Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels (6) throws an interception on the Jayhawks’ first drive against Utah during the first quarter on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025 at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Photo by Nick Krug

Despite running for nearly 300 yards, the Kansas football team fell short to No. 14 Utah 31-21 on Friday at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium as red-zone turnovers doomed the Jayhawks in the final game of the season.

The loss dropped Kansas to 5-7, leaving the team out of bowl eligibility for the second year in a row. If there are insufficient six-win teams for the 82 available bowl-game spots, KU’s Academic Progress Rate of 972 will likely not be high enough to earn the Jayhawks a bid.

Kansas had success in the ground game, as the Jayhawks finished with 51 carries for 290 yards and two touchdowns. Daniel Hishaw Jr. carried the ball 22 times for 107 yards, while Leshon Williams finished with 104 yards on 15 carries.

Quarterback Jalon Daniels struggled on his senior day and threw just one touchdown to three interceptions, including two in the fourth quarter: one in the end zone with KU ahead 14-10 and another at the 3-yard line when the Jayhawks trailed 17-14.

KU limited Utah’s rushing offense to 161 yards, but bit on fakes by quarterback Devon Dampier that allowed him to toss long touchdowns to JJ Buchanan and Larry Simmons on key plays. Simmons finished with three catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns, both of which came in the fourth quarter.

Kansas started with the ball and had a promising drive that included a 15-yard run from Daniels and a short throw to Cam Pickett that went for 25 yards. On a third-and-9 at the Utah 25, Daniels threw behind Pickett and was intercepted by junior cornerback Smith Snowden, giving the Utes the ball for their first drive.

The Utes quickly got into the red zone on their first drive with a 34-yard run and a 15-yard run for sophomore running back Wayshawn Parker to start the drive.

A few short runs got the Utes in a third-and-3, but an errant snap led to a 7-yard loss, which led to Utah kicking a field goal to get the first points of the game.

Kansas hit the ground game hard on its second drive with 10 straight runs that got the Jayhawks from the Kansas 38 to the Utah 13. An incompletion on third-and-10 forced the Jayhawks to attempt a field goal, which redshirt senior kicker Laith Marjan missed.

Utah went three-and-out on the following drive. Leroy Harris III batted down a second-down throw, and a short run on third-and-long set up the punt.

The Jayhawks turned the defensive stop into points with an eight-play, 73-yard touchdown drive. Kansas picked up a first down with two runs that closed the first quarter. Daniels threw a deep pass to redshirt senior receiver Bryson Canty in the middle of the field, which drew a pass interference call. Two plays later, the Jayhawks got another 15 free yards with a late hit on Utah.

Three runs from the redshirt senior running back Hishaw with a carry for fellow redshirt senior Williams took the Jayhawks the final 22 yards into the end zone. Hishaw got the score with a 7-yard run, giving the Jayhawks the lead at 7-3.

The lead lasted less than three minutes. Kansas forced Utah into a third-and-short near midfield, and Dampier started the play acting like he was going to run it himself before he threw to a wide-open freshman tight end Buchanan for a 58-yard score.

Kansas punted following the touchdown, giving Utah the ball back with 6:00 left in the half. The Utes took off a lot of time to get to the Kansas 29, but a fourth-and-6 incompletion gave the Jayhawks the ball back with 45 seconds left.

Kansas threw and missed three straight passes and punted back to Utah. The Utes ran once before the first half ended.

Utah got the ball to start the second half and drove to the Kansas 33-yard line before Harris batted down his third pass of the game on fourth down, giving the Jayhawks the ball back.

Kansas drove downfield and scored in eight plays, seven of which were runs. On a first-and-10 from the Kansas 44, Daniels threw a slot fade to senior receiver Emmanuel Henderson Jr. for a 34-yard gain to get to the Utah 22.

The Jayhawks seemingly had a touchdown when redshirt freshman quarterback Isaiah Marshall had a 5-yard run, but the officials said he was a yard short. Daniels ran it in a play later on a sneak.

Trey Lathan stripped freshman quarterback Byrd Ficklin on the first play of the Utah drive, giving Kansas the ball back immediately after the score. The Jayhawks went three-and-out, but the Utes also did so right afterward.

Kansas had an 11-play drive that lasted over six minutes that led into the fourth, where the Jayhawks got down to the Utah 12. On a second-and-goal from the 12, Daniels seemed to be throwing the ball away but was intercepted by sophomore safety Jackson Bennee.

The Utes went 80 yards in five plays, including a 28-yard touchdown pass from Dampier to the junior receiver Simmons. Kansas quickly drove back down inside the Utah 10-yard line, but Daniels threw a third interception, this one going 97 yards to the house for a Utah touchdown.

Kansas bounced back and scored on a 97-yard drive. The Jayhawks faced a third-and-8 at their own 20, but scored after five straight passes. Daniels found Henderson open in a one-on-one and connected for 54 yards, then hit redshirt senior tight end Leyton Cure for a touchdown.

Utah got the ball and stuck to the ground game with Dampier and Parker; however, on a third-and-5, the Utes pulled out the fake quarterback run pop pass that had worked for Utah’s first touchdown. This time, it went for a 48-yard touchdown to Simmons.

Kansas turned it over on downs in its final possession, giving Utah the chance to kneel the game away in the final minute, solidifying the loss to end the season for the Jayhawks.

How they scored

First quarter

6:39 — Dillon Curtis 34-yard field goal good. Six plays, 49 yards, 2:41 TOP. Utah 3, KU 0.

Second quarter

12:03 — Daniel Hishaw Jr. 7-yard run. Laith Marjan PAT good. Eight plays, 73 yards, 3:57 TOP. KU 7, Utah 3

9:24 — JJ Buchanan 58-yard pass from Devon Dampier. Curtis PAT good. Six plays, 75 yards, 2:39 TOP. Utah 10, KU 7.

Third quarter

8:15 — Jalon Daniels 1-yard run. Marjan PAT good. Eight plays, 67 yards, 3:54 TOP. KU 14, Utah 10.

Fourth quarter

12:26 — Larry Simmons 28-yard pass from Dampier. Curtis PAT good. Five plays, 80 yards, 1:13 TOP. Utah 17, KU 14.

7:52 — Elijah Davis 97-yard interception return. Curtis PAT good. Utah 24, KU 14.

5:32 — Leyton Cure 21-yard pass from Daniels. Eight plays, 93 yards, 2:14 TOP. Utah 24, KU 21.

2:14 — Simmons 48-yard pass from Dampier. Curtis PAT good. Eight plays, 85 yards, 3:14 TOP. Utah 31, KU 21.

Box score