Jayhawks, Beavers Celebrate the Day of the Dog

Sometimes, a buncha crazy stuff has to happen for sorry streaks to end on a happy note, but a false concept of law of averages claims it's gotta happen sooner or later.

False or whatever, it's usually later.

And then, weekends like this pop up where every damn one of the galaxy's improbable stars aligned to bring joy where football sadness usually reigns supreme.

 

Such is the fate of two programs who are often the reason other teams have winning records.

Coming into this weekend:

• the Kansas Jayhawks hadn't won a Big XII game since they upset Texas in 2016, and
• the Oregon State Beavers had lost 22 straight road games.

But lo and behold ...

 

The Jayhawks were the beneficiaries of a creative butt fumble to shock TCU, 27-26, while the Beavers erased a 31-3 second-half deficit to shock Colorado, 41-34, in overtime.

The Buffaloes now hold the dubious distinction of being the only team that's lost to both Kansas and Oregon State since 2010.

 

Kansas went 2-1 in a fluffy non-con schedule that wasn't fooling anyone, much less themselves, and then proceeded to pile up double-digit losses when the Big XII portion of the season got underway.

So, to say this was an unexpected result is an understatement:

 

Pooka Williams is lucky a sideline view at the goal line was either not available or incredibly inconclusive.

There's no view that resolves whether or not he really scored ...

 

Safe to say, though, that dude's a game-breaker. Coach David Beaty's got a key player to build around, and that's a vital first step if he's the one to truly resurrect the Jayhawks.

Meanwhile, in Corvallis, the Beavers are hoping their new coach follows the ways of Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy, minus the silly comments.

 

Gotta say, though, that never gets old.

Odds are Jonathan Smith won't go viral like that, but dude did well when he was slinging for the Beavers, and after a coaching arc that saw him be Chris Petersen's OC at Washington, dude's got his chance to do the legend thing at his alma mater.

He began as a walk-on and left holding school records.

 

In his first season as head coach, though, Smith's been left holding the bag for a program that's seen two coaches come and go in the three previous years.

Thus, Oregon State is loaded with players who try hard. This equated to a victory over Southern Utah, and that's about it.

 

So much for the thought that only the Buffalo Bills could be a horizon away from a huge second-half deficit and win.

Whatever Smith and his staff were saying in the locker room, the Beavers became believers:

 

As with Kansas, it's not clear where another triumph this season could come.

Then again, it was never clear either of these upsets would happen, either.