Notes & Numbers: KU-UCF

Notes and numbers from KU's 27-20 Saturday night win over UCF in Orlando, Florida.

The win moved Kansas to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in Big 12 play.

Series History: Kansas leads 2-0

Kansas Captains: Jalon Daniels, Bryce Foster, Justice Finkley, Emmanuel Henderson Jr.

Coin Toss: UCF won the toss and elected to defer to the second half. Kansas elected to receive the opening kickoff.

Team Notes

• Kansas improved to 615-688-58 all-time, including 26-30 in the Lance Leipold era. Leipold’s career record improved to 172-69 overall.

• Kansas is now 2-0 over UCF all-time and gave Kansas its first win in the state of Florida since the 2008 Orange Bowl, which took place in Miami. The Jayhawks are now 1-1 in the city of Orlando following a loss to NC State in the 2004 Tangerine Bowl.

• Kansas earned its sixth Big 12 Conference road win under head coach Lance Leipold. Prior to Leipold’s arrival, Kansas was 1-54 in conference road games from 2008-20.

• Kansas moved to 2-1 in Big 12 Conference play this season and 11-10 under Leipold since 2023. Prior to Lance Leipold’s arrival, Kansas was 10-102 in Big 12 contests from 2008-20.

Offensive Notes

• In the second quarter, Jalon Daniels completed a 46-yard pass to tight end Boden Groen, marking a new career long for Groen. His previous long of 31 yards came while at Rice in 2023.

• Kansas running back Leshon Williams scored his third touchdown of the season on a 1-yard rush.

• Williams scored his second touchdown of the game on a 4-yard carry with 1:57 remaining in the first half, marking his first-career game with 2+ rushing touchdowns.

• Williams reached the endzone again in the third quarter on a 2-yard touchdown, marking his first-career three touchdown game. Williams’ three touchdown performance were the most in a game by a Jayhawk since Devin Neal rushed for three touchdowns against Colorado in 2024. Williams is the first Jayhawk to rush for three touchdowns in his first season at Kansas since Devin Neal on Nov. 13, 2021 at Texas.

• His five rushing touchdowns in 2025 are the most in a season over his career. His three rushing touchdowns on Saturday night match the same number of rushing touchdowns Williams had in four years at Iowa.

Defensive Notes

• Kansas did not allow a point to UCF in the second half. It is the first time Kansas has not allowed a point to a conference opponent on the road in a second half in Big 12 history.

• UCF finished the third quarter with -1 total yards.

• In the third quarter, Jalen Dye recorded his first-career sack for a 10-yard loss, while stripping the ball. Kansas’ Trey Lathan recovered the fumble, his first fumble recovery as a Jayhawk and third of his career. The forced fumble was Dye’s second of the season after forcing a fumble vs. West Virginia.

• The Dye sack and forced fumble marked Kansas’ first forced turnover in seven quarters. Kansas’ last forced turnover came against West Virginia on Sept. 20.

• Lathan had a team-high nine tackles (seven solo) and 1.5 tackles-for-loss. He has led the team in tackles four of the six games this season.

• Justice Finkley finished with a career-high-tying five tackles, including one tackle-for-loss.

Special Teams Notes

• Kansas kicker Laith Marjan connected on field goals from 33 and 41 yards on Saturday, improving to 9-of-9 on field goals this season. It marked Marjan’s third-straight game with at least two field goals made. That is the longest streak of his career with multiple field goals made.