NCAAF

Lindenwood Lions at Kansas Jayhawks

· NCAA - Football
0-1, 0-1 Away
Final
3 - 48
1-0, 1-0 Home

No. 22 Kansas uses big 2nd quarter to rout overmatched Lindenwood 48-3

Devin Neal rushes in for 1-yard rushing touchdown

Kansas outscored Lindenwood 27-0 in the second quarter at Children’s Mercy Park. Lindenwood, in its third year as an FCS program, played its first game against an FBS opponent.

Daniels, who played only in the first half for Kansas, was 9 of 15 for 148 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

“For the first game, it was about what I hoped for,” Kansas coach Lance Leipold said. “I thought Jalon (Daniels) played really well. I thought Devin and Daniel (Hishaw) ran the ball hard. I thought all our backs ran the ball hard.

"I thought the defense was solid. There are still some things with communication where we've got to be better. It was a good night, but there are some things as we step up and play a Big Ten opponent (Illinois) next, we've got to be better.”

The Jayhawks are playing home games in Kansas City — two at Children’s Mercy Park and four at Arrowhead Stadium — because of stadium renovations.

“I thought the atmosphere was great at the beginning of the game,” Leipold said. “There was energy. After a few of those big plays, in the second half it tapered down a little bit.”

Lindenwood averted a shutout with a 34-yard field goal by Logan Seibert with 6:12 left.

After forcing a three-and-out on Lindenwood's first series, Kansas marched 65 yards in nine plays for its first touchdown. Neal punched it in from the 5. Kansas had to convert a fourth-and-3 on the drive.

But that's all the offense Kansas could muster in the first quarter. Lindenwood ran 20 plays in the first quarter, compared to just 12 for Kansas, and the Lions held the ball for almost 10 minutes.

Turnovers hurt Kansas early in the first half. Quentin Skinner fumbled on Kansas' second drive. Daniels then threw an interception, ending the Jayhawks' third drive early in the second quarter.

Luke Grimm said he and Daniels read different coverages, but Daniels took the blame.

“Luke read the defense perfectly," Daniels said. "That play was on me. I have to give props to the DB for making that play.”

Neal gave the Jayhawks a 14-0 lead in the second quarter on a 1-yard scamper, capping a seven-play, 85-yard drive.

Mello Dotson put Kansas up 20-0 with an interception return. He stepped in front of a pass on the right sideline and raced 33 yards untouched. The extra point caromed off the upright.

“At the beginning of that play, the quarterback was staring down his receiver,” Dotson said. “He gave him a sign to run the out route. I saw the quarterback give him that sign and I knew the ball was coming my way.”

Daniels then hit Grimm with a 58-yard touchdown strike to extend the lead to 27-0, vindicating Daniels.

“I just had to forget the (bad) play and make sure my next throw was the right throw.”

Hishaw's 1-yard run with 4 seconds left in the half made it 34-0.

The takeaway Lindenwood saw the difference between the two levels of Division I in the trenches. The Lions averaged just 3.5 yards per play, compared to 8.2 yards per play for Kansas. Kansas will need to address the turnovers on offense as the quality of opponent ramps up next week.

Up next Lindenwood: Hosts Central Arkansas on Saturday, Sept. 7.

Kansas: At Illinois on Saturday, Sept. 7.

How To Watch

How can I watch Lindenwood Lions vs. Kansas Jayhawks?
  • TV Channel: Lions at Jayhawks 2021 College Football, week 1, is broadcasted on ESPN+.
  • Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.

Matchup Prediction

Jayhawks: 99.0%
Lions: 1.0%
*According to ESPN's Basketball Power Index

Scoring Summary

KU TD 1st Period 9:44 Devin Neal 5 Yd Run (Tabor Allen Kick)
KU TD 2nd Period 10:11 Devin Neal 1 Yd Run (Tabor Allen Kick)
KU TD 2nd Period 8:42 Mello Dotson 33 Yd Interception Return (Tabor Allen PAT failed)
KU TD 2nd Period 7:07 Luke Grimm 58 Yd pass from Jalon Daniels (Tabor Allen Kick)
KU TD 2nd Period 0:04 Daniel Hishaw Jr. 1 Yd Run (Tabor Allen Kick)
KU TD 3rd Period 8:23 Sevion Morrison 1 Yd Run (Tabor Allen Kick)
KU TD 4th Period 13:22 Doug Emilien 4 Yd pass from Cole Ballard (Tabor Allen Kick)
LIN FG 4th Period 6:12 Logan Seibert 34 Yd Field Goal

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/ncaa/500/2815.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originLIN https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/ncaa/500/2305.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originKU
12 1st Downs 26
7-16 3rd down efficiency 6-10
0-1 4th down efficiency 3-3
202 Total Yards 530
127 Passing 199
18/31 Comp/Att 14/21
4.1 Yards per pass 9.5
75 Rushing 331
27 Rushing Attempts 44
2.8 Yards per rush 7.5
6-62 Penalties 2-23
1 Turnovers 2
0 Fumbles lost 1
1 Interceptions thrown 1
28:58 Possession 31:02

Game Information

Venue: Children's Mercy Park

Location: Kansas City, KS
Attendance: 20,829 · Capacity:
Full Standings

College Football News

Finebaum isn't convinced the winner of OSU-Oregon is championship front-runner

Finebaum isn't convinced the winner of OSU-Oregon is championship front-runner

Paul Finebaum argues that the winner of Ohio State vs. Oregon won't determine the national championship.

Vols 'disappointed' for fan base in attendance at Ohio Stadium

Vols 'disappointed' for fan base in attendance at Ohio Stadium

Vols players said it was disheartening not to be able to reward the thousands of fans who filled Ohio Stadium only to see their team lose 42-17 to the Buckeyes.

Howard throws 2 TD passes to Smith to help Ohio State rout Tennessee 42-17 in CFP

Howard throws 2 TD passes to Smith to help Ohio State rout Tennessee 42-17 in CFP

— Will Howard threw two touchdown passes to freshman Jeremiah Smith and Ohio State routed Tennessee 42-17 on Saturday night in a first-round College Football Playoff game, setting up a New Year's Day rematch with No. 1 Oregon at the Rose Bowl.

2024 College Football Playoff quarterfinals: Betting odds, lines

2024 College Football Playoff quarterfinals: Betting odds, lines

Here are all the betting odds, lines, spreads and totals for every game of the quarterfinal round of the College Football Playoff.

Blue credits offensive line as Longhorns run all over Clemson

Blue credits offensive line as Longhorns run all over Clemson

Jaydon Blue praises Texas' offensive line and Quinn Ewers following the Longhorns strong performance in the first round of the CFP.