Throughout each season, there are interesting notes and nuggets of information that come out of every game, win or lose.
Here’s a quick look at some of the more interesting and noteworthy facts and stats from KU's road loss at Illinois on Saturday night.
The loss dropped KU to 1-1 on the season. Next up, Kansas will play host to UNLV at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas, next Friday night. Kickoff on Sept. 13 is slated for 6 p.m.
Series History: Illinois leads the series 4-3 all-time, including a 4-1 record in Champaign
Captains: Jalon Daniels, Luke Grimm, Devin Neal, Cornell Wheeler
Coin Toss: Illinois won the toss, deferred to the second half.
Team Notes
• Kansas is now 607-680-58 all-time, including 18-22 in the Lance Leipold era.
• KU is 7-12 in road games under Leipold; 3-3 in non-conference road games.
Offensive Notes
• Devin Neal recorded his second 100-yard rushing game to open the season, finishing with 101 yards on 14 carries. Neal is now in sole possession of No. 3 in school history with 14 career 100-yard rushing games.
• Luke Grimm finished with nine receptions for 40 yards and a touchdown. He now has 141 career receptions, moving past Willie Vaughn for No. 6 in school history. Vaughn had 133 receptions as a Jayhawk from 1985-88.
• Grimm hauled in a 3-yard touchdown pass from Jalon Daniels in the second quarter, the 19th of his career. Grimm is now tied with Steven Sims Jr. (2015-18) for second in program history for receiving touchdowns.
• Lawrence Arnold caught a 13-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter, the 14th of his career. The 14 career receiving touchdowns moves Arnold into a tie for ninth with Brandon Rideau (2001-04) on the all-time KU touchdown reception list.
Defensive Notes
• In the second quarter, Cornell Wheeler forced a fumble, his first of the season and second of career. The forced fumble was recovered by Jereme Robinson, his third career fumble recovery and first since Oct. 22, 2022 at Baylor.
• Wheeler totaled eight tackles (five solo, three assisted) and led both teams with three tackles-for-loss.
• Marvin Grant tied for a game-high nine total tackles (seven solo, two assisted), adding a sack (solo) and a pass breakup.
Special Teams Notes
• Trevor Wilson returned three kickoffs for 67 yards and averaged 22.0 yards per kick return. Wilson also returned three punts for 22 yards.
• With 12:39 to play in the second quarter, Tabor Allen drilled a 29-yard field goal marking the first made field goal of his collegiate career.
• Damon Greaves saw his first action of the season, punting twice for a total of 109 yards. Each of Greaves’ punts amassed 50+ yards as he averaged 54.5 per punt.
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