Three things you need to know about BYU’s football opponent, Kansas

SALT LAKE CITY– For the first time since 1992, BYU and Kansas will meet this fall. This is the first regular season meeting between these two programs.

The only time these two programs have met before was on Christmas Day ’92 in the Aloha Bowl. Kansas won that game when BYU cut Tom Young as the starting QB.

This matchup is not only historic as it marks the first meeting in the regular season, but it also marks BYU’s first conference game as a member of the Big 12.

Both teams have a chance to light up the scoreboard. It should be an entertaining game in Lawrence.

RELATED: 2023 BYU Football Schedule

BYU in Kansas

Date: Saturday 23 September 2023

Venue: David Booth Memorial Stadium

Start: TBA

TV: TBA

Radio: KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM, 1160 AM)

2023 @BYUfootball Schedule

Year 1 year @Big12Conference #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/QObb8pgCDR

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) 31 January 2023

Kansas football is on the rise

After years of suffering as the laughingstock of the Big 12 Conference and college football, Kansas is currently on the rise. Last season, the Jayhawks finished with a 6-7 record. But they jumped out to a 5-0 start, earned a national ranking and hosted College Gameday.

They found a way to get their sixth win of the regular season, earning them a spot in the Liberty Bowl against Arkansas.

Head coach Lance Leipold is the catalyst for the rise of Jayhawks football. He signed a contract extension that will keep him in Lawrence through the 2029 season.

With a 12-team playoff going forward and anyone’s guess about the best teams in the new Big 12, if Kansas football continues to rise, it could be a really good thing for the conference.

Best QB and RB in the Big 12?

The best quarterback and best running back might live in Kansas. That’s a big reason why many believe last year’s postseason bid isn’t a one-year fluke for the Jayhawks.

At quarterback, Jalon Daniels once again leads the way. Last season, midway through the season, he suffered a shoulder injury, but ended up returning at the end of the year. He was limited in spring practice, but continues to shine as the face of the Jayhawks’ program.

After that, Kansas returns to Devin Neal, who has earned preseason first-team All-Big 12 honors from several publications heading into the year. He ran for 1,090 yards last season.

The secondary leads a defense that struggled last year

Kansas was 124th in points allowed to opponents at 35.6. They will look to improve that number this season with a talented secondary that includes Cobee Bryant at cornerback and Kenny Logan at safety.

Logan decided to take advantage of his COVID season and return to Lawrence for another year.

Kansas’ big question on defense will be in the trenches, as the secondary and even the linebackers should be stout.

Mitch Harper is KSLsports.com’s BYU Insider and host of the Cougar Tracks podcast (ROOM) and Cougar Sports Saturday (starting at 123 on Saturday) on KSL Newsradio. Follow the Mitchs’ coverage of BYU’s move to the Big 12 Conference on Twitter:@Mitch_Harper.

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