Kansas football vs. Baylor report card: Jayhawks drop 3rd straight game

WACO, Texas — Kansas football suffered its third straight defeat against a Big 12 Conference opponent Saturday, losing 35-23 on the road against Baylor.

The Jayhawks (5-3, 2-3 in Big 12) once again had to try to mount a comeback after a slow start. The Bears (4-3, 2-2 in Big 12) were able to weather that second-half attack from the visitors and get away with a win.

Up next for Kansas is a Nov. 5 matchup at home against Oklahoma State (6-1, 3-1 in Big 12) that will come after a much-needed bye week for the Jayhawks.

Here’s how Kansas graded out against Baylor:

RELATED:After losing at Baylor, Kansas football heads toward a bye week it needs

Offense: One bad half, one good half

The Jayhawks barely managed to come away with a field goal in the first half of this one. They couldn’t move the ball effectively, and even in the second half the team’s first touchdown drive was set up at the Bears’ 9-yard line. Pair that with the struggles they were having on the other side of the ball, and it looked as if the Bears would coast to a blowout win on homecoming.

Things changed in the second half. Redshirt senior quarterback Jason Bean proved far more effective behind a much improved offensive line. Kansas didn't do much running the ball, averaging just 2.5 yards per carry, but at that point the Jayhawks had to make up a 25-point halftime deficit and running the ball wouldn’t have done them much good. Players like redshirt sophomore wide receiver Quentin Skinner, who caught Bean’s lone touchdown pass, and redshirt junior wide receiver Trevor Wilson came up with huge catches.

The miscues in the first half, including too many third-and-long situations the Jayhawks didn’t convert, were just too much to overcome. A rushing touchdown each from Bean and sophomore running back Devin Neal in the second half only helped so much. Skinner fumbled the ball away twice in the first half, and one of those turnovers set up the home side with great field position. Five of Kansas’ first six drives ended in either a 3-and-out or those turnovers.

Grade: C+

Here are 3 takeaways: Kansas football’s 35-23 loss against Baylor in Big 12 play

Defense: A mixed bag

Kansas’ defense wasn’t helped out early with the field position Baylor was able to start with. The Bears’ first two touchdown drives started at the Jayhawks’ 41- and 25-yard lines. Early on it didn’t seem like Kansas could do much of anything to stop a much more physical Baylor attack.

Still, at one point the Bears put together just one scoring drive in a six-drive stretch that included two interceptions, a fumble and a turnover on downs. After scoring 28 points in the first half, they managed only seven across the final two quarters. Had the Jayhawks been able to come up with one final stop in the fourth quarter, and not allow Baylor’s last touchdown drive, Kansas would have been able to drive and try and take the lead.

Freshman running back Richard Reese ended up with 186 yards and two touchdowns, while averaging six yards per carry, for the Bears. Baylor didn’t have much success throwing the ball, but didn’t need to as it ended up with 273 yards on the ground and an average of nearly five yards per carry. The Bears dominated time of possession, and early on were able to keep converting third downs.

Grade: C-

Special teams: Another quiet day

The 14-yard punt junior punter Reis Vernon had early in the first quarter set up Baylor’s first scoring drive at Kansas’ 41 yard line. But that’s not the norm for Vernon, and had there been better coverage on his other punt the Bears wouldn’t have started a drive at their own 41-yard line.

Bean actually punted the ball once himself instead of the Jayhawks going for it on a fourth down. That was downed at the 1-yard line. It was a highlight for Kansas on a day when redshirt junior kicker Jacob Borcila also connected on all of his extra points and his only field-goal attempt — which was from 30 yards out.

Grade: B

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas football vs. Baylor report card: Jayhawks drops 3rd straight