Kansas football opens its 2026 season Friday night at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, and the first home crowd of the year will get a look at a few fresh faces. Isaiah Marshall is set for his first career start at quarterback, while Kansas State transfer Dylan Edwards will make his Jayhawk debut.
Kickoff against Long Island University is scheduled for 7 p.m.
For Kansas students, the ticket situation is straightforward, but entry still comes with a few reminders. Anyone who bought the All-Sports Combo pass should already have claimed a ticket earlier this week. The school is recommending that students load the ticket into Apple Wallet or Google Wallet to speed up the process, and a valid KU ID will still be required at the gate.
Even with a ticket, getting in is not guaranteed. Stadium capacity is limited this season, so students are being told to arrive early if they want to make sure they get inside. Every student must enter through Gate 13, on the southeast corner of the stadium.
The student section will look different in 2026. It will be split into two areas, with some students in the bleachers behind the south end zone and the rest in sections 120 and 121. Behind that same south end zone, there will also be a student-only concessions stand offering discounted beverages and concession items.
Parking lots, with the exception of Lot 90, open at 2 p.m. Lot 90 opens at 4 p.m. and costs $10.
The pregame setup is built with students in mind. Kansas Athletics and Student Union Activities are hosting a student tailgate with free food and tailgating games, complete with a tent on the Hill marked “KU Student Tailgate.” Boulevard Brewing Co. will also have pregame activities on 11th St., with food, drinks, music, games and more.
If you’re not making it to The Booth, the game will air on ESPNU.
And the home schedule keeps rolling. Kansas will host No. 25 Missouri in the Border Showdown on Friday, Sep. 11 at 7 p.m., the first time the Jayhawks and Tigers have met in Lawrence since 2005.
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