Leipold discounts talk of a Kansas edge ahead of London game against Arizona State

Kansas head coach Lance Leipold has dismissed claims that his team had an unfair advantage heading into Saturday's game against Arizona State in London. Leipold addressed the matter on Wednesday, following the Jayhawks' arrival in the capital for the inaugural Union Jack Classic. The Jayhawks played at home on Friday night, suffering a 38-21 loss to Missouri, while Arizona State suffered a 48-20 defeat on the road against Texas A&M on Saturday.

Leipold pointed out that the game concluded at nearly 11 p.m., and the Sun Devils began play at 11 a.m., suggesting the advantage may not be as significant as some believe. ASU's coach, Kenny Dillingham, had previously argued that teams in international games should play on the same day in the previous week. Leipold acknowledged the importance of acclimatization but remained uncertain about whether the timing truly provided a substantial edge.

The Sun Devils traveled to London after their game at College Station. Leipold respected Dillingham's point about getting additional practice before the flight, agreeing that it makes sense. However, he emphasized that it is unclear if there is a real advantage either way. The Big 12 Conference relocated the Kansas-Missouri game to a different day after announcing the Union Jack Classic.

Leipold mentioned receiving a text message from Dillingham when the change was announced. If Cole Ballard, Kansas' starting quarterback, is unavailable for Saturday's matchup, the Jayhawks will rely on backup QB Chase Jenkins.