LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas Jayhawks have been named the Cheez-It National Team of the Week following a 17-13 victory at No. 7 BYU on Nov. 16 in Provo, Utah.
The win, which improved Kansas to 4-6 on the year and 3-4 in Big 12 play, came on the heels of a 45-36 win over No. 17 Iowa State on Nov. 9 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The Jayhawks have now defeated ranked opponents in consecutive weeks for the first time in school history.
Kansas was led by the program’s all-time leading rusher, Devin Neal who ran for 52 yards and two touchdowns in the game. Neal surpassed 4,000 rushing yards for his career in the game, while extending his school record for rushing touchdowns to 45. Quarterback Jalon Daniels completed 12-of-19 passing for 169 yards in the game, completing four passes for a game-high 77 yards to Luke Grimm, who moved up to No. 3 on KU’s career receiving yardage list during the game.
Defensively, Marvin Grant led the Jayhawks with 10 tackles (seven solo, three assist) and one pass breakup, while Taylor Davis added eight, including his first career tackle-for-loss. The Jayhawks finished with five tackles for loss, including two sacks, one apiece from Dylan Wudke and Dean Miller. Mello Dotson recorded his team-leading fifth interception of the season, ending a BYU drive in the end zone just before halftime.
One of the biggest plays of the game came on special teams as Daniels stepped back for a punt with KU trailing 13-10 early in the fourth quarter. The punt traveled 26 yards and deflected off a BYU player which was recovered by Quentin Skinner at the BYU 3-yard line. Neal scored the go-ahead and game-deciding touchdown on the next play.
Leading 17-13 with BYU in Kansas territory, the Kansas defense held strong, forcing the Cougars into a turnover on downs with under a minute remaining. Kansas was able to run out the clock to secure the 17-13 win over BYU.
With the win, Kansas now has four wins against ranked opponents under head coach Lance Leipold, including two this season. This is also the second win for the Jayhawks over a top 10 opponent under Leipold, after the Jayhawks previously defeated No. 6 Oklahoma 38-33 last season in Lawrence. For Kansas, it was the program’s first road win over a top 10 opponent since Oct. 7, 1995, when the Jayhawks won 40-24 at No. 4 Colorado.
The Football Writers Association of America’s National Team of the Week was created as part of the Grantland Rice Super 16 Poll in 2002. Since then, it has been awarded each week during the regular season by various committees that have included members of the FWAA All-America Committee, the association’s board of directors and its past presidents. For the 2023 season, Cheez-It will present the national team of the week with the bowl partner, Florida Citrus Sports, host of the Cheez-It Bowl and Pop-Tarts Bowl, both played in Orlando.
This is the seventh time that Kansas has been honored by the Football Writers Association of America and first since receiving the honor on Oct. 30, 2023, following a 38-33 victory over No. 6 Oklahoma. Kansas also won the award for its’ 57-56 overtime victory at Texas in 2021. The Jayhawks previously earned the honor during the 2019, 2016, 2008 and 2007 seasons.