Aug 21, 2026 · 56 min
Chiefs and Big 12 contenders face defining season questions
KKHI Special: Season Preview "Football Feast" w/Stan Weber
The preview identifies the roster, quarterback, coaching, and rivalry decisions that could shape Kansas City and the region’s 2026 football season.
- 1The Chiefs must diversify Andy Reid’s offense and create more explosive plays while determining whether 2026 or 2027 drives team-building.
- 2Missouri’s outlook hinges on Austin Simmons limiting turnovers, while Cam Newton’s presence offers an unusual source of influence.
- 3Kansas State needs Avery Johnson’s passing to progress, while Kansas navigates quarterback competition, depth concerns, and a consequential Missouri rivalry.
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The standout discussion contrasts Avery Johnson’s potential breakout with the more specific demand for improved passing accuracy and smarter situational rushing.
The brief
Kevin Kietzman and Stan Weber open their 2026 football preview with the Chiefs, asking whether Andy Reid can make the offense less predictable and more explosive.
Patrick Mahomes raises the standard, but the Chiefs still face a roster-timing question: are preseason choices building for 2026, or preparing for 2027?
Missouri’s most immediate concern is Austin Simmons’ turnover rate, while Cam Newton’s presence brings championship credibility and a different kind of pressure to the program.
Kansas State’s Avery Johnson is judged less by rushing volume than by passing accuracy and situational decisions, a test of whether his profile can rise in the Big 12.
Kansas has receiver depth, a quarterback competition between Cole Ballard and Marshall, and a difficult schedule; the Missouri game could carry major consequences for Lance Leipold.
The episode’s sharpest throughline is quarterback development: every program is weighing how much risk, control, and improvement its season can sustain.
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