MEMPHIS — Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson was all smiles before stepping to the post-game interview table Wednesday night at the Liberty Bowl.
His grin grew wider when he was handed a large, gold trophy made in the shape of an eagle. Jefferson received it for being named most valuable player of the Razorbacks’ dizzying 55-53 triple-overtime victory over Kansas at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
His hands, holding corners of the base during photo ops, were near his waist. One of the eagle’s wings was touching the skull cap the quarterback wore under his helmet during the game.
The size of the giant trophy was appropriate given Jefferson’s performance. He threw for 287 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception, and rushed for 130 yards and 2 touchdowns on 14 carries.
Jefferson also made critical plays in the overtime periods that helped Arkansas avoid losing after leading by 25 points in the second half. A loss would have handed the Razorbacks their largest collapse in program history.
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“I feel amazing right now,” Jefferson said. “Just a surreal moment being able to come out here with my teammates and letting the young guys take advantage of their opportunities and getting the ball in their hands. It’s a surreal moment (winning) back-to-back (bowl games). I’m feeling good.”
After Arkansas fell behind 7-3 on a touchdown pass by Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels, Jefferson took over for the Razorbacks. He engineered a pair of quick-strike scores, then later found the end zone on the ground on a 3-yard run.
His first passing score went to receiver Matt Landers for 59 yards to put Arkansas up 10-7. Moments later, after a Jayhawks fumble on a kickoff return, he found freshman tight end Ty Washington for a 17-yard touchdown.
The scores came eight seconds apart. Jefferson’s first rushing touchdown came with 23 seconds left in the first quarter.
Arkansas scored a Liberty Bowl-record 24 points in the first quarter. It was also the program’s highest-scoring first quarter against a Power 5 team since scoring 28 against Kentucky in 2012.
“KJ played a heck of a game tonight, and I told him after the game he played his butt off,” starting right tackle Dalton Wagner said. “And the last two years have been — three years, really — so much fun playing with him.
“He’s got a confidence and swagger to him, and I think he showed it out there today.”
Jefferson and the Razorbacks’ offense scuffled through the end of regulation after running back Rashod Dubinion tacked on a 2-yard rushing score with 8:43 left in the third quarter that put Arkansas ahead 38-13. The Razorbacks punted on four straight series — including 3 three-and-outs — and fumbled once.
But Jefferson again came alive in the overtime segments.
In the second extra period, Jefferson scored on a 20-yard touchdown run up the middle, then on the two-point conversion attempt found receiver Jaedon Wilson to put Arkansas ahead 53-45.
And in the top of the third overtime, which consisted of only two-point tries, he hit Dubinion on a wheel route for the game’s final points.
“I just feel like I just want to be able to put my teammates in the best position to win,” Jefferson said. “I just wanted to make sure that we got the victory for them and to just be able to just tell a story. I mean, just knowing that we played in the Liberty Bowl and came out victorious, just adding it to my resume.
“Just being able to tell the story, I just wanted to be able to put my teammates and my team in the best position to win.”
Jefferson’s 287 passing yards were his most since throwing for 367 yards at BYU on Oct. 15. And his 130 rushing yards were a career high.
The quarterback finished the game with 7 runs of 7-plus yards, and he had 5 runs of greater than 11 yards.
His showing was key to the Razorbacks rushing for 394 yards — a program record at a bowl game — and 7.6 yards per carry.
Two of Jefferson's three 100-plus yard rushing games at Arkansas have come in bowl games. He rushed for 110 yards and 1 touchdown on 20 carries against Penn State in the Outback Bowl last season.
“I think what he did better than anything tonight was he led the football team,” Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said. “His leadership was outstanding and his toughness was outstanding.”