PROVO, Utah — In a thrilling match on Saturday night, Jalon Daniels contributed 169 passing yards, while Dylan Neal scored two rushing touchdowns, leading Kansas to a surprise victory over No. 7 BYU, with a final score of 17-13. This win marked the first defeat of the season for the Cougars.
The Jayhawks improved their record to 4-6 overall and 3-4 in the Big 12, achieving the remarkable feat of defeating ranked opponents in consecutive weeks for the first time in the school’s history. Neal reached a career milestone, surpassing 4,000 rushing yards, as he totaled 52 yards on the ground during the game.
For BYU, Jake Retzlaff amassed 192 passing yards, and LJ Martin contributed 76 rushing yards. However, the Cougars were limited to just a field goal in the second half, ultimately falling short in their attempts to secure the win.
Entering the fourth quarter down 13-10, Kansas regained the lead thanks to Neal’s 3-yard touchdown run. A pivotal moment occurred when Daniels executed a quick kick on a fourth-and-14 from the BYU 36-yard line. The ball slipped from the grasp of Jakob Robinson as he dove to catch it, allowing Quentin Skinner to recover at the 3-yard line, setting the stage for Kansas’s go-ahead score.
BYU made a late push, advancing to the Kansas 15-yard line with just two minutes remaining. However, their hopes were dashed when they turned the ball over on downs; Chase Roberts was stopped three yards short of a first down with only 46 seconds left in the game.
**Key Takeaways**
For Kansas, their ball security and strategic plays against BYU’s opportunistic defense were decisive, as they only allowed a single turnover from the Cougars. In contrast, BYU suffered a turnover that negated a potential lead before halftime, with another turnover leading to Kansas’s eventual score.
**Poll Implications**
Following this loss, BYU is expected to likely drop out of the Top 10 rankings.
**Upcoming Matches**
Kansas will face Colorado at home next Saturday, while BYU will be on the road against Arizona State that same day.