Strong Second Half Lifts Kansas to 27-20 Victory at UCF

Saturday, October 4

Orlando, Fla.

6:30 p.m. CT

University of Kansas

4-2 , 2-1

UCF

3-2 , 0-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Kansas

UCF

Strong Second Half Lifts Kansas to 27-20 Victory at UCF

10/4/2025 10:29:00 PM | Football

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ORLANDO – The Kansas Jayhawks earned their first win on the road this season with a 27-20 victory against UCF on a soggy Saturday night at Acrisure Bounce House.

Leshon Williams rushed for a career-high three touchdowns and the Kansas defense shutout UCF in the second half, including three consecutive stops at the 1-yard line with a 7-point lead and under two minutes to go in the game. The second half shutout marked the first time Kansas has not allowed a point to a conference opponent on the road in a second half in Big 12 history.

With the victory, Kansas improved to 4-2 on the year and 2-1 in Big 12 play this season. Kansas now has six Big 12 Conference road wins since 2021 under head coach Lance Leipold after the Jayhawks had only one Big 12 road win from 2008-20.

Jalon Daniels finished the game 18-of-26 for 235 yards in the air and had 10 carries for 25 yards on the ground. Williams carried the ball 12 times for 58 yards and three touchdowns, while Cam Pickett led the Jayhawks with 64 yards receiving on five catches.

After a Kansas punt on the opening possession, UCF took advantage on its first offensive drive by scoring a touchdown. A 29-yard run by Myles Montgomery capped off a 10-play, 79-yard drive to give the Knights a 7-0 lead with 8:15 remaining in the first quarter.

UCF (3-2, 0-2 Big 12) extended its lead on the first play of the second quarter with a 3-yard touchdown run by Montgomery. That stretched the lead to 14-0.

The Jayhawks offense settled in and answered back on its next possession with a 9-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown run by Williams. The highlight of the drive was a 46-yard catch and run by Boden Groen that moved the ball from Kansas territory to the UCF 23-yard line. UCF held a 14-7 edge with 10:38 to go in the first half.

After a 38-yard field goal by UCF's Noe Ruelas made it a 17-7 game, Kansas put together another scoring drive on offense. Williams got into the end zone for a second time on a 4-yard rush to cut the game to 17-14. The 11-play drive went 75 yards and took 5:49 off the clock in the second quarter. Another 38-yard field goal by Ruelas made it a 20-14 UCF lead heading into halftime.

After UCF scored on all four of its offensive drives in the first half, the Kansas defense came out and started the second half by forcing a three-and-out. Following a UCF punt, Kansas put together a 10-play drive that ended with a 33-yard Laith Marjan field goal to bring the game to 20-17.

Another three-and-out for UCF gave Kansas the ball back. The Jayhawks drove down the field again and tied the game with a 41-yard field goal by Marjan. Kansas and UCF were even at 20-20 with 4:01 to go in the third quarter.

On the next UCF possession, Kansas continued its defensive pursuit. Jalen Dye came charging in on a delayed blitz, recording a sack and forcing a fumble that Trey Lathan picked up and returned five yards to the UCF 2-yard line. Kansas handed the ball off to Williams on the next play who got in the end zone for his third touchdown of the game. The score gave Kansas its first lead of the game at 27-20 with 3:05 left in the third quarter.

There would be no more scoring for either side the remainder of the game. UCF had a couple opportunities to tie the game late, but the Kansas defense held on. One of those chances was 1st & goal from the 5-yard line and three chances from the 1-yard line, but Kansas did not break defensively.

Kansas continues its two-game road trip as the Jayhawks travel to Lubbock, Texas to take on Texas Tech on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 6:30 p.m. CT.