The Kansas Jayhawks have gone from gridiron underdogs to potential Big 12 title contenders in just a few short years — and 2025 might be their best shot yet. After back-to-back bowl appearances and a program turnaround under head coach Lance Leipold, excitement is building in Lawrence. But let’s not sugarcoat it: the Jayhawks’ path to conference supremacy won’t be easy. Their 2025 schedule is packed with tough road trips, legacy rivals, and a Black Friday showdown that could decide everything.
2025 Kansas Jayhawks Opponents
Can the Jayhawks make a serious run, or will their high hopes be grounded?
The Kansas Jayhawks’ 2025 football schedule is both challenging and opportunistic — exactly what you’d expect for a team trying to prove it belongs in the upper tier of the Big 12. They kick off the season early with an Aug. 23 home game against Fresno State, a respectable Mountain West program that will test their opening-week readiness. Full 2025 Kansas Jayhawks Football Schedule:
- Sat., Aug. 23: vs. Fresno State
- Fri., Aug. 29: vs. Wagner
- Sat., Sep. 6: at Missouri
- Sat., Sep. 20: vs. West Virginia
- Sat., Sep. 27: vs. Cincinnati
- Sat., Oct. 4: at UCF
- Sat., Oct. 11: at Texas Tech
- Sat., Oct. 25: vs. Kansas State
- Sat., Nov. 1: vs. Oklahoma State
- Sat., Nov. 8: at Arizona
- Sat., Nov. 22: at Iowa State
- Fri., Nov. 28: vs. Utah
A Friday night matchup against Wagner follows on Aug. 29, giving Kansas a chance to fine-tune before a major early road test at border rival Missouri on Sept. 6. That Week 3 trip will be dripping with tension, marking another installment in a historic rivalry recently renewed.
Big 12 play begins on Sept. 20 when Kansas welcomes West Virginia to David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. A week later, they host Cincinnati, a team still trying to find its footing in the new-look Big 12.
The first two October games are road tests — UCF on Oct. 4 and Texas Tech on Oct. 11 — both winnable but tricky. After a much-needed bye, Kansas comes back strong on Oct. 25 to host Kansas State in the Sunflower Showdown. This will almost certainly have conference title implications if both teams stay hot. They stay home again to face Oklahoma State on Nov. 1, another formidable opponent with a history of derailing Kansas momentum.
Things heat up even more in November. The Jayhawks hit the road again to face Arizona on Nov. 8, a new addition to the Big 12 with Pac-12 pedigree, before traveling to Ames for a classic cold-weather matchup against Iowa State on Nov. 22. Finally, they return home for a potentially massive Black Friday finale on Nov. 28 against Utah — a team that could very well be contending for the Big 12 crown themselves.
Each game will come with its own unique flavor, from long-standing rivalries to fresh conference showdowns. With a solid quarterback in Jalon Daniels (should he return at full health), a physical offensive line anchored by returning starters like Dominick Puni, and a defense that’s no longer a liability, this is a roster that could make serious noise.
Are the Jayhawks Big 12 Contenders?
The short answer? Yes — but only if everything clicks. The Jayhawks’ 2025 schedule is unforgiving, especially with road trips to Missouri, Texas Tech, and Iowa State, not to mention a final home game against Utah, which has already proven they can compete at a high level. However, if Daniels can stay healthy and Kansas continues to develop depth on both sides of the ball, the path to Arlington is absolutely in play.
Winning at least three of their five conference road games will be essential, and defending home turf, especially against Kansas State and Oklahoma State, will be non-negotiable. Leipold has built a winning culture, and with a mix of seasoned returners and top-tier recruits, 2025 could be a defining year for the program.
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This isn’t the Kansas football team you remember from years past. The Jayhawks have grown up, toughened up, and they’re not sneaking up on anyone anymore. Whether they rise to the top of the Big 12 will depend on execution, health, and maybe a little Jayhawk magic. But one thing’s certain: Kansas fans won’t want to miss a minute.
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