Kansas football has settled its Week 1 quarterback battle, and the job goes to Isaiah Marshall.
A source confirmed to 247Sports that the redshirt sophomore has won the starting role for the 2026 season opener, with ESPN’s Pete Thamel first reporting the news. Marshall edged out redshirt junior Cole Ballard and will become a first-time starter when Kansas opens against Long Island.
It’s a notable jump for Marshall, who spent last season in a limited rushing role. He appeared in nine games, took 32 snaps at quarterback and carried the ball 15 times for 160 yards, good for 10.7 yards per carry. His only college passing attempts came against FCS opponent Wagner, when he completed all three throws for 28 yards.
Marshall’s path to this moment started long before he got to Lawrence. He entered college as a three-star recruit and a dynamic quarterback prospect out of high school, drawing more than 20 Division I offers.
Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan, Ole Miss and Pittsburgh were among the programs that came after him. He was ranked the 31st quarterback in the 2024 class and the ninth-best recruit in Michigan.
He redshirted as a freshman and did not see game action that season. Now, in his third year with the program, he’s the guy for the Jayhawks as they begin year six under Lance Leipold.
Marshall steps into a Kansas offense that looks different around him, even with Andy Kotelnicki back calling plays and serving as associate head coach. The Jayhawks do return some important pieces on the offensive line, at wide receiver and at tight end, but there are also new starters and contributors sprinkled throughout the unit.
Leipold has said recently that Marshall and Ballard both will have roles this season, so winning the starting job doesn’t mean Kansas is done with the quarterback rotation conversation. It just means Marshall gets first crack at running the show.
In Other News...
Mizzou Fans Just Got A New Reason To Relive Border War Glory
A new documentary is putting one of the most memorable chapters of the Border War back in the spotlight. Armageddon at Arrowhead premiered with a focus on the November 2007 football showdown between Kansas and Missouri at Arrowhead Stadium, revisiting a game that still sits near the center of the rivalrys modern history. The film draws on perspectives from former players and looks at why that matchup carried so much weight for both sides.
Beyond the emotions of the day itself, the documentary also examines what came after. Missouri came away missing a chance to play for the national title, while Kansas punched its ticket to a BCS bowl appearance, leaving both programs with plenty to remember and plenty to debate whenever the rivalry comes up again. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Offensive Line Has One Camp Battle That Could Shape Everything
Kansas is spending camp trying to turn a reshuffled offensive line into something dependable, and the early emphasis has been less on highlight moments than on chemistry. With new transfers joining the mix, the Jayhawks have been working through the kind of communication issues that can make or break a unit up front. Redshirt junior Connor Stroh and left tackle Calvin Clements have both pointed to the same theme: the group has to understand each other well away from the field if it wants the five spots to function as one.
That challenge matters because the line is being asked to provide both athleticism and physicality, two traits associate head coach Andy Kotelnicki made clear are nonnegotiable. Camp battles along the front often get reduced to simple depth-chart questions, but for Kansas this one feels bigger than that. The Jayhawks are not just looking for five linemen who can win reps, they are trying to find the combination that can settle the offense before the season even starts. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Has Its Week 1 QB Answer But One Big Twist Remains
Kansas has its Week 1 quarterback answer in Isaiah Marshall, who was confirmed as the starter ahead of the season opener against Long Island. The decision gives Lance Leipold a clear first choice at the most important position, with Marshall winning out over junior Cole Ballard as the Jayhawks settle into game-week mode.
Cole Ballards role still makes this more interesting than a simple depth-chart announcement. Even after losing the starting job, he was named one of the teams captains, and Leipold has already indicated both quarterbacks are expected to play in the opener. So while Marshall will get the nod, Kansas appears set to lean on both players right away as it begins the season. [Read more 🡒]