Kansas still has no answer at quarterback, and Lance Leipold isn’t pretending otherwise.
At Big 12 Media Days, the Jayhawks’ head coach said the competition between redshirt junior Cole Ballard and redshirt sophomore Isaiah Marshall remains wide open heading into preseason camp. With Jalon Daniels gone, Leipold said the job will go to the quarterback who can deliver the most reliable play, not just the biggest highlight.
"Who's gonna give us the best chance to win on Saturday?" Leipold said. "With that, though, who's going to be most consistent during camp?"
That’s been the theme around Kansas all offseason, and Leipold’s comments only reinforced it. No one has pulled away, and the staff still sees a true battle unfolding once camp gets rolling.
Leipold said Ballard and Marshall offer different skill sets, but both have a path to the job.
"Isaiah's probably a little faster," Leipold said. "Both are capable runners... and again, who's gonna give us the best chance to be effective in the pass game as well?"
The lack of experience is part of what makes this such a delicate decision. Ballard has thrown only 64 career passes, spending most of his time as Daniels’ backup. Marshall has been used largely in specialized rushing packages.
Their limited but useful production gives Kansas at least a little to work with. Marshall rushed 15 times for 160 yards and completed three passes last season. Ballard passed for 108 yards and one touchdown while also adding 92 rushing yards.
Leipold also emphasized that both quarterbacks have benefited from something easy to overlook: reps.
"Jalon never went through a spring in my time as a head coach in full," Leipold said. "When Jalon wasn't practicing, Cole Ballard and Isaiah Marshall were getting reps.
So they have a lot of banked reps of time. Now it's time for them to go out and execute and play."
That matters now, with Kansas tasked with replacing one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in school history.
For Leipold, the formula is simple as camp approaches: consistency will decide it. The most talented option won’t necessarily win the job. The one who proves he can keep Kansas on track, day after day, will likely be the one under center in the 2026 season opener.
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