In a season full of surprises, the Kansas Jayhawks delivered perhaps the biggest shocker yet, knocking off the previously unbeaten No. 6 BYU Cougars 17-13 on Saturday night in Provo. The stunning upset not only hands BYU its first loss, but also keeps Kansas’ bowl hopes alive and marks the first time in school history the Jayhawks have defeated ranked opponents in consecutive weeks.
Daniels, Neal Lead Jayhawks to Victory
Quarterback Jalon Daniels orchestrated the Jayhawks’ offense with poise, throwing for 169 yards and letting running back Devin Neal handle the scoring. Neal found the end zone twice and surpassed the 4,000 career rushing yards milestone in the process, finishing with 52 yards on the ground.
“I feel like our team has always done a great job being able to stay the course,” Daniels said after the game. “I feel like a big staple within our program is being able to trust the process.”
Kansas Defense Stymies BYU
While the offense made timely plays, it was the Kansas defense that truly shined, holding BYU to just a field goal in the second half. The Cougars managed 354 total yards but struggled mightily in the red zone, going 2-for-4 and failing to score a touchdown on all four trips inside the 20.
BYU had a chance to win it late, driving to the Kansas 15-yard line with under two minutes to play. However, the Jayhawks’ defense stood tall, forcing a turnover on downs to seal the victory.
“We had all the confidence in the world in our defense to be able to go out there and make a stop,” Daniels said of the final drive.
Cougars’ Undefeated Season Comes to an End
For BYU, the loss is a bitter pill to swallow. The Cougars were off to their best start since 1984 and had aspirations of crashing the College Football Playoff party. Instead, they’ll have to regroup quickly with a tough road game against Boise State next week.
“They had a really good game plan,” BYU head coach Kalani Sitake admitted. “Looking at the stats, we just didn’t make enough plays and [made] way too many mistakes to come out with the victory.”
Jayhawks Keep Bowl Hopes Alive
As for Kansas, the upset win breathes new life into a season that appeared to be slipping away after a 1-5 start. Now at 4-6, the Jayhawks need to win two of their final three games to qualify for a bowl for the third straight year – a remarkable feat considering where the program was just a few short years ago.
“We found a way this time,” Kansas coach Lance Leipold said, summing up his team’s gritty performance.
The road ahead won’t be easy, with games against Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and West Virginia still to come. But for one night at least, the Jayhawks can celebrate a signature win that will go down as one of the biggest in program history.
Key Takeaways
- Kansas beats a ranked opponent in back-to-back weeks for the first time ever
- Jalon Daniels throws for 169 yards in the win
- Devin Neal scores both KU touchdowns, surpasses 4,000 career rushing yards
- BYU held to season-low 13 points, just a field goal in the second half
- Cougars go 2-for-4 in red zone, fail to score TD on four trips inside the 20
