LAWRENCE, Kan. — Donning new black uniforms on Senior Night, the Kansas Jayhawks were hungry for their first conference win in over two years, but ended up getting rocked 51-23 by the Iowa State Cyclones at Memorial Stadium.
After exchanging fumbles in the first quarter, Iowa State hit a 47-yard field goal to go up 3-0. Kansas (1-10, 0-8 Big 12) responded with a 75-yd drive, and took a 7-3 lead on a two-yard rushing touchdown by junior running back Taylor Cox.
The Cyclones (6-5, 3-5 Big 12) made a change at QB and picked the Jayhawks apart on the ensuing drive. Freshman QB Sam B. Richardson led an 89-yd drive, capped with an 11-yd TD run by junior RB Jeff Woody. The Cyclones led 10-7.
On the first play of the second quarter, sophomore RB Tony Pierson broke off a 55-yd TD run to put KU back up 14-10. A weak punt gave Iowa State the ball at KU’s 40 yard line, and Richardson hit junior WR Albert Gary for an 11-yd TD pass to put the Clones back up 17-14 with 11:23 left in the second quarter.
Minutes later, Iowa State poured it on. A 30-yd TD strike from Richardson to senior WR Aaron Horne extended their lead to 24-14. The Clones followed that with an 80-yd drive and a 1-yd TD run by Richardson to make it 31-14.
As if that wasn’t enough, Richardson gave the Clones a 38-14 lead with a 20-yd TD pass to junior tight end Ernst Brun Jr. before halftime.
The Hawks never recovered, finishing the game with four turnovers to Iowa State’s one. The Cyclones racked up 548 total yards on offense. With the win, Iowa State becomes bowl eligible.
KU hits the road in two weeks to take on the West Virginia Mountaineers.