The McAlary Effect

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GAME MEDIA

vs UCLA
Monday January 15, 2029

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Jayhawk Talk

UNFINISHED BUSINESS COMPLETED: KANSAS CLAIMS BACK-TO-BACK NATIONAL TITLES WITH PERFECT 16–0 SEASON
By Darrius Smith, DSN Correspondent



ARLINGTON, Texas — One year after climbing the mountain for the first time, Kansas scaled it again — this time with authority.

With a resounding 40–14 demolition of UCLA in the national championship game, the Kansas Jayhawks capped off a flawless 16–0 campaign, claimed their second consecutive national title, and solidified their place among college football’s elite. What began in late August under the sun in Honolulu ended in a blizzard of confetti in AT&T Stadium, where head coach Jordan McAlary hoisted the College Football Playoff trophy for the second time in as many years.

“We said we weren’t done,” McAlary said. “We meant it.”

A Team on a Mission
From Week 1, Kansas looked different. The Jayhawks opened the season with a businesslike 44–22 road win over Hawaii, then followed with consecutive dominant performances against Washington State and Louisiana Tech. By the time Kansas handled Big 12 rivals TCU and BYU, the questions weren’t about whether they could compete — they were about whether anyone could stop them.

Senior quarterback Isaiah Marshall, playing with the poise and purpose of a veteran in his final year, set the tone. He accounted for a staggering 42 total touchdowns (15 passing, 27 rushing) while throwing for 4,156 yards and rushing for 1,237 more. At times, he looked indefensible.

“He made great decisions, extended plays, and spread the ball around beautifully,” McAlary said after a 38–3 rout of West Virginia in November. “This offense ran through him.”

But Kansas wasn’t just about one player. Running back Harry Stewart III, the hammer of the offense, finished with 1,817 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. Tight end Trey'Dez Green, receivers Morgan Cooke and Jared Marciano, and the versatile Damien Keo formed one of the most complete skill groups in the nation. The offensive line, led by Carter Lavrusky before a late-season injury, dominated in the trenches.

And then there was the defense.

Relentless, Ruthless, and Reliable
Kansas allowed just 14.6 points per game. They surrendered over 20 points only once in regulation — a 49–28 win over Colorado — and they held opponents to 10 points or fewer in six games, including three of their final four.

Linebacker Donte Cantrell paced the team with 76 tackles, while edge rushers Greydon Grimes (13.0 sacks) and Hugh Busby (11.0 sacks) terrorized opposing quarterbacks. The secondary, led by Terrance Yates (4 INTs) and Immanuel Jones, produced clutch takeaways in key moments, including a pair of interceptions against Notre Dame in the CFP semifinal.

Even when injuries struck — CB Jalen Todd and OG Carter Lavrusky were both lost late in the season — Kansas didn’t flinch. Depth, discipline, and dominance carried them.

A Postseason for the Ages
The Jayhawks entered the Big 12 title game with a perfect 12–0 record and left AT&T Stadium with a 42–20 win over a strong Texas Tech squad. Marshall was masterful, and Stewart pounded away with 189 rushing yards.

In the CFP quarterfinal, Kansas stunned the nation with a 31–3 throttling of No. 5 Georgia — a defensive masterclass that saw the Jayhawks force two turnovers and limit Georgia to just 283 yards of total offense.

Then came a 45–23 statement win over Notre Dame in the semifinal, where Marshall threw three touchdowns and Stewart punched in two more, pushing Kansas to the brink of history.

And finally, against UCLA, the Jayhawks unleashed their full might. Stewart ran for 272 yards and four touchdowns — including an 87-yard exclamation point to close the game — while the defense stifled the Bruins with a dominant display.

Coach of the Year: McAlary’s Masterclass
Jordan McAlary was named National Coach of the Year, a fitting honor for the architect of one of the greatest two-year runs in modern college football history. Under his leadership, Kansas has transformed from a longshot program into a back-to-back national champion with a 29–1 record over the past two seasons.

McAlary’s fingerprints were all over the Jayhawks' success — from the physical identity on both sides of the ball to the development of stars like Isaiah Marshall and Harry Stewart III. But more than anything, it was his ability to galvanize a locker room and keep his team focused amid the mounting pressure of perfection.

“We’ve played with purpose all year,” McAlary said after the Big 12 Championship. “And tonight was a reflection of that.”

His message never wavered: be the hunter, not the hunted. His players bought in completely.

“We’re Here to Win It Again”
In the aftermath of confetti and chaos, McAlary’s words rang loud.

“We’ve come too far to leave anything on the table now,” he said. “Last year was about proving we belonged. This year was about finishing what we started. And now we’ve done it—again.”

Kansas finishes the season 16–0, with two national championships, a Big 12 crown, and a playoff run that saw them outscore Georgia, Notre Dame, and UCLA by a combined margin of 116–40.

They did it with stars. They did it with depth. They did it with belief.

And they’re not done yet.

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[Agent]

Too easy

[Soapy]

Great end to the chise.