Takeaways from KU football’s late loss to Utah — and missed chance at bowl game
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kansas lost 31-21 to Utah, ending bowl chances in 2025 after key turnovers.
- Jalon Daniels’ three interceptions produced two Utah touchdowns and swung momentum.
- Running game gained 290 yards; defense limited Utah's ground attack but lost late.
Jalon Daniels has put the Kansas Jayhawks in position to win a lot of games in his six seasons in Lawrence — something few of his immediate predecessors were able to manage.
It was no different Friday against College Football Playoff contender Utah in a must-win situation for KU. Bowl eligibility was on the line in Lawrence.
Unfortunately for Daniels — and 32 other seniors in KU’s home finale — the result was all too familiar.
It was another close game, and another close loss, for the Kansas Jayhawks, a 31-21 final score in front of a half-empty crowd at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
And Daniels was largely the culprit. He threw three interceptions, two of which turned into Utah touchdowns. At different points in the fourth quarter, boos rained down from the home crowd.
Daniels’ legacy in Lawrence remains as complicated as it gets: He was the face of KU’s turnaround and led the first season of bowl eligibility since the Todd Reesing era. But there will be a feeling of unfulfilled potential with KU’s star quarterback, as the Jayhawks (5-7, 3-6 Big 12) failed to make a bowl game for a second straight year.
Kansas finished above .500 only one time in the Daniels era, a season largely quarterbacked by backup Jason Bean.
There was plenty of excitement when the Jayhawks began this season 4-2, and looked poised to clinch an early bowl berth. Instead, KU lost five of six down the stretch, including three straight to end the year. That longer stretch included a controversial game in Lubbock, Texas, and blowout defeat to rival K-State.
Friday’s heartbreaking loss — the Jayhawks led 14-10 when Daniels threw his second interception and trailed only by three on third-and-goal when he threw a pick-six — officially ended their hopes at bowl contention.
“I have to do a better job,” coach Lance Leipold said. “I’ve fallen short of expectations as the head coach, and I have to be better.”
Here are five takeaways from Friday’s game...
The Kansas offense faltered in big moments
KU’s first two drives went all the way into the red zone, but ended in zero points. On the first drive, Daniels threw an interception, and the Utes answered with a field goal.
On the Jayhawks’ second drive, kicker Laith Marjan missed a 36-yard field goal.
Finally, Kansas got on the board with an eight-play, 73-yard drive that ended in a 7-yard touchdown run by Daniel Hishaw.
Utah led 10-7 at the half. The Jayhawks claimed the lead 14-10 on their first drive out of the half, thanks to a rushing score by Daniels. But then came two backbreaking plays.
After Daniels threw an interception in the red zone early in the fourth quarter, Utah scored a touchdown to go up 17-14.
On KU’s next drive, Daniels threw a pick-six in the red zone that put Utah up 24-14. When KU got the ball back, the Jayhawks quickly scored, as Daniels connected with tight end Leyton Cure for a 21-yard touchdown. Still, they trailed 24-21 with 5:36 left.
Utah scored a touchdown with 2:14 left that essentially clinched the game.
Daniels finished 10-of-27 passing for 187 yards with two total touchdowns and three interceptions. Hishaw rushed for 107 yards and had one touchdown.
No bowl game for Kansas
For the second straight season, the Jayhawks won’t play in a bowl game.
KU needed just one win over its last three games to clinch bowl eligibility, but Kansas finished 0-3.
The Jayhawks have finished the season below .500 four times in five seasons under Leipold, and they’ve finished the regular season below .500 three times. Leipold is 27-35 at KU. He is 25-25 since his first season.
Kansas will have to add plenty of new faces as 33 seniors depart the program. The most prominent departure is Daniels, who played six seasons for the Jayhawks.
It’s unclear if KU’s quarterback for next season is on the roster.
Jalon Daniels’ KU career ends in disappointment
The sixth-year quarterback had a rough final game in a KU uniform.
Daniels looked out of sync with his receivers in the first half. Right before halftime, he badly missed his wideouts on three straight pass plays. He went into halftime 5-for-12 passing for 31 yards with one interception.
He looked a bit better at times in the second half. Early on, Daniels delivered multiple balls right into the hands of his receivers. He placed the ball only where his wideouts could catch it, but the big mistakes were lurking.
With Kansas leading 14-10 and in the red zone, Daniels made a brutal mistake. When it looked like he could — and should — throw the ball away, he threw a ball to the back of the end zone that Utah defensive back Jackson Bennee intercepted.
On KU’s very next drive, Daniels threw the pick-six that put Utah up 10 points.
To Daniels’ credit, he threw a passing touchdown that got Kansas within three points with a little under six minutes left. But it wasn’t nearly enough to overcome his miscues.
“Like I continue to tell you every week, I’m somebody who doesn’t really give a damn about my stats personally,” Daniels said postgame. “I don’t care what they look like as long as the stat that counts is the win.”
Daniels also said he was “heartbroken” by the result.
KU’s ground game was excellent
The running backs carried the Jayhawks’ offense Friday.
The Jayhawks ended up with 477 total yards, 290 of them coming on the ground. It seemed like whenever KU needed crucial yards, running backs Daniel Hishaw or Leshon Williams delivered.
Williams averaged 6.9 yards per carry, while Hishaw wasn’t far behind with 4.7 YPC. The pair combined for 211 rushing yards. Even Daniels added 34 yards on the ground.
It was one of the best rushing games all season for Kansas, even in defeat.
The defense gave KU a chance
Heading into matchup, Utah ranked No. 6 nationally in points per game (42). The Utes were averaging close to 280 rushing yards and nearly three-and-a-half rushing touchdowns per game. And the Jayhawks had struggled against the run.
In that regard, the KU defense played one of its best games of the season.
The Jayhawks’ defense held Utah to only 24 points (the other seven came on the pick-six). On top of that, Utah only finished with 161 rushing yards.
KU struggled to defend some of the Utah misdirection — and gave up a late touchdown — but the defensive performance was every bit good enough to win.
This story was originally published November 28, 2025 at 2:58 PM.
