Hawking Points: BYU Smashes a Broken Kansas Team
In a game that will likely haunt Kansas for the rest of the season, the Jayhawks were obliterated by BYU in what can only be described as a display of apathy, incompetence, and unraveling coaching. The final score was a humiliating 42-7, but the real story was how Kansas, once a proud contender, seemed to give up midway through the third quarter, leaving fans and analysts alike wondering how it went so wrong.
BYU entered the game with their usual no-nonsense, physical style of play, but it wasn’t their prowess that stood out—it was the sheer breakdown of Kansas, a team that seemed to have forgotten how to play football. From the first whistle, the Jayhawks struggled on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Jalon Daniels looked lost in the pocket, his passes sailing high or falling short of their intended targets. The offensive line, which had been solid throughout the season, appeared to have no answers for BYU’s defensive line, allowing constant pressure on Daniels. It was like watching a car engine sputter out and fail to start, despite all the signs that something had gone terribly wrong.
The defense, meanwhile, was equally guilty of neglect. Kansas’s secondary was burned multiple times, and their linebackers seemed out of position, as BYU methodically moved down the field, often with little resistance. The first half ended with BYU already up 28-0, a scoreline that was no fluke, as Kansas’s defense appeared disorganized and unprepared.
Then came the most damning moment of the game: in the third quarter, with the score 35-0, Kansas’s body language said everything. Players could be seen arguing on the sidelines, a complete breakdown in team morale. Kansas looked not just outmatched but mentally defeated. Coach Lance Leipold, usually composed and calm, looked helpless, and his demeanor only fueled speculation about his future with the program. How could a team that had shown flashes of promise earlier in the season crumble so completely? Was it a matter of talent, or was the heart of the team simply absent?
BYU wasn’t flawless. There were missed opportunities and mistakes, but they were the more complete team from the start. Quarterback Keaton Slovis threw for 280 yards and three touchdowns, spreading the ball around to different receivers with ease. The Cougars didn’t need to pull off any trick plays; they simply wore down the Jayhawks with precision and consistency, exploiting every weakness they found.
For Kansas, it wasn’t just the result—it was how they got there. BYU didn’t have to work hard for their points, as Kansas seemed to collapse under pressure at every turn. The lack of discipline, the missed tackles, the dropped passes, and the mental errors were all too apparent. It was as if the Jayhawks had given up on themselves.
Post-game analysis has been equally harsh. Critics are questioning whether Kansas is even close to being a competitive team in the Big 12, let alone a contender. And the real tragedy is that this isn’t the first time the Jayhawks have shown these fatal flaws. The loss to BYU is merely the latest in a series of disappointing performances, and the blame can no longer be solely placed on individual players. The coaching staff must take responsibility for allowing this collapse to happen.
As for BYU, this win was a statement—one that not only showed their dominance but exposed the glaring deficiencies of Kansas. The Jayhawks may have been broken on that field in Utah, but it’s unclear if they can fix themselves in time to salvage their season. One thing is certain: the road ahead for Kansas is going to be long, and there will be no easy games left for them to coast through. If they continue this level of performance, a rebuild might be their only hope.
