The McAlary Effect
The McAlary Effect
Possibly the biggest game of this thread to date
The McAlary Effect
2 40s & a 50-point game, Jayhawks got all the momentum going up against Oklahoma
The McAlary Effect
Game Report
Kansas holds off Oklahoma in sloppy win
14 | 15
2-2(0-0) | 4-0(1-0)
Saturday September 25th, 2027
David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium | Lawrence, Kansas
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Lawrence, Kansas - In a stunning Big 12 showdown in Lawrence, the No. 9 Kansas Jayhawks survived a late surge by the No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners to secure a dramatic 15-14 victory. With key contributors Avery Muamba and Johnny Thompson Jr. battling injuries throughout the game, Kansas relied on the heroics of Isaiah Marshall and a stout defensive performance to edge out the Sooners
Isaiah Marshall delivered the play of the game not once, but twice. In the second quarter, he rolled out under pressure and fired a laser to Damien Keo for a 31-yard touchdown, pushing Kansas to a 9-0 lead. But it was his late-game heroics that sealed the win. With Kansas trailing 14-9 after Brad Matlock's third interception was returned 70 yards for a touchdown by Oklahoma's Dillon Glowinski, Marshall re-entered the game. On a critical drive with less than two minutes to play, Marshall orchestrated the offense, capping it off with a 10-yard touchdown run to reclaim the lead. Though the two-point conversion failed, the Jayhawks’ defense stood tall to preserve the win.
The Kansas defense saved its best for last, delivering a clutch performance when it mattered most. After Isaiah Marshall's 10-yard touchdown run gave the Jayhawks a 15-14 lead, Oklahoma's offense took the field looking for a quick response. However, on their very first play, Terrance Yates stepped in front of a DJ Lagway pass to secure a game-sealing interception. Yates’ timely pick, coupled with earlier interceptions by Jeremiah Moses and Damani Maxson, highlighted a dominant defensive showing that forced three turnovers and kept the Sooners' potent offense in check.
Kansas’ offense had its fair share of challenges, surrendering five sacks, including a dominant 3.5-sack performance from Oklahoma defensive tackle Jayden Jackson. Despite the pressure, the Jayhawks’ ground game carried the load, with Johnny Thompson Jr. grinding out 104 yards on 22 carries and Avery Muamba adding 62 yards. The offensive line’s struggles limited Brad Matlock’s effectiveness in the passing game, as he completed just 17 of 33 passes for 153 yards and three interceptions.
Oklahoma's lone offensive touchdown came in the fourth quarter when Kalib Hicks punched it in from eight yards out. The Sooners’ defense kept them in the game, but Kansas’ ability to control the clock, nearly doubling up Oklahoma in time of possession, and force turnovers proved to be the difference. Damien Keo led Kansas in receiving with six catches for 61 yards and the second-quarter touchdown.
Jordan McAlary’s squad showed resilience, overcoming injuries, turnovers, and a fierce Oklahoma pass rush to pull out the win. Kansas improves to 2-0 on the season and solidifies its position as a contender in the Big 12. For Oklahoma, the loss snaps a strong start to their season and raises questions about their offensive consistency moving forward.
The Jayhawks will look to build on this momentum as they continue their march toward a potential Big 12 title, while the Sooners aim to regroup and bounce back in their next outing.
Additional Media
Scoring Summary
Second Quarter:
Kansas: Team Safety, 6:11
Kansas: Damien Keo 31-yard pass from Isaiah Marshall (Shaq Durham kick), 4:42
Fourth Quarter:
Oklahoma: Kalib Hicks 8-yard run (Tavares Muma kick), 4:14
Oklahoma: Dillon Glowinski returned interception 70 yards (Tavares Muma kick), 2:05
Kansas: Isaiah Marshall 10-yard run (2-point conversion failed), 0:45
Key Statistics
Passing – B. Matlock 17/33 153Yds 3Int, I. Marshall ¾ 64Yds 1TD
Rushing - J. Thompson Jr. 22Car 104Yds, A. Muamba 13Car 62Yds, I. Marshall 10Car 40Yds 1TD
Receiving – D. Keo 6Rec 61Yds 1TD, K. Kubecka 6Rec 47Yds, J. Hamm 2Rec 29Yds, A. Muamba 2Rec 28Yds, J. Thompson Jr 1Rec 26Yds
Tackles – J. Moses 7, D. Cantrell 5
Sacks – N/A
Takeaways – D. Maxson 1Int, J. Moses 1Int, T. Yates 1Int
Special Teams - S. Durham 1/1XP, M. Cooke 3KR 75Yds 2PR28Yds
Passing – D. Lagway 11/17 108Yds 3Int
Rushing – K. Hicks 12Car 57Yds 1TD, D. Lagway 6Car 21Yds
Receiving – N. Foxworth 4Rec 40Yds, D. Mitchell 2Rec 39Yds, K. Hicks 2Rec 14Yds
Tackles – L. Carter 22, F. Root 16
Sacks – J. Jackson 3.5, J. Nesta 1.0, O. Holyfield 0.5
Takeaways – M. Vickers 2Int, D. Glowinski 1Int 1TD
Special Teams – T. Muma 2/2XP, M. Braman 5Pt 245Yds, C. Queen 1KR 22Yds 2PR 24Yds
Up Next
The McAlary Effect
Grindfest 
but we got the big win
Matlock plays like shit. 15 yds on 17 passes? What happened there
but we got the big winMatlock plays like shit. 15 yds on 17 passes? What happened there
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 Quarterback Situation: "We haven’t made a decision on a starting quarterback just yet. We’re going to evaluate practice this week, take a look at our game plan, and determine who fits best for what we’re trying to accomplish. I have the utmost confidence in both Brad and Isaiah—they’ve each shown they can lead this team. That said, ball security is going to be a big focus in practice this week. We have to take care of the football if we want to continue winning games."
On Avery Muamba and Johnny Thompson Jr.’s Status: "Avery and Johnny are both trending in the right direction and are expected to be available for the Houston game. However, how much they play will really come down to how they’re feeling later in the week and on game day. We’re not going to rush them back—our priority is their health and making sure they’re ready to contribute when they’re on the field."
On Offensive Line Adjustments: "Five sacks is five too many, and that’s something we’re addressing. We’ll evaluate the game tape thoroughly and decide if adjustments need to be made, whether that’s personnel, scheme, or technique. It’s a group effort, and we need to make sure we’re giving our quarterbacks the time they need to operate."
On the Team’s Performance Against Oklahoma: "It wasn’t a perfect game by any stretch—it was sloppy at times—but I’m proud of this team for continuing to fight. We faced adversity, and we had guys step up in big moments to help us close out the game. That’s the kind of resilience and determination that makes me proud to coach this group. Beating a top-five team like Oklahoma is never easy, and the way we found a way to win speaks volumes about this team’s character."
The McAlary Effect
Big 12 Update
Week 4
No. 5 Kansas Stuns No. 9 Oklahoma, 15-14
Isaiah Marshall’s late-game heroics led Kansas to a dramatic win, capping a resilient performance by the Jayhawks’ defense. Kansas moves to 4-0 and is now firmly in the playoff conversation.
No. 6 Colorado Outlasts West Virginia, 24-21
Colorado remained perfect on the season thanks to a balanced offensive attack and timely defensive stops.
Texas Tech Downs Houston, 28-17
The Red Raiders controlled the game with their physical play, improving to 4-1 as they solidify themselves in the top tier of the Big 12.
BYU Edges Utah, 25-23
A last-second defensive stand helped BYU claim their first conference win of the season in a thrilling game against the Utes.
Big 12 Scores
Kansas 15 vs. Oklahoma 14
Colorado 24 vs. West Virginia 21
Texas Tech 28 at Houston 17
BYU 25 vs. Utah 23
Kansas State 31 vs. FCS Northwest 7
Cincinnati 37 at Boston College 21
TCU 32 at Iowa State 31
Arizona 48 at Coastal Carolina 30
UCF 45 vs. Akron 24
Big 12 Players of the Week
Defensive: Chiddi Obiazor, Kansas State – 6 tackles, 3 sacks
Offensive: AJ Surace, UCF – 338 passing yards, 2 passing TDs, 2 rushing TDs
Big 12 Conference Standings
| Team | W-L | PCT | CONF | PF | PA | HOME | AWAY | STK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BYU | 2-2 | .500 | 1-0 | 138 | 112 | 2-2 | 0-0 | W2 |
| Colorado | 3-0 | 1.000 | 1-0 | 100 | 42 | 3-0 | 0-0 | W3 |
| Kansas | 4-0 | 1.000 | 1-0 | 158 | 87 | 3-0 | 1-0 | W4 |
| TCU | 3-1 | .750 | 1-0 | 121 | 116 | 2-1 | 1-0 | W1 |
| Texas Tech | 4-1 | .800 | 2-1 | 153 | 131 | 2-0 | 2-1 | W3 |
| Iowa State | 1-3 | .250 | 1-1 | 115 | 114 | 1-2 | 0-1 | L1 |
| Kansas State | 3-1 | .750 | 1-1 | 114 | 57 | 3-1 | 0-0 | W1 |
| Utah | 3-2 | .600 | 1-2 | 140 | 128 | 2-0 | 1-2 | L1 |
| West Virginia | 2-3 | .400 | 1-2 | 145 | 133 | 1-0 | 1-3 | L1 |
| Arizona | 3-0 | 1.000 | 0-0 | 134 | 68 | 1-0 | 2-0 | W3 |
| Arizona State | 1-2 | .333 | 0-0 | 63 | 83 | 0-1 | 1-1 | L2 |
| Baylor | 1-2 | .333 | 0-0 | 72 | 110 | 0-1 | 1-1 | L1 |
| Cincinnati | 3-0 | 1.000 | 0-0 | 112 | 82 | 0-0 | 3-0 | W3 |
| Houston | 1-3 | .250 | 0-1 | 76 | 88 | 0-2 | 0-1 | L3 |
| Oklahoma State | 1-2 | .333 | 0-1 | 52 | 106 | 1-1 | 0-1 | L2 |
| UCF | 1-3 | .250 | 0-1 | 132 | 131 | 1-1 | 0-2 | W1 |