Lance Leipold rips into officiating following Kansas football loss to Oklahoma State

Head coach Lance Leipold was livid with the officiating in the Kansas football loss to Oklahoma State. Find out what he had to say.

The Kansas Jayhawks fell to 5-2 and failed to claim bowl eligibility in a heart-shattering 39-32 loss to the Oklahoma State Cowboys. A strong first half was followed by conservative football in the second, and KU’s final five drives ended with two interceptions, two turnovers on down, and the game clock hitting zero.

While playcalling and head coaching decisions were questionable, poor officiating was also a storyline in the defeat. An Oklahoma State player seemed to be offside as the Jayhawks lined up for a crucial 4th-and-5 in the final quarter, yet the referees did not call it. The following drive by the Pokes led to a go-ahead touchdown.

The oft-mild-mannered Lance Leipold voiced his displeasure with the officiating in his postgame press conference. He specified a pair of specific calls.

“Oh, we thought the guy was offsides,” he said. “It’s baffling sometimes.”

That was not the only time officials changed the outlook of the contest. Earlier in the drive, running back Devin Neal was called for unnecessary roughness after Jason Bean completed a 20-yard pass to tight end Trevor Kardell — much to the dismay of Leipold.

“[They said’ Devin (Neal) hit him after the whistle blew. I don’t know. I don’t know. It’s amazing sometimes what’s decided to be called and what’s not. I haven’t seen it enough to comment on that.”

Those two calls certainly shifted the outcome of the game. However, Kansas football had several opportunities to pull away. The Cowboys picked off passes from Bean in consecutive drives, including one in the red zone. In order to stay competitive with Oklahoma — a team that upset Texas, who beat down the Jayhawks — they’ll need to make playcalling less conservative.