Jalon Daniels remembers his first college touchdown vividly.
It was a quarterback keeper that Daniels turned into an 8-yard rushing score against rival K-State in 2020. Kansas still lost badly, 55-14, but Daniels was only 17 years old, days from his 18th birthday.
Now, he’s 22 — soon to turn 23 — and the sixth-year quarterback will play in his final Sunflower Showdown at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Not only will Daniels look for his first-ever win vs. K-State, the Jayhawks will look to break a 16-game losing streak to the Wildcats.
For some KU and college football fans, this game could be legacy-defining for Daniels. He’s considered the face of Kansas football and the player most associated with the program’s turnaround under coach Lance Leipold.
A win would help cement his legacy. Not to mention, it would bring KU (4-3, 2-2 Big 12) one step closer to a bowl game.
Daniels, though, says he’s not worried about that.
“At the end of the day, right now, what are we sitting at? 4-3? I’d love to be sitting at 5-3,” Daniels told The Star. “It would be great to be able to get a win. You could say I’m downplaying Kansas State, but it’s the next opponent, it’s the next game I get to play and the next snap I get to play.
“Though it is the people who are in the same state as us, I can’t wait to go out there and play (in general).”
Daniels is having a strong final college season. He’s thrown for 1,752 yards and 18 touchdowns with just two interceptions. He’s sixth in the nation in passing touchdowns.
He has also rushed for 199 yards and a touchdown. It’s his best season since 2022, when he entered the Heisman conversation early on.
“I believe in my (abilities). In 2022, I had 18 (passing) touchdowns and four interceptions,” Daniels said. “It was being able to … put my guys in the best position. If I keep turning the ball over, that’s putting my defense out there longer than they need to be out there.
“For me, it’s about being able to play mistake-free football as much as possible. When you don’t give the ball to the other team, it allows our players to be able to make plays.”
Daniels hasn’t thrown a pick since KU’s loss to Missouri. He has nine touchdowns in four games since then.
Playing a clean game against K-State will be the next step. Last year, the Jayhawks lost 29-27 to the Wildcats. Two years ago they lost 31-27.
Both games featured critical mistakes.
Last season, Daniels fumbled the ball twice in the last five minutes. The first one led to a K-State field goal to take the lead. The second fumble sealed the game.
Since spring, Kansas has replayed those closing moments on the video board when practicing late-game situations. Daniels knows there’s a high chance this game could be another nail-biter, and he could have an opportunity for redemption.
“It’s no secret, a lot of the games against Kansas State every single year have been close, and it kind of just comes down to who makes the least amount of mistakes,” Daniels said. “So it’s just about being able to go out there and try to play mistake-free football in preparation for this year’s game.”
