Jalon Daniels led Kansas to a stunning victory over No. 6 BYU with 169 passing yards, while Devin Neal ran for two touchdowns, helping the Jayhawks secure a 17-13 win. This victory marked the first time in school history that Kansas beat ranked opponents in consecutive weeks, improving their record to 4-6 for the season. Neal also reached a career milestone by surpassing 4,000 rushing yards.
Despite their 1-5 start to the season, Kansas now has hopes of qualifying for a bowl game for the third straight year. Daniels credited the team’s ability to “trust the process” for their success, highlighting their resilience and determination.
BYU, on the other hand, suffered their first loss of the season, dropping to 9-1 overall. Jake Retzlaff threw for 192 yards, and LJ Martin added 76 rushing yards for the Cougars. However, BYU struggled to convert in the red zone, going 2-for-4 and coming away with no touchdowns on drives inside the 20-yard line.
Kansas took the lead in the fourth quarter with Neal’s 3-yard touchdown run, capitalizing on a special teams blunder by BYU. Daniels’ quick kick on fourth-and-14 led to a fumble recovery by Quentin Skinner, setting up the go-ahead score for the Jayhawks.
Despite BYU’s efforts to mount a comeback, their offense stalled in the final minutes, failing to score a touchdown and turning the ball over on downs. The Jayhawks’ defense held strong, securing the upset victory.
Both teams found the end zone in the first half, with Kansas scoring on Neal’s 8-yard run and BYU responding with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Retzlaff to Hinckley Ropati. The Cougars missed a crucial opportunity to score before halftime when Mello Dotson intercepted a pass in the end zone, denying BYU a potential go-ahead score.
BYU’s struggles continued in the second half, as their offense failed to capitalize on opportunities in the red zone. A lengthy 17-play drive resulted in only a field goal for the Cougars, highlighting their inefficiency in converting long drives into touchdowns.
Overall, Kansas’ resilient performance and solid execution on both sides of the ball propelled them to a historic upset over BYU. The Jayhawks’ ability to capitalize on their opponent’s mistakes and make key plays in crucial moments proved to be the difference in this hard-fought contest.
