‘Twas the season before “The Booth” will be fully finished and Lawrence, Kansas is abuzz with a glimmer of hope. In an absolutely wide open Big 12, Booth’s donation to KU vaults them out from the cellar below the bottom of the conference and potentially into relevance for the first time since the famous 2007 Orange Bowl season.
The fact of the matter is that money talks in the NIL landscape that is college football in 2025. That amount of money is rarely given to athletic programs, and nothing like this has ever been done before in University of Kansas history. The partially finished stadium will be available for games this season, and the Jayhawks are well equipped to make some noise within the conference despite the loss of Saints’ RB Devin Neal.
KU will host rival K-State this year with hopes of ending a 16-year drought against the Wildcats. The Jayhawks will also host Fresno State in week 0 this year when the stadium opens on August 23, but their toughest games will be away from The Booth. They renew The Border War rivalry against Missouri in Columbia, and travel to conference-favorites Texas Tech and Iowa State. Sixth-year QB Jalon Daniels is poised to return to stardom after leading the 2022 Jayhawks to a 5-0 start as a Heisman candidate before an injury forced him out of action for 5 weeks. He only played 3 games in 2023, and only threw for 14 touchdowns with 12 interceptions in 12 games last season. The schedule is favorable for Head Coach Lance Leipold and Daniels after failing to meet expectations a season ago.
All things considered, as a K-State alum and fan, this is worrisome for recruiting. The Cats have dominated the rivalry recently, but with this donation along with being a short 45-minute jaunt from the KC Airport, big things could be in store on the recruiting landscape. But as of right now, today, the Hawks rank 15th out of 16 Big 12 schools in recruiting. It’ll be an uphill battle for Leipold, Booth and Daniels to turn around one of the worst college football programs in the nation over the last 15 years.
More details below from our good friend, ChatGPT, on Booth and KU football’s moving forward.
Who Is David Booth?
David G. Booth is a KU alumnus and founder of the investment firm Dimensional Fund Advisors, managing over $850 billion in assets as of mid-2025. He has a long history of philanthropy at KU and beyond, including:
A ~$9 million donation to build the Booth Family Hall of Athletics connected to Allen Fieldhouse.
A historic 2010 acquisition and donation of Dr. James Naismith’s original 1891 basketball rules (~$4.3 million) to KU.
What’s in the $300M Gift?
$75 million earmarked for Phase II of the Gateway District project, which includes:
Renovations to the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium (“The Booth”).
Surrounding developments: hotel, student housing, retail, restaurants, parking enhancements, and an outdoor plaza.
$225 million intended to establish a sustainable revenue stream to support KU Athletics for the long term, especially in light of evolving NCAA and conference policies.
KU Athletics Director Travis Goff called it “transformative,” saying it greatly accelerates KU’s future athletic endeavors.
Why It Matters for KU Football and Athletics
Long-Term Impact: The $225M ensures KU Athletics can invest strategically—boosting facility quality, recruiting, and financial stability. It also positions KU for future conference realignment opportunities.
Historic Gift: It’s the largest donation ever in KU’s history and ranks among the biggest in collegiate sports.
Gateway District: KU’s broader vision includes blending athletics, community, and commerce—creating a new athletic and social hub around the stadium. Booth’s gift jumps that vision forward.
Returning Home: The Jayhawks will play at the newly reimagined stadium for their August 23 opener versus Fresno State, ending last season’s shifted games due to construction.