KU football vs. Baylor: Bears top Jayhawks 35-23 in Big 12 Conference matchup

WACO, TX — Kansas football’s 2022 season continued Saturday with a Big 12 Conference matchup against Baylor.

The Jayhawks came in after a 52-42 loss against Oklahoma. The Bears came in after a 43-40 loss against West Virginia. Last season, Baylor topped Kansas in a 45-7 win.

Did coach Lance Leipold’s Jayhawks squad rebound after back-to-back losses? Did coach Dave Aranda’s Bears squad end its own two-game losing streak? A win would keep Kansas alive in the Big 12 title race with a victory.

Here's what happened at McLane Stadium:

RELATED:5 takeaways from ‘Hawk Talk with Lance Leipold’ as Kansas football prepares for Baylor

RELATED:Kansas football is in good shape with Jason Bean at QB, and looking to be in better shape

FINAL: Baylor 35, Kansas 23

The Jayhawks weren't able to put any more points on the scoreboard after the Bears' latest score, and ended up not converting on a fourth-down opportunity to give up the ball. Baylor was then able to run out the clock. Kansas has now lost three-straight games.

Baylor ends its second-half scoring drought

The Bears have finally added to their total in the second half, with running back Richard Reese scoring on a two-yard rush with 2:37 left in the fourth quarter. After the extra point, Baylor now leads 35-23. The drive took 3:52 off of the clock and went 69 yards in seven plays.

Kansas cuts the lead to five points

The Jayhawks are within a score now, after their latest touchdown drive that took 2:56 off of the clock and went 93 yards in eight plays. Quarterback Jason Bean capped off the drive with a four-yard touchdown run, and after the extra point Kansas only trails by five points. Baylor's lead is 28-23 with 6:29 left in the fourth quarter.

Kansas' defense comes up with a huge stop

Baylor drove deep into the red zone again, but after electing to go for it on 4th-and short inside the 10 yard line the Bears were stopped. With 9:25 left in the fourth quarter, Kansas took over at its own 7 yard line. It's still a 28-16 lead for Baylor.

Kansas finds the end zone again

The Jayhawks are within two scores now, after an 11-play drive that went 95 yards and finished with a 24-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jason Bean to wide receiver Quentin Skinner. It took 4:07 off of the clock, and wrapped up with nearly the entire fourth quarter still to go. After the two-point conversion failed, Baylor leads 28-16.

END 3Q: Baylor 28, Kansas 10

Kansas scores its first touchdown

Baylor took its opening drive to just outside the red zone in Kansas territory, but once again the Jayhawks came away with a turnover. This time, defensive lineman Jereme Robinson sacked the Bears' quarterback and forced a fumble, which he recovered himself and took all the way back to the 9 yard line of Baylor. And soon after, Kansas scored its first touchdown on a two-yard run by running back Devin Neal.

The drive went nine yards in three plays and took 1:07 off of the clock. After the extra point, Baylor's lead is now 28-10. 7:35 remains in the third quarter.

HALFTIME: Baylor 28, Kansas 3

The Bears and Jayhawks traded turnovers in the final minute of the second quarter. First, Kansas fumbled the ball away when wide receiver Quentin Skinner couldn't hold onto the ball after catching a pass. Then, on a drive that started deep in Jayhawks territory, Baylor threw an interception that was picked off by Kansas linebacker Craig Young.

Baylor scores again just before halftime

The Bears went 99 yards in 15 plays and took 7:23 off of the clock on their fourth touchdown drive of the game. After the extra point, Baylor leads 28-3 with 0:42 left in the second quarter. This score came on a 10-yard rushing touchdown by wide receiver Jordan Nabors on a jet sweep.

Kansas intercepts a pass, but doesn't drive for any points

The Jayhawks were finally able to get a stop defensively, and earned it by way of an interception by cornerback Mello Dotson. It gifted Kansas the ball at the Baylor 45 yard line. But, again, the Jayhawks went 3-and-out.

With 8:05 left in the second quarter, the Bears still lead 21-3. They appear to be in clear control of this one, as Kansas can't get much going offensively. The only thing new about this latest drive was quarterback Jason Bean was the one who punted it away for the Jayhawks, after giving the look as if they'd go for it on fourth down.

Baylor extends its lead

The Bears are up 21-3 now after a four-yard rushing score by quarterback Kyron Drones, brought in for a red zone look, and the ensuing extra point. The drive took 6:55 off of the clock and went 73 yards in 16 plays. There's 11:18 left in the second quarter.

On this drive, Baylor faced a 4th-and-short situation at the Kansas 16 yard line. The Bears elected to go for it, and converted. It's just the latest example of the Jayhawks' defense proving itself incapable at this point of getting off of the field.

END 1Q: Baylor 14, Kansas 3

Kansas connects on a field goal

The Jayhawks were able to put their first scoring drive together, thanks in part by a key first down catch by tight end Mason Fairchild and later a pass interference penalty on the Bears. Kansas nearly fumbled the ball away in the red zone, but was able to recover it and salvage a drive that wound up ending with a 30-yard field goal by kicker Jacob Borcila. The Jayhawks were going to go for it on fourth down, but elected to kick a field goal after a false start penalty pushed them back and an offside penalty later on the Bears didn't do enough to change their play-caller's mind.

The drive lasted 7:02 and went 62 yards in 12 plays. During it, left tackle Earl Bostick Jr. appeared to suffer a leg injury — although he would return later in the game. It led Kansas to go with Bryce Cabeldue at LT, Dominick Puni at LG, Mike Novitsky at C, Armaj Reed-Adams at RG and Michael Ford Jr. at RT.

Baylor scores after forcing a turnover

On Kansas' second offensive drive, wide receiver Quentin Skinner fumbled the ball away and gave Baylor the football at the Jayhawks' own 25 yard line. Two plays and 40 seconds later, the Bears scored another touchdown. This one came on a 14-yard run by Richard Reese, and the extra point made it 14-0 Baylor leading with 10:15 left in the first quarter.

The Jayhawks have found themselves down 14-0 multiple times before this season and come back, but right now this feels different. The Bears appear to be in firm control. It looks like this is headed toward a blowout.

Baylor scores the game's first touchdown

In part because an awful punt allowed the Bears to start their drive at the Jayhawks' 41 yard line, Baylor didn't waste much time driving for the game's first touchdown. The Bears went 41 yards in seven plays and took 2:52 off of the clock. A 17-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Blake Shapen to Monaray Baldwin got Baylor into the end zone, and the extra point upped their total to seven points.

Kansas had Baylor at 3rd-and-7 and 3rd-and-11 on that drive. The Jayhawks, which did see defensive lineman Caleb Sampson get a sack on this drive, couldn't get off the field. That'll be something to watch moving forward in this one.

Kansas goes 3-and-out on opening drive

The Jayhawks, with Jason Bean as their starting quarterback again, weren't able to put any points on the board on their opening drive. In fact, they weren't even able to earn a first down. And after a few plays Kansas punted the ball away.

Baylor wins the coin toss

Baylor won the coin toss, and chose to defer to the second half. Kansas will receive the ball to start.

A look at the crowd just before kickoff

Baylor will be without one of its running backs

Looks like Kansas will have two of its key defensive players

Looks like Baylor will have its usual starting quarterback

Some number changes for Kansas football

Kansas' original starting quarterback continues to make his way back

Check out Kansas' uniforms

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: KU football vs. Baylor final score, recap and highlights