Kansas coach encouraged by running back depth after Middle Tennessee game
Kansas coach Lance Leipold said his concerns about the team's running back group eased following the Middle Tennessee game. The Jayhawks had entered that matchup with questions at the position.
Kansas head coach Lance Leipold entered the Middle Tennessee matchup with uncertainty surrounding his team's running backs. Following the game, he indicated that those worries had lessened, suggesting the group's performance gave him more confidence in its depth.
The matchup occurred Oct. 3, 2026, at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas. Leipold was shown on the sideline in the fourth quarter, and the Jayhawks had faced uncertainty at that spot before meeting the Blue Raiders.
This update could matter most to Kansas players, recruits, and fans, as a clearer backfield rotation may shape expectations for the season. If the depth proves reliable, it may reduce pressure on other parts of the offense and give coaches more flexibility. For the broader college football audience, it is a small but useful signal about how programs manage roster uncertainty and communicate confidence after early-season tests.