Kansas Jayhawks Face UCF Knights After Defensive Struggles

LAWRENCE, Kansas — The Kansas Jayhawks face a challenging matchup this weekend against the UCF Knights after their shaky performance against the Cincinnati Bearcats. On Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, Kansas lost 37-34 at home, allowing 603 total yards, including 388 passing yards.

Head coach Lance Leipold cited misalignments and missed assignments as critical issues for his defense throughout the game. ‘We lacked confidence in coverage and got tentative,’ he said. ‘We need to play harder and execute better.’

The young Jayhawks secondary faced a tough test against Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who threw two touchdown passes. Defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald acknowledged that the team faced problems he had not observed in previous games.

Next, the Jayhawks (3-2, 1-1 Big 12) will travel to Orlando, Florida, to play against UCF (3-1, 0-1 Big 12) on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. Central time. This game offers KU a critical opportunity to demonstrate improvement after struggling on defense.

UCF’s quarterback situation remains uncertain, with both Jacurri Brown and Cam Fancher potentially sharing snaps. Fancher, who started the Knights’ game earlier this season, is recovering from an injury, while Jackson has performed well when on the field.

‘We need to manage our pressure from their front,’ said Jim Zebrowski, offensive coordinator for Kansas. He pointed out UCF’s ability to create havoc defensively.

The matchup is vital for KU as they hope to bounce back from their recent loss. They will look to limit explosive plays from UCF’s offense, which heavily relies on large gains to score.

Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at the Acrisure Bounce House, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN2, with a betting line favoring Kansas by 4.5 points.