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How To Watch Kansas Jayhawks Football in 2026

✦ Edited and fact-checked by David Vick, our Contributing Writer, with over five years covering sports.

Status: Verified 8/24/26

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Kansas football has reached the prove-it portion of the Lance Leipold era. After back-to-back 5– 7 seasons, the Jayhawks are replacing quarterback Jalon Daniels, breaking in new play-caller Andy Kotelnicki, and trying to beat archrival Kansas State for the first time since 2008.

The TV windows for Kansas’ first three games have already been announced: LIU will air on ESPNU, Missouri on FOX, and Arizona State on FS1. This guide will help you watch Kansas Jayhawks football in 2026, whether you are locked in for the Border War or building a larger Saturday lineup with our How To Watch College Football guide.

Watch Kansas Jayhawks college football

2026 Kansas Jayhawks TV schedule

Kansas takes center stage against Missouri in the Border War on Friday, September 11, on FOX. A week later, they’ll take on Arizona State in London, England — yes, you read that right.

The Sunflower Showdown against Kansas State on October 17 is another highly anticipated rivalry game that can define the Jayhawks’ season.

Use the table below for the latest kickoff times and channel selections. For the rest of each week’s nationally televised schedule, check out our College Football TV Schedule page.

OpponentDateTime (ET)Channel
Long Island University Sharks
Friday, Sept. 4
8:00 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 11
8:00 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 19
Noon
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
Saturday, Oct. 3
TBD
TBD
Saturday, Oct. 10
TBD
TBD
Saturday, Oct. 17
TBD
TBD
Baylor Bears
Saturday, Oct. 24
TBD
TBD
Saturday, Oct. 31
TBD
TBD
UCF Knights
Saturday, Nov. 7
TBD
TBD
Saturday, Nov. 14
TBD
TBD
Saturday, Nov. 21
TBD
TBD
Saturday, Nov. 28
TBD
TBD



Best TV plans for watching Kansas Jayhawks football

DIRECTV carries ESPNU, FOX, and FS1, the channels airing Kansas’ early-season games. Big 12 fans should also keep HBO Max in mind for any potential Jayhawks games that air on TNT or TBS.

Our recommendations below prioritize channels, price, and ease of use, according to our Editorial Policy. To see more side-by-side options, check our Best Streaming Services for Sports rankings.

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Best Overall

DIRECTV is the best option for loyal Jayhawks fans. It offers each channel that Kansas will play on in the first three weeks of the season. The fan-favorite provider also includes ESPN and ABC — two channels college football fans can’t live without.

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Big 12 Games

Any Kansas game selected to air on TNT or TBS will also stream on HBO Max. No Kansas-specific HBO Max matchup is currently announced, so treat this as a watchlist add-on rather than an immediate buy.

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Live TV Alternative

YouTube TV is a useful alternative for FOX, FS1, and ESPNU viewers who want a broad TV package. It’s also a great option to watch other teams play all season long.

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How to watch Kansas Jayhawks football FAQ

Where can I watch the Kansas Jayhawks for free?

A DIRECTV free trial is a great way to stream Kansas games on included live channels — subject to the service's trial terms and any separate platform exclusives. A digital antenna also lets you watch local ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC broadcasts for free.

Where can I stream Kansas Jayhawks games if I don't have cable?

Hulu + Live TV gives Kansas fans a cable-free way to get all the major college football channels. It also includes ESPN Unlimited, although there are currently no Kansas-specific ESPN Unlimited games in the announced 2026 TV windows; check out the Jayhawks' schedule frequently for updates.

Can I watch Kansas Jayhawks football on HBO Max?

Possibly. HBO Max streams Big 12 games that air on TNT and TBS, but zero Kansas games are currently assigned to either of those channels.

How do I watch Kansas Jayhawks football if I live out of state?

Out-of-state Kansas fans can generally watch through the same national TV channels and streaming services listed in the schedule above. College football coverage follows national, conference, and streaming rights — rather than a Kansas-only local package.

CableTV.com editors created this article using original analysis and proprietary inputs, with AI tools assisting in drafting. The final content was reviewed and edited for accuracy and quality.

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