Memphis, TN – Arkansas (7-6) led Kansas by 25 with four minutes left in Q3 of Liberty Bowl 2022, but the Jayhawks (6-7) tied the score at the end of regulation. The teams exchanged 15 points each in the first two OTs. However, the Razorbacks scored on their first two-point conversion in the third OT on a run by Rashad Dubinion (20 carries, 112 yards, two TDs). Kansas RB Jason Bean flipped an errant option pass despite appearing to have room ahead to take the ball in himself. The Razorbacks took the bowl victory, 55-53. At the end of regulation in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 52,847 attended pretty evenly between both schools, all I could say was, “Wow!” Guest Game Analyst Rick Selleck (Auburn grad/fan) conferred, “That about sums I up!”
Kansas QB Jalon Daniels set four Liberty Bowl records. He set marks for passing yards (544), completions (37), TD passes (5), and scores (6). However, the strong-armed junior QB struggled early with accuracy. Arkansas interceptions and a muffed kick-off return allowed the Razorbacks to build its lead early. These resulted in its commanding 38-13 lead late in the third. Rick and I thought KU HC Lance Leipold premature in his decision to go for a two-point conversion. Kansas failed on their second score late in the second period. In retrospect, it probably cost the Jayhawks later.
Leipold’s leadership
However, we’ve admired him since his days at D-3 UW-Whitewater and at Buffalo. His uncanny coaching capabilities to build teams kept these Jayhawks fighting back through the end of this great game. What a comeback! Despite early setbacks, his team played unfazed. From our view point in the end zone, the Jayhawk receivers found seams on most pass plays.
Razorback QB KJ Jefferson and RB Dubinion took advantage of early turnovers and field position to give Arkansas a commanding lead. It sparked their large fan based to start their “SEC” chant. I still don’t understand why fans of these schools don’t focus on their individual team’s success. Auburn Rick had an explanation from a historical perspective. At that point, the Jayhawks played even more inspired football.
Kansas’ comeback!
With 3:15 left in the third quarter, Kansas scored on Ky Thomas’s two-yard run. The five-play, 86-yard drive was highlighted by Daniel’s 45-yard pass to Luke Grimm ( 10 catches, 167 yards, one TD) to the Arkansas 26. On their subsequent possession entering the final period, Kansas added three on Owen Piepergerdes 36-yard FG.
Trailing 38-23, the Jayhawks turned the ball over on downs to the Hogs at their 21 with 3:52 left to play. On this Razorback drove, KU spent two time-outs. On a second and eleven, on a completed pass down to the Jayhawks 30, DB Marvin Grant knocked the ball loose from Matt Landers’ grasp. KU’s Cobee Bryant scooped the ball and returned it to the Arkansas 48. Driven down to the ten, Daniels connected with Doug Emilien for a score to close the gap, 38-30. The play of the comeback occurred on KU’s onsides kick. It skipped among several Razorbacks. KU S Kenny Logan recovered to give the Jayhawks the ball on the 50. Rarely with five players on each side of the ball on an onsides do we see an intended recovery. “Execution,” said Rick. May have been facetious, but what else can one say?
Liberty Bowl final countdown
Daniels connected again with Grimm for 34 yards to the 16. Following a delay of game, Daniels connected with Grimm at the goal line for a 21-yard score. WR Lawrence Arnold (eight catches for 119 yards) hauled in a two-point conversion at the back of the end zone with 41 seconds before heading into OT. With three time-out left starting from the 25, HC Sam Pittman’s team didn’t show any sense of urgency. They never got within range of a field goal. An illegal substitution penalty by KU even gave the Hogs a few more yards. They could only run the ball out of bounds at the Jayhawks 38 as time expired. Overtime!
First OT and second OT
In the first OT, on fourth and goal at the two, Daniels hit TE Jared Casey in the flat for a two-yard score. The Jayhawks took a 45-38 lead, their first since a 7-3 lead in Q1. Arkansas tied it up on two plays as Dubinion ran it in from the six. To start the second round of OT, Jefferson burst for a 20-yard TD run. Addling pressure on the Jayhawks, he connected with Jaeden Wilson for the gutsy two-point conversion to retake the lead, 53-45. Daniels ran it in from the two on the ensuing Kansas possession. On the two-point conversion, he got stopped short as he dove to the goal line. We noted a wide-open receiver in the right corner before he dove.
Liberty Bowl over. No! Flag! It happened so quickly. DB Quincey McAdoo, who intercepted to set up a scoring drive early in the first, got called for targeting and ejected. Here’s where GGA Rick and I had a disagreement. He couldn’t believe the refs would make that call on a final, decisive game play. My thought is that officials have made those calls all year, and not that I agree with most as far as the intention. They always get reviewed for safety reasons and intent. Why stop during this critical situation?
They didn’t show the replay on the video board. A local fan wearing a Memphis ball cap said a friend texted him that it was evident. Later he showed us the replay on this phone. It looked clearly like leading into the helmet. The call stood. KU got the ball at the one, and Casey caught the pass for two to tie.
To the two-point conversions
Moving to the far end of the field from us for the two-point conversions, Dubinion took it over for Arkansas. We watched KU’s play unfold with Bean sprinting to the right appearing to be trending toward the pylon when he suddenly shot-putted the ball far over a receiver’s head. He was open, but the path ahead of him looked to be the right move from our long view. Now game over. You just hate to see a game like this end with a flub instead of a great defensive play in this case. Arkansas won, 55-53, in a great, memorable game in the 64th Liberty Bowl.
Next up!
We attend our 655th game and our final game of 2022 to end another fantastic Collegefootballfan.com season on Saturday. The Liberty Bowl was similar to last year’s Music City Bowl that went down to the wire with Purdue defeating Tennessee, 48-45. We anticipate this year’s Music City to be very anti-climactic. It could be close, but we expect a very low score.
Iowa who’s shown little offense but singy defense will play Kentucky (7-5) without the services of QB Will Levis who opted out. If any QB needed an opportunity to show the pros what he can do, he is it. Kentucky’s defense is stout. We saw U of K fall to Georgia, 16-6, this year. Three bad passes by Levis kept the Wildcats from scoring opportunities on three different drives early in that game. The defense held UGA to its lowest score of the season. After this one, we look forward to settling in somewhere to watch the two CFP semi-finals. Happy New Year everybody!
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