Kansas football vs TCU grades: KU’s report card from Big 12 matchup
· Yahoo Sports
FORT WORTH, Texas — Kansas football suffered a 22-16 loss on Saturday on the road against TCU in a Big 12 Conference matchup.
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Here’s how the Jayhawks (3-5, 1-4 in Big 12) graded out from this defeat against the Horned Frogs (4-4, 2-3):
Offense: Kansas starts Cole Ballard at quarterback
Kansas went with redshirt junior Cole Ballard at quarterback against TCU, with redshirt sophomore and usual starter Isaiah Marshall not healthy enough to start, and saw Ballard and offense fail to put together a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter. KU did move the ball at times, finishing with 451 yards of total offense and dominating time of possession, but turnovers hurt the Jayhawks and not being able to finish enough drives hurt them, too. Ballard, who also fumbled the ball away once, threw an interception in the third quarter that was returned for a touchdown.
Grade: D+
Defense: Kansas fails to get pivotal late stop
TCU’s offense only had two scoring drives all game, but the last one was the pivotal one that helped deliver the win for the Horned Frogs. TCU finished the game having amassed just 286 yards of total offense. The largely quality performance on this side of the ball by the Jayhawks also included a stop on 4th and goal by KU toward the end of the first half, preserving what at the time was a 13-0 lead for Kansas.
Grade: B+
Special teams: Kansas collects early turnover
It didn’t lead to points for the Jayhawks, as the resulting drive would end with redshirt sophomore kicker Martin Connington missing a field goal, but KU did collect a turnover in the first quarter when junior cornerback Jalen Todd recovered a fumble after a TCU punt returner muffed the catch. Connington would go on to finish the game 3-for-4 on field goals. KU’s return game was largely held quiet.
Grade: B+
Coaching: Kansas fails to avoid 2nd half collapse
Kansas had all the momentum coming out of halftime, and then squandered it with lackluster play in the third and fourth quarters. KU was out-scored 22-3 in the second half, and couldn’t do enough on either side of the ball late to secure the victory. This one will do a lot more than sting for Kansas.
Grade: D+
Overall grade: C-
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at [email protected] or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas football vs TCU grades: KU’s report card from Big 12 matchup