GAME INFORMATION ON AIR Kansas TELEVISION: Big 12 Now on ESPN+ [Mark Neely (Play-by-Play), GAME 1 Barrett Brooks (Analyst), Mike Moore (Producer)]. JAYHAWKS Kansas Jayhawks vs. South Dakota Coyotes RADIO: Jayhawk Radio Network [(Brian Hanni (Play-by-Play), 0-0, 0-0 Big 12 David Lawrence (Analyst), Brandon McAnderson (Sideline), Friday, September 3, 2021 Steve Kincaid (Producer/Engineer), Marc Tuttle (GM)]. VS. Big 12 Now on ESPN+ | 7:00 p.m. CT South Dakota SIRIUS/ONLINE: Sirius (81), XM (81), SXM App (81) COYOTES David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium (47,000) 0-0, 0-0 MVFC Live Stats: Kansas.statbroadcast.com 2021 SCHEDULE Sept. South Dakota Coyotes 7 p.m. 3 David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium | Lawrence, Kan. ESPN+ JAYHAWKS OPEN LEIPOLD ERA, 100TH YEAR OF DAVID BOOTH transfer Jeremy Webb are all taking advantage of their extra year of 6:30 p.m. KANSAS MEMORIAL STADIUM eligibility with the Jayhawks. Sept. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 10 Brooks Stadium | Conway, S.C. ESPN2 The 2021 season is officially set for kickoff for the Kansas Jayhawks. Under • The 2021 roster features 12 new Division I transfers. Joining the new head coach Lance Leipold, Kansas is set to open the season under the Jayhawks are Buffalo transfers Trevor Wilson, Eddie Wilson, Rich Miller, Sept. Baylor Bears 2:30 p.m. lights on Friday night at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium versus Mike Novitsky, Michael Ford Jr., and Ronald McGee. In addition, Kansas 18 David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium | Lawrence, Kan. ESPN+ South Dakota. The game will mark the debut of Leipold, who arrived at added Jason Bean (North Texas), Cornell Wheeler (Michigan), Kevin Terry (Texas Tech), Colin Grunhard (Notre Dame), Jeremy Webb (Missouri Sept. Duke Blue Devils TBA Kansas in late April, ready to lead the Jayhawks. Leipold brings a career 25 Wallace Wade Stadium | Durham, N.C. record of 146-39 with him to Lawrence and won six Division III National State) and Zion DeBose (Virginia Tech). • Head Coach Lance Leipold is set to make his debut for the Jayhawks Oct. Championships at Wisconsin-Whitewater. Leipold spent the last six Iowa State Cyclones TBA against South Dakota. Leipold’s on-field coaching staff is comprised of 2 Jack Trice Stadium | Ames, Iowa years at Buffalo, going 37-33 overall and 30-16 over the last four years. four coaches who were with the Jayhawks last season (Wide Receivers The Friday night opener for the Jayhawks marks the first Friday night Oct. Texas Tech Red Raiders TBA Coach Emmett Jones, Running Backs Coach Jonathan Wallace, 16 David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium | Lawrence, Kan. home opener for Kansas since a 47-0 win over Washburn to open the Cornerbacks Coach Chevis Jackson and Defensive Line Coach Kwahn 1944 season. Drake). Oct. Oklahoma Sooners TBA • Special Teams Coordinator Jake Schoonover arrived in Lawrence prior 23 David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium | Lawrence, Kan. QUICK HITS to Leipold’s arrival, but wasn’t on staff last season. Additionally, offensive Oct. Oklahoma State Cowboys TBA • Kansas returns its leading passer (Jalon Daniels), rusher (Velton coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, Defensive Coordinator Brian Borland, 30 Boone Pickens Stadium | Stillwater, Okla. Gardner), receiver (Kwamie Lassiter II), tackler (Kenny Logan Jr.), scorer Offensive Line Coach Scott Fuchs, Quarterbacks Coach Jim Zebrowski and Nov. Kansas State Wildcats (Jacob Borcila), all-purpose gainer (Lassiter) and interceptor (Logan) to Linebackers Coach Chris Simpson were with Leipold last year at Buffalo. TBA 6 David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium | Lawrence, Kan. its roster for the 2021 season. • Under Kotelnicki’s direction last year, the Buffalo offense led the nation • The Jayhawks played 27 true freshmen last season, which tied for in rushing, averaging 6.71 yards per carry. The Bulls were also second in Nov. Texas Longhorns TBD the highest number in the country. This year, Kansas has 69 freshmen, the country in rushing yards per game at 287.4. 13 Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium | Austin, Texas redshirt freshmen and sophomores on its roster, meaning 69 of the 118 • Borland’s defense, meanwhile, ranked No. 1 in the MAC in total defense, players on the roster (58 percent) are two years or less removed from allowing 359 yards per game. Nov. TCU Horned Frogs TBD 20 Amon G. Carter Stadium | Fort Worth, Texas high school. • The Jayhawks return three players who earned honorable mention • On the flip side, the Jayhawks boast nine super-seniors this year. Kansas All-Big 12 honors last year in defensive end Kyron Johnson, safety/kick Nov. West Virginia Mountaineers TBD has three on the offensive line alone in Chris Hughes, Adagio Lopeti and returner Kenny Logan Jr., and wide receiver Kwamie Lassiter II. Logan was 27 David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium | Lawrence, Kan. Malik Clark. Receiver Kwamie Lassiter II adds a fourth super-senior on also named to the Hornung Award Watch List this preseason, given to the offense. Defensively, defensive lineman Sam Burt, defensive end Kyron most versatile player in college football. KU BY THE NUMBERS Johnson, linebacker Nate Betts, safety Ricky Thomas Jr., and cornerback The Jayhawks enter game one of the Lance Leipold era against SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON South Dakota. Leipold, a six-time National Champion, a five- time conference coach of the year and the fastest coach in 1 NCAA history to reach 100 career wins, was named the 41st Kansas South Dakota head coach in Kansas Football history on April 30, 2021. Kansas owns the series record against South Dakota, in a series JAYHAWKS COYOTES that dates back to 1900. The Jayhawks and Coyotes last met in 2-0 2013, where KU won in Lawrence, 31-14. The series began in 1900, where KU won the series opener, 42-0. Record .......................................................................................0-0 (0-0 Big 12) Record .......................................................................................0-0 (0-0 MVFC) ................................................................nr/nr/nr Ranking (CFB/AP/Coaches) Ranking (CFB/AP/Coaches) ................................................................nr/nr/nr Head coach Lance Leipold enters Friday's contest with a Last Game ........................................Dec. 5, 2020 (Loss at Texas Tech, 13-16) Last Game ....................March 20, 2021 (Loss at Youngstown State, 20-28) 78.9 career winning percentage in his 14 years of coaching, Head Coach................................................................................... Lance Leipold Head Coach...................................................................................... Bob Nielson 78.9 accumulating a 146-39 record. Career Record ............................................................. 146-39 (15th Season) Career Record .......................................................208-109-1 (29th Season) Record at Kansas .................................................................0-0 (1st Season) Record at South Dakota ............................................... 22-29 (6th Season) A KU WIN WOULD ... 2020 TEAM STATISTICS 2020 TEAM STATISTICS Points Per Game ............................................................................................15.8 Points Per Game .............................................................................................17.8 • Move Kansas to 589-657-58 all-time, including 1-0 in the 1st Downs .........................................................................................................143 1st Downs ...........................................................................................................74 Lance Leipold era. Leipold's career record would improve to Rushing ...........................................................................................................944 Rushing ............................................................................................................ 321 Passing ..........................................................................................................1,389 Passing .............................................................................................................973 147-39. Offense ......................................................................................................... 2,333 Offense ..........................................................................................................1,294 • Bring the series against South Dakota to 3-0, including KU's Touchdowns ...................................................................................................... 18 Touchdowns ........................................................................................................8 second win in Lawrence. Field Goals .......................................................................................................6-9 Field Goals .......................................................................................................5-8 Time of Possession ....................................................................................30:46 Time of Possession .....................................................................................26:16 • Make KU 7-3 in season openers over the last 10 years and to Sacks ...............................................................................................................9-72 Sacks ...............................................................................................................7-38 74-51-7 in season openers all-time. 2020 STATISTICAL LEADERS