Kansas beats Texas for first time since 1938, 24-21 in OT

Define “it’s all over” how you want. Their drive stalled with less than 15 seconds to play, but Kansas still kicked a 36-yard field goal to tie the game at 21-21 heading into overtime.

By several key numbers plus the eye test, Texas is a better football team in Charlie Strong’s third season as head coach.

The loss dropped Texas to 5-6 this season and 16-20 in 2-plus years under Strong. But in the bigger picture, it may cost Strong his job.

– Derrick Foreman, the father of D’Onta and Armanti, unleashed a Tweet storm of criticism, including this comment, followed by three angry emoji faces: “Play calling is HOOOORRRRIIIIBBBLLLEEE!” A quick drive down Texas’ throat on the ground allowed the Hawks to kick the game winning field goal. Senior running back Ke’aun Kinner carried the ball 20 times for 69 yards, while freshman Khalil Herbert scored KU’s lone offensive touchdown after totaling 26 yards on 10 carries. With just under 14 minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Texas led 14-10.

First, this defense is special.

But how did it happen?

– Texas was forced into a season-high eight punts by the Kansas defense.

They got the ball first in overtime, but Shane Buechele badly overthrew his intended receiver on their second play and Mike Lee was there to pick it off.

The six turnovers were just too much for the Longhorns to overcome as they fell in overtime 24-21 to the Jayhawks.

Buechele returned to the game at that point after briefly leaving the field and receiving an evaluation for a head or neck injury in the locker room. Players now in UT’s freshman and sophomore classes have combined to make 195 career starts (97 on offense; 98 on defense). Defensive end Dorance Armstrong, a sophomore from Galena Park North Shore, made two big plays.

But whatever was said, or screamed, at halftime must have worked. “That’s my dog”, Longhorns safety DeShon Elliott said. 10 Notre Dame was a signal of hope, but the win over the Fighting Irish proved to be fool’s gold: Texas is now 5-6, and Notre Dame is 4-7.

The NCAA record for consecutive 100-yard games, by the way, is safe. But on the drive’s tenth play, Foreman coughed up the rock and Kansas recovered with just under four minutes to go.

On fourth-and-6 at KU’s 37, Stanley threw incomplete over the middle. Texas has run 824 plays through 10 games and converted 260 first downs.

Fans – or, at least, those of the announced 25,673 who remained – rushed the field, mobbed the players (and Beaty), and eventually tore down the north end zone goal post, carrying it off to Potter Lake. But Foreman was stopped short. And Texas, 23-point favorites this time around, needed to beat Kansas to clinch a bowl bid. The Jayhawks’ only win in almost two seasons under coach David Beaty was against lower-level Rhode Island in the season opener, and the Longhorns had handled them in their last 13 meetings.

The fumble parade for Foreman continued – the sixth of the season and the fifth lost, giving the Jayhawks the ball with a chance to take the lead.