Had Kansas Football lost to UCF in Orlando on Saturday, true Jayhawk fans would have stuck with the team through the final six games of the season – that we know is true. What’s also true is that KU would have been 3-3 and 1-2 in Big 12 play – an admittedly disappointing first half to the 2024 season with a road tilt against a Top 10 team on deck. Sure, KU indeed has a tough test on Saturday when they take on #9 Texas Tech in Lubbock, but the ‘hawks are feeling great after closing out a 27-20, gut-check victory over the Knights. Indeed, Kansas’ 4-2 (2-1) record looks particularly shiny on this Monday.
What started with a nightmarish first quarter, in which UCF got out to a 14-0 lead one play into the second, ended in a Kansas comeback culminating in two massive defensive stops. Before we get too deep into the deficit and the comeback, how about a reminder on how really crucial this win was. At 4-2 (2-1), Kansas has a real opportunity to reach bowl eligibility sooner rather than later – plus their ultimate goals of a Big 12 Championship and College Football Playoff Appearance are still on the horizon. After the game in Lubbock, KU gets two home games against teams in the midst of incredibly disappointing seasons in K-State and Oklahoma State. KU needed to have this one – not only mathematically – but from a morale standpoint. With the win, the ‘hawks can also enjoy being on the right side of a one-possession, nail-biting Big 12 battle, and they can puff their chests out as they walk into Jones AT&T Stadium on Saturday night.
For now, let’s get back to the game in Orlando. KU trailed by two touchdowns in the quarter-plus riddled by a lack of execution offensively and missed tackles on the defensive side – particularly with the Jayhawks whiffing numerous times on UCF tailback Myles Montgomery, who ran for 96 yards in the first quarter alone. It was all bad early. The tides turned when KU’s offense put together their first scoring drive. A big completion from quarterback Jalon Daniels to tight end Boden Groen set the stage for KU, who eventually got the first of three touchdown runs from running back Leshon Williams to cut into the lead and make it 14-7.
After a Knights field goal, JD and the KU offense were back at it. A Daniels completion to wide receiver Emmanuel Henderson set the tone, and Williams was able to break free for runs of 13 and 12. Williams later plunged into the endzone for his second TD, and KU was within three at 17-14. UCF would tack on another field goal – meaning the Knights scored on all four of their first-half offensive possessions – and it was 20-14 at the break.
UCF received the second half kickoff, and that’s when KU’s defense ignited their masterpiece, with a huge boost from the return of linebacker Bangally Kamara, who wasn’t ineligible for the first half following a second-half targeting penalty against Cincinnati. Completely flipping the script from the first half, the Jayhawks didn’t allow a single point in the second half. In fact, the Knights had -1 yard of offense in the third quarter. While the KU D was standing tall, KU’s offense did just enough to get a pair of Laith Marjan field goals and tie the game, 20-20. Marjan is still perfect on the year – 9/9 on field goals and 24/24 on extra points.
At 20-20, Kansas finally got the huge, game-changing play they’ve been searching for. Safety Jalen Dye blitzed and squared up UCF QB Tayven Jackson, who lost the ball, eventually into the arms of KU’s Trey Lathan. Lathan almost completed the scoop and score, but was brought down at the UCF 2. A 2-yard touchdown plunge was no problem for Williams, who connected on the trifecta of TD scores. KU had their first lead of the day, 27-20.
As the game went on, it became clear that this would be yet another down-to-the-wire Big 12 battle. Kansas’ defense – who has struggled going back to 2024 at closing games – was asked to do just that yet again. Late in the 4th quarter, the Knights were set up to, at least, tie the game. It was 2nd and goal from the Kansas 1 – but three different times, the Jayhawks’ defense stood tall. It was an incredible job denying UCF a touchdown. Kansas’ offense needed just one first down to clinch the win.
Easier said than done, as the Jayhawks were pinned back at their own 1. When KU couldn’t gain the full 10 yards, they were forced to punt it away with roughly 90 seconds to play. Again, the Kansas defense showed out when absolutely necessary. Forcing four consecutive incompletions, KU got the turnover on downs and closed out an ever-so-crucial fourth win of the season.
So often during the Lance Leipold era, the success of Jayhawk football has been defined by the KU offense. In this one, the offense did enough, but the metaphorical flowers should be given to the KU D, who came up huge – two times over – at game point. A credit to KU defensive coordinator DK McDonald, whose unit showed incredible resilience after allowing the Knights to score on all four offensive possessions in the first half. It was a great win for Kansas, and what an opportunity awaits in Lubbock this Saturday night. I can’t wait to see what our guys can pull off when being doubted by the public. Rock Chalk!
Sean Kellerman