Kansas Jayhawks vs. Wagner: Five things to know about KU’s Week 1 football matchup
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels posted three touchdowns and 223 total yards.
- Wagner enters the matchup after a 4-8 season and a projected fourth-place NEC finish.
- Four Wagner players earned All-NEC Preseason honors, including LB Jordan Johnson.
The Kansas football team has a quick turnaround after KU’s drubbing of Fresno State on Saturday. The Jayhawks face Wagner on Friday.
KU looked dominant on both sides of the ball against the Bulldogs. KU coach Lance Leipold liked what he saw from his team.
“It was our responsibility to hold up our end on a special night like this and play well,” he said. “Hopefully we play at a level where people stay excited.”
Here’s everything you need to know about this week’s game:
KU football vs. Wagner game details
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29
Where: David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, Lawrence
TV: ESPN+
Radio: Jayhawk Radio Network; WHB (810) in Kansas City
Early betting line: N/A
Five things to know
1. Wagner is coming off a rough season. The Seahawks finished 4-8 overall, including 2-4 in the Northeast Conference. This is the first matchup between both sides.
2. KU must watch out for senior linebacker Jordan Johnson. He had 51 tackles, including seven tackles for loss, and two sacks across 12 games last season
3. Wagner is expected to be a middle-of-the-road Northeast Conference team. League media projected the Seahawks to finish fourth in the league. Wagner tied for fifth in the conference last year.
4. Four Seahawks made 2025 the All-NEC Preseason Team. Those players are junior (WR) Teree McDonald and (DL) Logan Barnes, along with senior (OL) Brady Anderson and (LB) Jordan Johnson. All four are players to watch Friday.
5. Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels started the season hot. He finished 18-of-20 for 176 yards with three passing touchdowns. He also rushed for 47 yards. It was one of the best games he’s played in a long time and a great sign — he’s looked rusty at the start of previous seasons. He looked to be in midseason form vs. Fresno State and will get the chance to continue that against Wagner.
This story was originally published August 25, 2025 at 11:51 AM.
