Kansas upsets No. 6 Oklahoma as Sooners' College Football Playoff chances take major hit on the road (2024)

Jayhawks pull the upset

Final: Kansas 38, No. 6 Oklahoma 33

Dillon Gabriel's final heave into the end zone is incomplete and Kansas upsets No. 6 Oklahoma. It snaps an 18-game losing streak in the series for the Jayhawks, who get their first win over the Sooners since 1997. It also ends the Sooners' hopes of an undefeated season. Just like that, the Big 12 race looks a whole lot more interesting as November looms. It's a signature win for a Kansas program that is back on the rise after enduring more than a decade of struggles, and gives the Jayhawks a huge dose of momentum entering the stretch run of 2023. Kansas is also now bowl-bound for a second straight year under coach Lance Leipold after previously 14 years without a bowl appearance.

Kansas leads

0:55 4Q: Kansas 38, No. 6 Oklahoma 33

Wow. Facing fourth down with the game on the line, Kansas quarterback Jason Bean finds Lawrence Arnold for a 37-yard gain into the red zone, setting up a go-ahead touchdown run for running back Devin Neal. Oklahoma will need a touchdown to win the game. It's not the first time the Sooners have found themselves in position like this, winning a 34-30 instant-classic against Texas in Week 6 in which they scored the game-winning touchdown with just 15 seconds to spare. It's crunch time as Oklahoma looks to keep its perfect record intact.

Oklahoma forces massive turnover

The Sooners come up big on defense again, as Ethan Downs intercepts Jason Bean to thwart would could have been a go-ahead scoring drive for the Jayhawks. That unit is going to have to stand strong one more time after the subsequent drive by Oklahoma ends in a punt, but it may have bought the Sooners just enough time to hang on for a victory in Lawrence. Now, Kansas has what could be one final shot to pull a massive upset.

Sooners back on top

5:22 4Q: No. 6 Oklahoma 33, Kansas 32

Oklahoma's defense comes up with an interception on a tipped pass by Kansas quarterback Jason Bean, and the Sooners -- gifted a short field -- make the Jayhawks pay. Oklahoma quarterback Dillion Gabriel puts the Sooners back on top with his third rushing touchdown of the game, this time form one yard out, before the two-point conversion attempt fails. Both teams have been heavy on the run all afternoon, and it looks as if it will stay that way until the final clock expires.

Jayhawks come up empty

That's huge missed opportunity for Kansas to expand its lead in the fourth quarter. The Jayhawks had what would have been another touchdown run by Hishaw wiped out by a penalty before the drive ultimately ends with kicker Seth Keller missing on a 42-yard fied goal attempt. Oklahoma, with no damage done after that lost fumble, will get the ball back at its own 24-yard line looking to take the lead back.

Oklahoma fumbles kickoff return

An absolutely disastrous turn of events for the Sooners. After giving up the go-ahead touchdown, they fumble the ensuing kickoff return, and Kansas recovers with an opportunity to go up by two scores. Oklahoma has now committed three turnovers today -- the first two already led to 12 point scored by the Jayhawks -- and that one could be the costliest yet. The Sooners may have to dig deep to keep their hopes of a perfect season alive.

Jayhawks go on top after Sooners targeting ejection

4Q: Kansas 32, No. 6 Oklahoma 27

Kansas retakes the lead on a 1-yard touchdown run by Daniel Hishaw before the Jayhawks come up empty on a two-point conversion attempt. It caps off a wild sequence early in the fourth quarter. On the prior play, Kansas quarterback Jason Bean looked as if he was about to barrel his way into the end zone for the go-ahead score, but was ruled short of the goal-line after he slid. However, Sooners defensive back Reggie Pearson was called for a targeting hit on Bean and was subsequently ejected, giving Kansas a new set of downs before they punched it into the end zone via Hishaw.

Oklahoma in a fight with Kansas

End 3Q: No. 6 Oklahoma 27, Kansas 26

Oklahoma is looking to improve to 8-0 in its second season under coach Brent Venables, but things aren't coming easy for the Sooners at Kansas. Oklahoma fell behind a quick 14-0 in the first half before rallying back, with a weather delay included, to take a 21-17 lead at halftime. The Jayhawks haven't gone down quietly, however, trailing by just one point as the fourth quarter gets underway.

It's the last scheduled Big 12 meeting between the schools, and Kansas is seeking its first victory against Oklahoma since 1997. The Jayhawks have dropped 18 straight against the Sooners dating back to the 2000 campaign, and an upset here would throw a wrench into the Sooners' pursuit of a Big 12 Championship and College Football Playoff berth. Get ready for what could be a frantic finish at David Booth Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas.