KU’s 2nd-half comeback falls short at Baylor Bears. It’s the Jayhawks 3rd straight loss
Kansas’ football team enters its bye week on a three-game losing streak, still one victory away from bowl eligibility.
The Jayhawks (5-3, 2-3), who shocked the college football world by winning their first five and ascending to No. 19 in the AP poll, saw a spirited comeback from a 28-3 third-quarter deficit fall short in a 35-23 defeat against Baylor Saturday at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas.
Blake Shapen completed 17 of 25 passes for 164 yards and one touchdown and Richard Reese ran for 186 yards on 31 carries and two scores as Baylor (4-3, 2-2 Big 12) won its 13th straight game against KU and improved to 11-0 versus the Jayhawks all-time in Waco. Shapen was intercepted twice.
Jayhawks quarterback Jason Bean, who started his second straight game for the injured Jalon Daniels (shoulder), had a big second half for KU.
Bean completed 16 of 27 passes for 232 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions. He rushed for 25 yards on eight carries and scored a late TD on a scramble.
Quentin Skinner had four catches for 66 yards and a score. Devin Neal had 32 yards on 10 carries and a TD to lead KU in rushing. Baylor outgained KU 437 yards to 288 and improved to 18-4 all-time against the Jayhawks.
Qualan Jones had 71 yards on nine carries for Baylor, which like KU entered this game on a two-game losing streak.
Following its off-week, Kansas will resume its quest for the sixth victory it needs in order to become bowl-eligible. KU’s last appearance in a bowl was in December 2008, when the Jayhawks defeated Minnesota in the Insight Bowl. The Jayhawks play Oklahoma State on Nov. 5 at Booth Memorial Stadium.
Daniels made the Saturday trip to Waco and warmed up on the field before the game, lending hope that he might return sometime after KU’s off-week.
Kansas, which erased a pair of 14-0 deficits earlier in the season in wins at West Virginia and Houston, again trailed 14-0 five minutes in.
Baylor took advantage of good field position following a 14-yard punt by Reis Vernon into a 30 mph wind. The Bears traveled 41 yards in seven plays, scoring on a 17-yard pass from Shapen to Monaray Baldwin.
Baylor then took advantage of a lost fumble by Jayhawks receiver Skinner at KU’s 25. BU’s Reese scored two plays later on a 14-yard run.
KU cut the gap to 11 points, 14-3, on a 30-yard field goal into the wind by Jacob Borcila with 3:13 left in the first quarter.
Baylor then made it 21-3 by scoring on a 4-yard run by backup QB Kyron Drones with 11:18 remaining until halftime. Drones’ run capped a 16-play, 73-yard drive.
The Bears marched 99 yards in 15 plays and scored on a 10-yard reverse by Jordan Nabors. That made it 28-3 with 42 seconds left before halftime.
It actually could‘ve been worse for the Jayhawks at that point, too, as Skinner lost a second fumble at the Kansas 14. But KU’s Craig Young intercepted a Shapen pass on fourth and 9 from the 13, so KU trailed 28-3 at the break.
The Jayhawks gained just 76 yards in the first half to the Bears’ 250.
Baylor was on its way to scoring again when KU defensive tackle Jereme Robinson stripped Shapen of the football on a rollout. Robinson picked up the ball at the KU 42 and rumbled 49 yards to the BU 9. KU’s Neal scored on a 2-yard run three plays later and it was 28-10 with 7:35 left in the third.
KU’s defense forced a punt on Baylor’s next possession and the Jayhawks cut the deficit to 12, at 28-16, on a 24-yard pass from Bean to Skinner on second and 3. The touchdown capped a 95-yard, 11 play drive. A two-point conversion pass attempt was batted down, however, so it remained a 28-16 game with 14:33 remaining.
Baylor marched to the KU 1 on its next drive, but the Jayhawks held with 9:25 to play, stopping Shapen short on a sneak.
Fired up after the defensive stand, KU went 93 yards in eight carries and scored on a 4-yard run by Bean with 6:29 to play. The extra point cut Baylor’s lead to five, 28-23.
But the Bears responded by traversing 69 yards in seven plays and scoring on a 2-yard run by Reese with 2:37 to go. That gave Baylor a comfortable 35-23 lead that proved to be the final score.
KU ran out of downs on its next possession and Baylor preserved the 12-point victory.
This story was originally published October 22, 2022 at 2:38 PM.
