Recap, analysis: Kansas hammers Houston 42-14 in Big 12 football
Coming off a bye week, the Houston Cougars reverted to the team that started the season 1-4 and featured a lackluster offense.
After Zeon Chriss led the Cougars to a 30-19 victory over TCU on Oct. 4, there was hope they had turned a corner. Alas, Chriss only lasted two series and the Cougars were blown out by Kansas 42-14 on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium.
Houston is now 2-5 and 1-3 in the Big 12 with a home game against Utah looming next week.
Read our game recap, featuring in-game analysis and big-play highlights:
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FINAL STATS
Donovan Smith came on in relief of Zeon Chriss and threw for 174 yards and two touchdowns. Unfortunately he also threw three interceptions. Smith was Houston's leading rusher with 14 carries for 45 yards. Mekhi Mews caught six passes for 99 yards and a touchdown.
Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels was the story of the game. He threw for 247 yards and three touchdowns, and rushed for 58 yards and a TD. He led the Jayhawks to an early 14-0 lead and they never looked back.
FOURTH QUARTER UPDATES
FINAL SCORE: Kansas 42, Houston 14
TOUCHDOWN KANSAS: Devin Neal scores on a 5-yard run to extend Kansas' lead to 42-14 with 6:50 left in the game. Neal has 17 carries for 108 yards and two touchdowns.
MISSED FIELD GOAL: Kansas kicker Tabor Allen misses a 47-yard field goal with 11:58 left in the game.
INTERCEPTION KANSAS: Donovan Smith throws his third interception game with 13:21 left. The Jayhawks have four total interceptions.
TOUCHDOWN KANSAS: The Jayhawks take a three-score lead early in the fourth quarter on an 8-yard touchdown run by QB Jalon Daniels. It's now Kansas 35, Houston 14 with 14:21 left in the game. Daniels now has 247 yards passing and 3 touchdowns as well as 41 yards rushing and a TD.
THIRD QUARTER UPDATES
END OF 3RD QUARTER: Kansas 28, Houston 14
INTERCEPTION KANSAS: Donovan Smith throws his second pick of the game - and Kansas DB Cobee Bryant comes up with his third interception of the game. Kansas takes over on its own 5-yard line, leading 28-14.
HAT TRICK FOR BRYANT 🧢
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) October 19, 2024
Cobee Bryant snags his THIRD interception of the afternoon and ties the single-game @KU_Football record!#Big12FB | 📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/qvwcqK5U3G
Houston has the ball to start the second half, trailing 28-14. Donovan Smith is still at quarterback.
HALFTIME STATS
Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels is torching the Cougars. The senior quarterback was 13-of-16 for 195 yards and three touchdowns in the first half.
SECOND QUARTER UPDATES
HALFTIME SCORE: Kansas 28, Houston 14
INTERCEPTION KANSAS: Donovan Smith throws a pick with 19 seconds left in the half on 3rd-and-long. It was basically a punt.
TOUCHDOWN HOUSTON! Donovan Smith connects with Mekhi Mews on a 52-yard touchdown pass to pull Houston within two scores at 28-14. Smith has been sharp off the bench, completing 8-of-9 passes for 129. yards and 2 TDs.
Traffic? Navigated.
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) October 19, 2024
Mekhi Mews follows his blocks all the way to the end zone as @UHCougarFB continues to battle back.#Big12FB | 📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/6Ei4GqnDmr
TOUCHDOWN KANSAS: Jalon Daniels throws another TD pass to Jared Casey, this one a 3-yard connection, to give Kansas a 28-7 lead with 3:33 left in the first half.
TOUCHDOWN HOUSTON! Donovan Smith leads the Cougars to a touchdown on his first drive, connecting with Stacy Sneed on a 23-yard touchdown pass to cut Kansas' lead to 21-7 with 6:18 left in the first half.
DONOVAN SMITH IN: The Cougars have changed quarterbacks. Senior Donovan Smith has replaced Zeon Chriss early in the second quarter. Chriss went into the medical tent to be evaluated after Houston's first drive, but was back on the field for their second drive. He is now on the bench.
TOUCHDOWN KANSAS: This game is quickly getting out of hand. Devin Neal scores on a 2-yard touchdown run to give Kansas a 21-0 lead with 10:59 left in the first half. The touchdown was set up by a 37-yard run by Luke Grimm.
FIRST QUARTER UPDATES
END OF 1ST QUARTER: Kansas 14, Houston 0
TOUCHDOWN KANSAS: You've got to be kidding. Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels throws a jump ball into the end zone and Quentin Skinner outleaps Houston defensive back Jeremiah Wilson for a 48-yard touchdown reception. Kansas 14, Houston 0.
INTERCEPTION KANSAS: Not a great start for Zeon Chriss. Kansas defensive back Cobee Bryant picks off Chriss on the Cougars' first possession and Kansas takes over at Houston's 48-yard line.
TOUCHDOWN KANSAS: The Jayhawks march down the field on their opening drive, capping a 15-play drive with a two-yard touchdown pass from Jalon Daniels to Jared Casey. It's Kansas 7, Houston 0 with 5:56 left in the first quarter.
Kansas has the ball to start the game.
Houston at Kansas TV Channel, Live Stream
Who: Houston (2-4, 1-2) at Kansas (1-5, 0-3) in a Big 12 football game
When: 2:30 p.m. CT | Saturday, October 19
Live Stream: Stream Houston-Kansas live on fuboTV (Start your free trial)
TV Channel: ESPN+
Ben Sherman has been covering the sports world for most of his journalism career, including 17 years with The Oregonian/OregonLive. One of his favorite memories was covering the 1999 Fiesta Bowl - the first BCS National Championship Game - at Sun Devil Stadium.