It was no secret that heading out on the road to battle a Top 10 team would be a challenge. While Kansas Football showed impressive resiliency after falling behind by three touchdowns early, Texas Tech proved to be too strong and won comfortably on Saturday, 42-17.
Though upsetting for KU fans, I personally wouldn’t use the word “disappointing”. Frankly, Texas Tech is one of the best teams in the country and boasts a roster loaded with NFL-quality talent. That talent was on display in full force – particularly with Tech’s defensive line and linebackers. They were a challenge for KU’s offensive line (plus tight ends and running backs) to block, totaling a staggering nine sacks and 13 tackles for loss.
Despite being pressured all night, KU quarterback Jalon Daniels was fabulous again. JD went 27/33 for 255 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers. The Jayhawks again didn’t pack much punch in the run game, but that was due in part to KU playing catch-up all game long.
The 21-0 start – a score similar to the start of many nightmarish road games for KU Football in the pre-Leipold era – put the Jayhawks behind the 8-ball early. Back-to-back dreadful plays from scrimmage – a 71-yard touchdown run by Tech’s Cameron Dickey and a fumble by KU’s Cole Ballard – soon meant the score was 15-0 Red Raiders.
When it eventually became 21-0, it was do or die time for KU. Daniels engineered back-to-back touchdown scoring drives in the second quarter, first finding running back Leshon Williams on a 10-yard leakout, and then hooking up with tight end Boden Groen on a 24-yard seam. Groen had a day himself – he caught 13 passes, tied for third most in a single game in KU history.
The ‘hawks had all sorts of momentum as halftime approached, and they took Uncle Mo into the break when, after another defensive stop, Jayhawk kicker Laith Marjan connected on a career-long 55-yard field goal as the first half clock expired. After a dominant quarter, KU was wholly in it at 21-17.
Kansas had a chance to take the lead after the defense got off the field quickly to start the second half. Tech’s D was too dominant though – denying Kansas on multiple third down opportunities. Meanwhile, as the Red Raider defense was establishing dominance, their backup quarterback Will Hammond, who had been filling in for injured starter Behren Morton since the second quarter and struggled early, started to find his groove. Hammond and Dickey proved to be too much on the ground for the KU defense, combining for four rushing touchdowns, with Dickey cruising to a career-high 263 rushing yards. KU couldn’t make it any more interesting after a great second quarter and fell to 4-3 (2-2).
Heading into their second of three open weeks licking their wounds, the Jayhawks still have a great opportunity. Five games remain in the regular season, three of which are at home – including the next two. If Kansas can protect home field against K-State and Oklahoma State, the ‘hawks will be bowl eligible for the third time in the last four seasons. K-State got off to a 2-4 start, but they just beat a solid TCU team 41-28. Both KU and K-State are idle before the Dillons Sunflower Showdown on Oct. 25. KU won’t face a team as strong as Texas Tech the rest of the way, but let’s hope the ‘hawks put together a better overall performance in a must-win rivalry game in a few weeks. Rock Chalk!
Sean Kellerman