Jalon Daniels threw for four touchdowns and ran for another as Kansas remained perfect by turning aside visiting Duke 35-27 on Saturday in front of a sold-out crowd in Lawrence, Kan.
Daniels completed 19 of 23 passes for 324 yards and rushed for 83 yards on 11 attempts in the final non-conference game for both teams.
The Jayhawks (4-0) racked up 204 rushing yards and wide receiver Lawrence Arnold had four catches for 84 yards.
Duke quarterback Riley Leonard completed 24 of 35 passes for 324 yards for one touchdown without an interception. His lone touchdown went to Jalon Calhoun, who had five catches for 93 yards.
After a Kansas punt, Duke regained possession at its own 5-yard line and moved to the Kansas 31 before an incomplete pass on fourth down.
It was the first loss for the Blue Devils (3-1) under first-year coach Mike Elko.
Kansas never trailed in avenging a road loss to Duke from last September.
The Blue Devils moved into Kansas territory on the first possession of the second half, but a fourth-down stop by the Jayhawks helped preserve the lead.
Then Daniels connected on a 36-yard pass to Arnold for the only touchdown of the third quarter. That gave Kansas a 28-13 lead.
Duke was within 28-20 after Jordan Waters ran 3 yards for a touchdown with 8:54 left in the fourth quarter.
Kansas went back to work on an eight-play, 75-yard drive, capped by Daniels' 3-yard run at the 4:42 mark.
Kansas scored the game's first points with 5:25 to play in the first quarter on Daniels' 6-yard pass to Trevor Kardell. Less than two minutes later, Duke pulled even on Jaylen Coleman's 5-yard run.
A Daniels-to-Daniel Hishaw Jr. pass play went for 73 yards early in the second quarter as the Jayhawks went ahead for good. The Jayhawks held a 21-10 advantage after Daniels connected with Luke Grimm for a 19-yard touchdown play with 1:04 to play in the first half.
Charlie Ham's second field goal of the second quarter for Duke was a 37-yarder three seconds before halftime.
--Field Level Media
Duke | Kansas | |
Riley Leonard | Player | Jalon Daniels |
10 | Attempts | 11 |
54 | Yards | 89 |
5.4 | Avg Yards | 8.1 |
0 | Touchdowns | 1 |
0 | Long | 0 |
Duke | Kansas | |
Jalon Calhoun | Player | Lawrence Arnold |
5 | Receptions | 4 |
93 | Yards | 84 |
18.6 | Avg Yards | 21.0 |
1 | Touchdowns | 1 |
0 | Long | 0 |