Kansas Week Zero Preview vs. Portland State
With a Week Zero game against Fresno State, it’s a new era for Kansas football, in more ways than one.
The shiny elephant in the room is “the new Booth,” a two-thirds renovation of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium designed to take the Kansas stadium from college football’s dark ages into the midst of the sport’s facilities war, one that the school largely refused to suit up for until Lance Leipold rescued the program from Big 12 football purgatory. Far from a band-aid, the $450 million Phase 1 features a modernization effort that turns Kansas athletic director Travis Goff into a version of Jurassic Park’s John Hammond, “We’ve spared no expense.”
Speaking of David Booth, the Jayhawks got a major jump not just on Phase 2 of the project, but on future stability thanks to the megabooster’s recent $300 million gift. Approximately $75 million of that record donation, believed to be the biggest single donation in college sports history, will go toward Phase 2, with the other $225 million available for Kansas to use at its own discretion. Need help meeting the revenue sharing threshold? There’s money for that. Facing some budget shortfalls? There’s money for that too.
It’s a new era on the field as well, with Kansas replacing both coordinators and largely overhauling a roster after the Jayhawks’ went 5-7 a year ago with a roster that featured 30 seniors. A pair of Kansas old heads will lead them; quarterback Jalon Daniels elected to return for his final season despite going through Senior Day a year ago, while much of the offseason buzz has focused on the rejuvenation of senior running back Daniel Hishaw Jr., who made Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List.
Both players were overlooked high school talents who arrived at Kansas under Les Miles and saw the field as true freshmen in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season. But both also seem to still have meat on the bone.
Daniels is a former second-team All-Big 12 selection who went into 2023 as preseason Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. Injuries derailed that season as he played just three games. And while he played the entire year in 2024, his rust was apparent early on as he threw eight interceptions in the first five games, with at least one pick in each contest. He rounded into form as the year went on, throwing four interceptions in the final seven contests, and Kansas took off as well, winning three straight games against ranked opponents, though the Jayhawks ultimately fell short of a bowl.
Injuries have also been an issue for Hishaw, who played in eight games as Devin Neal’s understudy a year ago. Hishaw is an explosive and powerful runner who has averaged 5.5 yards per carry under Leipold, and a clean bill of health would go a long way toward helping to replace Neal, Kansas’ all-time leading rusher. Kansas also brought in Iowa transfer Leshon Williams, who rushed for 821 yards for the Hawkeyes in 2023 before his own injury-clipped year in 2024.
Both Daniels and Hishaw have collected the, “best shape of their lives,” badge this offseason, and both are capable of All-Big 12 seasons. Daniels could also be helped no just by the promotion of quarterbacks coach Jim Zebrowski to offensive coordinator, but the reintroduction of Matt Lubick as co-offensive coordinator. Zebrowski knows Daniels as well as anyone, while Lubick excels with the option and quarterback run games. The Jayhawks have led the Big 12 in yards per play the last three years, and that could be the case again this year.
Defensively, things are a bit more up in the air. D.K. McDonald arrived a year ago as co-DC and defensive backs coach, and with the retirement of Brian Borland, the defense is his now. He inherits what should be a strong defensive line with a deep group of defensive tackles and a defensive end group that includes second-team All-Big 12 pick Dean Miller and a strong transfer grouping. If transfers like Bangally Kamara (South Carolina, Pittsburgh), DJ Graham II (Utah State, Oklahoma) and Lyrik Rawls (Oklahoma State) can hit the ground running, perhaps Kansas can surprise on that side of the ball.
The Week Zero opener brings a Fresno State program in its own state of flux after hiring former North Dakota State head coach Matt Entz this offseason. Entz spent last year as assistant head coach for defense at USC, and he brought in South Dakota’s Josh Davis to run the offense.
It’s a solid early test for the new-look Jayhawks, who will look to break in the new Booth with a victory. And if Kansas’ new-look roster can show out while doing so, all the better.