Chase Buford's move to the Denver Nuggets opened a bench slot at Kansas, and Tony Bland moved quickly to fill it. The hire signals Bill Self’s intent to broaden the Jayhawks’ recruiting footprint, leaning on Bland’s West Coast ties to help Kansas land versatile wings and guards as the roster turns over. Bland’s background—success on the high school level, a run as USC’s associate head coach, and a track record in the Mountain West and on the West Coast—positions him to connect with a new wave of prospects and speed up KU’s pipeline-building.

Bland’s career spans Syracuse and San Diego State as a player, and a coaching arc that includes St. Bernard High School, USC, and Washington. That mix of experiences affords Kansas a wide network and a nuanced eye for prospects and transfers who can adapt to Self’s system. While KU continues to refine its depth chart and recruitment strategy, Bland’s East/West connectivity could shift the balance in the coming class and influence how the Jayhawks approach the transfer market, NIL, and player development.

Syracuse’s 2025 camp keeps the quarterback derby between Rickie Collins and Steve Angeli highly unsettled, with Fran Brown nudging the split to 51-49 after a rocky week of practice. Brown wants both signal-callers to take a “huge step” and emphasizes running the offense in a way that matches each player’s strengths rather than chasing a Kyle McCord-like style. The opener against Tennessee in Atlanta looms as a litmus test, with public clarity likely arriving only when the offense takes the field.

Injury updates reshape the young receiving corps. Darius Johnson, a true freshman, is out five weeks with a fractured fibula, while Julian McFadden will miss the season after a broken collarbone. Johnson drew praise as Syracuse’s “own Wes Welker,” while McFadden is already being prepared to add weight and leg strength during rehab. Less than three weeks remain before kickoff, and Tennessee — ranked No. 24 in the AP preseason poll — provides a stern early gauge for the Orange’s projected offense and the QB battle’s trajectory.

Stanford opens a demanding 2025 slate with Denver as a stern early gauge before ACC play. The Cardinal face a mix of out-of-conference tests and league battles that will reveal depth across the midfield and backline, while also testing finishers in high-leverage moments. After last year’s 9-5-6 season and an NCAA third-round exit, the schedule’s balance of nonconference resume builders and ruthless league foes should shape early momentum and postseason prospects. The Bay Area rivalry with Santa Clara adds a key X-factor late in the schedule as the year rolls on.

Exhibitions offer Gunn a chance to refine rotations and identify emerging contributors, especially in a year Stanford is competing for a top-15 finish. Expect home-field advantage to matter in crowd-friendly environments, with a heavier October–November run demanding consistency from veterans and urgency from budding stars. For fantasy-minded observers, the early stretch against Denver and the midseason gauntlet across Wake Forest, Pittsburgh, and SMU will be the periods to track for breakout performances, load management, and split-squad rotations that could unlock value in specific matchups.