Kansas football finally gets back on the field tomorrow, and the matchup brings the kind of setup that usually ends one way: heavily in Kansas’ favor.
The Jayhawks host FCS opponent Long Island at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, with construction still hanging over the Lawrence backdrop. KU hasn’t played since last November, but there’s renewed buzz around the program and plenty to watch beyond the final margin.
The biggest storyline is Isaiah Marshall making his first collegiate start. With Marshall under center, the early focus will be on what the offense looks like and how much Andy Kotelnicki reveals in his first game back calling plays since 2023. Once Kansas starts building a lead, Cole Ballard is expected to get his chance, and the second and third-stringers should follow before long.
There’s also room for experimentation here. This is the kind of game that gives Kansas a chance to try different schemes and formations while the staff figures out what travels into bigger tests ahead against Mizzou and Arizona State. Several newcomers, including Nik McMillan and Dylan Edwards, will be looking to make their mark in their first game as Jayhawks.
The expectation from the Kansas on SI staff is that this turns into a lopsided night. Schulman sees KU’s dynamic rushing attack opening things up early, with Long Island offering little resistance after trailing by six scores before halftime in its season opener. Davis expects the first half to be a little tighter than people might think because of all the new faces and starters, but still sees Kansas pulling away thanks to its defensive experience and offensive talent.
The trenches are another major checkpoint. KU should control both lines of scrimmage, and if it doesn’t, that would raise some eyebrows. Long Island used multiple quarterbacks last week against North Dakota, but the offense reportedly looked rough, and the Kansas defense is expected to have a field day.
The bigger point is simple: this isn’t the kind of FCS game Kansas used to sweat through. The Jayhawks should cruise, and the real question is less about the score than how the team looks doing it, starting with Marshall.
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