Kansas football will open 2023 season with 2 Friday games. AD Travis Goff explains why
Kansas football hasn’t had many opportunities to play in a prime-time TV slot over the years.
So, when ESPN approached KU about moving the Kansas-Illinois second-week matchup — initially scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 9 — to Friday, Sept. 8, at 6:30 p.m., KU athletic director Travis Goff didn’t think twice.
The game will be a nationally televised prime-time matchup to kick off Week 2 of the college football season.
“I think for any of us who’ve followed Kansas football … where we’ve been in this past fall, where we’re trying to go, it shouldn’t be any surprise that we haven’t gotten very many phone calls and invites to be on prime time,” Goff said on Thursday. “The young men in (this) program deserve a chance to play in front of what is really three, four, five, six, potentially ‘X’ times the eyeballs they’re gonna get on a Week 2 Saturday.”
Part of the reason for that, Goff noted, is that Week 2 features some of the best matchups of “the entire year.”
Although Friday nights are usually synonymous with high school football, Goff knows a prime-time game is a big step for the KU program, no matter the day.
“The reality is, at this juncture, Kansas (vs.) Illinois wasn’t going to be elevated to a prime-time network or slot on that Saturday,” Goff said. “We couldn’t be more excited. I think it’s an incredible opportunity for our entire institution to demonstrate what it is, what’s special about the University of Kansas, what’s special about that environment for football on a Friday night in particular and the direction of this football program.
“So for us, in every evaluation, it’s a win.”
Due to the Week 2 schedule change, Kansas will also move its season opener against Missouri State back one day to Friday, Sept. 1. That game will kick off at 7 p.m. and be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
Goff apologized for any issues KU fans may face due to the schedule changes.
“We know there’s certainly some potential inconveniences for some segments of our fans,” Goff said. “We’re sensitive to Fridays in terms of high school football, and we’re working actively to try and come up with ways to be better partners and open up some other doors for our local high school football programs. So (we’re) really excited about where that’s going.”
ESPN hasn’t picked KU for a nationally televised home weekday game since Kansas beat TCU 38-20 on ESPN in 1995.
Still, last season the Jayhawks (6-7, 3-5 Big 12) made their first bowl game in 14 years and even hosted ESPN’s College GameDay for the first time ever on the gridiron.
Goff has emphasized building upon last season so Kansas can take the next step as a program. A way for Kansas to do so? Making the most of opportunities like these.
“When there’s so many great stories of college football, there are so many quote-unquote ‘blue bloods’ out there that you could put in that slot,” Goff said. “For Kansas football to be selected — we hope and believe that’s got a chance now to be a more regular element for us, for college football fans across the country and the world.
“So we think it’s an appropriate step and we’re going to very much make the most of it.”
This story was originally published June 8, 2023 at 4:54 PM.
