It was a nightmare for the 19th-ranked Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday night. In front of a sold-out crowd of 60,000 Orange-clad fans at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Kansas fell to the Fighting Illini of Illinois, 23-17.
Jalon Daniels, the Jayhawks signal caller, finished the game with just 141 passing yards, and the most important note was the three interceptions. One of the interceptions led to a final-minute touchdown for the Illini just before halftime.
The Jayhawks seemingly went away from their strongest offensive weapon, running back Devin Neal. Neal finished the game with 14 carries and 101 yards, an average of 7.2 yards per carry. Daniel Hishaw, the other running back also averaged 5.6 yards per carry for Kansas.
Illinois took the lead with 9:34 to go in the game, as Kaden Feagin rushed in from 1-yard out. After Kansas could not move the ball, Illinois milked over 6:00 off the clock and knocked down a field goal to go ahead by six points.
Kansas could not get the ball into the end zone at the end of the game, including a fumble on the final play from Daniels to set up the Hail Mary.
Luke Atmyer finished with 192 yards passing for Illinois. Zakhari Franklin was his top target, with nine receptions and 99 yards in the game. He did lose a fumble in the game.
Kansas will now likely be unranked, and is currently out of the current College Football Playoff picture. Despite the loss, Kansas will still be a dark horse pick in the Big 12 standings when it gets underway. The Jayhawks will now head home and host UNLV in Week 3. The Rebels are 2-0, and reached a bowl game a season ago.
Illinois will remain at home, and seek to win their third straight game when the Chippewas of Central Michigan come to town.