FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Trevone Boykin tried to jog with his TCU teammates to the locker room at halftime after injuring his right ankle early against winless Kansas. This was supposed to be a bounce-back from his first loss in more than a year.

The Heisman Trophy candidate just couldn’t keep up, eventually slowing and walking gingerly behind the pack. His day was over, and now the Horned Frogs (No. 15 CFP, No. 13 AP) are likely to face the tough finish to their schedule with Boykin and standout receiver Josh Doctson slowed by injuries.

TCU did enough without the national leader in total offense, getting touchdowns on backup Foster Sawyer’s only completion and KaVontae Turpin’s zigzagging 49-punt return in a 23-17 win over the Jayhawks on Saturday.

But the question now is whether — and how well — Boykin can play on a gimpy ankle while Doctson nurses left arm and wrist damage that limited his availability. The Horned Frogs (9-1, 6-1 Big 12) have games remaining against 12th-ranked Oklahoma and No. 6 Baylor.

“This group will battle,” coach Gary Patterson said. “They’ll play hard the next two weeks. So don’t get any indication I’m all set to throw in the towel ’cause that’s not going to happen.”

Doctson, who had season lows with one catch for 12 yards, was injured in last week’s 49-29 loss to Oklahoma State that ended a 16-game winning streak and severely damaged TCU’s national title hopes.

Boykin’s Heisman chances took a hit with four interceptions against the Cowboys, and his school-record streak of 24 straight games with a touchdown pass, tied for longest in the nation, ended with his early exit against the Jayhawks.

On his second play of the game, Boykin turned awkwardly on his right ankle as he slipped while trying to cut and was tackled by Kansas linebacker Joe Dineen Jr. He didn’t return after getting sacked on TCU’s last offensive play of the first quarter.

Boykin returned to the sideline in the second quarter, but was clearly limping. He stood on his left leg only while the band played the school song after the game.

Asked if the ankle was sprained, Patterson said, “I think so.”

“I think Trevone will be back,” Patterson said. “We just couldn’t take a chance. They said he shouldn’t go, and I said, `OK.”

Kansas (0-10, 0-7) didn’t trail at halftime for the first time this year, but couldn’t avoid a 35th straight road loss and 13th overall. The Jayhawks have their first 10 games for the first time since 1954, when they finished 0-10.

“We stressed the heck out of the fact that we thought we matched up pretty well with these guys,” Kansas coach David Beaty said. “Go out there and expect to win. Don’t be surprised if you’re up at halftime.”

The Horned Frogs tried two backups to Boykin in Bram Kohlhausen, a senior transfer from Houston, and Sawyer, a redshirt freshman who played for a private Fort Worth high school.

Shaun Nixon was open over the middle and turned Sawyer’s completion into a 42-yard touchdown, breaking a tackle on the catch-and-run score early in the fourth quarter.

“He’s a Heisman candidate, so you’re absolutely going, ‘Wow,'” Kansas coach David Beaty said of Boykin’s injury. “I hope the kid’s OK. Because he’s that good of a player.”

The only other TD for the Horned Frogs was Turpin’s flashy return, when he stopped and changed directions twice for a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

The Frogs also leaned on the running game. Aaron Green had a career-high 177 yards and boosted several drives that ended in scoring range, including two on downs and one when Kohlhausen was intercepted by Fish Smithson at the Kansas 10.

TCU still managed 487 yards without much from Boykin and Doctson, including 279 on the ground. Nixon had seven catches for 78 yards.

Ryan Willis threw for 203 yards, including a 10-yard score to Tyler Patrick on fourth down to get Kansas within 23-17 with 6:19 remaining.

The Frogs struggled to move the ball soon after Boykin was injured, and again in the fourth while trying to protect the slim lead.

But the defense came through with three straight stops, including an interception by Ty Summers and Terrell Lathan’s clinching fourth-down sack of Willis in the final 2 minutes.

— Associated Press —

The No. 4/5-ranked Jayhawks drained 15 3-pointers to defeat Northern Colorado, 109-72, inside Allen Fieldhouse on Friday night.

The Jayhawks (1-0) shot 56 percent from the field and 58 percent from beyond the arc to earn their 14th consecutive season-opening win and 43rd consecutive home-opening win at Allen Fieldhouse.

The Jayhawks’ 109 points are their most in a season-opener since KU scored 113 against Longwood on Nov. 12, 2010 and the second-most ever under Bill Self.

Junior guard Brannen Greene scored a team-high 18 points off the bench on a perfect shooting night – 6-of-6 from the field, including five 3-point field goals. Greene made his first triple from at the first-half buzzer, which gave KU a 53-31 advantage at the break.

Greene was one of five Jayhawks who reached double-figure points. Senior All-American candidate Perry Ellis posted an efficient 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting in 20 minutes. Junior guard Frank Mason III dished out nine assists with 11 points on 3-of-3 shooting from long range. Junior guard Wayne Selden Jr., added 15 points on 4-of-8 shooting in 23 minutes.

Northern Colorado (0-1) committed 35 personal fouls to send Kansas to the free throw line 34 times. The Jayhawks netted 26 points on 77 percent shooting from the charity stripe. The Bears, picked seventh in the Big Sky Conference preseason poll, were led by a game-high 27 points from Cameron Michael.

Junior guard Wayne Selden scored the first basket of the regular-season on a fast-break layup for a 2-0 Kansas lead. The Jayhawks didn’t look back, leading by as much as 45 points late in the game. There were no ties or no lead changes throughout.

Greene ended with the most 3-pointers, but it was sophomore guard Devonte’ Graham who started KU’s upwards shooting momentum. Graham made two treys in the first four minutes to help give Kansas an 8-2 lead. Graham finished with 13 points and eight assist in 24 minutes.

Freshman guard Lagerald Vick introduced himself to the sold-out Allen Fieldhouse crowd with an alley-oop dunk, assisted by Selden, at the 7:11 mark of the second half for his first points as a Jayhawk. Vick finished with three points in 11 minutes.

Freshman forward Carlton Bragg Jr., made his first bucket as a Jayhawk on a layup in the paint at the 12-minute mark of the first half. Bragg finished with seven points and three rebounds in 17 minutes of action.

Juniors Tyler Self and Clay Young joined senior Evan Manning on the court during the last three minutes of the game. Manning chipped-in to KU’s hot shooting night with a 3-pointer at the 1:43 mark of the second half. The basket marked Manning’s fourth career trey and 20th career point.

Kansas leads the all-time series with Northern Colorado, 2-0.

Kansas has a quick turnaround before facing Michigan State in the State Farm Champions Classic in Chicago on Tuesday (9 p.m., ESPN). Fellow blue-blood programs Duke and Kentucky compete in the first game of the event at the United Center.

— KU Athletics —

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Power forward Mitch Lightfoot has signed a National Letter of Intent to play men’s basketball at the University of Kansas, Bill Self announced Thursday. The Tucson, Arizona native is the first KU men’s basketball signee during November’s early signing period.

Rated as the No. 1 player to come out of the state of Arizona for the 2016 class, Lightfoot is a four-star recruit who is ranked No. 99 by ESPN100 and No. 117 by Rivals. He was named Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) Division II All-State First Team selection last season at Gilbert Christian High School, as well as an all-section first team honoree.

Lightfoot, listed at 6-foot-8 and 210 pounds, averaged 17.9 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.9 blocked shot in leading Gilbert Christian to the AIA Division II state championship in 2014-15. He was named the player of the game in the state title contest where he scored 15 points.

“Mitch is one of those guys at 6-foot-8 that can play the power forward position and maybe even a little small forward in time,” Self said. “He gives us great versatility and is a guy that knows how to play with other good players. He will develop himself into one of the premier players in our program.”

As a sophomore in 2013-14, Lightfoot averaged 15.0 points, 10.7 rebounds and 4.0 blocked shots per contest and was the Southern Arizona Player of the Year and all-section first team honoree. As a freshman, he averaged 12.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.8 blocked shots per outing and was the only frosh named to the All-Southern Arizona team earning third team honors.

No stranger to KU, Lightfoot was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and still has many family members who live in the Kansas City area. The Lightfoot family moved to Tucson when he was six-years-old.

“He grew up loving the Jayhawks before moving out to Arizona,” Self said. “Norm (Roberts) was the point man in Mitch’s recruitment and did a great job with his family. After we got to know his immediate family and his extended family, it became very apparent he was a great fit. Everyone knew after visiting with him and his family that he was a top priority. We’re all excited to be able to work with him on a daily basis.”

Self indicated there are still some more signees ahead for the Jayhawks.

“We would really like to sign four,” Self said. “We got off to a great start when we signed Mitchell Lightfoot. We have to sign some size. Losing Hunter (Michelson), Jamari (Traylor) and Perry (Ellis) and then with a great chance of someone else will probably leave early, we’re probably looking at replacing four of our top big guys up front. Even though our backcourt are underclassmen, we anticipate that at least one of those guys will have the opportunity to maybe move on to the next level after the completion of this season.”

— KU Athletics —

LAWRENCE, Kan. – No. 4/5 Kansas men’s basketball concluded exhibition play with a 95-59 victory over Fort Hays State on Tuesday night at Allen Fieldhouse.

The Jayhawks shot 60 percent from the field with five players reaching double-figure points. KU, 2-0 in exhibition play, drained 10 3-point baskets en route to the 10th straight victory over Fort Hays State.

“Svi for three!” was announced five times over the Allen Fieldhouse public-address speakers as the sophomore guard, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, finished with 15 points all from 3-point field goals.

Senior forward Perry Ellis led the Jayhawks in scoring for the second time during exhibition play with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting in 24 minutes. Junior guard Frank Mason III dished out six assists with no turnovers while adding 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting in 23 minutes.

Fort Hays State (0-2 exhibition) was led by Dom Samac’s 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting in 22 minutes.

Kansas begins the 2015-16 regular-season against Northern Colorado on Friday (7 p.m.) at Allen Fieldhouse in the opening round of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational.

— KU Athletics —

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Jerrod Heard threw an 84-yard touchdown pass to John Burt on Texas’ first offensive play and D’Onta Foreman ran 93-yards for a third quarter score as Texas routed winless Kansas 59-20 Saturday night.

Tyrone Swoopes ran for four touchdowns for Texas (4-5, 3-3 Big 12), two in the fourth quarter. He also threw a 40-yard touchdown in mop-up duty in the Longhorns’ highest-scoring game in two seasons, a week after being shut out by Iowa State.

Foreman’s run was the third-longest touchdown run in Texas history.

Kansas (0-9, 0-6) has lost 37 in a row away from home. The Jayhawks have given up at least 58 points in three straight games

Kansas was within 24-14 late in the first half but had a drive end at the Texas 1 and the Jayhawks missed a short field goal on the final play.

Texas then finished off the Jayhawks with 35 straight points in a scoring burst the Longhorns hadn’t seen in a long time.

Heard finished with 201 yards passing and 23 yards rushing, one of his best games since a 527-yard school record effort in a loss to California back on Sept. 12. Foreman finished with 157 yards rushing after gaining just 16 in the first half.

Swoopes scored two touchdowns on runs of 4 and 1 yards in the first half when the game was still close, then finished off the Jayhawks with a burst in the fourth quarter when the game turned into a Texas romp.

Ryan Willis led Kansas with 214 yards passing and one touchdown.

The Longhorns still need two wins in their final three games to qualify for a bowl in coach Charlie Strong’s second season. The Longhorns play next at West Virginia, host Texas Tech on Thanksgiving and end the regular season at Baylor.

The scoring outburst will be a confidence boost for a Texas team that badly needed one and has struggled to keep up in the wild scoring of the Big 12. The Longhorns jumped to a 17-0 lead against one of the worst defenses in the country and survived a second-quarter surge from the Jayhawks.

Heard, who hadn’t passed for more than 53 yards in three of the previous four games, threw over the top of the Kansas secondary for the long strike to Burt, who easily beat one-on-one coverage to haul it in. Swoopes’ two short first-half touchdown runs made it 24-7 early in the second quarter.

Kansas had a chance to force a tie by halftime. De’Andre Mann, whose earlier touchdown pulled Kansas with 24-14, was stuffed at the Texas 1 on fourth down. Nick Bartolotta’s 26-yard field goal bounced off the right upright as time ran out on the half.

Texas poured it on in the second half, starting with Foreman’s long run. Foreman took the handoff, bounced around the left end and suddenly was in the clear all the way to the end zone. His touchdown on Texas’ next drive put the Longhorns up by 24.

Swoopes replaced Heard at quarterback to start the fourth quarter and his first pass attempt was a 40-yard touchdown to Armanti Foreman. He added a 44-yard TD run, then scooped a fumble for another late touchdown.

— Associated Press —

LAWRENCE, Kan. – No. 4/5 Kansas men’s basketball opened the 2015-16 season with a 89-66 exhibition win over Pittsburg State on Wednesday night inside historic Allen Fieldhouse.

The Jayhawks relied on 46 points from its big men to notch its 43rd-straight exhibition win in Lawrence. Senior forward Perry Ellis led the way with 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including 15 second-half points. Freshman forward Carlton Bragg Jr. scored 14 points on 7-of-12 shooting in his debut as a Jayhawk. Senior forward Hunter Mickelson tallied 10 points on 5-of-6 from the field with six rebounds in just 13 minutes.

Kansas held Pitt State to 28.2 percent (20-of-71) shooting from the field while shooting a 48.6 percent mark of their own – nearly four points higher than last year’s season-average.

A total of 14 different players saw minutes in Wednesday night’s win with 10 of those players contributing points.

The Jayhawks held advantages in points in the paint (56-22), bench points (41-22), total rebounds (55-45), defensive rebounds (36-26) and tied the Gorillas in offensive rebounds (19).

Kansas will play its final exhibition game Tuesday at home against Fort Hays State.  The tip is set for 7:00 p.m.

— KU Athletics —

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The University of Kansas men’s basketball team is ranked No. 4 in the Associated Press (AP) Preseason Poll, which marks the highest preseason ranking for the Jayhawks since entering the 2009-10 season No. 1.

This is the third-straight season KU has been ranked No. 5 or higher by the AP. KU was No. 5 in the AP preseason poll in 2014-15 and 2013-14. It is also the sixth time in the last seven season that the Jayhawks have entered the season No. 7 or higher by AP.

Under 13-year head coach Bill Self, this is the 10th time that Kansas enters the season ranked seventh or higher in the Associated Press preseason poll and historically, the No. 4 ranking marks the 18th time since the 1992-93 season that Kansas will enter the season seventh or higher.

Last season, KU entered the year No. 5 nationally in the Associated Press poll and ended at No. 10. The AP’s final poll is released prior to the NCAA Tournament. The Jayhawks were ranked in the top 10 for 14 weeks during the 2014-15 season.

Kansas has been ranked in each of the last 124 polls dating back to the 208-09 season which is the second active streak behind Duke at 156. Arizona is third at 60 and Wichita State fourth at 40.

Kansas will play nine regular-season games against teams ranked in the AP preseason poll: No. 2 Kentucky, No. 7 Iowa State (twice), No. 8 Oklahoma (twice), No. 13 Michigan State and No. 22 Baylor (twice). Additionally, KU could play No. 15 Indiana or No. 18 Vanderbilt in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational Nov. 25.

Kansas enters the 2015-16 season No. 5 in the preseason USA Today Coaches’ poll which was released Oct. 15.

Kansas opens its exhibition play when it hosts Pittsburg State Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. (Central) in Allen Fieldhouse.

— KU Athletics —

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — With three tough games looming at the end of its schedule, No. 14 Oklahoma had no trouble getting up for Saturday’s game against winless Kansas.

Baker Mayfield completed 27 of 32 passes for 383 yards and four touchdowns and Oklahoma beat Kansas 62-7.

It was evident quickly that the Sooners would have little trouble with the Jayhawks, but they stayed sharp in this blowout. Oklahoma will face No. 2 Baylor, No. 5 TCU and No. 12 Oklahoma State in the last three weeks of November.

“We know what’s coming,” Mayfield said. “That’s why we’re preparing. We knew from the beginning our hardest three games were at the end of the year. That’s no surprise. Obviously you have to win one week at a time with Big 12 play, but we knew that our little gauntlet at the end was the most important.”

Sterling Shepard had 183 yards receiving and a touchdown on 11 catches for the Sooners (7-1, 4-1 Big 12). Samaje Perine added 90 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 11 carries.

Oklahoma fans comprised the majority of the audience at Memorial Stadium, which had a crowd nowhere close to capacity.

“If we can come out and create energy in front of a smaller crowd, that’s good for us,” Mayfield said. “Who knows what will happen when we get a bigger crowd now, so we’re doing a good job right now.”

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops is now 11-0 against the Jayhawks in his career. Kansas (0-8, 0-5) has dropped 11 consecutive games dating to last season.

The Sooners led the Jayhawks 38-7 at halftime then scored on its first drive of the second half when Sam Grant snagged a 1-yard touchdown pass from Mayfield. Kansas fumbled on the first play of the next drive, and Oklahoma quickly took a 52-7 lead after backup quarterback Trevor Knight finished a short drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.

The Sooners kicked a field goal with 2:03 remaining in the third quarter, upping their lead to 55-7. Oklahoma pushed its advantage to 62-7 when Knight connected with his twin brother, Connor Knight, for a 17-yard score with 5:32 left in the game.

The Jayhawks had no answer for a powerful Sooners offense that scored 50 points for the third time in as many games. It was the first time Oklahoma has done that since 2008, when quarterback Sam Bradford won the Heisman Trophy.

Oklahoma took a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter when Joe Mixon caught Mayfield’s strike and outran defenders for a 68-yard touchdown. The Sooners scored again on their next drive, which culminated in an 11-yard touchdown pass to Durron Neal. On the following drive, Shepard’s leaping catch in the end zone stretched Oklahoma’s lead to 21-0 with 1:51 left in the first quarter.

Oklahoma outgained Kansas 248-41 in the first 15 minutes of play.

The Jayhawks showed signs of life in the second quarter after recovering Shepard’s muffed punt. Kansas took advantage of the short field, and Ryan Willis found Tyler Patrick for a 17-yard touchdown that brought Kansas within 21-7.

With 9 minutes remaining in the half, Oklahoma upped its lead to 28-7 with a 3-yard rushing touchdown by Perine. The score capped a 14-play drive that lasted nearly 6 minutes. Mayfield was sacked twice during the possession and the Sooners hurt themselves with a 15-yard penalty, but Oklahoma still found the end zone.

On its next drive, Kansas threw a wrinkle at the Sooners when it had Willis punt, and the ball rolled out of bounds at the 3-yard line. The Sooners settled for a 46-yard field goal on the ensuing drive, taking a 31-7 lead.

Oklahoma finished with 445 passing yards and 265 rushing yards.

“Last week we did a great job running the ball, so you have no choice but to load the box,” Shepard said. “You’ve got to stop Perine and Joe Mixon and them, so it definitely helps us wideouts a lot, and we’ve got to continue to win one-on-one battles and make competitive catches, and I feel like guys did a great job of that today.”

— Associated Press —

STILLWATER, Okla. — Outside the stadium, first responders were taking away the dead, and emergency crews were cleaning up an intersection where a car had ripped into a black-and-orange-clad crowd watching Oklahoma State’s homecoming parade.

Inside the stadium, the players prayed.

The school’s annual fall ceremonies came to a horrific halt hours before kickoff when a woman suspected of driving under the influence veered into the parade. Four were killed and dozens injured. The school considered postponing the game against Kansas, but ultimately decided to play and honor the victims.

The Cowboys bowed their heads in prayer before the coin flip. Flags flew at half-staff. The normally raucous crowd fell silent. And a seasonal Saturday ritual went on looking nothing like the celebration it was supposed to be.

Backup quarterback J.W. Walsh ran for three touchdowns and passed for two more, and No. 14 Oklahoma State defeated Kansas 58-10.

“We knew we still had our jobs to do, and we touched on it in our prayer before the game, that God was giving us this opportunity to shed a little light in some darkness,” Walsh said. “We were able to do that, and to maybe lighten the mood, just kind of take everybody away from it for a couple of hours.”

Not entirely.

Fans walked past the intersection going into Boone Pickens Stadium and leaving it. Some lingered to look at the wreckage: water bottles, blankets, lawn chairs and other items strewn all over the intersection. A gray car with a smashed side and shattered windshield remained at the scene, as did a crumpled motorcycle.

National Guard troops kept watch as officials with the Red Cross and state medical examiner’s office continued their work.

The school president consulted with the Board of Regents, and the school contacted the Big 12 conference to discuss whether to hold the game. It would have been difficult to delay the start because it was televised, so officials decided to go forward and honor the victims, said university spokesman Gary Shutt.

“The decision was made that we’re going to play, and we’re going to remember the victims at the game,” OSU President Burns Hargis said at a news conference after the crash. “We’re going to move forward, but we will remember what happened today.”

Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy acknowledged the tragedy wasn’t far from anyone’s mind.

“We were in football meetings when we found out about it and the first thing you do is you call and find out where your family is,” Gundy said. “Football all of a sudden isn’t as important.”

Coaches told the players right away. Defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer said he didn’t know how the players would handle the news.

“To be honest with you, it wouldn’t have upset me if we hadn’t played today, but we did and the kids went out and played a game,” he said.

Against the somber backdrop, the Cowboys dominated early. They quickly forced Kansas into a 3-and-out on the contest’s opening possession. Then they marched 70 yards on eight plays, taking a 7-0 lead on Walsh’s 3-yard TD run with 2:50 gone in the first quarter.

Walsh made it 14-0 with 2:47 remaining in the first on a 1-yard run, holding the ball out over the pylon as he dove down the sideline on a third-and-goal situation.

Mason Rudolph completed 20 of 26 passes for 305 yards and had a touchdown for Oklahoma State (7-0, 4-0 Big 12). Kansas (0-7, 0-4) lost its 10th straight game overall and 36th on the road.

“This is just a football game,” KU coach David Beaty said. “As upset as I am right now [about the loss], it pales in comparison to what these families are going through. I can’t imagine.”

Sympathy came from all over college football on social media, where coaches, players and alums offered tweets of support. In Norman, the University of Oklahoma held a moment of silence for its rival before kicking off against Texas Tech.

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin, an OSU grad who was in attendance at the game, agreed with the decision to play.

“I think it is important for Oklahomans to be able to support each other, especially when our hearts are broken and we’re hurting,” Fallin said. “This is one of the ways we can be together and support each other during that time.”

Some fans left early, and others changed plans and decided to stay home once news of the crash began to spread. Sophomore Sam Trautman was in the crowd with friends, and noted the silence as the victims were remembered before kickoff.

“Normally, you can’t hear and if you want to talk you have to yell,” he said. “You could hear the people outside ordering their food from the concession stand.”

— Associated Press —

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The Texas Tech defense kept the Red Raiders in the game at Kansas.

Coach Kliff Kingsbury was not impressed by his offense Saturday morning despite the 30-20 victory.

“We were lucky to win the game,” Kingsbury said. “Guys got nervous and we just all choked on that side of the ball. It’s the only way to put it.”

Patrick Mahomes threw for 359 yards and a score and De’Andre Washington rushed for 160 yards and a TD. Washington shared Kingsbury’s sentiment.

“The offense just didn’t come through,” Washington said. “The offense just didn’t come to play, really. It’s all it was.”

The Red Raiders (5-2, 2-2 Big 12) racked up 225 yards rushing and a touchdown on the ground. Texas Tech’s 30 points were the least amount the team has scored all season.

Five different Texas Tech offensive playmakers recorded over 50 yards receiving. Zach Austin led the Red Raiders with 80 yards receiving, Jakeem Grant had 76 yards, Devin Lauderdale had 50, Cameron Batson, 58, and Reginald Davis, 57 yards and a score.

Texas Tech continued its streak of perfection, as the Red Raiders are 9-0 inside Memorial Stadium, a record dating to 1966.

Kansas (0-6, 0-3) is riding a nine-game losing streak and is 0-6 for the first time since 1988. Before this season, Kansas had only started 0-6 three times in program history, in 1954 and 1988. Head coach David Beaty is still waiting for his first win.

But just because Kansas is 0-6 doesn’t mean they aren’t a worthy opponent.

“I feel like people underestimated the opponent and (didn’t) understand that this is college football and any team can beat any team, especially in the Big 12,” defensive end Branden Jackson said.

Freshman quarterback Ryan Willis was 35 of 50 for a career-high 330 yards passing in his second start for the Jayhawks. Willis turned the ball over three times, throwing two picks and dropped a fumble. Running back De’Andre Mann gained 107 yards on 15 carries.

Kansas had its share of bloopers, most of those coming on special teams.

Matthew Wyman missed an extra point attempt and two field goals, a 52-yard attempt and a 34-yard attempt, and Nick Bartolotta shanked a 22-yard field goal wide right.

But Kansas wasn’t going out without a fight. Kansas had back-to-back touchdowns in the fourth quarter to put them down by 3.

With less than five minutes to go, Willis was backed up in his own end zone, which would have resulted in a safety, but he fumbled. Two Texas Tech defenders wrestled for the ball, but the ball rolled to Mann, who ran out of the end zone for a 4-yard gain.

Johnson was one of those defenders.

“I got on the ball first and Breiden (Fehoko) was coming and it’s kind of hard to slow that 300-pound body down,” Johnson said. “He dove on me and kind of stripped me from the ball and Kansas was able to get up on it and make a play.”

But the momentum quickly shifted. On the next play, Willis threw a pick-six and Kansas’ comeback hopes were dashed.

— Associated Press —