MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Kansas Jayhawks dropped a 35-24 decision against Kansas State on Saturday in the Dillons Sunflower Showdown at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
The Jayhawks (2-4, 0-3 Big 12) built an early 17-7 advantage in the first quarter, before being held to one scoring drive over the final three quarters. Kansas State (4-2, 1-2 Big 12) outscored KU 11-0 in the second quarter and 10-0 in the fourth to claim the rivalry win.
Kansas returns home to David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 24, to host the Baylor Bears for the University of Kansas’ 114th Homecoming. The meeting between the Jayhawks and the Bears will be the 24th all-time, with Baylor leading the series at 19-4. It will be the 12th matchup played in Lawrence, where Baylor leads 7-4.
After Kansas State used a five-play touchdown drive to take an early 7-0 lead, the Jayhawks quickly responded as redshirt freshman Bryson Hayes took the ensuing kickoff back 95 yards for a touchdown, knotting the score at 7-7 less than two minutes into the game. KSU struck for a 45-yard completion on the first play of their next drive and drove into the red zone before KU’s defense forced a turnover on downs at the 12-yard line.
Seeing its first action of the day, KU’s offense marched right down the field, covering 88 yards in 13 plays before Isaiah Marshall found Nik McMillan for a 12-yard scoring strike, putting the Jayhawks on top 14-7 at the 4:21 mark of the opening quarter. Dak Brinkley forced a fumble on the third play of KSU’s next drive and David Santiago recovered, setting up Kansas to take a 17-7 lead following a 31-yard Martin Connington field goal with 51 seconds remaining in the quarter.
Scoring slowed in the second quarter as KU’s offense was held without a first down while Kansas State outscored the Jayhawks 11-0 to take an 18-17 lead at halftime. Kansas State had three scoring drives, with KU’s defense holding the Wildcats to a field goal each time. Kansas State also added a safety with 1:39 to play in the half.
Kansas received the opening kick of the second half and again moved down the field systematically and regained the lead on a three-yard touchdown run by Dylan Edwards. The score capped a nine-play drive and put the Jayhawks up 24-18 with 11:05 to play in the third. That lead stood for just one drive, however, as Kansas State answered with a nine-play touchdown drive of its own to regain a 25-24 advantage at the 6:32 mark.
After KU punted, Kansas State drove deep into Jayhawk territory attempting to add to their lead, but the Kansas defense again held on downs when Eamon Smalls stopped Kansas State’s Joe Jackson at the goal line on the first play of the fourth quarter. Kansas moved the ball 81 yards on its next drive, getting out of its own end zone and into the KSU red zone before Marshall was picked off in the end zone with 9:53 to play. The Wildcats quickly capitalized with a four-play touchdown drive, extending their advantage to 32-24 with 8:28 to play.
Kansas got near midfield on its next drive before a penalty stalled the drive and allowed KSU to regain possession with 7:06 to play. The Wildcats used up more than five minutes as they drove into position for a field goal, making it a two-score game, 35-24, with 1:56 remaining. KU’s last drive was stopped on downs near midfield.
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