Lawrence, Kan.-It couldn’t have been the ending seniors Bret Meyer and Todd Blythe envisioned having.

The duo wrapped up their Iowa State (2-6, 5-7) football careers on Saturday with a 45-7 loss to No. 3 Kansas (7,0, 11-0) before an announced crowd of 51,050.

The pair watched as Kansas sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing closed out the Jayhawks final home game of the season, by passing for 253 yards and four touchdowns.

Kansas, who ranks No. 2 in the nation in total offense, kept the Cyclones offense off the field with 234 yards of total offense.

Reesing completed touchdown passes of 17, 16, 51, and 18 yards as the Jayhawks built up a 28-7 half-time lead.

Iowa State was never able to recover.

Meyer, the Cyclones’ all-time leader in total offense passed for 103 yards in the loss and spent part of the loss on the bench as backup quarterback Austen Arnaud took over the play calling duties for six series. He threw for 79 yards, no touchdowns and one interception.

Blythe, Iowa State’s all-time leader in touchdown receptions and receiving yards caught just two passes for 20 yards.

Cyclones’ running back Alexander Robinson rushed for 53 yards and the team’s only touchdown.

Iowa State closes out its first season under coach Gene Chizik winning two of its final three games of the season.

The win for Kansas, coupled with No. 2 Oregon’s loss earlier this week, puts them in the driver seat for a spot in the National Championship if they can beat No. 4 Missouri next week, and the winner of the Big 12 South the following week.