Kansas football ends No. 6 BYU’s perfect season to keep bowl game hopes alive
Weird things happen in Big 12 night games.
For Kansas football, that weirdness was certainly welcome — including on a game-changing pooch punt — as the unranked Jayhawks upset No. 6 BYU 17-13 in Provo, Utah, to keep their bowl game hopes alive.
Heading into Saturday’s matchup, the Jayhawks were 0-5 in one-score games with a penchant for losing winnable games late. The Cougars, meanwhile, were 5-0 … until playing the Jayhawks.
Now, a Kansas season that began with Big 12 championship aspirations at least has a realistic shot to end in a bowl game. The Jayhawks, handing the Cougars their first loss at LaVell Edwards Stadium, have won two straight matchups against ranked opponents (Iowa State and BYU) for the first time ever.
More importantly, at 4-6 (3-4 Big 12), Kansas is two wins from bowl eligibility. KU closes out the season vs. No. 18 Colorado at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday, followed by the regular-season finale at Baylor in Waco, Texas.
How Kansas football upset BYU
After recovering a pooch punt that hit a BYU player, the Jayhawks took a 17-13 lead when Devin Neal ran for a 3-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
Now trailing 17-13 with 4:47 to play, undefeated BYU marched down the field to the red zone, but the KU defense stood up. After a false start, the Cougars faced a 4th-and-11 do-or-die situation. They completed a pass short of the sticks, and the Jayhawks regained possession and ran out the clock.
Long before that, the Jayhawks actually struck first in the game. Kansas’ opening drive ended in an 8-yard touchdown run by Neal. The game was tied 10-10 at the half.
Quarterback Jalon Daniels finished 12-of-19 passing for 169 yards with one interception. Neal rushed for 52 yards and had two touchdowns.
Here are three takeaways from Saturday’s game…
KU’s defense steps up
For most of the season, the Jayhawks’ defense has been inconsistent. On Saturday, KU’s defense stepped up when it mattered most.
After BYU hit a field goal with 4:30 to play in the third quarter, KU’s defense didn’t allow another point over three BYU drives. Kansas forced two punts and a turnover on downs in that stretch.
Saturday was a positive sign for a Jayhawks defense that’s struggled to maintain pace with the offense, which has been trending up. Marvin Grant led the way with 10 tackles and a pass breakup.
Jalon Daniels had an up-and-down day
Here’s the positive: Daniels continues to look like a completely different football player from the season’s first five games. He had a solid day vs. a stout BYU defense — at least in the first half.
Daniels went 7-for-11 passing for 105 yards through two quarters. He added 20 yards on the ground.
The second half was another story, but he was still involved in one of the most important plays of the game — with his leg.
On a 4th-and-14 early in the fourth quarter, Daniels executed a surprise pooch kick that BYU wasn’t prepared for. The football hit a BYU player and Kansas wide receiver Quentin Skinner recovered the ball.
The Jayhawks immediately found themselves in the red zone, leading to Neal’s rushing score.
On the downside of Daniels’ day: He threw an interception and struggled to score when needed. He did just enough to put Kansas in position to win, but only because the defense came through several times.
Mello Dotson remains clutch
Another game, another big-time play by cornerback Mello Dotson
BYU marched down the field with the score tied 10-10 and less than two minutes before halftime.
The Cougars looked poised to score a touchdown and add to the ever-growing tally of points surrendered by KU shortly before halftime.
Well, Dotson had other plans. BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff threw a corner fade that Dotson read perfectly and intercepted in the end zone.
It was Dotson’s fifth interception of the season. His interception prevented KU from being down at half, which was especially important with the Cougars receiving the ball to begin the third quarter.
This story was originally published November 17, 2024 at 12:57 AM.
