The Kansas Jayhawks faced a tough defeat against the Baylor Bears, losing 45-17 at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas on Saturday. Despite the loss, Kansas displayed some strong performances, led by senior running back Devin Neal, who achieved his 20th career game with over 100 rushing yards. Neal finished the game with 20 carries for 133 yards and a touchdown, contributing to the Jayhawks’ total of 491 offensive yards. Conversely, Baylor managed to amass 603 yards overall.
The game began with both teams unable to score on their opening drives. However, Kansas found success on their second possession with Neal breaking a significant 38-yard rush, positioning them into Baylor territory. Shortly after, Neal scored a 19-yard touchdown, marking his 16th touchdown of the season, giving Kansas an early lead.
Baylor quickly responded, evening the score at 7-7 before taking control of the game with a series of scoring drives, including a 36-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Sawyer Robertson to Monaray Baldwin. Following another interception by Kansas, Baylor scored again, leading at 14-7 by the end of the first quarter.
Kansas managed to respond with a strong 15-play, 67-yard drive resulting in a 26-yard field goal, trimming Baylor’s lead to 14-10. However, Baylor would go on to score another touchdown before halftime, with a 14-yard pass to Josh Cameron, sending both teams into the locker room with Baylor up 21-10.
The Bears continued to dominate in the second half, extending their lead to 28-10. After forcing a Kansas three-and-out, Robertson connected with Dawson Pendergrass for a 20-yard touchdown pass, increasing Baylor’s advantage to 35-10. Kansas added a touchdown thanks to a 14-yard rush from senior wide receiver Lawrence Arnold, but it would not be enough to turn the tide.
Baylor concluded the game with additional scoring, finishing with a final score of 45-17. With this defeat, Kansas wraps up their season at 5-7 overall, while Baylor improves to an impressive 8-4 record.
This season may have ended on a challenging note for the Jayhawks, but the strong performance from players like Devin Neal suggests potential for the future. As they reflect on their efforts, there’s an opportunity for growth and development heading into the next season. The foundation laid by the team’s resilience may serve as a stepping stone toward future successes.