Box Score LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) -Todd Reesing threw for 368 yards and Aqib Talib set a team record with a 100-yard interception return, leading unbeaten Kansas past Florida International 55-3 Saturday night and handing the Golden Panthers their 16th loss in a row.
Reesing tossed a 19-yard TD pass to Derek Fine and also scored on a 9-yard run as the Jayhawks, with four straight blowouts, got off to just their second 4-0 start in 26 years. The only Big 12 team to play all four nonconference games at home, Kansas has outscored Central Michigan, Southeastern Louisiana, Toledo and Florida International 182-23.
Reesing was 23-for-37 and erased Kansas' one-game passing record for a sophomore, which he'd set with 313 yards the week before. The Jayhawks had 615 yards of total offense, tying for fifth-best in school history. Florida International had 255.
Talib, an all-Big 12 cornerback who's also scored four touchdowns in the last five games as a part-time wide receiver, leaped high into the air to pick off Wayne Younger's pass about 2 yards deep in the end zone.
He started down the sideline, picked up several blocks, then cut back all the way across the field and sprinted out of Younger's lunging tackle attempt to score the Jayhawks' sixth touchdown. It goes into the books as a 100-yard return.
Altogether in Kansas' hot start, Reesing has hit 73 of 125 passes for 1,119 yards and 11 TDs. He has yet to play in the fourth quarter. He finally threw his first interception when a pass bounced off Talib as he took a hard hit and floated into the arms of Cory Fleming in the third quarter.
Florida International (0-4) dropped to 5-22 since becoming a major college program in 2005. The Golden Panthers' losing streak is the longest currently in major college football.
The Jayhawks seized a 7-0 lead before their offense took the field when Raymond Brown blocked a punt and Dakota Lewis fell on the ball in the end zone. It was the Jayhawks' third special teams TD this season.
Brandon McAnderson rushed for 105 yard on 13 carries and scored on runs of 5 and 23 yards for Kansas. Jake Sharp scored on a 2-yard run and Jeff Webb kicked two field goals.
Chris Abed's 42-yard field goal got the Golden Panthers on the board in the first quarter, the only points Kansas has allowed in the opening period all year.
Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Mario Cristobal
On the game:
"It was a very humbling experience. Kansas is obviously an excellent football team. They played better, they coached better and they took it to us. We felt pretty good in the first quarter and thought it would be a good football game. Then their depth and execution took control and they ended up playing a great ballgame against us."
On what FIU learned:
"We can learn that if you don't jump on a team as good as Kansas early, and if you turn the ball over early like we did you dig yourself a whole against an offensive machine."
On going into conference play:
"We were getting better every week up until this point. Today we took a step backwards, but it certainly wasn't out of lack of effort. We've got to match up and do things correctly mentally."
On the Kansas defense:
"They are an excellent defense. They are very physical up front. They do a great job stopping the run. They really mixed up their pressure well."
On how KU compares to the teams FIU has faced:
"The way they execute their offense is very difficult to prepare for. They turned it over a couple of times as well. So they could have done a couple of things better, but they truly are a machine and they have a lot of talent."
On the Kansas offense:
"They have a great offense. They have talented quarterbacks, receivers and everything. They did a great job preparing for our defense. They did a good job of completing the ball, they hit the open receiver every time."
On the KU defense:
"They did a great job of playing harder than we did. They are all-around great job from their front four to everybody."
Junior Running Back A'mod Ned
On how KU compares to other teams FIU has faced:
"Their defense was like any other defense. They played hard and we didn't execute, but they played great on defense. I don't get into rating teams, but I know they are a great team. They handed it to us in every phase of the game."
On the blocked punt in the first quarter:
"It's just part of the game. We have to learn to overcome things like that. You have to make plays. We didn't make enough plays and they made all the right plays."
