfers Keanu Dawes from Utah and Leroy Blyden Jr. from Toledo add two more important pieces to the mix.
For fans who can’t make it to Allen Fieldhouse, all three exhibition games will be shown on ESPN platforms. The Louisville and Duke matchups can also be streamed live on Fubo.
Here’s the full preseason slate for Kansas:
Fri., Oct. 16 vs. Pittsburg State, 8 p.m. ET - ESPN app
Wed., Oct. 21 vs. Louisville, 7 p.m. ET - ESPNU, Fubo, ESPN app
Sun., Oct. 25 vs. Duke, 1 p.m. ET - ESPN, Fubo, ESPN app
KU’s regular season starts Monday, Nov. 2, when the Jayhawks host Fordham at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. Tipoff time has not been announced.
Kansas then opens the first part of its 2026-27 schedule with games against Middle Tennessee on Nov. 6, Kentucky on Nov. 10 in the Champions Classic at United Center in Chicago, UNLV on Nov. 17 in the Players Era at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas, and either Auburn or West Virginia on Nov. 18, also in Las Vegas.
In Other News...
Bill Selfs Early Tyran Stokes Verdict Will Get Kansas Talking
Tyran Stokes made his official Kansas debut during the 41st Late Night in the Phog and gave Jayhawks fans plenty to chew on, scoring 14 points with four rebounds and two assists in a little more than 17 minutes. It was an efficient first look at the highly anticipated newcomer, and enough to stand out in an exhibition setting where the crowd was eager to see how he would fit into Bill Selfs program.
Bill Self, though, wasnt willing to hand out too much praise after the performance, calling it average even with Stokes finishing as Kansas second-leading scorer. That kind of early-evening assessment is worth watching in Lawrence, especially with the next chance to evaluate Stokes coming Oct. 21 against Louisville, when the stakes and the scrutiny figure to be a little higher. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Fans Got An Early Answer On This New Rotation
Kansas gave its fans an early look at a new rotation in a comfortable 80-62 exhibition win over Pittsburg State at Allen Fieldhouse, and there were already a few clues about how the pieces might fit. Tre White led the way with 16 points, while Christian Reeves and Tyran Stokes each added 14, giving the Jayhawks a balanced scoring night and some first impressions to sort through before the games start counting.
The result also kept Kansas long home exhibition streak alive at 58 games, a reminder that the building still tends to look familiar even when the roster does not. There is still another tuneup ahead, with Louisville visiting on Oct. 21, and that matchup should offer a clearer read on how this group handles a more serious test. [Read more 🡒]
Lance Leipold Pressure Just Hit A New Level At Kansas
Kansas had the kind of start that can fool a crowd into thinking a rivalry day might turn, at least for a while. The Jayhawks jumped out to an early double-digit lead against Kansas State, but the game slowly slipped away as special teams mistakes and defensive breakdowns piled up, turning another emotional Border War afternoon into another painful result.
The loss, 35-24, pushed Kansas to an 18-game skid and added another layer to the scrutiny around Lance Leipold. It also extended his losing streak against Kansas State to six straight since taking over in 2021, a number that has only intensified the questions around where the program is headed as the Jayhawks search for answers. [Read more 🡒]