Kansas vs. Arizona State preview: Jayhawks head to London for Big 12 matchup

Betting line: -5.5 Arizona State

Where: Wembley Stadium

Kansas football will take its season overseas Saturday when the Jayhawks face Arizona State in the Union Jack Classic at Wembley Stadium in London. Both teams enter the matchup at 1-1, making the international Big 12 contest an important opportunity for each program to get back on track after losses last week.

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The Jayhawks are coming off a 38-21 loss to Missouri, a game in which Kansas struggled to consistently move the football and had difficulty slowing down the Tigers through the air. Isaiah Marshall will remain the starting quarterback as Kansas looks to create more consistency offensively.

One of the biggest questions for Kansas will be whether it can establish its rushing attack. The Jayhawks did not give Yasin Willis and Dylan Edwards enough opportunities early against Missouri, and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki acknowledged that Kansas needed to do a better job creating room for its running backs.

Arizona State enters London after a 45-14 loss to Texas A&M. Despite the loss, the Sun Devils have shown plenty of explosiveness offensively through the first two games. Arizona State is averaging 45 points and 343 passing yards per game, putting pressure on Kansas’ secondary to improve after Missouri quarterback Austin Simmons threw for 292 yards and three touchdowns last week.

The Sun Devils also have two dangerous receivers in Reed Harris and Omarion Miller. Harris and Miller have combined for 32 of Arizona State’s 47 completions this season, making the matchup particularly important for Kansas’ cornerbacks.

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There is also a familiar face on the other side. Former Kansas safety Lyrik Rawls transferred to Arizona State and has quickly become an important piece of the Sun Devils’ defense. Rawls recorded an interception against Texas A&M and was Arizona State’s highest-graded defensive player in that game.

Injuries could also play a role. Backup quarterback Cole Ballard is still listed as…

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Publish date : 2026-09-18 20:15:00

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