LAWRENCE - Kansas football found a way to survive Saturday, edging Baylor 25-24 at home in a Big 12 Conference matchup.
The Jayhawks finished with a 3-4 record overall and moved to 1-3 in Big 12 play, while Baylor dropped to 4-3 and 2-2. And for much of the afternoon, it looked like Kansas might let the game slip away.
Isaiah Marshall’s turnovers made things tense in a hurry. The redshirt sophomore quarterback threw two interceptions, and one of them went back for a touchdown. Still, Marshall helped Kansas finish the job late, guiding the decisive scoring drive in the fourth quarter before punching in a 15-yard run himself.
Dylan Edwards gave the offense a steady lift as well. The redshirt junior running back piled up 156 yards on 30 carries, giving Kansas a needed spark while the passing game battled through mistakes.
The defense did enough to keep Baylor from taking control. Kansas allowed the Bears just one long, productive drive, and that came in the third quarter for Baylor’s touchdown. The Jayhawks also got consistent pressure, finishing with two sacks and five tackles for loss.
Baylor’s three scoring drives came with their own complications. Two started inside Kansas territory, and the Jayhawks forced two turnover-on-downs stops. Redshirt senior linebacker Trey Lathan also came away with a fourth-quarter interception.
Special teams had its rough stretches, too. Kansas struggled some in kickoff coverage, freshman punter Matt Gill had one strong punt and one poor one, and redshirt sophomore kicker Martin Connington made two of his three field-goal tries. But when it mattered most, the Jayhawks delivered the play that swung the game, blocking what would have likely been Baylor’s game-winning field goal.
So the afternoon that threatened to turn into another painful loss instead ended with Kansas making the critical plays down the stretch. The Jayhawks earned a needed win, some momentum, and a reminder that they were willing to keep fighting until the final whistle.
Grades: Offense: C+
Defense: B Special teams: B-
Overall: B
In Other News...
Kansas Defense Is Earning Respect For One Huge Reason
Kansas defensive front has started to draw real attention this season, and for good reason. Pro Football Focus now has Leroy Harris III and David Santiago ranked No. 2 and No. 3 nationally among defensive ends, a reflection of how disruptive both have been for a unit that has leaned on its edge pressure to make plays.
Harris has filled the stat sheet with tackles, tackles for loss, forced fumbles and even a blocked kick, while Santiago has made his presence felt with sacks, tackles for loss and turnovers. Together, they have given the Jayhawks a pair of edge defenders offenses have had to account for on every snap, and that kind of production has become a big part of why Kansas defense is earning respect in 2026. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Finally Ended A Painful Baylor Streak In Wild Fashion
Kansas finally found a way past Baylor in a finish that had plenty of the usual Big 12 drama, but none of the familiar ending. After a 14-game losing streak in the series, the Jayhawks rallied at home for a 25-24 win that felt equal parts relief and validation, with Isaiah Marshall steering the comeback and keeping Kansas alive when the game looked like it might slip away again.
Marshall accounted for the winning touchdown on the ground after also throwing for 212 yards and two scores, and Kansas closed it out in the wildest possible way by blocking Baylors late 45-yard field goal try. The result lifted the Jayhawks to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in conference play, while also giving the program a long-awaited answer to one of its more painful matchups. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Fans Have Another Reason To Celebrate A Program Builder
Ted Owens has given Kansas fans plenty to remember already, and now the former Jayhawks coach has another line on his rsum. Owens was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in Kansas City, Missouri, joining a group of notable figures recognized for their impact on the college game. His time in Lawrence still stands out as one of the defining stretches in program history, with a run that included a 348-182 record, two Final Fours and six Big Eight titles.
The ceremony offered a fresh reminder of how much Owens helped shape Kansas basketball during his 1964-83 tenure, and he spent time reflecting on his career and the memories that came with it. For a fan base that already knows his place in the programs history, the Hall of Fame nod only adds to the appreciation. The bigger question now is how Kansas chooses to honor a coach whose imprint still echoes through the program decades later. [Read more 🡒]