KU officials estimated the crowd at 34,000, only 500 less than the listed attendance for last Saturday’s homecoming game against Colorado. Perhaps as many as 1,000 were maroon-clad Texas A&M followers.

Zach Dyer opened at free safety, his first start since the season-opener at Iowa State when he was the Jayhawks’ starting quarterback. Regular free safety Johnny McCoy moved to strong safety in place of Jake Letourneau. Dyer finished with a dozen tackles.

While playing on the punt coverage team late in the first half, McCoy ran full-speed into an A&M blocker. The collision knocked McCoy’s left shoe off. Nevertheless, McCoy retrieved the shoe and continued.

Brock Teddleton, a 6-foot-6, 315-pound junior, made his first start at nose tackle. Red-shirt freshman Tim Allen had started the first seven games.

For the first time in a month, the Jayhawks did not fall behind by two touchdowns in the first quarter. However, Texas A&M scored three times in the first five minutes of the second quarter to grab a 21-0 lead.

In the first half, KU penetrated Texas A&M territory just once, and that was only to the Aggies’ 49-yard line. KU accumulated only 58 yards of offense, including minus-two yards rushing, before intermission.

KU cornerback Remuise Johnson picked off a Dustin Long pass early in the third quarter his sixth interception of the season. That’s the most thefts by a KU defender since Jeff Colter stole six passes during the 1983 season.

KU place-kicker Johnny Beck’s woes continued. Beck had apparently booted a 35-yard field goal with 4:10 remaining in the third quarter, but the Jayhawks were flagged for illegal procedure, wiping it out. So Beck kicked again from 40 yards. However, his second attempt was partially blocked and Beck’s string of missed field goals grew to six.

Bill Whittemore recorded his first reception as a Jayhawk when the Kansas quarterback caught a pass from fullback Dan Coke on a late-third-quarter gadget play. After three straight games of compiling more than 300 yards of offense, Whittemore settled for 230 all-purpose yards Saturday 187 passing, 27 rushing and 16 receiving. Whittemore was sacked five times.

For more coverage on the game, including post game audio and game pictures, visit KUSports.com

On a day when the KU secondary was burned to a crisp, middle linebacker Greg Cole had a team-high 14 tackles, four for losses, and his first career interception.

Bright note: Kansas scored three of the four times it reached the red zone. KU is 27 for 34 in red-zone scoring this season.

KU punter Curtis Ansel continued to impress, averaging 45.4 yards on a season-high 10 kicks.

Tom Ahlers of Des Moines was the referee in charge of the Big 12 Conference officiating crew.

Kickoff temperature was 54 degrees under bright sunny skies with an 11 mph wind out of the north.

Compiled by Chuck Woodling