Whether it's fair or not, the quarterback of any team will ultimately get all the plaudits but also all the blame, as there is no other position in a team sport that demands that pressure. Now, how the top quarterbacks deal with that pressure is what separates good from great. This pressure is what newly touted starting quarterback Isaiah Marshall will be dealing with next season for the Kansas Jayhawks.
Marshall underwent a QB battle that went on for ages
With quarterback being as important as a position as there is, there are usually plans made well in advance on the following season’s outlook at that position. However, after Jalon Daniels departed the Jayhawks for a journey in the NFL, Kansas seemed comfortable enough with their quarterback room. The two contenders for the 2026 starting gig, redshirt junior Cole Ballard and redshirt sophomore Marshall.
Now we can gloss over what little stats either have thus far in their respective careers, but just know this was an intense competition that started the second spring began and didn’t end until late August, a mere eight days before the season-opener.
When speaking to the media earlier this week, head coach Lance Leipold explained what has happened to Marshall since being named starter.
“Once we've made the decision, I think, I don't want to say a sense of relief, but also another boost of confidence, and, maybe some swagger about it, that he seems to be playing and carrying himself with more confidence, which is good to see, and probably backs up the reason why, we didn't wait any longer with this decision.”
While Marshall doesn’t enter this season with 3,000 yards under his belt, he has been working for this moment since arriving at KU as a member of their 2024 high school ranks. Marshall was ranted as the nation’s 603rd-best prospect via the 247Sports Composite, the 15th-best player in Michigan and the 31st-overall quarterback.
After redshirting in 2024 and playing a bit-part role in 2025, there is a lot of pressure now on the high school quarterback who once out-dueled current Michigan star Bryce Underwood.
Yet when Marshall spoke with the media earlier this week, he broke down his mindset.
“It is good for the confidence, but, still trusting the process and still taking it one day at a time, and, you know, can't let that get to your head, just gotta keep your head down and keep going.”
Last season, the Kansas Jayhawks posted brutal offensive numbers that eventually pushed them to the 77th-best offense in the FBS at just 368.8 yards per game, and stats that included a red zone rate of 71.79%, 124th-best in the nation.
While no team should be overlooked in today’s era of college football, the Jayhawks have a great launching pad for their 2026 slate in FCS side LIU. The Sharks recently started their season with a thumping 42-21 loss at the hands of North Dakota. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT with streaming available on ESPNU.
More Kansas Football News
Add us as a preferred source on Google