Kansas football vs. Cincinnati recap: KU wraps up regular season with Big 12 victory

CINCINNATI — Kansas football’s 2023 season continued Saturday with a Big 12 Conference matchup on the road against Cincinnati.

The Jayhawks came in off of a loss at home against now-No. 20 Kansas State. The Bearcats came in off of a loss on the road against West Virginia. It was the last opportunity for Kansas to add to its resume before its regular season ends and it becomes time to await its bowl game fate.

Were the Jayhawks able to end a two-game losing streak? Was head coach Lance Leipold able to regain some momentum that was lost in recent weeks? Although Cincinnati didn't enter with a stellar record, it had the potential to step up in front of its home crowd.

Here is what happened inside Nippert Stadium:

Kansas game time, TV channel, betting odds for today’s game against Cincinnati

Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. (CT)

TV: ESPN2

Betting odds: Kansas by 7 points

Kansas football vs. Cincinnati recap

FINAL: Kansas 49, Cincinnati 16

Kansas added one more touchdown with less than a minute left in the game. Running back Dylan McDuffie scored from six yards out, and after the extra point the Jayhawks went up 49-16. The drive went 61 yards in 11 plays and took 7:01 off of the clock.

Kansas isn't letting up

There's another rushing touchdown from quarterback Jason Bean, this time from 50 yards out. The drive lasted just two plays, took 0:55 off of the clock and went 59 yards. After the extra point, Kansas leads 42-16 with 9:52 left in the fourth quarter.

Kansas responds quickly

Kansas is back up more than two scores, after a scoring drive that lasted three plays and 79 yards and took 1:37 off of the clock. Quarterback Jason Bean rushed it in from 43 yards out. After the extra point, the Jayhawks are up 35-16 with 11:39 left in the fourth quarter.

Cincinnati drives for a touchdown

It's a two-possession game now, as Cincinnati just drove for a touchdown to now trail 28-16 with 13:23 left in the fourth quarter. It was a trick play that led the Bearcats to find the end zone. Kansas, though, remains in control of the game after the Bearcats failed on a two-point conversion attempt.

END 3Q: Kansas 28, Cincinnati 10

Kansas doesn't waste much time scoring again

Kansas opened the third quarter with possession of the ball, and scored with relative ease. After a slow start to the drive, the Jayhawks ended up going 75 yards in eight plays while taking 3:07 off the clock on the way to a touchdown. After the touchdown, which was a 30-yard rushing score by running back Devin Neal, and the extra point, Kansas leads 28-10 with 11:53 left in the third quarter.

HALFTIME: Kansas 21, Cincinnati 10

Kansas answers

Aided by quality field position after a kick return, Kansas drove for a touchdown and scored with 0:05 left in the first half. The score came on a 26-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jason Bean to tight end Mason Fairchild. After the extra point, which followed a two-play and 56-yard drive that took 0:17 off of the clock, Kansas leads 21-10.

Cincinnati scores just before halftime

The Bearcats have cut into the Jayhawks' lead, with quarterback Emory Jones finding running back Ryan Montgomery for an 11-yard touchdown pass. After the extra point went through, Kansas' lead is down to 14-10 with less than a minute before halftime. The drive went 75 yards in 13 plays and took 5:05 off of the clock.

Kansas adds to its lead

Kansas tight end Jared Casey just made a great catch and it's given the Jayhawks another touchdown. With 5:31 left in the second quarter, and after the extra point, Kansas leads 14-3. The drive went 66 yards in five plays and took 2:22 off of the clock.

Kansas takes the lead

The Jayhawks are on the scoreboard with 8:55 left in the second quarter, and they have the lead as well. Kansas scored on a 13-yard rushing touchdown from running back Devin Neal, and are up 7-3 after the extra point. The drive went 77 yards in five plays and took 2:38 off of the clock.

END 1Q: Cincinnati 3, Kansas 0

Cincinnati takes an early lead

The Bearcats are up 3-0 with 8:12 left in the first quarter after a 49-yard field goal attempt connected. The drive went 44 yards in 12 plays and took 6:48 off of the clock. It included a fourth-down conversion, but Cincinnati chose not to go for it a second time before the field goal.

Pregame

The coin toss

RELATED: 3 lingering questions following Kansas football’s Big 12 Conference loss vs. Kansas State

RELATED: Kansas football had Jason Bean available, but chose to start Cole Ballard at quarterback

RELATED: Kansas football coach Lance Leipold updates status of Jayhawks’ quarterback situation

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas football vs. Cincinnati recap: KU ends regular season with win