Lance Leipold enters his sixth season at Kansas following a 5-7 campaign in 2025, with both coordinators returning for their second seasons. Kansas will feature a new starting quarterback following Jalon Daniels’ departure for the NFL, with Cole Ballard and Isaiah Marshall competing for the job during fall camp. Neither enters 2026 with 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. 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 making 12 and 11 starts, respectively, while Connor Stroh also returns after making 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 leading tackler Trey Lathan at linebacker. Boston College transfer Bam Crouch joins Lathan in the linebacker group. Blake Herold and Leroy Harris III return along the defensive front, 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 enters 2026 with a new quarterback and rebuilt backfield while returning two full-time starters along the offensive line and six of its top eleven tacklers on defense.