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Kansas football: 3 significant games to watch on the 2021 schedule

Kansas Jayhawks helmet - Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Kansas Jayhawks helmet - Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kansas Jayhawks helmet – Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Kansas Jayhawks helmet – Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 1: South Dakota Coyotes at Kansas football: Week 1 in Lawrence, Kansas

Kansas versus South Dakota has so much meaning.  To most, either one of these teams would be a good warm up game, but to both these teams it is a statement.  South Dakota, who plays in the Missouri Valley Conference, did not get to play a full season last year due to the pandemic.

I would imagine the players are chomping at the bit to get out and play a full season.  Some players to keep an eye on in this game from South Dakota are Caleb Vander Esch a wide out along with linebacker Brock Mogensen.

These players were named to 2021 preseason all-Missouri Valley Football Conference.  Some others who received honorable mention are Jacob Matthews a defensive lineman, Jack Cochrane, and cornerback Myles Harden.

For the Kansas football program, this game is not only the start to a new season but the start of a new coaching staff, a new culture, and a new identity.

New players are joining up with returning players. Lance Leipold takes over the Kansas program bringing in some new coaches and will be running a new offense.  Another reason this is such a big game is because it will be in front of the Kansas faithful in Memorial Stadium located in Lawrence.

The eyes will be on Kansas for multiple reasons.

Like I stated previously, there’s a lot of new we can expect, but with the two biggest teams in the conference leaving for the SEC it will be a good starting point to demonstrate to other conferences the tides are turning in Lawrence.

This will be a game for the players to work off the rust off.  Going from a very strange season in which the pandemic created issues for football programs to getting back into the routine of a football season.

I believe the attention that will be on this game goes beyond the football field which is why it comes in at #1 on my list.

Next. Kansas football: 3 Jayhawks primed for a breakthrough season. dark