NFL

Kansas Football Week 0: Jalon Daniels Leads Kansas to 31–7 Win vs. Fresno State

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Kansas Football

 

Kansas Football opened the 2025 season in style, beating Fresno State 31–7 as Jalon Daniels starred in the Jayhawks’ $450M rebuilt stadium. See recap, player stats, how to watch KU Football, KU vs. Fresno State context, predictions, schedule, and authoritative sources.

 

Quick Hits (TL;DR)

  • Final: Kansas 31, Fresno State 7. Sixth-year senior Jalon Daniels went 18-of-20 for 176 yards and 3 TD, adding 47 rush yards. Two TDs went to newcomer Cam Pickett.
  • Setting: First game in KU’s rebuilt, ~$450M on-campus stadium; sellout atmosphere.
  • How to Watch (Week 0): Game aired on FOX (U.S.) with streaming options via major OTT services; kickoff listed at 6:30 p.m. ET.
  • Record: Kansas opens 1–0; next up Wagner on Friday, Aug 29 in Lawrence.

Why This Week 0 Win Matters for Kansas Football

Week 0 delivered a statement from Kansas Jayhawks Football. Not only did KU secure a comfortable victory, it did so while christening the reimagined David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, a landmark investment that signals the program’s ambitious trajectory under Lance Leipold. The on-field performance matched the off-field upgrade: an efficient, balanced offense and a locked-in defense against a traditionally scrappy Fresno State.

This result sets up momentum heading into the non-conference slate and a Big 12 race where early rhythm matters. It also calms preseason questions around Jalon Daniels’ health and readiness after he was limited earlier in the year.

Game Recap: Kansas vs Fresno State (Week 0)

Score: Kansas 31, Fresno State 7
Date: Saturday, August 23, 2025
Venue: David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, KS

Scoring snapshot (highlights):

  • 1Q (11:06): Cam Pickett 21-yd TD from Jalon Daniels (KU 7–0)
  • 1Q (7:25): Elijah Gilliam 3-yd TD run (7–7)
  • 1Q (2:16): Leshon Williams 19-yd TD run (KU 14–7)
  • 3Q (7:51): Keaton Kubecka 12-yd TD from Daniels (KU 31–7 after third-quarter surge)
    Full play-by-play and box score are available via ESPN/NCAA

Headliners:

  • Jalon Daniels: 18/20, 176 yards, 3 TD; 47 rushing yards — hyper-efficient and in command.
  • Cam Pickett: Immediate chemistry with Daniels, 2 TD receptions.
  • Leshon Williams: The Iowa transfer popped a long TD that established tone and physicality.

The atmosphere: Sellout crowd and a celebratory return to an upgraded home transformed the opener into an event, elevating the win’s significance beyond the box score.

Advanced Lens: What the Numbers Say

  • Efficiency over tempo: Pre-game chatter pegged KU as a methodical offense (slow tempo in 2024) expected to control pace. That’s exactly how the game felt: clean, efficient series, minimal mistakes, plus explosive moments when presented. (Pre-game tempo & odds context)
  • Explosive balance: Three TD passes from Daniels and a chunk run from Williams demonstrate a multiple attack: KU didn’t need breakneck pace to separate on the scoreboard.
  • Defense & adjustments: Holding Fresno State to 7 points is no small thing for a Week 0 opener, especially against a program that typically schemes well. Fresno is also ushering in a first-year head coach (Matt Entz), adding transition variables to their profile.

Jalon Daniels: Health, Command, and Ceiling

If there was one question all offseason, it was Daniels’ physical readiness. Reports in the spring noted he’d be limited as he worked back from a knee procedure, with the expectation of being ready by summer/fall. Week 0 confirmed he’s back and decisive. The stat line (90% completion rate, 3 TDs) tells the story of accuracy and pre-snap control, not just highlight throws.

Local analysis has underscored that Daniels’ health is pivotal to KU’s bowl and Big 12 aspirations; his performance amplified that theme with action, not words.

Fresno State Angle: Transition Year, Tough Assignment

Fresno State entered Week 0 with Matt Entz in his first season. Pre-game metrics placed the Bulldogs as a work-in-progress on offense (ESPN SP+ around 99th per reports), and against a seasoned KU quarterback in a charged environment, the margin for error was thin. Expect Fresno’s offensive identity to evolve over September as the staff and personnel mesh.

Where to Watch Kansas Jayhawks Football (and Replays)

  • Broadcast (Week 0): FOX carried Kansas vs Fresno State; kickoff was 6:30 p.m. ET with streaming availability (e.g., Fubo).
  • Future KU Games: Check the official KU Athletics schedule for network assignments and times as they update throughout the season.
  • National listings: Aggregated Week 0 TV times and channels are also tracked by FBSchedules.

Pro tip: Bookmark KU’s official schedule page; TV windows can flex with conference and network picks.

Schedule & What’s Next for KU Football

Immediate:

  • Wagner — Friday, Aug 29, Lawrence (time listed: evening CT).

Near term (selected):

  • @ Missouri (Sept 6) — regional rivalry spice returns.
  • West Virginia (Sept 20) — Big 12 opener vibes.

For the full 2025 Kansas Football schedule, including tickets and any TV updates, see KU Athletics and FBSchedules.

Big Picture: KU Football’s 2025 Trajectory

  • Facilities + product: The stadium renovation isn’t just cosmetic; it’s a recruiting and brand statement. Pairing that with a clean, emphatic opener builds equity for the months ahead.
  • Quarterback continuity: As long as Daniels is upright and supported by a balanced run game (Williams, Hishaw Jr.) and emerging pass catchers (Pickett, Kubecka), KU projects as a dangerous, efficient outfit in the Big 12.
  • Defense early return: Allowing seven points in Week 0 is a strong foundation. As tape accumulates, expect more pressure packages and situational disguises.

 

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