As BYU football prepares to make its mark in the Big 12, Kansas Jayhawks head coach Lance Leipoldis taking note of one significant aspect of the Cougars' team: age and maturity. In a press conference leading up to their matchup, Leipold highlighted the difference in age between BYU and traditional college football teams. The average age of BYU's roster in 2023 is over 22 years old, compared to the typical college roster. This distinction, he believes, contributes to their size, maturity, and experience.
While the age of BYU's players has been a longstanding talking point, largely due to many players choosing to serve missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it remains a unique aspect of the team. Notably, BYU has 65 players on its 123-man roster who have completed two-year missions, adding to the overall age of the squad.
Leipold's comments come as the Kansas Jayhawks are gearing up to face BYU. Under his leadership, the Jayhawks have achieved an impressive 3-0 start for the second consecutive season. The Cougars, too, enter the game with a 3-0 record, marking their first appearance in a Big 12 Conference matchup.
In addition to acknowledging the age factor, Leipold expressed respect for BYU head coach Kalani Sitake, emphasizing their alignment in coaching philosophies. As the anticipation builds for the matchup, both teams are preparing for a highly anticipated and competitive showdown. Regardless of the age of the players, all eyes will be on the field when these two undefeated teams collide in their Big 12debut. Stay tuned for what promises to be an exciting clash between BYU and Kansas