Game Report
Kansas picks off Holstein six times to take Cotton Bowl win
13 | 35
13-2(7-1) | 14-1(9-1)
Saturday January 8th, 2028
AT&T Stadium | Arlington, Texas
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|03|10|00|00|13
|07|07|14|07|35
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Arlington, Texas - The Kansas Jayhawks punched their ticket to the National Championship game with a dominant 35-13 win over Pittsburgh in the Cotton Bowl. After leading by just a single point at halftime, the Jayhawks shut out the Panthers in the second half, outscoring them 21-0, to claim a resounding victory and set up a showdown with Clemson and Heisman-winning quarterback Christopher Vizzina for the National Championship.
Pittsburgh struck first, capping their opening drive with a 23-yard Sam Carpenter field goal. Kansas quarterback Isaiah Marshall was sacked on the Jayhawks' first play from scrimmage, but he quickly recovered, connecting with Damien Keo for a 41-yard gain that set up a 2-yard touchdown pass to Rashard Slay later in the dirve. Kansas kicker Shaq Durham missed a 45-yard field goal later in the quarter, allowing Pittsburgh to reclaim the lead early in the second quarter when Eli Holstein found Zion Fowler-El for a 7-yard touchdown.
Midway through the second quarter, the game turned into a battle of interceptions. Marshall was picked off by Matt Jowers, but the Jayhawks' Roddy Orr intercepted Holstein just five plays later. Kansas capitalized on the turnover when Marshall hit Keo for a 9-yard touchdown to take a 14-10 lead. Taylor Davis added to Kansas’ defensive momentum with another interception of Holstein on the ensuing drive. A shanked punt buy Kansas gave Pittsburgh excellent field position, leading to Carpenter’s 57-yard field goal at the end of the half that narrowed Kansas' lead to 14-13.
The second half, however, belonged entirely to the Jayhawks. Marshall and Keo connected for a 23-yard touchdown to open the third quarter. Davis picked off Holstein again shortly after, and Kansas wasted no time turning the turnover into points as Marshall found Keo for an 8-yard score, pushing the lead to 28-13. The Kansas secondary continued to shine, with Terrance Yates intercepting Holstein in the end zone to halt a critical Pittsburgh drive.
Early in the fourth quarter, Kansas came up inches short on a fourth-down attempt, but their defense again rose to the occasion. Jayvaun Russell intercepted Holstein at the goal line, thwarting another Panther scoring opportunity. Kansas then orchestrated a masterful 12-play, 97-yard drive capped by a 2-yard touchdown run from Johnny Thompson Jr. to seal the game. David Tripp added the exclamation point with the Jayhawks' sixth interception of the day, allowing Kansas to run out the clock and celebrate a decisive victory.
Key Performances:
Isaiah Marshall: 28-of-40 passing, 272 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT; 69 rushing yards.
Damien Keo: 7 receptions, 98 yards, 3 TDs.
Avery Muamba: 104 rushing yards on 20 carries; 6 receptions for 51 yards.
Johnny Thompson Jr.: 18 carries, 106 yards, 1 TD.
Kansas Defense: Forced six interceptions, including two by Taylor Davis, and stifled Pittsburgh’s offense in the second half.
Pittsburgh's Holstein, who entered the game with just eight interceptions all season, was forced into six by a relentless Kansas defense that delivered clutch plays in critical moments. Roddy Orr led the Jayhawks with 12 tackles, while David Tripp and Donte Cantrell added 10 each. The Jayhawks’ defensive backs proved instrumental, shutting down the Panthers' scoring threats and maintaining control of the game.
For Pittsburgh, Holstein completed 19 of 39 passes for 242 yards, one touchdown, and six interceptions. Zion Fowler-El was a bright spot with 90 yards and a touchdown on eight catches, while linebacker Matt Jowers tallied an astounding 20 tackles, a sack, and an interception.
Looking Ahead:
With their Cotton Bowl victory, Kansas secures a spot in the National Championship game against Clemson. The Jayhawks will face the daunting task of containing Vizzina, but with their explosive offense and opportunistic defense, Kansas has proven they’re capable of rising to the occasion.
This dominant second-half performance against Pittsburgh solidifies Kansas’ place among college football’s elite and sets the stage for what promises to be an electrifying title game.
Additional Media
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
(PITT) Sam Carpenter, 23 Yd FG, 6:06
(KU) Rashard Slay 2 Yd pass from Isaiah Marshall (Shaq Durham kick), 4:34
Second Quarter
(PITT) Zion Fowler-El 7 Yd pass from Eli Holstein (Sam Carpenter kick), 7:09
(KU) Damien Keo 9 Yd pass from Isaiah Marshall (Shaq Durham kick), 1:52
(PITT) Sam Carpenter, 57 Yd FG, 0:03
Third Quarter
(KU) Damien Keo 23 Yd pass from Isaiah Marshall (Shaq Durham kick), 4:51
(KU) Damien Keo 8 Yd pass from Isaiah Marshall (Shaq Durham kick), 3:00
Fourth Quarter
(KU) Johnny Thompson Jr., 2 Yd run (Shaq Durham kick), 3:24
Key Statistics
Passing – I. Marshall 28/40 272Yds 4TD 1Int
Rushing – J. Thompson Jr 18Car 106Yds 1TD, A. Muamba 20Car 104Yds, I. Marshall 9Car 69Yds
Receiving – D. Keo 7Rec 98Yds 3TD, K. Kubecka 8Rec 59Yds, A. Muamba 6Rec 51Yds, T. Green 4Rec 42Yds
Tackles – R. Orr 12, D. Tripp 10, D. Cantrell 10
Sacks – N/A
Takeaways – T. Davis 2Int, J. Russell 1Int, T. Yates 1Int, D. Tripp 1Int, R. Orr 1Int
Special Teams - S. Durham 0/1FG 5/5XP, J. Marciano 4KR 74Yds
Passing – E. Holstein 29/39 242Yds 1TD 6Int
Rushing – E. Holstein 6Car 53Yds, M. Lloyd 7Car 36Yds, N. Davis 4Car 28Yds
Receiving – Z. Fowler-El 8Rec 90Yds 1TD, L. Seymore 5Rec 46Yds, C. Monteiro 5Rec 40Yds
Tackles – G. Brown 21, M. Jowers 20, N. Maynard 14
Sacks – M. Jowers 1.0, C. Lindsey 0.5, L. Buckley 0.5, G. Brown 0.5
Takeaways – M. Jowers 1Int
Special Teams – S. Carpenter 2/2FG 1/1XP, A. Bueno 1PT 38Yds, J. Garland 4KR 71Yds
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
