Kansas offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes has this regret following loss to Illinois

Kansas offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes wishes he had done a few things differently in KU’s 23-17 loss to Illinois on Saturday.

Grimes’ play-calling was a popular topic of conversation on social media following the Jayhawks’ loss, particularly from those wondering why Kansas didn’t run the ball more.

KU’s rushing attack finished with 181 yards, but Devin Neal and Daniel Hishaw only combined for 21 total carries.

Neal had 101 rushing yards on 14 carries (7.2 yards per carry), while Hishaw had 39 rushing yards on seven carries (5.6 yards per carry).

When asked about KU’s offensive line play, Grimes complimented KU’s running backs.

“I thought by and large that it was a good performance by them (the offensive line),” he said. “We were running into heavy, heavy, boxes. First, I’ve got to give credit to the backs because I think Devin and Deuce (Hishaw) played really well and exceptionally hard. I have got to do a better job of getting them the ball in crunch time.”

Neal received two carries for 14 yards in the fourth quarter. Hishaw didn’t touch the ball in that time.

The Jayhawks had three fourth-quarter drives, including one while leading by three. Illinois ran the ball 13 times (including one quarterback scramble) in the fourth quarter.

While KU’s running backs had a stellar day, Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels had one of his worst games in a Jayhawk uniform. Daniels finished 18-of-32 passing for 141 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. He also lost a fumble on the last play of the game.

Daniels went 3-for-8 passing for 20 yards with the fumble in the fourth quarter. Naturally, Daniels and Grimes talked about his performance afterward.

“I saw a guy that’s frustrated but not shaken,” Grimes said. “I think its a guy that is excited to move forward and play the next week. I thought on the sideline, similarly to what I said before, there was the right amount of frustration but not panic. … I think he’s disappointed, but the competitor in him is ready to compete again.

“In this sport, wins and losses get magnified at a higher level because you have so few competition days. It also gives you that time in between from one competition to the next to set yourself and go to work.”

The Jayhawks will try to bounce back against UNLV on Friday at Children’s Mercy Park. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.