University of Kansas

SportsBeat KC: Deeper meaning of Kansas Jayhawks’ football victory at Texas Longhorns

Kansas players including Mike Novitsky (50) celebrate their 57-56 win over Texas in overtime of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Kansas players including Mike Novitsky (50) celebrate their 57-56 win over Texas in overtime of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) AP

Why would anyone have anticipated Kansas, a 31-point underdog last weekend at Texas, would end its 56-game conference losing streak in Austin?

The last time KU won a league game, Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado and Texas A&M were still in the Big 12 ... and West Virginia and TCU weren’t.

But it happened as Kansas prevailed 57-56 in overtime. Third-string redshirt freshman walk-on Jared Casey of Plainville, Kansas caught the winning two-point conversion pass from KU quarterback Jalon Daniels. The national narrative focused on Texas losing, but this was every bit as much about Kansas enjoying its first major moment under first-year coach Lance Leipold.

On today’s episode of The Star’s daily SportsBeat KC podcast, beat writer Jesse Newell, who covered the game in the Texas capital, breaks down what it means for the Jayhawks.

Story links:

His first offensive snap for Kansas came at Texas, then he caught the game-winner

Here’s how long it’s been since Kansas won a Big 12 road game, before Texas

Yes, Kansas beat Texas...in football. Here’s how the Jayhawks stunned the Longhorns

Blair Kerkhoff
The Kansas City Star
Blair Kerkhoff has covered sports for The Kansas City Star since 1989. He was elected to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.
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