The Kansas Jayhawks faced a tough defeat against the Baylor Bears, losing 45-17 at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas on Saturday. Senior running back, who reached an impressive milestone with his 20th career 100-yard game, led Kansas with 20 carries for 133 yards and a touchdown, contributing to the team’s total offense of 491 yards. In comparison, the Baylor offense dominated with 603 yards.
The game started with both teams unable to score on their initial possessions, but Kansas quickly found its rhythm. On their second drive, the Jayhawks relied on Neal, who made a notable 38-yard run, setting the stage for a 19-yard rushing touchdown—his 16th of the season. Baylor responded on their subsequent possession, tying the game at 7-7 with a 36-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Sawyer Robertson to wide receiver Monaray Baldwin.
After a Kansas interception, Baylor took the lead with another touchdown pass, this time a 39-yarder to Baldwin, sending them into the second quarter ahead 14-7. Kansas kept the pressure on with a methodical 15-play drive, culminating in a 26-yard field goal to narrow the gap to 14-10. However, Baylor struck again just before halftime with a 14-yard touchdown pass, leading at the break 21-10.
In the third quarter, Baylor continued to build their lead with a rushing touchdown from Bryson Washington, and followed up with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Dawson Pendergrass, making it 35-10. Kansas finally got on the board in the second half with a 14-yard touchdown rush from a senior wide receiver, but by then, Baylor had already solidified their lead. The Bears scored again in the final seconds of the third quarter, and added a field goal in the fourth, concluding the game at 45-17.
With this loss, Kansas finishes the season with a 5-7 record, 4-5 in the Big 12 Conference. Meanwhile, Baylor improved their record to 8-4 and secured a solid 6-3 in conference play.
As Kansas reflects on this season, there are positive takeaways, particularly highlighting the standout performance by Neal. His accomplishments demonstrate the potential for growth in the Jayhawks’ program. Looking forward, Kansas can build on this experience to sharpen their game for future seasons.