Kansas Looks to Get Back on Track Against Middle Tennessee
Where: David Booth Memorial Stadium
Betting Line: -19.5 Kansas
The Kansas Jayhawks will return to David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium on Saturday when they host the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders in a matchup that gives Kansas an opportunity to get back in the win column.
Kansas enters the game with a 1-2 record after opening the season with a dominant 51-6 victory over Long Island before falling to Missouri and Arizona State. The Jayhawks' most recent game was a 24-17 loss to Arizona State in London, where Kansas struggled to capitalize on opportunities despite moving the ball effectively.
The Blue Raiders enter Lawrence at 2-2. Middle Tennessee opened the season with a 38-14 victory over Murray State and followed that with a 28-26 loss to Marshall. The Blue Raiders then defeated Nevada 27-20 before facing Jacksonville State.
For Kansas, one of the biggest priorities will be taking care of the football. The Jayhawks have been hurt by turnovers early in the season, making Saturday an important opportunity for quarterback Isaiah Marshall and the offense to play a cleaner game.
Marshall has shown flashes during his first season as Kansas' starting quarterback, but the Jayhawks will need consistency from him and the rest of the offense. Kansas also will look to running back Dylan Edwards and its receiving corps to create explosive plays against a Middle Tennessee defense that has allowed opportunities through the air and on the ground.
Defensively, Kansas has shown encouraging signs. The Jayhawks are coming off a game against Arizona State in which the defense limited the Sun Devils to 24 points. Kansas will need another strong performance from its secondary while also trying to limit Middle Tennessee's rushing attack.
The game will also be Kansas' first home game since Sept. 11 and will take place during Family Weekend. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT, and the game will be televised on ESPNU.
As of Friday, the betting line has moved depending on the sportsbook. KU Sports listed Kansas as an 18.5-point favorite, with the over/under at 49.5 points. BetMGM had Kansas at -19.5, with a 51.5-point total, while FanDuel listed Kansas at -19.5 with a 49.5-point total.
Kansas will enter Saturday's matchup as the favorite, but Middle Tennessee has already shown that it can stay competitive in games this season. For the Jayhawks, the focus will be on avoiding mistakes, creating consistent offense and using a home crowd to build momentum before Big 12 play continues.
If Kansas can put together a complete performance, Saturday could provide an important opportunity to regain confidence before the tougher portion of its schedule arrives.
Links I used for this article:
https://www2.kusports.com/sports/college/football/2026/oct/02/preview-jayhawks-open-9-game-stretch-by-facing-middle-tennessee/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
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