Jayhawks Fall to Kansas State in Dillons Sunflower Showdown

Saturday, October 25

Lawrence, Kan.

11 a.m. CT

University of Kansas

4-4 , 2-3

Kansas State

4-4 , 3-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Kansas St.

Kansas

Jayhawks Fall to Kansas State in Dillons Sunflower Showdown

10/25/2025 2:18:00 PM | Football

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes Postgame Quotes

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas Jayhawks were upended 42-17 by Kansas State on Saturday in the Dillons Sunflower Showdown in front of a sold out David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.

Jalon Daniels was 17-of-35 passing, throwing for 129 yards while rushing for 44 yards and a touchdown. Daniel Hishaw Jr. led the Jayhawks with 67 yards on the ground and a touchdown on 19 carries. Seven different receivers caught a pass for KU, led by Cam Pickett, who had six receptions for 40 yards. Blake Herold had a team-high seven tackles and a pass breakup, while Bangally Kamara and Trey Lathan added five tackles apiece.

With the defeat, Kansas is now 4-4 on the year and 2-3 in Big 12 play, while KSU improves to 4-4 (3-2 Big 12) this season.

Kansas won the toss and deferred, but the Jayhawks still got the first possession of the game after Jalen Dye forced a fumble on the opening kickoff that KU recovered. The Jayhawks needed just five plays to convert, as Daniels scored on a six-yard touchdown run to put KU up 7-0 at the 12:50 mark of the first quarter.

Kansas State scored the next 21 points, answering KU's scoring drive with a seven-play, 82-yard touchdown drive before recovering a fumbled punt snap and returning it 20 yards for a score to go up 14-7 with 9:16 to play in the opening quarter. After the team's traded punts, KSU added to its advantage with a 27-yard touchdown pass that capped a five-play scoring drive and put the Wildcats on top 21-7 at the end of the first quarter.

The team's again traded punts on their first possessions of the second quarter, and Kansas got the ball back with 9:04 to play in the half. Daniels proceeded to lead the Jayhawks on their longest drive of the season, covering 85 yards in 18 plays and capping it off with a two-yard touchdown run from Hishaw, which made it 21-14 at halftime.

Kansas State added to its advantage in the third quarter, converting an interception into points with a one-yard touchdown run that put KSU up 28-14 with 7:23 to play in the third. Kansas responded with another long scoring drive, this time a 12-play effort that ended with a 47-yard field goal by Laith Marjan, which cut the deficit to 28-17 late in the third. KU's momentum was short lived, however, as the Wildcats responded with a 78-yard touchdown pass on the first play of their next drive to go ahead 35-17 at the end of three periods.

Kansas State converted a turnover on downs into their final score of the game, a three-yard touchdown run with 4:17 to play, which provided the final margin of 42-17.

The Jayhawks are back home for Homecoming against Oklahoma State next Saturday, Nov. 1, at 3 p.m. CT. The matchup will be Kansas' sixth of seven home games during the season and will serve as KU's 113th Homecoming. Tickets are available for purchase here.