Candidates for Game Balls

• DE Toben Opurum consistently applied the heat, was in on six tackles and received credit for a forced fumble, fumble recovery, pass breakup and quarterback hurry.

• Safety Bradley McDougald was in on 12 tackles, nine solo, had a 12-yard sack and forced two fumbles.

Candidates for Gassers

• Long snapper Justin Carnes, who served the third game of his suspension and therefore was not available to make a good snap on the 45-yard field-goal attempt Ron Doherty missed.

• Dayne Crist made better throws than in the first two weeks and threw for 303 yards, but fumbled the ball away near the goal line to keep Kansas from drawing within a touchdown late.