Kansas
Kansas football vs Texas Tech score prediction: Scouting report for Big 12 Conference game
Kansas football DC D.K. McDonald discusses KU’s goal-line stand at UCF
Check out some of what Kansas football defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald had to say Tuesday ahead of the Jayhawks’ road game against Texas Tech.
LAWRENCE — Kansas football’s Big 12 Conference schedule continues Saturday with another road game, this time against No. 10 Texas Tech.
Kickoff between these teams is set for 6:30 p.m. (CT) in Lubbock, Texas. The Jayhawks (4-2, 2-1 in Big 12) are coming off of a win on the road against UCF. The Red Raiders (5-0, 2-0) are coming in off of a win on the road against Houston.
KU head coach Lance Leipold didn’t necessarily get into a game-by-game prediction before the season started, when he projected out how good Texas Tech could be, but he’s not surprised at all where the Red Raiders are at. It’s a group that’s lived up to the preseason expectations many had for it. He highlighted Texas Tech’s win earlier this fall on the road against Utah as one example of how well things have gone for the Red Raiders.
Before kickoff, here’s a scouting report and prediction:
Kansas football head coach Lance Leipold previews Texas Tech
Leipold praised how much talent and depth Texas Tech has, and pointed how how the Red Raiders have been able to take control of most of their games early on. When it comes to teams in the Big 12, they’re also ranking among the best in numerous statistics. It’s going to be a challenge that he expects his guys to embrace.
Leipold described Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton as an experienced talent who’s playing as well as anyone in the conference right now. Leipold also sees a defensive line that’s explosive and athletic, and an outside linebacker in Stanford transfer David Bailey — listed as a starter at the end position on Texas Tech’s depth chart — who’s been everything the Red Raiders wanted. When it comes to facing a defensive front that’s as talented as Texas Tech’s, Leipold said staying in normal down-and-distance situations and remaining balanced will be key.
Kansas football offensive coordinator Jim Zebrowski previews Texas Tech
Kansas offensive coordinator Jim Zebrowski described Texas Tech’s defensive line as having fast guys off the edge and terrific tackles inside. That’s on top of having an outstanding group of linebackers. What he wants to do, is not allow the guys who come off the edge to wreck the game.
That puts a significant challenge, then, on the Jayhawks’ offensive line. Zebrowski thinks it’s improved in run-blocking of late, and holistically mentioned the group is getting more comfortable with what it does well — including Bryce Foster coming off of his best game. And while KU is a team that tries to get the ball out fast, Zebrowski has confidence in how well the offensive line has fared in pass protection to date.
Kansas football defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald previews Texas Tech
Kansas defensive coordinator D.K. McDonald said limiting Texas Tech’s ability to execute explosive plays will come down to causing havoc up front and then covering well behind that. He described Morton as special, and like a coach on the field. McDonald also called the Red Raiders’ wide receivers special, noted the offensive line has size and praised the running backs.
Kansas is having to deal with some injuries in the secondary, and that’s testing the Jayhawks’ depth there. McDonald spoke before Big 12 player availability reports started to get released this week, but as of Friday’s latest update it’s important to note safety Devin Dye and cornerback Syeed Gibbs are both out, and safety Mason Ellis is questionable. Generally, McDonald said managing the issue there is about helping other players step up and making sure the game plan fits what they can do.
Kansas football players preview Texas Tech
Kansas cornerback Austin Alexander highlighted that Texas Tech’s wide receivers have length, and that overall the matchup will provide his side with a good challenge. He’s not worried about playing a night game on the road, noting he actually likes playing in different atmospheres like that.
Foster agreed that he’s coming off of his best game of the season, and thinks overall the offensive line has developed more confidence and chemistry in recent weeks. Looking at Texas Tech’s defensive line he sees a group with a lot of size, and that includes a player in Lee Hunter that he knows previously competed for UCF.
Kansas wide receiver Cam Pickett acknowledged how dynamic Texas Tech’s defense is, and that it will look to generate pressure up front. But he expressed confidence in how well the offensive line will be able to fare in pass protection, and in regards to himself personally sounded excited to just be healthy again as he looks to make more plays for KU’s offense.
Kansas football vs Texas Tech prediction
Kansas regained some momentum with its comeback win last weekend at UCF, but it’s about to face a Texas Tech team that hasn’t lost momentum at all this fall. The Red Raiders will also have the benefit of home-field advantage, as they look to continue to put themselves in a position to compete at the highest level of postseason competition this season. Look for Texas Tech to capture a 40-24 victory.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
Kansas
Where to watch St. Louis Cardinals vs Kansas City Royals: TV channel, start time, streaming for June 19
What to know about MLB’s ABS robot umpire strike zone system
MLB launches ABS challenge system as players test robot umpire calls in a groundbreaking season.
The 2026 MLB season has surpassed the quarter mark, and after each team’s first 40 games, there’s plenty of reasons to tune in all summer long.
Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami has already proven doubters wrong by launching 17 home runs, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes consistently looks like the best version of himself on the mound and Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski is throwing harder than any starter in the majors.
The MLB action continues on Friday as the St. Louis Cardinals visit the Kansas City Royals.
Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the first pitch.
See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.
What time is St. Louis Cardinals vs Kansas City Royals?
First pitch between the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals is scheduled for (ET) on Friday, June 19.
How to watch St. Louis Cardinals vs Kansas City Royals on Friday
All times Eastern and accurate as of Friday, June 19, 2026, at 6:33 a.m.
- Matchup: STL at KC
- Date: Friday, June 19
- Time: (ET)
- Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
- Location: Kansas City, Missouri
- TV: Apple TV
- Streaming: MLB.TV on Fubo
Watch MLB all season long with Fubo
MLB regional blackout restrictions apply
MLB scores, results
MLB scores for June 19 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:
See scores, results for all of today’s games.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) — It’s been a week since the World Cup began in Kansas City, but some local businesses aren’t feeling the expected influx in traffic and are asking for support.
On Thursday, KC2026 provided numbers for the FIFA Fan Festival and the ConnectKC26 transportation system.
From June 11 to June 16, KC2026 said more than 63,000 people attended the FIFA Fan Festival.
There are mixed results for where everyone is from:
- 52% from Kansas or Missouri
- 33% from the United States
- 15% from out of the country
As of 2 p.m. on June 17, ConnectKC26 has a total of 86,540 registered passes.
Breakdown of routes from KC2026:
- Stadium Direct: 57,302
- Regional Direct: 17,284
- Airport Direct: 11,954
As for business traffic, it depends on where you look. Some businesses in the Country Club Plaza said they’ve seen an uptick, especially on the first match day.
“We just had a really fun time with all of the fans, and I think we did a good job preparing for it,” said KC Style Haus Owner, Deserae Minor.
But many businesses are sharing their disappointment online.
‘Ghost town’
Caitlin Benedict, who owns Bisou, a European-style coffee and pastry shop, took to Instagram after shopping at a Crossroads night market.
“We are all in this together, it sucks. It was dead. It’s been dead everywhere,” said Bisou Owner, Caitlin Benedict.
After sharing her disappointment online, she saw an uptick in business on Thursday.
“It’s nice when the community can help out, and you can back up your own hometown at the same time,” said Janet Garciga, who drove in from Lee’s Summit to visit Bisou.
“I don’t want them to just come to Bisou, and I don’t want it to just be for a day. I want them to go everywhere else, and I want them to support everyone else, and consistently, especially for the next month and a half while FIFA is here,” said Benedict.
She heard from businesses experiencing the same issues in Mission, other spots downtown, Kansas City, Kansas, and Overland Park.
Down the road in the Crossroads, Buffalo State Pizza saw fans for the French match on Tuesday.
“But after that, I mean, we even close early on Tuesday because that was, it was dead,” said Buffalo State Pizza Owner, Phillippe Lechevin.
Shopping bags and matchas aren’t filling up at Dear Society either.
“The 10 years that I’ve been here in Kansas City. I have seen a lot of these big events coming into town, and we’ve been told to prepare and get ready for these huge crowds. And to be honest, after the NFL draft and after so many things that I’ve seen in 10 years, I didn’t do anything different,” said Dear Society Owner, Chanel Jezek. “I kind of knew. I had a feeling like we weren’t going to be as busy as they were projecting because they’ve done this to us before.”
Multiple factors = slow traffic
All three, Bisou, Buffalo State Pizza, and Dear Society, said there isn’t really someone to blame, but rather multiple factors that could be part of the issues.
A lot of eateries in town added a 20% automatic gratuity to bills, Bisou and Buffalo State Pizza decided not to take part, but worry that it is keeping locals away.
Visit KC projected 650,000 visitors throughout the entire tournament, and these businesses wonder if the possibility of large crowds and no parking is also keeping residents at home.
“I think we lost a lot of the regular ones. You know, the number was shown earlier back in February, you know, the 600,000 people. People who have the option to work from home, but maybe they didn’t want to deal with the traffic, since there’s no traffic. So hopefully they’re going to come back,” said Lechevin. “People may realize, actually, you know, it’s not as crazy as it is. I can still park in my regular spot and have lunch at my regular spot without being, you know, charged an extra amount.”
Jezek said she’d love to see KC2026 and FIFA add more locally owned businesses on their website so fans know where to find them.
“We are not seeing an increase in traffic on the streets. We are not crowded like they were predicting. You can still come in. You can still support your local businesses, your favorite coffee shops, your favorite places to grab your gifts, or whatever. We’re here. We’re slow. And there are more places to park,” said Jezek.
Benedict said it is an honor to have the World Cup here, but wants to see more honesty and support from leaders.
“I feel like it’s good for our city. It’s recognition. But at the same time, I want leadership to step in and say, okay, we didn’t get as many travelers as we should have,” said Benedict.
These businesses are hopeful that fans, locals, and other owners all come out and support these small shops throughout the metro during the World Cup and beyond.
“I would say just keep coming and supporting us and showing up,” said Jezek.
KCTV5 reached out to Visit KC, but did not have any numbers it could share at this time.
Mayor Quinton Lucas’ office shared the statement below after this story aired on Thursday:
“While the economic impact of a global event of this magnitude will naturally vary by business and by neighborhood, Mayor Lucas is encouraged by what he is hearing from Kansas City’s entertainment and hospitality sectors. Hotels, bars, and restaurants reported strong activity as Kansas City welcomed tens of thousands of guests for the opening match. As we look toward this weekend’s games and the remainder of the tournament, we’ll continue to highlight opportunities for our visitors and residents alike to join in the fun and celebration of this one in a generation moment.”
Businesses are hopeful that the longer the World Cup goes on, the more people will show up. KCTV5 plans to check in with these businesses throughout the tournament to see if traffic picks up.
Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.
Cooler temperatures today, but we will keep a chance of thunderstorms going in south-central Kansas this morning. One or two could be strong.
Temperatures stay cooler in southern Kansas thanks to clouds and rain in the area. Warmer temps and sunshine to the north.
Another chance of severe weather will visit Kansas this weekend, with a complex of strong storms rolling across the area Saturday night.
KSN Storm Track 3 Forecast from Meteorologist Jack Maney:
Wichita:
Today: Mostly cloudy. 60% chance of showers and storms. Hi: 80 Wind: NE 8-18
Tonight: Mostly to partly cloudy. 10% chance of showers. Lo: 62 Wind: NE/E 5-15
Tomorrow: Partly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms. Hi: 85 Wind: E/SE 5-15
Tomorrow Night: Partly to mostly cloudy. 30% chance of showers and storms. Lo: 68 Wind: SE 5-15
Wichita Weekly
Sat: Hi: 87 Lo: 73 Partly to mostly cloudy. 50% chance of showers and storms.
Sun: Hi: 92 Lo: 67 Mostly cloudy. 30% chance of showers and storms.
Mon: Hi: 82 Lo: 65 Partly cloudy. 10% chance of showers and storms.
Tue: Hi: 84 Lo: 66 Partly cloudy. 10% chance of showers and storms.
Wed: Hi: 86 Lo: 68 Partly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms.
Thu: Hi: 88 Lo: 69 Partly cloudy. 10% chance of showers and storms.
SOUTHWEST: Dodge City, Garden City, Liberal, Greensburg, Guymon
Southwest:
Today: Partly to mostly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms. Hi: 84 Wind: NE/E 10-25
Tonight: Mostly to partly cloudy. Lo: 58 Wind: E/SE 5-15
Tomorrow: Partly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms. Hi: 85 Wind: SE 8-18
Tomorrow Night: Partly to mostly cloudy. 30% chance of showers and storms. Lo: 62 Wind: SE 5-15
Southwest Weekly
Sat: Hi: 92 Lo: 66 Mostly cloudy. 40% chance of showers and storms.
Sun: Hi: 91 Lo: 59 Mostly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms.
Mon: Hi: 82 Lo: 58 Mostly cloudy. 30% chance of showers and storms.
Tue: Hi: 83 Lo: 60 Mostly to partly cloudy. 30% chance of showers and storms.
Wed: Hi: 85 Lo: 61 Partly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms.
Thu: Hi: 89 Lo: 62 Partly cloudy. 10% chance of showers and storms.
NORTHWEST: Colby, Goodland, Hill City, Oberlin, McCook
Northwest:
Today: Partly cloudy to mostly sunny. Hi: 86 Wind: NE/E 5-15
Tonight: Mostly clear to partly cloudy. Lo: 61 Wind: E/S 5-15
Tomorrow: Partly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms. Hi: 86 Wind: S/SE 8-18
Tomorrow Night: Partly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms. Lo: 61 Wind: SE 5-15
Northwest Weekly
Sat: Hi: 90 Lo: 61 Partly to mostly cloudy. 50% chance of showers and storms.
Sun: Hi: 84 Lo: 55 Mostly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms.
Mon: Hi: 78 Lo: 56 Mostly to partly cloudy. 30% chance of showers and storms.
Tue: Hi: 82 Lo: 58 Partly cloudy. 30% chance of showers and storms.
Wed: Hi: 85 Lo: 59 Partly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms.
Thu: Hi: 87 Lo: 60 Partly cloudy. 10% chance of showers and storms.
NORTHCENTRAL: Salina, Great Bend, Hays, Russell, Beloit, Osborne
North Central:
Today: Mostly to partly cloudy. 10% chance of showers and storms. Hi: 83 Wind: NE 8-18
Tonight: Partly cloudy. Lo: 60 Wind: NE/SE 5-15
Tomorrow: Partly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms. Hi: 86 Wind: SE 8-18
Tomorrow Night: Partly to mostly cloudy. 30% chance of showers and storms. Lo: 66 Wind: SE 5-15
North Central Weekly
Sat: Hi: 88 Lo: 70 Partly to mostly cloudy. 70% chance of showers and storms.
Sun: Hi: 88 Lo: 63 Mostly cloudy. 30% chance of showers and storms.
Mon: Hi: 81 Lo: 62 Mostly to partly cloudy. 10% chance of showers and storms.
Tue: Hi: 84 Lo: 64 Partly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms.
Wed: Hi: 86 Lo: 66 Partly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms.
Thu: Hi: 88 Lo: 67 Partly cloudy. 10% chance of showers and storms.
-
Arizona2 minutes agoNew tractors help University of Arizona modernize farming in Yuma
-
Arkansas9 minutes agoAuthorities report 2 Tulsa residents found dead in Arkansas from apparent murder-suicide
-
California12 minutes ago2 Northern California universities made U.S. News ‘Best Global’ list
-
Colorado17 minutes agoPikes Peak or Bust Parade canceled by organizers
-
Connecticut24 minutes agoPerson hospitalized in Westport crash that briefly closed I-95, officials say
-
Delaware27 minutes agoAll lanes open after I-69 closure in Delaware County
-
Florida32 minutes agoPilot program aims to build $200K homes in Central Florida to help low-income families buy, not rent
-
Georgia39 minutes agoGeorgia farmers on alert as New World Screwworm confirmed in Texas, New Mexico
