Norman, Okla. ? If Kansas University’s football team wanted any shot whatsoever at sucker-punching No. 2 Oklahoma on Saturday, it would have needed a complete game with efficient execution and even stronger discipline.

Neither happened.

Not by a long shot.

The Jayhawks sputtered more often than not, and too many penalties kept pushing an already-weak attack back even farther, helping OU roll to a 41-10 victory over Kansas at Owen Field.

The Jayhawks (3-4 overall, 1-3 Big 12 Conference) had 12 penalties that added up to more than the length of a football field, three of which gave Oklahoma a first down.

But, honestly, OU really didn’t need the help. While Kansas was great at stopping running back Adrian Peterson in the first three quarters Saturday, OU quarterback Jason White tore the Jayhawk secondary to shreds, exposing seemingly every weakness every time he wanted to throw downfield.

White threw for 389 yards and four touchdowns, three of which were for more than 40 yards. All came after KU starting cornerback Theo Baines left the game because of an apparent leg injury, hindering a position at which KU doesn’t have much depth to begin.

“We’re giving up some big plays that are hurting us,” KU coach Mark Mangino said. “We had some players leave the game, and Oklahoma did a good job of exploiting those areas.”

KU’s special teams were solid, but that fact was negated by the Jayhawks’ inability to play smart. Punter Kyle Tucker had 10 effective punts, kicker Johnny Beck nailed his only field-goal attempt, and KU blocked a field goal and an extra-point attempt on the day.

Kansas University's John Randle (1) goes down in a pile of Oklahoma defenders in the second-ranked Sooners' 41-10 victory. Randle rushed for just 35 yards on 11 carries in the Jayhawks' loss Saturday in Norman, Okla.

But those frequent yellow flags put a stain on an otherwise good effort.

A lengthy punt return by Charles Gordon was negated by an illegal-block penalty, and Oklahoma was given 15 free yards in the second half when Kenneth Thompson was flagged for interfering with a fair catch.

KU tacked on another illegal-blocking penalty in the third quarter, and it made the field too long for KU’s sputtering offense to overcome.

“When you’re playing a great team like Oklahoma, you can’t do that,” quarterback Adam Barmann said. “You’ve got to be hitting on all cylinders, and unfortunately we weren’t.”

Peterson finished with 123 yards on 22 carries, all but 23 of the yards coming in the fourth quarter when KU’s defense was exhausted and ready to go home.

Hear Mangino and players: Oklahoma post-game Get the stats: KU vs. Oklahoma box score Photo Gallery: KU vs. Oklahoma Scorecard: Grade KU’s performance against OU Sooners lower boom Woodling: KU tames Peterson, so White steps up OU’s White has field day against KU Kansas QBs similarly so-so Notebook How they scored Other Big 12 scores Other NCAA scores

“I thought our defensive coaches had an excellent game plan,” Mangino said. “But when we got to the fourth quarter, we left our defense out on the field too long.”

The defense’s first-half effectiveness kept KU in it at halftime.

OU scored on two big pass plays, and KU countered when botched coverage led to a 78-yard touchdown pass from Adam Barmann to Brandon Rideau.

Beck then kicked his 43-yard field goal as the clock expired in the first half, putting KU within four at 14-10.

That was it for the Kansas scoring, and Oklahoma was too potent to stall in a similar fashion. OU outscored KU, 27-0, in the second half to pull away easily.

Despite using both Barmann and Jason Swanson in the second half, the Jayhawks never moved the ball well and rarely were on the Sooners’ side of the field. Combined with an unstable Jayhawk secondary, the result was a squashing of any momentum KU may have picked up in an emotional victory over Kansas State two weeks ago.

As expected, Oklahoma (7-0, 4-0) didn’t let up at the end, even with an insurmountable lead.

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said during the week he felt voters in the national polls were swayed by margin of victory, and it may have contributed to the Sooners’ being ranked third in the first Bowl Championship Series standings that came out Monday.

Third, of course, is the bridesmaid of the BCS poll, which invites the first- and second-ranked teams to the national championship game in January.

Mangino said he had no problem with the Sooners scoring with 35 seconds left to go up by 31 points. After all, KU could’ve prevented it with better defense.

“I’d do the same thing,” Mangino said. “In the quest to have one national championship, there’s going to be some casualties along the way.

“We’re not complaining. We’ve got to keep them out of the end zone. That’s our job.”

It is the Jayhawks’ job, but Saturday, it was a task that was just too tough to get done.