<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726760138919.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;2024 Great Bend Panthers 5th Grade football team competed at Kansas State University." />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;2024 Great Bend Panthers 5th Grade football team competed at Kansas State University.</figcaption>
 </figure>1	Kade	Chansler	Lincoln2	Hunter 	Coulson	Jefferson5	Easton 	Pangburn	Lincoln6	Jordan	Davis	Lincoln7	Aldo	Council	Jefferson10	Wyatt	Holguin	Lincoln11	Brady	Karlin	Lincoln12	David	Ellegood	Jefferson13	Brylen	Riedel	Jefferson15	Diego	Perez	Holy Family16	Connor	Schwamborn	Eisenhower17	Camryn	Gaddis	Eisenhower21	Felix	Hernandez	Holy Family27	Evan	Currall-Perez	Eisenhower62	Kavion	Carter	Lincoln80	Sullivan	Devlin	Lincoln87	Graham	Hiss	Holy FamilyHead Coach Clint PangburnAssistant CoachesCraig PangburnZach GaddisManuel HolguinMatt HissRyan Schwamborn

2024 Great Bend Panthers 5th Grade

Things to watch this week in the Big 12 Conference:

No. 12 Utah (3-0) at No. 14 Oklahoma State (3-0), Saturday, 4 p.m. ET (FOX)

The Utes expect to have back quarterback Cameron Rising (finger on throwing hand) for their first conference game in the Big 12. This is a matchup of preseason favorites and head coaches in their 20th season at their schools: Kyle Whittingham at Utah and Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/utah-utah-state-score-d1ef7a80f87903f190fc38377b19a253">Rising hasn't played</a>&nbsp;since getting hurt in the first half of a win at Baylor two weeks ago. That game, scheduled before Utah joined the league, didn't count in the Big 12 standings. Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II, the nation's leading rusher last season, is ninth in the Big 12 with 216 yards (72 yards per game, and 3.5 yards per carry). He had only 109 yards through the first three games last season, then went on to run for 1,732 yards.

Another conference opener matching 3-0 teams when No. 13 Kansas State is at BYU late Saturday night. BYU two weeks ago held ACC newcomer SMU without a touchdown in an 18-15 win on the road, ending the Mustangs' nine-game home winning streak in which they averaged 53.9 points a game. Kansas State and Utah last met in the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day 1997, when Steve Sarkisian threw for 291 yards and two touchdowns in a 19-15 victory. Their last regular-season meeting was in 1977. Kansas State&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-kansas-state-wildcats-score-e2475090668fdd0b09568e51963ecda1">overwhelmed Big 12 newcomer and then-No. 20 Arizona 31-7</a>&nbsp;last week, but that game wasn't considered a league game. K-State is second in the Big 12 with 244.3 yards rushing per game.

TCU quarterback Josh Hoover has thrown for 1,022 yards, the third-best in FBS. His 119 pass attempts without an interception are the most in the country. He threw for 402 yards and four TDs last week in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ucf-tcu-score-d43d8c980c11ba768f95c76471c5e73f">a loss to UCF</a>, his seventh 300-yard passing game in his first nine starts. Horned Frogs receiver Jack Bech's nine catches for 200 yards against UCF, including a 50-yard touchdown, and is third in the Big 12 at 116.7 yards receiving per game. TCU (2-1, 0-1 Big 12) plays Saturday at SMU.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rice-owls-houston-cougars-football-score-c5398a5fb616d79ed91294b49c1a9396">Houston held No. 15 Oklahoma and Rice</a>&nbsp;to exactly 75 yards rushing. The Cougars hadn't allowed 75 yards or fewer in back-to-back games against FBS teams since four in a row to open the 2016 season, including a game against Cincinnati, where they play Saturday. ... Texas Tech had nine players score touchdowns in its 66-21 win over North Texas last week. That was the most by a Big 12 team against an FBS opponent since 2013, and the Red Raiders' highest total since at least 1955.

Newcomers Arizona State and Colorado join Utah in playing their first league games Saturday. The Sun Devils are at Texas Tech. The Buffaloes host Baylor in their first Big 12 game since 2010, which came they before they spent the past 13 seasons in the Pac-12.

Things to watch this week in the Big 12 Conference:<h2>Game of the week</h2>No. 12 Utah (3-0) at No. 14 Oklahoma State (3-0), Saturday, 4 p.m. ET (FOX)The Utes expect to have back quarterback Cameron Rising (finger on throwing hand) for their first conference game in the Big 12. This is a matchup of preseason favorites and head coaches in their 20th season at their schools: Kyle Whittingham at Utah and Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/utah-utah-state-score-d1ef7a80f87903f190fc38377b19a253">Rising hasn't played</a>&nbsp;since getting hurt in the first half of a win at Baylor two weeks ago. That game, scheduled before Utah joined the league, didn't count in the Big 12 standings. Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II, the nation's leading rusher last season, is ninth in the Big 12 with 216 yards (72 yards per game, and 3.5 yards per carry). He had only 109 yards through the first three games last season, then went on to run for 1,732 yards.<h2>The undercard</h2>Another conference opener matching 3-0 teams when No. 13 Kansas State is at BYU late Saturday night. BYU two weeks ago held ACC newcomer SMU without a touchdown in an 18-15 win on the road, ending the Mustangs' nine-game home winning streak in which they averaged 53.9 points a game. Kansas State and Utah last met in the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day 1997, when Steve Sarkisian threw for 291 yards and two touchdowns in a 19-15 victory. Their last regular-season meeting was in 1977. Kansas State&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-kansas-state-wildcats-score-e2475090668fdd0b09568e51963ecda1">overwhelmed Big 12 newcomer and then-No. 20 Arizona 31-7</a>&nbsp;last week, but that game wasn't considered a league game. K-State is second in the Big 12 with 244.3 yards rushing per game.<h2>Impact players</h2>TCU quarterback Josh Hoover has thrown for 1,022 yards, the third-best in FBS. His 119 pass attempts without an interception are the most in the country. He threw for 402 yards and four TDs last week in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ucf-tcu-score-d43d8c980c11ba768f95c76471c5e73f">a loss to UCF</a>, his seventh 300-yard passing game in his first nine starts. Horned Frogs receiver Jack Bech's nine catches for 200 yards against UCF, including a 50-yard touchdown, and is third in the Big 12 at 116.7 yards receiving per game. TCU (2-1, 0-1 Big 12) plays Saturday at SMU.<h2>Inside the numbers</h2><a href="https://apnews.com/article/rice-owls-houston-cougars-football-score-c5398a5fb616d79ed91294b49c1a9396">Houston held No. 15 Oklahoma and Rice</a>&nbsp;to exactly 75 yards rushing. The Cougars hadn't allowed 75 yards or fewer in back-to-back games against FBS teams since four in a row to open the 2016 season, including a game against Cincinnati, where they play Saturday. ... Texas Tech had nine players score touchdowns in its 66-21 win over North Texas last week. That was the most by a Big 12 team against an FBS opponent since 2013, and the Red Raiders' highest total since at least 1955.<h2>Debuts and open dates</h2>Newcomers Arizona State and Colorado join Utah in playing their first league games Saturday. The Sun Devils are at Texas Tech. The Buffaloes host Baylor in their first Big 12 game since 2010, which came they before they spent the past 13 seasons in the Pac-12.

A pair of Big 12 openers match 3-0 teams, including K-State at BYU

They had to pick the hottest day of the week. Thursday's Buhler Cross Country Invitational started a little earlier than usual due to expected high temperatures. The Lady Panthers blistered the course, going almost perfect with just 20 points. Four-time defending Class 3A champion Southeast of Saline finished second with 64 points, and Berean Academy placed third with 99 points.

Great Bend junior Sienna Smith led a pack of Panthers among the leaders for the win by five seconds in 20:33.6. Junior Reese Bullard ran third in 20:38.5, just a tenth of a second behind the silver. Senior Marissa Boone placed fifth in 21:15.0, sophomore Bella Long ran sixth in 21:38.7, and sophomore Teah King capped team scoring in eighth with a time of 21:48.0. Kate Welcher finished 31st in 23:50.2, and freshman Samantha Negaard finished behind her in 23:51.7.

The Southeast of Saline boys easily won their race with 59 points. Buhler followed with 107 points, and Hutchinson Trinity placed third with 117 points. Great Bend scored 177 points for eighth out of 14 teams.

Southeast of Saline junior Brayden Walker won by 23 seconds in 16:48.4. McPherson junior Caleb Muehler, the reigning 4A state champion, took the silver by two seconds in 17:11.9.

Junior Ismael Ramirez paced the Panthers in seventh place with a time of 17:30.5. Senior Diego Pasos placed 29th in 19:03.3, sophomore Anthony Lawrence finished 40th in 19:23.9, and freshman Isaac Aldana ran 50th in 19:41.5. Junior Tavon Stroup finished out team scoring in 57th in 20:04.1, and sophomore Parker Coleman ran 64th in 20:18.7.

The Panther runners head to Rim Rock Farm outside Lawrence on Saturday, Sept. 28.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726772197269.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Great Bend Post SportsThey had to pick the hottest day of the week. Thursday's Buhler Cross Country Invitational started a little earlier than usual due to expected high temperatures. The Lady Panthers blistered the course, going almost perfect with just 20 points. Four-time defending Class 3A champion Southeast of Saline finished second with 64 points, and Berean Academy placed third with 99 points.Great Bend junior Sienna Smith led a pack of Panthers among the leaders for the win by five seconds in 20:33.6. Junior Reese Bullard ran third in 20:38.5, just a tenth of a second behind the silver. Senior Marissa Boone placed fifth in 21:15.0, sophomore Bella Long ran sixth in 21:38.7, and sophomore Teah King capped team scoring in eighth with a time of 21:48.0. Kate Welcher finished 31st in 23:50.2, and freshman Samantha Negaard finished behind her in 23:51.7.The Southeast of Saline boys easily won their race with 59 points. Buhler followed with 107 points, and Hutchinson Trinity placed third with 117 points. Great Bend scored 177 points for eighth out of 14 teams.Southeast of Saline junior Brayden Walker won by 23 seconds in 16:48.4. McPherson junior Caleb Muehler, the reigning 4A state champion, took the silver by two seconds in 17:11.9.Junior Ismael Ramirez paced the Panthers in seventh place with a time of 17:30.5. Senior Diego Pasos placed 29th in 19:03.3, sophomore Anthony Lawrence finished 40th in 19:23.9, and freshman Isaac Aldana ran 50th in 19:41.5. Junior Tavon Stroup finished out team scoring in 57th in 20:04.1, and sophomore Parker Coleman ran 64th in 20:18.7.The Panther runners head to Rim Rock Farm outside Lawrence on Saturday, Sept. 28.

Lady Panther runners dominate Buhler meet; boys finish eighth

By TODD MOORE Barton Sports Info

Aided by a stiff south breeze, a mid-opening half shaped corner kick goal provided Wednesday evening's lone goal in Arkansas City as the Barton Community College women's soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision at 14th ranked Cowley College.

Concluding a tough stretch of three games against ranked opponents, Barton falls 1-3-2 in league play and 3-3-2 overall while Cowley improves to 4-2 in league and overall.

The Cougars will next host Garden City Community College on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. to kick-off a four-game conference foe homestand.

Cowley picked up the game winner 20:33 left in the opening stanza on a corner kick as Evellyn Borges' launch from the corner set piece rode the 20mph south wind over the assembly of competitors just inside the upper-90 far post.

By TODD MOORE Barton Sports InfoAided by a stiff south breeze, a mid-opening half shaped corner kick goal provided Wednesday evening's lone goal in Arkansas City as the Barton Community College women's soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision at 14th ranked Cowley College.Concluding a tough stretch of three games against ranked opponents, Barton falls 1-3-2 in league play and 3-3-2 overall while Cowley improves to 4-2 in league and overall.The Cougars will next host Garden City Community College on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. to kick-off a four-game conference foe homestand.Cowley picked up the game winner 20:33 left in the opening stanza on a corner kick as Evellyn Borges' launch from the corner set piece rode the 20mph south wind over the assembly of competitors just inside the upper-90 far post.

Set piece spoils Barton women's upset bid at 14th ranked Cowley 

- Great Bend Panther football coach Erin Beck previews Friday's home game with Buhler. He'll also recap the Panthers 26-14 victory over Olathe South last Friday with Junior Koehn Ribordy and Sophomore Cooper Ohnmacht.

- Ellinwood Eagle football coach Brett Stindt discusses his teams 2-0 start.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693997740304.jpeg" alt="Thursday show lineup with hosts Steve Webster, Mike Courson, and Mike Hesher" />
 <figcaption>Thursday show lineup with hosts Steve Webster, Mike Courson, and Mike Hesher</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LUMUy4n1Cvw?si=9ZsgIWw2PJ87_yqQ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>- Great Bend Panther football coach Erin Beck previews Friday's home game with Buhler. He'll also recap the Panthers 26-14 victory over Olathe South last Friday with Junior Koehn Ribordy and Sophomore Cooper Ohnmacht.- Ellinwood Eagle football coach Brett Stindt discusses his teams 2-0 start.- Barton Soccer coach Rafael Simmons- Thursday Sports Headlines- Sounds of the past 24-hours

Thursday on Sports Day(Watch Missing last 30 minutes)

TOPEKA, Kan. –&nbsp;The KSHSAA Board of Directors voted Wednesday to allow high school basketball teams to play 23 games during the regular season starting with the 2025-26 season.

A proposal initiated by the Kansas Coaches Association and advanced to the Board of Directors agenda by the KSHSAA Executive Board, changes the allowable games a student may participate in from 20 to 23, not counting the postseason. The item was passed with a 36-25 vote.

Other items passed by the KSHSAA Board of Directors:

Rule 22, Outside Competition, Section 1 Article 1&nbsp;- Tennis athletes will now be permitted to participate in one outside competition during the school season. Those events must be approved in advance with a request to the KSHSAA initiated by the member school.&nbsp; Those outside competitions must meet certain criteria with detailed information available on kshsaa.org and in direct communications to member schools participating in tennis. The change is effective upon publication of the Board of Directors meeting minutes.&nbsp;

Rule 32 Baseball and Rule 39 Softball -&nbsp;A student may now participate in 32 total games during the regular season. Each varsity squad may schedule 26 games and sub-varsity may schedule 20 games. The student may participate in no more than 32 games. This is effective for the spring season this school year.

Rule 44, Wrestling (Girls and Boys) -&nbsp;Girls and boys events may now participate in no more than four (4) events, (any combination of double dual, quad (triple dual) and/or one-day tournament) that begin before 3:00 p.m. for each gender. This is effective this school year.

TOPEKA, Kan. –&nbsp;The KSHSAA Board of Directors voted Wednesday to allow high school basketball teams to play 23 games during the regular season starting with the 2025-26 season.A proposal initiated by the Kansas Coaches Association and advanced to the Board of Directors agenda by the KSHSAA Executive Board, changes the allowable games a student may participate in from 20 to 23, not counting the postseason. The item was passed with a 36-25 vote.Other items passed by the KSHSAA Board of Directors:Rule 22, Outside Competition, Section 1 Article 1&nbsp;- Tennis athletes will now be permitted to participate in one outside competition during the school season. Those events must be approved in advance with a request to the KSHSAA initiated by the member school.&nbsp; Those outside competitions must meet certain criteria with detailed information available on kshsaa.org and in direct communications to member schools participating in tennis. The change is effective upon publication of the Board of Directors meeting minutes.&nbsp;Rule 32 Baseball and Rule 39 Softball -&nbsp;A student may now participate in 32 total games during the regular season. Each varsity squad may schedule 26 games and sub-varsity may schedule 20 games. The student may participate in no more than 32 games. This is effective for the spring season this school year.Rule 44, Wrestling (Girls and Boys) -&nbsp;Girls and boys events may now participate in no more than four (4) events, (any combination of double dual, quad (triple dual) and/or one-day tournament) that begin before 3:00 p.m. for each gender. This is effective this school year.

KSHSAA Board approves change to add high school basketball games

Below are the top five high school football teams in each classification, according to kpreps.com, and their opponent for week three of the season.

Class 6A 1. Derby (2-0) at Salina South (0-2) 2. Gardner-Edgerton (2-0) at Shawnee Mission Northwest (1-1) 3. Blue Valley Northwest (2-0) at St. James Academy (1-1) 4. Lawrence (2-0) at Olathe North (0-2) 5. Manhattan (2-0) at Hays (1-1)

Class 5A 1. Mill Valley (1-1) vs Lawrence Free State (1-1) 2. Blue Valley (2-0) vs. No. 3 St. Thomas Aquinas (2-0) 3. St. Thomas Aquinas (2-0) at No. 2 Blue Valley (2-0) 4. Goddard-Eisenhower (2-0) at Newton (0-2) 5. Great Bend (2-0) vs Buhler (2-0)

Class 4A 1. Andover Central (2-0) vs Arkansas City (1-1) 2. Kapaun Mt. Carmel (2-0) vs Wichita East (1-1) 3. Bishop Miege (0-2) at Blue Valley West (1-1) 4. Wamego (2-0) at No. 5 Marysville (3A) (2-0) 5. Louisburg (2-0) vs Clay Center (1-1)

Class 3A 1. Andale (2-0) vs Rose Hill (0-2) 2. Cheney (2-0) vs Garden Plain (1-1) 3. Topeka Hayden (2-0) at KC Bishop Ward (0-2) 4. Collegiate (2-0) vs El Dorado (0-2) 5. Marysville (2-0) vs No. 4 Wamego (4A) (2-0)

Class 2A 1. Norton (2-0) vs Smith Center (0-2) 2. Southeast of Saline (2-0) vs Beloit (2-0) 3. St. Marys (2-0) vs Jefferson West (0-2) 4. Nemaha Central (1-1) vs Rossville (0-2) 5. Silver Lake (1-1) at Perry-LeCompton (1-1)

Class 1A 1. Conway Springs (2-0) vs Douglass (1-1) 2. Medicine Lodge (2-0) at No. 5 Moundridge (2-0) 3. Sedgwick (2-0) at Herington (0-2) 4. Jackson Heights (2-0) at Horton (1-1) 5. Moundridge (2-0) vs No. 2 Medicine Lodge (2-0)

8-man, Div. I 1. Hoxie (2-0) at Ellis (2-0) 2. Little River (2-0) at Centre-Lost Springs (0-2) 3. Wichita County (1-1) OPEN 4. West Elk (2-0) vs Udall (0-2) 5. South Central (2-0) vs Laverne (Okla.) (3-0)

8-man, Div. II 1. Axtell (2-0) at Chase County (1-1) 2. Frankfort (2-0) at Solomon (0-2) 3. Victoria (2-0) vs La Crosse (0-2) 4. Dighton (2-0) vs Quinter (0-2) 5. Burlingame (2-0) vs Madison (1-1)

6-man 1. Cunningham (2-0) at Chetopa (1-1) 2. Ingalls (2-0) vs Bird City-Cheylin (1-1) 3. Weskan (2-0) at Moscow (1-1) 4. South Barber (1-1) at Burrton (1-1) 5. Marais Des Cygnes Valley (2-0) at Southern Coffey (0-2)

Below are the top five high school football teams in each classification, according to kpreps.com, and their opponent for week three of the season.Class 6A 1. Derby (2-0) at Salina South (0-2) 2. Gardner-Edgerton (2-0) at Shawnee Mission Northwest (1-1) 3. Blue Valley Northwest (2-0) at St. James Academy (1-1) 4. Lawrence (2-0) at Olathe North (0-2) 5. Manhattan (2-0) at Hays (1-1)Class 5A 1. Mill Valley (1-1) vs Lawrence Free State (1-1) 2. Blue Valley (2-0) vs. No. 3 St. Thomas Aquinas (2-0) 3. St. Thomas Aquinas (2-0) at No. 2 Blue Valley (2-0) 4. Goddard-Eisenhower (2-0) at Newton (0-2) 5. Great Bend (2-0) vs Buhler (2-0)Class 4A 1. Andover Central (2-0) vs Arkansas City (1-1) 2. Kapaun Mt. Carmel (2-0) vs Wichita East (1-1) 3. Bishop Miege (0-2) at Blue Valley West (1-1) 4. Wamego (2-0) at No. 5 Marysville (3A) (2-0) 5. Louisburg (2-0) vs Clay Center (1-1)Class 3A 1. Andale (2-0) vs Rose Hill (0-2) 2. Cheney (2-0) vs Garden Plain (1-1) 3. Topeka Hayden (2-0) at KC Bishop Ward (0-2) 4. Collegiate (2-0) vs El Dorado (0-2) 5. Marysville (2-0) vs No. 4 Wamego (4A) (2-0)Class 2A 1. Norton (2-0) vs Smith Center (0-2) 2. Southeast of Saline (2-0) vs Beloit (2-0) 3. St. Marys (2-0) vs Jefferson West (0-2) 4. Nemaha Central (1-1) vs Rossville (0-2) 5. Silver Lake (1-1) at Perry-LeCompton (1-1)Class 1A 1. Conway Springs (2-0) vs Douglass (1-1) 2. Medicine Lodge (2-0) at No. 5 Moundridge (2-0) 3. Sedgwick (2-0) at Herington (0-2) 4. Jackson Heights (2-0) at Horton (1-1) 5. Moundridge (2-0) vs No. 2 Medicine Lodge (2-0)8-man, Div. I 1. Hoxie (2-0) at Ellis (2-0) 2. Little River (2-0) at Centre-Lost Springs (0-2) 3. Wichita County (1-1) OPEN 4. West Elk (2-0) vs Udall (0-2) 5. South Central (2-0) vs Laverne (Okla.) (3-0)8-man, Div. II 1. Axtell (2-0) at Chase County (1-1) 2. Frankfort (2-0) at Solomon (0-2) 3. Victoria (2-0) vs La Crosse (0-2) 4. Dighton (2-0) vs Quinter (0-2) 5. Burlingame (2-0) vs Madison (1-1)6-man 1. Cunningham (2-0) at Chetopa (1-1) 2. Ingalls (2-0) vs Bird City-Cheylin (1-1) 3. Weskan (2-0) at Moscow (1-1) 4. South Barber (1-1) at Burrton (1-1) 5. Marais Des Cygnes Valley (2-0) at Southern Coffey (0-2)

High school football rankings and opponents (week 3)

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The debut of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arkansas-john-calipari-b560b96b84c1b17bf1eb5c11c59eb6f2">John Calipari at Arkansas</a>&nbsp;will come in a charity exhibition game against Kansas next month.

The schools announced Wednesday that their men's basketball teams would meet Oct. 25 at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Proceeds from the game will be split between the Fore the Kids Foundation, which is based in Overland Park, Kansas, and promotes mental health among children, and the Arkansas Children's Hospitals.

Calipari&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arkansas-razorbacks-john-calipari-2b5b69686990ae910ea8dd2d69a3a001">left Kentucky for Arkansas</a>&nbsp;after 15 seasons, which included four trips to the Final Four and the 2012 national title. He said at the time the Wildcats' program “needs to hear another voice,” and Calipari headed to SEC-rival Arkansas to replace Eric Musselman, who left for the same job at Southern California.

Calipari is also close to the Kansas program. He worked as an assistant under Ted Owens and Larry Brown in the 1980s.

“It is great for our program to be able to play these high-profile charity games,” Calipari said in a statement. “Not only is it an entertaining and valuable tool for the teams and fans but it also raises a lot of money for great causes.”

Arkansas will play another charity exhibition against TCU on Nov. 1 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Calipari has overhauled the Razorbacks since his arrival, bringing with him Kentucky transfers D.J. Wagner, Adou Thiero and Zvonimir Ivisic. He also brought three high-profile recruits that originally signed with the Wildcats in Johnuel Fland, Karter Knox and Billy Richmond, and landed transfers Johnell Davis from FAU and Jonas Aidoo from Tennessee.

Jayhawks coach Bill Self also has retooled after a disappointing season, and could be the preseason No. 1 in the AP Top 25.

Self returned All-American center Hunter Dickinson, floor leader Dajuan Harris Jr. and versatile KJ Adams Jr., but supplemented that core with Wisconsin transfer A.J. Storr, Zeke Mayo of South Dakota State and Rylan Griffen from Alabama. The Jayhawks also brought in prep prospects Flory Bidunga and Rakease Passmore who could help right away.

The exhibition game against Arkansas comes one week after Kansas hosts its 40th annual Late Night in the Phog.

“We are excited to be able to go play at Arkansas in an exhibition game and help raise money for a great cause,” Self said. “This game will give us a good idea to see where our team is before the season starts.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726751398358.png" alt="FILE - John Calipari answers questions from reporters during a press conference after being introduced as Arkansas's head head basketball coach Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - John Calipari answers questions from reporters during a press conference after being introduced as Arkansas's head head basketball coach Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The debut of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arkansas-john-calipari-b560b96b84c1b17bf1eb5c11c59eb6f2">John Calipari at Arkansas</a>&nbsp;will come in a charity exhibition game against Kansas next month.The schools announced Wednesday that their men's basketball teams would meet Oct. 25 at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Proceeds from the game will be split between the Fore the Kids Foundation, which is based in Overland Park, Kansas, and promotes mental health among children, and the Arkansas Children's Hospitals.Calipari&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arkansas-razorbacks-john-calipari-2b5b69686990ae910ea8dd2d69a3a001">left Kentucky for Arkansas</a>&nbsp;after 15 seasons, which included four trips to the Final Four and the 2012 national title. He said at the time the Wildcats' program “needs to hear another voice,” and Calipari headed to SEC-rival Arkansas to replace Eric Musselman, who left for the same job at Southern California.Calipari is also close to the Kansas program. He worked as an assistant under Ted Owens and Larry Brown in the 1980s.“It is great for our program to be able to play these high-profile charity games,” Calipari said in a statement. “Not only is it an entertaining and valuable tool for the teams and fans but it also raises a lot of money for great causes.”Arkansas will play another charity exhibition against TCU on Nov. 1 in Fort Worth, Texas.Calipari has overhauled the Razorbacks since his arrival, bringing with him Kentucky transfers D.J. Wagner, Adou Thiero and Zvonimir Ivisic. He also brought three high-profile recruits that originally signed with the Wildcats in Johnuel Fland, Karter Knox and Billy Richmond, and landed transfers Johnell Davis from FAU and Jonas Aidoo from Tennessee.Jayhawks coach Bill Self also has retooled after a disappointing season, and could be the preseason No. 1 in the AP Top 25.Self returned All-American center Hunter Dickinson, floor leader Dajuan Harris Jr. and versatile KJ Adams Jr., but supplemented that core with Wisconsin transfer A.J. Storr, Zeke Mayo of South Dakota State and Rylan Griffen from Alabama. The Jayhawks also brought in prep prospects Flory Bidunga and Rakease Passmore who could help right away.The exhibition game against Arkansas comes one week after Kansas hosts its 40th annual Late Night in the Phog.“We are excited to be able to go play at Arkansas in an exhibition game and help raise money for a great cause,” Self said. “This game will give us a good idea to see where our team is before the season starts.”

Calipari to make Arkansas debut against Kansas in charity exhibition in October

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726759400212.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;2024 Great Bend Panthers 3rd Grade" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;2024 Great Bend Panthers 3rd Grade</figcaption>
 </figure>2	Ethan	Vainer	Eisenhower7	Bryson	Combs	Jefferson8	Landon 	Becker	Lincoln10	Kaeson	Demel	Holy Family11	Gabriel	Ringo	Lincoln12	Kohan	Honomichl Lincoln13	Rhett	Nairn	Jefferson15	Braxton	Pangburn	Lincoln17	Rhett	Zecha	CKCA18	Parker	Schartz	Jefferson20	Mack	Elsen	Lincoln28	Rodrigo	Perales	Eisenhower32	Weston	Herl	Eisenhower33	Grayson	Haltom	Lincoln87	Owen	Hiss	Holy Family99	Ethan	Hiss	Holy FamilyHead Coach Mike RingoAssistant CoachesAlex ElsenTyler NairnAaron SchartzKyle RiggsMatt HissDakota Zecha

2024 Great Bend Panthers 3rd Grade

On behalf of all staff, participants, supporters, ambassadors, sponsors, corporate partners, and nobles across Kansas, the Shrine Bowl of Kansas Inc. Board of Directors is proud to announce a donation of $150,000 to benefit Shriners Children’s and the many Kansas children whose lives are greatly impacted by the care received at Shriners Children’s. According to Shriners Children’s, more than 320 children from over 125 different cities in Kansas have received care from Shriners Children’s in the last 10 years. The $150,000 donation, generated by the success of the 2024 Kansas Shrine Bowl presented by Mammoth in Emporia and the inaugural KWCA Kansas Shrine Duals in Wichita, matches the second highest single-year contribution by the organization in its 51-year history. Since 1974, the Shrine Bowl of Kansas Inc. has donated just shy of $4.0 million to Shriners Children’s.

In addition to the major financial contribution, as a result of the 2024 KWCA Kansas Shrine Duals and the 51st&nbsp;Kansas Shrine Bowl presented by Mammoth, the Shrine Bowl of Kansas Inc. was able to provide camps and programming for over 500 student-athletes and musicians from across Kansas. These camps provide students the opportunity to learn first-hand the impact their participation has on the lives of the many children served by Shriners Children’s. Through the interaction and activities they participate in during camp with the Shriners Children’s Patient Ambassadors and their families, these students become active participants in helping spread awareness for the outstanding philanthropic work being done by Shriners.

The 2nd&nbsp;Annual KWCA Kansas Shrine Duals is scheduled for Saturday, March 29, 2025, at Newman University in Wichita, Kansas and the 52nd&nbsp;Annual Kansas Shrine Bowl presented by Mammoth is scheduled for Saturday, June 21, 2025, at Memorial Stadium in Dodge City, Kansas. To learn more about the many opportunities available to be a part of these events and help make the biggest impact possible for Shriners Children’s, please contact the Kansas Shrine Bowl office at 913-602-8656 or by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:events@KansasShrineBowl.com">events@KansasShrineBowl.com</a>. Additional event information and history can be found at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kansasshrinebowl.com/">www.KansasShrineBowl.com</a>.

The Shrine Bowl of Kansas Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that produces annual events and related activities to benefit Shriners Children’s. Donations to the Shrine Bowl of Kansas Inc. are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law (EIN 48-0807815). Shriners Children’s is a world-renowned healthcare system with hospitals, outpatient clinics, ambulatory care centers and outreach locations across the globe. Shriners Children’s is dedicated to improving the lives of children every day by providing pediatric specialty care, innovative research, and outstanding teaching programs for medical professionals. Children up to the age of 18 are eligible for care and receive all services in a family-centered environment, regardless of the patients’ ability to pay.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726758237307.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>On behalf of all staff, participants, supporters, ambassadors, sponsors, corporate partners, and nobles across Kansas, the Shrine Bowl of Kansas Inc. Board of Directors is proud to announce a donation of $150,000 to benefit Shriners Children’s and the many Kansas children whose lives are greatly impacted by the care received at Shriners Children’s. According to Shriners Children’s, more than 320 children from over 125 different cities in Kansas have received care from Shriners Children’s in the last 10 years. The $150,000 donation, generated by the success of the 2024 Kansas Shrine Bowl presented by Mammoth in Emporia and the inaugural KWCA Kansas Shrine Duals in Wichita, matches the second highest single-year contribution by the organization in its 51-year history. Since 1974, the Shrine Bowl of Kansas Inc. has donated just shy of $4.0 million to Shriners Children’s.In addition to the major financial contribution, as a result of the 2024 KWCA Kansas Shrine Duals and the 51st&nbsp;Kansas Shrine Bowl presented by Mammoth, the Shrine Bowl of Kansas Inc. was able to provide camps and programming for over 500 student-athletes and musicians from across Kansas. These camps provide students the opportunity to learn first-hand the impact their participation has on the lives of the many children served by Shriners Children’s. Through the interaction and activities they participate in during camp with the Shriners Children’s Patient Ambassadors and their families, these students become active participants in helping spread awareness for the outstanding philanthropic work being done by Shriners.The 2nd&nbsp;Annual KWCA Kansas Shrine Duals is scheduled for Saturday, March 29, 2025, at Newman University in Wichita, Kansas and the 52nd&nbsp;Annual Kansas Shrine Bowl presented by Mammoth is scheduled for Saturday, June 21, 2025, at Memorial Stadium in Dodge City, Kansas. To learn more about the many opportunities available to be a part of these events and help make the biggest impact possible for Shriners Children’s, please contact the Kansas Shrine Bowl office at 913-602-8656 or by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:events@KansasShrineBowl.com">events@KansasShrineBowl.com</a>. Additional event information and history can be found at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kansasshrinebowl.com/">www.KansasShrineBowl.com</a>.The Shrine Bowl of Kansas Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that produces annual events and related activities to benefit Shriners Children’s. Donations to the Shrine Bowl of Kansas Inc. are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law (EIN 48-0807815). Shriners Children’s is a world-renowned healthcare system with hospitals, outpatient clinics, ambulatory care centers and outreach locations across the globe. Shriners Children’s is dedicated to improving the lives of children every day by providing pediatric specialty care, innovative research, and outstanding teaching programs for medical professionals. Children up to the age of 18 are eligible for care and receive all services in a family-centered environment, regardless of the patients’ ability to pay.

Kansas Shrine Bowl announces $150,000 donation

A late cherry-on-the-top goal didn't tell the story in Wednesday evening's conference battle in Arkansas City as the 14th ranked Barton Community College men's soccer team fell 2-0 at 4th ranked Cowley College.

The loss drops Barton to 1-3-0 in the KJCCC and 5-3-0 overall while Cowley stays atop the standings at 4-0-1 and 6-0-1 on the year.

Barton looks to end its two-game slide at the hands of the conference leaders this Saturday hosting Garden City Community College in a 1:00 p.m. kick at Cougar Field to begin a five-game homestand stretch.

Cowley's eventual game winner came just under nine minutes into the contest, making the most of a deflected uncleared attempt by sending the loose ball inside far post.

The Cougars' lone corner kick ironically resulted in the cushion net rattler, the missed set piece opportunity turning into a Cowley counterattack ending in the back of the net with sixty-one seconds remaining.

By TODD MOORE Barton Sports InfoA late cherry-on-the-top goal didn't tell the story in Wednesday evening's conference battle in Arkansas City as the 14th ranked Barton Community College men's soccer team fell 2-0 at 4th ranked Cowley College.The loss drops Barton to 1-3-0 in the KJCCC and 5-3-0 overall while Cowley stays atop the standings at 4-0-1 and 6-0-1 on the year.Barton looks to end its two-game slide at the hands of the conference leaders this Saturday hosting Garden City Community College in a 1:00 p.m. kick at Cougar Field to begin a five-game homestand stretch.Cowley's eventual game winner came just under nine minutes into the contest, making the most of a deflected uncleared attempt by sending the loose ball inside far post.The Cougars' lone corner kick ironically resulted in the cushion net rattler, the missed set piece opportunity turning into a Cowley counterattack ending in the back of the net with sixty-one seconds remaining.

Barton men drop battle of nationally ranked teams in Arkansas City

The 5th ranked Barton Community College volleyball team returned to conference play this evening in Liberal with a straight set sweep at Seward County Community College (25-11, 25-14, 27-25).

The Cougars were all over the host Saints in the first two sets, but re-energized home squad made things interesting by racing out to a 4-0 lead in the third. Barton battled back to tie it at 7 and eventually take a 12-11 advantage before the Saints' three straight regained the lead. Appearing the match would be headed to a fourth frame, Barton rallied back from not only a 23-18 deficit but would have to fight off a pair of set points in prevailing for the third straight sweep early in the conference season.

Barton improves to 3-0 in KJCCC play and 16-1 overall while Seward County falls to 2-2 and 5-8 on the year.

Next up is Saturday's 6:00 p.m. hosting of Dodge City Community College to set the stage for the reunion and ring presentation ceremony of the men's basketball 2024 National Championship.

By TODD MOORE Barton Sports InfoThe 5th ranked Barton Community College volleyball team returned to conference play this evening in Liberal with a straight set sweep at Seward County Community College (25-11, 25-14, 27-25).The Cougars were all over the host Saints in the first two sets, but re-energized home squad made things interesting by racing out to a 4-0 lead in the third. Barton battled back to tie it at 7 and eventually take a 12-11 advantage before the Saints' three straight regained the lead. Appearing the match would be headed to a fourth frame, Barton rallied back from not only a 23-18 deficit but would have to fight off a pair of set points in prevailing for the third straight sweep early in the conference season.Barton improves to 3-0 in KJCCC play and 16-1 overall while Seward County falls to 2-2 and 5-8 on the year.Next up is Saturday's 6:00 p.m. hosting of Dodge City Community College to set the stage for the reunion and ring presentation ceremony of the men's basketball 2024 National Championship.

Fifth-ranked Cougar volleyball team pick up sweep at Seward County

MIAMI (AP) — Shohei Ohtani stole his 49th base and moved closer to becoming the first player in major league history with 50 homers and 50 steals in a season as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Miami Marlins 8-4 Wednesday night. Ohtani, who began the day two shy of each mark, singled to lead off the game then swiped second. He flew out to left, struck out, lined out to right and struck out in his next four plate appearances. Tommy Edman hit his sixth homer in the last eight games for the NL West-leading Dodgers (90-62), who remained 3 1/2 games ahead of second-place San Diego. Enrique Hernández and Will Smith also went deep and Freddie Freeman had three hits. The Dodgers reached 90 victories for the 11th consecutive season of 162 games.

SEATTLE (AP) — A year ago, the New York Yankees were knocked out of playoff contention with a week to go in the regular season, ending a string of six straight postseason appearances. Remembering what that was like made wrapping up a playoff berth with more than a week left this time around feel that much better. “We’ve been through a lot already this year,” manager Aaron Boone said. “We understand it’s just a first step — but it’s an important one. We’re in the dance.” After spending last year sitting at home when the postseason arrived, the Yankees secured their place in the 2024 playoffs with a 2-1 win over the Seattle Mariners in 10 innings Wednesday night.

Coco Gauff split from coach Brad Gilbert after more than a year and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-open-women-final-live-updates-2f95f716e0336551d27920bc32b3f9bb">one Grand Slam title together</a>, the pair announced Wednesday via separate messages on social media. The end of their partnership comes 2 1/2 weeks after Gauff’s defense of her 2023 championship at the U.S. Open&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-open-9-1-2024-live-updates-0286357f22f9031f60c1c2b66e6c912c">unraveled amid 19 double-faults</a>&nbsp;during a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 loss to Emma Navarro in the fourth round at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-open-2024-watch-guide-betting-schedule-73f4f2f3ec2811142b4655bbb3f74995">Flushing Meadows</a>. That Sept. 1 loss was the latest in a series of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-open-preview-coco-gauff-2d33e4f4eeb3fd23f7b80bf0d1789c66">disappointing-for-her results in recent months</a>&nbsp;for Gauff, a 20-year-old American who recently dropped from No. 3 to No. 6 in the WTA rankings. It was after a first-round exit at Wimbledon last season that Gauff really took off with the help of the coaching duo of Gilbert and Pere Riba. Riba wasn’t with her this year.

The WNBA is headed back to Portland, with Oregon’s biggest city getting an expansion team that will begin play in 2026. The team will be owned and operated by Raj Sports, led by Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal, who also own the Portland Thorns of the National Women’s Soccer League. They paid $125 million for the franchise. Some 300 invited guests attended a kickoff event at Portland’s Moda Center on Wednesday afternoon with the Bhathals, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and other state and local officials. Afterward, there was community-wide event outside the stadium.

WEDNESDAY'S SCORES Major League Baseball American League

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707734642080.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>MIAMI (AP) — Shohei Ohtani stole his 49th base and moved closer to becoming the first player in major league history with 50 homers and 50 steals in a season as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Miami Marlins 8-4 Wednesday night. Ohtani, who began the day two shy of each mark, singled to lead off the game then swiped second. He flew out to left, struck out, lined out to right and struck out in his next four plate appearances. Tommy Edman hit his sixth homer in the last eight games for the NL West-leading Dodgers (90-62), who remained 3 1/2 games ahead of second-place San Diego. Enrique Hernández and Will Smith also went deep and Freddie Freeman had three hits. The Dodgers reached 90 victories for the 11th consecutive season of 162 games.SEATTLE (AP) — A year ago, the New York Yankees were knocked out of playoff contention with a week to go in the regular season, ending a string of six straight postseason appearances. Remembering what that was like made wrapping up a playoff berth with more than a week left this time around feel that much better. “We’ve been through a lot already this year,” manager Aaron Boone said. “We understand it’s just a first step — but it’s an important one. We’re in the dance.” After spending last year sitting at home when the postseason arrived, the Yankees secured their place in the 2024 playoffs with a 2-1 win over the Seattle Mariners in 10 innings Wednesday night.Coco Gauff split from coach Brad Gilbert after more than a year and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-open-women-final-live-updates-2f95f716e0336551d27920bc32b3f9bb">one Grand Slam title together</a>, the pair announced Wednesday via separate messages on social media. The end of their partnership comes 2 1/2 weeks after Gauff’s defense of her 2023 championship at the U.S. Open&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-open-9-1-2024-live-updates-0286357f22f9031f60c1c2b66e6c912c">unraveled amid 19 double-faults</a>&nbsp;during a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 loss to Emma Navarro in the fourth round at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-open-2024-watch-guide-betting-schedule-73f4f2f3ec2811142b4655bbb3f74995">Flushing Meadows</a>. That Sept. 1 loss was the latest in a series of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-open-preview-coco-gauff-2d33e4f4eeb3fd23f7b80bf0d1789c66">disappointing-for-her results in recent months</a>&nbsp;for Gauff, a 20-year-old American who recently dropped from No. 3 to No. 6 in the WTA rankings. It was after a first-round exit at Wimbledon last season that Gauff really took off with the help of the coaching duo of Gilbert and Pere Riba. Riba wasn’t with her this year.The WNBA is headed back to Portland, with Oregon’s biggest city getting an expansion team that will begin play in 2026. The team will be owned and operated by Raj Sports, led by Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal, who also own the Portland Thorns of the National Women’s Soccer League. They paid $125 million for the franchise. Some 300 invited guests attended a kickoff event at Portland’s Moda Center on Wednesday afternoon with the Bhathals, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and other state and local officials. Afterward, there was community-wide event outside the stadium.WEDNESDAY'S SCORES Major League Baseball American LeagueLA Angels 4, Chicago White Sox 3Cleveland 5, Minnesota 4Boston 2, Tampa Bay 1Detroit 4, Kansas City 2NY Yankees 2, Seattle 1Texas 2, Toronto 0National LeagueArizona 9, Colorado 4&nbsp;LA Dodgers 8, Miami 4Atlanta 7, Cincinnati 1St. Louis 01, Pittsburgh 5NY Mets 10, Washington 0Milwaukee 2, Philadelphia 1InterleagueOakland 5, Chicago Cubs 3San Francisco 5, Baltimore 3San Diego 4, Houston 0

Thursday's Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Tarik Skubal allowed three hits over five innings for his 17th win and the streaking Detroit Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals 4-2 on Wednesday night to move within a half game of a playoff spot with 10 games remaining.

Riley Greene hit a go-ahead home run as the Tigers (80-73) won their fourth straight and ninth in the last 11 games. With the series sweep, Detroit won for the 25th time in 35 games to move within a half game of Minnesota (80-72) for the third AL wild-card spot.

Skubal (17-4), who has won his last five decisions, made his case for the AL Cy Young Award stronger by matching Atlanta’s Chris Sale for the major league lead in wins and lowered his AL-leading earned run average to 2.48. He walked one and struck out seven.

Skubal had struggled against the Royals in the past, entering Wednesday with a 2-9 record and 5.05 ERA in 12 starts over 14 appearances. After allowing three hits and Yuli Gurriel’s two-out RBI single in the first inning, he threw four hitless innings.

The Royals (82-71), who lost their fourth straight, were swept for the first time at home this season and the third time overall. They remained 2 1/2 games behind Baltimore for the first wild-card spot and 1 1/2 games ahead of Minnesota for the second wild card.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/orioles-giants-score-6ec70e02cd2b3f67760e8e2272f1fdaf">The Orioles</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/twins-guardians-score-cb19462f4d0652f6799b22b30297f003">Twins both lost</a>&nbsp;earlier Wednesday.

Skubal struck out major league batting leader Bobby Witt Jr. twice before hitting him with a pitch in the fifth. Witt, who became the first player in major league history&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/royals-bobby-witt-jr-steals-homers-2f244fb981427ad0622cbc0d73c200df">with multiple seasons of 30 home runs and 30 steals</a>&nbsp;in his first three seasons Tuesday, broke Hal McRae’s 1977 franchise record with his 87th extra-base hit of the season with a bloop double to lead off the eighth.

Salvador Perez, who finished with two hits, then drove in Witt with a single off reliever Brenan Hanifee. Sean Guenther preserved the 4-2 lead with a double play and a fly out. Guenther got the first out of the ninth and Will Vest got the final two for his second save.

Royals starter Alec Marsh (8-9), coming off a career-high 11 strikeouts in his last start, lasted only 2 2/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks.

Greene slugged a 427-foot home run to right, his career-high 24th, to lead off the third. Trey Sweeney made it 4-1 with a two-run double down the right-field line later in the inning.

Perez and Gurriel, who is hitting .385 since the Royals acquired him from Atlanta, each had two hits for the Royals.

UP NEXT Royals: RHP Michael Wacha (13-7, 3.29) is scheduled to start Friday’s home series opener against San Francisco. Wacha is 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in nine career starts against the Giants and 7-2 with a 2.87 ERA this season at home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726715949210.png" alt="Detroit Tigers' Jace Jung (17) beats the tag by Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez to score on a double by Trey Sweeney during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Detroit Tigers' Jace Jung (17) beats the tag by Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez to score on a double by Trey Sweeney during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Tarik Skubal allowed three hits over five innings for his 17th win and the streaking Detroit Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals 4-2 on Wednesday night to move within a half game of a playoff spot with 10 games remaining.Riley Greene hit a go-ahead home run as the Tigers (80-73) won their fourth straight and ninth in the last 11 games. With the series sweep, Detroit won for the 25th time in 35 games to move within a half game of Minnesota (80-72) for the third AL wild-card spot.Skubal (17-4), who has won his last five decisions, made his case for the AL Cy Young Award stronger by matching Atlanta’s Chris Sale for the major league lead in wins and lowered his AL-leading earned run average to 2.48. He walked one and struck out seven.Skubal had struggled against the Royals in the past, entering Wednesday with a 2-9 record and 5.05 ERA in 12 starts over 14 appearances. After allowing three hits and Yuli Gurriel’s two-out RBI single in the first inning, he threw four hitless innings.The Royals (82-71), who lost their fourth straight, were swept for the first time at home this season and the third time overall. They remained 2 1/2 games behind Baltimore for the first wild-card spot and 1 1/2 games ahead of Minnesota for the second wild card.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/orioles-giants-score-6ec70e02cd2b3f67760e8e2272f1fdaf">The Orioles</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/twins-guardians-score-cb19462f4d0652f6799b22b30297f003">Twins both lost</a>&nbsp;earlier Wednesday.Skubal struck out major league batting leader Bobby Witt Jr. twice before hitting him with a pitch in the fifth. Witt, who became the first player in major league history&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/royals-bobby-witt-jr-steals-homers-2f244fb981427ad0622cbc0d73c200df">with multiple seasons of 30 home runs and 30 steals</a>&nbsp;in his first three seasons Tuesday, broke Hal McRae’s 1977 franchise record with his 87th extra-base hit of the season with a bloop double to lead off the eighth.Salvador Perez, who finished with two hits, then drove in Witt with a single off reliever Brenan Hanifee. Sean Guenther preserved the 4-2 lead with a double play and a fly out. Guenther got the first out of the ninth and Will Vest got the final two for his second save.Royals starter Alec Marsh (8-9), coming off a career-high 11 strikeouts in his last start, lasted only 2 2/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks.Greene slugged a 427-foot home run to right, his career-high 24th, to lead off the third. Trey Sweeney made it 4-1 with a two-run double down the right-field line later in the inning.Perez and Gurriel, who is hitting .385 since the Royals acquired him from Atlanta, each had two hits for the Royals.UP NEXT Royals: RHP Michael Wacha (13-7, 3.29) is scheduled to start Friday’s home series opener against San Francisco. Wacha is 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in nine career starts against the Giants and 7-2 with a 2.87 ERA this season at home.

Tarik Skubal earns 17th win as Tigers beat Royals 4-2

- Great Bend Panther volleyball coach Shelly Duvall

- St. John Tiger football coach Scott Krehbiel

- "Voice of the Fort Hays State Tigers" Gerard Wellbrock

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693997740304.jpeg" alt="Wednesday show lineup with hosts Steve Webster, Mike Courson, and Mike Hesher" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday show lineup with hosts Steve Webster, Mike Courson, and Mike Hesher</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1pjTDSWIMbg?si=SEUh075T_NGMU9Hl" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>- Great Bend Panther volleyball coach Shelly Duvall- St. John Tiger football coach Scott Krehbiel- "Voice of the Fort Hays State Tigers" Gerard Wellbrock- Wednesday Sports Headlines- Sounds of the past 24-hours

Wednesday on Sports Day(Watch)

The Lady Panther volleyball team ended the briefest of skids Tuesday night in Manhattan. Great Bend suffered its first loss of the season against No. 4 Clay Center (4A) to close out the Riley County tournament on Saturday. Tuesday, the Lady Panthers dropped their first two sets of a triangular to Manhattan. Great Bend ended the streak by beating Hays to move to 9-2 on the season.

Manhattan took both sets from the Panthers 25-19. Sophomore Kya Behr and senior Kara Feist combined for 13 of the team's 19 kills in the match. Behr had the lone ace, and freshman Micah Ellegood had the lone block. Behr added 10 assists while freshman Mikala Minton finished with four. Junior Ava Kaiser was busy in the back row with 10 digs. Behr and junior Kimberly Hofflinger each added seven digs, and Minton finished with five.

Great Bend battled with Hays for three sets 25-22, 17-25, 25-22.&nbsp;

The Lady Panthers host Junction City on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m.

Great Bend Post SportsThe Lady Panther volleyball team ended the briefest of skids Tuesday night in Manhattan. Great Bend suffered its first loss of the season against No. 4 Clay Center (4A) to close out the Riley County tournament on Saturday. Tuesday, the Lady Panthers dropped their first two sets of a triangular to Manhattan. Great Bend ended the streak by beating Hays to move to 9-2 on the season.Manhattan took both sets from the Panthers 25-19. Sophomore Kya Behr and senior Kara Feist combined for 13 of the team's 19 kills in the match. Behr had the lone ace, and freshman Micah Ellegood had the lone block. Behr added 10 assists while freshman Mikala Minton finished with four. Junior Ava Kaiser was busy in the back row with 10 digs. Behr and junior Kimberly Hofflinger each added seven digs, and Minton finished with five.Great Bend battled with Hays for three sets 25-22, 17-25, 25-22.&nbsp;The Lady Panthers host Junction City on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m.

Lady Panther volleyball team falls to Manhattan, beats Hays

The Barton Community College men's golf team opened the season by climbing three spots in the final round of the two-day Central Kansas Classic to finish 7th overall of the fourteen team 10th Annual event.

The Cougars carded 303 opening round on Monday and following the afternoon round being canceled due to weather, returned to McPherson's Turkey Creek Golf Course on Tuesday morning in tenth position before firing a 298 in moving up the team placings with a combined 41-over 601 score.

Leading the five-man Barton squad were a pair of sophomores as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bartonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2024-25/bios/lambert_kaleb_aib9">Kaleb Lambert</a>&nbsp;placed 7th in the 73-man field with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bartonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2024-25/bios/chevallier_martin_dyh2">Martin Chevallier</a>&nbsp;finishing in the 17th position.

Lambert's opening 1-under 69 sat in the third spot after Monday but slipped four spots during final day action with a 4-over 74 in accumulating a 3-over 143 total for the two rounds.

Chevallier made one of the tournaments largest final round charges up the leaderboard following an opening 6-over with a fourteen spot climb behind a 1-over 71 card moving into the top-20 with a 7-over 147.

<a href="https://www.bartonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2024-25/bios/suwanmuang_wintakorn_ndsr">Wintakorn Suwanmuang</a>&nbsp;led the trio of freshman on consistent 8-over and 7-over cards for a two-spot climb to 42nd on a 15-over 155 accumulation.

One stroke behind in 45th was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bartonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2024-25/bios/cauvin-piacentini_matteu_qskk">Matteu Cauvin-Piacentini</a>, climbing eight spots following an 80 card with a 76 for a 16-over 156, as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bartonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2024-25/bios/reynolds_talon_qxp0">Talon Reynolds</a>&nbsp;rounded out the entries in 52nd at 19-over 159 behind near identical 80 and 79 cards.

The Barton men return to the links next Monday in Council Bluffs, Iowa, for the two-day Bent Tree Intercollegiate Showcase held at the Bent Tree Golf Course.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726662653438.jpeg" alt="Wintakorn Suwanmuang" />
 <figcaption>Wintakorn Suwanmuang</figcaption>
 </figure>By TODD MOORE Barton Sports InfoThe Barton Community College men's golf team opened the season by climbing three spots in the final round of the two-day Central Kansas Classic to finish 7th overall of the fourteen team 10th Annual event.The Cougars carded 303 opening round on Monday and following the afternoon round being canceled due to weather, returned to McPherson's Turkey Creek Golf Course on Tuesday morning in tenth position before firing a 298 in moving up the team placings with a combined 41-over 601 score.Leading the five-man Barton squad were a pair of sophomores as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bartonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2024-25/bios/lambert_kaleb_aib9">Kaleb Lambert</a>&nbsp;placed 7th in the 73-man field with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bartonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2024-25/bios/chevallier_martin_dyh2">Martin Chevallier</a>&nbsp;finishing in the 17th position.Lambert's opening 1-under 69 sat in the third spot after Monday but slipped four spots during final day action with a 4-over 74 in accumulating a 3-over 143 total for the two rounds.Chevallier made one of the tournaments largest final round charges up the leaderboard following an opening 6-over with a fourteen spot climb behind a 1-over 71 card moving into the top-20 with a 7-over 147.<a href="https://www.bartonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2024-25/bios/suwanmuang_wintakorn_ndsr">Wintakorn Suwanmuang</a>&nbsp;led the trio of freshman on consistent 8-over and 7-over cards for a two-spot climb to 42nd on a 15-over 155 accumulation.One stroke behind in 45th was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bartonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2024-25/bios/cauvin-piacentini_matteu_qskk">Matteu Cauvin-Piacentini</a>, climbing eight spots following an 80 card with a 76 for a 16-over 156, as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bartonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2024-25/bios/reynolds_talon_qxp0">Talon Reynolds</a>&nbsp;rounded out the entries in 52nd at 19-over 159 behind near identical 80 and 79 cards.The Barton men return to the links next Monday in Council Bluffs, Iowa, for the two-day Bent Tree Intercollegiate Showcase held at the Bent Tree Golf Course.

Cougar golf climbs in final day of season opening Central Kansas Classic

The Lady Panther tennis team will take a few days off. But first, the squad traveled to Dodge City Tuesday for an 8-team invite that included two Dodge City teams. Garden City scored 61 points to edge out Dodge's A team by a single point. Great Bend's 50 points were 12 more than fourth-place Liberal.

Darcy Feist and Mac Lindberg advanced to the finals in the doubles bracket. The girls opened with a bye, then beat Dodge City 8-4 in the semifinals. The Lady Panthers fell to Garden City 8-6 in the championship battle. Mackenzie LaViolette and Kylie McCormick finished 12th in the same bracket. The girls opened with an 8-2 loss to Meade before rebounding to beat Cimarron 8-2. After an 8-3 loss to Hays, LaViolette and McCormick fell 8-5 to Hays' other team in the 11th-place match.

Paige Stacey also made it to the championship match in the open singles bracket. She defeated Dodge City 8-3, then advanced to the finals with&nbsp; an 8-3 win over Liberal. Stacey was defeated 8-3 by Garden City in the championship match. Clarise Snapp knocked off Cimarron's No. 1 player 8-2 to open her tournament but lost 8-0 to the eventual champion from Garden City in round two. Snapp lost her next match to Meade but edged Hays' No. 1 player 8-7 (6) in the best match of the day to secure seventh place.

After a busy week, the Lady Panthers are off until Sept. 24 when they head to McPherson.

Great Bend Post SportsThe Lady Panther tennis team will take a few days off. But first, the squad traveled to Dodge City Tuesday for an 8-team invite that included two Dodge City teams. Garden City scored 61 points to edge out Dodge's A team by a single point. Great Bend's 50 points were 12 more than fourth-place Liberal.Darcy Feist and Mac Lindberg advanced to the finals in the doubles bracket. The girls opened with a bye, then beat Dodge City 8-4 in the semifinals. The Lady Panthers fell to Garden City 8-6 in the championship battle. Mackenzie LaViolette and Kylie McCormick finished 12th in the same bracket. The girls opened with an 8-2 loss to Meade before rebounding to beat Cimarron 8-2. After an 8-3 loss to Hays, LaViolette and McCormick fell 8-5 to Hays' other team in the 11th-place match.Paige Stacey also made it to the championship match in the open singles bracket. She defeated Dodge City 8-3, then advanced to the finals with&nbsp; an 8-3 win over Liberal. Stacey was defeated 8-3 by Garden City in the championship match. Clarise Snapp knocked off Cimarron's No. 1 player 8-2 to open her tournament but lost 8-0 to the eventual champion from Garden City in round two. Snapp lost her next match to Meade but edged Hays' No. 1 player 8-7 (6) in the best match of the day to secure seventh place.After a busy week, the Lady Panthers are off until Sept. 24 when they head to McPherson.

Lady Panther tennis team finishes third at Dodge City

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins placed Tua Tagovailoa on injured reserve Tuesday after the quarterback was diagnosed with his third concussion in two years.

Tagovailoa will be sidelined for at least four games. He will be eligible to return in Week 8 when the Dolphins host Arizona, but has to complete a series of tests and assessments required by the NFL’s concussion protocol before he can return to the field.

Tagovailoa was hurt last Thursday night when he collided with Buffalo defensive back Damar Hamlin. He ran for a first down and then initiated the contact by lowering his shoulder into Hamlin instead of sliding.

Players from both teams immediately motioned that Tagovailoa was hurt, and as he lay on the turf the quarterback exhibited some signs typically associated with a traumatic brain injury. He remained down on the field for a couple of minutes, got to his feet and walked to the sideline. The Dolphins diagnosed him with a concussion a few minutes later.

Coach Mike McDaniel has since cautioned against speculation on the quarterback’s future, stressing that he’s more focused on Tagovailoa getting healthy than what this latest concussion means for the team or for his career. Tagovailoa this week began the process of consulting neurologists about his health amid reports that he has no plans to retire.

Others around the NFL have offered their opinions on Tagovailoa’s future, including Raiders coach Antonio Pierce, who suggested he should retire.

“As far as Tua’s career is concerned, I think it’s an utmost priority of mine for Tua to speak on Tua’s career,” McDaniel said Monday. “Reports are reports. As far as I’m concerned, I’m just worried about the human being and where that’s at day to day. I’ll let Tua be the champion of his own career.”

McDaniel said Tagovailoa was at the team’s practice facility on Monday, greeting teammates and working with trainers.

“He’s doing good, man. Talked to him, he’s in good spirits,” receiver Jaylen Waddle said Monday. “(He’s) got the team in good spirits and everybody praying for him and hoping (for his) health.”

Head injuries have become a familiar, scary occurrence throughout Tagovailoa’s career.

In a September 2022 game against the Bills, he took a hit from linebacker Matt Milano, which caused him to slam to the ground. He appeared disoriented afterward and stumbled as he tried to get to his feet. He was cleared to return to that game and later said it was a back injury that caused the stumble. He was not diagnosed with a concussion.

Four days later, he got hit again during a Thursday night game at Cincinnati in which he was briefly knocked unconscious and was taken off the field on a stretcher. As he lay on the turf, his fingers appeared to display the “fencing response,” an involuntary motion typically associated with a brain injury. That time, he was placed in the concussion protocol.

The NFL and the players’ union made changes to the concussion protocol after those two incidents with Tagovailoa. Players who have problems with balance or stability are now prohibited from returning to a game.

Tagovailoa briefly considered retirement, but instead returned and studied ways to better protect himself on the field, including taking jiu-jitsu classes ahead of the 2023 season.

Tagovailoa has said he spoke to numerous neurologists who told him they did not believe he would be more susceptible to head injuries than any other player moving forward, nor would he be at a higher risk for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the brain disease associated with repeated blows to the head. He was also diagnosed with a concussion while in college at Alabama.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins placed Tua Tagovailoa on injured reserve Tuesday after the quarterback was diagnosed with his third concussion in two years.Tagovailoa will be sidelined for at least four games. He will be eligible to return in Week 8 when the Dolphins host Arizona, but has to complete a series of tests and assessments required by the NFL’s concussion protocol before he can return to the field.Tagovailoa was hurt last Thursday night when he collided with Buffalo defensive back Damar Hamlin. He ran for a first down and then initiated the contact by lowering his shoulder into Hamlin instead of sliding.Players from both teams immediately motioned that Tagovailoa was hurt, and as he lay on the turf the quarterback exhibited some signs typically associated with a traumatic brain injury. He remained down on the field for a couple of minutes, got to his feet and walked to the sideline. The Dolphins diagnosed him with a concussion a few minutes later.Coach Mike McDaniel has since cautioned against speculation on the quarterback’s future, stressing that he’s more focused on Tagovailoa getting healthy than what this latest concussion means for the team or for his career. Tagovailoa this week began the process of consulting neurologists about his health amid reports that he has no plans to retire.Others around the NFL have offered their opinions on Tagovailoa’s future, including Raiders coach Antonio Pierce, who suggested he should retire.“As far as Tua’s career is concerned, I think it’s an utmost priority of mine for Tua to speak on Tua’s career,” McDaniel said Monday. “Reports are reports. As far as I’m concerned, I’m just worried about the human being and where that’s at day to day. I’ll let Tua be the champion of his own career.”McDaniel said Tagovailoa was at the team’s practice facility on Monday, greeting teammates and working with trainers.“He’s doing good, man. Talked to him, he’s in good spirits,” receiver Jaylen Waddle said Monday. “(He’s) got the team in good spirits and everybody praying for him and hoping (for his) health.”Head injuries have become a familiar, scary occurrence throughout Tagovailoa’s career.In a September 2022 game against the Bills, he took a hit from linebacker Matt Milano, which caused him to slam to the ground. He appeared disoriented afterward and stumbled as he tried to get to his feet. He was cleared to return to that game and later said it was a back injury that caused the stumble. He was not diagnosed with a concussion.Four days later, he got hit again during a Thursday night game at Cincinnati in which he was briefly knocked unconscious and was taken off the field on a stretcher. As he lay on the turf, his fingers appeared to display the “fencing response,” an involuntary motion typically associated with a brain injury. That time, he was placed in the concussion protocol.The NFL and the players’ union made changes to the concussion protocol after those two incidents with Tagovailoa. Players who have problems with balance or stability are now prohibited from returning to a game.Tagovailoa briefly considered retirement, but instead returned and studied ways to better protect himself on the field, including taking jiu-jitsu classes ahead of the 2023 season.Tagovailoa has said he spoke to numerous neurologists who told him they did not believe he would be more susceptible to head injuries than any other player moving forward, nor would he be at a higher risk for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the brain disease associated with repeated blows to the head. He was also diagnosed with a concussion while in college at Alabama.

Dolphins place Tua Tagovailoa on injured reserve after latest concussion

The Barton Community College women's golf team opened their fall season Monday placing runner-up in the two-day 10th Annual Central Kansas Classic held at McPherson's Turkey Creek Golf Course.

Behind the play of lone sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bartonsports.com/sports/wgolf/2024-25/bios/medellin_frida_kqko">Frida Medellin</a>&nbsp;finishing 5th overall to earn All-Classic Team honors, the Cougars carded combined rounds of 337 and 342 (103-over) for the runner-up spot 51-strokes behind victor William Penn University who ranks 32nd in the NAIA.

Medellin concluded Monday's round in a fourth place tie with a 7-over 79. falling a spot on Tuesday's card with an 87, but held on to the post-meet honors by one stroke at 22-over 166.

Climbing four spots to land 9th of the 45-competitor field,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bartonsports.com/sports/wgolf/2024-25/bios/vogt_joellen_lb3k">Joellen Vogt</a>&nbsp;opened with an 86 before shaving off three strokes in the final round for a combined 11-over 169 collegiate debut.

Staying consistent with twin 14-over 86 rounds in climbing two spots, freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bartonsports.com/sports/wgolf/2024-25/bios/laparojkit_chomchanok_9vdo">Chomchanok Laparojkit</a>&nbsp;sat just outside the top ten by two strokes in placing 11th overall at 28-over 172.

A pair of shots behind in 15th was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bartonsports.com/sports/wgolf/2024-25/bios/nash_kadynce_s9uk">Kadynce Nash</a>&nbsp;on 86 and 88 cards for a two-day 30-over 174 total followed by fellow freshman's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bartonsports.com/sports/wgolf/2024-25/bios/tabanag_giovanna_f3qh">Giovanna Tabanag</a>&nbsp;in 20th after making the squad's biggest final round improvement of six strokes from a 92 to an 86 for a 34-over 178 in climbing up five spots.

The Cougars next travel to Nebraska City, Nebraska, October 4-5 to participate in the Peru State Invitational at Table Creek Golf Club.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726662542186.jpeg" alt="Frida Medellin" />
 <figcaption>Frida Medellin</figcaption>
 </figure>By TODD MOORE Barton Sports InfoThe Barton Community College women's golf team opened their fall season Monday placing runner-up in the two-day 10th Annual Central Kansas Classic held at McPherson's Turkey Creek Golf Course.Behind the play of lone sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bartonsports.com/sports/wgolf/2024-25/bios/medellin_frida_kqko">Frida Medellin</a>&nbsp;finishing 5th overall to earn All-Classic Team honors, the Cougars carded combined rounds of 337 and 342 (103-over) for the runner-up spot 51-strokes behind victor William Penn University who ranks 32nd in the NAIA.Medellin concluded Monday's round in a fourth place tie with a 7-over 79. falling a spot on Tuesday's card with an 87, but held on to the post-meet honors by one stroke at 22-over 166.Climbing four spots to land 9th of the 45-competitor field,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bartonsports.com/sports/wgolf/2024-25/bios/vogt_joellen_lb3k">Joellen Vogt</a>&nbsp;opened with an 86 before shaving off three strokes in the final round for a combined 11-over 169 collegiate debut.Staying consistent with twin 14-over 86 rounds in climbing two spots, freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bartonsports.com/sports/wgolf/2024-25/bios/laparojkit_chomchanok_9vdo">Chomchanok Laparojkit</a>&nbsp;sat just outside the top ten by two strokes in placing 11th overall at 28-over 172.A pair of shots behind in 15th was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bartonsports.com/sports/wgolf/2024-25/bios/nash_kadynce_s9uk">Kadynce Nash</a>&nbsp;on 86 and 88 cards for a two-day 30-over 174 total followed by fellow freshman's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bartonsports.com/sports/wgolf/2024-25/bios/tabanag_giovanna_f3qh">Giovanna Tabanag</a>&nbsp;in 20th after making the squad's biggest final round improvement of six strokes from a 92 to an 86 for a 34-over 178 in climbing up five spots.The Cougars next travel to Nebraska City, Nebraska, October 4-5 to participate in the Peru State Invitational at Table Creek Golf Club.

Medellin leads Barton women's golf to runner-up finish at Central Kansas Classic

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers is trying to not make too much of his MetLife Stadium homecoming. But the New York Jets quarterback knows all eyes will be on him Thursday night when he faces the New England Patriots. Rodgers has waited more than a year to play in another game in front of the home fans — and further push aside the overwhelming disappointment that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aaron-rodgers-new-york-jets-2fcf29ffc02a439bbff0914cb1d2abdc">marked his debut</a>&nbsp;in the Big Apple spotlight last year. “I mean, I feel good about it. It’s been a long time since I took the field at JetLife,” Rodgers said, using his nickname for the stadium the Jets share with the Giants. “So, it’ll be a lot of emotions, for sure. But we’re thankfully already into the third game of the season.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Moments after Jose Altuve was ejected for taking off his left cleat and sock trying to prove a point, his replacement, Grae Kessinger scored the go-ahead run in the 10th inning and then made a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/astros/status/1836269530990907822" target="_blank">sensational play at second base</a>&nbsp;to seal the Houston Astros’ wild 4-3 win against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night. Altuve grounded out to third for the final out of the ninth but insisted he had fouled the ball off his foot. In a crazy scene, he&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/MLBONFOX/status/1836263118823133213" target="_blank">took off his cleat and sock</a>, trying to show the umpires where the ball hit, which got him ejected by plate umpire Brennan Miller. Manager Joe Espada was tossed after continuing to argue. “Sometimes you get hit somewhere in the hand and you take your batting glove to show you got hit. I was expecting to do the same thing,” Altuve said.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Rookie Eric Wagaman homered for the second straight game, Griffin Canning threw six innings of three-hit ball, and the Los Angeles Angels dealt the Chicago White Sox their 116th loss with a 5-0 victory on Tuesday night.&nbsp;The White Sox were trying to equal a season-high, four-game winning streak. Instead, they moved one step closer to the majors’ post-1900 record of 120 losses by the 1962 expansion New York Mets. Chicago is 36-116 with 10 games left and has the fourth-most losses in a season since 1900. The 2003 Detroit Tigers hold the American League mark with 119 losses. The White Sox were shut out for the 19th time, tied for fourth-most since 2000, and finished with six hits. They had only two runners reach second base.

More than half of the WNBA playoff seeds are set with the New York Liberty clinching the No. 1 seed on Tuesday night. The rest of the postseason matchups will be determined when the regular season closes out on Thursday night. The Liberty&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/liberty-mystics-score-8f3ba1283ed5df4816afc6cde5295a4f">topped the Washington Mystics</a>&nbsp;to earn homecourt throughout the playoffs for only the second time in franchise history. The Minnesota Lynx&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lynx-sun-score-e1ee2f6574d1754a0767fdb26d6caf1f">clinched the No. 2 seed</a>&nbsp;with their victory over Connecticut. Minnesota is the hottest team right now winning 13 of 14 since the Olympic break. They’ll face Phoenix in the opening round of the playoffs which begin Sunday. The Sun are currently in third with a one-game lead over Las Vegas, which assured itself no worse than the four seed with a victory over Seattle on Tuesday night. The Aces hold the tiebreaker with Connecticut. With the loss the Storm are assured of the fifth seed. Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever are locked into sixth and will be on the road either in Connecticut or Las Vegas for the opening round.

TUESDAY'S SCORES Major League Baseball American League

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714991701059.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers is trying to not make too much of his MetLife Stadium homecoming. But the New York Jets quarterback knows all eyes will be on him Thursday night when he faces the New England Patriots. Rodgers has waited more than a year to play in another game in front of the home fans — and further push aside the overwhelming disappointment that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aaron-rodgers-new-york-jets-2fcf29ffc02a439bbff0914cb1d2abdc">marked his debut</a>&nbsp;in the Big Apple spotlight last year. “I mean, I feel good about it. It’s been a long time since I took the field at JetLife,” Rodgers said, using his nickname for the stadium the Jets share with the Giants. “So, it’ll be a lot of emotions, for sure. But we’re thankfully already into the third game of the season.SAN DIEGO (AP) — Moments after Jose Altuve was ejected for taking off his left cleat and sock trying to prove a point, his replacement, Grae Kessinger scored the go-ahead run in the 10th inning and then made a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/astros/status/1836269530990907822" target="_blank">sensational play at second base</a>&nbsp;to seal the Houston Astros’ wild 4-3 win against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night. Altuve grounded out to third for the final out of the ninth but insisted he had fouled the ball off his foot. In a crazy scene, he&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/MLBONFOX/status/1836263118823133213" target="_blank">took off his cleat and sock</a>, trying to show the umpires where the ball hit, which got him ejected by plate umpire Brennan Miller. Manager Joe Espada was tossed after continuing to argue. “Sometimes you get hit somewhere in the hand and you take your batting glove to show you got hit. I was expecting to do the same thing,” Altuve said.ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Rookie Eric Wagaman homered for the second straight game, Griffin Canning threw six innings of three-hit ball, and the Los Angeles Angels dealt the Chicago White Sox their 116th loss with a 5-0 victory on Tuesday night.&nbsp;The White Sox were trying to equal a season-high, four-game winning streak. Instead, they moved one step closer to the majors’ post-1900 record of 120 losses by the 1962 expansion New York Mets. Chicago is 36-116 with 10 games left and has the fourth-most losses in a season since 1900. The 2003 Detroit Tigers hold the American League mark with 119 losses. The White Sox were shut out for the 19th time, tied for fourth-most since 2000, and finished with six hits. They had only two runners reach second base.More than half of the WNBA playoff seeds are set with the New York Liberty clinching the No. 1 seed on Tuesday night. The rest of the postseason matchups will be determined when the regular season closes out on Thursday night. The Liberty&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/liberty-mystics-score-8f3ba1283ed5df4816afc6cde5295a4f">topped the Washington Mystics</a>&nbsp;to earn homecourt throughout the playoffs for only the second time in franchise history. The Minnesota Lynx&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lynx-sun-score-e1ee2f6574d1754a0767fdb26d6caf1f">clinched the No. 2 seed</a>&nbsp;with their victory over Connecticut. Minnesota is the hottest team right now winning 13 of 14 since the Olympic break. They’ll face Phoenix in the opening round of the playoffs which begin Sunday. The Sun are currently in third with a one-game lead over Las Vegas, which assured itself no worse than the four seed with a victory over Seattle on Tuesday night. The Aces hold the tiebreaker with Connecticut. With the loss the Storm are assured of the fifth seed. Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever are locked into sixth and will be on the road either in Connecticut or Las Vegas for the opening round.TUESDAY'S SCORES Major League Baseball American LeagueMinnesota 4, Cleveland 1Tampa Bay 8, Boston 3Detroit 3, Kansas City 1Texas 13, Toronto 8NY Yankees 11, Seattle 2LA Angels 5, Chicago White Sox 0National LeagueCincinnati 6, Atlanta 5Miami 11, LA Dodgers 9NY Mets 10, Washington 1Colorado 8, Arizona 2St. Louis 3, Pittsburgh 1Philadelphia 5, Milwaukee 1InterleagueSan Francisco 10, Baltimore 0Oakland 4, Chicago Cubs 3Houston 4, San Diego 3

Wednesday's Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. became the first shortstop in major league history with multiple seasons of at least 30 homers and 30 steals when the All-Star swiped second base in the first inning of Tuesday night's game against the Detroit Tigers.

Witt finished with three walks in the game,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tigers-royals-score-9edee0e88ad0d946d01d80cf3ac7cb89">which the Royals lost 3-1 in 10 innings</a>.

“It's pretty special any time you get to be the first,” Witt said, “but yeah, that's over now. We're onto tomorrow.”

The Royals are 2 1/2 games behind Baltimore for the first AL wild-card spot and 1 1/2 ahead of Minnesota for the second.

Witt has 31 homers this season, including a grand slam in the series-opener Monday night, to go with 30 steals. The 24-year-old superstar had 49 steals last season, when he hit the homer he needed to reach 30 with three games left in the season.

The son of longtime big league pitcher Bobby Witt also became the first player with multiple 30-30 seasons in his first three years in the big leagues. In fact, only six other players have had one within their first three seasons.

“He’s the best player in baseball. He’s incredible,” Royals pitcher Cole Ragans said. "A special talent, a special human being. We’re blessed to be able to watch him each and every day, and how hard he works behind the scenes to make that product on the field be what it is, is incredible. He’s just a special, special player. It’s a joy to get to watch every single day.”

The second overall pick in the 2019 first-year player draft, Witt signed an 11-year deal with the Royals in the offseason that ultimately will pay him $288,777,777. The biggest deal in franchise history included a $7,777,777 signing bonus, an ode to his No. 7 jersey that has become so popular with Kansas City fans who have packed Kauffman Stadium during their playoff chase.

The Royals are firmly in an AL wild-card spot with an outside chance of catching Cleveland in the division.

Witt has been one of the biggest reasons for their turnaround from a 106-loss season a year ago. He entered Tuesday leading the majors with 200 hits, a .332 average and 112 runs scored. The only players to finish a season leading in all three categories have been Nap Lajoie in 1901, Ty Cobb in 1911 and '15, Stan Musial in 1952 and Rod Carew in 1977.

More than anything else, Witt has brought an infectious enthusiasm to a club sorely in need of it.

The Royals won back-to-back AL Pennants in 2014 and '15 along with their first World Series title in 30 years, but they were unable to sustain the success and quickly returned to mediocrity. Kansas City lost at least 100 games three times in a span of six seasons before turning things around under second-year manager Matt Quatraro this season.

While fans in Kansas City have seen Witt’s stardom blossoming, his coming out party may have come this summer during the Home Run Derby at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, not far from where he grew up in Colleyville. Witt reached the finals but lost 14-13 to Teoscar Hernández of the Dodgers in a dramatic showdown that came down to the final swings.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726632974618.png" alt="Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. beats the tag by Detroit Tigers second baseman Colt Keith to steal second during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. beats the tag by Detroit Tigers second baseman Colt Keith to steal second during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. became the first shortstop in major league history with multiple seasons of at least 30 homers and 30 steals when the All-Star swiped second base in the first inning of Tuesday night's game against the Detroit Tigers.Witt finished with three walks in the game,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tigers-royals-score-9edee0e88ad0d946d01d80cf3ac7cb89">which the Royals lost 3-1 in 10 innings</a>.“It's pretty special any time you get to be the first,” Witt said, “but yeah, that's over now. We're onto tomorrow.”The Royals are 2 1/2 games behind Baltimore for the first AL wild-card spot and 1 1/2 ahead of Minnesota for the second.Witt has 31 homers this season, including a grand slam in the series-opener Monday night, to go with 30 steals. The 24-year-old superstar had 49 steals last season, when he hit the homer he needed to reach 30 with three games left in the season.The son of longtime big league pitcher Bobby Witt also became the first player with multiple 30-30 seasons in his first three years in the big leagues. In fact, only six other players have had one within their first three seasons.“He’s the best player in baseball. He’s incredible,” Royals pitcher Cole Ragans said. "A special talent, a special human being. We’re blessed to be able to watch him each and every day, and how hard he works behind the scenes to make that product on the field be what it is, is incredible. He’s just a special, special player. It’s a joy to get to watch every single day.”The second overall pick in the 2019 first-year player draft, Witt signed an 11-year deal with the Royals in the offseason that ultimately will pay him $288,777,777. The biggest deal in franchise history included a $7,777,777 signing bonus, an ode to his No. 7 jersey that has become so popular with Kansas City fans who have packed Kauffman Stadium during their playoff chase.The Royals are firmly in an AL wild-card spot with an outside chance of catching Cleveland in the division.Witt has been one of the biggest reasons for their turnaround from a 106-loss season a year ago. He entered Tuesday leading the majors with 200 hits, a .332 average and 112 runs scored. The only players to finish a season leading in all three categories have been Nap Lajoie in 1901, Ty Cobb in 1911 and '15, Stan Musial in 1952 and Rod Carew in 1977.More than anything else, Witt has brought an infectious enthusiasm to a club sorely in need of it.The Royals won back-to-back AL Pennants in 2014 and '15 along with their first World Series title in 30 years, but they were unable to sustain the success and quickly returned to mediocrity. Kansas City lost at least 100 games three times in a span of six seasons before turning things around under second-year manager Matt Quatraro this season.While fans in Kansas City have seen Witt’s stardom blossoming, his coming out party may have come this summer during the Home Run Derby at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, not far from where he grew up in Colleyville. Witt reached the finals but lost 14-13 to Teoscar Hernández of the Dodgers in a dramatic showdown that came down to the final swings.

Bobby Witt Jr. becomes first MLB shortstop with multiple 30/30 seasons

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Parker Meadows hit a broken-bat single in the 10th inning to give Detroit the lead, moments after Trey Sweeney had been given third base because of a balk, and the Tigers went on to beat the Kansas City Royals 3-1 on Tuesday night.

Tyler Holton (7-1) retired all six Royals he faced, striking out a pair in the ninth to force extra innings. Jason Foley took care of the Royals in the 10th, earning the save for the second straight night and 25th time this season.

“Pitching and defense, it goes together, and we hung in there in some really difficult situations,” said Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, whose club has won 24 of its last 34 games, its best stretch of that length in more than a decade.

“It was kind of all hands on deck,” Hinch said, “and they responded.”

Riley Greene added an RBI single off Lucas Erceg (2-6) later in the 10th for the Tigers, helping them to remain 1 1/2 games back of the Twins for the final AL wild-card spot. Minnesota beat the Guardians earlier Tuesday night.

The Royals stayed 2 1/2 games behind Baltimore for the first wild-card spot. They are 1 1/2 ahead of Minnesota.

“There were some good pitchers on the other side that are trying to keep us from doing things offensively," Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “That was a classic pitching duel the whole night.”

Cole Ragans allowed one run on four hits and four walks with six strikeouts over seven innings for Kansas City, and Casey Mize allowed one run on six hits and four walks while pitching into the fifth for Detroit.

“We found a way,” Mize said, “and that's obviously the most important thing right now.”

Ragans struggled with his control from the onset, hitting Andy Ibáñez to start the game — Matt Vierling followed with an RBI double — and walking a pair in the fourth inning. But with a combination of groundballs and strikeouts, the hard-throwing left-hander was able to keep the Tigers from capitalizing on his mistakes.

Freddy Fermín also threw out a pair of runners trying to steal second.

Mize allowed plenty of traffic on the bases, too. But it was his defense that kept Kansas City from a big inning. The Tigers turned double plays in the third, fourth and fifth, the last after Mize had walked the bases loaded and Shelby Miller got Michael Massey to ground into the double play on the first pitch he threw.

Miller loaded the bases again in the sixth but got Tommy Pham to pop out and end the inning.

“Shelby bailed me out of a huge spot,” Mize said. “Our team is just resilient and that's what is important.”

WONDERFUL WITT The Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. became the first shortstop in major league history with multiple seasons of at least 30 homers and 30 steals when the All-Star swiped second base in the first inning. Witt has 31 home runs this season, including a grand slam in the series opener Monday night, to go with 30 steals. The 24-year-old superstar had 49 steals and 30 homers last season.

ROSTER MOVES Royals RHP James McArthur went on the injured list with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow, though Quatraro believes he could be back for the playoffs. “The hope is it's not a season-ending injury,” Quatraro said. RHP Steven Cruz was recalled from Triple-A Omaha to take his place in the bullpen.

TRAINER'S ROOM Royals RHP Michael Lorenzen (left hamstring strain) and LHP Will Smith (lower back spasms) could make the next step in their rehab this weekend when they pitch against each other in live batting practice. There still is no date for their return.

UP NEXT Royals: RHP Alec Marsh (8-8, 4.42) is on the mound against Detroit after striking out a career-best 11 in 5 1/3 innings last Friday night against Pittsburgh. Marsh pitched six innings of three-hit ball against Detroit on May 21.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726632759994.png" alt="Detroit Tigers' Andy Ibanez beats the tag by Kansas City Royals catcher Freddy Fermin (34) to score on a double by Matt Vierling during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Detroit Tigers' Andy Ibanez beats the tag by Kansas City Royals catcher Freddy Fermin (34) to score on a double by Matt Vierling during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Parker Meadows hit a broken-bat single in the 10th inning to give Detroit the lead, moments after Trey Sweeney had been given third base because of a balk, and the Tigers went on to beat the Kansas City Royals 3-1 on Tuesday night.Tyler Holton (7-1) retired all six Royals he faced, striking out a pair in the ninth to force extra innings. Jason Foley took care of the Royals in the 10th, earning the save for the second straight night and 25th time this season.“Pitching and defense, it goes together, and we hung in there in some really difficult situations,” said Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, whose club has won 24 of its last 34 games, its best stretch of that length in more than a decade.“It was kind of all hands on deck,” Hinch said, “and they responded.”Riley Greene added an RBI single off Lucas Erceg (2-6) later in the 10th for the Tigers, helping them to remain 1 1/2 games back of the Twins for the final AL wild-card spot. Minnesota beat the Guardians earlier Tuesday night.The Royals stayed 2 1/2 games behind Baltimore for the first wild-card spot. They are 1 1/2 ahead of Minnesota.“There were some good pitchers on the other side that are trying to keep us from doing things offensively," Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “That was a classic pitching duel the whole night.”Cole Ragans allowed one run on four hits and four walks with six strikeouts over seven innings for Kansas City, and Casey Mize allowed one run on six hits and four walks while pitching into the fifth for Detroit.“We found a way,” Mize said, “and that's obviously the most important thing right now.”Ragans struggled with his control from the onset, hitting Andy Ibáñez to start the game — Matt Vierling followed with an RBI double — and walking a pair in the fourth inning. But with a combination of groundballs and strikeouts, the hard-throwing left-hander was able to keep the Tigers from capitalizing on his mistakes.Freddy Fermín also threw out a pair of runners trying to steal second.Mize allowed plenty of traffic on the bases, too. But it was his defense that kept Kansas City from a big inning. The Tigers turned double plays in the third, fourth and fifth, the last after Mize had walked the bases loaded and Shelby Miller got Michael Massey to ground into the double play on the first pitch he threw.Miller loaded the bases again in the sixth but got Tommy Pham to pop out and end the inning.“Shelby bailed me out of a huge spot,” Mize said. “Our team is just resilient and that's what is important.”WONDERFUL WITT The Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. became the first shortstop in major league history with multiple seasons of at least 30 homers and 30 steals when the All-Star swiped second base in the first inning. Witt has 31 home runs this season, including a grand slam in the series opener Monday night, to go with 30 steals. The 24-year-old superstar had 49 steals and 30 homers last season.ROSTER MOVES Royals RHP James McArthur went on the injured list with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow, though Quatraro believes he could be back for the playoffs. “The hope is it's not a season-ending injury,” Quatraro said. RHP Steven Cruz was recalled from Triple-A Omaha to take his place in the bullpen.TRAINER'S ROOM Royals RHP Michael Lorenzen (left hamstring strain) and LHP Will Smith (lower back spasms) could make the next step in their rehab this weekend when they pitch against each other in live batting practice. There still is no date for their return.UP NEXT Royals: RHP Alec Marsh (8-8, 4.42) is on the mound against Detroit after striking out a career-best 11 in 5 1/3 innings last Friday night against Pittsburgh. Marsh pitched six innings of three-hit ball against Detroit on May 21.

Meadows saves two runs, drives in another; Tigers down Royals 3-1

Ohio State and Kent State, separated by 135 miles in the same state, occupy extreme ends of the spectrum of major college football.

Buckeyes football pulled in $127 million in revenue in 2023. Golden Flashes football has a budget of about $9 million.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726148269632.jpeg" alt="Kansas State running back Dylan Edwards high-steps into the end zone for a touchdown past Tulane safety Jack Tchienchou, right, during the second half of their game in New Orleans on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas State running back Dylan Edwards high-steps into the end zone for a touchdown past Tulane safety Jack Tchienchou, right, during the second half of their game in New Orleans on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)</figcaption>
 </figure>Ohio State and Kent State, separated by 135 miles in the same state, occupy extreme ends of the spectrum of major college football.Buckeyes football pulled in $127 million in revenue in 2023. Golden Flashes football has a budget of about $9 million.Still, Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork and Kent State AD Randale Richmond share a similar problem for different reasons. Both look at their football schedules this season and see more so-called guarantee games than they would prefer.Guarantee games are those one-off matchups where a school pays another to come to its stadium, with no return date. For power conference schools such as No. 3 Ohio State that typically means cutting a check of around $1.5 million — give or take a few hundred thousand — to a school such as Kent State.More often than not, the games are not competitive. Occasionally, the smaller program gets to take home a historic victory along with a big check the way Northern Illinois ($1.4 million) did at No. 17 Notre Dame or Memphis ($1.3 million) did at Florida State earlier this season.But as the model for compensating athletes evolves and more money needs to be directed to players, all the ways business has traditionally been done in college sports are being evaluated. The guarantee game seems unlikely to go away any time soon, but Bjork and Richmond are unsure if they will be as common as they are now.“I think we have to put it under review to see what is the future of those kind of games,” Bjork said.By the numbers This season at least 60 guarantee games will be played matching schools that play in the NCAA’s highest level of Division I, the Football Bowl Subdivision, with total payouts reaching $75 million, according to AP research.There are also dozens more games matching FBS teams with those in the second-tier Championship Subdivision that follow a similar structure, but with smaller payouts. The most famous guarantee game — Appalachian State’s 34-32 upset at No. 5 Michigan in 2007 — included a $400,000 check for the visitors.Ohio State’s anomaly For Ohio State, a confluence of events, including conference realignment, left the Buckeyes with a three-game nonconference schedule of guarantee games in 2024. Typically, the Buckeyes have one high-profile game against a power conference opponent that would be one end of a home-and-home series.Ohio State had a home-and-home against Notre Dame in 2022 and ’23, is set to play Texas in 2025 and ’26, and Alabama the following two seasons.This year, however, Ohio State is paying $4.05 million for games against Akron, Western Michigan and Marshall. The Buckeyes beat Akron and WMU by a combined 108-6 and are heavily favored against the Thundering Herd on Saturday.It’s not so much that $4.05 million will break Ohio State athletics, which reported nearly $280 million in revenue in 2022. The school made more than $64 million in ticket sales for eight games at Ohio Stadium (capacity 102,780) in ’22, according to the latest financial records provided to the NCAA.Games that don’t involve Big Ten or marquee nonconference opponents drag down revenue in areas such as concessions, souvenirs and parking. Ohio State’s gameday revenue for Akron and WMU were almost identical, Bjork said.“Meaning there’s a ceiling on those those type of games from a revenue standpoint versus when I look at our projections for a Big Ten opponent. Those games can be double, triple, quadruple the amount of revenue that we’re seeing for a guarantee,” he said.Essentially, Ohio State is bringing in less and paying out more for guarantee games, he said.Often Ohio State plays two guarantee games in a season to ensure having at least seven home games, but will that even be worth it if the school will soon be setting aside upward of $20 million in revenue per year to pay to its athletes?The NCAA and power conferences, including Ohio State’s Big Ten, are working toward a settlement of a series of antitrust lawsuits that will cost $2.78 billion in damages and set up a new revenue-sharing system to pay athletes.“Everything is under evaluation,” Bjork said when it comes to how money is spent and made in big-time college athletics.Power conference teams also have to consider schedule strength with an eye toward making the playoff and how matchups against lesser opponents impact television partners paying hundreds of millions to broadcast games, Bjork said.Kent State’s conundrum On the other end is Kent State, which will receive $3.9 million for games at Pitt, No. 6 Tennessee and No. 10 Penn State. The Golden Flashes have lost the first two by a combined 126-24, including Saturday’s 71-0 loss in Knoxville. They play at Penn State on Saturday.Richmond, who took over at Kent State in 2021, inherited this three-game stretch and said he would prefer no more than two. One or two per year is the norm for lower-budget, non-power conference schools.“I don’t love the model and at the same time understand the things that we have to do financially to run this athletic department, because we do have a great opportunity to impact the lives of young people,” he said last week. “And we can only do that if we are meeting our budgetary demands and needs.”Richmond is also well aware that it is a lot to put on his football team and second-year coach Kenni Burns.“It makes it very difficult to gain momentum when you have three guarantee games. I can’t answer whether it’s fair or not. I can answer that it does make it difficult,” he said.Kent State also has three guarantee games booked for 2025 (at Texas Tech, Florida State and Oklahoma), but Richmond believes the administration is motivated to explore moving away from these types of schedules.Kent State might not have a choice.Dave Brown, whose software and subscription service Gridiron helps schools schedule nonconference games, said guarantee games are increasingly becoming a buyer’s market with more schools moving into FBS recently and the Big Ten no longer discouraging its members from playing FCS games.If the Southeastern Conference were to move to a nine-game conference schedule in 2026, which it is considering, that would remove 16 more potential opportunities for guarantee games.“That’ll really hurt the market,” Brown said.As with most things in college sports, the wealthiest programs will ultimately determine the direction this goes and how often big schools play the smaller ones. While Richmond would like Kent State to play fewer guarantee games, none is not the goal.“Being tethered together is always the best thing (for FBS), in my humble opinion,” he said. “I don’t know that Kent State has an option to dictate whether that’s the case or not.”