Kansas QB Jalon Daniels was the star of the opener. But this area will be a concern
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Jalon Daniels led Kansas to a 31-7 win with 176 passing yards and 3 TDs.
- Daniels showcased command through accuracy, mobility and composure under pressure.
- Kansas staff aims to balance Daniels’ dynamic playmaking with managing injury risk.
Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels scanned the field, found no receiver open and decided to tuck the ball and run.
The result? A 23-yard gain that converted a third down. It also came with a big hit that sent Daniels barreling out of bounds. He quickly shook off the contact and calmly connected with wide receiver Cam Pickett for a 21-yard touchdown on the next play.
Time and time again, Daniels made his play look effortless in KU’s 31-7 victory over Fresno State.
Whether it was with his arm or his legs, he was in complete control. He let the offense come to him and didn’t force throws in tight windows or try to do too much.
Daniels finished the night 18-of-20 passing for 176 yards with three passing touchdowns. He also added 47 rushing yards on eight carries. He was second on the team, behind running back Daniel Hishaw, in rushing attempts.
It was one of the best games Daniels has played in a while.
“He was in command. He didn’t get rattled,” coach Lance Leipold said. “He made people miss and still made throws. He was solid in the running game when we needed to do some things, but I thought his accuracy was very good.
“... He just seemed really confident in what’s going on. That’s what you need in an experienced quarterback.”
Daniels’ fearlessness was evident on the field. He sported his bruises proudly as he took plenty of hits.
At one point, he took two straight big hits and limped off the field on fourth down. KU fans breathed a massive sigh of relief after he returned for the next series.
In a half, KU fans got a glimpse of everything that makes Daniels an other-worldly talent — and everything that’s kept him from reaching his ceiling along the way.
Daniels has a storied history of injury problems spread all throughout his now-six seasons in Lawrence. His health will be paramount for a Jayhawks team with bowl aspirations in 2025.
In 2022, Daniels missed multiple games due to a shoulder injury. The next season, he only played in three games due to a back injury. He earned an extra season of eligibility through a medical redshirt and spent much of last offseason recovering from the injury.
Finding that balance between using Daniels’ legs while still protecting him is something Leipold doesn’t take lightly. In fact, backups Cole Ballard and Isaiah Marshall each made a late appearance with the game out of hand — in part to keep Daniels from taking any unnecessary hits.
“We are trying to minimize it, but still have some quarterback run game,” Leipold said. “It’ll be a balance all week, all year, I should say. But with a short week, we have to be more cognizant of it as we bounce back.”
Daniels, for his part, continues to exude confidence about his playing style — even as multiple national college football analysts took to social media to share their concerns about the contact he was taking in Game 1.
“At the end of the day, we have to do whatever we have to do to win the game,” Daniels said. “I’ve told coach Leipold that, I’ve told coach Zebrowski that. At the end of the day, we have to do what we have to do.
“If that means I have to run the ball, if that means I have to pass the ball, we’re going to do whatever we have to do to make sure we are on the winning side at the end of the game.”
This story was originally published August 23, 2025 at 11:31 PM with the headline "Kansas QB Jalon Daniels was the star of the opener. But this area will be a concern."
