Next Play: College + high school football kickoffs, Chiefs decisions anchor big week

Welcome to our second installment of Stuff to Watch in KC Sports ... err, The Next Play. Hey, it’s only week 2; we’ll get this thing right eventually.

The idea is clear enough: Here, each week in your Sunday Kansas City Star, we’ll outline what’s on tap in the week ahead around the KC sports scene.

There’s a lot to talk about, so let’s get down to it.

Almost time for Chiefs

The Chiefs are finally done with their new-look preseason (three games instead of four, or, in the case of last year, no preseason at all). Now it’s time to make final preparations for the regular season.

The task at hand, which must be completed by 3 p.m. Central Time on Tuesday, is getting the roster set at 53 players. That means a lot of Chiefs, about 30, will be looking for new employment by the time the NFL-imposed roster deadline arrives.

Deadline day always brings a few surprises, and not just here in Chiefs Kingdom. Teams all around the league, including this year’s season-opening opponent, the Cleveland Browns, face the same mandate.

The good news: At this time next week, Arrowhead Stadium will be rocking in anticipation of real football.

College football openers

Prep time is over for the area’s three Division I college football teams. Kansas, Missouri and K-State all play season openers this week.

K-State has a big-time matchup with Stanford on Saturday at 10 a.m. It’s the reciprocating end of a home-and-home series that sent the Wildcats to the Cardinal’s house in a 2016 game that Stanford won 26-13.

Mizzou’s first game is Saturday at 3 p.m. against the Central Michigan Chippewas at Faurot Field, while Kansas, under first-year coach Lance Leipold, kicks things off at 7 p.m. Friday at home against South Dakota.

High school football

The Missouri-side high schools started their football seasons this past Friday, and now it’s Kansas’ turn.

All (or most) KC-area schools will be in action. If you haven’t been to a high school football game for a while, maybe this is the week to check out a game.

The on-field drama and excitement in the stands is unparalleled. We still love the purity of these games, when memories are made, lifelong lessons are learned and the bands keep the entire scene moving happily along.

There’s nothing else like it in sports.

The summer of soccer continues

Last week on these pages, we wrote that Sporting Kansas City was a threat in MLS’ Western Conference. That hasn’t changed. Sporting KC remains one of the teams atop the standings and is back on the road this week, playing LAFC in Southern California Friday night at 10.

KC NWSL, meanwhile, after a game in Chicago Saturday night against the Red Stars, has a full week off before playing again. Former KC captain Amy Rodriguez and the NC Courage (yes, them again) roll into town next Sunday for a match at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kan.

Royals on a mission

The Royals are doing their best to use the rest of the 2021 Major League Baseball season to get ready for 2022. That’s not the scenario any baseball fans wish upon the hometown nine when a season begins, but the Royals actually have a lot to be excited about.

We know, you’ve heard this before. But the club’s young starting pitchers looked pretty stout in August, and the goal for September will be to keep that momentum rolling. There’s a lot to like about how things are shaping up for the Royals next season.

After on off-day Monday, a six-game homestand against the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox awaits.