Kansas got only a brief glimpse of what Bam Crouch can bring before the linebacker’s night ended early.
Crouch, one of the Jayhawks’ biggest defensive additions, suffered a shoulder-area injury in the first half against LIU and did not return. He went down during LIU’s second offensive series after a collision involving an LIU ball carrier and a Kansas defender, cutting short what had already been a promising debut.
The start was strong. On LIU’s opening possession, the Boston College transfer picked up his first sack in a Kansas uniform and helped the Jayhawks set the tone defensively right away.
That kind of production is exactly why Kansas targeted him. In 2024 at Boston College, Crouch started all 13 games and finished with 77 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, four pass breakups and two forced fumbles. He was also named a team captain before the 2025 season, though injuries limited him to part of that campaign.
Now the focus shifts to his availability, and Kansas does not yet have a clear answer. After the win over LIU, head coach Lance Leipold said the team still did not know the full extent of the injury.
Leipold said Crouch would go through more testing and that the hope was to have a better read on his condition in the next few days. He also said Crouch was in good spirits but understandably disappointed about getting hurt.
The timing is what makes this so tricky. Kansas plays Missouri on Sept. 11, leaving just one week between games.
If Crouch can’t go, Kansas will have to lean on its linebacker depth. Quincy Davis, a transfer from New Mexico State, could be in line for a bigger role if Crouch is unavailable.
Kansas’ defense looked sharp against LIU, but Missouri is a much bigger assignment. Losing a player with Crouch’s experience and versatility would strip away an important piece, even if the Jayhawks still have depth and returning talent on that side of the ball.
For now, Kansas is stuck waiting. Crouch’s status is set to be one of the biggest storylines of the week as the Jayhawks turn their attention to Missouri.
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Kansas wasted no time making its season opener look like a mismatch, rolling past Long Island University 51-6 while piling up 613 total yards and holding the Sharks to 146. The lopsided result was the kind of start that can set a tone fast, and the grading from Pro Football Focus backed up what the score already suggested: this was a sharp night across the roster, with wide receiver Nik McMillan, defensive end David Santiago and backup quarterback Cole Ballard all drawing especially strong marks.
McMillans work stood out most, giving the Jayhawks a big-play presence early and a player to build around as the schedule tightens. Ballards grade also added another layer to the conversation behind center, since Kansas got more than just a comfortable win out of the opener - it got a clearer sense of which players flashed immediately and who is already forcing attention in a few key spots. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Showed Promise But Missouri Will Test What Still Looks Shaky
Kansas looked the part in its latest outing, piling up 613 yards while holding LIU to 146 and staying efficient enough to convert eight of 13 third downs without punting. The offense finished every red zone trip, but the larger takeaway was that the game still had a sluggish feel at the start, with only six first-quarter points and an opening drive that ended on downs instead of setting an early tone.
Missouri brings a different level of stress in the Border War, and that is where the lingering concerns around Kansas become harder to ignore. The Jayhawks still need cleaner quarterback play, more reliability at linebacker and tighter coverage on the back end, and the defense's depth took another hit when Bam Crouch went out with a shoulder injury, leaving his status for Saturday uncertain. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Has A Defensive End Decision Taking Shape Before The Opener
Kansas defensive end picture is coming into focus as the 2026 season opener approaches, with defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald and Lance Leipold both weighing in on how the edge rotation is taking shape. The staff has been sorting through options at the stud spot, and David Santiago has emerged as a notable piece after arriving from Michigan State, with his background also including time at Air Force.
Santiagos value goes beyond simply filling a spot in the lineup. Kansas has been drawn to his versatility and the leadership he brings to the room, and he has moved into the second defensive end role at stud behind the top option. The expectation is that he and Alex Bray will share those reps evenly, which gives the Jayhawks a clearer path at a position that can shape the tone of the defense early in the year. [Read more 🡒]