KANSAS ESCAPES!
Kansas Overcomes 11 Point Second Half Deficit, Again
Nik McMillan scored late to give Kansas the lead.
Media Ranks: Kansas 58th, Ball State 134th
Overall: Kansas 79, Ball State 69
Offense: Kansas 79, Ball State 69
Defense: Kansas 79, Ball State 71
Weather: Cloudy, 65F
TV: National TV
Site: David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium - Lawrence, KS (41,525)
9/26/26
Lawrence, KS (AP) – For the second time in two weeks, the Kansas Jayhawks overcame an 11 point second half deficit to win, this time 29-28 on the next to last play of the game over Ball State. Nik McMillan caught a three yard touchdown pass on fourth down with two seconds left to lift the Jayhawks to an improbable comeback victory.
Kansas' opening possession was a microcosm of the game as Isaiah Marshall was picked off by Quentavius Scandrett at midfield. Ball State took six plays to go 50 yards, scoring on a T.J. Horton seven yard run to take a 7-0 lead.
Kansas answered right back with a seven play, 80 yard drive capped off by a Dylan Edwards four yard touchdown run. Isaiah Marshall completed a huge ten yard pass to Nik McMillan on third and seven from the Ball State 14 yard line that kept the drive alive.
On the Jayhawks next possession, they took over at midfield after a 32 yard punt return from Dylan Edwards. They drove the ball down to the Cardinals 24 yard line, but Marshall was picked off again, this time by Willizhuan Yates in the endzone.
After another Ball State punt, Tate Nagy returned the punt 30 yards to midield. The Jayhawks moved the ball down to the Ball State seven yard line, but Isaiah Marshall took a sack on third down, leading to a 32 yard Martin Connington field goal that put Kansas up 10-7 early in the second quarter.
Kansas was driving again on their next possession. On fourth and four from the Ball State 43, the Jayhawks decided to go for it. Isaiah Marshall was sacked, fumbled and Ameir Glenn jumped on the loose ball at the Kansas 44 yard line. Two plays later, Jalen Bonds ran it 42 yards untouched for a score to put the Cardinals up 14-10.
Ball State forced a Kansas punt, taking over at their own 35 with 1:54 left until halftime. Keldric Luster completed passes of 12 yards to T.J. Horton, 29 yards to Sean Ward, and three yards to Donovan Hamilton, moving the ball down to the Kansas 22 yard line. On second down, Luster stepped up to his right and just before crossing the line of scrimmage, hit Jabari Smith Jr coming open across the middle for a 22 ayrd score to put Ball State up 21-10.
Kansas then committed their fourth turnover of the first half as Isaiah Marshall was picked off by Gavin Forsha, returning it to the Kansas 34 yard line with 31 seconds left until halftime. Ball State moved it to the Kansas 18, but after using their final timeout, Donovan Hamilton got tackled in bounds to end the half. That mistake proved to be critical as Ball State went into halftime only up 11 at 21-10.
The Jayhawks defense forced a three-and-out to open the third quarter, then put together a 13-play drive. But it ended in another Martin Donnington field goal, this time from 23 yards out, as Kansas cut the lead to 21-13.
After forcing another three-and-out, Dylan Edwards then had another huge punt return for Kansas, returning it 43 yards to the Ball State 24. Four plays later, Edwards ran it in from ten yards out, cutting it to 21-19. The two point conversion failed as Marshall got sacked.
Ball State put together what looked like a back breaking drive on their next possession, going 82 yards in eight plays with Keldric Luster hitting CJ Nelson for a 22 yard score and the Cardinals went up 28-19 late in the third quarter.
Early in the fourth, linebacker Trey Lathan made a game changing play. Down 28-19, Lathan picked off Keldric Luster, returning it nine yards down to the Ball State 15 yard line. Ball State's defense held Kansas to a 20 yard Martin Donnington field goal, but Kansas was within six at 28-22.
On the Jayhawks next possession, Jailen Butler was stuffed on a fourth and one run at the Ball State 36 yard line with 6:30 left. Kansas defense forced another three-and-out, giving the ball back to its offense at their own 30 with 5:33 left.
Kansas went back to its bread and butter, the running game. Grinding out the yardage and the clock, moving the ball down to the Ball State three yard line with five seconds left, facing a fourth and goal, Kansas dialed up a mesh play with Nic McMillan coming up underneath and Isaiah Marshall hitting him in stride. McMillan had to run through a defender at the goalline, but fell into the end zone for the score, tying the game at 28-28 with the extra point pending. Martin Connington made the point after to give Kansas a 29-28 lead with two seconds left.
The Jayhawks pooched the kickoff, and made the tackle to end the game.
Kansas rolled up 448 yards of offense with Isaiaha Marshall throwing for 275 with a touchdown and three interceptions. Nik McMillan caught ten passes for 83 yards, and scored the game winning touchdown. Dylan Edwards ran for 97 yards and caught seven passes for 55 yards.
Quentavius Scandrett was a menace on defense for the Cardinals, making ten tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack, an interception and two pass break ups.
The win moves Kansas to (3-1, 2-0) on the season, and Ball State drops to (0-4, 0-3). The Jayhawks will step up in class next week as they travel to Bloomington to take on the defending National Champion and third-ranked Indiana Hoosiers (4-1, 3-1).
Ball State's Jalen Bonds scores on a 43 yard run.
CJ Nelson egging on the crowd after scoring to put Ball State up 28-19.
Trey Lathan intercepts Keldric Luster, sparking the Jayhawks comeback.
