LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Sam Richardson, who had not even attempted

a pass all year, threw for 250 yards and four touchdowns Saturday

night, sparking Iowa State past Kansas 51-23 and handing the

Jayhawks their 20th consecutive Big 12 loss.

Richardson led the Cyclones (6-5, 3-5 Big 12) to

touchdowns on four straight possessions in the second quarter while

taking a 38-17 lead. The redshirt freshman, virtually overlooked

all year in the Cyclones' jumbled quarterback picture, had

previously seen only mop-up duty in one game.

While going 23 of 27, Richardson spread his completions around

to 12 different receivers. Six different Cyclones scored

touchdowns.

For Kansas (1-10, 0-8), the final home game of the year sent a

bedraggled class of seniors out on the same sort of sour note which

has characterized their entire collegiate careers.

The fourth- and fifth-year seniors came aboard just as the Mark

Mangino-coached Jayhawks were winning two straight bowl games for

the first time in school history. The long-struggling program

seemed headed for the heights. But after starting the 2009 season

5-0, the Jayhawks lost their next seven and now, counting this

lopsided loss to Iowa State, have dropped a stunning 36 of 42 games

under three head coaches.

Kansas will need to win at West Virginia in its season finale on

Dec. 1 to avoid its worst season since the 1988 Jayhawks finished

1-10.

It's also a bitter entry into the Big 12 for Kansas coach

Charlie Weis, who announced at midweek that he would pay the $3

charge for anyone who wanted to buy a student ticket and come to

the game. Officials said it would be several days to know how many

took him up on his offer. But it appeared only a few hundred did.

Richardson replaced starter Steele Jantz on Iowa State's third

possession and immediately engineered a 10-play, 89-yard drive

connecting, with Josh Lenz for 30 yards and setting up Jeff Woody's

11-yard touchdown run for a 10-7 lead. Lenz also had a 14-yard

touchdown catch in the fourth quarter.

Tony Pierson rushed for 89 yards for Kansas, including a 55-yard

touchdown run in the second quarter, and caught a 37-yard scoring

pass from Dayne Crist in the fourth. But after his 55-yard score,

Iowa State answered immediately with Richardson's 11-yard scoring

pass to Albert Gary.

Durrell Givens recovered James Sims' fumble on the Jayhawks'

next possession, and five plays later Richardson connected with a

wide-open Aaron Horne on a 30-yard scoring play, making it 24-14.

The lead went to 31-14 a few minutes later when Richardson,

following Woody's 43-yard run, dived over from the 1.

A 20-yard pass to Ernst Brun, capping a six-play, 57-yard drive,

completed the second-quarter blitz and put Iowa State on top 38-14.

Edwin Arceo kicked three field goals for the Cyclones, including

a 51-yarder in the third quarter.