Trey Lathan has been to London before, but this trip with Kansas is different. This one comes with history attached.
The Jayhawks will meet Arizona State at Wembley Stadium in what will be the first major college football game played in London, and Lathan knows exactly what that means for the program and for the sport.
“It’s just a blessing,” Lathan said at Big 12 Football Media Days. “Us and Arizona State being picked, the first two teams to be able to make history, the first college football game out there. It’s just a feeling that we haven’t really processed yet.”
Lathan said he does not know every detail about Wembley, but he understands the weight of the place. The stadium’s reputation, built through years of soccer and major moments, is part of what makes this trip stand out.
“I don’t know much, but I know it’s pretty iconic,” Lathan said. “A lot of soccer, a lot of history has been made there. We’re excited to go out there and play.”
He also sees the game as a chance to show British fans what college football brings to the table.
“Just showing the British what American football really is,” Lathan said. “Their football is different, but showing them that we really compete. It’s something that a lot of people wake up on Saturdays looking forward to.”
This won’t be Lathan’s first overseas experience. He previously went to London with West Virginia through a group called Chambers Elite Climbers, then returned the next year for a vacation.
Kansas, though, will be new territory for plenty of players on the roster. Lathan said coach Lance Leipold set aside two days for sightseeing, including stops near the River Thames and Buckingham Palace.
“A lot of our teammates have never been overseas,” Lathan said. “They’re looking forward to hopefully watching the changing of the guards.”
For Lathan, the London trip is bigger than a nonconference game. It’s a chance for Kansas to step onto a global stage and be part of a first that college football will remember.
In Other News...
What Summer League Just Told Jayhawks Fans About KU's NBA Hopefuls
The NBA Summer League wrapped up with Golden State taking the title, and for Kansas fans it offered a first look at how a handful of Jayhawks are trying to carve out their next steps. Seven former KU players were spread across different teams and venues, with Darryn Peterson drawing the most attention in Utah, Hunter Dickinson and Melvin Council Jr. getting chances with New Orleans, Tre White flashing for Miami, and Zeke Mayo logging minutes for Atlanta.
KJ Adams was part of the Warriors summer roster, but his path back into game action remained the quieter subplot of the group. Across the board, the Jayhawks had a little of everything in July: promising scoring bursts, uneven shooting, and the kind of mixed results that can still matter when front offices are deciding who gets another look once summer league ends. [Read more 🡒]
Tyshawn Taylor Just Took A Meaningful Next Step Beyond Kansas
Tyshawn Taylor has stayed close to Kansas basketball in a way that feels bigger than a summer reunion. The former Jayhawk is helping guide the Kansas alumni team in The Basketball Tournament while also being part of the action himself, a reminder that some program ties do not fade when the college days end. Around him is a roster built to draw attention from Kansas fans, with familiar names and enough experience to make the group feel like more than a nostalgia act.
Taylors next step also points well beyond Lawrence. He has begun talking through his new coaching path with Bill Self, and the Kansas coach has made clear he is proud of the opportunity and eager to see where it leads. For Taylor, the move adds another layer to a career that now includes leadership, teaching and the kind of daily work that can open doors with young players and college coaches alike. [Read more 🡒]
How Kansas Turned Overlooked Recruits Into Jayhawk Football Legends
Kansas has spent the last several recruiting cycles proving that the old labels do not always stick. Cobee Bryant arrived as a three-star safety and left Lawrence as a three-time All-Big 12 First Team selection, while Jalon Daniels developed into one of the most important quarterbacks in program history after signing with the school as a dual-threat prospect. Even Dominick Puni, who came in without a ranking at all, became the kind of offensive lineman Kansas fans now point to as a model for what development can look like in the right system.
What makes that run so striking is how different each path was, and how quickly the Jayhawks turned overlooked talent into real production. Bryant is already into his next NFL chapter, Daniels is still carrying a legacy that trails only one name in the program record book, and Punis rise remains the clearest reminder that Kansas has found value where plenty of others did not. The bigger question now is which recent recruit will be next to follow that same unlikely climb. [Read more 🡒]