Excitement is growing for KU football as the season inches near
LAWRENCE (KSNT) - Excitement is building as Kansas football kicks off its season in just 10 days in the newly renovated David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
KU football hosted its annual media day today, where head coach Lance Leipold was one of the coaches who took the podium. He discussed what a week zero matchup will mean for the 'Hawks, and said that it's a week less of conditioning but an exceptional opportunity to be one of the first teams to open the 2025 college football season.
"For us to have a window on national television to expose our program, our stadium, and everything like that. Is something we should be extremely excited bout and embrace," Leipold said.
Kansas rebuilt part of its roster after losing some key seniors. The Jayhawks added 50 new scholarship players to its roster. Including a wide receiver transfer from Alabama, Emmanuel Henderson Jr., who is one of four seniors in a young receiver room.
"The wide receiver room is looking tremendously well," Henderson JR said. "We've done a lot of great things throughout the offseason and we continue to get better each and every day, and working on the small things."
"I think that group will be a lot of names you will be interested to see," Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels said. I'm very excited to go out on the field with those guys and go to war."
Redshirt senior offensive lineman Bryce Foster, who transferred from Texas A&M after the 2023-2024 season, is excited to experience his first game in the Booth in front of Jayhawk Nation.
Kansas played its home games at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium last season while the renovations on the Booth were underway. Now, the time has come for the team to take the field in a new, reimagined stadium.
Kansas Athletics announced on Aug. 13 that they received the largest gift in the program's history, with an approximate $300 million gift from David G. Booth. The gift includes a $75 million challenge to donors to support the Gateway District and the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
"Getting stuff like that brings a lot of eyes into our program," Foster said. "I think it's a good thing for everyone to see that people care about Kansas football."
Leipold told 27 Sports in an exclusive interview, "Whether you're the donor that is allowed to write certain checks and commit to that. Or if you're someone that can get to games when things fit in the schedule and financial budgets. Everyone can be a part of what we're doing, and when we are successful, I hope that everyone feels a part of it as well."
KU opens its season on Aug. 23 against Fresno State at 5:30 p.m. CT.