'It's simple ball security': Kansas defense too much in BYU's Big 12 opener

LAWRENCE, Kan. — BYU already knew it would have its hands full with Kansas star quarterback Jalon Daniels, who hosted the Cougars' Big 12 opener Saturday afternoon.

But it was the Jayhawks' defense that turned them aside for good.

Daniels connected with Luke Grimm on two of his three touchdown passes, Kansas' defense returned two turnovers, and the Jayhawks used a 21-3 run in the second half to hand BYU its first loss of the year, 38-27, at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.

Daniels completed 14-of-19 passes for 130 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for 54 more yards. Devin Neal added 91 yards on 17 carries, and Daniel Hishaw had eight carries for 60 yards.

Kedon Slovis completed 30-of-51 of his passes for 357 yards and two touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions. The fifth-year senior threw for over 300 yards for the 15th time in his career, and found Darius Lassiter and LJ Martin for touchdowns in the first half.

"Obviously, I've got to be better," Slovis said. "I'm never happy with a loss, and the guys aren't satisfied. Kind of frustrated, but I thought there were some good takeaways from the passing game."

Most notably, a costly pick-six score by Kenny Logan Jr. to open the second half propelled the Jayhawks (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) to a 21-10 second-half spurt and their first run of consecutive 4-0 starts since 1915.

"The thing that stands out the most is whenever you give up turnovers like that and don't get them yourself, it's tough to win games," said BYU coach Kalani Sitake, whose team committed three turnovers and didn't force any on defense. "It's tough to turn the ball over and have it be scores on the other side. I believe it was a fumble return for a touchdown and a pick six that cost us. … We've got to take care of the football better. It's simple ball security."

BYU linebacker Ben Bywater led all defenders with 10 tackles, including nine solo stops, a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss with a pass breakup, but left in the second half with an injury. AJ Vongphachanh added seven tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss, and Tanner Wall tied his career high with six stops.

In the end, BYU was left with a missed opportunity to win its first game in a Power Five conference and first in any conference since 2010.

Interminably damage to the 2023 season? Hardly. But a missed opportunity? Certainly so for the head coach who told his players all week they only get one chance to make a first impression in the Big 12.

"I think so," Sitake replied, before adding, "but you can only cry about it for so long. I don't know how many of you guys thought we'd be in this position right now, but I don't really care. ... I know we are a good team, and we haven't played our best yet. We definitely didn't play our best today."

While Kansas stuffed the run and held BYU to just 0.4 yards on 22 carries — when accounting for two sacks and seven tackles for loss behind an offensive line that played much of the game without starters Kingsley Suamataia and Weylin Lapuaho — the Cougars let the hosts run rampant. The Jayhawks ran for 221 yards on 37 touches, with Dylan McDuffie earning two more carries for 17 yards, as well.

Sitake said "a lot" of players are "banged up," but no player was confirmed out for the season due to injury after the game.

Isaac Rex caught seven passes for 76 yards for the Cougars (3-1, 0-1 Big 12), and Lassiter finished with 84 yards and a touchdown for BYU, who averaged negative rushing yards when accounting for sacks and a tackle for loss on the first drive of the game that turned into Cobee Bryant's fumble recovery for a touchdown.

After BYU stopped Daniels on fourth down of the standout quarterback's opening drive, Bryant scored the Jayhawks' first touchdown of the day. The junior cornerback drilled wide receiver Parker Kingston's jet sweep attempt, then picked up the loose ball off the turf and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown to put Kansas up 7-0 less than five minutes into the game.

Kingston was taken into the Cougars' medical tent following the play before entering the locker room, and returning without pads.

Slovis found Lassiter with a 7-yard touchdown strike to equalize, but the Jayhawks responded immediately. After Kamden Garrett's interception was waived off for a holding penalty, Daniels launched a 15-yard dart to Trevor Kardell that pushed the hosts in front, 14-7 to end the first quarter.

Even with the score, Saturday's loss stung harder for Lassiter, a Kansas legacy product who went to high school at nearby Lawrence Freestate and faced off against his brother Kwinton, who had two tackles in front of mother Ericka and younger brother Kwincy that donned combined t-shirts split down the middle with both Lassiters' numbers.

"It was a great atmosphere, and great to be back in Lawrence," Darius Lassiter said. "I wish we were able to pull out the W. … But seeing my brother and my family out there was great."

Martin opened the second quarter with his first career receiving touchdown, hauling in a 10-yard screen pass from Slovis and scuffling into the end zone to tie the game at 14-all with 11 minutes left in the half.

But Martin's success was limited, in addition to the rest of BYU's running backs that played without Aidan Robbins (who did not make the trip due to injury). Both Martin and Smith averaged 2.7 yards on their first 13 carries, a 0.5 yards per carry when mixed with the Cougars' three sacks and Kingston's 11-yard tackle for loss.

Will Ferrin gave BYU its first lead of the game with 15 seconds left in the half, capping a 12-play, 68-yard scoring drive with a 33-yard field goal to take a 17-14 halftime edge.

But Logan hauled in a tipped pass from Slovis for an interception on the third play of the second half, returning it 30 yards for a touchdown to put the Jayhawks back in front, 21-17.

"We know we have to be better offensively; defense played a great game," Lassiter said. "We spotted them 14 on offense, so we've got to go in and clean up the turnovers then get back in shape next week. I know we'll definitely be better next week."

BYU hosts Cincinnati next Friday in the Cougars' conference home opener. Kickoff between the Bearcats, who lost 20-6 to No. 16 Oklahoma, is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. MDT on ESPN.

Related topics