Kansas football vs Utah score prediction: Big 12 scouting report

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LAWRENCE — Earlier this week, ahead of Kansas football’s matchup Friday against Utah, Kansas football coach Lance Leipold was asked if this was a culture game.

Leipold’s team is coming off of a lopsided defeat on the road against Iowa State. That defeat came after an open week, and a separate defeat earlier in the month at Arizona that the Jayhawks had a chance to win. The 2024 Jayhawks didn’t quit, with a late-season surge that ultimately fell a game short of clinching bowl eligibility, and the 2025 iteration has a chance to show this week against the Utes that it won’t either.

Leipold, thinking about it, acknowledged to reporters that you could say the response KU (5-6, 3-5 in Big 12) has Friday is about culture, as well as pride and purpose. He’s told his staff ahead of facing Utah (9-2, 6-2) that, unfortunately, while it’s a holiday week he can’t feel overly sensitive to that because they have to have this team ready to go for this Big 12 Conference contest. How KU reached this point this year is different from last year, but bowl eligibility is on the line again and he understands they owe it to the players and fans to be in position to compete.

Here is a scouting report and prediction prior to the 11 a.m. (CT)-scheduled kickoff in Lawrence:

Kansas football coach Lance Leipold previews Utah

Leipold described Utah as a really good football team that’s solid in all phases, and physical. That should come as no surprise, given the Utes are a top-15 team in the US LBM Coaches Poll and College Football Playoff rankings. Utah features an explosive offense, too, with numerous playmakers — including at quarterback, with one of the more physical runners the Jayhawks will have played in a while.

Leipold, who praised the consistent success Utes coach Kyle Whittingham has had there, did point to Utah’s recent win against Kansas State as something KU has an eye on. Kansas State was able to run the ball really well, and Kansas will attempt to do the same. This is the first time Leipold will go up against the Utes since taking over the Jayhawks’ program ahead of the 2021 season.

Kansas football offensive coordinator Jim Zebrowksi previews Utah

Kansas offensive coordinator Jim Zebrowski acknowledged that Kansas State’s ability to run the ball on Utah gives the Jayhawks some hope that, if they can block well in the interior, they have a chance to make plays, too. Of course, any game they study could give them some type of feel on what’s possible. But the potential is there for the duo of running backs KU has in Leshon Williams and Daniel Hishaw Jr.

Zebrowski also mentioned that there is an understanding that his offense may have to put up points, because of how much Utah’s scores this year. However, there is a need to not put too much pressure on his group to do things differently. In the end, from his perspective, Kansas has to remain Kansas.

Kansas football defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald previews Utah

Kansas defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald’s group has struggled to defend the run at times, and is going against a Utah squad that has enjoyed a lot of success in that area. It’ll be one of the most diverse, if not the most diverse, running games the Jayhawks will have seen this season. That means eye discipline will be key, and that’s something that’s been a significant talking point of late.

McDonald anticipates Utah throwing in some wrinkles KU hasn’t seen yet. He’s also aware of how much the Utes have been scoring, although he both talked about studying an opponent’s tendencies and how in the end the Jayhawks have to focus on themselves. Execute, and they’ll be able to get off the field.