Recap: Kansas Jayhawks 57, Texas Longhorns 56
Texas lost its fifth-straight game, surrendered 200+ yards through the air and on the ground, and was dominated in time of possession and third downs conversion percentage.
Though Texas battled back, they were felled in overtime…
…by the 1-8… now 2-8 Kansas Jayhawks.
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FIRST QUARTER
Kansas began with the football with Jalon Daniels under center. The Jayhawks gained a few first downs, two via Daniels’ legs, and moved into Longhorn territory. As the drive continued, KU took more and more yardage via the ground game until Devin Neal rushed across the plane for a three-yard score, capping a drive that took 7:02 off the clock.
When Texas took the field with Casey Thompson at quarterback, the Longhorns quickly picked up a first down with Xavier Worthy and Bijan Robinson touches. But after Texas moved into Jayhawk territory, Kyron Johnson beat Christian Jones, sacked Thompson, and knocked the ball out of his hand. Kansas recovered and the Longhorn defense returned to the field.
KU converted a 3rd-and-short, then a 3rd-and-seven via a Daniels pass to Kwamie Lassiter. The Jayhawks moved into the red zone with a Amauri Pesek-Hickson rush, then went up 14-0 after Daniels found Mason Fairchild on an 11-yard pass.
The Longhorns picked up a first down with a Thompson pass to Worthy, then another with a Robinson run as the first quarter ended.
SECOND QUARTER
Texas converted a 3rd-and-seven to move into Jayhawk territory with a Thompson completion to Kelvontay Dixon. Two Robinson rushes set up a Texas score when Thompson found a wide-open Marcus Washington to cut the Kansas lead in half.
The Longhorn defense then forced a much-needed three-and-out, stifling the Jayhawks and snuffing out a trick play in the process.
When Texas retook the field, Hudson Card was at quarterback. A flip to Worthy and a run by Jonathon Brooks moved the chains, then another via an RPO to Dixon.
Thirty-three yards from the end zone, Card took a snap, stepped up, then delivered an accurate pass to Worthy. The ninth touchdown reception of the season for the California freshman made the game 14-14, and broke Roy Williams’ freshman receiving touchdown record set in 2000.
Kansas moved down the field with relative ease on its next possession, reaching the Texas 40 via a third down conversion. When the Longhorns forced KU into another 3rd-and-long, Daniels converted again with a pass to Trevor Kardell making it first-and-goal from the 10.
From there Daniels scrambled into the end zone with an assist from Trevor Wilson, who pulled him across the finish line to make it 21-14 Jayhawks with 2:25 to go in the first.
Texas’ series featured no response. A deep pass intended for Dixon from Card fell incomplete, a rush went nowhere, and Card was sacked by Johnson again, his second forced fumble of the game.
The Jayhawks recovered and began on the Texas 23, and on 3rd-and-six, Daniels swung the ball to Neal, who scampered 19 yards into the end zone to make it 28-14 Jayhawks with 74 seconds remaining in the second half.
Things did not improve for the Longhorns. Card threw a pick-six to Jacobee Bryant, who returned it 31 yards and made it 35-14 Jayhawks. On the ensuing kickoff, Brooks touched the ball then knocked it out at the three-yard-line, backing the Longhorns up.
Texas tried to move forward and get in position to score, but as they did in most other football ventures in the first half, failed. As Texas ran into the locker room, they were booed off the field.
THIRD QUARTER
Thompson began at quarterback to start the half, and a handoff to Robinson picked up 14. A holding penalty undid the gain, putting Texas behind the sticks on third down. Thompson found Worthy for the necessary yardage to keep Texas’ drive alive. On another third down, Thompson found Washington for a big gain to put Texas inside the five. Two plays later, Thompson scrambled it in on a read option to make it 35-21 Kansas.
After a short gain by Daniels to start the Jayhawk possession, Neal burst up the field for a 58-yard gain. Two plays later, he found the end zone for his second rushing touchdown of the game to make it 42-21.
The Longhorn response was again non-existent. An offensive pass interference, a drop, and an incompletion turned the ball over via punt. But Kansas went three-and-out after.
The Longhorns moved the sticks with chunk plays via Washington and Robinson to approach midfield. An offsides penalty by the Jayhawks gave Texas another first, then an RPO from Thompson to Brewer moved the sticks again. That set up a wheel route out of the backfield for Robinson, who hauled in a 25-yard pass to make it 42-28 Kansas.
Needing a stop, Texas got a stop. Kansas quickly went three-and-out. Needing a big play, Texas got a big play. Washington blocked the punt and the Longhorns took over in the Kansas red zone.
Robinson moved the Longhorns inside the five with a reception, but suffered a major setback a play later. When trying to stiff arm an opponent, Robinson appeared to injure his left arm. He went straight to the locker room after he got up off the turf.
One play later, Texas made a play it needed. Thompson threw a fade to Worthy, who hauled it in for his second touchdown, making it 42-35 Kansas before the beginning of the fourth quarter. The Jayhawks faced a third down as the final quarter began.
FOURTH QUARTER
On the third down try, Anthony Cook tracked down the intended receiver and made sure he could not haul the pass in. Texas took over on the 40, and faced a 3rd-and-five out of the gate. The Longhorns could not convert and were forced to punt.
After steady gains, Daniels found Lassiter for 29 yards to move deep into Longhorn territory. Kansas then faced a 3rd-and-six, converting via a Daniels pass to Kardell and moving to 1st-and-goal. On third down, Daniels found Lassiter for a two-yard score to make it 49-35.
It was Kansas tenth conversion of the night.
The Longhorns moved down the field via scrambles and check downs, moving into Kansas territory with a hard-run reception from Roschon Johnson. Texas made it 1st-and-goal with a pass to Washington. The Longhorns made it a one-score game when Thompson found Worthy, making it 49-42 Kansas with 4:39 left.
Needing a stop, Texas held Neal short of the line to gain on third down. Kansas head coach Lance Leipold had a choice with 4th-and-one on his own 34. He tried to get Texas to jump offsides, but the Longhorns stood pat and did not cross the neutral zone.
Leipold called a timeout but put his offense on the field. Daniels’ sneak attempt was stuffed, and the Longhorns took over on the Kansas 34. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Keondre Coburn backed Texas up to the Kansas 49.
Johnson gained a first on the ground, then another after a limited workload in the early portions of the evening. After a swing pass to Worthy, Thompson looked for him again near the end zone. However, OJ Burroughs was on hand to make the interception.
Kansas needed one first down with Texas having all three of its timeouts. They were unable to get it, and the Longhorns had one last chance with under a minute left.
The Longhorns had help from a Reis Vernon 38-yard punt returned 25 yards by Jamison. Starting on the 34, Texas gained nine with Johnson, spiked the football, then threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Brewer.
Cameron Dicker hit the extra point to make it 49-49 with 0:22 left. Kansas knelt to send it to overtime.
OVERTIME
Kansas won the toss and elected to defend. Johnson picked up seven, then Worthy picked up 10 on a swing pass. On 1st-and-goal, Thompson found Washington in the flat for a score. Dicker hit the extra point, but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Washington put Kansas on the Texas 12.5 for its drive.
Kansas picked up three on first down, had a pass deflect off Brenden Schooler’s hands on second down, then made it goal-to-go with a Daniels scramble.
Neal ran it in from two yards out, and Kansas kept its offense on the field to go for the win.
Daniels rolled out and found Jared Casey in the end zone, and Kansas took home the victory.
