Kansas opened its 2026 season in a way that left little doubt about the gap on the field, rolling past Long Island University 51-6 and landing a notable nod from Pro Football Focus in the process. PFF ranked the Jayhawks’ outing as the third-best team performance of the week, a reflection of how thoroughly Kansas controlled the game after a quiet start.
The numbers tell the story fast. Kansas piled up 613 total yards and held LIU to 146.
The Jayhawks averaged 8.1 yards per play, while LIU managed just 2.8. Kansas also won the hidden battles that keep games from ever getting interesting: it converted 62% of its third downs, scored on all eight red-zone trips and never had to punt.
It did not begin as a runaway. Kansas led 6-0 after the first quarter, then flipped the switch in the second by putting up 24 points before halftime and carrying a 30-0 cushion into the break. From there, the Jayhawks kept pouring it on.
Isaiah Marshall was central to that surge in his first career start. The quarterback threw for 246 yards and two touchdowns, and he added 49 rushing yards to give the offense another layer. Kansas also got a big night from its skill group, with wide receiver Nik McMillan delivering a breakout performance while the roster’s transfer portal and recruiting additions showed up in the mix.
Up front, Kansas eventually imposed its will. The Jayhawks finished with 277 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns, giving the offense a steady path to chunk plays and short fields.
The defense matched that pace. Kansas held LIU to only 35 rushing yards and 146 total yards overall, and the visitors converted just 15% of their third-down chances. With the Jayhawks controlling both trenches, the game never got close.
PFF’s grading adds another layer to the blowout because it looks at individual play performance rather than leaning only on box-score production. For Kansas, that evaluation backed up what the scoreboard already said: this was one of the cleanest and most complete openings in the country.
There was still a little rough edge to it, though. The slow first quarter and an injury to linebacker Bam Crouch were reminders that there is work ahead before the competition stiffens. Even so, the third-best team performance grade from PFF gave Kansas a strong early benchmark.
For Lance Leipold’s group, the opener delivered the kind of start every program wants - a lopsided win, a confident debut from Marshall and plenty of proof that this roster has real upside.
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Kansas Offense Is Bringing New Pressure To The Border Showdown
Andy Kotelnicki is back on Kansas staff as associate head coach and offensive play caller, a move that gives Lance Leipold another familiar piece as the Jayhawks prepare for a rivalry matchup with Missouri. Kotelnicki and Leipold already know how to work together, and his return brings a coordinator with a reputation for clean structure and a clear offensive identity back into the fold at just the right time.
Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz gave Kotelnicki a notable public nod this week, praising the way he organizes an offense and builds its scheme. For Kansas, that kind of respect from the other sideline only adds to the intrigue around what the Jayhawks are bringing into the border showdown, especially with a play caller whose approach has clearly earned attention well beyond Lawrence. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Heads Into Missouri With Two Starter Questions It Can't Ignore
The run-up to Friday nights Border War has already been complicated for Kansas, with the Jayhawks facing a pair of starter questions as they prepare to visit Missouri. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT on FOX, and the lineup uncertainty starts on defense, where linebacker Bam Crouch is listed as doubtful after getting hurt last week.
The concern does not stop there. Wide receiver Cam Pickett is also a game-time decision because of a leg injury, putting his availability in limbo for a second straight game and leaving Kansas to sort through two important spots before it ever takes the field in Columbia. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Still Doesn't Know If Melvin Council Will Suit Up
Melvin Council Jr.s push to get on the floor at Kansas took another step in court this week, but it still leaves the Jayhawks waiting on clarity. Judge Daniel J. Doyle signed an order to show cause requiring the NCAA to explain why Council should not receive an injunction that would make him eligible to play college basketball, a significant development for a player hoping to gain a sixth season based on the years he spent in junior college.
For Kansas, the timing is still the problem. Councils enrollment status at the university remains unclear, and the next hearing is set for Sept. 23, after the Jayhawks current late-enrollment deadline has already passed. So even with the case moving forward, there is still no answer on whether Council will suit up, leaving his status in limbo as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]