By The Associated Press
No. 22 Kansas opens the season Thursday night against FCS school Lindenwood at Children's Mercy Park, the home of MLS club Sporting Kansas City. The Jayhawks are playing their nonconference games in Kansas City, Kansas, while construction is ongoing for their on-campus stadium. They are coming off a second consecutive bowl game for only the third time in school history, and return quarterback Jalon Daniels, their top four wide receivers and star running back Devin Neal. Lindenwood went 3-7 last year in its first full season at the FCS level.
Lindenwood at No. 22 Kansas in Kansas City, Kan., Thursday, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
BetMGM College Football Odds: No line.
Series record: First meeting.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
No. 22 Kansas will try to get off to a fast start against Lindenwood, a school from St. Charles, Missouri, that became a full member of the Championship Subdivision last year. The Jayhawks are coming off a nine-win season highlighted by a win over UNLV in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. They return quarterback Jalon Daniels, who missed most of last season with a back injury, along with most of their top wide receivers and running back Devin Neal, who is coming off his second 1,000-yard plus season. Lindenwood went 3-7 and finished last in the Ohio Valley last season. The game will be played at Children's Mercy Park, the home of MLS club Sporting Kansas City, due to the construction of the Jayhawks' on-campus stadium.
KEY MATCHUP
Jalon Daniels against the Lindenwood defense. Daniels has been spectacular when he's been healthy, but that was only for three games last season. He completed nearly 75% of his throws for 705 yards with five touchdowns and only one interception in those games. He has the benefit of experienced WRs in Quentin Skinner, Lawrence Arnold, Trevor Wilson and Luke Grimm.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Lindenwood: DL Kobe McClendon will be a good test for the Jayhawks' new and unsettled offensive line. He had 32 tackles last season, including 9 1/2 for loss, while his 6 1/2 sacks led the team. DB Kanyon Walker was the lone Racer to land on one of the preseason all-Missouri Valley teams. He transferred last season from Tulane and finished fourth on the team with 54 tackles.
Kansas: Cobee Bryant and Mello Dotson form one of the best cornerback tandems in college football. They have combined to make 64 starts with 16 interceptions, the most of any duo in the country. Eight of those came last season.
FACTS & FIGURES