Kansas State may be the more familiar name in the state, but Oklahoma State fans prepping for the 2026 matchup with Kansas ought to have a few Jayhawks circled well before Nov. 28.
That game could still carry some real weight, even if a spot in the Big 12 Championship game is a stretch. At the very least, there’s a bowl-game pecking order to sort out as Thanksgiving weekend closes.
The setting is different for both programs, too. Oklahoma State is trying to bounce back after a 1-11 season and will do it with a new head coach in Eric Morris. Kansas, meanwhile, is coming off back-to-back 5-7 seasons under Lance Leipold, who could be feeling the pressure if the Jayhawks can’t get back above .500.
If Kansas is going to move forward, these five players will matter.
At quarterback, Cole Ballard is in the mix to replace Jalon Daniels, battling Isaiah Marshall for the job. Ballard is entering his fourth year in college football and has spent his entire career at Kansas, which means he already knows the offense and will be operating under offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, who is back with the Jayhawks. Production has been hard to come by so far - Ballard has thrown for 449 yards in three seasons - but this is his opportunity.
Kansas also made a notable portal addition in a Derby, Kan., native who has already spent time at Colorado and Kansas State. He played his first college season in 2023 under Deion Sanders, then transferred to Kansas State and appeared in two seasons there.
Injuries limited him to four games last season, and the coaching change to Collin Klein opened the door for him to enter the portal. In three seasons, he has 1,072 yards rushing and 449 yards receiving, and Kansas is betting there’s still more to unlock.
Kotelnicki will be the one tasked with bringing that out.
Up front, whoever wins the quarterback job should have help on the left side from Clements, who was the blind-side protector all last season. He started all 12 games and is back for his fourth year of college football. Leipold is hoping Clements can take another step and develop into an All-Big 12-level player in 2026.
On defense, Lathan looks like one of Kansas’ biggest difference-makers. He earned honorable mention All-Big 12 recognition last season and could push for even more after leading the Jayhawks with 86 total tackles, including 51 solo stops and 35 assists.
He also added seven tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, five pass breakups, one interception, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. Among Kansas defenders, he brings the most dynamic presence.
The secondary has some returning pieces as well, and Alexander stands out among them. Kansas has three defensive back starters back, and Alexander has the best chance to rise into All-Big 12 territory.
In 2025, he posted 46 total tackles, with 34 solo and 12 assisted, along with 3.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery he returned for a touchdown. The missing piece is interceptions, and Leipold has made that a focus this offseason.
In Other News...
Eric Morris Is Betting Oklahoma State's Reset Can End The Slide
Eric Morris spent media day putting a clear frame around Oklahoma States offseason overhaul, and it was hard to miss the scale of it. The Cowboys have brought in nearly 90 transfers along with a new freshman class, and Morris described the roster as a group of misfits, players arriving from all kinds of backgrounds but now trying to fit together fast. A few of the most familiar faces came with him from North Texas, giving the staff at least a small core to build around as fall practices begin.
For Oklahoma State, the urgency is obvious after a slide that has raised the pressure around the program, and the schedule will not offer much room for easing in. Tulsa, Oregon, Murray State and West Virginia are already on the slate, which means this reset has to start looking like a team in a hurry. The next question is whether all that turnover can turn into chemistry before the games start counting in earnest. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Has An Intriguing New Receiver To Watch In Camp
Oklahoma State is leaning into a more pass-heavy look this season under quarterback Drew Mestemaker, and that means camp will be a revealing place for a crowded receiver room to sort itself out. The Cowboys have 14 wideouts in the mix, with a blend of older options and three freshman recruits trying to carve out roles in Eric Morris Air Raid offense.
Among the newcomers drawing notice is Dayvon Standard, a long 6-4 target from Arizona who arrived late and missed spring ball, which usually makes the climb even steeper for a freshman. Still, Morris has pointed to Standard as one of the more intriguing names to watch as camp unfolds, and his size gives Oklahoma State another body at a position where every practice rep matters. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Has A Camp Battle That Could Reshape The Offense
Fall camp is arriving with one of the more interesting position questions on Oklahoma States roster, and it sits at tight end. Head coach Eric Morris spent time outlining the group, pointing to the different backgrounds and skill sets the Cowboys have assembled there and making clear this is more than a one-man race. The appeal, from an offensive standpoint, is obvious: the room offers versatility, and Morris sees each player bringing something useful either in the passing game, as a blocker or on special teams.
What makes the battle worth watching is how open it remains. Morris did not point to a settled answer, which leaves the Cowboys with a genuine competition heading into camp rather than a depth chart already written in ink. Hammond, Green, McFaul, Boydstun and Kolb all have a path to contributing, and the way that group sorts itself out could shape how often Oklahoma State leans on the tight end and what kind of flexibility the offense can build around the position. [Read more 🡒]