Three takeaways from Kansas football’s road loss to Oklahoma State Cowboys

Kansas quarterback Jason Bean’s dejected downward look said it all.

The Jayhawks found themselves down four against Oklahoma State with 1:57 left in the game. On fourth-and-1, Bean’s pass was deflected and knocked to the ground.

On the ensuing possession, the Cowboys would convert a field goal, leaving Kansas only 15 seconds. The Jayhawks gained 1 yard on a Bean scramble that ended with a fumble.

The No. 23 Jayhawks fell 39-32 at Boone Pickens Stadium and dropped to 5-2 on the season, 2-2 in Big 12 play.

There was a lot on the line for Kansas, including bowl eligibility after last week’s win over UCF, plus an opportunity to end the program’s losing streak in Stillwater, which dates back to 2007. But the Jayhawks could never take control of the game, though they had their chances.

Kansas came up empty on its final five offensive drives, including two interceptions and two instances of a turnover on downs.

Starting in place of Jalon Daniels (back injury), Bean went 23-of-34 passing for 410 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions. KU running back Devin Neal ran for 66 yards on just 13 attempts.

Bean felt the loss was a learning experience.

“These days are tough,” he said. “I feel like a day like this is something we are going to look back on and (will) make us better. It opened our eyes on things we need to correct.”

KU vs. Oklahoma State game recap

The Cowboys jumped out to a 14-0 lead at home in Stillwater, but KU soon answered. Bean delivered a 47-yard strike to wide receiver Trevor Wilson, putting Kansas on the scoreboard.

Oklahoma State led 17-7 after the first quarter, but the Jayhawks scored three touchdowns to take a 25-24 halftime lead.

That lead would’ve been bigger, but KU had an extra point blocked and another attempt fumbled by the holder. They tried a two-point conversion late in the half, and it also failed.

Bean found wide receiver Quentin Skinner for a 42-yard touchdown reception to open the third quarter, but the Jayhawks, who led 32-24, did not score again.

Cowboys safety Kendal Daniels intercepted a pass by Bean in the red zone. Bean was picked off again on his next drive and then, one drive later, failed to convert a pivotal fourth-and-5, where it appeared two Oklahoma State defenders could have jumped early, potentially moving into an offsides position.

Oklahoma State took the lead with 2:33 to play.

The Jayhawks will get their chance to respond after an off week, as they’ll face Oklahoma at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium on Oct. 28.

In the meantime, here are three takeaways from the game...

Jason Bean plays spectacularly ... in the first half

Last season, Bean went 18-for-23 passing for 203 yards and two passing touchdowns to clinch bowl eligibility for Kansas in a 37-16 win over OSU.

Well, he put together a special first half this time around.

The Cowboys stacked the box against the Jayhawks, almost daring Bean to throw the ball. Bean responded with his best half of the season and likely his career.

He looked comfortable in the pocket, leading to accurate throws against a Cowboys secondary that struggled to keep up.

His most impressive throw? Early in the second half, Bean evaded pressure and lobbed a cross-body pass to Quentin Skinner, who hauled it in and ran the rest of the way for a 49-yard touchdown.

Bean finished the half with 274 passing yards and four passing touchdowns. He did, however, throw two second-half interceptions.

“I think he struggled a little bit there late in the fourth, obviously, but before that, I thought he played outstanding,” KU coach Lance Leipold said. “I thought he made some really nice throws and created some things with his feet. But there are some plays we wish we all had back.”

Major special teams issues

Earlier this season, the Jayhawks’ special teams unit ranked No. 1 in ESPN’s SP+ — a tempo- and opponent-adjusted measure of college football efficiency.

The unit was a disaster on Saturday — as illustrated in three point-after-touchdown attempts in the second quarter.

First, kicker Seth Keller committed a false start. Then, the Cowboys blocked his second attempt at a kick.

The Jayhawks had a chance for redemption on their next PAT attempt but bobbled the snap. That bobble turned the extra-point attempt into an on-the-fly two-point attempt that was quickly stuffed.

Finally, Kansas’ offense stayed on the field for a two-point conversion try late in the first half. Bean’s pass was a tad-high, and the Jayhawks failed to convert.

Overall, the unit looked out of sync and discombobulated — a rare sight given how well it has held up this year.

Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon runs wild

Heading into the game, Cowboys running back Ollie Gordon was averaging 6.3 yards per carry.

By the end of the first quarter, he had over 100 yards from scrimmage, with 85 yards coming off three receptions.

By the end of the game, Gordon had done plenty of damage both running and catching the ball out of the backfield. He made KU defenders miss tackles with his shiftiness and burst through holes with his elite speed.

He finished with 168 rushing yards and a rushing score, plus 116 receiving yards and another touchdown. His longest run went for 42 yards.

As KU heads into an off week, defensive end Austin Booker listed multiple things the defense needs to work on.

“Definitely run-stopping, they had way too many yards on us,” Booker said. “Then (working) on (defending) a bunch of comeback (routes) and quick passes, bunch of screens. We want to work on redirecting it and use this bye week to get better and be ready for the following week.”