Lance Leipold returns for his sixth season at Kansas with both coordinators back for year two after the Jayhawks finished 5-7 in 2025. The Jayhawks will break in a new starting quarterback after Jalon Daniels went to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Jayhawks lost their top running backs from a year ago, but they landed strong additions in the transfer portal, picking up Dylan Edwards from Kansas State and Yasin Willis from Syracuse. The Jayhawks bring back top pass catcher Cam Pickett from a year ago, but lack depth. Kansas returns a bulk of its starting offensive linemen from a year ago. It’s not a stretch to believe the running game will be way ahead of the passing game to start the year.

D.K. McDonald returns for his second season as defensive coordinator. The Jayhawks return six of their top eleven tacklers from a year ago. The secondary is loaded with talent, returning Jalen Todd, Austin Alexander, and Taylor Davis, and is excited to see Louisville transfer Corey Gordon in action. Trey Lathan returns as the team’s leading tackler, and they got themselves a great player with the acquisition of Boston College transfer Bam Crouch. The Jayhawks’ defense has a lot of veteran talent across the board.

The Jayhawks bring over Martin Connington from Michigan State to take over placekicking duties for Laith Marjan, who is now with the Steelers. Freshman punter Matthew Gill takes over for Finn Lappin. Tate Nagy returns as the punt returner and now will get more action as a kick returner with Emmanuel Henderson now with the Seahawks. The Jayhawks have holes to fill, particularly at quarterback, but return enough talent on both sides of the ball to compete for bowl eligibility in 2026.