PROVO, Utah — On a dramatic Saturday night in Provo, the Kansas Jayhawks pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the 2024 college football season, defeating No. 6 BYU 17-13 to hand the Cougars their first loss of the year. We thought it had potential to happen. It was a gritty, defensive battle, and Kansas kept its hopes of bowl eligibility alive with a statement victory on the road, securing its second consecutive win over a ranked opponent and improving to 4-6 on the season.
With a total of 169 passing yards from quarterback Jalon Daniels and a pair of crucial touchdown runs from running back Devin Neal, the Jayhawks showed fight and poise. Neal, who ran for 52 yards in the game, surpassed 4,000 career rushing yards—a milestone that capped a memorable night for him personally and for the program. The victory also marked the first time in Kansas history that the team had defeated ranked opponents in back-to-back weeks.
The Cougars, on the other hand, couldn’t capitalize on their yardage advantage, totaling 354 yards but failing to score a touchdown on any of their four red-zone opportunities. BYU’s offense, which had been one of the most efficient in the nation, faltered when it mattered most, and the Cougars’ inability to finish drives proved costly.
A Tale of Two Halves: Kansas Holds Strong
The game started with Kansas jumping out to an early 7-0 lead, thanks to a steady opening drive capped by a strong 8-yard touchdown run from Neal. BYU responded quickly, though, with Jake Retzlaff hitting Hinckley Ropati for a 30-yard touchdown in the second quarter to put the Cougars ahead 10-7.
But Kansas wasn’t rattled. The Jayhawks’ defense kept BYU from capitalizing further, and late in the half, a crucial Mello Dotson interception in the end zone prevented BYU from adding to its lead. Dotson picked off Retzlaff’s fade pass intended for Chase Roberts, ending a 70-yard drive and keeping the score 10-7 in favor of BYU at halftime.
“We knew we had to take advantage of every opportunity,” said Kansas coach Lance Leipold. “Our defense was outstanding, especially when it counted. That pick in the end zone was huge—it really swung the momentum in our favor.”
A Defensive Struggle
In the second half, BYU came out with a methodical 17-play drive that took more than 10 minutes off the clock. The Cougars methodically marched 66 yards, but once again, they came up short in the red zone. A 35-yard field goal from Will Ferrin was all BYU could manage, giving them a slim 13-7 lead with just over four minutes left in the third quarter.
For Kansas, the script was simple: stay within striking distance and capitalize when the chance arose. Entering the fourth quarter trailing by 3 points, the Jayhawks came alive when it mattered most.
Trailing 13-10, Kansas was backed up to a fourth-and-14 situation at the BYU 36-yard line. Rather than punt, Daniels made a risky but calculated decision to quick-kick the ball. His kick deflected off BYU’s Evan Johnson’s helmet and caromed perfectly for Kansas. Jakob Robinson tried to recover the ball, but it slipped from his grasp and was scooped up by Kansas’ Quentin Skinner at the BYU 3-yard line. The wild sequence set up Devin Neal’s 3-yard touchdown run on the very next play, putting Kansas ahead 17-13 with just over six minutes left in the game.
“Crazy things happen in football. We just kept fighting, and we found a way to get the break we needed,” said Daniels. “That play was huge for us. It wasn’t pretty, but it was a big turning point.”
BYU’s Last-Gasp Effort Falls Short
Despite the setback, BYU wasn’t done. The Cougars mounted one final attempt, driving deep into Kansas territory in the final minutes of the game. BYU reached the Kansas 15-yard line with under two minutes remaining, but the Jayhawks’ defense tightened up when it counted. After a couple of failed runs and a false start penalty, BYU faced a fourth-and-6 at the Kansas 16-yard line.
With the game on the line, Retzlaff fired a pass to Chase Roberts, but Kansas’ defense stood firm. Corbin Petteway and Zach McPherson converged on Roberts, stopping him 3 yards short of the first down, and Kansas took over on downs with 46 seconds remaining.
“I knew our defense was going to rise to the occasion. They’ve been doing it all season, and they weren’t about to let us down in this moment,” said Daniels. “We just had to hold on for a little bit longer.”
BYU’s Struggles in the Red Zone
For BYU, the inability to capitalize in the red zone proved to be the game’s decisive factor. Despite accumulating 354 total yards, the Cougars went just 2-for-4 in the red zone and failed to convert any of their trips inside the 20 into touchdowns.
“We had a great game plan going in, but we didn’t execute when it mattered,” said BYU head coach Kalani Sitake. “Too many mistakes. Too many missed opportunities. It’s frustrating because we know we can do better than that.”
BYU’s offensive struggles were especially evident in the second half, as they were held to just three points in the final two quarters. Kansas’ defense, led by Devon McNutt and Aaron Brule, refused to break under pressure, making critical stops on nearly every red-zone attempt and forcing BYU to settle for field goals.
The Road Ahead for Kansas
For Kansas, this victory keeps their bowl hopes alive, moving them to 4-6 on the season with two games remaining. A team that started 1-5 now has the momentum and confidence to potentially secure a postseason berth for the third consecutive year.
“We’ve been through a lot this season, but our guys just kept fighting,” said Leipold. “This win is a testament to their resilience. We have a lot of football left to play, and we’re focused on finishing strong.”
Meanwhile, BYU will now turn its focus to regrouping after their first loss. At 9-1, the Cougars remain in control of their destiny in the Big 12 but know that a loss like this—especially in a tight race for the playoffs—requires swift adjustment and improvement. With their playoff aspirations still alive, BYU will need to refocus and ensure their offense performs better in crucial moments as the season heads into its final stretch.
A Statement Win for Kansas
Kansas’ 17-13 win over BYU was nothing short of a statement—proving that the Jayhawks, despite their early-season struggles, are a team that has come together late in the season, and they are capable of competing with the best. With their season hanging in the balance, Kansas showed heart, grit, and toughness in a game that will go down as one of the biggest upsets of the year in college football. As for BYU, the road ahead is tough, but their playoff aspirations are still intact—if they can learn from their mistakes and bounce back quickly.
In college football, anything can happen, and on this night, Kansas was the team that made history.