Tag: Kansas

Chiefs crossing border to Kansas for new stadium

Posted on | by Field Level Media

After more than five decades at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., the Chiefs are expected to cross the border to play at a proposed new stadium in Kansas.

Legislation was approved by lawmakers in Kansas on Monday that paves the way for a stadium construction project and joint proposal with the Chiefs to leave their home since 1963 in Missouri and head 20 minutes west to Kansas City, Kan., near the site of Kansas Speedway.

The Kansas City Royals could follow in the footsteps of the Chiefs’ franchise and leave what is essentially a joint compound in Missouri surrounded by a vast parking space. A move was thought to be the most likely resolution for both pro sports franchises because voters in Jackson County decided against retaining a sales tax of 3/8 cents to pay for renovations at the Chiefs’ longtime home, Arrowhead Stadium. The same measure in April 2024 would have partially funded a new ballpark for the Royals.

Part of the new plan for the Chiefs in Kansas abandons the open-air, outdoor setting recognized as one of the strongest home-field advantages in the NFL because of the noise level achieved by the crowds in the 76,000-seat stadium.

At the new construction site the plan calls for the Chiefs to utilize a state-of-the-art stadium that can be used year-round and draw major sporting events, such as the Final Four and college football conference championship games.

According to reports, the Chiefs are expected to confirm their move to Kansas as soon as Monday afternoon.

Kansas governor Laura Kelly listed Chiefs owner Clark Hunt on the meeting schedule touting a “special announcement” on Monday.

Several TV and radio stations in Kansas City, Mo., reported Phil LeVota, elected County Executive of Jackson County, sent letters to Hunt and team president Mark Donovan hoping to persuade a last-minute change of heart to keep the franchise in Missouri.

–Field Level Media

Key interception fuels No. 13 Utah in win over Kansas

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Utah quarterback Devon Dampier passed for three touchdowns, Elijah Davis notched a crucial pick-6 in the fourth quarter and the No. 13 Utes ended their Big 12 campaign with a 31-21 victory over the Kansas Jayhawks on Friday in Lawrence, Kan.

With Utah clinging to a 17-14 lead with about eight minutes to go, Davis picked off Jalon Daniels and dashed 97 yards for his second TD interception return for the Utes (10-2, 7-2).

Dampier was 15 of 25 for 253 yards and two TD passes to receiver Larry Simmons, who tallied 97 yards on three catches.

Wayshawn Parker gained 95 yards on 12 carries, while Dampier added 50 on 11 tries.

Utah will need a trio of losses by No. 20 Arizona State, No. 5 Texas Tech and No. 11 BYU to make an appearance in the Big 12 title game.

The Utes earned their eighth 10-win season under coach Kyle Whittingham since he took over the program in 2005.

The Jayhawks (5-7, 3-6) lost their third consecutive game in a bid to become bowl eligible and fell for the fifth time in the final six contests.

Daniels went 10 of 27 for 187 yards with a TD and three interceptions. Daniel Hishaw Jr. ran for 107 yards on 22 carries with a score. Leshon Williams produced 104 yards on 15 carries, while Emmanuel Henderson Jr. gained 113 yards on three receptions.

Kansas outgained Utah 477-414 in total yards, including 290 on the ground.

A 10 1/2-point favorite in the teams’ first meeting since 1996, the Utes scored first when Dillon Curtis drilled a 34-yard field goal at 8:39 in the first quarter, but Hishaw finished a 73-yard drive with a seven-yard run at 12:03 of the second for a 7-3 lead.

On the following series on third-and-3, Dampier faked a keeper, fired a strike over the middle and sent JJ Buchanan on a 58-yard score less than three minutes later for a 10-7 Utah lead.

In the third, Daniels’ third-down sneak accounted for Kansas’ second lead 14-10 at the 8:15 mark.

Following Jackson Bennee’s interception of Daniels in the end zone, Dampier completed a four-play, 80-yard drive with a 28-yard scoring strike to Simmons with 12:26 to play for a 17-14 edge.

After Davis’ pick-6, Daniels cut it the deficit to 24-21 on a 21-yard pass to Leyton Cure with 5:32 left to make it 24-21.

However, on third-and-5 before the two-minute timeout, Dampier showed run and lobbed a 48-yard TD to a wide-open Simmons for the knockout punch and the win.

–Field Level Media

Kansas, Iowa State pursue win after coming off bye week

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Kansas and Iowa State both are coming off bye weeks ahead of their Big 12 Conference matchup Saturday afternoon in Ames, Iowa.

With two weeks left in the regular season, the Cyclones (6-4, 3-4) are bowl eligible but the Jayhawks (5-5, 3-4) need one more win to achieve the feat.

In their most recent game, the Jayhawks lost 24-20 at Arizona on Nov. 8. The Cyclones picked up a 20-17 win at TCU on the same day, overcoming an 11-point deficit in the final 10 minutes.

When Kansas returned to practice this week, it tightened its red-zone and third-down offense.

“It’ll be critical for us to be better in those situations down the stretch,” said Jayhawks coach Lance Leipold. “We schedule them at the end of our practice to try and simulate game situations.”

In the loss to the Wildcats, senior quarterback Jalon Daniels completed 15 of 29 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown. He also was Kansas’ leading rusher with 74 yards and a TD on 14 carries.

Because he’s been such an efficient passer and runner — Daniels has completed 65.1% of his throws for 2,190 yards and 21 touchdowns and has rushed for 345 yards and three TDs — Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said the Cyclones will have to account for all of his play-making skills.

“What he’s done an incredible job of in his career is to just get better and better and better,” Campbell said. “He can make you pay horizontally, so you have to be gap-sound. He’s a player that can make you pay in a heartbeat.”

Campbell announced this week that tight end Gable Burkle (leg injury), the team’s No. 4 pass-catcher with 26 receptions, is scheduled for surgery and will miss the rest of the season. But the coach added a dose of optimism when he said redshirt senior linebacker Caleb Bacon will return to the lineup. Bacon’s 55 tackles rank third on the Cyclones and his 6.5 tackles for loss are second.

–Field Level Media

Arizona’s TD in final minute drops Kansas, earns bowl eligibility

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Quincy Craig scored on a 24-yard touchdown run untouched with 39 seconds left to give Arizona a 24-20 Big 12 victory over Kansas on Saturday in Tucson, Ariz.

Craig’s run followed his 18-yard burst and capped an 80-yard drive that took eight plays and two minutes as Arizona (6-3, 3-3) became bowl-eligible with the victory.

Kansas (5-5, 3-4 Big 12) attempted a Hail Mary pass at the end but Jalon Daniels’ pass from the Jayhawks’ 47-yard line fell incomplete near the goal line as time expired.

Kansas sacked Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita five times and limited Arizona to less than 100 yards rushing going into the fourth quarter. The Wildcats reeled off 78 of their 165 rushing yards rushing in the final quarter as they erased a 20-17 deficit.

Fifita completed 16 of 31 passes for 158 yards with two touchdowns. His latter touchdown pass, an 8-yard connection to Craig with 23 seconds left in the first half, tied him with Nick Foles and Willie Tuitama for Arizona’s career record of 67 touchdown passes.

Sam Olson caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Fifita with 7:15 left in the first quarter before Arizona’s offense struggled and Kansas started to produce.

Kansas’ last three possessions of the first half featured Daniels scoring on a 1-yard run, Daniels completing a 24-yard touchdown pass to Emmanuel Henderson Jr., and Laith Marjan converting a 46-yard field goal to take a 17-7 lead at the 4:15 mark of the second.

Daniels was 15 of 29 for 199 yards with one touchdown. He also led the Jayhawks with 74 yards rushing on 14 carries.

Two plays before Craig’s touchdown catch at the end of the first half, Kansas’ Leroy Harris III intercepted a Fifita pass and returned it 77 yards to the end zone — but the play was nullified because of a defensive holding call on Jalen Todd.

Each team scored a field goal in the third quarter with Michael Salgado-Medina converting from 41 yards to tie the game 17-17 and Marjan from 50 yards out to put Kansas back on top.

Kansas tried to put insurance points on the board in the fourth quarter. The Jayhawks converted a third-and-1 and a fourth-and-1 during their 67-yard drive that started with 9:24 left, but it ended on Marjan’s missed 30-yard field-goal attempt with 2:39 remaining.

–Field Level Media

Struggling Kansas, Arizona battle for bowl eligibility

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The winner of the Kansas-Arizona game on Saturday afternoon in Tucson, Ariz., will gain bowl eligibility and momentum heading into the last month of the regular season.

The first meeting since 1966 between Kansas (5-4, 3-3 in Big 12) and Arizona (5-3, 2-3) also will showcase two of the top quarterbacks in the conference — the Jayhawks’ Jalon Daniels and Wildcats’ Noah Fifita.

Kansas lost three of its previous four games before topping Oklahoma State 38-21 at home last week behind Daniels leading the Jayhawks to four second-half touchdowns.

Arizona also suffered defeats in three of four games before winning at Colorado 52-17 last week, with Fifita throwing four first-half touchdown passes.
The numbers of the two quarterbacks are similar.

Daniels has completed 160 of 240 pass attempts for 1,991 yards with 20 touchdowns and three interceptions, while Fifita is 166 of 254 for 2,042 yards. He has 21 touchdown passes and four interceptions.

“Jalon Daniels is brilliant,” Arizona coach Brent Brennan said. “He’s a California kid (from Lawndale). We’ve been watching him play since he was 14. Great player. Can do it all, make the throws, effective as a runner. We got a lot of work to do to get prepared for this game.”

Fifita has scrambled more for positive yardage this season, although not abundantly. He has gained 84 yards on 62 carries with three touchdowns after rushing for minus-16 yards on 104 carries with one touchdown in 2023 and 2024 combined.

“(Fifita) obviously gets the ball out quickly, very mobile, extends plays when he has to,” Kansas coach Lance Leipold said. “The accuracy part is what’s really impressive … he’s up there with the top in the league, without a doubt.”

Daniels is more of a threat as a runner, gaining 271 yards on 88 carries with two touchdowns this season.

He has 1,318 rushing yards in his six-year career at Kansas, playing that long because of the COVID-19 waiver in 2020 and a back injury in 2023 that limited him to three games.

–Field Level Media

Nov 1, 2025; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels (6) runs the ball during the first half against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Kansas defeats Oklahoma State behind productive rushing attack

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Daniel Hishaw Jr. rushed for 65 yards and two touchdowns as a stout Kansas rushing attack rolled to a 38-21 Big 12 win against Oklahoma State on Saturday afternoon in Lawrence, Kan.

Leshon Williams rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown as the Jayhawks held a 232-72 edge in rushing yards.

Jalon Daniels completed 13 of 19 passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns. Boden Groen and Bryson Canty each had a touchdown catch. Laith Marjan drilled a 39-yard field goal for the Jayhawks (5-4, 3-3 Big 12).

After he missed the previous three games with a shoulder injury, Cowboys’ quarterback Zane Flores completed 22 of 28 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns.

Gavin Freeman had seven receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown catch. Terrill Davis contributed 78 receiving yards, and Shamar Rigby had a touchdown catch for the Cowboys (1-8, 0-6)

After being shutout last week, the Cowboys opened the game with a 10 play, 75-yard touchdown drive. In his first action since Oct. 4, Flores found Rigby for a 12-yard touchdown grab and a 7-0 lead.

Late in the second quarter, Hishaw bounced off a pair of OSU defenders for a 3-yard touchdown run that put Kansas up 10-7. Jon Jon Kamara blocked Logan Ward’s 19-yard chip shot field goal to send the Jayhawks into the locker room with the lead.

A play-action fake set up Daniels 3-yard touchdown pass to Groen, and Kansas took a 17-7 lead on its first second-half drive. The Jayhawks’ defense forced a three-and-out and Daniels hit Canty with a 5-yard pass in the back of the end zone for a 24-7 lead.

However, the Cowboys answered with a score on their next drive when Freeman turned a short pass into a 10-yard touchdown as OSU pulled within 24-14 with 1:55 left in the third quarter.

Hishaw rumbled in from 3-yards out for his second rushing touchdown of the game, and Kansas opened up a 31-14 lead at the start of the fourth quarter. Williams’ 5-yard touchdown put the Jayhawks up 38-14 with 6:04 left to play. Sesi Vailahi scored a late touchdown for the Cowboys on a 2-yard plunge.

–Field Level Media

Oct 25, 2025; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels (6) throws a pass against the Kansas State Wildcats during the first half of the game at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Kansas has bowl in sight ahead of visit from Oklahoma State

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Kansas looks to stay on the path to bowl eligibility when it hosts reeling Oklahoma State in a Big 12 clash on Saturday in Lawrence, Kan.

The Jayhawks (4-4, 2-3 Big 12) made back-to-back bowl appearances in 2022 and 2023 under coach Lance Leipold before being shut out of postseason play last year.

For the fifth-year coach to get the Jayhawks back to a bowl game, they’ll need to shake off the 42-17 home drubbing they endured last week against in-state rival Kansas State.

The Wildcats have won 17 straight games in the Sunflower Showdown and they forced four turnovers and outgained the Jayhawks 371-247 in total yards. Quarterback Jalon Daniels only completed 17 of 35 passes for 129 yards and an interception. Daniel Hishaw Jr. rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown.

“We have a big test to see where we are at as a program right now,” Leipold said. “As a team, our leadership and leadership from myself and others, we have to make sure we keep coaching this group and find solutions and answers.”

Conversely, the Cowboys (1-7, 0-5) are playing out the string under interim coach Doug Meacham.

Oklahoma State has lost seven straight games and was shut out for the first time this season in a 42-0 loss to then-No. 14 Texas Tech last Saturday. The Cowboys played two quarterbacks and neither managed to eclipse 100 yards.

Sam Jackson V threw for 48 yards and Noah Walters went for 39 yards through the air. Trent Howland rushed for 58 yards for Oklahoma State which only managed 182 yards of total offense and nine first downs.

Because players can see action in four games and still maintain redshirt status, Meacham said he expects a youth movement to get underway. He singled out the potential of two freshmen: linebacker Carl’veon Young and receiver Matrail Lopez.

“We’ll have an infusion of some freshmen,” Meacham said. “Some guys that haven’t played will play in the last four games and still garner a redshirt. We’ll get five or six guys out there on special teams that will also help us out offensively and defensively.”

-Field Level Media

Oct 25, 2025; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats wide receiver Jaron Tibbs (12) scores a touchdown as Kansas Jayhawks defensive back Austin Alexander (0) chases during the first half of the game at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Avery Johnson leads Kansas State to 17th straight win over Kansas

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Avery Johnson threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns, as Kansas State defeated Kansas 42-17 for its 17th straight victory in the Sunflower Showdown rivalry Saturday in Lawrence, Kan.

The Wildcats (4-4, 3-2 Big 12), who won the prior two games in the series by a combined six points, forced four turnovers by the Jayhawks which led to 13 points. Kansas State has a plus-10 turnover margin in its last five games.

Johnson also ran for two touchdowns while completing 11 of 17 passes.

Jalon Daniels was 17-of-35 passing for 129 yards and an interception for Kansas (4-4, 2-3). He was sacked four times.

Leading 21-14 at halftime, Kansas State got the first break of the second half when Daniel Cobbs intercepted a deflected pass, giving the Wildcats the ball at the Kansas 42. DeVon Rice capped the seven-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.

Kansas responded with a 12-play drive, but only gained 45 yards. The Jayhawks settled for a 47-yard field goal by Laith Marjan.

On Kansas State’s first play after the kickoff, Johnson found Jayce Brown for a 78-yard touchdown down the left sideline. Johnson’s second touchdown run gave the Wildcats their final points. Brown accounted for four of Johnson’s 11 completions for a career-high 160 receiving yards.

Things started poorly for the Wildcats on the opening kickoff, when Bryce Noernberg fumbled at his own 25-yard line and it was recovered by Ezra Vedral of Kansas. Five plays later, Daniels ran it in from the 6-yard line for a touchdown. Daniels was bobbling the ball as he crossed the goal line, but review upheld the call.

Kansas State responded with a seven-play, 82-yard touchdown drive, with Johnson scoring the tying touchdown. Kansas then went three-and-out on the next possession. Punter Finn Lappin couldn’t handle the snap, and K-State’s Ralph Ortiz returned it 20 yards for a score.

The Wildcats added to their lead with a five-play, 72-yard drive capped off with a 27-yard touchdown catch by Jaron Tibbs to make it 21-7 with 12 seconds left in the opening quarter.

Kansas then went 85 yards on 18 plays, taking 8:34 of the final 9:04 of the first half to draw within 21-14 at halftime. Daniel Hishaw Jr. scored from 3 yards out.

–Field Level Media

Oct 26, 2024; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels (6) drops back to pass during the fourth quarter against the Kansas State Wildcats at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images

Kansas favored to snap 16-year losing streak vs. Kansas State

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For the past 16 seasons, Kansas State and Kansas have squared off on the gridiron with the exact same result — a Kansas State victory. But for the first time in recent memory, Kansas is favored in the “Sunflower Showdown,” which the Jayhawks will host on Saturday.

Kansas State (3-4, 2-2 Big 12) comes into the contest off a bye, but there’s no advantage because Kansas (4-3, 2-2) is in the same situation.

Kansas State enjoyed maybe its best game of the season two weekends ago as the Wildcats easily handled TCU. The Wildcats used three Avery Johnson touchdown passes and two defensive scores to defeat the Horned Frogs, 41-28. The Wildcats scored 28 straight points in the middle quarters and never saw their lead dip below 13 the rest of the game.

But just like coaches like to say “don’t let a team beat you twice,” referring to allowing disappointment to affect the next game, Kansas State coach Chris Klieman knows his squad can’t rest on the laurels of their last victory — or the 16-game winning streak against their archrival.

“They’re really talented,” Klieman said. “As I’ve watched them, it really starts with (Jalon) Daniels. I’ve been really impressed with him for a number of years now. I’ve been impressed with how he plays. He’s the leader of the group. The thing that impressed me the most is that he stayed in the fight.”

Daniels leads a balanced Kansas offense. The Jayhawks are averaging 263.3 yards per game through the air and 155 yards per game on the ground.

Kansas ran into a buzzsaw two weekends ago when the Jayhawks suffered a 42-17 loss to No. 9 Texas Tech as the Red Raiders scored the final 21 points of the game. Daniels finished 27 of 33 for 255 yards and two touchdowns.

Head coach Lance Leipold knows his players will be ready for Saturday.

“Guys know if it’s a rival game and why,” he said. “Whether they got here six months ago or six years ago, they know that. If guys get extra fired up for those games, does it mean they’re not fired up for other games? You have a routine, and you should be playing at your fullest for each and every snap, regardless of who you’re playing against.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 11, 2025; Lubbock, Texas, USA; A general view of the tortilla toss before the game between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images

Big 12 raps Texas Tech over in-game tortilla toss, tags Kansas for response

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Big 12 officials determined to put the wraps on Texas Tech for allowing fans to repeatedly toss tortillas on the field last week fined the Red Raiders $25,000 for the celebration.

The league also fined visiting Kansas $25,000 for coach Lance Leipold’s postgame critique of Texas Tech and the conference for not doing enough to stop the projectiles.

The actions occurred during and after the Red Raiders’ 42-17 win against the Jayhawks last Saturday.

Permitting the tortilla-tossing tradition to continue was voted down by conference athletic directors in the offseason, 15-1.

Game officials penalized Texas Tech twice for personal fouls during kickoffs. With the play live, fans tossed tortillas en masse.

“After a formal review, Texas Tech did not take sufficient steps to prevent and deter the repeated throwing of objects onto the field and team bench areas,” Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said in a statement. “Coach Leipold’s comments questioned the integrity and professionalism of both the Conference and a member institution. Both actions warranted a financial penalty.

“The Big 12 Conference prioritizes integrity and will have no further comment on the matter.”

After the game, Leipold claimed that “a pocket knife was thrown and hit one of our staff members.”

According to ESPN, Texas Tech submitted footage to the league that proved the claim to be inaccurate.

–Field Level Media