The McAlary Effect

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Game Report

Kansas rolls up 342 rushing yards in win over West Virginia


45 | 27
4-1(2-0) | 1-6(1-3)
Saturday, October 10th 2026
Milan Puskar Stadium | Morgantown, West Virginia
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|14|14|17|00|45
|07|03|10|07|27
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Morgantown, West Virginia - Coming off an emphatic 52-0 victory over TCU, the West Virginia Mountaineers entered the matchup with Kansas on a rare high in a season marked by struggles. However, their hopes of building on that momentum were dashed by an efficient and relentless Kansas team that controlled the pace and ultimately secured a 45-27 victory in Morgantown.

Kansas proved dominant on both sides of the ball, amassing 501 total yards of offense while limiting WVU to 444 yards. Isaiah Marshall showcased his dual-threat ability, throwing for 159 yards and a touchdown, despite one interception, and adding 79 rushing yards with two scores on the ground. Johnny Thompson Jr. was a powerhouse, running for 165 yards on 17 carries and finding the end zone once. Complementing Kansas’ ground game was Glen Jue, who contributed a bruising 35 yards and a touchdown on 8 carries.

Avery Muamba made key plays in both the running and passing game, tallying 62 rushing yards on 10 carries and adding 51 receiving yards on three catches. Keaton Kubecka also had a strong showing with five receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Kansas was spearheaded by linebacker Roddy Orr, who led with 8 tackles. The Jayhawks' pass rush wreaked havoc, led by Tony Terry’s 2 sacks and Greydon Grimes' 1.5 sacks, contributing to a total of five team sacks. Brian Dilworth and Jeremiah Moses each snagged an interception, with Moses picking up his fourth of the season, solidifying his status as a ballhawk.

Shaq Durham, whose kicking has seen its ups and downs, was perfect in this game, going 6-for-6 on extra points and drilling a 38-yard field goal to cap off an impressive special teams showing.

West Virginia, despite their offensive spark from quarterback Nicco Marchiol, who threw for 357 yards and two touchdowns, struggled to overcome turnovers and defensive lapses. Traylon Ray stood out as a bright spot, racking up 129 receiving yards and scoring twice, while Jahiem White was efficient with 74 rushing yards and a touchdown.

With this win, Kansas improved to 4-2, surpassing their combined win totals from the last two seasons, signaling a marked turnaround for the program under first year head coach Jordan McAlary. On the other side, West Virginia’s season of frustration continues as they fall to 1-6, with glimmers of brilliance overshadowed by inconsistency and defensive woes.

This victory not only adds another chapter to Kansas' promising season but also leaves West Virginia pondering how to turn around a season that is slipping away.

Additional Media





























Scoring Summary
First Quarter
(KU) Isaiah Marshall, 8-yard run (Shaq Durham kick), 4:20
(KU) Terrelle Warren, 1-yard run (Shaq Durham kick), 1:57
(WVU) Traylon Ray, 78-yard pass from Nicco Marchiol (RJ Kocan kick), 1:19
Second Quarter
(KU) Johnny Thompson Jr., 1-yard run (Shaq Durham kick), 5:38
(KU) Isaiah Marshall, 8-yard run (Shaq Durham kick), 2:12
(WVU) RJ Kocan, 49-yard field goal, 0:05
Third Quarter
(WVU) RJ Kocan, 24-yard field goal, 5:36
(KU) Glen Jue, 2-yard run (Shaq Durham kick), 3:44
(KU) Shaq Durham, 38-yard field goal, 2:38
(KU) Keaton Kubecka, 15-yard pass from Isaiah Marshall (Shaq Durham kick), 1:42
(WVU) Jahiem White, 1-yard run (RJ Kocan kick), 0:35
Fourth Quarter
(WVU) Traylon Ray, 37-yard pass from Nicco Marchiol (RJ Kocan kick), 2:35

Key Statistics

Passing – I. Marshall 12/23 259Yds 1TD 1Int
Rushing – J. Thompson Jr 17Car 165Yds 1TD, I. Marshall 9Car 79Yds 2TD, A. Muamba 10Car 62Yds, G. Jue 8Car 35Yds 1TD, T. Warren 2Car 1Yds 1TD
Receiving – K. Kubecka 5Rec 51Yds 1TD, A. Muamba 3Rec 51Yds, J. Hamm 4Rec 35Yds, D. Keo 2Rec 22Yds
Tackles – R. Orr 8, B. Dilworth 7
Sacks – T. Terry 2.0, G. Grimes 1.5, L. Brantley 0.5, M. Calvin 0.5, T. Yates 0.5
Takeaways – J. Moses 1Int, B. Dilworth 1Int
Special Teams – S. Durham 1/1FG 6/6XP, D. Greaves 1Pt 37.0Avg, M. Cooke 4KR 48Yds, A. Muamba 1KR 8Yds 1PR 0Yds


Passing – N. Marchiol 18/34 357Yds 2TD 2Int
Rushing – J. White 11Car 74Yds 1TD
Receiving – T. Ray 3Rec 129Yds 2TD, J. Williams 7Rec 88Yds, H. Clement 6Rec 83Yds
Tackles – B. Cutter 13, M. Murantt 11, R. Williams 10
Sacks – B. Mickel 1.0, Z. Keith 1.0
Takeaways – R. Williams 1Int, B. Mickell 1FF
Special Teams – R. Kocan 2/2FG 3/3XP, S. West 2Pt 25.0Avg, R. Farmer 2KR 59Yds, R. Robinson 1KR 21Yds

Up Next

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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.

“We came out with the energy and execution we’ve been preaching all season. The guys played with heart, discipline, and a relentless mindset. This win is a testament to their dedication and focus.”

“Isaiah did exactly what we needed—he commanded the field with confidence, made smart decisions, and kept the chains moving. His ability to hurt defenses with both his arm and legs is what makes him special.”

"Isaiah is growing with every game. His ability to make plays with his legs and arm gives us so many options. Even when he threw that interception, he didn’t hang his head—he went right back out and led the offense with confidence. That’s the kind of poise we need from our leader."

"Shaq was rock-solid. He’s had a couple of rough games, but he really stepped up when we needed him. Special teams are such a crucial part of the game, and Shaq showed he can deliver under pressure. We’ll keep building on that."

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Big 12 Update
Week 6

Big 12 Headlines
Kansas Prevails Over West Virginia, 45-27, Exceeding Last Two Season’s Combined Win Total
Colorado Downs Baylor with a Strong 42-21 Showing
Texas Tech Falls Short in a Tight Game Against Cincinnati, 37-34
Kansas State Cruises Past Arizona State, 55-10
TCU Tops Arizona 34-20 in a Much-Needed Victory
Oklahoma State Edges Houston 24-21 in a Thriller
Utah Remains Undefeated with a Convincing 44-14 Win Over BYU

Big 12 Scores
Kansas 45, West Virginia 27
Colorado 42, Baylor 21
Cincinnati 37, Texas Tech 34
Kansas State 55, Arizona State 10
Oregon State 42, UCF 14
TCU 34, Arizona 20
Oklahoma State 24, Houston 21
Utah 44, BYU 14

Big 12 Players of the Week
Defensive: Garrison Butler (Cincinnati), 4 tackles, 2 sacks in a 37-34 victory over Texas Tech
Offensive: Brendan Sorsby (Cincinnati), 17-25, 266 passing yards, 3 passing touchdowns, 30 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns in the win against Texas Tech

Big 12 Conference Standings

Team	W-L	PCT	CONF	PF	PA	HOME	AWAY	STK
Utah	6-0	1.000	4-0	191	111	3-0	3-0	W6
Colorado	4-1	0.800	3-0	204	140	2-0	2-1	W4
Kansas	4-1	0.800	2-0	167	101	2-1	2-0	W2
Oklahoma State	4-2	0.667	3-1	115	157	0-1	4-1	W3
Cincinnati	4-1	0.800	2-1	142	103	3-1	1-0	W2
Iowa State	5-1	0.833	2-1	192	96	2-0	3-1	L1
Texas Tech	4-3	0.571	2-2	208	195	2-1	2-2	L2
Baylor	2-3	0.400	1-1	101	122	2-1	0-2	L1
Kansas State	3-2	0.600	1-1	184	113	2-2	1-0	W1
TCU	4-2	0.667	1-2	142	151	2-0	2-0	W1
UCF	2-4	0.333	1-2	150	171	1-1	1-3	L1
West Virginia	1-6	0.143	1-3	194	204	0-3	1-3	L1
Arizona	1-4	0.200	0-2	133	134	1-2	0-2	L2
Arizona State	1-4	0.200	0-3	115	156	1-3	0-1	L2
Houston	1-4	0.200	0-2	132	150	1-3	0-1	L4
BYU	1-4	0.200	0-3	68	144	1-2	0-2	L3

Big 12 Leaders

Category	Player	School	STATS
Pass Yards	Howie DiNapoli	Texas Tech	2,126
Pass TDs	Ryan Staub	Colorado	20
Rushing Yards	JOhnny Thompson Jr	Kansas	637
Rushing TDs	Isaiah Marshall, Abu Sama III	Kansas, Iowa State	7
Receiving Yards	Jordyn Bridgewater	UCF	611
Receiving TDs	Kelby Valsin	Texas Tech	9
Total Tackles	George Grimm	UCF	54
Sacks	Ben Mickel, Kooper Ebel	West Virginia, Iowa State	8.0
Interceptions	Tre'Quan Fegans	UCF	5

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NCAA Update
Week 6

NCAA Headlines
Oregon Ducks Remain Unbeaten: No. 1 Oregon extends their undefeated streak with a 34-6 road victory over Illinois. Up next, they face Michigan State.
Georgia Stays at No. 2: The Bulldogs handle LSU 27-14 and look ahead to their clash at Vanderbilt.
Alabama’s Defensive Showcase: The Crimson Tide maintain their No. 3 ranking, cruising past Kentucky 34-16 with Florida looming next.
Clemson Edges Out North Carolina: In a thrilling 37-34 game, Clemson holds on and prepares for a marquee matchup against No. 9 Miami.
Oklahoma Triumphs Over Texas: The Sooners secure a narrow 36-33 win to keep their perfect season alive. Their next test comes against Arkansas.

National Players of the Week
Defensive: Roy Calloway (James Madison), 8 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries in a 31-23 win over Old Dominion.
Offensive: DeVaunte Jeffries (UTSA), 9 receptions, 182 yards, 4 touchdowns in a dominant 52-16 win over UAB.

Top 25 Rankings
Rank	LW	Team	W-L	Pts	Last Week	This Week
1	1	Oregon (42)	5-0	1,602	W 34-6 at Illinois	at Michigan State
2	2	Georgia (41)	5-0	1,529	W 27-14 vs LSU	at Vanderbilt
3	3	Alabama (1)	5-0	1,472	W 34-16 vs Kentucky	vs Florida
4	4	Clemson	5-0	1,430	W 37-34 vs North Carolina	vs 9 Miami
5	5	Oklahoma	6-0	1,365	W 36-33 vs Texas	at Arkansas
6	7	Texas A&M	4-1	1,223	W 28-27 at Iowa	at Kentucky
7	8	Michigan	4-1	1,192	W 27-20 vs 23 Penn State	at Rutgers
8	10	USC	4-1	1,078	W 24-21 at Wisconsin	at 23 Penn State
9	12	Miami	4-1	979	W 28-21 vs Pittsburgh	at 4 Clemson
10	13	Florida	4-1	921	W 35-30 vs Missouri	at 3 Alabama
11	14	Colorado	4-1	864	W 42-21 at Baylor	at Arizona State
12	6	Tennessee	5-1	762	L 28-25 at Auburn	vs Ole Miss
13	16	Nevada	5-0	761	W 20-14 at UCLA	at Wyoming
14	17	South Carolina	4-1	737	W 42-28 at Arkansas	at 20 Auburn
15	18	Cincinnati	4-1	692	W 37-34 vs 25 Texas Tech	at Temple
16	19	San Jose State	6-0	631	W 28-20 at Fresno State	---
17	20	Jacksonville State	5-0	568	W 47-10 vs UConn	vs UTEP
18	23	Boise State	4-1	455	W 35-21 vs Utah State	vs UNLV
19	25	Utah	6-0	420	W 44-10 vs BYU	at Kansas
20	NR	Auburn	5-0	364	W 28-25 vs 12 Tennessee	at 14 South Carolina
21	NR	Nebraska	4-1	343	---	at Illinois
22	11	SMU	3-2	308	L 40-28 vs Wake Forest	at Syracuse
23	21	Penn State	3-2	248	L 27-20 at 7 Michigan	vs 8 USC
24	9	Florida State	2-3	225	L 31-13 vs NC State	at Pittsburgh
25	22	Texas Tech	4-3	205	L 37-34 at 15 Cincinnati	at Baylor

Others receiving votes: Charlotte 199, Kansas State 176, Washington 165, Texas 123, Notre Dame 49, Vanderbilt 26
Dropped from rankings: Duke 15, Texas 24

Heisman Watch
Player	POS	School	Last Game
Eli Holstein	QB	Pittsburgh	L vs Miami 21-28, 108Yds, 47RYds 1RTD
Jackson Arnold	QB	Oklahoma	W vs Texas 36-33, 260Yds 4TD, 15RYds
Julian Sayin	QB	Ohio State	W @ Indiana 45-21, 286Yds 6TD, 31RYds
Gunner Stockton	QB	Georgia	W vs LSU 27-14, 204Yds 2TD, 20RYds
LaNorris Sellers	QB	South Carolina	W @ Arkansas 42-28, 250Yds 2TD 1Int, 31RYds

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Recruiting Update

Recruiting Targets (Listed by National Ranking)
##	POS	NAME		Class	NATL	STATE	POS	Home	HT	WT	Stage | Interest
01	ATH	Diego Maramarosa		HS	30	5	1	Brock, TX	6'1"	208	Top 8 | 1st
02	RT	Stephen Chancey		HS	290	1	21	Wamego, KS	6'4"	293	Top 3 | 3rd
03	CB	Immanuel Jones		HS	312	44	26	Forney, TX	6'1"	177	Top 5 | 1st
04	DT	Nick Ballage		HS	427	2	26	Wichita, KS	6'4"	304	Top 5 | 3rd
05	MLB	Tracey Sledge		HS	456	6	19	Saint Louis, MO	6'2"	238	Top 5 | 1st
06	CB	Kevin Genus		HS	464	66	45	Fort Worth, TX	6'3"	178	Top 3 | 1st
07	P	Anthony Newson		HS	553	48	2	Cartersville, GA	6'5"	220	Top 5 | 1st
08	ROLB	Jordan Roper		HS	590	10	32	Malvern, PA	6'1"	245	Top 3 | 2nd
09	DT	George Boldonado		HS	616	9	34	Saint Louis, MO	6'3"	282	Top 5 | 2nd
10	FS	Emanuel Manuel		HS	625	89	17	Mount Enterprise, TX	5'10"	211	Top 5 | 1st
11	CB	Thomas Schilling		HS	675	100	56	Houston, TX	6'0"	172	Top 5 | 1st
12	ROLB	Juan Kay		HS	714	109	37	Frisco, TX	6'1"	233	Top 5 | 1st
13	ML	Tony Street		HS	765	8	40	Choctaw, OK	6'2"	227	Top 5 | 1st
14	HB	Zach Boyett		HS	863	12	77	Kansas City, MO	5'9"	198	Top 5 | 1st
15	DT	Jamerson Sills		HS	868	6	52	Overland Park, KS	6'3"	309	Top 5 | 1st
16	WR	Sean McGarrity		HS	917	28	106	Tickfaw, LA	6'1"	211	Top 5 | 1st
17	RE	Deandre Steele		HS	951	7	65	Lawrence, KS	6'3"	291	Top 5 | 1st
18	DT	David Clabo		HS	1062	7	65	Fayetteville, AR	6'5"	299	Top 5 | 1st
19	RE	Darrius Capps		HS	1089	9	74	Wichita, KS	6'2"	264	Top 5 | 1st
20	CB	Josh Alvarado		HS	1096	163	88	Humble, TX	6'1"	180	Top 5 | 1st
21	SS	Marco Lester		HS	1170	37	30	Alexandria, LA	5'10"	217	Top 5 | 1st
22	ATH	Alex Connor		HS	1481	13	82	Olathe, KS	6'5"	234	Top 5 | 1st
23	P	Rakkim Darby		HS	2108	31	38	Saint Louis, MO	6'4"	213	Top 5 | 1st

Recruits Lost (Listed by National Ranking)
##	POS	NAME		Class	NATL	STATE	POS	Home	HT	WT	Signed
01	ATH	Tyler Jones		HS	574	4	25	Wichita, KS	6'2"	225	Tulsa(Verbal)
02	RE	Anton Terrill		HS	915	13	62	Saint Louis, MO	6'0"	233	Arkansas State(Verbal)
03	LT	Manny Puente		HS	1277	21	48	Saint Louis. MO	6'6"	304	Missouri(Verbal)
04	MLB	Deandre Rourke		HS	1330	19	66	Owasso, OK	5'11"	225	Tulsa(Verbal)

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Game Preview

4-1(2-0) | 6-0(4-0)
Saturday, October 17th 2026
Rice-Eccles Stadium | Salt Lake City, Utah
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Utah Season Results
Week 1 W 23-17 vs Utah State
Week 2 W 41-30 vs Arkansas
Week 3 W 28-14 @ TCU
Week 4 W 31-26 @ Cincinnati
Week 5 W 24-14 @ Arizona
Week 6 W 44-10 vs BYU
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Team Leaders

Passing | QB Isaiah Marshall – 769Yds 3TD 8Int
Rushing | HB Johnny Thompson Jr – 637Yds 5TD
Receiving | HB Avery Muamba – 258Yds 1TD
Tackles | LB Roddy Orr, FS Brian Dilworth - 35
Sacks | DE Greydon Grimes – 6.0
Interceptions | CB Jeremiah Moses - 4


Passing | QB Isaac Wilson – 1,257Yds 11TD 6Int
Rushing | HB John Randle Jr – 472Yds 3TD
Receiving WR Daidren Zipperer – 341Yds 3TD
Tackles | LB Sione Fotu - 38
Sacks | DE Logan Fano, DE Jonah Lea'ea – 3.5
Interceptions | LB Sione Kemoeatu, CB Smith Snowden - 4

Injuries
Kansas – None
Utah – CB Elijah Davis

[Soapy]

GGs in the chat already

[djp73]

don't see us taking down Utah

[djp73]

Game Report

Kansas Stuns No. 19 Utah on the Road, Defense Dominates in 23-17 Victory


23 | 17
5-1(3-0) | 6-1(4-1)
Saturday, October 17th 2026
Rice-Eccles Stadium | Salt Lake City, Utah
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|00|03|00|14|17
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Salt Lake City, Utah - The Kansas Jayhawks pulled off a thrilling upset over the No. 19-ranked Utah Utes, handing them their first loss of the season with a gritty 23-17 road victory. Kansas relied on a stout defense and timely plays to hold off a late Utah rally, securing a statement win in a challenging environment.

Utah stumbled out of the gate, punting on their opening drive before Kansas safety Brian Dilworth picked off Utah's Isaac Wilson on the next possession. Meanwhile, Kansas capitalized quickly when quarterback Isaiah Marshall connected with wide receiver Damien Keo for a 36-yard touchdown, putting the Jayhawks on the board on their first possession.

Kansas kicker Shaq Durham missed a 45-yard field goal early in the second quarter, which kept Utah within striking distance. The Utes finally got on the board with a 42-yard field goal from Bryce Keating midway through the second quarter, trimming Kansas's lead to 10-3. Safety Taylor Davis came up with another big play for Kansas just before halftime, intercepting Wilson again to preserve a 10-3 advantage at the break.

Early in the third quarter, Kansas's defense stepped up once again. After Marshall threw an interception, the Jayhawks responded when defensive end Lyle Carreon scooped up a fumble off a strip sack by teammate Tony Terry and rumbled 50 yards for a defensive touchdown. The play shifted momentum back in Kansas’s favor, giving them a 17-3 lead. Utah's Keating missed a 51-yard field goal shortly after, as Kansas’s defense continued to stymie the Utes' attempts to rally.

Kansas extended their lead to 20-3 late in the third quarter when an offensive drive stalled, forcing them to settle for a Durham field goal after Marshall was sacked yet again. The Kansas quarterback was under pressure all day, being sacked six times while completing just 11 of 23 passes for 141 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Utah clawed back into the game with a trick play in the fourth quarter. Running back John Randle Jr. caught a screen pass from Wilson and found a wide-open Daidren Zipperer for a 21-yard touchdown, cutting the Jayhawks' lead to 20-10 with 6:50 left to play. Kansas, however, responded with a time-consuming drive highlighted by a gutsy fake punt. Punter Damon Greaves connected with defensive tackle/fullback Terrelle Warren on a fourth down to keep the drive alive, allowing Kansas to chew up valuable clock. Durham capped the drive with a field goal to make it 23-10 with just two minutes remaining.

Wilson managed to lead Utah down the field one last time, hitting Larry Jackson for an 8-yard touchdown with 32 seconds left, but Kansas recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock to seal the victory.

Kansas leaned heavily on its ground game, with Johnny Thompson Jr. rushing for 88 yards and Avery Muamba adding 82 more. The Jayhawks' defense was relentless, forcing three turnovers and sacking Wilson four times to keep Utah’s offense in check.

With this upset, Kansas moves to 3-0 in conference games, while showcasing resilience on the road against a top-20 opponent. Head coach Jordan McAlary praised his team's defensive tenacity, noting, “Our guys up front played lights out, and our secondary was clutch in the big moments. That’s how you win games in tough places.”

Additional Media
















Scoring Summary
First Quarter
(KU) Damien Keo 36-yard pass from Isaiah Marshall (Shaq Durham kick) – 4:16
(KU) Shaq Durham 21-yard FG – 3:33
Second Quarter
(UTAH) Bryce Keating 42-yard FG – 5:00
Third Quarter
(KU) Lyle Carreon, 50-yard fumble return (Shaq Durham kick) – 5:57
(KU) Shaq Durham 28-yard FG – 1:15
Fourth Quarter
(UTAH) Daidren Zipperer 21-yard pass from John Randle Jr. (Bryce Keating kick) – 6:44
(KU) Shaq Durham 26-yard FG – 1:55
(UTAH) Larry Jackson 8-yard pass from Isaac Wilson (Bryce Keating kick) – 0:27

Key Statistics

Passing – I. Marshall 11/23 141Yds 1TD 1Int, D. Greaves 1/1 6Yds
Rushing – J. Thompson Jr 25Car 88Yds 1TD, A. Muamba 13Car 82Yds
Receiving – D. Keo 2Rec 61Yds 1TD, J. Hamm 4Rec 34Yds, A. Muamba 2Rec 24Yds, K. Kubecka 2Rec 15Yds, T. Warren 2Rec 13Yds
Tackles – T. Davis 9, J. Todd 8, R. Orr 8
Sacks – T. Terry 2.0, G. Grimes 1.0, S. Sahara 1.0
Takeaways – T. Davis 1Int, B. Dilworth 1Int, T. Terry 2FF, L. Carreon 1FR 1TD
Special Teams – S. Durham 3/4FG 2/2XP, D. Greaves 4Pt 38.2Avg, A. Muamba 1KR 18Yds 3PR 27Yds, C. Jenkins 1KR 1Yd


Passing – I. Wilson 21/33 212Yds 1TD 1Int, J. Randle Jr 1/1 21Yds 1TD
Rushing – J. Randle Jr 17Car 91Yds
Receiving – D. Zipperer 7Rec 111Yds 1TD, D. Washington 7Rec 79Yds, D. Alexander 3Rec 12Yds, L. Jackson 1Rec 8Yds 1TD
Tackles – S. Fotu 13, T. Johnson 10, K. Tanuvasa 10, B. Connell 10, N. Ritchie 10
Sacks – K. Tanuvasa 2.5, D. Emery 1.5, S. Fotu 1.0, L. Fano 0.5, B. Connell 0.5
Takeaways – N. Ritchie 1Int
Special Teams – B. Keating 1/2FG 2/2XP, J. Gibbs 4Pt 35.0Avg, D. Crick 4KR 99Yds, T. Crow 2KR 39Yds 3PR 20Yds

Up Next

[djp73]

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.

"We went in there knowing we were going up against a very talented, ranked team, and we embraced that challenge. It was a test for us – not just physically, but mentally. To come out on top in that environment, it says a lot about how far we've come as a team. I'm incredibly proud of the way our guys fought from start to finish."

"When I took this job, we talked a lot about changing the culture here. Kansas football hasn't always been looked at as a program that can go toe-to-toe with the top teams, but we’re building that belief day by day. These players are starting to see that they belong on this stage. They’re buying into the idea that we can play with anyone in the country if we execute and play together."

"I tell these guys every day: there’s no reason to doubt what we’re capable of. It’s not just about X’s and O’s; it’s about heart, preparation, and belief. Today, we faced adversity – we had some mistakes, gave up some big plays – but we never stopped believing we could come out with the win. That's the culture we're instilling. We’re not backing down from anyone."

"Our defense set the tone. Three turnovers, four sacks, that huge fumble return by Lyle [Carreon] – they made a statement. They’ve put in the work, and it showed. When you can disrupt an offense like Utah’s and turn those plays into points, it gives you a real shot to win."

"We took some time to enjoy it, but there’s a lot of season left. This is just one game, and we can’t get too high or too low. We’ve got to stay focused, keep grinding, and continue to prove that this is the new Kansas football. We’re not satisfied yet – we’re building something special here."