Any given Thursday
The McAlary Effect
The McAlary Effect
Damn Grimes is an animal. Should be drafted in the first round
The McAlary Effect
Grimes straight dooog
The McAlary Effect
Next TJ Watt
The McAlary Effect
Game Report
“A good old fashioned fanny paddling.” - Chris Fowler
17 | 56
7-6 | 10-3
Thursday December 31st, 2026
Alamodome | San Antonio, Texas
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San Antonio, Texas - The Kansas Jayhawks capped off a stellar season with a commanding 56-17 victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini in the Alamo Bowl, showcasing dominance on both sides of the ball. Kansas surged to an early 21-0 lead, sparked by two critical interceptions in the first half that set the tone for the blowout.
Key First-Half Performance
Kansas opened the scoring with quarterback Isaiah Marshall’s 3-yard touchdown run before cornerback Jayvaun Russell intercepted Illinois quarterback Donovan Leary and returned it 57 yards to the house. Moments later, Damani Maxson picked off Leary on the first play of the next Illini possession, giving Kansas a short field. Marshall cashed in with another 3-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter to push the Jayhawks’ lead to 21-0.
Illinois responded with a pair of second-quarter touchdown passes from Leary—one a 57-yard bomb to Mario Sanders II and the other a 63-yard strike to Malik Elzy. However, Kansas continued to pile on the points, highlighted by Marshall’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Harry Stewart III as time expired in the first half, extending the lead to 35-14 at the break.
Offensive Firepower
Marshall delivered a dynamic performance, completing 20-of-33 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 55 rushing yards and two scores on 14 carries. Running back Johnny Thompson Jr. led the ground game with 120 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries, wearing down the Illinois defense with his punishing running style. Avery Muamba chipped in 69 yards on just eight carries, and Harry Stewart III added 82 yards on 11 carries, showing the depth of Kansas’ backfield.
In the receiving game, Damien Keo was a standout, hauling in 11 catches for 145 yards and a touchdown. Stewart III added a touchdown reception, and Thompson Jr. contributed with three receptions for 36 yards. Adonis Saturday, who took over quarterback duties late, capped the game with a 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Defensive Brilliance
The Kansas defense came to play, forcing three interceptions and limiting Illinois to just 1.3 yards per rush. Jayvaun Russell and Jalen Todd led the way, with Todd notching seven tackles and Russell delivering his game-changing pick-six. Maxson and Todd each added an interception, and the defensive front applied consistent pressure, with Greydon Grimes recording a sack and Tony Terry and Seth Sahara splitting another.
Illinois’ offense struggled to sustain drives, with running back Conrad Burks held to just 19 yards on the ground. Leary finished with 245 passing yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. Sanders II (95 yards, one touchdown) and Elzy (77 yards, one touchdown) provided the only sparks for Illinois in the passing game.
Special Teams Struggles
Kicker Shaq Durham was perfect on extra points, going 8-for-8, but missed both of his field goal attempts. While the misses didn’t impact the outcome, Kansas will look to shore up their kicking game heading into next season.
Total Team Dominance
The Jayhawks outgained the Illini 647-339 in total offense, including 363 rushing yards. Kansas controlled the tempo with a 20:01 time-of-possession advantage and went a combined 14-for-20 on third and fourth downs, compared to Illinois’ 2-for-10 mark on third downs.
Coach McAlary’s Thoughts
“It’s the kind of team performance you dream about,” Kansas head coach Jordan McAlary said postgame. “We set the tone early with those turnovers, and our offense was just relentless. Proud of this group—they’ve worked all season for a moment like this.”
With the win, Kansas closes the season with a 10-3 record and a bowl victory under McAlary’s leadership, solidifying the schools decision to take a chance on the young upstart.
Kansas had not had a double digit win total since 2007.
Additional Media
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
KU: Isaiah Marshall 3-yard run (Shaq Durham kick) – 5:10
KU: Jayvaun Russell 57-yard interception return (Shaq Durham kick) – 4:08
Score after 1st Quarter: Kansas 14, Illinois 0
Second Quarter
KU: Isaiah Marshall 3-yard run (Shaq Durham kick) – 7:51
ILL: Mario Sanders II 57-yard pass from Donovan Leary (David Olano kick) – 7:08
KU: Damien Keo 32-yard pass from Isaiah Marshall (Shaq Durham kick) – 1:14
ILL: Malik Elzy 63-yard pass from Donovan Leary (David Olano kick) – 0:29
KU: Harry Stewart III 13-yard pass from Isaiah Marshall (Shaq Durham kick) – 0:00
Halftime Score: Kansas 35, Illinois 14
Third Quarter
KU: Johnny Thompson Jr. 4-yard run (Shaq Durham kick) – 4:28
KU: Johnny Thompson Jr. 10-yard run (Shaq Durham kick) – 1:36
Score after 3rd Quarter: Kansas 49, Illinois 14
Fourth Quarter
ILL: David Olano 51-yard field goal – 4:22
KU: Adonis Saturday 1-yard run (Shaq Durham kick) – 1:58
Key Statistics
Passing - I. Marshall 20/33 258Yds 2TD, B. Matlock ¾ 26Yds 1Int
Rushing - J. Thompson Jr 25Car 120Yds 2TD, H. Stewart III 11Car 82Yds, A. Muamba 8Car 69Yds, I. Marshall 14Car 55Yds 2TD, A. Saturday 3Car 31Yds 1TD
Receiving – D. Keo 11Rec 145Yds 1TD, J. Thompson Jr 3Rec 36Yds, K. Kubecka 3Rec 27Yds, A. Muamba 3Rec 25Yds, R. Slay 1Rec 23Yds, H. Stewart III 1Rec 13Yds 1TD
Tackles – J. Todd 7, R. Orr 4, J. Russell 4
Sacks – G. Grimes 1.0, T. Terry 0.5, S. Sahara 0.5
Takeaways – D. Maxson 1Int, J. Russell 1Int 1TD, J. Todd 1Int
Special Teams – S. Durham 0/2FG 8/8XP, A. Muamba 1KR 21Yds, M. Cooke 1PR 8Yds
Passing – D. Leary 15/21 245Yds 2TD 3Int, C. Swanson 5/14 67Yds
Rushing – C. Burks 8Car 19Yds
Receiving – M. Sanders II 4Rec 95Yds 1TD, M. Elsy 2Rec 77Yds 1TD, B. Armah 4Rec 44Yds, H. Boyer 4Rec 40Yds
Tackles – M. Resetich 14, A. Gaskins 10, T. Kinney 10
Sacks – D. John 1.0, E. Tuerk 1.0, L. Sansui 1.0, M. Muragin 0.5, M. Resetich 0.5
Takeaways – A. Lamm 1Int
Special Teams – D. Olano 1/2FG 2/2XP, D. Duley 3Pt 34.3Avg, B. Armah 3KR 87Yds, T. Wiggins 2KR 63Yds
Up Next
End of Season
The McAlary Effect
Jayhawk Talk
Each week following their game Kansas Head Coach Jordan McAlary makes an appearance on KLWN to talk about the game, we'll include a few key points in this article.
On the Alamo Bowl performance:
“I thought we played one of our most complete games of the season in the Alamo Bowl. To come out and jump to a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter, fueled by those two interceptions, just shows how locked in our guys were. That pick-six from Jayvaun Russell was a momentum play, no question, and Damani Maxson’s interception right after was like gasoline on the fire. The offense capitalized, and we never let up.”
“Isaiah [Marshall] continues to grow as a leader. He was electric in that game—four total touchdowns, nearly 260 yards through the air. And let’s not forget the weapons around him. Johnny Thompson Jr. has been a workhorse all year, and he capped it with another 100-yard game. Damien Keo had one of his best outings of the season too, over 140 receiving yards and a touchdown. The balance we had on offense was incredible.”
On the defense’s impact:
“I’ve said it all year—our defense isn’t just about getting stops, it’s about creating game-changing plays. Three interceptions in the Alamo Bowl, one returned for a touchdown, another that set up a score—it doesn’t get much better than that. Jayvaun [Russell], Jalen [Todd], and Damani [Maxson] all stepped up big-time. And up front, guys like Greydon Grimes, Tony Terry, and Seth Sahara were relentless in getting pressure.”
On the special teams’ ups and downs:
“Shaq Durham has been so reliable for us on PATs—he was 8-for-8 in the bowl game—but missing those field goals stings a little. It didn’t matter in this game, but it’s something we’ll clean up in the offseason. Overall, though, our special teams unit has been solid all year, and I’m proud of their effort.”
On reflecting on the season:
“It’s been a special year for this program. We finished 10-3, went 7-2 in conference play, and won another bowl game. That doesn’t happen without a lot of hard work from these players and coaches. We had some big wins—beating WVU handily on the road, taking down UCF early in the year—and those moments showed the resilience of this group.”
“What I’m most proud of is how this team grew over the course of the season. Isaiah [Marshall] is a sophomore, but he played like a veteran down the stretch. Johnny [Thompson Jr.] was as steady as they come, and the depth we developed in the backfield with Avery Muamba, Harry Stewart III, and even Adonis Saturday late in games was huge for us.”
On the future of the program:
“The sky’s the limit for this program. We’re losing a few key guys to graduation, but the core of this team is coming back. Isaiah, Johnny, Damien, our defense—there’s a lot of talent here. The culture is strong, and I think we’ve shown that Kansas football is here to stay.”
On areas for improvement:
“We’ve got to keep building depth across the board, especially on the offensive and defensive lines. Those battles in the trenches make or break games in this league. And we’ll keep working on consistency, whether it’s special teams or minimizing turnovers. But overall, I’m really proud of how far we’ve come.”
Closing thoughts:
“This season was about showing what Kansas football can be. Ten wins, a bowl championship, and a lot of great memories along the way—it’s something we can all be proud of. But we’re not done. This is just the beginning of what this program can achieve.”
The McAlary Effect
Big 12 Update
Bowl Week 1
Kansas Destroys Illinois in Alamo Bowl: No. 24 Kansas delivered a resounding 56-17 victory over Illinois, finishing their season with a 10-3 record and a bowl trophy. Isaiah Marshall was a standout with four total touchdowns.
Kansas State Clinches Las Vegas Bowl: No. 12 Kansas State defeated Wisconsin 22-7, capping their season with a bowl victory and an impressive 10-4 record.
Iowa State Edges San Jose State: In a low-scoring affair, No. 25 Iowa State held off San Jose State 10-7 in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.
TCU Pours it On vs. Michigan State: TCU showed offensive dominance in the Independence Bowl, defeating Michigan State 52-42.
Utah Rolls in Liberty Bowl: Utah crushed North Texas 45-10 to close out a strong season.
Arizona Falls to Stanford: Arizona fell short in the Gasparilla Bowl, losing 38-31 to Stanford.
Cincinnati Cruises in Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Cincinnati beat Middle Tennessee State 27-14, finishing their season on a high note.
Big 12 Bowl Scores
Alamo Bowl: No. 24 Kansas 56, Illinois 17
Las Vegas Bowl: No. 12 Kansas State 22, Wisconsin 7
Guaranteed Rate Bowl: No. 25 Iowa State 10, San Jose State 7
Independence Bowl: TCU 52, Michigan State 42
Liberty Bowl: Utah 45, North Texas 10
Gasparilla Bowl: Stanford 38, Arizona 31
Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Cincinnati 27, Middle Tennessee State 14
Big 12 Players of the Week
Defensive: Colby McCallister, Kansas State (7 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception vs. Wisconsin)
Offensive: Dozie Ezukanma, TCU (5 receptions, 94 yards, 4 TDs vs. Michigan State)
Big 12 Conference Standings
| Team | W-L | Pct | Conf | PF | PA | Home | Away | Streak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 10-3 | 0.769 | 7-2 | 428 | 356 | 5-1 | 4-2 | W2 |
| Kansas State | 10-4 | 0.692 | 7-2 | 480 | 332 | 4-3 | 5-0 | W1 |
| Kansas | 10-3 | 0.750 | 7-2 | 438 | 294 | 5-1 | 4-2 | W1 |
| Texas Tech | 8-5 | 0.583 | 5-4 | 373 | 354 | 5-2 | 2-3 | W2 |
| Utah | 9-4 | 0.667 | 5-4 | 371 | 270 | 3-3 | 5-1 | W1 |
| Iowa State | 9-4 | 0.667 | 5-4 | 356 | 258 | 3-3 | 5-1 | W3 |
| TCU | 9-4 | 0.667 | 5-4 | 387 | 343 | 4-3 | 4-1 | W1 |
| Cincinnati | 8-5 | 0.583 | 4-5 | 350 | 314 | 3-3 | 4-2 | W1 |
| UCF | 6-7 | 0.500 | 5-4 | 330 | 349 | 4-3 | 2-3 | L3 |
| Arizona | 6-7 | 0.500 | 5-4 | 391 | 359 | 2-4 | 4-2 | L1 |
| Baylor | 5-7 | 0.417 | 4-5 | 266 | 303 | 3-2 | 2-5 | W2 |
| West Virginia | 4-8 | 0.333 | 4-5 | 347 | 313 | 2-5 | 2-3 | W2 |
| Oklahoma State | 5-7 | 0.417 | 4-5 | 265 | 341 | 0-5 | 5-2 | L3 |
| Arizona State | 3-9 | 0.250 | 2-7 | 290 | 368 | 3-3 | 0-6 | L5 |
| Houston | 3-9 | 0.250 | 1-8 | 279 | 333 | 2-4 | 1-5 | W1 |
| BYU | 2-10 | 0.167 | 1-8 | 198 | 376 | 2-5 | 0-5 | L2 |
The McAlary Effect
NCAA Update
Bowl Week 1
National Players of the Week
Defensive: Florida DE Kelby Collins 8Tkl 4Sck 1FF 2FR
Offensive: Pittsburgh QB Eli Holstein 15/23 156Yds 18Car 108Yds 6TD
The McAlary Effect
Big 12 Update
Bowl Week 2
Michigan takes down Colorado in Peach Bowl to move onto Semi Final
Big 12 Bowl Scores
Peach Bowl: Michigan 35, Colorado 21
Big 12 Players of the Week
Defensive: Colorado DE Samuel Okunlola 6Tkl 2Sck 1FF 2FR
Offensive: Colorado WR Drelon Miller 10Rec 151Yds 2TD
Big 12 Conference Standings
| Team | W-L | Pct | Conf | PF | PA | Home | Away | Streak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 10-4 | 0.769 | 7-2 | 449 | 391 | 5-1 | 4-2 | L1 |
| Kansas State | 10-4 | 0.692 | 7-2 | 480 | 332 | 4-3 | 5-0 | W1 |
| Kansas | 10-3 | 0.750 | 7-2 | 438 | 294 | 5-1 | 4-2 | W1 |
| Texas Tech | 8-5 | 0.583 | 5-4 | 373 | 354 | 5-2 | 2-3 | W2 |
| Utah | 9-4 | 0.667 | 5-4 | 371 | 270 | 3-3 | 5-1 | W1 |
| Iowa State | 9-4 | 0.667 | 5-4 | 356 | 258 | 3-3 | 5-1 | W3 |
| TCU | 9-4 | 0.667 | 5-4 | 387 | 343 | 4-3 | 4-1 | W1 |
| Cincinnati | 8-5 | 0.583 | 4-5 | 350 | 314 | 3-3 | 4-2 | W1 |
| UCF | 6-7 | 0.500 | 5-4 | 330 | 349 | 4-3 | 2-3 | L3 |
| Arizona | 6-7 | 0.500 | 5-4 | 391 | 359 | 2-4 | 4-2 | L1 |
| Baylor | 5-7 | 0.417 | 4-5 | 266 | 303 | 3-2 | 2-5 | W2 |
| West Virginia | 4-8 | 0.333 | 4-5 | 347 | 313 | 2-5 | 2-3 | W2 |
| Oklahoma State | 5-7 | 0.417 | 4-5 | 265 | 341 | 0-5 | 5-2 | L3 |
| Arizona State | 3-9 | 0.250 | 2-7 | 290 | 368 | 3-3 | 0-6 | L5 |
| Houston | 3-9 | 0.250 | 1-8 | 279 | 333 | 2-4 | 1-5 | W1 |
| BYU | 2-10 | 0.167 | 1-8 | 198 | 376 | 2-5 | 0-5 | L2 |
The McAlary Effect
NCAA Update
Bowl Week 2
National Players of the Week
Defensive: Colorado DE Samuel Okunlola 6Tkl 2Sck 1FF 2FR
Offensive: Nebraska WR Isaiah McMorris 9Rec 108Yds 3TD