Kansas achieved the unexpected on Thursday, beating Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl with defense.
Their high-powered offense was stymied most of the night, but the Jayhawks came up with three interceptions and beat Virginia Tech 24-21 to cap one of the finer seasons in school history.
The turnovers led to 17 Kansas points, including Aqib Talib's 60-yard return for the game's first score.
He was chosen the game's most valuable player.
"Everybody talks about Virginia Tech's defense," said safety Justin Thornton. "We came out to show we can play defense at Kansas, too."
Kansas, perhaps the biggest surprise in college football this season, won in its first Bowl Championship Series game to set a team record for victories.
A year ago the Jayhawks went 6-6.
"People kept telling us we couldn't win against this team, that we couldn't win the big game, that we had no chance," quarterback Todd Reesing said. "We took that to heart. We like being underdogs."
The Hokies lost their fourth consecutive BCS game. It was a bittersweet finish for the Hokies, who revived spirits this season following the April campus shootings that left 33 students and professors dead.
"We still accomplished something this season," tackle Duane Brown said. "We couldn't finish off on a high note."
The Jayhawks were playing in their first major bowl since the 1969 Orange Bowl, and they made a big splash at the start, racing to a 17-0 lead after 23 minutes.
Virginia Tech closed the deficit to 17-14 before quarterback Sean Glennon had a pass intercepted by Thornton, whose 30-yard return gave Kansas the ball at the 2-yard line with 11 minutes left. Reesing scored on the next play.
Chris Harris also had an interception to set up a field goal, and the Jayhawks totaled five sacks while allowing only two scoring drives.
Virginia Tech drove 78 yards to score with 3 minutes left on Glennon's 20-yard pass to Justin Harper, but the Jayhawks' Raimond Pendleton fielded the ensuing onside kick, and they ran out the clock.
"It feels really great," Kansas tackle Anthony Collins said. "Now I feel like USC and Florida and them feel every day. They don't get any better than this. I know it ain't the national championship, but it doesn't get any better. We won the Orange Bowl."
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