While a lot of the attention of Kansas fans has fully turned from football to basketball, Lance Leipold and his team aren't done on the field just yet. In fact, the Jayhawks will welcome UCF this weekend, and right now, the biggest question surrounding the game for Kansas is: who will play quarterback?
Starter Isaiah Marshall missed the game against TCU in what was another implosion for the Jayhawks, and there was hope that he would return against the Knights. There is still hope for that, but now Kansas has bigger problems at the position.
After initially being listed as questionable on the injury report, Isaiah Marshall is officially probable after the Thursday update. Third-string quarterback Chase Jenkins, who could find himself as the backup this weekend, is also probable with an undisclosed injury.
Kansas quarterbacks Isaiah Marshall and Chase Jenkins are now listed as probable for Saturday’s game against UCF👀
— Jayhawks on KCSN (@jayhawks_kcsn) November 6, 2026
Does this update provide any more hope for a win for Kansas? pic.twitter.com/nUz9XJI3WP
Cole Ballard, who got the starter in place of Marshall against TCU, is still questionable. If Marshall is good to go, he will definitely get the start, but depending on Ballard availability will decide who is the backup in case Marshall goes down on Saturday.
Kansas is the only team dealing with quarterback injuries in this game
The Jayhawks have been lucky so far this season with quarterback injuries up until the TCU game, when Marshall was out. It looks like he is trending toward missing only that game and should be back for the matchup against UCF, which is another team dealing with QB injuries.
The Knights dubbed James Madison transfer Alonzo Barnett III as the starter at the start of the season over FIU transfer Keyone Jenkins. Barnett went out with a hamstring injury against Pitt in the second game of the season, giving the job to Jenkins until he returned.
Well, Jenkins proved why he was once a starter at FIU, stepping in and playing well for the injured Barnett. Jenkins was the one who led the Knights to the massive upset win over No. 2 BYU, even though Barnett was available for the game. However, just a week later, Jenkins struggled against a tough Baylor defense and ultimately went down with a leg injury.
Barnett entered the game for the Knights in the second half, testing out that hamstring for the first time since the injury early in the season. While UCF ultimately fell to the Bears, Barnett was able to get a feel for playing again on the injured hamstring, and he didn't look bad.
Both Barnett and Jenkins were also on the injury report for the game against the Jayhawks, and the Thursday update has Barnett listed as probable and Jenkins officially listed as out, giving Kansas a better idea of who it will face on Saturday.
Even with the injured hamstring, Kansas will have to work to keep Barnett in the pocket. The legs of the James Madison transfer are a big threat, along with his arm, to get the ball downfield. This won't be an easy matchup for either team, especially with two dual-threat quarterbacks most likely getting the start.
Add us as a preferred source on Google