KU football dominates Fresno State in opener at The Booth. Here are 3 takeaways
Kansas coach Lance Leipold has already stated he believes KU has “a chance to be a really good football team.”
So far, so good.
In front of a packed crowd in the renovated David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, the Jayhawks defeated Fresno State 31-7 on Saturday.
It was an important win, as the Jayhawks sought to start strong after a disappointing last season; KU finished 5-7 despite garnering perhaps the highest preseason expectations the program has had in over a decade.
Easily beating a Fresno State team that has caused plenty of superior opponents issues over the years is no easy feat.
Kansas was in total control from kickoff. It took less than four minutes for Kansas to get on the scoreboard. The Jayhawks finished off a nine-play, 86-yard drive when quarterback Jalon Daniels connected with wide receiver Cam Pickett for a 21-yard touchdown.
KU’s defense did the offense no favors on the subsequent drive by missing tackles and allowing big plays. It didn’t take long for Fresno State to get a touchdown and tie the score.
The Jayhawks dominated the rest of the first half, going into halftime with a 24-7 lead. Fresno State didn’t score again.
Daniels finished 18-of-20 passing for 176 yards with three passing touchdowns. He also added 47 rushing yards. Pickett had six catches for 77 receiving yards and finished with two touchdowns.
Running back Daniel Hishaw added 69 rushing yards on 5.3 yards per carry. The Jayhawks also caused two turnovers by picking off Fresno State quarterback EJ Warner once in each half.
Up next: Kansas hosts Wagner on Friday, Aug. 29.
Until then, here are three takeaways from Saturday’s game…
Jalon Daniels starts strong
What a game by Daniels.
The sixth-year QB was spectacular in the first half. Daniels went 13-for-15 passing for 145 yards and two touchdowns through two quarters. He added 47 yards on the ground.
Daniels made it look easy despite his offensive line struggling to pass block throughout the half. Oftentimes, he’d evade pressure with his legs or make accurate throws while on the run.
He also converted critical third downs. He didn’t force balls into tight windows and did an excellent job of going through his progressions. It was perhaps the best he’s looked in a long time.
It’s a version of Daniels that didn’t show up until the latter half of last season, but it’s been quite some time since things looked this easy for him.
Kansas backup Cole Ballard came in for Daniels with about five minutes left in the game. Third-string QB Isaiah Marshall even played some snaps. The Jayhawks could’ve scored more but knelt the ball out at the end.
KU’s offense shows creativity with new OC
The difference between an offense led by new offensive coordinator Jim Zebrowski and former OC Jeff Grimes was night and day.
The Jayhawks were creative in not only play calls, but also with a balance of run/pass plays. KU showed off a fair share of option plays and plenty of line movements and shifts.
Zebrowski used Daniels as a runner quite a bit, and it paid off, even while he took some hits. Kansas did a nice job of crafting plays where receivers gained plenty of separation, which was a struggle throughout last season.
The Jayhawks finished the night with 383 yards of total offense and 22 first downs.
Daniels has talked about the trust Zebrowski has in him, and that was on full display on Saturday. There was a large learning curve last season under Grimes. That does not appear to be the case, here.
David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium atmosphere impresses
The energy inside the renovated stadium was rocking from the start of the game.
Not only was the game sold out, but the crowd was loud and tuned in the entire time. It was the type of atmosphere that Kansas AD Travis Goff has often stated he’s hoped to see.
The play on the field certainly gave Kansas fans plenty to cheer about, but it was a big moment overall for the Jayhawks. It was a sign of how far things have come since Leipold took over in Lawrence, and it was broadcast to a national TV audience on FOX with little outside competition on Week 0.
This story was originally published August 23, 2025 at 9:04 PM with the headline "KU football dominates Fresno State in opener at The Booth. Here are 3 takeaways."
