Kansas Football Schedule: What They're Hiding
The University of Kansas Jayhawks' 2026 football schedule features 12 regular-season games, kicking off with a home matchup against Long Island University on Friday, September 4, at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, followed by key Big 12 contests and an international clash in London.
Full 2026 Schedule
This schedule includes six home games, five road Big 12 matchups, one bye week, and a marquee non-conference game abroad. Announced by the Big 12 Conference on January 21, 2026, it marks year six under head coach Lance Leipold, who has transformed Kansas from a perennial Big 12 doormat-winning just seven conference games from 2015-2020-into a bowl contender with back-to-back seasons of eight wins since 2023.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fri, Sept 4 | Long Island | David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, KS | Season opener, non-conference |
| 2 | Sat, Sept 12 | Missouri | David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, KS | Border War rivalry |
| 3 | Sat, Sept 19 | Arizona State | Wembley Stadium, London, England | Union Jack Classic |
| 4 | Sat, Sept 26 | BYE | - | Rest week |
| 5 | Sat, Oct 3 | Middle Tennessee State | David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, KS | Non-conference |
| 6 | Sat, Oct 10 | Utah | Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, UT | Big 12 road game |
| 7 | Sat, Oct 17 | Kansas State | Bill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, KS | Sunflower Showdown |
| 8 | Sat, Oct 24 | Baylor | David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, KS | Homecoming |
| 9 | Sat, Oct 31 | TCU | Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX | Big 12 road game |
| 10 | Sat, Nov 7 | UCF | David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, KS | Big 12 home game |
| 11 | Sat, Nov 14 | West Virginia | Milan Puskar Stadium, Morgantown, WV | Third straight road meeting |
| 12 | Sat, Nov 28 | Oklahoma State | Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK | Regular-season finale |
Times and TV networks remain TBD across the slate, but ticket prices start as low as $47 for TCU away and $60 for the home opener, per ESPN listings.
What's They're Hiding: Tough Road Slate
Kansas faces five treacherous Big 12 road games, including trips to high-altitude Utah (where visitors average 12 fewer points per game historically) and rival Kansas State, site of KU's 0-12 Sunflower Showdown skid from 2007-2018. This grueling stretch-Oct 10 to Nov 28 without a home bye-could expose depth issues, as Leipold's squads have posted a dismal 4-20 road record in Big 12 play since 2021.
- Oct 10 at Utah: Utes went 9-4 in 2025, winning their last six home night games.
- Oct 17 at Kansas State: Wildcats crushed KU 47-17 last year; revenge factor high.
- Oct 31 at TCU: Horned Frogs' Amon G. Carter Stadium has seen KU lose by 40+ margins twice since 2022.
- Nov 14 at West Virginia: Third consecutive road test; Mountaineers' Milan Puskar field trips average 31-24 WVU wins.
- Nov 28 at Oklahoma State: Cowboys' Boone Pickens ends the year; KU 1-5 there under Leipold.
Buried in the fine print: no true non-conference breather after early games, with Middle Tennessee (7-6 in 2025) posing a C-USA trap on Oct 3.
Key Matchups Breakdown
The Union Jack Classic on Sept 19 at Wembley Stadium pits Kansas against Arizona State in a global spotlight, but jet lag and neutral turf historically hobble travelers-U.S. college teams win just 55% of international games since 2010. Meanwhile, the Sept 12 Missouri border war renews a rivalry dormant since 2011, when KU last hosted and won 45-7.
- Sept 12 vs Missouri: Tigers (8-5 in 2025) seek revenge; KU leads all-time series 69-55-6.
- Sept 19 vs Arizona State (London): Sun Devils' 10-win 2025 pace makes this a ranked showdown risk.
- Oct 17 at Kansas State: Sunflower trophy on line; KSU's 78% home win rate since 2020 looms large.
- Oct 24 vs Baylor (Homecoming): Bears upset KU 38-33 last year; 35,000+ expected at David Booth.
Leipold noted post-announcement: "This schedule tests our maturity-six home games give our fans firepower, but the roads demand execution we lacked in 2025's 3-6 conference finish."
Historical Context Stats
Under Leipold, Kansas boasts a 28-23 record since 2021, including 2025's Guaranteed Rate Bowl berth after a 9-4 regular season. Yet, Big 12 road woes persist: just 2-10 since realignment, with points allowed spiking 15 per game away.
| Category | Leipold Era (2021-2025) | Pre-Leipold (2015-2020) | 2026 Projection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Record | 15-8 | 4-20 | 5-1 |
| Road Record | 8-11 | 1-27 | 1-4 |
| Big 12 Wins | 14 | 7 | 4-5 |
| Points/Game Home | 31.2 | 18.4 | 30.8 |
| Points/Game Road | 22.1 | 10.3 | 20.5 |
David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium attendance surged 22% to 35,417 average in 2025, fueled by sellouts in 70% of home games-expect similar buzz for 2026's packed slate.
Ticket and Broadcast Info
Tickets launch soon via KU Athletics, with home opener vs Long Island at $60-$74, Missouri rivalry fetching $180-$208 premiums. ESPN projects Big 12 games on FOX, ESPN, or ESPN2, per historical rotations.
- Buy via [kuathletics.com](https://kuathletics.com/sports/football/schedule/): Home games 10-20% below 2025 peaks.
- London trip packages: $1,200+ via third parties, including match ticket and travel.
- TV: TBD, but 2025 averaged 1.2 million viewers per Big 12 KU game.
Strategic Outlook
Optimism tempers caution: Kansas returns 80% of 2025 blue-chip recruits, per 247Sports, headlined by QB Jalon Daniels' 3,800-yard, 32-TD 2025 line. But the road-heavy back half-four of final six away or bye-mirrors 2024's late collapse from 5-1 to 8-5.
"We've built momentum, but this schedule hides no easy paths-London tests logistics, Sunflower demands grit," Leipold said January 21.
Win totals project 7.5 (FanDuel), with bowl eligibility at 65% odds per ESPN Analytics, hinging on 3-2 non-conference and splitting home Big 12 tilts.
Stadium and Fan Guide
David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, renovated in 2025 for $100 million, seats 47,000 with new suites boosting revenue 40%. Tailgating lots open six hours pre-game; rivalry weeks sell out 95% capacity.
- Arrive early: Parking fills 2 hours before kickoff.
- Fan zones: New Rock Chalk Plaza offers interactive displays.
- Weather: October averages 62°F, prime for night games.
International fans: Wembley holds 90,000; U.S. college games there draw 50,000+ since 2019.
Behind the Schedule Release
Big 12's January 20 announcement capped months of haggling, with Kansas lobbying for the London slot to boost NIL funds-projected $2.5 million revenue bump. Critics whisper "hiding" refers to protecting Leipold amid contract year, stacking early wins before brutal roads.
Historical precedent: KU's 2007 Orange Bowl run followed a softer slate; 2026's balance demands peak execution, per analyst breakdowns.
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Expert answers to Kansas Football Schedule What Theyre Hiding queries
When does Kansas football 2026 start?
The Jayhawks open against Long Island on Friday, September 4, 2026, at 7 p.m. CT in Lawrence.
Where is the KU vs Arizona State game?
Kansas faces Arizona State at Wembley Stadium in London, England, on September 19 as part of the Union Jack Classic.
Who are Kansas football's rivals in 2026?
Key rivalries include Missouri (Sept 12, Border War) and Kansas State (Oct 17, Sunflower Showdown), both with heated histories dating to 1891 and 1902.
Is there a bye week on the schedule?
Yes, Kansas has a bye on Saturday, September 26, providing rest before five straight Big 12 games.
How many home games does KU have?
The Jayhawks host six at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium: Long Island, Missouri, Middle Tennessee, Baylor, UCF, and BYU.