Year-by-Year: 2008

Dream Season Continues for Kansas

Kansas          24
Virginia Tech  21

In a classic match up between the nation’s second ranked scoring defense in the Virginia Tech Hokies (15.5 ppg) against the nation’s second ranked scoring offense in the Kansas Jayhawks (44.3 ppg), something had to give in the 2008 FedEx Orange Bowl.
For much of the night, Virginia Tech stymied Kansas offense but it was the Jayhawk defense that came up big with three interceptions and beat the Hokies 24-21 to cap one of the finest seasons in school history.

The takeaways led to 17 Kansas points, including game MVP Aqib Talib’s 60-yard return for the game’s first score.

This was the first major bowl for the Jayhawks since the 1969 Orange Bowl, and they made a big splash at the start, racing to a 17-0 lead after 23 minutes.

Virginia Tech closed the deficit to 17-14 before Sean Glennon was intercepted by Justin Thornton, whose 30-yard return gave Kansas the ball at the 2 with 11 minutes left. Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing scored on the next play.

Sparking the Tech comeback was Justin Harper’s 84-yard punt return after taking a lateral on a reverse from Eddie Royal, who fielded the kick.

Kansas (12-1), perhaps the biggest surprise in college football during the season, won in its first Bowl Championship Series game to set a team record for victories. The previous year, the Jayhawks went 6-6. The Hokies would finish the year 11-3.

GAME STATISTICS