Three Things Kansas Coach Lance Leipold Said ahead of the Cowboys’ Trip to Lawrence

After losing in Lubbock the Cowboys will line up in Lawrence on Saturday.

Oklahoma State plays Kansas at 3 p.m. Saturday on ESPN+. KU coach Lance Leipold met with reporters Monday to preview the game. Here are three things he said that stood out.

1. On Gundy’s Firing

Leipold squared off with Mike Gundy three times as the Jayhawks’ coach, with the Cowboys winning two of those meetings.

OSU fired Gundy after the Cowboys’ loss to Tulsa in Week 3, ending a 21-year tenure as OSU’s coach.

Leipold was asked Monday whether he was surprised by the move.

“Obviously last year, Coach Gundy made a lot of changes, essentially revamped the whole staff,” Leipold said. “They invested well in the portal, better than they ever had, I should say portal and players in moving forward. They struggle out of the gate, and maybe at that time it was a little surprising considering of all the changes, as we’re talking about teams trying to find their niche and things like that.

“And then you keep going every weekend here, nothing is surprising in coaching ranks and job security in college football anymore. So, maybe at that time, but everything that’s seemed to follow since. A guy who’s done such a good job there for so many years. Yeah, but it’s what it is a guess.”

2. On Bowen’s Return to Lawrence

Clint Bowen wasn’t ever on one of Leipold’s staffs, but considering Bowen has been in Lawrence for just about all of his life, the two have had interactions with each other.

Leipold said he and Bowen have sons who are the same age and that they shared a summer baseball team. Leipold also added he had some interactions with Bowen before taking the KU job.

On top of all that, Bowen was the head coach at Lawrence High from 2021 to 2024.

“Got a lot of respect for Clint in a lot of different ways,” Leipold said. “I admire him for taking a chance to go back and coach in high school and have a chance to be the father he wants to be through that.

“I know this: I know he’s gonna put his heart and soul into this week. That’s not gonna be surprising. There’ll be a lot there. I’m sure he’s probably working off of coffee and Red Bull or something right now. But a lot of respect for him.”

3. ‘They Have Some Talent’

The Cowboys are 1-7 and are currently a 24.5-point underdog to the Jayhawks this weekend.

That would lead many to believe Saturday’s game is a bit of a formality, but don’t tell that to Leipold.

“I do know this, when I watch part of their games, they have some athletes,” Leipold said. “They have some talent. They have some speed. They’ve created some big plays. They’re doing things, then all of a sudden again like many of us, we’re trying to find answers why we shoot ourselves in the foot, so to speak, and something happens.

“But I’m watching, as I’m going through certain games, I’m like, ‘Holy cow. Holy cow. That’s another big play. That’s another guy. There’s another athletic quarterback making some things happen.’ I’m sure they’re looking at it through their lens and where we’re at that this is a great opportunity for them to get a conference win and get themselves feeling good.”