Kansas is already showing up in the Big 12 conversation before the 2026-27 season even tips off, and Ariel Peterman’s latest top 10 players list is another reminder of why. The Jayhawks landed two names on the ranking: freshman Tyran Stokes at No. 2 and transfer forward Trey Kaufman-Renn at No. 8.
That kind of double representation says plenty about the roster Bill Self has put together. Kansas isn’t just hoping to be competitive in the league race; it’s carrying the look of a team built to chase a Big 12 championship.
Stokes arrives in Lawrence with the kind of buzz that follows the highest-rated recruits in the country. He was already tabbed the Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year and earned a place on the conference’s preseason All-Big 12 team, so his lofty spot on Peterman’s list fits the expectations that have followed him.
The 6-foot-8 forward brings a full offensive package. He can score from all three levels, handle the ball and create for others. At Rainier Beach, he backed up the hype with a huge senior season, averaging 31 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and four steals per game while leading his team to a state championship.
That combination of size, skill and athleticism gives Self another player who can swing a game at both ends of the floor. Stokes has the tools to be one of the conference’s most impactful newcomers right away.
Kaufman-Renn gives Kansas a different kind of weapon, but one that matters just as much. The former Purdue standout checks in at No. 8 on Peterman’s list after putting together a productive final season with the Boilermakers.
He averaged 14.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting 57.8% from the field. He also finished with 11 double-doubles and helped Purdue make a run in the NCAA Tournament.
For Kansas, that production brings more than just numbers. Kaufman-Renn’s time against high-level competition should translate into immediate value for a team with big goals. He can score near the rim, clean the glass and set up teammates, giving Self another dependable frontcourt option.
His presence also adds more depth and flexibility inside, especially when paired with Stokes and the rest of Kansas’ talent. That kind of frontcourt mix is part of what makes the Jayhawks so intriguing heading into the season.
Peterman’s list also included Arizona’s Motiejus Krivas at No. 3 and BYU’s Robert Wright at No. 5. Kansas was one of the programs with multiple players in the top 10, which only adds to the early attention surrounding the Jayhawks.
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Kansas Got A Painful Answer In Cole Ballards First Start
Isaiah Marshalls lower-leg injury left Kansas without much of a choice against TCU, and Lance Leipold said the quarterback was not close to being available. That opened the door for Cole Ballard to make his first start, and the young passer showed enough to keep the Jayhawks moving, throwing for 285 yards and a touchdown while giving the offense a spark in a tough spot.
The problem was the other side of the ledger. Ballard also turned the ball over, and those mistakes helped swing the game against Kansas in a loss that left both quarterback and coach focused on the same theme afterward: missed chances. Leipold and Ballard both acknowledged the errors, and Ballard made clear how much the turnovers bothered him, leaving the Jayhawks with a painful but revealing answer at the position. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Blew A 13-0 Lead In A Brutal Home Collapse
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The second half told a much different story. Turnovers and missed chances opened the door for TCU, which steadily chipped away before finishing off a 22-16 comeback win, leaving Kansas to sort through a collapse that felt especially painful on its own field. Ballard finished with 285 passing yards, but the Jayhawks could not turn that production into enough points after halftime. [Read more 🡒]
Cole Ballard Gave Kansas Hope In A Loss That Will Sting
Cole Ballard gave Kansas something to build on in a spot start, even if the result still landed as a painful loss. Filling in for injured Isaiah Marshall, the quarterback moved the offense well enough to keep the Jayhawks in it against TCU, throwing for 285 yards and helping produce two 100-yard receivers in a 22-16 defeat.
Ballard also showed the full range of what makes a young quarterbacks learning curve so unforgiving. He threw a touchdown pass, but the game turned on a pick-six and a lost fumble that Kansas could not overcome, leaving the Jayhawks at 3-5 overall and 1-4 in the Big 12 as they head home to face UCF next. [Read more 🡒]