<![CDATA[Previewing the 2026 season]]>Well it’s now August friends and that means fall camp in Lawrence is currently underway. A QB competition is in full swing as this years roster will feature a lot of new faces with only 11 returning starters. This season figures to be a rough rebuilding year by pretty much all accounts. I think I’d be fine with that if we had finished games and made it to the post season the last two. I get a feeling coach LL’s seat will be very hot by the time December rolls around.

Offense:
As stated above the QB spot has yet to be decided between Ballard and Marshall. I look for Ballard to win the job and Marshall to have several packages that he is on the field. The two biggest stories of the offense during the offseason was the return of Coach K and all of his pre-snap madness. Then addition of Dylan Edwards at the running back position. No doubt in my mind Edwards is an NFL caliber RB as long as he can keep his head in the game. WR group looks very pedestrian at best basically returning one guy in Cam Pickett. The line has a few returning but is a lot of new faces. I look for this group to struggle, the only hope is Edwards turning into Reggie Bush. I don’t see this group averaging more than 18 ppg.

Defense:
The defense I think has a fair chance to make a stride forward from last season which was statistically the worst defense under coach LL outside of year one. One of the big stories on this side of the ball has been the return of leading tackler Trey Lathan after he had initially entered the portal following last season. With him staying in Lawrence we have 6 of our top 8 tacklers back in the fold. I think we have a good group of linebackers and some good young talent at DB. The question lies on the defensive line a spot where we lost all 4 starters from one year ago and we hit the portal in those positions. So it will be a guess til we
Get on the field.

Special teams:
New kickers all around this season after Marjan was automatic most of last season. Just hoping they all do their jobs and don’t cost the team any games.

Outlook and predictions:
This is the least excited I’ve been going into a football season since David Beaty roamed the sidelines. This will be a very inexperienced team at several key positions. Lots of question marks at the LOS on both sides. The last 2 years we were only able to win 5 games with NFL talent on both sides so that doesn’t bode well for this season. The only way I see us being competitive is to run the ball successfully and milk the clock as much as we can. The schedule is very tough and having one bye week after the trip to London meaning we have 8 straight game weeks doesn’t look good on paper. I also hate losing a home game for it and it seems most of the teams that play the over seas game are completely burnt out by mid season. I think Mizzou destroys us by 40 plus in our new stadium. I’m Officially predicting 2 wins this season, even wearing blue and red glasses I don’t think I could see more than 4 if the ball bounces our way. I think LL seat is on fire by the end of the season and he is fired after 4 straight losing seasons in 2027. But we will have millions invested and a new stadium to be 1/4 full to watch us go straight back to where we started at before him.

]]>https://kubuckets.com/topic/172/previewing-the-2026-seasonRSS for NodeTue, 06 Oct 2026 15:14:47 GMTFri, 07 Aug 2026 18:56:49 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Previewing the 2026 season on Thu, 10 Sep 2026 15:55:59 GMT]]>Just win, baby! And they will come.

]]>https://kubuckets.com/post/12012https://kubuckets.com/post/12012Thu, 10 Sep 2026 15:55:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Previewing the 2026 season on Thu, 10 Sep 2026 14:25:39 GMT]]>A little disappointed sounds like the game tomorrow is still far from a sell out. Sad when our stadium only holds 32k folks at the moment. Just not a good look at all on our part. I personally hate the fact that it is a Friday night game. I would love to be there but I can’t do to my son’s football schedule. I like the game being played at the campus’s and not in KC but this should be a Saturday night prime time game not a Friday game. Fridays eliminate the chance for so many fans with HS football in full swing. I know the Friday is prob because they had to if they wanted to get on the national network but it’s just silly to me. Saturday night I would’ve loaded up my boys and went.

]]>https://kubuckets.com/post/12011https://kubuckets.com/post/12011Thu, 10 Sep 2026 14:25:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Previewing the 2026 season on Mon, 07 Sep 2026 03:43:11 GMT]]>@BShark said in Previewing the 2026 season:

@Kcmatt7 yeah the throw early-ish that hit the LIU player in the hands is almost always a pick.

Biggest concern: OL

Most excited about: DL

I agree very concerned Marshall will be running for his life for much of the rest of the season. He also for sure got away with a few passes that are going the other way in the B12. But there will be growing pains with him. I hope we beat those goons Friday I just don’t think it’s very realistic.

]]>https://kubuckets.com/post/12000https://kubuckets.com/post/12000Mon, 07 Sep 2026 03:43:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Previewing the 2026 season on Mon, 07 Sep 2026 03:39:49 GMT]]>@Texas-Hawk-10 @jojoandme i get they brought in 19 North Texas guys but did y’all see there schedule from last year? KU prob easily wins 10 games with schedule. Not mention not all of guys were starters at UNT. I just laugh because just about every preseason prediction machine had them two or three spots high than KU. Obviously lots of football to be played but I don’t see them making a bowl.

]]>https://kubuckets.com/post/11999https://kubuckets.com/post/11999Mon, 07 Sep 2026 03:39:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Previewing the 2026 season on Sun, 06 Sep 2026 19:21:55 GMT]]>@Kcmatt7 yeah the throw early-ish that hit the LIU player in the hands is almost always a pick.

Biggest concern: OL

Most excited about: DL

]]>https://kubuckets.com/post/11996https://kubuckets.com/post/11996Sun, 06 Sep 2026 19:21:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Previewing the 2026 season on Sun, 06 Sep 2026 16:53:27 GMT]]>I thought they kept playcalling purposely bland to keep things hidden for next week.

I still hate the quick no huddle near the goal line when you don’t do that anywhere else on the field. Got a false start on that, and we’ll do the same thing 5+ times this year guaranteed.

Marshall was the right guy to start, but there were balls thrown that are turnovers against real opponents. He will have to be better next week.

Edward’s looks good in this offense and will break a few this year.

Defense was stout, but not saying much considering the opponent.

I expect us to do much of what we did last year against Mizzou. Play close enough all game, but just get warm down by the end. Need the offense to either score almost every drive or have a lot of sustained drives that eat up clock.

Looked like a 5+ win team to me though.

]]>https://kubuckets.com/post/11994https://kubuckets.com/post/11994Sun, 06 Sep 2026 16:53:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Previewing the 2026 season on Sun, 06 Sep 2026 16:45:35 GMT]]>@kjayhawks2.0 said in Previewing the 2026 season:

Wahoo 6-0 silly to go for two but okay

They did it to waste Mizzou time to have to prepare for it. Nothing more than that.

]]>https://kubuckets.com/post/11993https://kubuckets.com/post/11993Sun, 06 Sep 2026 16:45:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Previewing the 2026 season on Sun, 06 Sep 2026 14:29:03 GMT]]>@kjayhawks2.0 said in Previewing the 2026 season:

Okie lite 😳 not sure why everyone was so high on a team that won one game last season.

Most of OSU's roster this year is a North Texas team that finished 12-2 last year, made the AAC championship game, and finished ranked.

]]>https://kubuckets.com/post/11992https://kubuckets.com/post/11992Sun, 06 Sep 2026 14:29:03 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Previewing the 2026 season on Sun, 06 Sep 2026 13:54:35 GMT]]>@kjayhawks2.0 Because they brought in a very successful coach . . . and his highly rated QB . . . and a bunch of players from North Texas.

]]>https://kubuckets.com/post/11991https://kubuckets.com/post/11991Sun, 06 Sep 2026 13:54:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Previewing the 2026 season on Sat, 05 Sep 2026 23:27:28 GMT]]>Okie lite 😳 not sure why everyone was so high on a team that won one game last season.

]]>https://kubuckets.com/post/11987https://kubuckets.com/post/11987Sat, 05 Sep 2026 23:27:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Previewing the 2026 season on Sat, 05 Sep 2026 18:45:35 GMT]]>@JoJoAndMe said in Previewing the 2026 season:

@rockchalkjayhawk A little late for that!

😞

]]>https://kubuckets.com/post/11986https://kubuckets.com/post/11986Sat, 05 Sep 2026 18:45:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Previewing the 2026 season on Sat, 05 Sep 2026 18:41:00 GMT]]>@rockchalkjayhawk A little late for that!

]]>https://kubuckets.com/post/11985https://kubuckets.com/post/11985Sat, 05 Sep 2026 18:41:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Previewing the 2026 season on Sat, 05 Sep 2026 18:16:43 GMT]]>Marshall can run and he can throw the deep ball. Time will tell if he can do other stuff

]]>https://kubuckets.com/post/11984https://kubuckets.com/post/11984Sat, 05 Sep 2026 18:16:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Previewing the 2026 season on Sat, 05 Sep 2026 16:29:28 GMT]]>Started slow and finished strong as expected yesterday. Nice to see a KU team be physical and dominate.

I don’t know the team well enough yet to pick out many guys by name, but a few stood out for sure. That quick defensive lineman and the WR who had a few very nice catches.

Marshall’s arm seemed a bit better than I expected. He does seem to throw a high ball though.

Also liked that we use multiple RBs. Keep em fresh and healthy!

And the stadium looked great! Minor complaint: they showed some renderings during the game of future construction. I don’t like the way the upcoming hotels, buildings and whatnot would tower over the stadium. Not a good look. Let the stadium shine unobstructed.

]]>https://kubuckets.com/post/11983https://kubuckets.com/post/11983Sat, 05 Sep 2026 16:29:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Previewing the 2026 season on Sat, 05 Sep 2026 15:57:51 GMT]]>@nuleafjhawk I’d be very happy with that outcome but still standing behind my two win prediction til I see other wise. Fizzou just seems to be much much better up front on both sides than us. That’s where the games are usually won.

]]>https://kubuckets.com/post/11982https://kubuckets.com/post/11982Sat, 05 Sep 2026 15:57:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Previewing the 2026 season on Sat, 05 Sep 2026 13:07:09 GMT]]>@kjayhawks2.0 Muck Fizzou

Good guys 38
Pond scum 20

]]>https://kubuckets.com/post/11981https://kubuckets.com/post/11981Sat, 05 Sep 2026 13:07:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Previewing the 2026 season on Sat, 05 Sep 2026 04:08:38 GMT]]>Overall I’m pleased with the way the game went, definitely worried about getting destroyed by Mizzou in a week. I thought Marshall settled in pretty good but we know he will have growing pains no question. I think the defense rallied to the ball well and as mentioned above Harris is gonna be a guy other teams will have to account for. I am concerned about the lack of speed on the defensive side and how our guards and center go beat pretty consistently. Marshall maybe running for his life much of the rest of the season.

]]>https://kubuckets.com/post/11980https://kubuckets.com/post/11980Sat, 05 Sep 2026 04:08:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Previewing the 2026 season on Sat, 05 Sep 2026 02:09:50 GMT]]>My criticism worked again! It always lights a fire under their butts.

]]>https://kubuckets.com/post/11979https://kubuckets.com/post/11979Sat, 05 Sep 2026 02:09:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Previewing the 2026 season on Sat, 05 Sep 2026 01:39:41 GMT]]>Harris is going to be a problem for a lot of opposing offenses.

]]>https://kubuckets.com/post/11978https://kubuckets.com/post/11978Sat, 05 Sep 2026 01:39:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Previewing the 2026 season on Sat, 05 Sep 2026 01:04:35 GMT]]>We need better conditioning

]]>https://kubuckets.com/post/11977https://kubuckets.com/post/11977Sat, 05 Sep 2026 01:04:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Previewing the 2026 season on Sat, 05 Sep 2026 00:58:06 GMT]]>@nuleafjhawk defense has been okay but we simply can’t not run up the middle against these guys. Opened up a bit on the outside but our center and guards are getting beat nearly every play.

]]>https://kubuckets.com/post/11976https://kubuckets.com/post/11976Sat, 05 Sep 2026 00:58:06 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Previewing the 2026 season on Sat, 05 Sep 2026 00:34:58 GMT]]>From what I've seen so far - not impressed

]]>https://kubuckets.com/post/11975https://kubuckets.com/post/11975Sat, 05 Sep 2026 00:34:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Previewing the 2026 season on Sat, 05 Sep 2026 00:33:53 GMT]]>Wahoo 6-0 silly to go for two but okay

]]>https://kubuckets.com/post/11974https://kubuckets.com/post/11974Sat, 05 Sep 2026 00:33:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Previewing the 2026 season on Sat, 05 Sep 2026 00:26:42 GMT]]>Not getting go vibes getting dominated at the line of scrimmage on offense by mid pack FCS team 😳

]]>https://kubuckets.com/post/11973https://kubuckets.com/post/11973Sat, 05 Sep 2026 00:26:42 GMT