Kansas vs. LIU 2026 Preview: Must-Know Keys and Predictions

Back in 2023, the Kansas Jayhawks had their best football season since the magical Orange Bowl run a decade and a half prior. Since then, however, they have failed to live up to expectations. Back-to-back 5-win seasons have fans wondering whether the nine wins in 2023 were a fluke, or if they’ve just been the victim of some bad luck over the past two seasons.

On one hand, they have lost seven one-score games in the past two seasons, including five in 2024. If even a couple of those results are flipped, they would have been bowl-eligible both seasons. On the other hand, the nine wins in 2023 are three more than they’ve had in any other season under Lance Leipold. Either way, the fans are more than ready to see the Jayhawks once again play a game in December. That journey starts in 2026 against Long Island.

Kansas Jayhawks vs. LIU Sharks

Matchup History

This will be the first meeting between the Jayhawks and Sharks, mostly due to the fact that Long Island is an FCS team and joined the Division I ranks just seven years ago. LIU does have some history against power conference opponents, although it isn’t a good one.

The Sharks have played four games against power conference teams since joining Division I. They lost all four by an average of 47.25 points. They’ve scored just seven total points, and those were against a Baylor team that won all of two other games that season by a combined four points.

The Jayhawks have come out of the gates hot in recent memory, winning their last four season openers by an average of 36.5 points.

In other words, if history stands to repeat itself, Kansas is in a good spot to get off on the right foot.

Kansas vs. LIU 2026 Preview: Keys and Predictions

Key Players for Kansas

With the amount of turnover the Jayhawks had at basically every key position this offseason, it’s hard to circle a singular player or two as the biggest keys for the Jayhawks. Instead, I will highlight the person who I think could very easily have the biggest impact on the team in 2026.

Andy Kotelnicki is back in Lawrence as the offensive coordinator after two seasons at Penn State. In the two years prior to his departure, the Jayhawks ranked 21st and 17th in points per game. During the two years he was in State College, they ranked 52nd and 63rd in points per game.

Sometimes that drastic of a change is due to the defense improving, meaning the offense isn’t asked to score as much (i.e. the Chiefs during Patrick Mahomes’ first few seasons compared to the past few seasons). However, the Kansas defenses were actually worse in the Kotelnicki years (95.5 average rank in points allowed per game) than they were the past two years (78 average rank in points allowed per game).

If the talent is even in the same ballpark as it was when Kotelnicki left, then his ability as a coach should help flip one or two of those close games that ended up being losses the past two seasons.

Key Players for Long Island

If Long Island wants to have any chance of staying within arms reach in this game, they are going to have to slow the game down and control the ball. That means having an effective and reliable run game. Luckily for the Sharks, they return both of their leading rushers, O’Shawn Ross Jr. and quarterback Ethan Greenwood.

Ross had three games with at least 100 rushing yards in 2025, with another two games of at least 80 yards. He got 15 or more carries in six games and five of those came in the final six games after solidifying himself as the lead back. Greenwood showed massive explosiveness as a runner as well, rushing for 79 or more yards in four of his five starts at quarterback.

While he was rather inefficient as a passer, the danger he presents with his legs keeps defenses on their toes, and he could be on the move often if the Jayhawks get out to an early lead.

Keys for a Jayhawk Win in Week 1

It should be a pretty simple game plan for the Jayhawks in the season opener. Just don’t overthink it.

Kansas is more talented across the board and should dominate just about every FCS opponent, especially one east of the Mississippi River (respect to teams in the Dakotas, Montana, etc.).

In three of the four previous season-opening wins, they have had a halftime lead of at least 17 points. That number jumps to 33 if you take out last year’s game against a Fresno State team that ended up winning nine games against some respectable opponents (Hawaii, Boise State, etc.). That type of performance should be the expectation for Leipold and company as they look to finally get back to postseason football after two disappointing seasons.

Prediction

I think there is at least a chance that the Jayhawks need some time to gel, as they are rolling out essentially a completely new offensive unit in 2026. With that said, I don’t think this will be close for very long and the pure talent of the Kansas roster will take over.

Kansas 41 | Long Island 6