No. 16 Kansas State Edges Past Kansas in Sunflower Showdown

© Scott Sewell/USA TODAY SPORTS

It took a field goal with 1:42 left for the No. 16 Kansas State Wildcats (7-1, 4-1 Big 12 Conference) to beat the Kansas Jayhawks (2-6, 1-4) 29-27 in the Sunflower Showdown in Manhattan, Kan., on Oct. 26. A tenacious effort from the underdog Jayhawks was not to be after a costly fumble by Jalon Daniels gave the Wildcats great field position for them to set up the go-ahead field goal.

Sixteen Straight for the Wildcats

This game notches another classic in the storied history of the Sunflower Showdown. Every possession and play mattered in determining this outcome, and in the end, the Wildcats made more plays and fewer mistakes than the ill-fated Jayhawks.

The Jayhawks went up early, but a back-and-forth first half went in the Wildcats' favor after a major mistake by Jameel Croft on the kickoff led to the Jayhawks having the ball at their 1-yard line. The impending play was blown up in the backfield for a safety and that was the difference in not just the half, but the game itself.

The Jayhawks played catch-up for most of the game, but after an Avery Johnson fumble led to the Jayhawks taking the lead late in the third quarter, things were looking up. Some big stops though by the Wildcat defense led to a 27-26 difference late in the fourth. Then, disaster struck for the Jayhawks, as it had so many times before this season late in games.

Mistakes Down Jayhawks

On second-and-13, Daniels was flushed out of the pocket and had to make a run for it. Brendan Mott was bearing down on the quarterback keeper and laid a big hit right on the ball, causing Daniels to go airborne and lose possession.

The Wildcats claimed the ball at midfield with roughly 3:50 left to go. The impending drive led to a go-ahead Chris Tennant 51-yard field goal with 1:42 to go. Kansas did not capitalize on two timeouts and the time remaining, a story not only tonight but throughout this season. Late game errors, poor play calling and undisciplined play have been the story of Jayhawk football in 2024. Tonight was no different and it gave their rivals the win.

Sunflower Showdown Recap

The Wildcats move to 7-1 as well as extend their win streak on the Jayhawks to 16, the longest of the 122-game series. They continue to keep their Big 12 Conference title hopes alive with a big win over their rivals at home. The Wildcats will face the Houston Cougars (3-5) on Nov. 2 in Houston.

The Jayhawks have all but lost any shot at going bowling with this loss, dropping to 2-6. That's likely not the biggest thing on their mind though, as losing in that fashion to a rival they haven't beaten in a decade and a half surely stings far more. The Jayhawks have a lot of thinking to do going into next season and adjustments will need to be made. Kansas welcomes the Iowa State Cyclones (7-0) to Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Nov. 9, which will prove to be another tough contest.