Sixth-year senior Jalon Daniels threw for 176 yards and three touchdowns, two of them to newcomer Cam Pickett, and Kansas opened its rebuilt, $450 million on-campus stadium with a 31-7 rout of Fresno State on Saturday.
Daniels finished 18 of 20 while running for 47 yards, and Iowa transfer Leshon Williams had a long touchdown run, helping the Jayhawks pile up nearly 400 yards of total offense and win their fifth consecutive season-opener.
E.J. Warner had 179 yards passing with two interceptions for Fresno State. Elijah Gilliam had a touchdown run.
This one had all the pomp and circumstance of a homecoming — and, well, it was one after the Jayhawks spent all of last season playing home games at stadiums in the Kansas City area. In the meantime, their 104-year-old stadium was razed and the majority of it was rebuilt, with only the east side where the students sit awaiting a facelift this coming offseason.
Then the Jayhawks got busy, as they seek to rebound from a 5-7 finish a year ago.
Daniels quickly led them downfield after the opening kickoff, hitting Pickett with a 21-yard touchdown throw. After Fresno State answered with Gilliam’s touchdown run, the Jayhawks’ longtime quarterback — a one-time Heisman Trophy candidate whose career has been slowed by injuries — helped Kansas reel off 17 points and take a 24-7 lead into halftime.
Daniels added a touchdown throw to Keaton Kubecka in the third quarter that put the game out of reach.
Jalon Daniels connects with Cam Pickett for a 21-yard TD vs. Fresno State
The Takeaway
Fresno State got off to a good start under new coach Matt Entz. Warner was 5 of 5 for 81 yards in the first quarter, but he was just 13 of 24 for 98 yards the rest of the way while turning the ball over three times.
Kansas dominated both lines of scrimmage. The defense of new coordinator D.K. McDonald was especially disruptive, holding the Bulldogs to just 37 yards on 29 carries while totaling 10 tackles-for-loss.
Up next
Fresno State plays Georgia Southern in its home opener next Saturday.
Kansas plays Wagner on Friday night in its final tuneup before visiting rival Missouri.
Reporting by The Associated Press.
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