Kansas Jayhawks at Kansas State Wildcats

Injuries noted

Kansas Jayhawks: Syeed Gibbs (out) — Cornerback ruled out after an injury against Utah; October 16 reporting supersedes his earlier doubtful designation.; Keaton Kubecka (out) — Wide receiver ruled out for Kansas State after previously being doubtful; condition unspecified.; Cole Ballard (probable) — Quarterback upgraded from questionable to probable on October 16; shoulder injury.; Connor Stroh (questionable) — Offensive lineman listed questionable for Kansas State; condition unspecified.; Khijohnn Cummings-Coleman (probable) — Listed probable in the October 16 availability reporting, which identifies him as a safety; condition unspecified.; Eamon Smalls (probable) — Defensive tackle listed probable for Kansas State; condition unspecified.

Kansas State Wildcats: Blake Barnett (out) — Backup quarterback listed out against Kansas; October 14 reporting identifies a lower-body injury.; Kaleb Patterson (doubtful) — Starting cornerback remains doubtful for Kansas; condition unspecified.; Dillon Duff (questionable) — Backup quarterback listed questionable. Dressing for the previous two games did not establish that he was healthy enough to play.; Garrett Oakley (questionable) — Starting tight end added to this game's availability report; injury unspecified.; Jacobi Oliphant Jr. (probable) — Linebacker listed probable in the October 16 report; condition unspecified.; Will Anciaux (out for season) — The October 16 game-specific report reiterates that the starting tight end was ruled out for the season.

QUARTERBACK

• Avery Johnson is KSU's projected starter

  6.67 Y/A

  Avery Johnson is KSU's projected starting quarterback. The October 16 game preview identifies Johnson as Kansas State's quarterback for this matchup. It does not provide an explicit game-day starter announcement. 2026 line: 1081 passing yards, 63.6% completions, 6.67 yards per attempt, 9-3 TD-INT over 5 games.

• Isaiah Marshall is KU's projected starter

  8.11 Y/A

  Isaiah Marshall is KU's projected starting quarterback. The October 16 game preview discusses Marshall as the quarterback around whose strengths Leipold intends to shape this game's offense. It does not provide an explicit game-day starter announcement. 2026 line: 1143 passing yards, 53.9% completions, 8.11 yards per attempt, 8-4 TD-INT over 5 games.

MISMATCH

• KSU: 62% on third down to KU's 40.6%

  62 VS 40.6

  Kansas State is converting 62% of third downs over five games, after 37.2% last season. Kansas is at 40.6%, near its 38.5% from a year ago. Kansas State's jump is the kind that rarely lasts, so expect it to settle lower. Kansas has to get off the field on third down, since extending drives is where Kansas State has been winning.

REPLACEMENT

• Will Anciaux (TE) is out for the season for KSU

  OUT FOR SEASON

  The October 16 game-specific report reiterates that the starting tight end was ruled out for the season. Topeka Capital-Journal via AOL: Kansas State football vs Kansas injury report: Garrett Oakley added (2026-10-16)

• Syeed Gibbs (CB) is out for KU

  OUT

  Cornerback ruled out after an injury against Utah; October 16 reporting supersedes his earlier doubtful designation. Topeka Capital-Journal via AOL: Kansas State football vs Kansas injury report: Garrett Oakley added (2026-10-16) Kansas Loses Two Big Names Before Sunflower Showdown (2026-10-16)

• Keaton Kubecka (WR) is out for KU

  OUT

  Wide receiver ruled out for Kansas State after previously being doubtful; condition unspecified. Topeka Capital-Journal via AOL: Kansas State football vs Kansas injury report: Garrett Oakley added (2026-10-16) Kansas Loses Two Big Names Before Sunflower Showdown (2026-10-16)

• Blake Barnett (QB) is out for KSU

  OUT

  Backup quarterback listed out against Kansas; October 14 reporting identifies a lower-body injury. Topeka Capital-Journal via AOL: Kansas State football vs Kansas injury report: Garrett Oakley added (2026-10-16) RotoWire Kansas State news: Blake Barnett — Out vs. Kansas (2026-10-14)

SITUATIONAL

• KSU: 62% third-down conversion rate to KU's 40.6%

  21.4 PP

  KU is at 40.6% third-down conversion rate over 5 games; KSU is at 62% over 5 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 16. Last season KU was at 38.5% over 12 games and KSU at 37.2% over 12 games.

• KU: 3 fourth-down attempts per game to KSU's 0.4

  2.6 ATT/G

  Kansas is going for it on fourth down three times a game across five games, while Kansas State barely tries at all. Kansas was at 2.33 last season, so the aggression fits; Kansas State was at 2.67, so 0.4 is a big shift that may reflect game situations as much as philosophy. On the road, Kansas will likely keep gambling, which adds variance to how this game plays out.

TEAM RECORD

• Big 12 game: KU 0-2, KSU 0-2 in conference

  CONFERENCE

  These two share the Big 12. KU is 0-2 against it, KSU is 0-2. 2026 standings through 2026-10-17.