EARLY BYE, BIG TEST: KU BATTLES WEST VIRGINIA

Gunnar Galloway - September 20, 2025 

As the Kansas Jayhawks come into a bye week after a frustrating loss to the Mizzou Tigers, they look into this week presumably rested, reloaded, and ready to make noise as we spring back in action, hosting West Virginia for some Big Twelve action in The Booth. The question now is simple: Did the early bye hurt or harm the Hawks?

Bye weeks in September are tricky. On the one hand, it’s hard to complain about getting your stars healthy before diving into upcoming conference battles.

Players are banged up after just a couple of games, and those extra days of rest and recovery can make a difference in the long run.

 It also gives the team a chance to study some film and make sure everyone is prepared for this week, and look at what's not working.

With Kansas, that means cleaning up on defense, getting the O-line on the same timing, and finding ways to get the big names in space more consistently. It's a good opportunity to fix things before they crumble. 

On the other hand, football is all about rhythm. KU came out of the gates swinging with some insane blowouts, beginning the season 2-0. Then Missouri popped them in the mouth, and now, after sitting out a week, the Jayhawks are essentially being asked to restart their season against a conference opponent who won’t make things any easier. 

The danger with an early bye is rust. Timing on routes, the pace in the run game, and the urgency on defense. Those are things you can’t fully put into motion on the practice field. 

So what should we look for this weekend? Well, QB1, Jalon Daniels, needs to come out way more decisive, whether that’s making his reads in the pocket or being the dual threat he's proved he can be when the lane is there. The o-line has been all over, but if they can protect and give him time, the Jayhawks have a way to give the Mountaineers a run for their money. I’d say first and foremost expect the Jayhawks to try to establish the run early to not only settle in but open up shots if the look is good.

Defensively, you can tell this game will be about discipline. West Virginia likes to lean on a physical run game, and KU’s front guys will have to be extremely locked on their assignments. Any slip-up can change the game in a major way, especially for Kansas. The KU secondary has shown promise before, but has also been burned on explosive plays. The bye week should have given them a chance to tighten up communication and limit those breakdowns.

The atmosphere in Lawrence should be electric. A 2-1 start in The Booth and conference play is going to have the town shaking. For Kansas, this isn’t just about bouncing back from a loss or shaking off the bye; it's about proving that they can carry momentum into Big 12 play and dodge the mistakes that have hurt them in the past.

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