The Kansas football team is just two weeks away from their first game on Friday, September 4, against Long Island, and head coach Lance Leipold isn't any closer to naming a starting quarterback.
It is very concerning that none of the three probable candidates haven't separated themselves from the competition yet. Jason Kinander from WIBW shared a quote on X from Leipold's press conference Thursday, and it is not encouraging. “It could be Game 1. It could be all 12-plus that both guys will play.”
Kansas head coach Lance Leipold made it clear: The Jayhawks are not ready to name a starting quarterback.
— Jason Kinander (@WIBWJason) August 20, 2026
"It could be Game 1, it could be all 12-plus that both guys will play," Leipold said today @WIBWsports pic.twitter.com/u5uyWpFq5x
There is an old football adage that basically pushes the thought that if you can't decide between two quarterbacks, it means you don't have one. For a team searching for a new identity, the idea of two quarterbacks splitting time doesn't instill much confidence.
Who are the candidates at quarterback for Kansas football in 2026
The chief candidates for the starting quarterback role are redshirt junior Cole Ballard and redshirt sophomore Isaiah Marshall. Redshirt junior transfer from Rice, Chase Jenkins, will serve as a backup behind the two frontrunners.
Ballard is the more experienced of the two primary options. He's seen action in 15 games, and he's completed 35 of his 64 attempts. That is a completion percentage of just 54.7, and that is not particularly good. He's also thrown four interceptions and just three touchdowns.
While those numbers aren't very exciting, they were earned from a backup role. Game plans weren't written around him in most cases. It would be different now if he were to win the starting job, as those game plans would be developed to enhance his strengths.
Marshall is undoubtedly the more exciting of the two quarterbacks, but he had very limited playing time this year. He was used almost exclusively in special packages developed for him and one specific skill set. Usually, those plays involved an RPO aspect with him using his speed and athleticism to run the ball.
He excelled in that role, gaining 160 yards on just 15 carries, an average of 10.7 yards per carry. He threw the ball just three times, completing all of them for a total of 28 yards.
On the surface, Ballard seems the safer, steadier option, while Marshall seems like the more exciting, versatile option. The former, however, is a better runner than many may think. He's gained 209 yards with his legs, on 40 carries, for an excellent 5.2 average. Over the last two seasons, he has 134 yards on 20 carries, for 6.7 yards per carry.
Ballard may not be as explosive as Marshall running the ball, but he's no slouch either. So it seems that it may come down to which quarterback is better at throwing the ball accurately and making the best decisions.
If one or the other starts, and there are special packages for the other that take advantage of special skills, that is one thing. If Kansas is contemplating rotating quarterbacks by series or quarter, that doesn't seem like a great idea. It never works. Neither player will be able to get into the flow of the game, and they just won't be comfortable.
If who plays is decided on opposition matchups, or who might have a hot hand on any given day, those aren't ideal scenarios either. The whole situation could get awkward and uncomfortable for the players.
Kansas football is trying to reach a level of sustained success, according to athletic director Travis Goff. That is great! That should be the goal. Being undecided on your starting quarterback probably isn't the way to get there.
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