Kansas is heading into a pivotal stretch with more than just the result of Friday night’s 38-21 Border Showdown loss to Missouri hanging over it. The Jayhawks are also sorting through a fresh batch of injury concerns as Big 12 play begins and an overseas trip to Wembley Stadium looms.
Head coach Lance Leipold gave the clearest picture yet of where things stand, and the updates touched three players who matter in different ways.
“He [Cole] didn't practice today, so that's about all I can give you at this time… Hopefully he’ll be available but I can't say that at this time. …Bam [Crouch] did some things today.
Not sure where he'll be at yet, but he did practice. Carson Bruhn left the game, don't know exactly where his status will be.”
Quarterback Cole Ballard, tight end Carson Bruhn and linebacker Daveon “Bam” Crouch all took hits in one form or another against Missouri, leaving Kansas to manage both the emotional sting of the loss and the physical wear that came with it. Crouch missed the entire game because of a shoulder injury he picked up against LIU, while Ballard and Bruhn were both knocked around in the Border Showdown.
Ballard’s status is the one to watch most closely. Kansas had already spent the offseason talking about using both quarterbacks, and if Ballard can’t go, associate head coach and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki has made it clear the staff is comfortable leaning on Rice transfer Chase Jenkins in the backup role.
Crouch’s situation carries its own weight. He had already been trending toward a limited role earlier in the week, but his absence still matters because of what he brings beyond the stat sheet.
The linebacker has played in 38 games, was a captain at Boston College before joining Kansas, and arrived with 107 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks. Instead, his season has been put on hold after just two drives.
If Bruhn is forced to miss time, that would be another notable blow. The tight end has seen a big jump in usage this season, already posting 3 catches for 55 yards after finishing 2025 with 5 receptions for 55 yards. He’s tied for fourth on the team in receptions and is becoming a more important piece of the offense.
Kansas does have some answers on hand. Quincy Davis, the New Mexico State transfer, has been filling in for Crouch and has already produced 9 tackles and 1 tackle for loss this season. He’s also no stranger to game action, having appeared in 24 games before arriving in Lawrence, though he doesn’t offer the exact same profile as Crouch.
At tight end, Matt Lubick has been here before. Last season, when DeShawn Hanika went down with a season-ending injury, Boden Groen stepped in and became the lead tight end. That experience gives Kansas at least some confidence that it can adjust again if Bruhn is unavailable.
For now, though, the Jayhawks are waiting on more clarity. The injuries are piling up at a time when the season is just getting into conference play, and Kansas has a lot to settle before it heads overseas.
In Other News...
Tre White Just Put Kansas In A Bigger Roster Waiting Game
Tre White has added another layer to Kansas roster uncertainty by joining a lawsuit against the NCAA that seeks a fifth collegiate season of eligibility under the sports new rules. The case, filed in Monroe County, Indiana, includes 89 plaintiffs from the high school class of 2022 who say they have already used up their four seasons and want the updated five-year framework applied to them.
For Kansas, the timing matters because the front office of the roster picture is still being sorted out as the season approaches. The legal fight remains ongoing after a temporary restraining order recently expired, with more court filings expected, and the Jayhawks are also dealing with other eligibility matters around the edges, including waivers filed for former Rutgers center Emmanuel Ogbole. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Will Get Two Huge Chances To Prove Itself In Big 12 Play
Kansas basketball will have a pair of marquee Big Monday stages in the 2026-27 season, with the Big 12 putting two of the leagues biggest names front and center for national audiences. The matchup with Houston and the meeting with Iowa State are the kind of late-season tests that usually say plenty about where a team stands in the conference race, while also giving the program a chance to draw the sort of attention that comes with playing on ESPN.
The timing only adds to the intrigue, since both games come in the heart of Big 12 play, when every result carries extra weight and every slip can reshape the standings. For Kansas, these are the sorts of nights that can sharpen a rsum, measure progress against high-level competition and remind everyone watching how much a Big Monday spotlight still matters in college basketball. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Still Has One Defensive Problem It Must Fix Fast
Kansas defense left the Border Showdown with a familiar concern hanging over it, and it was not the run game. Missouri found plenty of room through the air, piling up 292 passing yards and three touchdown throws while Kansas struggled to disrupt the quarterback. The Jayhawks were mostly steadier against the run outside of one long gain, but the bigger issue was clear enough: the coverage and the pass rush were not working in tandem.
Coach D.K. McDonald pointed to the corners as a key part of the fix, saying they need to make quarterbacks hold the ball longer and work through second and third reads before the line can finish the job. Kansas did not record a sack, which only sharpened the urgency around that point. Until the secondary tightens up enough to create hesitation, the pass rush may keep arriving a step late. [Read more 🡒]