Illinois can’t recover from bad first half at Kansas

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Last weekend, the Illini fought back after a bad first half and completed a double-digit comeback victory. On the road, it was the same story with a different ending.

With Kansas as 3.5-point favorites, Friday’s primetime, nationally-televised game was expected to be tightly contested.

After the first half, it looked to be everything but. Kansas QB Jalon Daniels stole the show with 280 yards and two TDs in his season debut, and the rushing attack was good enough to keep Kansas ahead in a 34-23 win.

HOW IT HAPPENED

From the beginning, it was all Kansas. The Jayhawks scored with ease in their first two drives, out-gaining the Illini 167-24 and taking a 14-0 lead to end the first quarter.

The first-half comparisons were nightmarish for Illinois. Fans saw their top-scoring defense from last season (12.8 ppg) put the Illini in a 28-7 hole heading into the locker room.

With Daniels picked to be Preseason Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, he and the Kansas…