The McAlary Effect
The McAlary Effect
Damn you might finally do it fam. Congrats on the semi win!
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 defensive performance and the six interceptions:
"Our pass rush really set the tone. Eli Holstein is a great quarterback, but when you pressure him and force him off his spot, bad things happen for their offense. Credit to our defensive line and linebackers for creating that havoc, but what really stood out was the play of our secondary. Those guys on the back end were lights out. They made great reads, broke on the ball, and finished plays. You don’t see six interceptions in a game too often, and it’s a testament to how locked in that group was."
On Isaiah Marshall’s recent form:
"I can’t say enough about Isaiah Marshall. Early in the season, he was battling through some injuries and still learning to fully command this offense. But these past few weeks, you can see the confidence building. He’s healthier, he’s trusting his reads, and he’s making plays with both his arm and his legs. Against Pitt, he really showed what he’s capable of—four touchdown passes and a lot of critical third-down conversions. He’s become the leader we need him to be."
On interim defensive coordinator Joe Bolden:
"Joe Bolden deserves a ton of credit for the defensive game plan. He’s done an unbelievable job since stepping into the role. He dialed up pressure at the perfect moments, and his adjustments in the second half were masterful. Pitt couldn’t find any rhythm after halftime, and that’s a testament to how well Joe had those guys prepared. He’s been a huge part of our success down the stretch."
On Avery Muamba, Johnny Thompson Jr., and the offensive line:
"Our run game was just as important as anything else we did. Avery Muamba and Johnny Thompson Jr. both ran with toughness and patience, and that starts with the big guys up front. Our offensive line doesn’t get enough love, but they controlled the line of scrimmage and gave us balance. When we needed to grind out drives late, Johnny was a hammer for us. And Avery has that knack for finding lanes and making something happen even when it’s not there. Those two complement each other so well, and it’s been a big part of our offensive identity."
On the team’s growth and momentum heading into the National Championship:
"This group has grown so much over the season. We’ve faced our share of adversity, but we’ve found ways to get better each week. The way we played against Pitt, especially in the second half, shows how far we’ve come. We’re playing with confidence and execution at just the right time, and we’re excited for the challenge that’s ahead of us."
The McAlary Effect
Big 12 Update
Bowl Week Three
Cotton Bowl | Kansas 35, Pittsburgh 13
Big 12 Players of the Week
Defensive: Kansas LB Roddy Orr – 12Tkl 1Int
Offensive: Kansas WR Damien Keo – 7Rec 98Yds 3TD
Big 12 Conference Standings
| Team | W-L | PCT | CONF | PF | PA | HOME | AWAY | STK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Kansas | 14-1 | 0.923 | 8-1 | 553 | 316 | 7-0 | 4-1 | W10 |
| 8 Colorado | 10-4 | 0.769 | 8-1 | 467 | 317 | 5-2 | 5-0 | L2 |
| 13 Cincinnati | 10-3 | 0.750 | 6-3 | 388 | 307 | 4-1 | 5-2 | W3 |
| Baylor | 7-6 | 0.583 | 6-3 | 374 | 374 | 2-4 | 5-1 | L1 |
| 19 Texas Tech | 9-4 | 0.667 | 6-3 | 416 | 323 | 3-3 | 5-1 | W3 |
| Kansas State | 7-6 | 0.583 | 5-4 | 344 | 313 | 5-2 | 2-3 | L2 |
| Oklahoma State | 8-5 | 0.583 | 5-4 | 354 | 361 | 5-2 | 2-3 | W1 |
| Arizona | 8-5 | 0.667 | 5-4 | 454 | 382 | 3-2 | 5-2 | L1 |
| Iowa State | 5-7 | 0.417 | 4-5 | 320 | 342 | 2-3 | 3-4 | L3 |
| Arizona State | 5-7 | 0.417 | 4-5 | 323 | 335 | 2-4 | 3-3 | L3 |
| BYU | 4-8 | 0.333 | 3-6 | 335 | 374 | 2-5 | 2-3 | W1 |
| TCU | 5-7 | 0.417 | 3-6 | 281 | 392 | 3-4 | 2-3 | L1 |
| Utah | 5-7 | 0.417 | 3-6 | 316 | 338 | 3-5 | 2-2 | L4 |
| Houston | 3-9 | 0.250 | 2-7 | 210 | 322 | 2-4 | 0-5 | L2 |
| UCF | 3-9 | 0.250 | 2-7 | 330 | 359 | 2-4 | 1-5 | L1 |
| West Virginia | 3-9 | 0.250 | 2-7 | 316 | 372 | 2-4 | 1-5 | L2 |
The McAlary Effect
NCAA Update
Bowl Week Three
1 Kansas 35, 5 Pittsburgh 13
2 Clemson 28, 3 Nebraska 24
Players of the Week
Defensive: Pitt LB Matt Jowers – 20Tkl 1Sck 1Int
Offensive: Kansas WR Damien Keo – 7Rec 98Yds 3TD
College Football Playoff Bracket
The McAlary Effect
Game Preview
#3 13-2(7-1) | #1 14-1(8-1)
Monday January 17th, 2028
NRG Stadium | Houston, Texas
---
Kansas Season Results
Week 1 W 49-24 vs Texas Tech
Week 2 W 42-28 @ Washington State
Week 3 W 52-21 vs Louisiana Tech
Week 4 W 15-14 vs Oklahoma
Week 5 L 21-27 @ Houston
Week 6 W 35-21 @ Colorado
Week 7 W 48-10 @ BYU
Week 9 W 24-8 vs Kansas State
Week 10 W 28-21 @ Cincinnati
Week 11 W 31-23 vs Arizona
Week 12 W 42-24 vs Iowa State
Week 13 W 49-10 vs Oklahoma State
CCG W 52-49 vs Colorado
CFPR2 W 30-23 vs Notre Dame
CFPR3 W 35-13 vs Pittsburgh
---
Clemson Season Results
Week 2 W 31-21 @ BYU
Week 3 L 21-31 vs Notre Dame
Week 4 W 42-20 vs Wake Forest
Week 5 W 42-3 vs FCS East
Week 6 W 45-29 vs Stanford
Week 7 L 23-26 vs Florida State
Week 8 W 53-45 @ Virginia Tech
Week 9 W 34-26 @ SMU
Week 10 W 28-10 @ NC State
Week 11 W 42-28 @ Louisville
Week 12 W 49-23 vs Boston College
Week 13 W 42-30 @ South Carolina
CCG W 35-21 vs North Carolina
CFPR2 W 38-24 vs Michigan
CFPR3 W 28-24 vs Nebraska
Team Leaders
Passing | QB Isaiah Marshall 139/211 1,622Yds 17TD 6Int, QB Brad Matlock 128/215 1,425Yds 13TD 9Int
Rushing | HB Johnny Thompson Jr 309Car 1,801Yds 20TD, HB Avery Muamba 245Car 1,389Yds 6TD, I. Marshall 123Car 699Yds 10TD
Receiving | WR Damien Keo 64Rec 871Yds 11TD, WR Keaton Kubecka 77Rec 815Yds 4TD, HB Avery Muamba 47Rec 440Yds 4TD
Tackles | LB Donte Cantrell 85, LB Roddy Orr 83, CB Terrance Yates 74
Sacks | DE Tony Terry 10.5, OLB L. Brantley 6.5, DT Marcus Calvin 5.5
Interceptions | CB Jeremiah Moses 7, CB Damani Maxson 5, David Tripp 4, Taylor Davis 4
Passing | QB Christopher Vizzina 360/490 4,726Yds 57TD 11Int
Rushing | HB Keyjuan Brown 158Car 625Yds 9TD, QB Christopher Vizzina 104Car 431Yds 2TD, Isaac Gesicki 45Car 203Yds 1TD
Receiving | WR Ronan Hanafin 82Rec 1,348Yds 14TD, WR Tyler Brown 80Rec 1,207Yds 13TD, WR Bryant Wesco Jr 84Rec 1,128Yds 15TD
Tackles | MLB Sammy Brown 97, SS Ricardo Jones 75, CB Corian Gipson 69
Sacks | ROLB Dee Crayton 9.5, RE Austin Dieter 9.5, DT Jason Stephen 5.0
Interceptions | MLB Sammy Brown 3, CB Branden Strozier 2, CB Alexander Dile 1
Injuries
Kansas – DT T.J. Harbor, CB Damani Maxson
Clemson – LE Deric Dandy, DT Champ Thompson, SS Rob Billings
The McAlary Effect
Let’s hope the heisman doesn’t make a joke out Kansas before going #1 in the draft
The McAlary Effect
We have been prone to giving up big pass plays. Colorado’s back up QB carved us up. Best thing we can do is sustain drives on offense and try to keep their three 1,000 yard plus & 13TD plus receivers in front of us. 
-
Google[Bot]
- Posts: 3828
- Joined: 01 Jul 2020, 10:03
The McAlary Effect
here we goooo
The McAlary Effect
Game Report
Kansas leaves no doubt, dominates Clemson to win first National Championship
14 | 45
13-3(7-1) | 15-1(8-1)
Monday January 17th, 2028
NRG Stadium | Houston, Texas
---
|00|00|07|07|14|10|03|22|10|45---
---
Houston, Texas - The Kansas Jayhawks completed their dream season with a resounding 45-14 victory over the Clemson Tigers, claiming their first national championship in school history. Behind a punishing ground game, a suffocating defense, and a clinical performance by quarterback Isaiah Marshall, the Jayhawks executed their game plan to perfection, dismantling Clemson’s high-powered offense and asserting their dominance from the opening whistle.
Kansas set the tone early, orchestrating a methodical 13-play drive that consumed the clock and kept Clemson’s Heisman-winning quarterback, Christopher Vizzina, on the sidelines. Though a third-down sack stalled the drive, kicker Shaq Durham drilled a 30-yard field goal to give Kansas a 3-0 lead.
The Jayhawks’ defense followed suit, forcing a Clemson punt, and the offense wasted no time capitalizing. Johnny Thompson Jr., the workhorse running back, capped a second drive with a four-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 10-0.
Clemson appeared poised to respond with a lengthy drive of their own, but Kansas linebacker Seth Sahara made a game-changing play on fourth-and-goal. Bursting through the line, Sahara stopped Clemson running back Keyjuan Brown at the one-yard line, keeping the Tigers off the scoreboard.
Kansas added to their lead just before the break, taking advantage of a roughing-the-kicker penalty that kept a stalled drive alive. Durham connected on his second field goal of the night, a 29-yarder, to send the Jayhawks into halftime with a 13-0 lead.
Kansas wasted no time in the second half, extending their lead to 21-0 with another Johnny Thompson Jr. touchdown, set up by two key completions from Marshall to Damien Keo. Marshall then found Keo again for a two-point conversion, extending the Jayhawks’ lead to 21-0
Moments later, the Kansas defense struck again. Terrance Yates intercepted Vizzina on Clemson’s first play of the ensuing possession, returning it 22 yards for a touchdown. The Tigers answered with their first points of the night, a four-yard touchdown run by Isaac Gesicki, but Kansas’ response was swift. A clock-chewing drive ended with Glen Jue’s one-yard rushing score to push the lead to 35-7.
Yates wasn’t done. He picked off Vizzina a second time, and Isaiah Marshall made Clemson pay with a three-yard rushing touchdown to make it 42-7. When Clemson’s backup quarterback, Kaeb Sun, entered the game, Kansas cornerback Taylor Davis welcomed him with an interception. Another field goal by Durham followed, all but sealing the victory.
Clemson added a late touchdown against Kansas’ reserves, but the outcome was never in doubt.
Kansas’ offensive stars shone brightly:
Johnny Thompson Jr.: 29 carries, 152 yards, 2 touchdowns.
Isaiah Marshall: 15-of-20, 131 passing yards; 1 rushing touchdown.
Avery Muamba: 19 carries, 139 yards.
Shaq Durham: 3-for-3 on field goals.
Defensively, Kansas was relentless:
Terrance Yates: 2 interceptions, 1 returned for a touchdown.
Seth Sahara: 8 tackles, including the critical fourth-and-goal stop.
Taylor Davis: 1 interception.
Clemson’s Vizzina, heralded for his prolific passing, was held to 125 yards with two interceptions and no touchdowns. Kansas’ secondary blanketed his talented receiving corps, limiting opportunities and forcing him into tough decisions.
Kansas more than doubled Clemson’s time of possession, dominated the trenches with over 300 rushing yards, and never turned the ball over. Head coach Jordan McAlary called it a “complete team effort,” praising his players’ focus and execution on the sport’s biggest stage.
“This team had one goal in mind all season, and they left no doubt tonight,” McAlary said.
For Kansas fans, the Jayhawks’ triumph represents not just a championship but a culmination of years of hard work, belief, and resilience. As the confetti fell in NRG Stadium, a new era for Kansas football was cemented — one where they reign atop the college football world.
Additional Media
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
(KU) Shaq Durham, 30-yard field goal – 5:04
(KU) Johnny Thompson Jr., 4-yard run (Shaq Durham kick) – 1:00
Second Quarter
(KU) Shaq Durham, 28-yard field goal – 0:20
Third Quarter
(KU) Johnny Thompson Jr., 3-yard run (Damien Keo, 2-point conversion) – 4:59
(KU) Terrance Yates, 22-yard interception return (Shaq Durham kick) – 4:48
(CLEM) Isaac Gesicki, 4-yard run (Nolan Hauser kick) – 3:03
(KU) Glen Jue, 1-yard run (Shaq Durham kick) – 0:44
Fourth Quarter
(KU) Isaiah Marshall, 3-yard run (Shaq Durham kick) – 5:19
(KU) Shaq Durham, 25-yard field goal – 4:15
(CLEM) Jay Haynes, 6-yard pass from Kaleb Sun (Nolan Hauser kick) – 3:06
Key Statistics
Passing – I. Marshall 15/20 131Yds
Rushing – J. Thompson Jr 29Car 152Yds 2TD, A. Muamba 19Car 139Yds, G. Jue 5Car 7Yds 1TD, I. Marshall 3Car 6Yds 1TD
Receiving – T. Green 6Rec 56Yds, D. Keo 4Rec 45Yds, K. Kubecka 3Rec 13Yds
Tackles – R. Orr 8, J. Todd 7, T. Yates 6
Sacks – G. Grimes 0.5, S. Sahara 0.5
Takeaways – T. Yates 1Int 1TD, T. Davis 1Int
Special Teams - S. Durham 3/3FG 4/4XP, J. Marciano 1KR 14Yds
Passing – C. Vizzina 11/17 125Yds 2Int, K. Sun 6/7 71Yds 1TD
Rushing – C. Vizzina 6Car 59Yds, K. Brown 9Car 41Yds, I. Gesicki 3Car 5Yds 1TD
Receiving – M. Dixon 4Rec 56Yds, N. Leacock 3Rec 41Yds, T. Brown 2Rec 28Yds
Tackles – S. Brown 16, C. Fleming 16, R. Jones 9
Sacks – P. Brate 1.0
Takeaways – N/A
Special Teams – N. Hauser 2/2XP, M. Garcia 2PT 61Yds, B. Wesco Jr 4KR 69Yds, D. Procter 4KR 66Yds