Cole Ballard News, Rumors, Updates - Kansas Jayhawks

Sees late-game action Ballard completed 4 of 6 passes for 90 yards during Friday's 51-6 win over LIU Post.

Impact Ballard entered in relief and recorded statistics during his limited time on the field. With the starter firmly entrenched atop the depth chart, Ballard's appearance was primarily a product of game flow rather than a changing QB situation. He remains off the fantasy radar in standard formats.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Kansas shakes off sluggish start, crushes LIU 51-6 in its opener ahead of Border War with Missouri

Isaiah Marshall threw for 246 yards and two touchdowns, leading Kansas to a 51-6 victory over Long Island in its season opener

6 DAYS AGO • Associated Press

Kansas shakes off a sluggish start, crushes LIU 51-6 in its opener ahead of Border War with Missouri

Isaiah Marshall threw for 246 yards and two touchdowns, leading Kansas to a 51-6 victory over Long Island in its season opener

6 DAYS AGO • Associated Press

Cole Ballard, Isaiah Marshall Discuss Ongoing Kansas QB Battle at Media Day Both of Kansas football's quarterbacks are embracing the competition amid their ongoing starter battle.

AUGUST 22 • SI.COM

Working with first-team offense Ballard was working with the first-team offense in Monday's practice, according to Michael Swain of 247Sports.com.

Impact Ballard is in a QB battle with Isaiah Marshall, but the fact that he was working with the first-team offense roughly two weeks before the season opener can be considered a positive sign. Kansas opens the 2026 season at home against LIU on Friday, Sep. 4.

AUGUST 18 • ROTOWIRE

Leipold's reset at Kansas: Kotelnicki returns to help offense as QB race heats up in fall camp

Kansas is aiming to regain some momentum after back-to-back losing seasons under Lance Leipold

AUGUST 17 • Associated Press

Cole Ballard vs Isaiah Marshall: What Both Kansas Football QBs Bring to the Table Kansas' quarterback battle features two candidates with vastly different skill sets and strengths.

AUGUST 12 • SI.COM

Cole Ballard, Isaiah Marshall Battle for Kansas Starting QB Job at Fall Camp Kansas football's quarterback battle is underway now that fall camp has begun. Who will come out on top?

AUGUST 7 • SI.COM

Remains in QB1 battle Ballard remains in a battle with Isaiah Marshall for Kansas' QB1 role, per Michael Swain of 247Sports.com.

Impact The 6-foot-2 quarterback was in a three-way battle in the spring, but it appears that he and Marshall have outpaced Chase Jenkins at this point in the offseason. Ballard has served as the Jayhawks' backup for the past three seasons, so he brings more experience to the table than Kansas returner Marshall.

AUGUST 4 • ROTOWIRE

Why Cole Ballard Has an Edge Over Isaiah Marshall in Kansas' QB Competition The coaching staff has yet to decide who will start at quarterback for Kansas this season, but fans can make a pretty good guess who it will...

JULY 19 • SI.COM

Cole Ballard May Be Kansas Football's QB1 on the Depth Chart The position battle between Isaiah Marshall and Cole Ballard under center could determine KU football's success in 2026.

MAY 7 • SI.COM

Battling Marshall, Jenkins for QB1 Ballard is battling Isaiah Marshall and Chase Jenkins for the QB1 gig, per 247Sports.

Impact Ballard has spent the past three seasons as a backup at Kansas. Last fall, he tossed for 108 yards on 10-of-22 passing while rushing for 92 yards on 15 carries. He's gotten involved, albeit minimally, in all three seasons at Kansas. His competition features a transfer from Rice in Jenkins and a home-grown gunslinger in Marshall. Ballard and Marshall appear to be the top two options at the moment, however.

APRIL 24 • ROTOWIRE

Brief spark against Iowa State Ballard completed 3 of 6 passes for 37 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's 38-14 defeat to Iowa State.

Impact Ballard provided a brief spark for the Jayhawks as he came in for an injured Jalon Daniels. Daniels would return to the game after Ballard threw a touchdown pass to TE Boden Groen. It was Ballard's first touchdown of the season. Kansas will finish the regular season against Utah.

NOVEMBER 24, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Rocco Becht throws for 3 TDs and Iowa State snaps 3-game skid against Kansas 38-14

Rocco Becht threw for 241 yards and three touchdowns, with two scores and 73 yards going to Brett Eskildsen, and Iowa State defeated Kansas 38-14

NOVEMBER 22, 2025 • Associated Press

Cole Ballard finds Boden Groen for 21-yard TD, shrinking Kansas' deficit against Iowa State

NOVEMBER 22, 2025 • FOX SPORTS

Logs some snaps vs. KSU Ballard completed 1 of 2 passes for eight yards and one interception during Saturday's 42-17 loss to Kansas State.

Impact Ballard received some playing time as starter Jalon Daniels struggled against the Wildcats. Ballard has appeared in six different games this year and will probably get some snaps against a bad Oklahoma State team next week.

OCTOBER 26, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Playing time vs. Texas Tech Ballard was 3-for-6 passing for 17 yards during Saturday's 42-17 defeat to Texas Tech. He also rushed three times for nine yards.

Impact Ballard matched his season-high in passing attempts with six as Texas Tech jumped out to a dominating lead against the Jayhawks. Starter Jalon Daniels continues to play well, so Ballard should continue to receive just limited snaps in certain scenarios. Kansas will be off next week before hosting Kansas State.

OCTOBER 12, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Playing time vs. Texas Tech Ballard was 3-for-6 passing for 17 yards during Saturday's 42-17 defeat to Texas Tech. He also rushed three times for nine yards.

OCTOBER 12, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Single rushing play against Cincy Ballard was 0-for-0 passing for zero yards during Saturday's 37-34 defeat to Cincinnati. He rushed for nine yards on a single attempt.

Impact Ballard recorded the lone rushing attempt and now has one in four of five games. Kansas will play at UCF next week.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Single rushing play against Cincy Ballard was 0-for-0 passing for zero yards during Saturday's 37-34 defeat to Cincinnati. He rushed for nine yards on a single attempt.

Impact Ballard recorded the lone rushing attempt and now has one in four of five games. Kansas will play at UCF next week.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Limited snaps in blowout win Ballard was 1-for-2 passing for eight yards during Saturday's 41-10 win versus West Virginia.

Impact Ballard also rushed for eight yards on two carries as he received playing time for the third time in four weeks. The only game he did not play in was at Missouri as Kansas was competing all the way to the end in that one. Kansas will play Cincinnati next week.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

More playing time in second game Ballard was 2-for-6 passing for 38 yards during Friday's 46-7 win against Wagner. He also had five rushes for 42 yards.

Impact With Kansas rolling against their first two opponents, Ballard has had the opportunity to see the field. That's not likely to happen next week when the team takes on Missouri in a Border Showdown.

AUGUST 31, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Two carries in blowout of Fresno Ballard rushed for 10 yards on two carries during Saturday's 31-7 win versus Fresno State.

Impact Ballard received a couple of carries as Kansas blew out Fresno State in the opener. Starting QB Jalon Daniels was nearly perfect against the Bulldogs. Kansas will play Wagner next week.

AUGUST 24, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Kansas Football Quarterback Promises Creative Changes to Offense Kansas' backup quarterback Cole Ballard said there will be innovative changes to the Jayhawks' offense this season.

JULY 26, 2025 • SI.COM

Getting reps in spring ball Ballard (undisclosed) is participating in spring practice, Sam Winton of Rivals.com reports.

Impact Ballard, who was dealing with an injury at the end of last season, is practicing in full this spring. Ballard has been serving as the team's No. 1 quarterback in practice with Jalon Daniels (knee) recovering from a minor procedure in the offseason. Daniels is expected to be ready for the start of the season so Ballard is set to serve as the backup for the third straight season.

MARCH 6, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

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GAME LOG

Kansas shakes off sluggish start, crushes LIU 51-6 in its opener ahead of Border War with Missouri

Kansas shakes off a sluggish start, crushes LIU 51-6 in its opener ahead of Border War with Missouri

Leipold's reset at Kansas: Kotelnicki returns to help offense as QB race heats up in fall camp

Rocco Becht throws for 3 TDs and Iowa State snaps 3-game skid against Kansas 38-14

Cole Ballard finds Boden Groen for 21-yard TD, shrinking Kansas' deficit against Iowa State