LAWRENCE (KSNT) - Kansas football returns to Children's Mercy Park for its final non-conference game of the season after a disappointing loss to Illinois.
The then-No. 19 Jayhawks suffered a 23-17 loss at the hands of the Fighting Illini, a game where KU quarterback Jalon Daniels threw three interceptions. Head coach Lance Leipold knows his team didn't perform to its expected standard, but also knows the importance of keeping an early non-conference loss in perspective.
After getting back on the practice field on Monday, Leipold said the attitude and effort of his team hasn't faded, with veteran leaders driving the team's response.
"The difference of disappointed in the outcome in that versus deflection and blame," Leipold said of his team's approach. "And teams that don't have veteran leadership and don't have a good culture, that's where you start getting locker room issues ... We've got to go out Friday night and play and show that and show it to our fanbase."
The week also presents a short turnaround to prepare for a Friday game against UNLV. Leipold recognizes the 2024 UNLV team is quite different than the team KU faced in the 2023 Guaranteed Rate Bowl.
He pointed out UNLV's new transfer quarterback's ability to create havoc on the ground, as well as connect with his talented receivers.
"They're very unique in what they do offensively and they're very aggressive and multiple on defense in how they bring pressure," Leipold said. "They're playing extremely confident and feel they should be a top 25 team, so we've got to make sure that we're ready and we're hitting on all cylinders as well."
Kansas and UNLV kick off at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13.
