The Kansas Jayhawks football team pulled off a stunning upset over the No. 6 Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday, winning 38-33 at home and ending a 26-year drought against the Sooners. The Jayhawks, who were 38.5-point underdogs, became bowl eligible for the second straight season under coach Lance Leipold and snapped an 18-game losing streak to Oklahoma.
Jayhawks defense makes big plays
The Jayhawks defense set the tone early in the game, as cornerback Mello Dotson intercepted a pass from Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel and returned it for a touchdown in the first quarter. The Jayhawks also stopped the Sooners on a fourth-and-2 near midfield, leading to another touchdown by running back Daniel Hishaw Jr.
The defense came up big again in the fourth quarter, forcing a three-and-out after quarterback Jason Bean threw an interception with less than six minutes left in the game. The Jayhawks got the ball back with 2:06 remaining and drove 80 yards for the go-ahead touchdown by running back Devin Neal with 50 seconds left.
The defense sealed the win by breaking up Gabriel’s final pass in the end zone as time expired, sparking a wild celebration by the fans who stormed the field and tore down one of the goalposts.
Bean leads comeback drive
Bean, who started in place of injured Jalon Daniels, had a shaky performance for most of the game, completing 15 of 32 passes for 218 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. However, he showed poise and composure on the final drive, converting a crucial fourth-and-6 at midfield with a 19-yard pass to Lawrence Arnold.
Bean also scrambled for 14 yards on third-and-10 to set up Neal’s touchdown run. Bean finished with 54 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.
Neal and Hishaw run wild
Neal and Hishaw were the stars of the Jayhawks offense, combining for 214 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 42 carries. Neal had 112 yards and a touchdown on 25 attempts, while Hishaw had 102 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries.
The Jayhawks ran for 266 yards as a team, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. They controlled the clock for more than 35 minutes and kept the Sooners offense off the field.
Sooners suffer first loss of the season
The Sooners, who had won their first seven games of the season, saw their College Football Playoff hopes take a major hit with the loss. They also fell into a tie with Baylor, Oklahoma State and Iowa State for first place in the Big 12 standings.
Gabriel, who transferred from UCF in the offseason, had a mixed day, throwing for 298 yards and three touchdowns but also two interceptions. He was sacked three times and pressured throughout the game by the Jayhawks defensive line.
The Sooners also struggled to run the ball, gaining only 117 yards on 28 carries. They trailed for most of the game and had to rally from a 26-21 deficit in the third quarter with two touchdowns by receiver Marvin Mims.
However, they could not stop the Jayhawks from scoring on their final drive and failed to score on their last two possessions.
