Grades from KU Jayhawks’ 55-14 loss to Texas and looking ahead to Kansas State

Here are our letter grades for all three Kansas units, plus our play of the game, from Saturday’s 55-14 loss to Texas — and a look ahead to the next game, Saturday vs. Kansas State, in Manhattan.

Play of the game: Quarterback Jalon Daniels connected with running back Torry Locklin on a 14-yard touchdown strike with 1:55 left in the third quarter. The play provided KU with its first points of the game.

Daniels accepted a snap in the shotgun then faked a handoff to running back Sevion Morrison. Locklin headed from the slot to the left side of the field, where he sped behind a defender and caught Daniels’ pass in stride at the goal line.

The reception was the first of two second-half TDs for the Jayhawks, who spotted Texas 41 points to open the game.

Another play on that scoring drive could be considered for play of the game. Daniels hit wide receiver Lawrence Arnold for 42 yards on a pattern up the middle.

Grades

Offense: D

The Daniels-led offense struggled in KU’s Senior Day contest, finishing with 346 total yards.

Daniels — he had missed the last 4 1/2 games because of a shoulder injury — completed 17 of 26 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.

Kansas’ leading rusher was Devin Neal, who was held to 51 yards on 13 carries. As a team the Jayhawks rushed for 104 yards on 30 carries. Daniels had two rushing attempts the second half for 12 yards.

All of KU’s points came in the second half after Texas had built a 41-0 lead.

KU did score much earlier on a 12-yard pass from Daniels to tight end Jared Casey (that cut a 17-0 deficit to 17-7 momentarily). However the touchdown was erased because of a penalty for an ineligible player downfield.

Defense: D

Texas shredded the KU defense for 539 yards. The Longhorns gained a season-high 427 rushing yards on 57 carries for an average of 7.5 yards per carry.

UT junior running back Bijan Robinson gained a career-high 243 yards on 25 carries, The potential first-round NFL Draft pick scored a career-best four touchdowns on runs of 2, 17, 1 and 32 yards.

It was his third time this season over 200 rushing yards in a game. Robinson upped his career total to 3,231 rushing yards, which ties him for fifth on Texas’ all-time rushing list with Chris Gilbert. RB Jonathon Brooks burned KU for 108 yards on 11 carries and TDs of three and 70 yards. The Longhorns had a 200-yard rusher and 100-yard rusher in the same game for the second time in program history and first time since 1968.

Quarterback Quinn Ewers completed 12 of 21 passes for 107 yards and one touchdown. The Longhorns’ top receiver was Jordan Whittington who had nine catches, 56 yards.

Afterward, one senior expressed his displeasure with Kansas’ effort.

Special teams: D.

Coach Lance Leipold switched kickers and punters during the game, Jacob Borcila missed a 34-yard field goal in the the second quarter. So Leipold called on backup Owen Piepergerdes to connect on two extra points after a pair of second half scores. Piepergerdes is a redshirt freshman out of Rockhurst High School.

Regular punter Reis Vernon had three punts for a 39.3 yard average. Greyden Addison was called on for KU’s final punt of the day for 28 yards.

Up next for Kansas

KU will travel to Kansas State for a 7 p.m. kickoff Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan. Kansas State is 8-3 overall and 6-2 in the Big 12 following Saturday’s 48-31 win at West Virginia.