Kansas Football defeated Texas in Austin 57-56 in a huge upset to collect its first Big 12 road win since 2008. With the national attention on this game, the result has the potential to improve the program’s trajectory.
The Longhorns were 31-point favorites, making this the largest game spread upset in Big 12 history. The win snapped Kansas’s 18-game Big 12 losing streak and 56-game conference road losing streak.
Kansas handed Texas its first five-game losing streak since 1956 and the Longhorns now must win their last two games to reach bowl eligibility.
Kansas Football brought energy out of the gate while Texas looked sluggish. The Jayhawks had a near-perfect first half, leading 35-14 and looking poised for a blowout win.
Texas outscored KU 35-14 in the second half to force overtime and UT scored first in overtime to take the lead.
Only needing 13 yards after a Longhorn penalty, Kansas answered on a Devin Neal two-yard run. Coach Leipold opted to go for two and Jalon Daniels found Plainville, Kansas native Jared Casey to secure the massive 57-56 victory.
Let’s turn back the clock to last night’s overtime win…
— Kansas Football (@KU_Football) November 14, 2021
🗣“And the Jayhawks find a way!”#KUfball x #RockChalk pic.twitter.com/0hTFIp9ZeS
Key points from Kansas football overtime upset of Texas
1. Lance Leipold was the right hire
From kickoff, it was clear that one team’s players were bought into their head coach. Despite a tough season, Kansas Football’s players brought energy to the field, something we have not seen in recent seasons.
The only knocks on Coach Leipold were the questionable decision to go for it on 4th & 1 on his own 34 late and that Texas was able to come back down 21. To his credit, Leipold rallied his team to hang on for the victory.
Leipold is working to build a winning culture in Lawrence and this game shows that he is instilling that attitude into the players.