By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

USD 428 Great Bend schools implemented Capturing Kids' Hearts in August 2021. During Thursday's board of education luncheon at the high school, Principal Tim Friess called it one of the best moves the district could have made for his building. The program focuses on social-emotional well-being and relationship-driven success with small acts like greeting students at the door and creating social contracts. 

"If we hadn't gone to Capturing Kids' Hearts and doing the things that we feel like we're doing well in that process, this probably wouldn't be the same place right now," Friess said. "I'm looking at you guys and saying thank you for implementing it."

Last year at this time, GBHS had 590 disciplinary incidents. During the same time frame this year, that number has dropped to 294. Friess also credited the board with changing the cell phone policy. In July, the board announced phones would no longer be allowed in classrooms at GBHS. Through September last year, there were 27 electronics violations at the school, and nine incidences where phones were taken away for the remainder of the day. This year, with the more strict policy, there have been 92 electronics violations but only three requiring the phone be taken away for the day.

"It was the same policy we had last year," Friess said. "You guys didn't do anything different to us. The only difference in our policy from last year to this year was it says 'unless teachers allow it.'"

Friess believes fewer phones in classrooms has also cut down on vaping suspensions, with that number shrinking from nine at this time last year to just one this year. Other early benefits of the no-phone policy include more students turning to books and more social interaction in class. 

No phone policy at GBHS already having positive impact

B104.3 NHL Ticket Giveaway -INTRUST Bank Arena September 23rd-Enter to WIN

Rosencrantz Bemis Water Well Company, Abbey Carpet &amp; Floor, HazMat Response, Miller Plastics/Miller Warehouse, USD 431 Hoisington, USD 428 Great Bend Schools, Stone Sand Company and Stone Waste Mtg., Nex-Tech Wireless, Protective Equipment Testing Lab and Supply, Great Bend Redi-Mix, Freedom Claims Management, Medical Park Pharmacy, R&amp;R Roofing, Heavy Duty Diesel and Auto, Great Bend Coffee, Nex-Tech, Johnson Electric Motor Winding, USD 355 Ellinwood Public Schools, and AllStaff Chartered&nbsp;

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Since the Stepping Up program has been successful in treating addiction in Barton County, The Center for Counseling &amp; Consultation wanted to expand it into the other counties it serves.

The non-profit entity can now follow through on those expansion plans for Pawnee, Rice and Stafford counties.

The Center, 5815 Broadway, recently was awarded a Kansas Fights Addiction 2023 Treatment Grant in the amount of $177,375.

“The Center has demonstrated success in providing treatment services to individuals incarcerated in Barton County,” said Wendy Lockwood, chief operating officer who wrote and submitted the grant. “The expansion includes medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for substance-use disorders.

“MAT has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment option for those with alcohol-use disorder, as well as opioid-use disorder. Starting treatment while incarcerated and continuing after release helps reduce recidivism.”

In addition, MAT is offered to other individuals seeking this method of treatment – not just those who are incarcerated.

“MAT assists those battling addiction and provides another option on their journey toward recovery,” Lockwood noted. “Substance-use disorder can impact any person or family. It does not discriminate by race, gender or income. This is why The Center wants to offer accessible, effective treatment.”

Funding for this project was provided, in part, by a grant approved and awarded by the Kansas Fights Addiction Grant Review Board with grant administration support from the Sunflower Foundation: Health Care for Kansans.

“The Center appreciates the opportunity to partner with Sunflower Foundation and the grant review board to provide increased access to MAT for central Kansas residents,” Lockwood commented.

The program at the Barton County Detention Facility began last year to support individuals who oftentimes don’t have insurance or private funds for services that address their underlying issues.

When someone is released from jail, The Center follows-up with the individual, offering guidance to community mental-health resources.

The Center for Counseling &amp; Consultation is a Community Mental Health Center serving Barton, Pawnee, Rice and Stafford counties. Professionally trained personnel offer: individual and group therapy; marriage and family counseling; community-support services; community-based services; psychosocial rehabilitation; peer support; and medication management. The confidential 24/7 crisis hotline number is 800-875-2544.

Grant for addiction treatment awarded to The Center

Barton Community College has teamed up with the CKP Suicide Prevention Task Force to bring author, actor, and international public speaker Josh Rivedal to the Barton County campus to entertain and educate about the importance of mental health and wellbeing. His program, “How to Live Mentally Well and Crush it During Difficult Times,” will be free and open to the public from 7-8:30 p.m. Oct. 10 in the Fine Arts Auditorium. It will also be live streamed from Barton’s YouTube&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/BaCOUGARnKS" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">page</a>.

Barton Community College Mental Health Counselor Jakki Maser said she is excited to bring Josh Rivedal to the community to expand the conversations around mental health and wellness.

“It’s important that people know that wellbeing does not mean being happy all the time or that there won’t be stress, difficult periods, or emotional discomfort,” she said. “Mental wellness encompasses all emotions, and we want to bring awareness to the fact that all people struggle and have experiences that are really hard to talk about. Nobody is alone in that. It is by having those hard conversations that we learn how to cope, adapt, connect, and grow from those difficult experiences, and that is what creates resiliency and wellness. In his presentation, Josh inspires and challenges people to do those very things.”

According to his website, Josh Rivedal is the founder and creative director of The i'Mpossible Project. This organization creates workshops, seminars, curriculum, continuing education, books, and multimedia on suicide prevention and mental health in workplaces, campuses, school districts, communities, professional organizations, and more. A project born out of his own personal struggle with mental health and the loss of his father to suicide, Rivedal creates content that is relatable and that inspires, educates, entertains, and transforms.

Admission is free. Content is recommended for ages 12+. For more information, contact Maser at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:maserj@bartonccc.edu">maserj@bartonccc.edu</a>&nbsp;or (620) 792-9295.&nbsp;

Barton CC to host mental health advocate Josh Rivedal

On Oct. 11, K-State Research and Extension will be hosting a program by Wildlife Specialist Drew Ricketts starting at 06:00 pm. The meeting will be held at Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands Center located at 592 NE K 156 Hwy, Great Bend. &nbsp;During his program, he will discuss coyote biology, helping people to better understand their movements, vocalizations, and diet among other topics.&nbsp;He will also discuss tips and methods on trapping and calling coyotes including the proper use of mouth and electronic calls. A light meal will be served and is sponsored by P &amp; S Electric of Great Bend. Space is limited to 70 people. &nbsp;If you enjoy the outdoors, or more specifically enjoy hunting coyotes, don’t miss out on this event!

Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

BOOR: Coyote program scheduled for Barton County

Construction of the Stafford County Port Authority (SCPA) continues to draw nearer. Earlier this month, the Stafford County Zoning Commission unanimously approved a special use permit for the construction of the port. The matter next goes before the Stafford County Commission for approval in October. Stafford County Eco Devo Director Ryan Russell called the approval a big step.

"The people around the property were all at the meeting, so the people that own property were there to hear about the port," he said. "We basically needed to have a public meeting to able to get a permit to start building on the property."

There are still many moving pieces in the project, but SCPA President Carolyn Dunn said accurately presenting the project and getting approval from the zoning board now is important for future steps in the project.

"We've tried to balance this with being at a stage in the process where we can more accurately represent how we envision this development evolving," she said, "but also getting the permit in place so that doesn't become a question mark that would hold back either funders or other companies from committing."

SCPA is in negotiations with Nebraska-based Adams Industries to be the port operator. Adams Industries is a supply-chain services company that specializes in trucking, warehousing, transloading, and logistics.

More than $5 million has already been raised for the project, and 256 acres of land have been purchased for the port, which will serve as a transportation and shipping hub near the junction of US-50 and US-281 highways near a BNSF railroad mainline.

SCPA received a $2.5 million Building a Stronger Economy (BASE) grant in April 2022, and was awarded another $2.5 million from the Kansas state legislature for the project. Another $800,000 was awarded to Stafford County Eco Devo to loan to SCPA with flexible payment terms. SCPA President Carolyn Dunn has also applied for a large federal grant.

"There's more than one federal grant opportunity that we may be able to pursue," she said. "I think, regardless, it's going to be a piece of how we carry this forward. We just don't have certainty on which grant program is going to fund how much."

Stafford Co. Planning Commission gives green light on port authority

On Tuesday, Sept. 26, at 9:19 p.m., the
Pawnee County Sheriff's Office, K9 Unit, along with Stafford County Sheriff's
Office and the Great Bend Police Department, executed a search warrant at the
Finer Mobile Home Park, located at 5501 9th Street, lot #94, in the City of
Great Bend.



The search warrant was an ongoing, multi-agency investigation related to
burglaries and motor thefts in Pawnee County and Stafford County. The
networking between all the agencies took place in just a 24-hour period.



Officers gained entry to the residence and recovered stolen items from both Pawnee
and Stafford counties.



Future arrests from the search warrant will be made.

Stolen items recovered at mobile home park in Great Bend

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu season typically peaks between December and February. That makes early fall a perfect time to get the flu vaccine. Barton County Health Department Nurse Supervisor Lindsey Ensley said the department will host a drive-thru flu clinic on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 1300 Kansas Ave. in Great Bend.

"The entrance will be off Lakin into our parking lot," she said. "We're going to have two lanes so going westbound on Lakin is how they will get in line. We're starting at 10 a.m. and we'll go until 1 p.m."

Health department staff will take insurance information from patients, or there will be a fee for the vaccination for patients without insurance. The health department is offering a standard vaccine and a high-dose vaccine. Paperwork can be printed ahead of time or picked up at the facility on Saturday.

"They can go on the Barton County website," Ensley said. "There's an outreach form they can print and fill out. Basically, they're demographic information, there are 12 health questions they have to answer, then signatures, of course. We will have plenty of those at the drive-thru as well but they can go on the Barton County site beforehand if they want to."

The CDC projects manufacturers will supply the United States with between 156 and 170 million doses of flu vaccine for the 2023-24 season. <a href="https://www.bartoncounty.org/vimages/shared/vnews/stories/64ff266ad3817/OUTREACH%20Vaccine%20Consent%20Form%20updated%20Aug2022.pdf">CLICK HERE </a>for the outreach form to take to Saturday's clinic.

Barton Co. Health Department hosting drive-thru Flu Clinic Sept. 30

Hear this week's City Edition episode with Eagle Radio's Cole Reif and Great Bend Assistant City Administrator Logan Burns that aired Sept. 27, 2023.

The City Edition program airs every Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. on 1590 KVGB &amp; 95.5 FM.&nbsp;

🎙Post Podcast: Great Bend Assistant City Administrator Burns

By COLE REIF Great Bend Post

At this month’s study session, the Barton Community College Board of
Trustees declared their intent on adopting the Fairness in Women Sports Act.
The policy comes from the Kansas Legislature and states no biological males can
compete with all-female teams.

<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/06aa718e-cd98-4b7d-aba8-dd6d3f1fab25">RELATED STORY: Barton CC to adopt act banning males from playing in female sports</a>

At Tuesday’s board meeting, Vice President of
Student Services Angie Maddy informed the Barton Trustees of a clarifying detail
that the college will get the student’s biological sex information from the
admissions application.


"The application is where we ask individuals all kinds of things about their identity, including how they see themselves and how they describe themselves as male or female," said Maddy. "There's no big sign up list for one of the teams. Their identifying information is the admissions application. This identifies that as the document we would go back to."

The admissions application will identify the biological sex from an original
birth or adoption certificate. If biological sex at birth is unable to be
determined, the student shall be eligible to participate in male or coed
athletic activities only. 


After hearing the slight tweak to the policy, the Barton Trustees are expected to approve the Fairness in Women Sports Act at
next month’s meeting.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Barton college sorting out details of Fairness in Women Sports Act

Barton County Sheriff’s
Office incident log (9/27)

At 4:15 a.m. a driving complaint was reported at MM 192 on
W. US 56 Highway.

At 6:35 a.m. a driving complaint was reported at MM 201 on
W. US 56 Highway.

At 7:55 a.m. an accident was reported at S. US 281 Highway
&amp; SE 50 Road.

At 7:56 a.m. a report of cattle out was made at NE 30 Road
&amp; NE 100 Avenue in Ellinwood.

At 8:15 a.m. an accident was reported at E. US 56 Highway at
MM 215 in Ellinwood.

At 8:42 a.m. convulsions/seizures were reported at 9th
&amp; Main.

At 12:55 p.m. a report of cattle out was made at NE 50 Road
&amp; NE 110 Avenue in Ellinwood.

At 3:30 p.m. a driving complaint was reported at N. US 281
Highway &amp; NE 50 Road.

At 5:12 p.m. an animal complaint was reported at 94 SE 20
Road.

At 7:23 p.m. a driving complaint was reported at 201 Centre Street
in Pawnee Rock.

At 7:59 p.m. an accident was reported at 989 E. US 56
Highway in Ellinwood.

At 8:07 p.m. a report of cattle out was made at NE 220 Road
in Dubuque. 

Great Bend Police
Department incident log (9/27)

At 12:20 a.m. an officer reported a traffic arrest of
Kristopher Kilgore at 3910 Cedar Park.

At 1:33 a.m. EMS assistance was needed at 301 Walnut Street.

At 2:56 a.m. EMS assistance was needed at 5926 Eisenhower
Avenue.

At 6:35 a.m. BTSO requested assistance with a driving
complaint at MM 201 on W. US 56 Highway.

At 8:40 a.m. convulsions / seizures were reported at 9th
&amp; Main.

At 9:50 a.m. a fraudulent charge on her credit card was
reported at 4701 10th Street.

At 12:24 p.m. a report of wanting an officer to stand by
while they checked on a dog was made at 1107 5th Street.

At 2:21 p.m. ambulance assistance was needed at 2208 25th
Street.

At 3:45 p.m. an accident was reported at 10th
&amp; Washington.

At 4:12 p.m. Lee Pace damaging property inside the store was
reported at Presto, 2337 Washington.

At 5:48 p.m. a parking complaint was reported at 1212 Baker.

At 5:49 p.m. a possible burglary was reported at 914
Harrison.

At 6:42 p.m. Jeffery Renfro at the residence was reported at
5501 9th Street.

At 7:45 p.m. a possible intoxicated driver was reported at
1024 Main Street.

At 8:31 p.m. a driving complaint was reported at 2201 31st
Street.

At 9:09 p.m. EMS assistance was needed at 3800 McKinney Dr.

Cop Shop (9/27)

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The start of Kansas's steady rise in football can be traced to a small patch in the south end zone of Royal-Memorial Stadium at the University of Texas.

It was just under the “N” in “Longhorns” where Jared Casey cradled a pass from a scrambling Jalon Daniels for a 2-point conversion in a 57-56 double overtime victory in 2021. The win ended a 58-game road losing skid in the Big 12 and launched something else: belief that the Jayhawks could be good at this game.

Kansas (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) returns to Austin on Saturday ranked No. 24 for a matchup with the No. 3 Longhorns (4-0, 1-0). Kansas and Texas are two of the last three undefeated teams in the Big 12.

Texas beat the Jayhawks in a rout last year, but the return to the site of a stunning moment for both programs conjures memories of triumph or humiliation, depending on the jersey worn that day.

The Kansas program has taken off behind Daniels and coach Lance Leipold. The Jayhawks started 5-0 last season before Daniels was injured. A 6-7 finish with a bowl game appearance was disappointing, but still the program’s best, most competitive season since 2008. Now Kansas has started 4-0 in consecutive seasons for the first time in more than 100 years.

Leipold doesn't really want to talk about 2021 anymore.

“Old news. Doesn't matter. It's so far in the past. It helped this program. It helped our players,” Leipold said. “I really want to focus on our team now and where we're going, because that's what's important.”

Texas can't shake the bad memories so easily. The loss was a low point in a 5-7 season. The turnaround since that game has been steady. Texas is 13-6 since that defeat, is favored to win the Big 12 for the first time since 2009 and Longhorns fans are dreaming of the College Football Playoff.

“Not all storms come to cause issues in your life,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said. " Some storms come to clear the path, and I felt like that storm cleared a path for us on what we needed to do.”

Sarkisian has noted that many current Longhorns players remember the misery of that loss and that season, and use it as fuel to make sure it never happens again.

“That (game) was a turning point in my career here," offensive lineman Christian Jones said, " and for the rest of the team not wanting to experience that again.”

Even with all the talent Texas has at wide receiver, tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders has become a favorite target of quarterback Quinn Ewers. His 100-yard games against Alabama and Baylor made him the first Longhorns tight end with two 100-yard games in a career. A one-handed grab over the middle and a hurdle of Baylor defender showed off elite hands and agility. He also threw the key block to seal of the sideline for Ewers's 29-yard touchdown run against Baylor.

Casey was a walk-on fullback when he made the winning play in 2021 with his first catch of the season. He's now a scholarship tight end with three catches and a touchdown this season.

Both teams excel at forcing turnovers. The Jayhawks and Longhorns have each snagged six interceptions, and both have returned one for a touchdown. The Kansas defense scored twice against BYU last week on fumble and interception returns. Kansas cornerback Cobee Bryant has scored four career defensive touchdowns.

Texas had a notable problem catching kicks last week against Baylor when the Longhorns dropped one kickoff and two punt returns. The muffed punts were both turnovers inside the Texas 20, but both times the Longhorns kept Baylor out of the end zone.

Sarkisian said he does not plan to replace returners Keilon Robinson, Xavier Worthy and Jordan Whittington but issued a warning if problems persist.

“You have to earn the right to be on (special teams)," Sarkisian said. “The same way you earned your way on, you can earn your way off. ”

Daniels has been razor sharp on third downs this season, completing 14 of 19 passes with three touchdowns. His 64% career completion rate overall ranks No. 1 in school history.

No. 24 Kansas returns to Austin to face No. 3 Texas in a Big 12 meeting of unbeaten teams

Western Athletic Conference Dodge City (2-2) @ Great Bend (2-2) Liberal (4-0) @ Garden City (3-1) Ulysses (0-4) @ Hays (2-2)

Central Kansas League Hoisington (4-0) @ Pratt (2-2) Larned (3-1) @ Cimarron (0-4) Lyons (0-4) @ Ellsworth (4-0) Smoky Valley (0-4) @ Cheney (4-0) Nickerson (1-3) @ Andale (4-0) Hillsboro (2-2) @ Halstead (2-2) Hesston (2-2) @ Kingman (3-1) Haven (3-1) @ Garden Plain (3-1)

Other 11-Man Games Conway Springs (2-2) @ Ellinwood (3-1) TMP (3-1) @ Russell (2-2) Medicine Lodge (2-2) @ Sterling (3-1)

8-Man DI St. John (2-2) @ Stafford (1-3) Central Plains (3-1) @ Sylvan United (4-0) Otis-Bison (0-4) @ Dighton (1-3) Ness City (0-4) @ Macksville (1-3) LaCrosse (2-2) @ Skyline (2-2) Kinsley (4-0) @ Central Christian (3-1) Bucklin (2-2) @ Hodgeman County (3-1) Kiowa County (0-4) @ Trego (2-2) Moundridge (4-0) @ Little River (3-1)

6-Man Pawnee Heights (2-2) @ Cunningham (3-1) Chase (0-3) @ So. Cloud (0-4)

Area Week 5 Football Schedule

Team&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;CONF&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ALL Liberal&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;1-0&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 4-0 Garden City&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;1-0&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 3-1 Hays&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;1-1&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;2-2 Great Bend&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 0-1&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2-2 Dodge City&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;0-1&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2-2

Friday September 22 Great Bend 55, Wichita Southeast 0 Garden City 24, Hays 21 Liberal 21, Dodge City 7 Friday September 29 Dodge City @ Great Bend Ulysses @ Hays Liberal @ Garden City Friday October 6 Great Bend @ Liberal Hays @ Dodge City Garden City @ Ulysses Friday October 13 Great Bend @ Ulysses Hays @ Liberal Dodge City @ Garden City Friday October 20 Garden City @ Great Bend Ulysses @ Liberal Wichita Southeast @ Dodge City Topeka High @ Hays Friday October 27 TBA

Western Athletic Conference Football Standings

By TODD MOORE Barton Sports Info

Nina Norshie of the 7th ranked Barton Community College women's soccer team has been named the week six KJCCC and NJCAA Offensive Player of the Week.

Norshie broke her three-game scoreless stretch this past week in continuing to climb up the Barton all-time list with a six goal week leading Barton to a pair of road victories.

Snapping the skid with two net shakers Wednesday in Garden City, Norshie continued her offensive aggression Saturday in Liberal with a four-goal outing for her 10th time of exceeding three or more goals. The week moved Norshie from 4th to sole possession of 2nd all-time in Barton history with 52nd career goals while moving up a spot to 5th all-time with 113 career points.

The victory wraps up Barton's first half swing through the conference slate, staying tied atop the standings at 5-1-2 in league and heading into today's 3:00 p.m. kick hosting Dodge City Community College, a rematch of the Cougars' 3-1 victory back on August 23 in Dodge City.

Barton's Norshie wins conference and national honor

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — How do the Denver Broncos go about getting over their 50-point blowout at Miami? The same way they went about recovering from their one-point loss to the Raiders in their opener.

“Any loss is tough, but you’ve got to be professional about it, you’ve got to be able to move on, you’ve got to be able to focus on what the task is at hand,” Russell Wilson said Wednesday after the Broncos (0-3) began preparations for their basement battle with the Chicago Bears (0-3), another team in crisis mode and in search of both answers and their first win.

Win, lose or tie, NFL players are conditioned to watching the video and making corrections the next day, getting away from it all on their day off and then showing back up on Wednesday looking ahead, not behind.

So, the mood in the locker room after what coach Sean Payton called a spirited practice was no different coming off the Broncos’ 70-20 backbreaker than it was coming back from their 17-16 heartbreaker in Week 1.

“I understand that Sunday was not what we wanted it to be but to come in here and hang your head three games into the season is crazy to me,” right tackle Mike McGlinchey said. “You know, we’re trying to figure this thing out. Obviously, it’s year one of our tenure with coach Payton and we’re all trying to figure this thing out and grow. But to come in here and act like the sky’s falling or the season’s over after three weeks is absolutely insane.”

That’s not to say they’re taking lightly the franchise’s second-worst blowout of the Super Bowl era, behind only a 51-0 loss to the Raiders in 1967.

“It was a big bump,” McGlinchey said, “but it’s a bump in the road and we’re all going to grow and we’re going to be better. And the only thing you can do is come into work with a positive attitude and get better.”

The Broncos have been stuck in a rut ever since winning Super Bowl 50 in 2016. They’ve churned through coaches and quarterbacks during a seven-year slump that includes losing seasons each of the last six years.

McGlinchey, however, has experienced success. He signed with Denver in the offseason after a five-year run in San Francisco, where the 49ers stumbled to a 3-4 start a year ago before winning 12 in a row to reach the NFC championship.

McGlinchey’s message to his teammates was all that’s needed is one win and that can turn around a franchise’s fortunes.

“There’s so many crazy things that can happen in this league and there’s so many different scenarios that can play out. And the only thing that you have control over is the way that you prepare for the week ahead of you,” McGlinchey said.

“And to start worrying about what happens in December or worrying about what happens in three weeks is nuts because things can happen, you can get humbled pretty quickly, no matter who you’re playing. And so all of your focus needs to be on the week at hand, the opponent at hand, which is Chicago, and we’re gonna give it our best shot to go in and get a win. ”

One thing that could help the Broncos bounce back is star safety Justin Simmons returning from a hip injury that sidelined him in Miami.

Winless Broncos put historic loss in rearview as they prepare for basement brawl with Bears

By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Football Writer

It feels a little like March Madness in September as basketball blue bloods command the spotlight in Week 5 of the college football season.

No. 17 Duke (five), No. 24 Kansas (four) and Kentucky (eight) have won 17 total NCAA championships in men's basketball. They have had sporadic — at best — success on the gridiron historically, but head into Saturday's games a combined 12-0.

The Blue Devils get the biggest stage, facing No. 11 Notre Dame. For the first time, ESPN’s “College GameDay” comes to the Durham, North Carolina.

The Jayhawks and Wildcats face conference rivals who have traditionally dominated them, though not as much recently, and all are among this weekend's most intriguing games.

The Fighting Irish can't afford a hangover Saturday from a brutal loss to Ohio State.

Nothing about this 4-0 start looks fluky for coach Mike Elko, QB Riley Leonard and the Blue Devils, who are seventh in the country in average margin of victory at 26 points per game.

LINE: Notre Dame by 5 1/2. PICK: Duke 27-23.

The Jayhawks are 4-0 for the second straight season and this time they might be built to sustain the success. Last year, they got to 5-0 before stumbling to a 1-6 finish.

If these Longhorns are different from the recent vintage, Quinn Ewers and Co. won't be tripped up at home Saturday by Kansas three weeks after beating Alabama and the week before facing Oklahoma.

LINE: Texas by 16 1/2. PICK: Texas 45-24.

No. 10 Utah at No. 19 Oregon State

Second straight week with a ranked opponent for both the Utes and Beavers as the Pac-12 gauntlet cranks up with a Friday night tilt.

Yet another week of the Cam Rising watch for Utah as it waits for the fifth-year quarterback to recover from a knee injury. Without Rising, the Utes been hyper conservative offensively, leaned into their excellent defense and gritted their way to a perfect start. For the Beavers, coming off a loss at Washington State, Pac-12 title hopes could dry up fast with another loss.

LINE: Oregon State by 3 1/2. PICK: Oregon State 20-19.

This series was a layup for more than three decades for the Gators. Florida won 31 straight through 2017. Since, coach Mark Stoops' Wildcats are 3-2 and have won two straight for the first time since 1976-77.

Florida fans probably don't want to think of the Kentucky game as a barometer for the state of the program, but getting it regularly back in the win column starting Saturday would be really helpful for coach Billy Napier.

LINE: Kentucky 1 1/2. PICK: Kentucky 23-20.

No. 8 Southern California at Colorado

The Deion Sanders' hype train was derailed at Oregon last week, and now Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams and the Trojans come to Boulder.

If the Buffaloes can pull off another TCU-type upset Saturday — the Horned Frogs were a three-touchdown favorite in the opener — the volume around Coach Prime's team will crank up again.

If USC handles its business similarly to the way Oregon did against the Buffs, the spotlight should dim on Sanders' program — at least for a few weeks.

The rest of Saturday’s games involving ranked teams and FBS foes, with lines by FanDuel Sportsbook:

Tigers have the worst passing offense in the SEC ... GEORGIA 24-7.

No. 2 Michigan (minus 17 1/2) at Nebraska

Cornhuskers have attempted fewer passes per game (20.8) than any other Power Five team ... MICHIGAN 31-9.

No. 6 Penn State at Northwestern (plus 27 1/2)

Wildcats have allowed 11 sacks, second most in the Big Ten, and here comes Penn State DE Chop Robinson, who ate up Iowa last week ... PENN STATE 35-14.

No. 7 Washington at Arizona (plus 17 1/2)

Can an improved Wildcats defense be the first to slow down Michael Penix Jr. and the Huskies? ... ARIZONA 38-34, UPSET SPECIAL.

The Farm has been a tricky place for the Ducks the past 14 years. Cardinal are 4-3 in the last seven meetings at home ... OREGON 49-17.

No. 12 Alabama (minus 14 1/2) at Mississippi State

Crimson Tide's winning streak in the series is 15, and the Bulldogs have not cracked double-digits in any of the last five ... ALABAMA 31-14.

No. 13 LSU (minus 2 1/2) at No. 20 Mississippi

Top two offenses in the SEC by yards per play ... LSU 35-31.

Iowa State at No. 14 Oklahoma (minus 19 1/2)

Cyclones have been competitive against the Sooners under coach Matt Campbell, with two wins, three one-possession losses and no losses by more than 14 points ... OKLAHOMA 35-10.

South Carolina (plus 12 1/2) at No. 21 Tennessee

Gamecocks stunningly ambushed the Vols late last season and took them out of the playoff chase ... TENNESSEE 35-24.

No. 23 Missouri at Vanderbilt (plus 13 1/2)

Tigers looking for first 5-0 start since starting the 2013 season with seven straight wins ... MISSOURI 28-17.

Nevada at No. 25 Fresno State (minus 24 1/2)

Bulldogs' first game as a ranked team since November 2021 ... FRESNO STATE 42-14.

Louisville (minus 3) at North Carolina State, Friday — @scottleightman: Cardinals offense is quietly one of the most explosive in the country, averaging 8.12 yards per play ... LOUISVILLE 31-24.

Boise State (plus 3 1/2) at Memphis, Saturday — @DaytonRobison: Good running back matchup of Boise's Ashton Jeanty and Memphis' Blake Watson ... BOISE STATE 24-21.

Texas A&amp;M (minus 6 1/2) at Arkansas, Saturday — @nleibengood: Aggies have won 10 of 11 meetings since joining the SEC ... TEXAS A&amp;M 34-24.

Clemson at Syracuse (plus 6 1/2), Saturday — @Jellis1016: Orange often give the Tigers a tough time even though they haven't had a win in the series since 2017; last two games have been decided by a total of nine points ... SYRACUSE 24-21.

San Diego State at Air Force (minus 9 1/2) , Saturday — @yehonala04: Typically staunch Aztecs defense is last in the Mountain West against the run ay 4.12 yards per rush ... AIR FORCE 28-14.

'Hoops' schools No. 17 Duke, No. 24 Kansas, Kentucky try to stay unbeaten

Class 2A - District 7 Team&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Dist&nbsp; &nbsp;All Hoisington&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1-0&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;4-0 Lakin&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1-0&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 3-1 Larned&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;0-0&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;3-1 Cimarron&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 0-1&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;0-4 SW Heights&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 0-1&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;0-4 Week 5 Schedule Hoisington @ Pratt Larned @ Cimarron Lakin @ SW Heights

Class 2A - District 5 Ellsworth&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;1-0&nbsp; &nbsp; 4-0 SE of Saline&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;1-0&nbsp; &nbsp; 4-0 Halstead&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;0-1&nbsp; &nbsp; 2-2 Hillsboro&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 0-1&nbsp; &nbsp; 2-2 Lyons&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;0-0&nbsp; &nbsp; 0-4 Week 4 Schedule Lyons @ Ellsworth Hillsboro @ Halstead Southeast of Saline @ Clay Center

Class 1A - District 7 Sterling&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1-0&nbsp; &nbsp;3-1 Conway Springs 1-0&nbsp; &nbsp;2-2 Hutch-Trinity&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;1-0&nbsp; &nbsp;2-2 Ellinwood&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;0-1&nbsp; &nbsp; 3-1 Medicine Lodge 0-1&nbsp; &nbsp; 2-2 Inman&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 0-1&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;1-3 Week 4 Schedule Conway Springs @ Ellinwood Medicine Lodge @ Sterling Inman @ Hutch-Trinity

8-Man DI - District 7 LaCrosse&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1-0&nbsp; &nbsp; 2-2 Skyline&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1-0&nbsp; &nbsp; 2-2 Trego&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;1-0&nbsp; &nbsp; 2-2 Macksville&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;0-1&nbsp; &nbsp; 1-3 Ness City&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 0-1&nbsp; &nbsp; 0-4 Kiowa County&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 0-1&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;0-4 Week 4 Schedule LaCrosse @ Skyline Ness City @ Macksville Kiowa County @ Trego

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