The streak is over. Before it really began.
After thumping Boston College last Friday night, Kansas returned home to open its Big 12 slate against West Virginia, but Les Miles and company could not keep the mojo going as WVU emerged with a 29-24 win.
A win would have given Kansas (2-2, 0-1 Big 12) back-to-back wins over Power 5 opponents for the first time since taking four straight over the 2008-09 seasons.
West Virginia scored first and never trailed, but Kansas scored with 2:10 remaining to pull within five, the closest the Jayhawks had been since a 7-7 tie in the second quarter. After pulling within 29-24, Kansas forced a WVU punt and then took over at its own 20 with 32 seconds remaining. The Jayhawks moved to their own 48, where a completion from Carter Stanley to Daylon Charlot and a series of laterals put the ball in Pooka Williams’ hands, but he was tackled at the West Virginia 12, ending the game.
Stanley threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns, while Williams rushed 15 times for 76 yards.
Austin Kendall completed 25-of-37 passes for 202 yards for West Virginia (3-1, 1-0 Big 12), while Kennedy McKoy rushed 20 times for 73 yards and a touchdown, Leddie Brown rushed 12 times for 70 yards, and Martell Pettway added 40 yards and two scores on the ground.
Like Kansas, West Virginia was picked at the bottom of the Big 12, so Kansas could be waiting a while still for its next set of back-to-back Power 5 victories.