Kansas football vs. Texas: Jayhawks top Longhorns 57-56 in overtime thriller
Jordan GuskeyAUSTIN — Kansas football's 2021 regular season continued Saturday with a Big 12 Conference road matchup at Texas.
The Jayhawks came in off of a loss at home against Kansas State. The Longhorns came in off of a loss on the road against Iowa State. Both sides were looking to end extended losing streaks.
Did Kansas head coach Lance Leipold earn his first victory in Big 12 play? Did Jason Bean or Jalon Daniels starting at quarterback for the Jayhawks? Did Texas, like most other Big 12 teams this season, handle Kansas?
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Here's what's happened so far, with the latest news first, at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium:
FINAL: Kansas 57, Texas 56
Texas scored a touchdown on its first possession in overtime and hit the extra point to go up 56-49. It didn't have much trouble driving for the touchdown.
A penalty after the touchdown meant Kansas got to start its drive half the distance from the goal line that Texas did. The Jayhawks scored a touchdown on their drive, and then went for the two-point conversion and got it.
END 4Q: Kansas 49, Texas 49
Texas ties it up
Texas got the ball back with less than a minute left and great field position, and drove for a touchdown that scored with 0:22 left in the game. The drive lasted three plays and 34 yards. It took 22 seconds off of the clock. The touchdown came on a 25-yard pass from Casey Thompson to Cade Brewer. An extra point made it a 49-49 game.
Texas is back within a score
Texas drove down for a touchdown, scoring with 4:39 left and adding the extra point so it's trailing 49-42 now. The drive lasted 91 yards and 11 plays and took 3:57 off of the clock. Casey Thompson threw an eight-yard pass to Xavier Worthy to deliver the score.
Kansas scores a key touchdown
The Jayhawks scored a much-needed touchdown with 8:47 left, and hit an extra point to go up 49-35. Jalon Daniels hit Kwamie Lassiter II for a short touchdown pass. The drive lasted nine plays and 73 yards and took 5:11 off of the clock.
END 3Q: Kansas 42, Texas 35
Texas blocks a punt, then drives for a touchdown
The Jayhawks had to attempt a punt a second time on a drive, because a penalty took away the first one. The Longhorns then blocked that second attempt and set themselves up with great field position. And then Texas drove for a touchdown.
The Longhorns drive lasted 44 seconds and went 17 yards in three plays. The touchdown was scored on a seven-yard pass from Casey Thompson to Xavier Worthy. After the extra point, it's a 42-35 game with Kansas still leading with 1:21 left in the third quarter.
Texas did lose key running back Bijan Robinson to an injury during the drive. He walked off the field and toward the locker room.
Texas finds the end zone
The Longhorns scored another touchdown, this one on a 25-yard pass from Casey Thompson to Bijan Robinson. The drive lasted 2:37 and went 88 yards in eight plays. The extra point made it 42-28, Kansas still leading, with 3:50 left in the third quarter. Those Longhorns turnovers earlier in the game are looming large right now.
Kansas responds with another touchdown
Kansas responded to Texas' scoring drive with one of its own, this one going 75 yards in four plays and taking 2:18 off of the clock. Devin Neal, who scored on a 10-yard rushing touchdown, is now up to 115 yards on the day with two scores. There's 8:59 left in the third quarter and the Jayhawks lead 42-21.
Texas opens third quarter with a score
The Longhorns drove right down the field and scored a touchdown with 11:17 left in the third quarter. The extra point made it a 35-21 game, with the Jayhawks still leading. Texas scored on a short run by Casey Thompson, ending a drive that started off with favorable field position as Kansas' kickoff went out of bounds.
END 2Q: Kansas 35, Texas 14
Kansas returns an interception for a touchdown
Jacobee Bryant picked off a pass from Hudson Card and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown. With 1:00 left in the second quarter, after the extra point, it's a 35-14 lead for Kansas.
Kansas extends its lead
Jalon Daniels hit Devin Neal for a 19-yard touchdown pass, and after the extra point Kansas is up 28-14. The Jayhawks drive went 23 yards in three plays and took 21 seconds off of the clock. There's 1:14 left before halftime.
Kansas forces another turnover
Kyron Johnson came up with another strip sack that gave Kansas the ball back. Johnson was credited with the recovery as well. It gives the Jayhawks 1st and 10 with 1:35 left in the second quarter at the Texas 23 yard line.
Kansas takes the lead again
The Jayhawks drove down for their third score of the game, this time on a drive that lasted 6:23 and went 75 yards in 11 plays. Jalon Daniels scrambled and carried defenders into the end zone on his nine-yard rushing touchdown. The extra point made it 21-14 with 2:25 left in the second quarter.
Kansas has been very balanced offensively so far. Daniels' athleticism has be a big asset for the Jayhawks.
Texas ties it up
Texas drove 68 yards in six plays for a scoring drive that tied the game at 14-14 with 8:48 left in the second quarter. Hudson Card threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Worthy, with Worthy getting a path to the end zone after a Kansas defender fell down. Card didn't start the game at quarterback, but it was understood the Longhorns would play multiple quarterbacks. The drive lasted 2:22.
Texas scores for the first time
The Longhorns are on the board after a 25-yard touchdown pass from Casey Thompson to Marcus Washington. Kansas had some opportunities to get off the field on third downs but couldn't. The drive ends up going 75 yards in 10 plays and took 3:22 off of the clock. There was a coverage breakdown on the touchdown, and after the extra point it's a 14-7 game with 12:14 left in the second quarter.
END 1Q: Kansas 14, Texas 0
Kansas scores again
The Jayhawks took advantage of the Longhorns turnover and drove for a touchdown. Jalon Daniels hit Mason Fairchild for an 11-yard touchdown pass, ending a drive that went 10 plays and 65 yards in 5:04. The extra point made it 14-0, Kansas' largest lead of the season, with 0:36 left in the first quarter.
Amauri Pesek-Hickson is running the ball well for Kansas, which is giving the Jayhawks multiple running backs who are doing well. That's exactly what the coaches are looking for.
Kansas forces a turnover on Texas' opening drive
Kyron Johnson hit Texas' quarterback and forced a fumble, which was recovered by Rich Miller, for the first turnover of the game. The Longhorns had been driving well, but now the Jayhawks have the ball again. Kansas takes over at its own 35 yard line with 5:40 left in the first quarter. Johnson gets a sack on that play as well.
Jacobee Bryant and Jeremy Webb got the starts at cornerback for the Jayhawks.
Kansas drives for a score on its opening drive
Behind a steady dose of Devin Neal and Jalon Daniels using his mobility in the pocket, Kansas drove down for a touchdown on the first drive of the game. It lasted 13 plays and 75 yards, taking 7:02 off the clock. Neal ended it with a three-yard rush into the end zone, and the extra point made it a 7-0 game with 7:58 left in the first quarter.
Jalon Daniels gets the start at quarterback
The wait is over. Jalon Daniels gets the start at quarterback for Kansas. Jason Bean is on the sideline without a helmet on.
The kickoff
Texas' kick was fair caught, and this one is underway.
The coin toss
Texas won the toss and chose to defer. It'll be Kansas ball to start.
The captains
Kansas is going with Kyron Johnson, Sam Burt and Kwamie Lassiter II. Miles Kendrick, who recently suffered a season-ending injury, is not with them as he had been past weeks.
Quarterbacks split warmup reps
Typically the starting quarterback will take the reps with the starters, and the backup quarterback will take the reps with the backups. During the team portion of pre-game warmups, Jason Bean and Jalon Daniels appeared to split reps pretty evenly at quarterback. Miles Fallin was included.
The scene about 45 minutes to kickoff
Jason Bean is dressed and continuing to warm up. He's throwing passes, along with other Jayhawks quarterbacks.
Jason Bean going through warmups
Jason Bean was going through warmups about two hours prior to the scheduled start of the game. This was during the part of the pre-game routine that's prior to full team reps, and it did not appear that Bean threw any passes.
Texas injury update
The scene about two hours to kickoff
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.