The Kansas Jayhawks return home Tuesday night for a critical Big 12 matchup against the TCU Horned Frogs at Phog Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas is looking to respond after a road loss at UCF, while TCU arrives in Lawrence playing its best basketball of the season.
Kansas enters the game at 10-4 overall, already feeling the weight of a demanding conference schedule. TCU comes in riding a six-game winning streak and sits at 11-3, with confidence building after a strong start to 2026.
Kansas head coach Bill Self has dealt with uneven availability from his top scorer, Darryn Peterson, but the sophomore continues to deliver when on the floor. Peterson scored 26 points in just 23 minutes during the loss at UCF, though he sat much of the final stretch.
Melvin Council Jr. added 20 points in that game, while Tre White chipped in 14 points and 11 rebounds. Despite those performances, Kansas could not close the game.
The Jayhawks’ four losses have come against Duke, North Carolina, UConn, and UCF, all teams capable of testing Kansas deep into March. Still, dropping back-to-back Big 12 games would put immediate pressure on a roster still finding its rhythm.
TCU’s turnaround has been impressive. After a December loss to Notre Dame, the Horned Frogs closed 2025 with five straight wins. They opened 2026 by knocking off Baylor at home, extending their winning streak to six games.
The Frogs did stumble early, including a season-opening loss to New Orleans and a competitive four-point loss to top-ranked Michigan. Since then, their defense has tightened, and their balance has shown up in close games.
This matchup begins a challenging stretch for TCU, with Arizona and BYU looming next. A road win at Kansas would dramatically change how the Horned Frogs are viewed nationally.
Kansas vs. TCU: When and Where
Date: Tuesday, January 6, 2026
Time: 8:00 p.m. CT
Location: Phog Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence, Kansas
Kansas vs. TCU: TV and Streaming Info
TV: ESPN
Streaming: FuboTV
Kansas vs. TCU Betting Odds
- Spread: TCU Horned Frogs +7.5, Kansas Jayhawks -7.5
- Moneyline: TCU Horned Frogs +275, Kansas Jayhawks -350
- Total: 137.5
Kansas vs. TCU Series History
- All-Time Series: Kansas leads 27-4
- Last Meeting: Kansas won 74-61 on January 22, 2025
Projected Starting Lineups
Kansas Jayhawks
- #22 Darryn Peterson – 20.6 PPG
- #40 Flory Bidunga – 14.7 PPG, 9.2 RPG
- #3 Tre White – 14.5 PPG
- #14 Melvin Council Jr. – 12.9 PPG
- #15 Bryson Tiller – 9.0 PPG
Key note: Kohl Rosario has made six starts this season and is averaging 5.1 points per game.
TCU Horned Frogs
- #15 David Punch – 14.0 PPG, 7.7 RPG
- #1 Jayden Pierre – 10.6 PPG
- #24 Xavier Edmonds – 10.6 PPG
- #2 Brock Harding – 8.8 PPG
- #3 Liutaruras Lelevicis – 8.5 PPG
Game Outlook
Kansas needs this one. Starting Big 12 play with back-to-back conference losses is not a position the Jayhawks want to be in, especially with one of the toughest schedules in the country ahead. Phog Allen Fieldhouse has long been a difference-maker, and Kansas must lean on that advantage.
TCU, meanwhile, arrives confident and underrated. The win over Baylor opened eyes across the league, and the Horned Frogs are playing with poise on both ends of the floor. If Kansas struggles to make shots or defend the paint, an upset is very much in play.
This feels like a measuring-stick game for both teams, and the result will say plenty about where each program stands as Big 12 play ramps up.