Hawking Points: Kansas Pulls Off Historic Win Over Oklahoma 38-33
The history books got a big update today. The weather was a mess but the Kansas Jayhawks beat the Oklahoma Sooners 38-33 for the program’s first win over the Sooners since 1997 and the first home win over an AP top-10 team since 1984.
And it was an intense four-plus-hour game with plenty of big plays and weather stoppages to get there.
Key Plays
Who had the Kansas defense making the first big play of the game? The Jayhawks offense moved the ball down inside the OU 30 but couldn’t convert on fourth and three. But on Oklahoma’s first offensive possession, Mello Dotson picked off Dillon Gabriel and took it back to the house to give KU an early 7-0 lead. It was just Gabriel’s fourth interception of the year.
The KU defense then stopped OU on a fourth and three and then again moved the ball down the field. Jason Bean found Lawrence Arnold for 25 yards and then Daniel Hishaw bullied over defenders multiple times and capped the drive off with a run to give Kansas a 14-0 lead.
Kansas came ready to play after halftime. After each team had to punt, KU forced another OU punt, which was shanked and gave KU possession on their own 44. On the first play, Bean found Mason Fairchild wide open down the seam and down to the OU 15. Kansas had to settle for another field goal to get down 21-20.
But then Rich Miller forced an OU fumble, which KU recovered on the OU 38 yard line. On the first offensive play, Bean took a design run all the way to the house to give KU the lead again. The Jayhawks went for two but Bean was unable to connect with Luke Grimm and Kansas got up 26-21 with three minutes left in the third.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Bean found Grimm for a first down and then Oklahoma was called for another unnecessary roughness to give Kansas another 15 yards. Then before the next snap, the OU bench got another 15-yard penalty. That put the ball on the OU 24. Bean found Arnold over the middle inside the 10.
Bean then took it himself on third and goal and slid to the end zone but was just short and was hit really hard. Oklahoma was called for targeting and instead of fourth and goal from the one, it’s first down. On the next play, Hishaw pushed through for a TD. KU goes for two again and the pass to Trevor Kardell is incomplete and the score was 32-27 with 12:25 left.
Then it was OU’s turn to botch the kickoff, muffing the catch and Kansas recovering at the OU 20 yard line.
Down one in the final five minutes, Bean found Neal, who made defenders miss and picked up a first down. But on third and four, Bean’s pass was incomplete on third and four so KU went for it on fourth down with 3:05 left and Bean found Grimm for a first down.
After Bean’s second interception, the KU defense stopped Oklahoma on the first three downs and forced a fourth and seven that the Sooners were going to go for before Oklahoma committed a false start and caused a punt.
Bean scrambled for a first down on the next possession and then found Fairchild wide open to the 50. But a couple of failed runs made it fourth and six and he found Arnold wide open, who took it all the way to the Oklahoma 10. Then Neal punched it in on the next play to give KU the lead with 55 seconds left. The Jayhawks went for two again and this time Hishaw was stuffed, so KU remained up five.
Oklahoma struggled to start the possession and then a big pass got the Sooners in the KU 30 with 15 seconds left. OU was down to three seconds left and had one more shot at the end zone, and it was knocked out of the end zone to secure the win.
Eye-Catching Stat Lines
KU’s four-point deficit was the lowest margin at the half against the Sooners since 2004.
The big impacts on the game were turnovers and third-down efficiency. Along with three turnovers, Oklahoma was also just two of 10 on third down, while KU was 4-14 but 2-3 on fourth down.
The Kansas rushing attack was back in full force today, compiling 225 yards on 41 carries and four touchdowns. Neal led the way with 112 yards while Bean gained 62 and Hishaw 51. Bean wasn’t very efficient on a rainy day, completing just 15-32 passes, but he did throw for 218 yards, with Arnold being his top receiver with 79 yards on three receptions. Fairchild also had three receptions for 62 yards.
The KU defense held Gabriel to just 167 yards passing and an INT, though he ran for 64 yards and three touchdowns. It was also a big day for Tawee Walker, who put up 146 yards on 23 carries and a TD.
Eye-Covering Moments
With 7:50 to go in the half and KU up 14-7, Mother Nature made herself felt. After some rain lightning in the area, the game was delayed for an hour. When play resumed again at 1 p.m. central, Oklahoma continued its possession and was much more effective running the ball. Walker ended the drive with a two-yard TD run to tie the game.
On the ensuing kickoff, Trevor Wilson muffed the catch and OU recovered at the KU 17. Gabriel was able to run it in this time from nine yards out to give OU its first lead of the game.
The flood gates could have opened before half, but Kansas was able to move the ball behind Neal and Hishaw. But on the five yard line, Bean overthrew a wide-open Kardell and the Jayhawks had to settle for a 24-yard field goal and take a 21-17 deficit into the half.
After KU took the lead, Gabriel found Drake Stoops on a busted play for 38 yards down inside the KU red zone. Gabriel ran it himself down to the Kansas three yard line and then punched it in on the next play. OU then went for two but the KU defense kept the Sooners out of the end zone as Oklahoma led 27-26.
After the muffed OU kickoff, Hishaw took the first play to the house but a holding call on Kansas brought it back. Then Bean missed Neal on a TD pass and on a third-down run, Hishaw hurt his leg. Seth Keller then missed a 42-yard field goal attempt and OU got the ball back up just five.
On third and six, Bean’s pass hit off Arnold and was intercepted, giving Oklahoma the ball on the KU 14 with 6:45 left in the game. It didn’t take the Sooners long to capitalize as Gabriel ran it in himself to give OU the lead again with 5:22 left. Another two-point attempt was incomplete, so it remained 33-32 OU.
With 2:41 left in the game and third down from midfield, Bean threw his second interception of the game in the biggest spot.
Takeaways
Kansas had so many opportunities in this game. Multiple missed two-point conversions, not being able to capitalize on OU turnovers, and just bad decisions by Bean and the offense. The Jayhawks can hold their own with anyone. They proved that against the No. 6 team in the country. But when it came to crunch time, Oklahoma made plays and Kansas didn’t.
That was, until the very end, when KU made stops on defense and Bean stepped up to convert huge passes when it mattered most. Not only can KU hold its own with anyone, the Jayhawks can beat anyone as well.
This was another signature win to prove the trajectory Kansas is on as a serious contender in the Big 12.
