Kansas hands 1st loss to OU in ‘substantial moment’
Oct 28, 2023, 05:09 PM ET LAWRENCE, Kan.– Kansas coach Lance Leipold has actually constantly been focused on the future: the next game, the restorations that will transform Memorial Arena, the long-lasting potential customers of a program that has long been in the dumps.
“It’s time,” Leipold said after the Jayhawks’ 38-33 win over No. 6 Oklahoma on Saturday, “for me to begin talking about how far we’ve come.”
Devin Neal ran for 112 yards and the go-ahead score with 55 seconds left, the Sooners’ Dillon Gabriel tossed insufficient to the end zone on the last play of the game, and Kansas fans– finally delighting in a little success after seeing many downtrodden teams for many years– were delegated storm the field and commemorate one of the most significant wins in school history.Editor’s Picks
1 Related The Jayhawks snapped an 18-game losing streak to the Sooners in the groups’ final matchup before Oklahoma leaves the Big 12 for the SEC, and they beat their highest-ranked opponent since defeating Virginia Tech in the 2008 Orange Bowl.
“This is a substantial moment for this team,” said Jason Bean, starting when again in location of injured quarterback Jalon Daniels.The Jayhawks
( 6-2, 3-2 Big 12) looked as if they had actually wasted their possibility to win when, trailing 33-32 with 2:29 staying, Bean threw a pass that got obstructed. However their vastly improved defense forced Oklahoma (7-1, 4-1) to punt, and after two conclusions and a fourth-down throw that gotten 37 lawns, Neal scampered in from 9 lawns out versus what appeared to be an ambivalent defense to give Kansas the lead back.But that also offered Oklahoma’s offense another shot with the ball.Gabriel finished a 39-yard
pass to Brennan Thompson to reach the Kansas 34 with 24 seconds to go. After a brief toss to Jovantae Barnes and an incompletion, the quarterback who had actually been nearly perfect all season threw high to the end zone on the last play, touching off the field-storming celebration.”I got caught in a whole
lot of students,” Leipold stated.” I hope nobody offers me a Breathalyzer simply off the fumes out there.”
Bean threw for 218 backyards with two interceptions while running for 62 yards and a goal. Daniel Hishaw had 2 goal runs for the Jayhawks, who had actually not beaten the Sooners because Oct. 4, 1997.
Gabriel ended up with 171 passing lawns and three goal runs and Tawee Walker ran for 146 yards and a rating, although the Sooners were left to lament too many missed opportunities and completion to their ideal season.
“Turned the ball over, penalties– the timing of all of it was really bad,” Oklahoma coach Brent Venables stated. “As I told them, we’re not going to be specified by any one win or any loss. We have a lot still in front of us. But this one hurts. It stings.”
Until the fourth quarter, it had been an uninspiring homecoming for the Jayhawks.A sell-out crowd
packed Memorial Arena early to watch Fox’s pregame program, then began getting wet when rain relocated after kickoff. Midway through the second quarter, lightning illuminated the sky, causing a delay of about an hour. When the game finally resumed, about half that crowd was left– and a big part of it was shouting “Boomer Sooner.”All those Kansas fans who stuck it out were in for
a treat.The Jayhawks had jumped to a 14-0 lead on a pick-six by
Mello Dotson and Hishaw’s very first touchdown run. But the Sooners, who had actually been having a hard time without hurt running back Marcus Major, quickly discovered their stride.When the Jayhawks fumbled a kickoff, Gabriel’s second touchdown run marked 21 unanswered points for
Oklahoma.The seesaw affair was just beginning, though.The Jayhawks had actually closed within 21-20 in the third quarter when they caught a fumble and
Bean ran 38 backyards for a score. The Sooners answered with a 75-yard goal drive to take a 27-26 lead, only to see the Jayhawks take advantage of 3 personal fouls– including one on the Oklahoma bench for arguing about the very first– to gain back the lead at 32-27. Kansas almost made it a two-possession game in the fourth quarter when Oklahoma muffed the taking place kickoff, however a holding charge revived Hishaw’s 20-yard touchdown run and Seth Keller missed a 42-yard field-goal attempt.The Sooners seized the opportunity. Their defense got a hand on Bean’s pass, and Billy Bowman picked it off at the Kansas 14. Gabriel scored less than two minutes later for a 33-32 lead with 5:22 to go.Plenty of time for the Jayhawks to score one more touchdown and make a big defensive stand. “Everyone trusted what we’ve been doing,” Hishaw stated. “I think you might state this is a
little bit of payoff.”The takeaway Oklahoma: 3 turnovers and 11 charges for 101 yards were huge reasons the Sooners’College Football Playoff aspirations took a success. Now they discover themselves in a logjam
of Huge 12 teams with one conference loss.Kansas: Nearly as an afterthought, the general public address announcer made note to the field-storming fans that the Jayhawks were bowl eligible again. It’s just the 2nd time in school history they have certified in successive seasons.Up next Oklahoma sees Oklahoma State next Saturday in the final edition of Bedlam for the foreseeable future.Kansas heads to Iowa State next Saturday.