​Kansas has yet to name a starting quarterback, but head coach Lance Leipold made one thing clear at Big 12 Media Days: he believes the Jayhawks can win with either Cole Ballard or Isaiah Marshall. Speaking Wednesday in Frisco, Texas, Leipold addressed the quarterback competition that has taken center stage since long-time starter Jalon Daniels departed. “I think that we have two quarterbacks that we can win football games with, without a doubt,” Leipold said. “We have two young men that are excellent people, they’re two good football players, they’re well respected in the locker room, they’re excellent leaders.”
Neither Ballard nor Marshall joined the Jayhawks at Media Days, underscoring how unresolved the competition remains as fall camp approaches. Ballard has attempted just 64 passes in his career, while Marshall has thrown only three, making the battle one of the biggest narratives entering the 2026 season. Leipold noted that a large part of the inexperience stems from Daniels’ durability over the past two years. “Jalon played 24 straight games for us the last two years,” Leipold explained. “Unfortunately that doesn’t mean anyone else got to play much at quarterback. So that’s where the uncertainty goes.”
Still, Leipold believes both quarterbacks are more ready than their game experience suggests because of the practice reps they’ve accumulated over the years. “Jalon never went through a spring in my time as a head coach in full,” Leipold said. “People forget that… when Jalon wasn’t practicing, Cole Ballard and Isaiah Marshall were getting reps. So they have a lot of banked reps of time. Now it’s time for them to go out and execute and play.”
Leipold has consistently stressed that consistency and decision-making will determine who earns the starting job. Even then, he hinted the competition may not completely end once a starter is named. “Once we name a starter, I still wouldn’t be surprised if both guys are going to play in games on a weekly basis,” Leipold noted. With Andy Kotelnicki back as offensive coordinator, Kansas hopes that whichever quarterback wins the job can help restore the explosive offensive production that fueled bowl appearances in 2022 and 2023.
The Jayhawks’ aim is to recapture that high-powered offense, leveraging depth and experience gained in practice to compensate for limited game reps, and to establish a rhythm that can translate into sustained success this season. Leipold’s message is clear: the program believes in both Ballard and Marshall, and it plans to rotate and incorporate both as needed to keep defenses off balance and maintain momentum week after week. As fall camp looms, Kansas will continue evaluating which signal-caller best aligns with the team’s strategic goals and the level of execution Leipold demands from his offense.
For Kansas, the path to a competitive 2026 campaign depends on establishing reliable quarterback play, maintaining leadership in the locker room, and capitalizing on the depth behind center. The decision remains in progress, but Leipold’s optimism that either Ballard or Marshall can lead the Jayhawks to meaningful wins is evident as the season approaches.