Kansas opens the 2026 season in the friendly confines at the base of Mt. Oread to take on the Sharks of Long Island.
This is the first-ever meeting between Kansas and Long Island.
The Numbers
Long Island: 0-1, 0-0 NEC
Kansas: 0-0, 0-0 B12
Line: KU -41.5 (Yup you read that right)
How to Watch
Friday, Sep 4, 7:00 PM CDT
Lawrence, KS: Kansas World War I Memorial Stadium (32,000)
TV: ESPNU
– Mark Neely (Play-by-Play), Jeff Woody (Analyst)
Online Streaming: https://www.espn.com/watch (subscription required)
Radio:
Jayhawk Radio Network (no idea if these stations are still accurate as I can’t find an updated list from KU anywhere)
– Brian Hanni (Play-by-Play), David Lawrence (Analyst), Brandon McAnderson (Sideline)
– Sirius XM 101 / 237
– Online Radio Stream: kuathletics.leanplayer.com
Fun Facts
Kansas is looking to start a football season off with a win for the sixth-straight year. The last stretch that saw KU win 6-straight season openers was 2004-09.
With a win, Leipold would become just the second KU football coach ever to win his first six season openers (A.R. Kennedy, 1904-10).
Lance Leipold has won 25 games in his tenure at Kansas. The previous five KU coaches combined to win 20 games.
Kansas fans should welcome the return of OC Andy Kotelnicki, who has previously led two of KU’s three most statistically prolific offenses (2022, 2023).
