Lance Leipold enters his sixth season at Kansas after a 5-7 campaign in 2025, with both coordinators returning for their second seasons. Kansas has a new starting quarterback after Jalon Daniels left for the NFL, and Isaiah Marshall won the job over Cole Ballard in fall camp. Marshall entered 2026 without extensive starting experience at the Power Conference level. Kansas must replace its leading running backs from last season, while Kansas State transfer Dylan Edwards and Syracuse transfer Yasin Willis join the backfield. Update (Oct. 13): RB Yasin Willis suffered a foot injury against Arizona State and underwent surgery. Head coach Lance Leipold indicated his return this season was doubtful, and current injury reports list Willis as out for the remainder of 2026. Leading pass catcher Cam Pickett returns in the receiving corps along with Keaton Kubecka, while Buffalo transfer Nik McMillan and Middle Tennessee transfer Nahzae Cox join the group. The offensive line returns full-time starters Calvin Clements and Amir Herring after 12 and 11 starts, respectively, and Connor Stroh, who made five starts last season.
D.K. McDonald enters his second season as defensive coordinator. Kansas returns six of its top eleven tacklers from last season, including linebacker and leading tackler Trey Lathan. Boston College transfer Bam Crouch joins Lathan at linebacker. Up front, Blake Herold and Leroy Harris III return at defensive end, while Austin Alexander, Jalen Todd, and Taylor Davis return in the secondary. Louisville transfer Corey Gordon also joins the secondary.
Taiwo Onatolu enters his fifth season as an on-field assistant at Kansas and will focus exclusively on special teams in 2026. Michigan State transfer Martin Connington takes over at placekicker, while Australian freshman Matthew Gill takes over at punter. Tate Nagy returns with experience in the return game, while Dylan Edwards also provides an option on both kickoff and punt returns.
Kansas entered 2026 with a new quarterback and a rebuilt backfield, but it also returns two full-time offensive linemen and six of its top eleven tacklers on defense. Willis’s loss has created another challenge for an offense already replacing significant rushing production, placing additional responsibility on Edwards and the remaining running backs.