While Kansas football needs to play at a high level in its season opener against Long Island , there will likely come a point when the second and third-stringers enter once the score gets out of reach. This will allow the backups to audition for bigger roles and earn additional playing time in more meaningful games.
Some Jayhawks
have a lot to gain in this matchup, but others have more to lose. A sloppy effort against an FCS-level opponent could reduce someone's opportunities in more crucial contests.
This trio of KU players needs to play well in the opener or risk seeing their reps decrease significantly.
Alexander missed most of the spring with a knee injury and was limited at the start of fall camp. The redshirt sophomore from Illinois is slowly easing back into his workload.
With Jalen Todd locked into the CB1 role, Alexander is competing with transfers Roman Pearson and Eli Cannon for the other boundary spot. Both newcomers excelled at their most recent stops and are hungry for a chance to take his job.
Although Alexander showed plenty of promise in his first year as a full-time starter, there were also instances where he was beaten off the line and struggled to keep up with better receivers across the Big 12. There is no doubt that his starting job will be hanging by a thread if he starts the campaign with a poor outing.
A transfer from Middle Tennessee State, the Jayhawks have high hopes for Cox to develop into a strong receiver
on the outside opposite Nikk McMillan. However, he'll need to have a strong debut with the team.
Waiting in the shadows behind Cox is fourth-year wideout Keaton Kubecka, who finally received an extended opportunity last season. He brought in 17 catches for 157 yards and a touchdown, getting better with every passing game.
Kansas redshirt junior wide receiver Keaton Kubecka (3) takes his helmet off between periods during fall camp practice on Aug. 4, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Considering his familiarity with KU's offensive scheme and experience, Cox's role on early downs is far from secure. He is known for his size at 6-foot-3 and jump-ball ability, but he'll need to perform well in the opener to become a consistent force in KU's receiving corps.
Is the pressure on Cole Ballard or Marshall to play well in the season opener? In our opinion, it's Marshall, who will probably be the QB2 entering the campaign despite the calls from KU fans to give him an opportunity to start.
Ballard was the second quarterback on the depth chart behind Jalon Daniels all of last season and has experience starting under Leipold . He started two games in 2023 when Jason Bean went down with an injury and has improved considerably since then.
While Leipold continues to remain noncommittal about his Week 1 starter, all signs point toward Ballard being the favorite. Assuming Marshall plays one half or a little less once the game gets out of hand, he'll need to execute his throws and reads flawlessly to have a shot at getting the ball in Week 2 against Missouri .
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This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/kansas as Three Kansas Football Players With the Most to Lose in Season Opener vs LIU .
