You ran the football.
Should handle La Tech Easily.
I'll be interested to see how it goes against a team that will rough up your line.
The McAlary Effect
The McAlary Effect
Game Report
Kansas blows out Louisiana Tech Using Balanced Attack
@
21 | 52
1-2 | 3-0
Saturday September 18th, 2027
David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium | Lawrence, Kansas
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Lawrence, Kansas - The 15th-ranked Kansas Jayhawks continued their early-season dominance with a commanding 52-21 victory over Louisiana Tech at Memorial Stadium. It was a game where Kansas’ offense showcased its versatility, and its defense forced timely turnovers. However, the win wasn’t without concerns, as quarterback Isaiah Marshall suffered an ankle injury in the second quarter that will be evaluated in the coming days.
Brad Matlock took control of the Kansas offense, throwing for 273 yards and three touchdowns on an efficient 15-of-21 passing performance. Matlock’s mobility surprised Louisiana Tech, as his four carries for 38 yards repeatedly extended drives at crucial moments. “Brad made some plays that caught them off guard,” said head coach Jordan McAlary. “Those runs were pivotal in keeping our offense balanced.”
Despite Louisiana Tech’s dedication to stopping the Kansas rushing attack, the Jayhawks still piled up 284 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Johnny Thompson Jr. led the way with 103 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries, while Avery Muamba added 100 yards and a score. Even Marshall chipped in with 23 yards and a touchdown before his injury.
Louisiana Tech’s defensive focus on the run came at the expense of their secondary, as Kansas exploited matchups through the air. Conversely, the Bulldogs found success in their own passing game. Quarterback Evan Bullock threw for 282 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions before exiting with an injury. Backup Keenan Brice filled in admirably, throwing for 104 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
Kansas’ defense stepped up in critical moments, forcing three turnovers and limiting Louisiana Tech to just 403 total yards. Taylor Davis snagged a highlight-reel interception, returning it 22 yards, while Marcus Calvin added 1.5 sacks to help disrupt the Bulldogs' offensive rhythm.
Isaiah Marshall showcased his versatility against Louisiana Tech, contributing in all phases of the game with 46 passing yards, 23 rushing yards and a touchdown, and an impressive 41-yard reception that highlighted his dynamic skill set.
Louisiana Tech’s biggest plays came through the air, including a 76-yard touchdown pass to Tamarcus Gray Jr. and a 75-yarder to Dakota Williams, but Kansas’ relentless pressure and efficient offense proved too much for the visitors.
Kansas is now 3-0 on the season, with a pivotal matchup against Oklahoma looming on the horizon. Meanwhile, Louisiana Tech falls to 1-2 after a tough outing against a top-15 opponent.
Head coach Jordan McAlary commended his team’s performance but emphasized the need to stay focused as the season intensifies. “We’re building something special, but there’s still work to be done,” McAlary said. “We’ll evaluate Isaiah’s injury and ensure we’re ready for the challenges ahead.”
Additional Media
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
Kansas: Johnny Thompson Jr. 3-yard run (Shaq Durham kick), 5:30
Kansas: Damien Keo 5-yard pass from Brad Matlock (Shaq Durham kick), 0:44
Second Quarter
Kansas: Isaiah Marshall 1-yard run (Shaq Durham kick), 5:52
Kansas: Avery Muamba 2-yard run (Shaq Durham kick), 3:26
Louisiana Tech: Dakota Williams 75-yard pass from Evan Bullock (Lawrence Traore kick), 2:40
Third Quarter
Louisiana Tech: Tamarcus Gray Jr. 76-yard pass from Evan Bullock (Lawrence Traore kick), 7:21
Kansas: Harry Stewart III 34-yard pass from Brad Matlock (Shaq Durham kick), 5:53
Kansas: Shaq Durham 31-yard field goal, 4:40
Kansas: Avery Muamba 64-yard pass from Brad Matlock (Shaq Durham kick), 0:33
Fourth Quarter
Kansas: Johnny Thompson Jr. 9-yard run (Shaq Durham kick), 3:09
Louisiana Tech: Morris Lockett 7-yard pass from Keenan Brice (Lawrence Traore kick), 2:31
Key Statistics
Passing – B. Matlock 15/21 273Yds 3TD, I. Marshall 3/4 46Yds, A. Saturday 4/4 30Yds
Rushing - J. Thompson Jr. 23Car 103Yds 2TD, A. Muamba 18Car 100Yds 1TD, B. Matlock 4Car 38Yds, I. Marshall 6Car 23Yds 1TD, A. Saturday 2Car 20Yds
Receiving – A. Muamba 6Rec 87Yds 1TD, K. Kubecka 5Rec 78Yds, D. Keo 5Rec 54Yds 1TD, I. Marshall 1Rec 41Yds, H. Stewart III 1Rec 34Yds 1TD
Tackles – R. Orr 6, J. Moses 5
Sacks – M. Calvin 1.5, S. Sahara 0.5
Takeaways – D. Maxson 1Int, T. Davis 1Int, D. Tripp 1Int
Special Teams - S. Durham 1/2FG 7/7XP, M. Cooke 2KR 47Yds
Passing – E. Bullock 13/19 282Yds 2TD 2Int, K. Brice 5/8 104Yds 1TD 1Int
Rushing – M. Boothe 9Car 16Yds
Receiving – T. Gray Jr 2Rec 99Yds 1TD, B. Smythe 3Rec 85Yds, D. Williams 1Rec 75Yds 1TD, J. Pryce 2Rec 36Yds, M. Barr 3Rec 35Yds
Tackles – A. Stubbs 12, J. Fields 10, A. Williams 9
Sacks – D. Blunt 1.0, V. Smoot 0.5, C. Silva 0.5
Takeaways – N/A
Special Teams – L. Traore 0/1FG 3/3XP, B. Calloway 2KR 45Yds, B. Awesome 1KR 34Yds
Up Next
The McAlary Effect
will be very interesting to see if we are able to pound the rock against Oklahoma for sure. I think that's the best rated team we will face.
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 balanced offensive attack and Brad Matlock’s performance:
“We made a real effort to balance our offense against Louisiana Tech, and I think it showed. We kept them guessing with a mix of power runs and smart passing plays. Brad [Matlock] was fantastic. He was efficient, made big throws when we needed them, and even surprised us all with some timely runs. It’s great to see him stepping up as a leader.”
On Isaiah Marshall’s versatility and injury update:
“Isaiah [Marshall] is such a unique player. You saw it on Saturday—he threw, ran, and even made a huge catch for us. That’s not something you see every day from your quarterback. Fortunately, the ankle injury doesn’t seem too serious. He’s responding well, and we’re optimistic he’ll be ready to go against Oklahoma. Having a weapon like Isaiah healthy is a big boost heading into a tough matchup.”
On the one-two punch of Johnny Thompson Jr. and Avery Muamba:
“Our running back room is something special. Johnny [Thompson Jr.] is that reliable workhorse who just wears defenses down, and Avery [Muamba] adds that explosive element with his speed and versatility. Together, they give us a dynamic one-two punch that’s tough to stop. It’s a luxury to have two backs who can impact the game in so many ways.”
On injuries to the defensive line:
“Losing T.J. [Harbor] to injury is tough, especially with Lyle [Carreon] already sidelined. Depth on the defensive line is definitely a concern right now. We’re looking at ways to shuffle things around, and it’ll be on our next group of guys to step up. Injuries are part of football, but it’s never easy to lose key contributors like those two.”
On being ranked in the top ten:
“It’s an incredible feeling to see our program ranked number nine in the country. Being in the top 10 is something we’re all very proud of—it’s a testament to the hard work of our players, coaches, and everyone involved in Kansas football. At the same time, we know rankings don’t win games. It’s exciting, sure, but we have to keep our focus and prove we deserve that spot every week, especially with a big challenge like Oklahoma coming up.”
The McAlary Effect
Too easy.
The McAlary Effect
Big 12 Update
Week 3
No. 9 Kansas Overpowers Louisiana Tech, 52-21
Avery Muamba and Johnny Thompson Jr. led the way for Kansas with 287 combined yards and three touchdowns, while Brad Matlock threw for 273 yards and three scores. The Jayhawks improved to 3-0 with Oklahoma looming next.
No. 21 Texas Tech Outlasts No. 10 NC State, 29-26
Texas Tech held off a late comeback attempt to pick up a huge ranked win, with their defense stepping up in critical moments.
Iowa State Holds Off UCF for First Win, 35-27
The Cyclones secured their first win of the season behind a strong second-half defensive effort and timely offensive plays.
No. 7 Colorado Stays Perfect, 42-14 Over Northern Illinois
Colorado’s balanced attack overwhelmed Northern Illinois as they moved to 3-0 on the season.
Big 12 Scores
Kansas 52 vs. Louisiana Tech 21
Texas Tech 29 vs. NC State 26
Iowa State 35 vs. UCF 27
Colorado 42 vs. Northern Illinois 14
West Virginia 49 at Oklahoma State 10
BYU 46 vs. FCS Northwest 10
Utah 28 at Kansas State 21
Baylor 28 at Air Force 20
Big 12 Players of the Week
Defensive: Troy Ford Jr., UCF – 9 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries
Offensive: Avery Muamba, Kansas – 18 carries, 100 rushing yards, 6 receptions, 87 receiving yards, 2 total TDs
Big 12 Conference Standings
| Team | W-L | PCT | CONF | PF | PA | HOME | AWAY | STK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa State | 1-2 | .333 | 1-0 | 84 | 82 | 1-1 | 0-1 | W1 |
| Kansas | 3-0 | 1.000 | 1-0 | 143 | 73 | 2-0 | 1-0 | W3 |
| Texas Tech | 3-1 | .750 | 1-1 | 125 | 114 | 2-0 | 1-1 | W2 |
| Utah | 3-1 | .750 | 1-1 | 117 | 103 | 2-0 | 1-1 | W1 |
| Kansas State | 2-1 | .667 | 1-1 | 83 | 50 | 2-1 | 0-0 | L1 |
| West Virginia | 2-2 | .500 | 1-1 | 124 | 109 | 1-1 | 1-1 | W1 |
| Arizona | 2-0 | 1.000 | 0-0 | 86 | 38 | 1-0 | 1-0 | W2 |
| Arizona State | 1-2 | .333 | 0-0 | 63 | 83 | 1-1 | 0-1 | L2 |
| Baylor | 1-1 | .500 | 0-0 | 34 | 65 | 0-1 | 1-0 | W1 |
| BYU | 1-2 | .333 | 0-1 | 113 | 89 | 1-2 | 0-0 | W1 |
| Cincinnati | 2-0 | 1.000 | 0-0 | 75 | 61 | 1-0 | 1-0 | W2 |
| Colorado | 2-0 | 1.000 | 0-0 | 76 | 21 | 2-0 | 0-0 | W2 |
| Houston | 1-2 | .333 | 0-1 | 59 | 60 | 1-1 | 0-1 | L2 |
| TCU | 2-1 | .667 | 0-0 | 89 | 85 | 2-0 | 0-1 | L1 |
| Oklahoma State | 1-2 | .333 | 0-1 | 52 | 106 | 1-0 | 0-2 | L2 |
| UCF | 0-3 | .000 | 0-1 | 87 | 107 | 0-2 | 0-1 | L3 |
The McAlary Effect
NCAA Update
Week 3
Miami Maintains Top Spot
The Hurricanes dominated South Carolina 24-21 to stay unbeaten and hold onto the No. 1 ranking, earning 41 first-place votes.
Kansas Jumps to No. 9
After a dominant 52-21 win over Louisiana Tech, the Jayhawks break into the Top 10 for the first time this season.
Oklahoma Sets Up Showdown with Kansas
The Sooners routed San Diego State 35-24 and will travel to face the Jayhawks in a key Big 12 matchup next week.
Oregon Continues Hot Start
The Ducks move to 4-0 after a thrilling 31-25 victory over rival Oregon State, led by standout WR Mike Wint.
National Players of the Week
Defensive: Amaris Williams, Auburn – 7 tackles, 4 sacks in a 37-13 win over South Alabama
Offensive: Ryan Sims, Miami (OH) – 12 receptions, 231 yards, 3 TDs in a narrow 38-37 loss to Cincinnati
Top 25 Rankings
| Rank | LW | Team | W-L | Last Week | This Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Miami | 3-0 | W 24-21 vs South Carolina | vs FCS Northwest |
| 2 | 2 | Nebraska | 3-0 | W 31-14 at TCU | vs Purdue |
| 3 | 3 | Michigan | 3-0 | W 28-27 at Ohio | vs Rutgers |
| 4 | 4 | Oklahoma | 2-1 | W 35-24 vs San Diego State | at No. 9 Kansas |
| 5 | 7 | Notre Dame | 4-0 | W 31-21 at 13 Clemson | at No. 6 Duke |
| 6 | 11 | Duke | 3-0 | W 31-29 at 12 Georgia | vs No. 5 Notre Dame |
| 7 | 13 | Colorado | 3-0 | W 42-14 vs Northern Illinois | vs West Virginia |
| 8 | 14 | Oregon | 4-0 | W 31-25 vs 24 Oregon State | at 19 Washington |
| 9 | 15 | Kansas | 3-0 | W 52-21 vs Louisiana Tech | vs No. 4 Oklahoma |
| 10 | 5 | NC State | 2-1 | L 29-26 at 21 Texas Tech | vs UL Monroe |
| 11 | 16 | Pittsburgh | 3-0 | W 35-6 vs FCS Northwest | --- |
| 12 | 9 | Georgia | 1-2 | L 31-29 vs 6 Duke | vs Vanderbilt |
| 13 | 8 | Clemson | 1-1 | L 31-21 vs 5 Notre Dame | vs Wake Forest |
| 14 | 18 | Texas A&M | 4-0 | W 37-14 vs Arkansas State | --- |
| 15 | 17 | Tennessee | 2-1 | W 42-38 vs FCS West | vs Baylor |
| 16 | 6 | Kansas State | 2-1 | L 28-21 vs Utah | vs FCS Northwest |
| 17 | 20 | Arizona | 2-0 | W 48-9 vs Coastal Carolina | --- |
| 18 | 21 | Florida State | 2-0 | W 31-20 vs Rice | --- |
| 19 | 22 | Washington | 2-1 | W 34-24 vs Washington State | at 8 Oregon |
| 20 | 24 | Auburn | 3-0 | W 37-13 at South Alabama | --- |
| 21 | 25 | Texas Tech | 3-1 | W 29-26 vs 10 NC State | at Houston |
| 22 | NR | Memphis | 2-0 | W 52-17 vs FCS Southeast | at Middle Tennessee |
| 23 | NR | UMass | 3-0 | W 21-20 at Indiana | vs Buffalo |
| 24 | 19 | Oregon State | 2-1 | L 31-25 at 8 Oregon | at Ole Miss |
| 25 | 12 | Alabama | 1-2 | L 56-23 at Ohio State | --- |
Dropped out: SMU 10, TCU 23
Heisman Watch
| Player | POS | School | Last Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Micah Mays Jr. | WR | Wake Forest | W 40-38 vs Louisville, 4 Rec, 112 Yds, 1 TD |
| Mike Wint | WR | Oregon | W 31-25 vs Oregon State, 5 Rec, 109 Yds, 2 TDs, 1 Car, 2 Yds |
| Joshisa Trader | WR | Miami | W 24-21 vs South Carolina, 3 Rec, 85 Yds, 1 TD |
| Emory Williams | QB | Miami | W 24-21 vs South Carolina, 16-25, 292 Yds, 3 TD, 1 INT |
| Kenny Minchey | QB | Notre Dame | W 31-21 at Clemson, 17-25, 262 Yds, 2 TDs, 3 Sacks |
The McAlary Effect
Recruiting Update
| Recruiting Targets (Listed by National Ranking) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ## | POS | NAME |  | Class | NATL | STATE | POS | Home | HT | WT | Stage | Interest |
| 01 | SS | Rudy Glennon | | HS | 10 | 2 | 1 | Lawrenceville, GA | 6'0" | 199 | Top 5 | 2nd |
| 02 | MLB | Eric Fredrickson | | HS | 12 | 2 | 1 | Duncanville, TX | 6'3" | 234 | Top 8 | 1st |
| 03 | DT | Tavares Sands | | HS | 13 | 3 | 2 | Wylie, TX | 6'5" | 329 | Top 8 | 1st |
| 04 | LT | Josh Pianalto | | HS | 26 | 8 | 1 | Arlington, TX | 6'7" | 314 | Top 5 | 4th |
| 05 | RE | Dell Mangold |  | HS | 57 | 1 | 7 | Green Bay, WI | 6'1" | 246 | Top 5 | 1st |
| 06 | ROLB | Connor O'Neal | | HS | 89 | 2 | 4 | Oklahoma City, OK | 6'4" | 238 | Top 8 | 2nd |
| 07 | RG | Robert Kumah | | HS | 99 | 2 | 4 | Bloomington, IN | 6'1" | 305 | Top 5 | 1st |
| 08 | RT | Clarence Reaves | | HS | 212 | 1 | 13 | Ankeny, IA | 6'7" | 326 | Top 8 | 2nd |
| 09 | ATH | Alan Boulware | | HS | 278 | 2 | 14 | Loveland, CO | 6'3" | 202 | Top 8 | 1st |
| 10 | MLB | B.J. Chase | | HS | 280 | 4 | 14 | Kansas, UT | 6'2" | 242 | Top 8 | 1st |
| 11 | FS | Vernon Studivant | | HS | 337 | 40 | 18 | Long Beach, CA | 5'11" | 196 | Top 8 | 1st |
| 12 | SS | Earl Ramsay | | HS | 380 | 7 | 9 | Fort Wayne, IN | 6'3" | 218 | Top 5 | 2nd |
| 13 | RG | Calvin Capps | | HS | 414 | 9 | 15 | West Bloomfield, MI | 6'4" | 280 | Top 8 | 4th |
| 14 | RT | Diondre Tolbert |  | HS | 478 | 5 | 24 | Saint Peters, MO | 6'4" | 299 | Top 8 | 1st |
| 15 | QB | Tavaris Lanovoi | | HS | 479 | 47 | 35 | Watkinsville, GA | 6'4" | 201 | Top 8 | 1st |
| 16 | RG | Shakir Penn | | HS | 542 | 13 | 23 | Ruston, LA | 6'1" | 296 | Top 8 | 1st |
| 17 | FB | Theo Cantrell | | HS | 587 | 14 | 6 | Alexandria, LA | 6'0" | 231 | Top 8 | 1st |
| 18 | TE | Courtland Stafford | | HS | 745 | 25 | 33 | Irvington, NJ | 6'5" | 243 | Top 8 | 1st |
| 19 | RG | Kevin DeMarco | | HS | 787 | 76 | 26 | Marietta, GA | 6'3" | 291 | Top 3 | 2nd |
The McAlary Effect
Game Preview
2-1 | 3-0
Saturday September 25th, 2027
David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium | Lawrence, Kansas
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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
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Oklahoma Season Results
Week 1 L 21-35 vs Miami
Week 2 W 24-21 @ SMU
Week 3 W 35-24 vs San Diego State
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Team Leaders
Passing | QB Brad Matlock 44/59 639Yds 6TD 3Int
Rushing | HB Johnny Thompson Jr 68Car 442Yds 6TD, HB Avery Muamba 50Car 318Yds 3TD
Receiving | WR Keaton Kubecka 13Rec 183Yds, WR Damien Keo 11Rec 181Yds 1TD, HB Avery Muamba 11Rec 144Yds 2TD
Tackles | LB Roddy Orr 20, CB Terrence Yates 14, CB Damani Maxson 12, CB Jeremiah Moses 12
Sacks | DE Greydon Grimes 2.0, DT T.J. Harbor 2.0, Tony Terry 2.0
Interceptions | CB Damani Maxson 2, CB Jeremiah Moses 1, Taylor Davis 1, David Tripp 1
Passing | QB DJ Lagway 73/104 815Yds 10TD 4Int
Rushing | HB Kalib Hicks 47Car 183Yds, QB DJ Lagway 32Car 144Yds
Receiving | WR Nick Foxworth 14Rec 232Yds 2TD, Ivan Carreon 18Rec 200Yds 3TD, Antoine Murphey 17Rec 196Yds 3TD
Tackles | LB Lewis Carter 16, SS Reggie Powers III 16, CB Jacobe Johnson 13, LB Floyd Root 13
Sacks | DT Ashton Sanders 3.0, OLB James Nesta 1.5, DT Jayden Jackson 1.0
Interceptions | LB Floyd Root 1, CB Makari Vickers 1
Injuries
Kansas – RG Carter Lavrusky, DT T.J. Harbor, RE Lyle Carreon
Oklahoma - None