Through the Phog

The Kansas football team is 2-3 on the season, and 0-2 in conference play, but in reality, Kansas has mostly played well enough to win in each of those three losses. Bust mostly isn't good enough, and it is within that word that has caused Kansas to lose those games. Against Missouri, it was turnovers on back-to-back possessions, deep in their territory, that allowed the Tigers two quick touchdowns.

Finally, the Kansas basketball team is about to start. After a long and active offseason, the Jayhawks are set to play their first of three exhibition games Friday against Pittsburg State. The official KU Athletics basketball roster page has finally been updated to include the additions of Tre White and Melvn Council Jr., who've both been practicing with the Jayhawks over the past week. It will be interesting to see how much they play against the Gorillas.

Flory Bidunga had two good years playing for the Kansas basketball team. His freshman season was a developmental one, but he improved mightily and was an integral part of the team that won 24 games. After the season, Bidunga decided to leave Kansas for the big bag of cash Louisville wanted to give him. The Sporting News, via Yahoo Sports, reported the Cardinals put together a NIL deal that would pay Bidunga approximately $5 million. The NIL era is what it is.

This Kansas basketball team was being underrated nationally during early preseason polls. In August, Gary Parrish from CBS Sports didn't even think enough of the Jayhawks to rank them in his top 26. Of course, that was before Tre White and Melvin Council Jr. won their injunctions and joined the KU roster. While it is still not clear if White and Coucil will get to play in games this season, the KU roster was better than Parrish's ranking, or lack thereof. It has solid depth at every position.

The Kansas football team takes to the road for to play Utah Saturday. It is the first true road game of the season (the Arizona State game was played at a neutral site in London). KU is 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the Big 12. Utah is 4-0 overall, and 1-0 in conference play. The Utes are ranked 12th in the latest AP poll. The most pleasant surprise about this Kansas team has been their defense. They rank first in the Big 12, allowing just 244.8 yards per game. That places them eighth nationally.

Although the roster on the Kansas basketball page hasn't been updated yet, Tre White and Melvin Council Jr. are back at KU and able to practice with the team. White rejoined the team last week, and head coach Bill Self made the Council announcment on Sunday. The Jayhawks roster now has its full allotment of of 15 players, plus grandfathered walk-on Will Thengvall. This may be the deepest roster in Kansas basketball history. It also sets up one of Bill Self's toughest assignments in his career.

The Kansas football team was expected to win Saturday against Middle Tennessee, but no one could have predicted just how much the Jayhawks would dominate the game. KU needed a game like this to gain confidence and momentum as they head into Big 12 play for the rest of the season. While it was great to see the Jayhawks play so well, Middle Tennessee clearly isn't a good team. Still, Kansas did what needed to be done, and there was not a letup.

Former Kansas basketball player Tre White has received an injunction from the courts to return to college to play basketball. This does not mean he ever will. In this confusing time in college sports, spurred by the NCAA's incompetence, teams and players are left in limbo as to whether the players will be eligible to play. The NCAA is doubling down on their mistake by trying to block athletes who should have been included in their five-in-five rule. Now, KU and White are in limbo.

There hasn't been much buzz around the Kansas football team as far as players who have gained another year of eligibility as there has with the Kansas basketball team. That doesn't mean KU hasn't found some football players who've recently gained another year and might help out this season. On Monday, head coach Lance Peipold announced that Kansas had added two of these players, one on each side of the ball, according to Henry Greenstein for KUSports.com (subscription required).

The KU football team has some stiff tests in front of them ByConnor Mardian|Sep 30, 2026, 6:41 PM EDT Kansas Jayhawks head coach Lance Leipold talks with Missouri Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz before the game inside David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium on Sept. 11, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect There is no way two ways about it, the Kansas football program has to get in shape quickly if they want to reach a third bowl game in six years under head coach Lance Leipold.