Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | CMP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | YPA | QBR | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 51-6vs Long Island University | 4/6 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 15.0 | 88.2 | Season-high 90 yds |
| Wk 2 | L 21-38vs Missouri | 1/1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6.0 | -- | |
| Total | 5/7 | 96 | 0 | 0 | 10.5 | 88.2 |
#15
Cole Ballard
Junior quarterback for Kansas. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 220 lb · Westfield, IN · Westfield HS
The numbers
96
passing yards · 2026 · through week 3
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 90 pass yds, 14 rush yds, vs Long Island University
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
Junior quarterback for Kansas. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- 108 passing yards in 2025. Then 96 in 2026.
Buzz vs Tape
Every angle we can check here reads about where you'd expect this season.
20.8own fans
23.3national conversation
Also checked out fine:
In Their Words
63 windows · 2026 fan posts
cole×157.6marshall×64.2starting×19.9
“Cole Ballard Projected to Win Kansas QB1 Job”
reddit/jayhawks · fan post, verbatim
Cole Ballard
Fourth year in the Kansas quarterback room, same address the whole way. The receipt: 90 pass yds, 14 rush yds against Long Island University — Week 1, 2026.
96 PASS YDS · 0 PASS TD · 14 RUSH YDS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- seasons on the roster
- game log
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
Kansas
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
1 coach2023–2026
Kansas
Played his entire career under Lance Leipold.
Career stats
Game log
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 51–6
90 yds · 0 TD · 0 INT · QBR 88.2 · 14 rush yds (1 car)
Dominant 45-point win at home against Long Island University.
With I. Marshall — 246 yds · 2 TD · 0 INT · QBR 80.7 · 49 rush yds (7 car) · N. McMillan — 6 rec · 130 yds · 1 TD
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
4 seasons under Lance Leipold — 20-20 over that span.
2023Kansas9-4HC: Lance Leipold · Run-heavy, slow tempo
2024Kansas5-7HC: Lance Leipold · Run-leaning
2025Kansas5-7HC: Lance Leipold · Run-leaning
2026Kansas1-2HC: Lance Leipold · Run-leaning
Where this profile ranks vs the QB cohort
Box-score percentiles
Elite: yards / att (100th percentile). Strength: interceptions (93rd percentile). Concern: pass yards (0th percentile).
Box-score rates (7)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 48.0 YDS/g, 0.0 TD/g, 10.5 YPA, 0.0 INT/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Lance Leipold
Pass share
41.2%
89 pass / 127 run
Plays / game
72.0
3 games
Scheme: Run-leaning.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Heisman trajectory
Heisman Trajectory · 2026
Peak #200
Peaked at #200 this season.
Background
Get to Know Cole ... What is the significance behind your jersey number? I was born on the 15th and have worn 15 in every sport since. Who is your biggest role model? My father is my biggest role model because he has shown me how to be a man and treat others with respect. Tell us about your…
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology