The Kansas Jayhawks will begin their 134th football season Saturday evening in a nationally televised matchup against Fresno State, marking the grand reopening of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. The 5:30 p.m. CT kickoff on FOX is the first game held at the renovated venue, which was updated as part of the university’s Gateway District project with $450 million in improvements.
Renovations to the stadium include a rebuilt west and north seating bowl, expanded concourses, upgraded accessibility, and new premium seating options. Head coach Lance Leipold described the excitement around the opening as similar to a homecoming game. Leipold said, “We’re excited to be back in Lawrence (…) But our focus is on winning the football game.”
The Jayhawks look to improve from last year’s 5–7 record and return key players such as quarterback Jalon Daniels. Daniels passed for 2,454 yards and 14 touchdowns last season and added six more scores on the ground. After missing significant time in 2023 due to injury, he is healthy for this season and leads an offense now coordinated by Jim Zebrowski.
Daniel Hishaw Jr. becomes the featured running back following Devin Neal’s departure for the NFL. Hishaw rushed for 376 yards and three touchdowns last season. Leipold commented on Hishaw: “He’s got a great combination of speed and power (…) We’re confident in him.”
Center Bryce Foster, who transferred from Texas A&M after starting all games in 2024, brings leadership to an offensive line introducing several new starters. On defense, edge rusher Dean Miller returns after recording seven and one-half sacks and twelve tackles for loss last year; he joins Daniels and Foster as team captains.
Fresno State enters with senior quarterback E.J. Warner, who transferred from Rice after winning a three-way competition during camp. Warner has surpassed 8,800 passing yards and fifty-eight touchdowns during his college career but has struggled with interceptions over previous seasons in the AAC. Warner is also noted as the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee Kurt Warner.
Kansas defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald discussed plans against Warner: “He’s a smart player, but we have to make him uncomfortable (…) Turnovers will be key.” New defensive additions through transfer include linebacker Bangally Kamara from South Carolina and cornerback DJ Graham II from Utah State.
This marks both the first meeting between Kansas and Fresno State as well as Kansas’ earliest season opener in program history. With expectations high among fans and program supporters, Daniels stated: “It’s a new chapter (…) We’re ready to turn the page.”
