Travis Goff likes playing Week 0, wants to preserve rivalries
The Kansas Jayhawks will open their 2025 football season earlier than most teams. KU will take on Fresno State in a nationally televised Week 0 matchup. For Kansas athletic director Travis Goff, the move is a good strategy.
It will be the unveiling of the newly renovated David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
“We’ve always been open to playing in time slots that give us great exposure,” Goff said. “Let’s be honest, our past performance didn’t always earn us prime time games. So, we had to find creative ways to get in front of a national audience.”
Goff pointed to the 2023 Friday night matchup against Illinois as a pivotal moment. That game, which aired on ESPN as the only national broadcast of the evening, ended up being a key victory on national television.
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“We fought hard to get that game moved to Friday night,” Goff said. “There’s a whole backstory behind it that would make your head spin. But getting that game on ESPN was huge. It was a major moment of growth for the program.”
Now, with the Week 0 opener against Fresno State, Kansas is doubling down on that philosophy. Goff likes the unique kickoff times to stand out before the season gets going for everyone.
“The conference is aligned with that approach, too,” Goff added. “It’s about standing out, not just fighting for a piece of the Saturday viewership. That mentality fits us.”
Importance of maintaining rivalries
While expanding visibility is a top priority, Goff also emphasized the importance of maintaining traditional rivalries. That has become more difficult as conference realignment makes scheduling more complicated.
“It’s not as simple as it used to be,” he said. “Expansion has made it nearly impossible to play all your traditional regional rivals every year. But I do think it’s important to keep those rivalries part of the conversation.”
Goff said non-conference scheduling plays a key role in that effort. He pointed to recent games against Illinois as examples of strategic matchups that still carry meaningful connections.
“They’re not right next door, but it’s a like-minded institution. A state flagship school,” he said. “That makes the matchup meaningful.”
As the Jayhawks prepare for a national spotlight against Fresno State, Goff remains focused on both keeping rivalries together.
“We need to be thoughtful with how we schedule, both in and out of conference,” he said. “That is how we maintain rivalries and keep our identity strong.”
