How the Kansas Jayhawks broke in their reimagined football stadium
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kansas opened its revamped stadium with a 31-7 win over Fresno State.
- Quarterback Jalon Daniels led early with sharp passing and rushing gains.
- Fans energized the debut, creating a special environment for Game 1.
With the exception of an emergency alarm mistakenly blaring for a few seconds late in the first half, the debut of the new David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium went off without a hitch, and that included the outcome.
Kansas took care of business in a 31-7 triumph over Fresno State in Week 0 while showing off its new — or renovated, overhauled, revamped, whatever you want to call it — home. The place sparkles, even at two-thirds completed, with reconstruction of the east side slated as the next phase.
The players got a wide-eyed first impression of their new home upon leaving the locker room.
“First of all,” quarterback Jalon Daniels said, “we’re walking out of the tunnel now. So let’s start there. I mean, you come out of the tunnel and see the fans all striped out. It means a lot.”
Tunnel walks didn’t happen in the old Memorial Stadium, which opened in 1921. Also not happening, at least not much over the years: packed student sections as part of the sellout crowd of 41,525, in alternating blue and white T-shirts.
It’s just one game, but KU coach Lance Leipold said it’s up to the team to keep the place energized and visiting recruits impressed.
“It was our responsibility to hold up our end on a special night like this and play well,” Leipold said. “Hopefully we play at a level where people stay excited.”
Also reimagined ... Daniels. On a night when many Jayhawks could take a bow, Daniels’ effort stood out.
KU fans can recall their vision of a bright future years ago when the young, dynamic quarterback led the Jayhawks to a victory at Texas, and guided them to fast starts in 2022 and 2023 before suffering injuries. Still, both seasons ended with bowl games — and Daniels passed for a school-record 544 yards in one of them.
Hopes followed Daniels into last season, but something was off. At times, he played tentatively. Decision-making became a problem. He finished strong, helping the Jayhawks defeat three straight ranked teams. But Daniels also ranked among the national leaders in interceptions, and there was no postseason.
He returned for his sixth season with more confidence and less bravado than his younger days, perhaps because more leadership is required from a player who lost 37 teammates through eligibility last season.
At his best, Daniels cooks as a passer and runner, and that happened from the first possession. He completed 12 of his first 13 passes and at halftime was the team’s leading rusher. The offense gleamed with creativity and deception in the first game under offensive coordinator Jim Zebrowski.
Things were rolling along so nicely, with wide receiver Cam Pickett collecting a pair of touchdown receptions and running backs Daniel Hishaw and Leshon Williams combining for 126 rushing yards on 19 attempts, that Leipold was able to sit Daniels in the final minutes.
“He’s as advertised,” Pickett, a transfer from Ball State, said of Daniels. “I’d watch film, plenty of clips, and I’m like, ‘Man, this dude can make some plays.’ I got to see him with my own eyes tonight.”
The Jayhawks were close to a two-touchdown favorite, but there were reasons to believe it would be closer. E.J. Warner, Fresno State’s quarterback and son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, showed pocket toughness on some early completions in leading the Bulldogs to a first-drive touchdown. He even flashed a little Patrick Mahomes with a sling pass for a 39-yard completion.
But after some early unsure tackling, Kansas settled down and proved to be the more physical team. And it was a defensive play that provided the first real home-field advantage moment.
KU led 24-7, but Fresno State was driving to open the third quarter. Linebacker Bangally Kamara broke through for a sack. The ball rolled away from Warner, but officials ruled the quarterback down. A replay on the new, huge video board showed the ball out before Warner hit the turf, and the boos were so loud fans could feel like they contributed to the overturn.
Daniels was sure not to let these moments pass without appreciation. After all, he said, this was his “last first game.”
“There were a lot of times where I was in the middle of the field and just looked around,” he said, “and tried to take everything in.”