Former Mizzou player/head coach Barry Odom directs UNLV to upset victory over KU

Second-year UNLV football coach Barry Odom, who played linebacker for the Missouri Tigers in games against rival Kansas from 1996 to 1999, never had a chance to coach against the Jayhawks during his four seasons as MU head coach (2016-19).

The two teams had long switched conferences by the time he was in charge of the Tigers’ sideline.

Odom — he also was part of nine MU-KU games as a member of the Mizzou coaching staff prior to taking the head coaching job — acknowledged thinking about past KU-MU battles before kickoff of the Rebels’ 23-20 victory over the Jayhawks on Friday night at Children’s Mercy Park.

“We went back … I think on this date in 1998 Devin West had 319 yards rushing against the Jayhawks (in a 41-23 Tiger win). That was on my mind today, too, going into it,” Odom said Friday outside the winners’ locker room.

“I grew up in this part of the country,” added the Oklahoma native. “You always have memories of playing common opponents. This is another one. Lance (Leipold, KU coach) has done a great job with this program.

“They’re going to be much better this year,” Odom added of the (1-2) Jayhawks.

Asked by a reporter if his MU ties made the victory over. KU “more sweet,” Odom said: “There’s probably … I’ll never be right if I say what I really think. Forever, because of the conferences those teams were in, it was the oldest rivalry west of the Mississippi. I’ve been in a lot of them obviously.”

Odom was head coach of the Rebels last year in UNLV’s 49-36 shootout loss against the Jayhawks in Phoenix. So he’s 1-1 as a head coach against KU. More importantly, his Rebels are 3-0 this season.

“Early on, it was tough sledding,” Odom said. The Jayhawks raced to an early 14-3 lead. “It was ugly. Kansas is a good team. We had to stay in the fight. The grittiness to get firsts when we needed to ... it was a gritty performance by our guys.

UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka rushed for 124 yards on 19 carries, his long run a 46-yarder. He hit 7 of 18 passes for 86 yards and a TD, a 27-yard pass to Jai’Den Thomas right before halftime, cutting the UNLV deficit to 17-13.

KU running back Devin Neal had 120 yards rushing on 23 carries. However in the second half he was held to 25 yards on 11 carries.

“I think our defensive line did a better job on playing on their side of the line of scrimmage,” Odom said. “We crowded the box a little bit more. I thought we tackled better. There were times in the first half we were in position, we just didn’t tackle as well. (Neal) is a really good back. Our guys stayed the course, made some adjustments and were able to execute that.”

Of containing QB Jalon Daniels, Odom said: “When we needed our pass rush the second half, we affected the throws.”

Daniels rushed or 65 yards on 11 carries with two touchdowns. He completed 12 of 24 passes for 153 yards, no TDs and two interceptions.

Led by QB Sluka, UNLV put together an 18-play, 75-yard drive, capped by a 1-yard rush for a TD on fourth down by Kylin James. The drive took 9:22 and gave the Rebels a 23-20 margin with two minutes to play.

“We knew what we had to do,” Sluka said. “Down four, a field goal would do no good.”

Of the fourth down 1-yard score by James, Sluka said: “Last play … we’re getting in,” Sluka said. “I told the offensive line when we got in the huddle, ‘Right here, right now. We’ve got one play left. I need all you guys to put your heart into this and let’s get in the end zone and find a way.’ KP (James) did a great job keeping his head low. He got in there.”