Kansas is about to step into a piece of sports history.
On Saturday, the Jayhawks will face Arizona State in London in the first-ever college football game played at Wembley Stadium, a building that has already hosted the Olympics, the World Cup and NFL games. Now it gets a new entry in its long list of moments.
KU head coach Lance Leipold said the program has talked with players about Wembley’s history and will likely keep adding to that discussion as game day gets closer. Leipold visited the stadium earlier this year and left impressed. When asked Monday what it means to him to be part of this event as a college head coach, he pointed back to the people around him.
“I’m proud to be the head coach at the University of Kansas, and that we have been given this opportunity, but probably most importantly this is for our players and our university and our fans as much as anything,” Leipold said. “I’m just the one that’s fortunate to lead them out of the tunnel.”
Defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald said the message inside the program has also been clear: this is not a bowl trip, it’s a business trip.
Kansas is going overseas with the goal of earning a Big 12 Conference win. At the same time, McDonald said the experience should be enjoyable, and he called it an honor to be part of a game at Wembley Stadium.
Both teams arrive at 1-1. Kansas is coming off a home loss to now-No.
22 Missouri, while Arizona State lost on the road to now No. 8 Texas A&M.
Each gets a chance to reset with a victory in London.
From a Kansas perspective, a lot of the focus will be on redshirt sophomore quarterback Isaiah Marshall and how he handles his role as the team’s starter. The Jayhawks’ secondary is another area drawing attention. But even with the football questions front and center, the setting itself is going to stick with the players.
KU associate head coach Andy Kotelnicki put it simply: “It’s obviously an iconic stadium and venue, right?” Kotelnicki said.”
I mean, there’s been some really impressive things globally that have happened there. So, I don’t minimize that.
Like, that’ll be cool to play a football game.”
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