Kansas Jayhawks Football Program Will Benefit from Historic Donation

Kansas football hasn't always had the luxury of dreaming big. Since the inception of the program, they have never received a donation anywhere near $300 million.

But to everyone's surprise, they just got a massive donation from their most familiar name, David Booth. This historic, nine-figure donation is not only enough to alter the program's future, but also gives the team a massive spotlight just days before the season opener.

ESPN reporter Pete Thamel first reported on X that Kansas received a $300 million gift from alumnus David Booth. He wrote, "Kansas has received an unprecedented $300 million gift from donor David Booth, believed to be among the largest single gifts in the history of college athletics, KU officials tell @max_olson and me."

NEWS: Kansas has received an unprecedented $300 million gift from donor David Booth, believed to be among the largest single gifts in the history of college athletics, KU officials tell @max_olson and me. pic.twitter.com/L9SQAxsWtr
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 13, 2025

For years, Kansas Jayhawks have worked to shed its reputation as a Big 12 underdog. The team’s recent resurgence under coach Lance Leipold has brought some light of hope.

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Booth's new donation is going to make Leipold's impact even more noticeable. The announcement has already started to receive massive attention, as they are about to kickoff their 134th football season.

The donation is believed to be among the largest single gifts in college athletics. Booth previously contributed $50 million in 2017 to support stadium renovations, which at the time was the largest gift KU had ever received. The renovation of the stadium is complete, and it is ready for the Aug. 23 opener against Fresno State.

However, the new $300 million gift represents a significant step forward since Kansas football has never received an investment of this scale before. It is considered the second phase of the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium transformation, which, according to reports, will begin after the 2025 season.

Thamel also shared a more detailed picture of this massive donation. As noted, it will immediately fund Phase II renovations of the stadium. However, the specific figure for this construction is estimated at $75 million. The remaining funds will be invested to generate long-term revenue for Kansas Athletics to ensure sustained growth across all sports.

Booth is a Kansas alum who completed his bachelor’s degree in business in 1968 and a Master of Science in 1969. Although he later left the university, he has remained a committed supporter of Kansas Athletics.

Following this historic gift, his name will once again grace the stadium. The current momentum under Leipold, combined with Booth’s donation, suggests the program may be entering a new golden era. There is a high hope that Kansas football could reach the same high points it achieved under coach Mark Mangino.