Kansas

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Kansas shakes off a sluggish start, crushes LIU 51-6 in its opener ahead of Border War with Missouri - The Washington Postour readMizzou-Kansas football game shifted to Friday nightour readThe Kansas State rivalry

Big 12 · Lance Leipold, year 6 (28-36) · Memorial Stadium · 47,000 · 31,452 avg in 2026

The nationunrankedAP / Coaches
The model#75 CFB ZeitgeistSP+ #41 (+7.5) · FPI #62
The marketArizona State by 5.5vs Arizona State · our model 33% Kansas · a number, not a pick

LastL 21–38 vs Missouri · Fri Sep 11 · Nik McMillan 52 rec yds, 1 TD

Nextvs Arizona State · Sat Sep 19 · 12 pm ET · Wembley Stadium · Arizona State by 5.5 · series 0-1 · Game preview

Updated Tue Sep 15 · through week 2

Key stats — 2026 — FBS rank
Points/game
36.0
Pts allowed/game
22.0
Total yards/gm#59 / 138 · 58th pct
434.0
Rush yards/gm#69 / 138 · 50th pct
179.0
Pass yards/gm#57 / 138 · 59th pct
255.0
Yards allowed/gm#60 / 138 · 57th pct
307.5
Rush yds allowed/gm#57 / 138 · 59th pct
106.0
SacksT-#80 / 138 · 33rd pct
3
3rd-down conv#78 / 138 · 44th pct
39.3%
All 84 stats
Offense / Defense
Total yards
Team
868434.0/gm6.07/play#59 / 138 · 58th pct#39 / 69 · 44th pct#12 / 16 · 28th pct#13 / 13 · 8th pct
Opp
615307.5/gm4.96/play#60 / 138 · 57th pct#44 / 69 · 37th pct#11 / 16 · 34th pct#1 / 13 · 100th pct
Rush yards
Team
358179.0/gm2.50/play#69 / 138 · 50th pct#36 / 69 · 49th pct#12 / 16 · 28th pct#13 / 13 · 8th pct
Opp
212106.0/gm1.71/play#57 / 138 · 59th pct#43 / 69 · 38th pct#14 / 16 · 16th pct#1 / 13 · 100th pct
Rush carries
Team
8743.5/gmT-#25 / 138 · 82nd pctT-#10 / 69 · 85th pctT-#3 / 16 · 78th pct#13 / 13 · 8th pct
Opp
7437.0/gmT-#91 / 138 · 32nd pctT-#53 / 69 · 21st pctT-#14 / 16 · 12th pct#1 / 13 · 100th pct
Rush TDs
Team
52.5/gmT-#35 / 138 · 70th pctT-#23 / 69 · 60th pctT-#8 / 16 · 47th pct#13 / 13 · 8th pct
Opp
21.0/gmT-#53 / 138 · 50th pctT-#34 / 69 · 36th pctT-#8 / 16 · 31st pct#1 / 13 · 100th pct
Net pass yards
Team
510255.0/gm3.57/play#57 / 138 · 59th pct#37 / 69 · 47th pct#8 / 16 · 53rd pct#13 / 13 · 8th pct
Opp
403201.5/gm3.25/play#67 / 138 · 52nd pct#41 / 69 · 41st pct#9 / 16 · 47th pct#1 / 13 · 100th pct
Pass attempts
Team
5628.0/gmT-#78 / 138 · 43rd pctT-#45 / 69 · 35th pct#9 / 16 · 47th pct#13 / 13 · 8th pct
Opp
5025.0/gmT-#33 / 138 · 76th pctT-#19 / 69 · 72nd pct#4 / 16 · 78th pct#1 / 13 · 100th pct
Completions
Team
3216.0/gmT-#98 / 138 · 28th pct#57 / 69 · 18th pct#14 / 16 · 16th pct#13 / 13 · 8th pct
Opp
2914.5/gmT-#30 / 138 · 77th pctT-#19 / 69 · 71st pct#4 / 16 · 78th pct#1 / 13 · 100th pct
Pass TDs
Team
42.0/gmT-#48 / 138 · 57th pctT-#33 / 69 · 46th pctT-#7 / 16 · 50th pct#13 / 13 · 8th pct
Opp
31.5/gmT-#75 / 138 · 36th pctT-#47 / 69 · 22nd pctT-#10 / 16 · 22nd pct#1 / 13 · 100th pct
Passer rating allowed#66 / 91 · 28th pct#36 / 41 · 13th pct#10 / 10 · 5th pct#4 / 13 · 77th pct
137.5137.5
Interceptions thrown
Team
21.0/gmT-#23 / 138 · 74th pctT-#8 / 69 · 78th pctT-#3 / 16 · 75th pct#13 / 13 · 8th pct
Opp
00.0/gmT-#1 / 138 · 92nd pctT-#1 / 69 · 93rd pctT-#1 / 16 · 94th pct#1 / 13 · 100th pct
Sacks (def)
Team
31.5/gmT-#80 / 138 · 33rd pctT-#49 / 69 · 22nd pct#16 / 16 · 3rd pct#11 / 11 · 9th pct
Opp
42.0/gmT-#74 / 138 · 37th pctT-#42 / 69 · 30th pctT-#11 / 16 · 22nd pct#1 / 11 · 100th pct
Tackles for loss
Team
168.0/gmT-#18 / 138 · 86th pctT-#10 / 69 · 84th pct#5 / 16 · 72nd pct#11 / 11 · 9th pct
Opp
84.0/gmT-#39 / 138 · 67th pctT-#26 / 69 · 57th pctT-#8 / 16 · 44th pct#1 / 11 · 100th pct
First downs
Team
4723.5/gmT-#52 / 138 · 61st pctT-#35 / 69 · 49th pctT-#10 / 16 · 38th pct#13 / 13 · 8th pct
Opp
3216.0/gmT-#46 / 138 · 65th pctT-#35 / 69 · 48th pct#11 / 16 · 34th pct#1 / 13 · 100th pct
3rd-down conv
Team
115.5/gmT-#63 / 138 · 52nd pctT-#37 / 69 · 44th pct#11 / 16 · 34th pct#13 / 13 · 8th pct
Opp
94.5/gmT-#52 / 138 · 58th pctT-#36 / 69 · 45th pctT-#8 / 16 · 50th pct#1 / 13 · 100th pct
3rd-down att
Team
2814.0/gmT-#45 / 138 · 64th pctT-#19 / 69 · 70th pctT-#5 / 16 · 69th pct#13 / 13 · 8th pct
Opp
2914.5/gmT-#79 / 138 · 40th pctT-#41 / 69 · 39th pct#10 / 16 · 41st pct#1 / 13 · 100th pct
4th-down conv
Team
52.5/gmT-#4 / 138 · 95th pctT-#3 / 69 · 94th pctT-#2 / 16 · 88th pct#11 / 13 · 23rd pct
Opp
21.0/gmT-#71 / 138 · 37th pctT-#40 / 69 · 32nd pctT-#10 / 16 · 25th pct#1 / 13 · 100th pct
4th-down att
Team
84.0/gmT-#6 / 138 · 95th pctT-#2 / 69 · 96th pctT-#1 / 16 · 91st pct#13 / 13 · 8th pct
Opp
21.0/gmT-#20 / 138 · 74th pctT-#10 / 69 · 72nd pctT-#3 / 16 · 75th pct#1 / 13 · 100th pct
Time of possession
Team
61:4530:52/gm#68 / 138 · 51st pct#33 / 69 · 53rd pct#10 / 16 · 41st pct#13 / 13 · 8th pct
Opp
58:1529:08/gm#59 / 138 · 58th pct#33 / 69 · 53rd pct#10 / 16 · 41st pct#1 / 13 · 100th pct

FBS rankings · 2026 season · all stats vs 136 FBS programs

Player stats — 2026 season
Quarterbacks
Player#GCmp/AttPctYdsY/ATDINTRateZPRQBRAdj ANY/ASack%
+0.26 EPA/play8227 / 4955.1414
#73 FBS		8.44
#36 FBS		2144.85450.2——
Receivers
Player#GRecYdsAvgTDLong
+0.97 EPA/play528182
#35 FBS		22.82
#24 FBS		46

2026 stat leaders · Kansas

through 2 games

Nik McMillan leads Kansas with 182 receiving yards through 2 games.

1. Nik McMillan WR 182 receiving yards
2. Trey Lathan LB 12 tackles
3. Isaiah Marshall QB 414 passing yards
4. David Santiago DE 9 tackles
5. Quincy Davis LB 9 tackles
How They Play · 2025

Kansas fields a strong methodical, ball-control offense behind a porous, gives up the big play defense.

Offense
78th pct EPA/play
Tempo
90th pct success, 9th explosiveness
Defense
17th pct EPA allowed
Defensive shape
5th pct at limiting explosive plays

Percentile vs all FBS, based on this season's per-game production. Bar = where this team ranks — right is better.

The Savant Card · Kansas · 2025

Kansas reads strongest in success rate (top 10%) and rushing epa (top 22%); the crux lives in explosive plays allowed, where Kansas sits at the 4th percentile.

offense · strengths lead

EPA / play +0.23
78th
Success Rate +0.48
90th
Explosive Plays +1.17
9th
Rushing EPA +0.17
78th

defense · higher bar = harder to play against

EPA Allowed +0.22
17th
Success Rate Allowed +0.40
59th
Explosive Plays Allowed +1.41
5th
Passing EPA Allowed +0.38
15th

hidden math · special situations

Passing EPA +0.33
69th
Rushing EPA Allowed +0.11
39th
Elite · 90+Strong · 70+Average · 40-70Concern · 10-40Bottom · <10
Sources · CFBD tier-2 advanced stats · per-game production · 12 games this season · percentiles vs. up to 136 FBS peers

Home-field advantage · Kansas · 2018–present · FBS opponents

Kansas is worth +2.4 points more at home than on the road.

Bottom third of FBS, 22nd percentile of 133 programs

36% at home, 23% away against FBS opponents since 2018 (14–25 home, 10–34 away). Interval ±4.5.

95% intervalmodel 2.3 · books ~3Weakest home edge in FBSStrongest

Our model gives every stadium the same flat 2.3-point home edge — per-team modelling was tested and did not survive scrutiny (why) — and the books use about 3. Against the closing line, Kansas has beaten the number by −1.8 more at home than away over 68 games — inside the ±7.8 that many games can resolve. Results here cannot tell the flat number apart from the building, and that is the honest reading of nearly every FBS stadium.

Memorial Stadium seats 47,000 and has averaged 89% full (41,815, 21 games reported). Visitors cover a median 522 miles to get here since 2018 — 43rd-longest of 135 FBS venues, inside the ordinary range. 18% of the 2026 roster (20 of 111 located players) grew up inside 100 miles of the stadium.

Edge = half the gap between average home margin and average road margin, FBS opponents only, non-neutral games since 2018; the interval is 95%. Market line: closing spread, seasons with lines on file. Trip length is straight-line miles from the visiting team's campus to the venue, measured across all 45 home games since 2018.

Home14–25Away10–34Edge+2.4 ±4.5Visitor trip522 mi

More in this tab

Scheme claimsFive specific, testable claims about how this team plays.

Standard downs vs. passing downs

Does Kansas hold up once the down-and-distance turns against them?

70th percentile success on standard downs, 35th on passing downs — a 35-point gap between the two.

Fragile off scheduleBalanced, both workStruggles even on scheduleStandard-downs reliantKansasWeak on standard downsElite on standard downsFalls apart off scheduleHolds up off scheduleHawai'i18th standard · 41st passingUNLV51st standard · 7th passingStanford76th standard · 15th passingEastern Michigan52nd standard · 10th passingSan José State54th standard · 22nd passingNew Mexico State45th standard · 75th passingSacramento State23rd standard · 14th passingOklahoma State41st standard · 49th passingDuke20th standard · 29th passingFlorida State28th standard · 65th passingRutgers30th standard · 71st passingKansas70th standard · 35th passingBoston College27th standard · 56th passingNorfolk State16th standard · 9th passingLouisville96th standard · 70th passingMissouri36th standard · 85th passingMemphis69th standard · 65th passingGeorgia Southern24th standard · 45th passingOle Miss94th standard · 50th passingJacksonville State65th standard · 82nd passingNorth Dakota State86th standard · 27th passingArizona92nd standard · 86th passingUSC97th standard · 99th passingWake Forest56th standard · 97th passingTCU93rd standard · 8th passingDelaware70th standard · 31st passingUAB65th standard · 81st passingMichigan State62nd standard · 29th passingSouth Florida91st standard · 52nd passingFlorida International46th standard · 43rd passingNavy98th standard · 59th passingWisconsin13th standard · 18th passingOregon State10th standard · 38th passingSyracuse48th standard · 64th passingOhio State90th standard · 40th passingBall State12th standard · 24th passingPittsburgh30th standard · 76th passingColorado35th standard · 77th passingGeorgia Tech58th standard · 44th passingAuburn75th standard · 55th passingBaylor40th standard · 96th passingNorth Texas49th standard · 68th passingApp State44th standard · 90th passingIowa State4th standard · 23rd passingUTSA99th standard · 29th passingArkansas60th standard · 80th passingBoise State58th standard · 46th passingOregon35th standard · 33rd passingTulsa56th standard · 1st passingTulane31st standard · 2nd passingPurdue83rd standard · 88th passingMiddle Tennessee87th standard · 68th passingVanderbilt80th standard · 12th passingSan Diego State4th standard · 40th passingLSU33rd standard · 98th passingClemson1st standard · 19th passingCentral Michigan16th standard · 6th passingTexas Tech88th standard · 48th passingMichigan2nd standard · 62nd passingWestern Michigan39th standard · 20th passingOhio38th standard · 17th passingBuffalo7th standard · 14th passingTexas72nd standard · 94th passingCoastal Carolina61st standard · 52nd passingColorado State82nd standard · 91st passingWyoming65th standard · 36th passingTexas A&M85th standard · 72nd passingLiberty14th standard · 59th passingFlorida Atlantic43rd standard · 87th passingLouisiana19th standard · 92nd passingSouth Alabama50th standard · 73rd passingTroy22nd standard · 59th passingSam Houston78th standard · 61st passingNevada77th standard · 52nd passingWestern Kentucky25th standard · 34th passingWashington State8th standard · 3rd passingWashington81st standard · 4th passingCalifornia9th standard · 25th passingCharlotte73rd standard · 83rd passingTennessee65th standard · 78th passingUtah State4th standard · 93rd passing
Source CFB Zeitgeist · advanced team stats, Connelly success-rate definition
View all FBS teams as a table
TeamStandard-downs percentilePassing-downs percentile
App State44th90th
Arizona92nd86th
Arkansas60th80th
Auburn75th55th
Ball State12th24th
Baylor40th96th
Boise State58th46th
Boston College27th56th
Buffalo7th14th
California9th25th
Central Michigan16th6th
Charlotte73rd83rd
Clemson1st19th
Coastal Carolina61st52nd
Colorado35th77th
Colorado State82nd91st
Delaware70th31st
Duke20th29th
Eastern Michigan52nd10th
Florida Atlantic43rd87th
Florida International46th43rd
Florida State28th65th
Georgia Southern24th45th
Georgia Tech58th44th
Hawai'i18th41st
Iowa State4th23rd
Jacksonville State65th82nd
Kansas70th35th
LSU33rd98th
Liberty14th59th
Louisiana19th92nd
Louisville96th70th
Memphis69th65th
Michigan2nd62nd
Michigan State62nd29th
Middle Tennessee87th68th
Missouri36th85th
Navy98th59th
Nevada77th52nd
New Mexico State45th75th
Norfolk State16th9th
North Dakota State86th27th
North Texas49th68th
Ohio38th17th
Ohio State90th40th
Oklahoma State41st49th
Ole Miss94th50th
Oregon35th33rd
Oregon State10th38th
Pittsburgh30th76th
Purdue83rd88th
Rutgers30th71st
Sacramento State23rd14th
Sam Houston78th61st
San Diego State4th40th
San José State54th22nd
South Alabama50th73rd
South Florida91st52nd
Stanford76th15th
Syracuse48th64th
TCU93rd8th
Tennessee65th78th
Texas72nd94th
Texas A&M85th72nd
Texas Tech88th48th
Troy22nd59th
Tulane31st2nd
Tulsa56th1st
UAB65th81st
UNLV51st7th
USC97th99th
UTSA99th29th
Utah State4th93rd
Vanderbilt80th12th
Wake Forest56th97th
Washington81st4th
Washington State8th3rd
Western Kentucky25th34th
Western Michigan39th20th
Wisconsin13th18th
Wyoming65th36th
Tendency driftHow this coordinator's calls have drifted since arriving.

Season by season

How Kansas’s current staff calls plays, year over year

Offense: Jim Zebrowski / co-Matt Lubick (2025–2026)
1st-down pass rate
2025: 38% → 2026: 37% · 1-pt range · #182 of 184 · less than most
Red-zone pass rate
2025: 33% → 2026: 36% · 3-pt range · #178 of 182 · less than most
Defense: D. K. McDonald (2025–2026)
1st-down pass rate
2025: 38% → 2026: 37% · 1-pt range · #204 of 203 · less than most
Red-zone pass rate
2025: 33% → 2026: 36% · 3-pt range · #198 of 200 · less than most
RatingsWhere the public rating systems put this team.

Model Consensus

Where the Models Rank Kansas

CFB Zeitgeist

#75

-0.6

SP+

#41

+7.5

FPI

#62

+0.9

Elo

#69

1485

The national models put Kansas between 41st and 69th nationally — CFB Zeitgeist is more skeptical, at 75th.

National rank of 138 FBS teams · 2026 season. SP+/FPI/SRS published; Elo & CFB Zeitgeist ranked by rating.

Comparable teamsPrograms built like this one — tier, prestige band, kind of fanbase, roster size. Not a stat match.

Most similar programs · Kansas

Reads like

CharlotteAmerican AthleticSame tier of program · Same prestige band · Similarly-sized rosters up frontColorado StatePac-12Same tier of program · Same prestige band · Similarly-sized rosters up frontEast CarolinaAmerican AthleticSame tier of program · Same prestige band · Similarly-sized rosters up front

Matched on how the programs are built — tier, prestige band, kind of fanbase, conference, voice and roster size — not on this season's stats. A calibration, not a prediction.

Historical echoPrograms whose arc bent the same way -- then what happened.

Historical echo

Kansas’s breakout has happened before — and the 4 closest all held onto theirs.

Programs whose stature climbed in the same shape. The grey line is their run; the color is what came next for them.

Minnesota 1997–2002
kept climbing
Northwestern 1993–1998
held the gain
Temple 2008–2013
kept climbing
Florida 1950–1955
kept climbing

An analogy on the shape of a program’s Zeitgeist stature arc — not a prediction. Interim calibration, medium confidence; matched among current FBS programs at a comparable level.

ConditionsThe weather and altitude visitors have to deal with.
Venue texture

64°F average kickoff temp; 6% of games had measurable precipitation; 9 mph average wind.

Based on 71 home games with weather data.

This page may include content derived from public news sources, social media, and fan communities. We relay these sources as-is — we are not reporting them. Sources may be summarized or quoted imperfectly; for anything that matters, go look at the original source directly. The original source may also be wrong. AI-generated content is labeled and may contain factual errors. All analysis is editorial opinion, not professional reporting. Data sources · About this site