Kansas 27, Central Florida 20
When: 7:30 PM ET, Saturday, October 4, 2025
Where: Acrisure Bounce House, Orlando, Florida
Temperature:
75°
Head Official:
Stephen Baron
Attendance:
43229
By Field Level Media
Leshon Williams rushed for three touchdowns and Kansas used a dominant second half to defeat UCF 27-20 on Saturday night in Orlando, Fla.
The Jayhawks, who outscored the Knights 13-0 in the second half with all of their points in the third quarter, had a big fourth-down stop in the final two minutes to preserve the victory.
Jalon Daniels was 18 of 26 for 235 yards for Kansas (4-2, 2-1 Big 12).
Tayven Jackson was 14-of-23 passing for 97 yards before leaving the game with an injury in the third quarter for UCF (3-2, 0-2).
In Kansas' two losses (at Missouri and vs. Cincinnati), the Jayhawks allowed their opponents to convert 7 of 8 on fourth down. The Knights converted their first two fourth-down attempts on Saturday before backup quarterback Cam Fancher (8 of 14, 79 yards in the game) was stopped near the goal line with 1:47 left.
Trailing by six points at halftime, Kansas trimmed the deficit to 20-17 midway through the third quarter on Laith Marjan's 33-yard field goal. After the Jayhawks' defense forced a second straight UCF three-and-out, Marjan tied the score with a 41-yard field goal.
On UCF's next possession, Jackson was sacked by Jalen Dye, causing a fumble. The ball was picked up by KU's Trey Lathan at the 7-yard line and returned to the 2-yard line. On the next play, Williams scored his third touchdown to give Kansas the lead.
Kansas outgained UCF 131 yards to minus-1 in the third quarter.
After the teams traded punts, UCF went on a 14-play, 53-yard drive but failed on three plays inside the 2-yard line, including fourth down. The Knights' final drive ended deep in Kansas territory.
UCF grabbed an early lead on a 29-yard touchdown run up the middle by Myles Montgomery on the Knights' opening drive.
Montgomery then put the Knights up 14-0 with a 3-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter. After forcing a turnover on downs, the Knights went 60 yards on eight plays.
Williams got Kansas on the board with a 2-yard touchdown run on Kansas' next possession.
After Noe Ruelas' 38-yard field goal put UCF up 17-7, Williams' second short run pulled the Jayhawks to within 17-14. Ruelas hit another 38-yard field goal just before halftime.
--Field Level Media
Top Game Performances
Team Stats Summary
| |
Yards |
Scoring |
Defense |
| Team |
Tot |
Rus |
Pas |
TD |
FG |
INT |
Sck |
FF |
| Kansas
|
358 |
123 |
235 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
2.0 |
1 |
| Central Florida
|
375 |
199 |
176 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1.0 |
0 |
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