Kansas football’s Week 1 opponent had a rough start to the 2026 season.

Long Island University fell behind 42-0 before halftime against North Dakota on Thursday night before eventually cutting the final margin to 21 points. The result gives Kansas an early look at a team it will face Sept. 4 in Lawrence.

LIU entered the season coming off a 6-6 record and was picked to finish third in the Northeast Conference by the league’s coaches. The Sharks also earned a notable win last season by upsetting Eastern Michigan on the road, their first victory over an FBS opponent.

Thursday’s opener, however, exposed some early issues.

Starting quarterback Thomas Greenwood, a preseason All-NEC selection, completed just 3 of 9 passes for 11 yards with an interception before being replaced before halftime.

Backup Luca Stanzani provided a spark after entering the game, helping lead LIU to three consecutive touchdowns. His performance could potentially create a quarterback decision for the Sharks before their trip to face Kansas.

The Jayhawks, meanwhile, are preparing to open their own season with Isaiah Marshall now officially named the starting quarterback after a lengthy competition with Cole Ballard.

Kansas will also enter the matchup with a deep running back room featuring Dylan Edwards, Yasin Willis and Jalen Dupree, which could help take pressure off Marshall in his first start.

LIU has made significant progress under head coach Ron Cooper since becoming a Division I program in 2019, but its season opener showed there is still plenty to clean up before facing a Big 12 opponent.

For Kansas, the matchup should provide an opportunity to settle in offensively while giving Marshall his first extended action as the Jayhawks’ starting quarterback.

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