The Kansas Jayhawks will begin their season on Saturday at the remodeled Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, having played their home games at Arrowhead Stadium last year.
Their opponents are the Fresno State Bulldogs, a Mountain West squad headed to the new-look Pac-12 in 2026. They are here with a new coach and a conservative approach, as well as a quarterback with some pedigree.
This game gets underway at 6:30 PM ET.
Kansas is substantial favorite at home in this game
In the NCAA football betting odds posted on this game at BetOnline, the Jayhawks are double-digit favorites:
Kansas Jayhawks -12.5
Fresno State Bulldogs +12.5
Over 50.5 Points -110
Under 50.5 Points -110
Kansas missed a bowl, but finished well and brings back the QB
Could the patience soon run out for Lance Leipold in Lawrence? A 5-7 record last season did not represent progress, and 38 seniors departed the program.
A few things should be noted. One is that to get to 7-5, the Jayhawks had to win three of their last four games, and those three wins came against nationally-ranked Iowa State, BYU and Colorado. What’s more, there were four losses by four points or less. So there is something to be encouraged about.
It is true that star running back Devin Neal has left the building. But sixth-year quarterback Jalon Daniels returns, and supplies a dual threat (with 447 rushing yards) that will help Kansas compete.
Fresno State moves forward with FCS champion coach
Matt Entz is the first-year coach at Fresno State and he comes in with two FCS national titles at North Dakota State under his belt.
His QB is EJ Warner, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, and he is one player who has taken full advantage of the transfer portal, having previously played at Temple and Rice. He’s not necessarily electric as a passer, so the Bulldogs will not be “The Greatest Show on Turf.”
What Entz wants to do is go big with the running game, and he might have to because he’s short on receivers. Bryson Donelson (6 ypc last year) will be joined by talented Arizona transfer Rayshon Luke as well as Elijah Gilliam, last year’s rushing leader, who had put his name in the portal but ultimately returned. And this is going to be a senior-laden offensive line unit, fortified by transfers from Power 4 schools.
Unlike Kansas, Fresno got to the postseason in 2024, going to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise, where they lost in overtime against Northern Illinois.
Fresno State at Kansas – Who’ll get the cover?
Leipold is contractually in place until 2029. And you know, he’s nothing to laugh at as a coach. He was positively legendary at the Division III level, going 109-6 (that’s no typo) with six national titles at Wisconsin-Whitewater. Then he turned the Buffalo program around, even getting them into the Top 25 before being hired at Kansas. In the 2023 season, he got the Jayhawks into the national rankings, which is MUCH better than they ever did with bigger-name coaches like Les Miles and Charlie Weis.
He ought to get something out of the backfield this season with a combo of Leshon Williams and Daniel Hishaw. He did well in the transfer portal. And he could have as many as thirteen or fourteen seniors starting for him.
On top of that, this team should be at an elevated emotional level, coming back to a newly-remodeled Memorial Stadium.
That’s a lot to overcome
But Entz didn’t come to Fresno to jerk around. Aside from his titles at NDSU, he was assistant head coach at USC, and has a strong defensive background. There’s nothing particularly wrong with the “back-to-basics” approach. In fact, it’s essential, as Warner has a 9-22 record as a collegiate starter.
I want to give Entz the benefit of the doubt before laying double digits against him. If his running attack clicks, it could serve to limit the Jayhawks’ possessions. And KU will have to do better at defending the run than it has in its recent history to stop that from happening.
THE PLAY: FRESNO STATE +12.5
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