By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports Writer

TCU (4-3, 2-2 Big 12) at Kansas State (4-2, 2-1) meet in a rematch of last year's Big 12 championship game that the Wildcats won in overtime. It ended TCU's undefeated season, though the Horned Frogs still made the four-team College Football Playoff and national title game. Both teams go into Saturday's meeting after bounce-back wins with unexpected quarterback situations.

Will Howard, K-State's Big 12 title-winning QB, has struggled at times this season (nine TDs, seven interceptions). Dual-threat freshman Avery Johnson matched a school record with five TD runs and the Wildcats overcome a third-quarter deficit to win 38-21 at Texas Tech last week after losing two of their previous three games. Coach Chris Klieman plans to use both quarterbacks.

The Frogs lost back-to-back games before redshirt freshman Josh Hoover completed 37 of 58 passes for 439 yards and four touchdowns in his first career start, a 44-11 win over BYU. Chandler Morris suffered an MCL strain in his left knee the previous week.

Oklahoma senior quarterback Dillon Gabriel vs. UCF, his former team. The second-year starter for the sixth-ranked Sooners (6-0, 3-0), third nationally with 347.7 total yards per game, is the first FBS QB since 1988 to complete at least 72% of his passes with 16 touchdowns and two interceptions or less while also rushing for at least 200 yards and five TDs in his team's first six games. Gabriel threw for 8,037 yards and 70 TDs in 26 games for the Knights from 2019-21, though the left-hander's final UCF season ended after three games because of a broken collarbone. He has 5,046 yards and 41 TDs passing in 18 games for the Sooners.

Oklahoma State sophomore running back Ollie Gordon II has three consecutive 100-yard rushing games and will try to extend that streak Saturday at West Virginia, a year after running 17 times for 136 yards against the Mountaineers. In a win over Kansas last week, Gordon had 168 yards rushing and 116 receiving. It was the first 100-100 game by an Oklahoma State player since 1989.

Big 12 newcomer Houston gets a one-and-done league game against No. 8 Texas (5-1, 2-1). The former Southwest Conference rivals are meeting for the first time since 2002, but Saturday's game in Houston will be their only meeting as Big 12 foes before the Longhorns go to the SEC next year. There are no future games scheduled between the Texas schools that have met only 25 times. The Longhorns hold a 16-7-2 series lead.

Cincinnati (2-4, 0-3) plays a first-time opponent for the second week in a row when hosting Baylor (2-4, 1-2), a week after the Bearcats lost at home to Iowa State. ... The four Big 12 newcomers are a combined 2-10 in conference games, with Houston's final-play 41-39 win over West Virginia last week the only victory that didn't come against a fellow newcomer. ... The two active FBS punters with the best career averages will be in the same game: BYU's Ryan Rehkow (47.1 yards per punt) is at home against Texas Tech and Austin McNamara (46.1).

By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports WriterGAME OF THE WEEKTCU (4-3, 2-2 Big 12) at Kansas State (4-2, 2-1) meet in a rematch of last year's Big 12 championship game that the Wildcats won in overtime. It ended TCU's undefeated season, though the Horned Frogs still made the four-team College Football Playoff and national title game. Both teams go into Saturday's meeting after bounce-back wins with unexpected quarterback situations.Will Howard, K-State's Big 12 title-winning QB, has struggled at times this season (nine TDs, seven interceptions). Dual-threat freshman Avery Johnson matched a school record with five TD runs and the Wildcats overcome a third-quarter deficit to win 38-21 at Texas Tech last week after losing two of their previous three games. Coach Chris Klieman plans to use both quarterbacks.The Frogs lost back-to-back games before redshirt freshman Josh Hoover completed 37 of 58 passes for 439 yards and four touchdowns in his first career start, a 44-11 win over BYU. Chandler Morris suffered an MCL strain in his left knee the previous week.BEST MATCHUPOklahoma senior quarterback Dillon Gabriel vs. UCF, his former team. The second-year starter for the sixth-ranked Sooners (6-0, 3-0), third nationally with 347.7 total yards per game, is the first FBS QB since 1988 to complete at least 72% of his passes with 16 touchdowns and two interceptions or less while also rushing for at least 200 yards and five TDs in his team's first six games. Gabriel threw for 8,037 yards and 70 TDs in 26 games for the Knights from 2019-21, though the left-hander's final UCF season ended after three games because of a broken collarbone. He has 5,046 yards and 41 TDs passing in 18 games for the Sooners.IMPACT PLAYEROklahoma State sophomore running back Ollie Gordon II has three consecutive 100-yard rushing games and will try to extend that streak Saturday at West Virginia, a year after running 17 times for 136 yards against the Mountaineers. In a win over Kansas last week, Gordon had 168 yards rushing and 116 receiving. It was the first 100-100 game by an Oklahoma State player since 1989.LONE BIG 12 FOR OLD FOESBig 12 newcomer Houston gets a one-and-done league game against No. 8 Texas (5-1, 2-1). The former Southwest Conference rivals are meeting for the first time since 2002, but Saturday's game in Houston will be their only meeting as Big 12 foes before the Longhorns go to the SEC next year. There are no future games scheduled between the Texas schools that have met only 25 times. The Longhorns hold a 16-7-2 series lead.INSIDE THE NUMBERSCincinnati (2-4, 0-3) plays a first-time opponent for the second week in a row when hosting Baylor (2-4, 1-2), a week after the Bearcats lost at home to Iowa State. ... The four Big 12 newcomers are a combined 2-10 in conference games, with Houston's final-play 41-39 win over West Virginia last week the only victory that didn't come against a fellow newcomer. ... The two active FBS punters with the best career averages will be in the same game: BYU's Ryan Rehkow (47.1 yards per punt) is at home against Texas Tech and Austin McNamara (46.1).

Things to watch in the Big 12 Conference in Week 8

- Great Bend Panther Football coach Erin Beck will be joined in studio by Senior Maddox Spray and Sophomore Ian Premer in advance of the Panthers week 8 matchup with Garden City at Memorial Stadium Friday.

- The "Voice of the Tigers" Gerard Wellbrock talks about everything Fort Hays State sports.

- Mike Courson goes "On the Prowl" for Panther sports with GBHS Volleball coach Shelly Duval and players Kya Behr and Denver Ringo.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693997740304.jpeg" alt="Thursday show lineup with hosts Steve Webster, Mike Courson, Aaron Clark and Mike Hesher" />
 <figcaption>Thursday show lineup with hosts Steve Webster, Mike Courson, Aaron Clark and Mike Hesher</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6pAJ4m-EFfY?si=HHzSf1X9QWnCNTF7" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>- Great Bend Panther Football coach Erin Beck will be joined in studio by Senior Maddox Spray and Sophomore Ian Premer in advance of the Panthers week 8 matchup with Garden City at Memorial Stadium Friday.- The "Voice of the Tigers" Gerard Wellbrock talks about everything Fort Hays State sports.- Mike Courson goes "On the Prowl" for Panther sports with GBHS Volleball coach Shelly Duval and players Kya Behr and Denver Ringo.- Thursday Sports Headlines- Sounds of the past 24-hours

Thursday on Sports Day (Watch) 

Team&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;CONF&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ALL Liberal&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 3-1&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;6-1 Hays&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;3-1&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 5-2 Garden City&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;2-1&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 5-2 Great Bend&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1-2&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 4-3 Dodge City&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 0-4&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2-5

Friday October 13 Great Bend 56, Ulysses 16 Hays 48, Liberal 41 Garden City 30, Dodge City 13 Friday October 20 Garden City @ Great Bend Ulysses @ Liberal Wichita Southeast @ Dodge City Topeka High @ Hays Friday October 27 TBA

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685109924036.png" alt="WAC Football" />
 <figcaption>WAC Football</figcaption>
 </figure>Team&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;CONF&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ALL Liberal&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 3-1&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;6-1 Hays&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;3-1&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 5-2 Garden City&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;2-1&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 5-2 Great Bend&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1-2&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 4-3 Dodge City&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 0-4&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2-5 Friday October 13 Great Bend 56, Ulysses 16 Hays 48, Liberal 41 Garden City 30, Dodge City 13 Friday October 20 Garden City @ Great Bend Ulysses @ Liberal Wichita Southeast @ Dodge City Topeka High @ Hays Friday October 27 TBA

Western Athletic Conference Football Standings

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Mike Boynton remembers vividly his first season leading Oklahoma State.

He was just 35 at the time. Never been a head coach at any level, much less at a Power Five program. And with just one year on the Cowboys' bench as an assistant, Boynton was picked to replace Brad Underwood and guide Oklahoma State through the Big 12, which has historically been one of the toughest conferences in college basketball.

“The competition is a real thing,” Boynton said with a shake of his head. “It's been baptism by fire for me.”

Reminiscing about his own start in the Big 12 — the Cowboys were eighth in what was then a 10-team league in 2016-17 — got Boynton to thinking about the four coaches entering the league, and what BYU's Mark Pope, Cincinnati coach Wes Miller, UCF's Johnny Dawkins and Houston coach Kelvin Sampson are about to experience in the coming months.

“The new teams, all four this year and the ones we add moving forward, will just continue to elevate this conference above what I ever imagined would be one conference's strength,” Boynton said during Big 12 media day Wednesday.

Sampson is actually returning to the Big 12 after a dozen years at Oklahoma, a stint that began when it was still the Big 8. The league he returns to is markedly different after the departure of Colorado, Texas A&amp;M, Nebraska and Missouri in past years, and the addition of West Virginia and TCU along with the four newcomers this season.

Arizona, Arizona State, Utah and Colorado will further alter the Big 12 landscape when the Pac-12 schools arrive next year, and when longtime members Oklahoma and Texas depart for the SEC.

One thing has remained constant amid all the change: The Big 12's standing as the nation's dominant basketball league.

Other conferences have staked a claim over the years, including the ACC and Big East, but none can match the recent body of work the Big 12 has put together. Kansas and Baylor have won national championships two of the past three years, and Houston went to the Final Four when it was played in a COVID-19 bubble in Indianapolis.

Last year, seven of the top 25 teams and eight of the top 30 in the final KenPom rankings came from the Big 12.

“This is the best college basketball league in America. It's undisputed in recent history,” Miller said. “It's neat and exciting to be a part of that. We haven't experienced it yet. Will there be some adjustment? Absolutely. But we talk about it all the time, just like freshmen have adjustments to college basketball, there is no way around it."

It's not as if the programs joining the Big 12 will struggle to compete in basketball, unlike what's happening now in football.

If anything, they are making the rich even richer.

Houston has made the last five NCAA tournaments, gone to the Sweet 16 each of the past four and, along with its Final Four run, made the Elite Eight two years ago. The Cougars bring plenty of college hoops history, going back to the days of coach Guy Lewis, stars Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, and the rest of Phi Slama Jama.

The Bearcats have two national titles from the 1960s to their credit, but they have been good in recent years, too. They had a run of nine straight NCAA tourney appearances end in 2020, but they are coming off an NIT quarterfinal last season.

UCF and BYU both have made the NCAA Tournament within the past five years.

“You think of the Big 12, you just think of unbelievable basketball,” Knights coach Johnny Dawkins said. “Last year, I believe that every game that was played was a Quad 1 game, which is unheard of."

Baylor coach Scott Drew envisions a year when the Big 12 gets three and maybe all four teams to the Final Four, perhaps even this season. Kansas is the preseason No. 1 in the AP Top 25, thanks in part to the arrival of prized Michigan transfer Hunter Dickinson, while Houston was seventh, Texas at No. 18 and Baylor rounding out the top 20.

Kansas State, which made a surprising Elite Eight run last season, and TCU also received votes.

“We have been the best basketball league in the country for a while now,” Wildcats coach Jerome Tang said. “Every kid out there wants to compete against the best, so they're going to want to play in the Big 12. We have the best coaches, best environments, the best players and the results speak for themselves.”

Not everyone agrees. UConn coach Dan Hurley, fresh off leading the Huskies to the national championship, said Monday on the College Hoops Today Podcast that the Big East was “going to be the best conference in the country and it's not particularly close.”

The league has a claim: Fifth-ranked Marquette, the sixth-ranked Huskies and No. 8 Creighton give the Big East three of the top eight in the AP preseason poll, while Villanova is No. 22.

Along with a few elite teams, though, the Big 12 offers greater depth and longevity than the Big East or any other league.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Mike Boynton remembers vividly his first season leading Oklahoma State.He was just 35 at the time. Never been a head coach at any level, much less at a Power Five program. And with just one year on the Cowboys' bench as an assistant, Boynton was picked to replace Brad Underwood and guide Oklahoma State through the Big 12, which has historically been one of the toughest conferences in college basketball.“The competition is a real thing,” Boynton said with a shake of his head. “It's been baptism by fire for me.”Reminiscing about his own start in the Big 12 — the Cowboys were eighth in what was then a 10-team league in 2016-17 — got Boynton to thinking about the four coaches entering the league, and what BYU's Mark Pope, Cincinnati coach Wes Miller, UCF's Johnny Dawkins and Houston coach Kelvin Sampson are about to experience in the coming months.“The new teams, all four this year and the ones we add moving forward, will just continue to elevate this conference above what I ever imagined would be one conference's strength,” Boynton said during Big 12 media day Wednesday.Sampson is actually returning to the Big 12 after a dozen years at Oklahoma, a stint that began when it was still the Big 8. The league he returns to is markedly different after the departure of Colorado, Texas A&amp;M, Nebraska and Missouri in past years, and the addition of West Virginia and TCU along with the four newcomers this season.Arizona, Arizona State, Utah and Colorado will further alter the Big 12 landscape when the Pac-12 schools arrive next year, and when longtime members Oklahoma and Texas depart for the SEC.One thing has remained constant amid all the change: The Big 12's standing as the nation's dominant basketball league.Other conferences have staked a claim over the years, including the ACC and Big East, but none can match the recent body of work the Big 12 has put together. Kansas and Baylor have won national championships two of the past three years, and Houston went to the Final Four when it was played in a COVID-19 bubble in Indianapolis.Last year, seven of the top 25 teams and eight of the top 30 in the final KenPom rankings came from the Big 12.“This is the best college basketball league in America. It's undisputed in recent history,” Miller said. “It's neat and exciting to be a part of that. We haven't experienced it yet. Will there be some adjustment? Absolutely. But we talk about it all the time, just like freshmen have adjustments to college basketball, there is no way around it."It's not as if the programs joining the Big 12 will struggle to compete in basketball, unlike what's happening now in football.If anything, they are making the rich even richer.Houston has made the last five NCAA tournaments, gone to the Sweet 16 each of the past four and, along with its Final Four run, made the Elite Eight two years ago. The Cougars bring plenty of college hoops history, going back to the days of coach Guy Lewis, stars Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, and the rest of Phi Slama Jama.The Bearcats have two national titles from the 1960s to their credit, but they have been good in recent years, too. They had a run of nine straight NCAA tourney appearances end in 2020, but they are coming off an NIT quarterfinal last season.UCF and BYU both have made the NCAA Tournament within the past five years.“You think of the Big 12, you just think of unbelievable basketball,” Knights coach Johnny Dawkins said. “Last year, I believe that every game that was played was a Quad 1 game, which is unheard of."Baylor coach Scott Drew envisions a year when the Big 12 gets three and maybe all four teams to the Final Four, perhaps even this season. Kansas is the preseason No. 1 in the AP Top 25, thanks in part to the arrival of prized Michigan transfer Hunter Dickinson, while Houston was seventh, Texas at No. 18 and Baylor rounding out the top 20.Kansas State, which made a surprising Elite Eight run last season, and TCU also received votes.“We have been the best basketball league in the country for a while now,” Wildcats coach Jerome Tang said. “Every kid out there wants to compete against the best, so they're going to want to play in the Big 12. We have the best coaches, best environments, the best players and the results speak for themselves.”Not everyone agrees. UConn coach Dan Hurley, fresh off leading the Huskies to the national championship, said Monday on the College Hoops Today Podcast that the Big East was “going to be the best conference in the country and it's not particularly close.”The league has a claim: Fifth-ranked Marquette, the sixth-ranked Huskies and No. 8 Creighton give the Big East three of the top eight in the AP preseason poll, while Villanova is No. 22.Along with a few elite teams, though, the Big 12 offers greater depth and longevity than the Big East or any other league.

Bigger, deeper and stronger: Big 12 welcomes 4 new schools

Class 2A - District 7 Team&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Dist&nbsp; &nbsp;All Hoisington&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 3-0&nbsp; &nbsp; 7-0 Larned&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;2-1&nbsp; &nbsp; 5-2&nbsp;&nbsp; Lakin&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2-1&nbsp; &nbsp; 4-3 Cimarron&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1-3&nbsp; &nbsp; 1-6 SW Heights&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 0-4&nbsp; &nbsp;0-7 Week 8 Schedule Hoisington @ Cimarron Lakin @ Larned SW Heights @ Holcomb

Class 2A - District 5 Ellsworth&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;3-0&nbsp; &nbsp; 7-0 SE of Saline&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;3-0&nbsp; &nbsp; 7-0 Halstead&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;1-3&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;3-4 Hillsboro&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1-2&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;4-3 Lyons&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;0-3&nbsp; &nbsp; 0-7 Week 8 Schedule Southeast of Saline @ Ellsworth Hillsboro @ Lyons Halstead @ Cheney

Class 1A - District 7 Conway Springs 4-0&nbsp; &nbsp;5-2 Medicine Lodge 3-1&nbsp; &nbsp; 5-2 Sterling&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;2-2&nbsp; &nbsp; 4-3&nbsp;&nbsp; Hutch-Trinity&nbsp; &nbsp; 2-2&nbsp; &nbsp; 3-4 Inman&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1-3&nbsp; &nbsp; 2-5 Ellinwood&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;0-4&nbsp; &nbsp;3-4 Week 8 Schedule Ellinwood @ Sterling Inman @ Medicine Lodge Hutch Trinity @ Conway Springs

8-Man DI - District 7 Trego&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 4-0&nbsp; &nbsp; 5-2 LaCrosse&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 3-1&nbsp; &nbsp; 4-3 Skyline&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 3-1&nbsp; &nbsp; 4-3 Macksville&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;1-3&nbsp; &nbsp; 2-5 Kiowa County&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;1-3&nbsp; &nbsp; 1-6 Ness City&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 0-4&nbsp; &nbsp;0-7 Week 8 Schedule Ness City @ LaCrosse Trego @ Skyline Macksville @ Kiowa County

8-Man DII - District 5 Sylvan United&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2-1&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;5-1 Victoria&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;2-0&nbsp; &nbsp; 5-1&nbsp;&nbsp; Central Plains&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1-2&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;5-2 Otis-Bison&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 0-2&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;0-7 Week 8 Schedule Otis-Bison @ Victoria Sylvan @ Logan-Palco Reno County Home School @ Central Plains

8-Man DII - District 7 South Barber&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;3-1&nbsp; &nbsp; 6-1 Kinsley&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;2-1&nbsp; &nbsp; 5-1 South Central&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2-1&nbsp; &nbsp; 4-3&nbsp;&nbsp; St. John&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1-2&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;3-4 Stafford&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;0-3&nbsp; &nbsp; 1-6 Week 8 Schedule Kinsley @ Stafford South Central @ St. John Hodgeman County @ South Barber

8-Man D-II - District 8 Minneola&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 3-0&nbsp; &nbsp;7-0 Hodgeman County 3-1&nbsp; &nbsp; 5-2 Dighton&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;2-1&nbsp; &nbsp; 4-3 Bucklin&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 0-3&nbsp; &nbsp; 2-5 Satanta&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 0-3&nbsp; &nbsp; 0-7 Week 8 Schedule Hodgeman County @ South Barber Dighton @ Minneola Bucklin @ Satanta

Class 2A - District 7 Team&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Dist&nbsp; &nbsp;All Hoisington&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 3-0&nbsp; &nbsp; 7-0 Larned&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;2-1&nbsp; &nbsp; 5-2&nbsp;&nbsp; Lakin&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2-1&nbsp; &nbsp; 4-3 Cimarron&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1-3&nbsp; &nbsp; 1-6 SW Heights&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 0-4&nbsp; &nbsp;0-7 Week 8 Schedule Hoisington @ Cimarron Lakin @ Larned SW Heights @ HolcombClass 2A - District 5 Ellsworth&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;3-0&nbsp; &nbsp; 7-0 SE of Saline&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;3-0&nbsp; &nbsp; 7-0 Halstead&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;1-3&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;3-4 Hillsboro&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1-2&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;4-3 Lyons&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;0-3&nbsp; &nbsp; 0-7 Week 8 Schedule Southeast of Saline @ Ellsworth Hillsboro @ Lyons Halstead @ CheneyClass 1A - District 7 Conway Springs 4-0&nbsp; &nbsp;5-2 Medicine Lodge 3-1&nbsp; &nbsp; 5-2 Sterling&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;2-2&nbsp; &nbsp; 4-3&nbsp;&nbsp; Hutch-Trinity&nbsp; &nbsp; 2-2&nbsp; &nbsp; 3-4 Inman&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1-3&nbsp; &nbsp; 2-5 Ellinwood&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;0-4&nbsp; &nbsp;3-4 Week 8 Schedule Ellinwood @ Sterling Inman @ Medicine Lodge Hutch Trinity @ Conway Springs8-Man DI - District 7 Trego&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 4-0&nbsp; &nbsp; 5-2 LaCrosse&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 3-1&nbsp; &nbsp; 4-3 Skyline&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 3-1&nbsp; &nbsp; 4-3 Macksville&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;1-3&nbsp; &nbsp; 2-5 Kiowa County&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;1-3&nbsp; &nbsp; 1-6 Ness City&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 0-4&nbsp; &nbsp;0-7 Week 8 Schedule Ness City @ LaCrosse Trego @ Skyline Macksville @ Kiowa County8-Man DII - District 5 Sylvan United&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2-1&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;5-1 Victoria&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;2-0&nbsp; &nbsp; 5-1&nbsp;&nbsp; Central Plains&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1-2&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;5-2 Otis-Bison&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 0-2&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;0-7 Week 8 Schedule Otis-Bison @ Victoria Sylvan @ Logan-Palco Reno County Home School @ Central Plains8-Man DII - District 7 South Barber&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;3-1&nbsp; &nbsp; 6-1 Kinsley&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;2-1&nbsp; &nbsp; 5-1 South Central&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2-1&nbsp; &nbsp; 4-3&nbsp;&nbsp; St. John&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1-2&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;3-4 Stafford&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;0-3&nbsp; &nbsp; 1-6 Week 8 Schedule Kinsley @ Stafford South Central @ St. John Hodgeman County @ South Barber8-Man D-II - District 8 Minneola&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 3-0&nbsp; &nbsp;7-0 Hodgeman County 3-1&nbsp; &nbsp; 5-2 Dighton&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;2-1&nbsp; &nbsp; 4-3 Bucklin&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 0-3&nbsp; &nbsp; 2-5 Satanta&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 0-3&nbsp; &nbsp; 0-7 Week 8 Schedule Hodgeman County @ South Barber Dighton @ Minneola Bucklin @ Satanta

Area District Football Standings

By Barton Sports Information staff

The 6th ranked Barton Community College men's soccer team scored a big road win Wednesday evening defeating 10th ranked Cowley College 2-1 in Arkansas City.

Sweeping the regular season series for the first time in the 20 meetings, the Cougars control their own fate towards the Jayhawk Conference title moving to 7-1-2 in league play and 12-1-3 overall while the loss hands the Tigers their third straight defeat falling to 7-4-0 in conference and 11-4-0 on the season.

Barton will return home for the final two regular season games beginning Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. kickoff against Garden City Community College before hosting first year program Seward County Community College on Monday.

An 85th minute strike salvaged an all-important draw Wednesday evening in Arkansas City for the 7th ranked Barton Community College women's soccer team resulting in a 1-all tie at 17th ranked Cowley College.

Adna Mahdi provided the game winning strike with 4:40 remaining on the clock, coming out of nowhere to meet Leticia Silva's cross to fire far post from the top of the eighteen in capitalizing on the opportunity for her 1st collegiate net rattler.

The second 1-1 gridlock between the teams this season leaves the conference leading Cougars in the driver's seat of the title improving to 10-1-3 in the race and on the season while Cowley stands at 8-2-4 in both league and overall.

Barton's final road trip of the regular season leaves the Cougars with two home 3:00 p.m. kickoffs remaining on the slate beginning Saturday hosting Garden City Community College followed by Monday's welcoming of Seward County Community College for their first ever trip to the Cougar Soccer Complex.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697715903829.jpeg" alt="Barton Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Barton Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>By Barton Sports Information staffBarton Men 2, Cowley 1The 6th ranked Barton Community College men's soccer team scored a big road win Wednesday evening defeating 10th ranked Cowley College 2-1 in Arkansas City.Sweeping the regular season series for the first time in the 20 meetings, the Cougars control their own fate towards the Jayhawk Conference title moving to 7-1-2 in league play and 12-1-3 overall while the loss hands the Tigers their third straight defeat falling to 7-4-0 in conference and 11-4-0 on the season.Barton will return home for the final two regular season games beginning Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. kickoff against Garden City Community College before hosting first year program Seward County Community College on Monday.Barton Women 1, Cowley 1An 85th minute strike salvaged an all-important draw Wednesday evening in Arkansas City for the 7th ranked Barton Community College women's soccer team resulting in a 1-all tie at 17th ranked Cowley College.Adna Mahdi provided the game winning strike with 4:40 remaining on the clock, coming out of nowhere to meet Leticia Silva's cross to fire far post from the top of the eighteen in capitalizing on the opportunity for her 1st collegiate net rattler.The second 1-1 gridlock between the teams this season leaves the conference leading Cougars in the driver's seat of the title improving to 10-1-3 in the race and on the season while Cowley stands at 8-2-4 in both league and overall.Barton's final road trip of the regular season leaves the Cougars with two home 3:00 p.m. kickoffs remaining on the slate beginning Saturday hosting Garden City Community College followed by Monday's welcoming of Seward County Community College for their first ever trip to the Cougar Soccer Complex.

Barton Men win at Cowley; Women rally for 1-1 draw

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Jets are trading seldom-used wide receiver Mecole Hardman back to the Kansas City Chiefs, where he was part of two Super Bowl-winning teams, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The Jets also are sending a seventh-round pick in the 2025 draft to the Chiefs and getting a sixth-rounder that year in return, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the teams had not announced the trade, which was first reported by ESPN.

The Chiefs selected the 25-year-old Hardman in the second round of the 2019 draft, and he made the Pro Bowl as a rookie as a return specialist. Hardman gradually became a bigger part of the Kansas City offense, taking advantage of prolific passer Patrick Mahomes, and wound up making 151 catches for 2,088 yards and 16 touchdowns over four seasons with the Chiefs.

He became a free agent last offseason and signed a $4 million contract with the Jets, who hoped that he could incorporate his speed and versatility into their offense. The deal included a $2.5 million signing bonus and $3.6 million in guarantees.

Hardman had a quiet training camp, and undrafted rookie Xavier Gipson eventually surpassed him on the depth chart as a returner and wide receiver. Gipson had the winning punt return in overtime in New York’s season-opening win over Buffalo and has become more involved in the offense, including running the ball out of the backfield on reverses and end-arounds.

Meanwhile, Hardman played only 28 snaps on offense — with one 6-yard catch — and two snaps on special teams. He was a healthy inactive in Week 5 at Denver when the Jets instead elevated wide receiver Irvin Charles from the practice squad because of his special teams skills.

Hardman acknowledged last week that his lack of playing time has been “hard sometimes mentally,” but said he was focused on contributing however he could.

“As of now, I guess there’s just maybe better options,” he said. “Or they just haven’t called my number yet.”

Trade speculation centering around Hardman began circulating during the past few weeks.

“I just want to play,” Hardman said. “Whether it’s here or somewhere else, I don’t make that call.”

When asked if he’d welcome a trade, Hardman said: “It depends. If it works out for both sides, I guess, I don’t know. I’ve never been part of this, so I don’t know.”

Kansas City became a natural fit given his background with the Chiefs and their own problems at wide receiver.

They allowed Hardman and veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster to sign elsewhere in free agency, and they were confident that a young and untested group of wide receivers would be able to step up. But while rookie Rashee Rice has started to make more plays, the Chiefs have still gotten little from second-year pro Skyy Moore or oft-injured Kadarius Toney.

Wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who is making more than the rest of their receivers combined, has failed to make an impact, and the Chiefs lost Justin Watson for the short term after he bruised an elbow last week against Denver.

Watson did not practice Wednesday and is unlikely to play Sunday against the Chargers.

The Chiefs have won five straight heading into their AFC West matchup with Los Angeles, while the Jets handed the Eagles their first loss last week and are carrying back-to-back wins into their off week.

Hardman should immediately help a Chiefs offense in need of playmakers around Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce.

In his four seasons in Kansas City, Hardman ran the ball 20 times for 125 yards and two scores. He also regularly served as the Chiefs' primary returner and scored a touchdown on a kickoff return and a punt.

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Jets are trading seldom-used wide receiver Mecole Hardman back to the Kansas City Chiefs, where he was part of two Super Bowl-winning teams, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Wednesday.The Jets also are sending a seventh-round pick in the 2025 draft to the Chiefs and getting a sixth-rounder that year in return, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the teams had not announced the trade, which was first reported by ESPN.The Chiefs selected the 25-year-old Hardman in the second round of the 2019 draft, and he made the Pro Bowl as a rookie as a return specialist. Hardman gradually became a bigger part of the Kansas City offense, taking advantage of prolific passer Patrick Mahomes, and wound up making 151 catches for 2,088 yards and 16 touchdowns over four seasons with the Chiefs.He became a free agent last offseason and signed a $4 million contract with the Jets, who hoped that he could incorporate his speed and versatility into their offense. The deal included a $2.5 million signing bonus and $3.6 million in guarantees.Hardman had a quiet training camp, and undrafted rookie Xavier Gipson eventually surpassed him on the depth chart as a returner and wide receiver. Gipson had the winning punt return in overtime in New York’s season-opening win over Buffalo and has become more involved in the offense, including running the ball out of the backfield on reverses and end-arounds.Meanwhile, Hardman played only 28 snaps on offense — with one 6-yard catch — and two snaps on special teams. He was a healthy inactive in Week 5 at Denver when the Jets instead elevated wide receiver Irvin Charles from the practice squad because of his special teams skills.Hardman acknowledged last week that his lack of playing time has been “hard sometimes mentally,” but said he was focused on contributing however he could.“As of now, I guess there’s just maybe better options,” he said. “Or they just haven’t called my number yet.”Trade speculation centering around Hardman began circulating during the past few weeks.“I just want to play,” Hardman said. “Whether it’s here or somewhere else, I don’t make that call.”When asked if he’d welcome a trade, Hardman said: “It depends. If it works out for both sides, I guess, I don’t know. I’ve never been part of this, so I don’t know.”Kansas City became a natural fit given his background with the Chiefs and their own problems at wide receiver.They allowed Hardman and veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster to sign elsewhere in free agency, and they were confident that a young and untested group of wide receivers would be able to step up. But while rookie Rashee Rice has started to make more plays, the Chiefs have still gotten little from second-year pro Skyy Moore or oft-injured Kadarius Toney.Wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who is making more than the rest of their receivers combined, has failed to make an impact, and the Chiefs lost Justin Watson for the short term after he bruised an elbow last week against Denver.Watson did not practice Wednesday and is unlikely to play Sunday against the Chargers.The Chiefs have won five straight heading into their AFC West matchup with Los Angeles, while the Jets handed the Eagles their first loss last week and are carrying back-to-back wins into their off week.Hardman should immediately help a Chiefs offense in need of playmakers around Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce.In his four seasons in Kansas City, Hardman ran the ball 20 times for 125 yards and two scores. He also regularly served as the Chiefs' primary returner and scored a touchdown on a kickoff return and a punt.

Jets trading Mecole Hardman back to the Chiefs in a deal that includes draft picks

By TODD MOORE Barton Sports Info

Much like two nights ago, the 19th ranked Barton Community College volleyball team served up its' second consecutive straight set sweep Wednesday night at the Barton Gym defeating Pratt Community College (25-8, 25-19, 25-17).

Victors of 12-straight, the Cougars broaden their lead in the Jayhawk Conference to three games at 12-1 and 23-3 overall following Hutchinson's loss to Colby while the Beavers fall to 0-13 in league play and 9-20 on the season. Barton will conclude its' three match homestand Saturday evening hosting Butler Community College while looking to clinch the outright Jayhawk Conference title set for a 6:30 p.m. first serve.

Phoebe Reyes' seven kills on 15 attempts for a .333 attack led eight Cougars recording multiple kills. Mya Thompson led Barton's .266 attack converting on five of her six attempts for a team best .833 percentage while adding the lone solo block.

Ella Rumford set a new season high with six kills off the bench on her 20 swings. Anna Wierzbicki punished the court with six kills on 12 attempts while joining Akeir Scales and Bennie Horsch for team high honors defensively at the net denying two assisted blocks apiece.

Fueling Barton's offense, freshman Elena Stankovic put up a team high 18 assists to finish in double-figures for the 25th time this season with Maurin Reyes adding 14.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697712856978.jpeg" alt="Barton Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Barton Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>By TODD MOORE Barton Sports InfoMuch like two nights ago, the 19th ranked Barton Community College volleyball team served up its' second consecutive straight set sweep Wednesday night at the Barton Gym defeating Pratt Community College (25-8, 25-19, 25-17).Victors of 12-straight, the Cougars broaden their lead in the Jayhawk Conference to three games at 12-1 and 23-3 overall following Hutchinson's loss to Colby while the Beavers fall to 0-13 in league play and 9-20 on the season. Barton will conclude its' three match homestand Saturday evening hosting Butler Community College while looking to clinch the outright Jayhawk Conference title set for a 6:30 p.m. first serve.Phoebe Reyes' seven kills on 15 attempts for a .333 attack led eight Cougars recording multiple kills. Mya Thompson led Barton's .266 attack converting on five of her six attempts for a team best .833 percentage while adding the lone solo block.Ella Rumford set a new season high with six kills off the bench on her 20 swings. Anna Wierzbicki punished the court with six kills on 12 attempts while joining Akeir Scales and Bennie Horsch for team high honors defensively at the net denying two assisted blocks apiece.Fueling Barton's offense, freshman Elena Stankovic put up a team high 18 assists to finish in double-figures for the 25th time this season with Maurin Reyes adding 14.

Lady Cougars win 12th straight with win at Pratt

NEW YORK (AP) — A
person with knowledge of the deal says the New York Jets are trading
seldom-used wide receiver Mecole Hardman back to the Kansas City
Chiefs. Hardman signed with the Jets as a free agent last offseason
and now returns to the team with which he played his first four NFL
seasons and helped win two Super Bowls. The deal includes the Jets
sending a seventh-round pick in the 2025 draft to the Chiefs for a
sixth-rounder, according to the person who spoke to The Associated
Press on condition of anonymity because the teams hadn’t announced
the trade.

COSTA MESA, Calif.
(AP) — Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James is leading in the
league in a category few players want to top. James has been called
for three unnecessary roughness penalties in the four games he has
played. Before this year, he had been flagged for unnecessary
roughness three times in five seasons. James acknowledged that his
hit on Indianapolis’ Ashton Dulin late last season that got him
ejected is one reason he's getting more attention from officials. He
says he has adjusted his approach in an effort to tackle lower. James
will need to be at his best when he faces Travis Kelce and the Kansas
City Chiefs on Sunday.

NEW YORK (AP) —
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league still needs to hire
more minority head coaches. The latest rule change was aimed at
increasing opportunities. Owners voted Tuesday to push in-person head
coaching interviews back one more week until after all divisional
playoff games have been completed to slow down the hiring process.
NFL executive Dasha Smith said the league office and the 32 teams are
50% diverse. There are six minority head coaches, including three who
are Black. The goal of pushing the in-person interviews back one week
is to create more opportunities for candidates.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) —
Indianapolis Colts rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson will have
season-ending shoulder surgery. Colts coach Shane Steichen says the
long-term health of the former Florida Gators star was the key factor
in making the decision. The fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft,
Richardson suffered a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder at the
end of a short run against Tennessee on Oct. 8. With Richardson out,
veteran Gardner Minshew will continue to start.

ARLINGTON, Texas
(AP) — Jose Altuve homered, Cristian Javier worked into the sixth
inning of another solid postseason start and the Houston Astros beat
the Texas Rangers 8-5, closing to 2-1 in the AL Championship Series.
Texas lost for the first time this postseason after a 7-0 start as
three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer was gone after four
innings in his first outing in more than a month after recovering
from a strained shoulder muscle. Javier set a franchise record for
the defending champion Astros by extending his postseason scoreless
streak to 20 1/3 innings.

PHOENIX (AP) — The
Diamondbacks will turn to rookie right-hander Brandon Pfaadt in Game
3 of the NL Championship Series to try and slow the homer-happy
Phillies offense. Philadelphia has a 2-0 lead in the series after a
dominant two games at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies smashed six
homers in the two wins, including three by Kyle Schwarber. Pfaadt has
a tendency to give up homers in the regular season, but had one of
his best games of the season against the Dodgers in the NL Division
Series.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — The Big 12 has historically been one of the best leagues in
the country, and two national titles in the past three seasons is
more evidence of it. But the rich are getting richer this year with
the addition of four more schools, headlined by Houston, when went to
a Final Four of its own not long ago. Cincinnati brings along two
national championships and UCF and BYU have each been to the NCAA
Tournament in the last five years.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — Cincinnati is appealing a decision by the NCAA to deny
immediate eligiblity to transfers Aziz Bandaogo and Jamille Reynolds.
Both are second-time transfers and the NCAA requires those players to
sit a year before they can play. Bandaogo, a 7-footer from Senegal,
began his career at Akron before playing last season at Utah Valley.
Reynolds played two seasons at Big 12 newcomer UCF before spending
last season at Temple. The season begins Nov. 6.

CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) —
Philadelphia 76ers coach Nick Nurse said he had no explanation for
why James Harden skipped practice Wednesday but planned to proceed as
if the disgruntled guard will play in the preseason finale. Harden
said last week he could try to play in the Sixers’ preseason finale
on Friday against Atlanta. But once he skipped practice, the 76ers
were left unsure of what comes next. Harden has yet to play in the
preseason. He did attend training camp and continued to practice with
the Sixers in the wake of his offseason trade demand. Harden said
last week his fractured relationship with team president Daryl Morey
couldn't be repaired.

UNDATED (AP) —
Phil Mickelson is sounding confident as ever that more players are
willing to jump over to the Saudi-funded LIV Golf League. LIV is
wrapping up its second season at Trump Doral outside Miami for its
team championship. Mickelson says he knows players want to be part of
it without mentioning who. None of the top players have indicated
they are willing to leave the PGA Tour or European tour. The business
agreement among Saudi Arabia's wealth fund and the tours included a
clause to stop poaching players. That was removed in July at the
request of the Justice Department.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697194107486.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — A
person with knowledge of the deal says the New York Jets are trading
seldom-used wide receiver Mecole Hardman back to the Kansas City
Chiefs. Hardman signed with the Jets as a free agent last offseason
and now returns to the team with which he played his first four NFL
seasons and helped win two Super Bowls. The deal includes the Jets
sending a seventh-round pick in the 2025 draft to the Chiefs for a
sixth-rounder, according to the person who spoke to The Associated
Press on condition of anonymity because the teams hadn’t announced
the trade.COSTA MESA, Calif.
(AP) — Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James is leading in the
league in a category few players want to top. James has been called
for three unnecessary roughness penalties in the four games he has
played. Before this year, he had been flagged for unnecessary
roughness three times in five seasons. James acknowledged that his
hit on Indianapolis’ Ashton Dulin late last season that got him
ejected is one reason he's getting more attention from officials. He
says he has adjusted his approach in an effort to tackle lower. James
will need to be at his best when he faces Travis Kelce and the Kansas
City Chiefs on Sunday.NEW YORK (AP) —
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league still needs to hire
more minority head coaches. The latest rule change was aimed at
increasing opportunities. Owners voted Tuesday to push in-person head
coaching interviews back one more week until after all divisional
playoff games have been completed to slow down the hiring process.
NFL executive Dasha Smith said the league office and the 32 teams are
50% diverse. There are six minority head coaches, including three who
are Black. The goal of pushing the in-person interviews back one week
is to create more opportunities for candidates.INDIANAPOLIS (AP) —
Indianapolis Colts rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson will have
season-ending shoulder surgery. Colts coach Shane Steichen says the
long-term health of the former Florida Gators star was the key factor
in making the decision. The fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft,
Richardson suffered a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder at the
end of a short run against Tennessee on Oct. 8. With Richardson out,
veteran Gardner Minshew will continue to start.ARLINGTON, Texas
(AP) — Jose Altuve homered, Cristian Javier worked into the sixth
inning of another solid postseason start and the Houston Astros beat
the Texas Rangers 8-5, closing to 2-1 in the AL Championship Series.
Texas lost for the first time this postseason after a 7-0 start as
three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer was gone after four
innings in his first outing in more than a month after recovering
from a strained shoulder muscle. Javier set a franchise record for
the defending champion Astros by extending his postseason scoreless
streak to 20 1/3 innings.PHOENIX (AP) — The
Diamondbacks will turn to rookie right-hander Brandon Pfaadt in Game
3 of the NL Championship Series to try and slow the homer-happy
Phillies offense. Philadelphia has a 2-0 lead in the series after a
dominant two games at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies smashed six
homers in the two wins, including three by Kyle Schwarber. Pfaadt has
a tendency to give up homers in the regular season, but had one of
his best games of the season against the Dodgers in the NL Division
Series.KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — The Big 12 has historically been one of the best leagues in
the country, and two national titles in the past three seasons is
more evidence of it. But the rich are getting richer this year with
the addition of four more schools, headlined by Houston, when went to
a Final Four of its own not long ago. Cincinnati brings along two
national championships and UCF and BYU have each been to the NCAA
Tournament in the last five years.KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — Cincinnati is appealing a decision by the NCAA to deny
immediate eligiblity to transfers Aziz Bandaogo and Jamille Reynolds.
Both are second-time transfers and the NCAA requires those players to
sit a year before they can play. Bandaogo, a 7-footer from Senegal,
began his career at Akron before playing last season at Utah Valley.
Reynolds played two seasons at Big 12 newcomer UCF before spending
last season at Temple. The season begins Nov. 6.CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) —
Philadelphia 76ers coach Nick Nurse said he had no explanation for
why James Harden skipped practice Wednesday but planned to proceed as
if the disgruntled guard will play in the preseason finale. Harden
said last week he could try to play in the Sixers’ preseason finale
on Friday against Atlanta. But once he skipped practice, the 76ers
were left unsure of what comes next. Harden has yet to play in the
preseason. He did attend training camp and continued to practice with
the Sixers in the wake of his offseason trade demand. Harden said
last week his fractured relationship with team president Daryl Morey
couldn't be repaired.UNDATED (AP) —
Phil Mickelson is sounding confident as ever that more players are
willing to jump over to the Saudi-funded LIV Golf League. LIV is
wrapping up its second season at Trump Doral outside Miami for its
team championship. Mickelson says he knows players want to be part of
it without mentioning who. None of the top players have indicated
they are willing to leave the PGA Tour or European tour. The business
agreement among Saudi Arabia's wealth fund and the tours included a
clause to stop poaching players. That was removed in July at the
request of the Justice Department.

Thursday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

- Former Great Bend Panther and Fort Hays State Tiger Shawn Behr joins the show to talk about his induction into the Fort Hays State Tiger Sports Hall-of-Fame

- Great Bend Panther Volleyball coach Shelly Duvall will talk about her teams chances Saturday at advancing to the 5A State Tournament as they host a four team Sub-State at the Panther Fieldhouse

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693997740304.jpeg" alt="Wednesday show lineup with hosts Steve Webster, Mike Courson, Aaron Clark and Mike Hesher" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday show lineup with hosts Steve Webster, Mike Courson, Aaron Clark and Mike Hesher</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A4ID3Et4Law?si=-eqt7X8fVQ9Qzd55" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>- Former Great Bend Panther and Fort Hays State Tiger Shawn Behr joins the show to talk about his induction into the Fort Hays State Tiger Sports Hall-of-Fame- Great Bend Panther Volleyball coach Shelly Duvall will talk about her teams chances Saturday at advancing to the 5A State Tournament as they host a four team Sub-State at the Panther Fieldhouse- Wednesday Sports Headlines- Sounds of the past 24-hours

Wednesday on Sports Day (Watch)

(KJCCC) November 17, 2023 -- Mike Helmer's Butler Grizzlies lead the field in the women's Division 1 preseason coaches' poll, with perennial power Hutchinson close behind.

West Division rivals Barton and Dodge City were picked third and fourth respectively.

The NJCAA national poll will be released on Monday, October 23.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697626617496.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>(KJCCC) November 17, 2023 -- Mike Helmer's Butler Grizzlies lead the field in the women's Division 1 preseason coaches' poll, with perennial power Hutchinson close behind.West Division rivals Barton and Dodge City were picked third and fourth respectively.The NJCAA national poll will be released on Monday, October 23.

Butler Women Top Preseason D1 Coaches' Poll, Barton picked No. 3

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Basketball Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The home of the Big 12 women's basketball tournament for most of its existence has been Municipal Auditorium, a Streamline Moderne and Art Deco archetype built during the Depression in downtown Kansas City.

It had history. Some charm. An entirely unique feel.

That feel also was a bit second-rate compared with the men's Big 12 tourney, which has been played down the street at T-Mobile Center. It has all the trappings of a modern arena: luxury suites, spacious locker rooms, video boards and almost three times as many seats at Municipal Auditorium, which could fit just over 7,000 fans for each game.

Both tournaments, which had run concurrently so traveling fans could see both of their teams on the same trip, will be played at T-Mobile Center. The women's event will run March 7-12 and the men March 12-16.

“They deserve to be in a world-class venue,” said Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark, who has made it a point to help promote women's basketball. “I'm excited that this year we'll have both the men's and women's tournaments at T-Mobile Center.”

It won't be the first time the Big 12 women's tourney will be played in an NBA- or NHL-level building. The tournament was held twice at Reunion Arena and twice at American Airlines Center, the past two homes of the Dallas Mavericks, and for six years in Oklahoma City with four editions at Paycom Center, the home of the Thunder.

Just like T-Mobile Center, those buildings seat more than 18,000 for basketball, and that meant larger crowds those years, due in part to home crowds that cheered on Oklahoma and Baylor when they were national title contenders. But the tradeoff of selling more tickets is the risk of vast sections of empty seats for some of the games, which would create some poor optics and was rarely a problem in the more intimate Municipal Auditorium.

“I think it's great that women's basketball is coming to the forefront,” said Texas Tech coach Krista Gerlich, who helped lead the Lady Raiders to a national title as a player, and who is entering her fourth season leading the program. “I think our commissioner has done a fantastic job of showcasing that.”

Last year, the Big 12 approved a two-year extension to keep Kansas City, Missouri, the host of the men's and women's tourneys through the 2027 editions. The way the city rallies around the event each March, coupled with the arena setup next door to the Power and Light District of bars and restaurants, made it the clear choice going forward.

“Kansas City has been a great home for the Big 12 basketball championships,” Yormark said at the start of Big 12 media days Tuesday. “Because of that, we are currently in discussions on an early extension to keep the Big 12 championships right here in Kansas City at the T-Mobile Center through 2031.”

None of the four programs joining the Big 12 this season had a winning record a year ago, so there could be some significant growing pains for BYU from the West Coast and Cincinnati, UCF and Houston from the American Athletic conferences.

Especially given that three of them have relatively new coaches

Merriweather is returning to Cincinnati, her alma mater, after two successful seasons at Memphis, while BYU's Amber Whiting and UCF's Sytia Messer are entering their second seasons. Ronald Hughey is beginning his 10th at Houston.

“We have a whole other level of enthusiasm," Bearcats guard Mya Jackson said. "We're extremely grateful where we came from, and to have this opportunity to be here, and we're going to show up and compete and work hard every day.”

Kansas hopes to build off a WNIT title last season behind a trio of super-seniors who could have transferred or turned pro but chose instead to return to Lawrence for a shot at getting the Jayhawks back to the NCAA Tournament.

Taiyanna Jackson leads the bunch after averaging 15.2 points and 12.7 rebounds last season, becoming the first Kansas player since 1981-82 to average a double-double. Zakiyah Franklin had a team-leading 15.7 points per game last season, and has already started 115 games in her career. Holly Kersgieter is poised to break into the top 10 on the school's career scoring list.

“Two seasons ago we made it to the (NCAA) Tournament and so people saw last year as a step backwards,” Kersgieter said, "but the way we addressed the NIT was almost a blessing in disguise. The main takeaway was honestly we learned to have fun again. We had the biggest crowds of the season and I don't think that was a coincidence in those (WNIT) games.

“We had a taste of the good, a taste of the bad, and we know that it takes to take a step forward after that run.”

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Basketball WriterKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The home of the Big 12 women's basketball tournament for most of its existence has been Municipal Auditorium, a Streamline Moderne and Art Deco archetype built during the Depression in downtown Kansas City.It had history. Some charm. An entirely unique feel.That feel also was a bit second-rate compared with the men's Big 12 tourney, which has been played down the street at T-Mobile Center. It has all the trappings of a modern arena: luxury suites, spacious locker rooms, video boards and almost three times as many seats at Municipal Auditorium, which could fit just over 7,000 fans for each game.That all changes beginning this season.Both tournaments, which had run concurrently so traveling fans could see both of their teams on the same trip, will be played at T-Mobile Center. The women's event will run March 7-12 and the men March 12-16.“They deserve to be in a world-class venue,” said Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark, who has made it a point to help promote women's basketball. “I'm excited that this year we'll have both the men's and women's tournaments at T-Mobile Center.”It won't be the first time the Big 12 women's tourney will be played in an NBA- or NHL-level building. The tournament was held twice at Reunion Arena and twice at American Airlines Center, the past two homes of the Dallas Mavericks, and for six years in Oklahoma City with four editions at Paycom Center, the home of the Thunder.Just like T-Mobile Center, those buildings seat more than 18,000 for basketball, and that meant larger crowds those years, due in part to home crowds that cheered on Oklahoma and Baylor when they were national title contenders. But the tradeoff of selling more tickets is the risk of vast sections of empty seats for some of the games, which would create some poor optics and was rarely a problem in the more intimate Municipal Auditorium.“I think it's great that women's basketball is coming to the forefront,” said Texas Tech coach Krista Gerlich, who helped lead the Lady Raiders to a national title as a player, and who is entering her fourth season leading the program. “I think our commissioner has done a fantastic job of showcasing that.”Last year, the Big 12 approved a two-year extension to keep Kansas City, Missouri, the host of the men's and women's tourneys through the 2027 editions. The way the city rallies around the event each March, coupled with the arena setup next door to the Power and Light District of bars and restaurants, made it the clear choice going forward.“Kansas City has been a great home for the Big 12 basketball championships,” Yormark said at the start of Big 12 media days Tuesday. “Because of that, we are currently in discussions on an early extension to keep the Big 12 championships right here in Kansas City at the T-Mobile Center through 2031.”WELCOME WAGONNone of the four programs joining the Big 12 this season had a winning record a year ago, so there could be some significant growing pains for BYU from the West Coast and Cincinnati, UCF and Houston from the American Athletic conferences.Especially given that three of them have relatively new coachesMerriweather is returning to Cincinnati, her alma mater, after two successful seasons at Memphis, while BYU's Amber Whiting and UCF's Sytia Messer are entering their second seasons. Ronald Hughey is beginning his 10th at Houston.“We have a whole other level of enthusiasm," Bearcats guard Mya Jackson said. "We're extremely grateful where we came from, and to have this opportunity to be here, and we're going to show up and compete and work hard every day.”BUILDING BLOCKSKansas hopes to build off a WNIT title last season behind a trio of super-seniors who could have transferred or turned pro but chose instead to return to Lawrence for a shot at getting the Jayhawks back to the NCAA Tournament.Taiyanna Jackson leads the bunch after averaging 15.2 points and 12.7 rebounds last season, becoming the first Kansas player since 1981-82 to average a double-double. Zakiyah Franklin had a team-leading 15.7 points per game last season, and has already started 115 games in her career. Holly Kersgieter is poised to break into the top 10 on the school's career scoring list.“Two seasons ago we made it to the (NCAA) Tournament and so people saw last year as a step backwards,” Kersgieter said, "but the way we addressed the NIT was almost a blessing in disguise. The main takeaway was honestly we learned to have fun again. We had the biggest crowds of the season and I don't think that was a coincidence in those (WNIT) games.“We had a taste of the good, a taste of the bad, and we know that it takes to take a step forward after that run.”

Big 12 women's hoops tourney poised to join men's event at glitzy T-Mobile Center

(KJCCC) October 17, 2023 -- Playoff teams from this past season head the coaches' Division 1 basketball poll, with national tourney qualifier Butler leading the pack.

Barton was a close second in the polling, and west teams Garden City and Dodge City picked third and fourth. Dodge was also in the NJCAA tourney in Hutchinson last season.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697626437651.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>(KJCCC) October 17, 2023 -- Playoff teams from this past season head the coaches' Division 1 basketball poll, with national tourney qualifier Butler leading the pack.Barton was a close second in the polling, and west teams Garden City and Dodge City picked third and fourth. Dodge was also in the NJCAA tourney in Hutchinson last season.

Butler Tops Preseason D1 Basketball Coaches' Poll, Barton No. 2

By JOHN RABY AP Sports Writer

The new kids in the Big 12 couldn't bring past success with them.

Cincinnati went to the College Football Playoff in 2021. BYU won 10 games twice in the past three years. Houston is two years removed from a 12-win season. UCF had at least nine victories in five of the last six seasons, including a 13-0 run in 2017.

They are all floundering midway through their debut Big 12 seasons. Cincinnati, Houston and UCF, which came over from the American Athletic Conference, and former independent BYU are a combined 2-10 in league games (and one of those matched two of the newcomers).

“The fun in what we do is in winning,” UCF quarterback John Rhys Plumlee said. “There’s no secret about that. If somebody tries to make you feel better with a participation trophy, I think they’re a little bit silly.”

UCF and Cincinnati are tied for last place at 0-3, while BYU and Houston are 1-2. There are many reasons for their struggles. Teams are bad on one if not both sides of the ball. Some are turnover prone or wilting down the stretch of games.

The expectation of playing in the Big 12 is “pretty much what I thought it would be,” said UCF coach Gus Malzahn, a former head coach at Auburn (SEC).

Gaining some footing in the standings might have to wait a week. UCF will face former Golden Knights QB Dillon Gabriel when it plays at No. 6 Oklahoma on Saturday. Houston hosts No. 8 Texas, while BYU welcomes Texas Tech and Cincinnati hosts Baylor.

UCF (3-3) has 10 turnovers on offense, and its defense is allowing a Big 12-worst 197 rushing yards per game. The Golden Knights couldn't hold a 35-7 lead in the third quarter in a loss to Baylor, then allowed the first 31 points of the game the following week at Kansas, which amassed 399 rushing yards.

“I believe we’ll be able to compete with every team in our league,” Malzahn said. “But we’ve got to — and really it starts with me as the head coach — get our guys prepared to finish games."

Dana Holgorsen is shepherding his second school into the Big 12. He was West Virginia’s coach for its first seven seasons in the league before taking over at Houston in 2019. The Cougars (3-3) have the Big 12’s worst defense and Holgorsen has talked repeatedly about his team wearing down late.

Houston didn’t score in the second half of blowout losses to TCU and Texas Tech. The Cougars then earned the first win by one of the expansion schools over a league veteran, beating West Virginia on a last-second Hail Mary TD pass last week after the Mountaineers had scored a go-ahead touchdown with 12 seconds left.

“I talked about blocking and tackling and playing all four quarters,” Holgorsen said. "Well, we played all four quarters. It's good to get that first Big 12 win. It's a step in the right direction.”

Cincinnati (2-4) has lost four straight. The Bearcats have the league's third-best defense but are stalling out on the other side of the ball. Quarterback Emory Jones, who accounted for seven touchdowns in the season opener, has thrown for more interceptions than TDs since.

“I feel like when you’re in slumps like this, sometimes some people get discouraged,” Jones said. "The confidence level is starting to go down right now on the team. We’ve still got six games left. We’ve got to stay positive and just get better, just improve every single week.”

BYU (4-2) started the season with three nonconference wins before falling flat. The Cougars' running game ranks 129th among Bowl Subdivision teams.

While BYU is going through a rough stretch, coach Kalani Sitake uses TCU as an example of turning a hardship into a positive. After a knee injury sidelined TCU starting quarterback Chandler Morris, his replacement, redshirt freshman Josh Hoover, threw for 439 yards and four touchdowns in his first career start in a blowout win Saturday over BYU.

“Even though that happened and we find ourselves in a difficult position right now, I know that adversity will get us to the right spot," Sitake said. "It created a spark for TCU and I imagine that they’re going to keep this momentum rolling. And what we need to do is find the same spark and have the same type of urgency that they did this last week.”

The newcomers all are coming off recent bye weeks, giving them extra time to make adjustments for the start of the final six weeks of the season.

By JOHN RABY AP Sports WriterThe new kids in the Big 12 couldn't bring past success with them.Cincinnati went to the College Football Playoff in 2021. BYU won 10 games twice in the past three years. Houston is two years removed from a 12-win season. UCF had at least nine victories in five of the last six seasons, including a 13-0 run in 2017.They are all floundering midway through their debut Big 12 seasons. Cincinnati, Houston and UCF, which came over from the American Athletic Conference, and former independent BYU are a combined 2-10 in league games (and one of those matched two of the newcomers).“The fun in what we do is in winning,” UCF quarterback John Rhys Plumlee said. “There’s no secret about that. If somebody tries to make you feel better with a participation trophy, I think they’re a little bit silly.”UCF and Cincinnati are tied for last place at 0-3, while BYU and Houston are 1-2. There are many reasons for their struggles. Teams are bad on one if not both sides of the ball. Some are turnover prone or wilting down the stretch of games.The expectation of playing in the Big 12 is “pretty much what I thought it would be,” said UCF coach Gus Malzahn, a former head coach at Auburn (SEC).Gaining some footing in the standings might have to wait a week. UCF will face former Golden Knights QB Dillon Gabriel when it plays at No. 6 Oklahoma on Saturday. Houston hosts No. 8 Texas, while BYU welcomes Texas Tech and Cincinnati hosts Baylor.UCF (3-3) has 10 turnovers on offense, and its defense is allowing a Big 12-worst 197 rushing yards per game. The Golden Knights couldn't hold a 35-7 lead in the third quarter in a loss to Baylor, then allowed the first 31 points of the game the following week at Kansas, which amassed 399 rushing yards.“I believe we’ll be able to compete with every team in our league,” Malzahn said. “But we’ve got to — and really it starts with me as the head coach — get our guys prepared to finish games."Dana Holgorsen is shepherding his second school into the Big 12. He was West Virginia’s coach for its first seven seasons in the league before taking over at Houston in 2019. The Cougars (3-3) have the Big 12’s worst defense and Holgorsen has talked repeatedly about his team wearing down late.Houston didn’t score in the second half of blowout losses to TCU and Texas Tech. The Cougars then earned the first win by one of the expansion schools over a league veteran, beating West Virginia on a last-second Hail Mary TD pass last week after the Mountaineers had scored a go-ahead touchdown with 12 seconds left.“I talked about blocking and tackling and playing all four quarters,” Holgorsen said. "Well, we played all four quarters. It's good to get that first Big 12 win. It's a step in the right direction.”Cincinnati (2-4) has lost four straight. The Bearcats have the league's third-best defense but are stalling out on the other side of the ball. Quarterback Emory Jones, who accounted for seven touchdowns in the season opener, has thrown for more interceptions than TDs since.“I feel like when you’re in slumps like this, sometimes some people get discouraged,” Jones said. "The confidence level is starting to go down right now on the team. We’ve still got six games left. We’ve got to stay positive and just get better, just improve every single week.”BYU (4-2) started the season with three nonconference wins before falling flat. The Cougars' running game ranks 129th among Bowl Subdivision teams.While BYU is going through a rough stretch, coach Kalani Sitake uses TCU as an example of turning a hardship into a positive. After a knee injury sidelined TCU starting quarterback Chandler Morris, his replacement, redshirt freshman Josh Hoover, threw for 439 yards and four touchdowns in his first career start in a blowout win Saturday over BYU.“Even though that happened and we find ourselves in a difficult position right now, I know that adversity will get us to the right spot," Sitake said. "It created a spark for TCU and I imagine that they’re going to keep this momentum rolling. And what we need to do is find the same spark and have the same type of urgency that they did this last week.”The newcomers all are coming off recent bye weeks, giving them extra time to make adjustments for the start of the final six weeks of the season.

Newcomers BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF are floundering early in the Big 12

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas State coach Chris Klieman plans to use both veteran Will Howard and Avery Johnson at quarterback going forward after the freshman standout came on against Texas Tech last weekend and matched a school record with five touchdown runs.

The Wildcats were struggling to move the ball against the Red Raiders with Howard, who replaced the injured Adrian Martinez last season and led them to the Big 12 championship. But when Johnson entered the game, the dual-threat quarterback energized Kansas State, which wound up overcoming a third-quarter deficit for a 38-21 victory.

“What we learned from this past Saturday is that we've seen Will play at a really high level and be successful, and then we saw Avery play at a high level and be successful,” Klieman said Tuesday. “So we feel comfortable with both guys.”

Howard, who has started the first six games for the Wildcats (4-2, 2-1 Big 12), has struggled at times this season. He has thrown for 1,310 yards with nine touchdown passes and seven interceptions. That includes three picks two weeks ago at Oklahoma State, when the senior quarterback was just 15 of 34 for 152 yards and a touchdown in the 29-21 loss.

That defeat, coupled with a loss to Missouri in which Howard also struggled, left the Wildcats in a tough position in the Big 12 race. They face TCU on Saturday night in a rematch of last year's conference title game, then play conference newcomer Houston before a showdown with third-ranked Texas that could help decide who plays in this year's championship game.

Kansas State listed both Howard and Johnson as the starter for the Horned Frogs (4-3, 2-2), but Klieman said there will be no decision on the amount of playing time each will receive until the game plan is finalized later in the week.

“If you thought it would be a 60-40, 50-50 or a 90-10 split, we have no idea,” Klieman said. “We're going to go through the game plan and see who, where and what gives us the best opportunity.”

Johnson is known for his blazing speed — some say he's the fastest on the roster — and that showed last Saturday, when he carried 13 times for 90 yards and those five scores. But he also was 8 of 9 for 77 yards through the air against the Red Raiders, and he is 11 of 13 for 132 yards when figuring some playing time against Southeast Missouri State and Missouri.

“We saw the speed instantly, out there running in the summer. ‘This kid can roll.’ And we got into fall camp and it was like, ‘OK, he can throw too,'" Kansas State wide receiver Jadon Jackson said. “He's something special.”

Johnson got a jump on his college career last fall, when he helped lead Maize High School to a second straight Kansas state title before graduating early. That allowed him to enroll at Kansas State at the semester and take place in spring ball.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas State coach Chris Klieman plans to use both veteran Will Howard and Avery Johnson at quarterback going forward after the freshman standout came on against Texas Tech last weekend and matched a school record with five touchdown runs.The Wildcats were struggling to move the ball against the Red Raiders with Howard, who replaced the injured Adrian Martinez last season and led them to the Big 12 championship. But when Johnson entered the game, the dual-threat quarterback energized Kansas State, which wound up overcoming a third-quarter deficit for a 38-21 victory.“What we learned from this past Saturday is that we've seen Will play at a really high level and be successful, and then we saw Avery play at a high level and be successful,” Klieman said Tuesday. “So we feel comfortable with both guys.”Howard, who has started the first six games for the Wildcats (4-2, 2-1 Big 12), has struggled at times this season. He has thrown for 1,310 yards with nine touchdown passes and seven interceptions. That includes three picks two weeks ago at Oklahoma State, when the senior quarterback was just 15 of 34 for 152 yards and a touchdown in the 29-21 loss.That defeat, coupled with a loss to Missouri in which Howard also struggled, left the Wildcats in a tough position in the Big 12 race. They face TCU on Saturday night in a rematch of last year's conference title game, then play conference newcomer Houston before a showdown with third-ranked Texas that could help decide who plays in this year's championship game.Kansas State listed both Howard and Johnson as the starter for the Horned Frogs (4-3, 2-2), but Klieman said there will be no decision on the amount of playing time each will receive until the game plan is finalized later in the week.“If you thought it would be a 60-40, 50-50 or a 90-10 split, we have no idea,” Klieman said. “We're going to go through the game plan and see who, where and what gives us the best opportunity.”Johnson is known for his blazing speed — some say he's the fastest on the roster — and that showed last Saturday, when he carried 13 times for 90 yards and those five scores. But he also was 8 of 9 for 77 yards through the air against the Red Raiders, and he is 11 of 13 for 132 yards when figuring some playing time against Southeast Missouri State and Missouri.“We saw the speed instantly, out there running in the summer. ‘This kid can roll.’ And we got into fall camp and it was like, ‘OK, he can throw too,'" Kansas State wide receiver Jadon Jackson said. “He's something special.”Johnson got a jump on his college career last fall, when he helped lead Maize High School to a second straight Kansas state title before graduating early. That allowed him to enroll at Kansas State at the semester and take place in spring ball.

K-State plans to use veteran Howard, freshman star Johnson at QB moving forward

KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — Kansas State coach Chris Klieman plans to use both veteran
Will Howard and freshman Avery Johnson at quarterback going forward.
He announced that decision Tuesday after watching Johnson come on
against Texas Tech and lead the Wildcats from a third-quarter deficit
to a 38-21 win. Johnson matched a school record with five touchdown
runs, and he remains the only player in the Football Bowl Subdivision
with that many in a game this season. Howard led the Wildcats to the
Big 12 title last season. Kansas State plays TCU on Saturday in a
rematch of the conference championship game.

UNDATED (AP) — The
four newcomers in the Big 12 are off to a bad start. BYU, Cincinnati,
Houston and UCF are a combined 2-10 in league games. It's a far cry
from their recent histories. Cincinnati went to the College Football
Playoff in 2021. BYU won 10 games twice in the past three years.
Houston is two years removed from a 12-win season. And UCF had at
least nine victories in five of the last six years. So far, UCF and
Cincinnati are winless in Big 12 play and the Bearcats have lost four
straight.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — The Big 12 is preparing to play a 20-game conference
schedule in men’s basketball, and an 18-game women’s schedule,
when the league loses Texas and Oklahoma but welcomes four additions
from the Pac-12 beginning next season. The arrival of Arizona,
Arizona State and Utah along with former Big 12 member Colorado from
the latest round of conference realignment has created new challenges
in scheduling. The league will stretch across all four time zones and
result in some long and time-consuming road trips. But Yormark said
the league will prioritize geography along with competitive balance,
historic matchups and rivalries when it is determining future
schedules.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — The Big 12 women's basketball tournament will be played at
the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City the week before the men's event
beginning this season. The women for years have played at Municipal
Auditorium, a building built during the 1930s with a much smaller
capacity and far fewer amenities. That was so that the two tourneys
could run concurrently, and traveling fans could see both of their
teams on the same trip. Now, the women's tournament will be held the
week before the men in March. Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark says
the women deserve to be in a better venue.

UNDATED (AP) —
During a Senate hearing, NCAA President Charlie Baker shifted the
focus of college sports’ need for federal legislation away from
regulating how athletes can be compensated for their fame to the
looming possibility of the players being deemed employees of their
schools. Baker, Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti and Notre Dame
athletic director Jack Swarbrick were among the witnesses appearing
in front of the House Judiciary Committee. This was the 10th hearing
on college sports to be held on Capitol Hill since 2020. Baker said
in his opening statement that college sports are “overdue for
change.”

UNDATED (AP) —
Halfway through the 2023 season, the national championship race feels
more wide open than it has been in years. Seems like a great time for
a 12-team College Football Playoff but that will have to until 2024.
For now, the playoff is still a four-team bracket. At midseason, No.
16 Duke is the most pleasant surprise and Clemson isthe biggest
disappointment, according to AP College Football Writer Ralph Russo.
He also likes LSU's Jayden Daniels for the Heisman Trophy and Utah's
Kyle Whittingham as the top coach so far.

NEW YORK (AP) —
The NFL is looking to eliminate the hip-drop tackle and will again
discuss the “tush push” in the offseason. League executive Jeff
Miller said Tuesday the hip-drop tackle increases risk of injury by
25 times the rate of a standard tackle. Seahawks quarterback Geno
Smith briefly left a game against the Giants in Week 4 after getting
hurt by a hip-drop tackle. The league made the horse-collar tackle
illegal several years ago because a defender’s body weight ends up
on the legs of the ball carrier, enhancing risk of injury. Rich
McKay, the chairman of the NFL’s competition committee, called the
hip-drop tackle a “cousin” of the horse collar.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) —
Kyle Schwarber hit two of Philadelphia’s three solo homers off
Merrill Kelly, and the sweet-swinging Phillies pounded the Arizona
Diamondbacks 10-0 for a 2-0 lead in the NL Championship Series. Trea
Turner also connected and J.T. Realmuto had two hits and three RBIs
as Philadelphia improved to 7-1 in the playoffs, moving closer to a
second straight World Series appearance. Aaron Nola tossed three-hit
ball and struck out seven in six innings. Game 3 is Thursday at Chase
Field.

ARLINGTON, Texas
(AP) — Max Scherzer is getting back on the mound for the Texas
Rangers with a chance to put them up 3-0 in the AL Championship
Series against the Houston Astros. Scherzer has been out a month
because of a muscle strain in his shoulder. The three-time Cy Young
Award winner made only one more start after allowing seven runs on
three homers in three innings against Houston on September 6. That
was the end of a three-game series in Arlington when the Astros hit
16 homers and outscored them 39-10. Cristian Javier starts for the
Astros. The Rangers have won all seven of their playoff games. This
will be only their second one at home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697194107486.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — Kansas State coach Chris Klieman plans to use both veteran
Will Howard and freshman Avery Johnson at quarterback going forward.
He announced that decision Tuesday after watching Johnson come on
against Texas Tech and lead the Wildcats from a third-quarter deficit
to a 38-21 win. Johnson matched a school record with five touchdown
runs, and he remains the only player in the Football Bowl Subdivision
with that many in a game this season. Howard led the Wildcats to the
Big 12 title last season. Kansas State plays TCU on Saturday in a
rematch of the conference championship game.UNDATED (AP) — The
four newcomers in the Big 12 are off to a bad start. BYU, Cincinnati,
Houston and UCF are a combined 2-10 in league games. It's a far cry
from their recent histories. Cincinnati went to the College Football
Playoff in 2021. BYU won 10 games twice in the past three years.
Houston is two years removed from a 12-win season. And UCF had at
least nine victories in five of the last six years. So far, UCF and
Cincinnati are winless in Big 12 play and the Bearcats have lost four
straight.KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — The Big 12 is preparing to play a 20-game conference
schedule in men’s basketball, and an 18-game women’s schedule,
when the league loses Texas and Oklahoma but welcomes four additions
from the Pac-12 beginning next season. The arrival of Arizona,
Arizona State and Utah along with former Big 12 member Colorado from
the latest round of conference realignment has created new challenges
in scheduling. The league will stretch across all four time zones and
result in some long and time-consuming road trips. But Yormark said
the league will prioritize geography along with competitive balance,
historic matchups and rivalries when it is determining future
schedules.KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — The Big 12 women's basketball tournament will be played at
the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City the week before the men's event
beginning this season. The women for years have played at Municipal
Auditorium, a building built during the 1930s with a much smaller
capacity and far fewer amenities. That was so that the two tourneys
could run concurrently, and traveling fans could see both of their
teams on the same trip. Now, the women's tournament will be held the
week before the men in March. Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark says
the women deserve to be in a better venue.UNDATED (AP) —
During a Senate hearing, NCAA President Charlie Baker shifted the
focus of college sports’ need for federal legislation away from
regulating how athletes can be compensated for their fame to the
looming possibility of the players being deemed employees of their
schools. Baker, Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti and Notre Dame
athletic director Jack Swarbrick were among the witnesses appearing
in front of the House Judiciary Committee. This was the 10th hearing
on college sports to be held on Capitol Hill since 2020. Baker said
in his opening statement that college sports are “overdue for
change.”UNDATED (AP) —
Halfway through the 2023 season, the national championship race feels
more wide open than it has been in years. Seems like a great time for
a 12-team College Football Playoff but that will have to until 2024.
For now, the playoff is still a four-team bracket. At midseason, No.
16 Duke is the most pleasant surprise and Clemson isthe biggest
disappointment, according to AP College Football Writer Ralph Russo.
He also likes LSU's Jayden Daniels for the Heisman Trophy and Utah's
Kyle Whittingham as the top coach so far.NEW YORK (AP) —
The NFL is looking to eliminate the hip-drop tackle and will again
discuss the “tush push” in the offseason. League executive Jeff
Miller said Tuesday the hip-drop tackle increases risk of injury by
25 times the rate of a standard tackle. Seahawks quarterback Geno
Smith briefly left a game against the Giants in Week 4 after getting
hurt by a hip-drop tackle. The league made the horse-collar tackle
illegal several years ago because a defender’s body weight ends up
on the legs of the ball carrier, enhancing risk of injury. Rich
McKay, the chairman of the NFL’s competition committee, called the
hip-drop tackle a “cousin” of the horse collar.PHILADELPHIA (AP) —
Kyle Schwarber hit two of Philadelphia’s three solo homers off
Merrill Kelly, and the sweet-swinging Phillies pounded the Arizona
Diamondbacks 10-0 for a 2-0 lead in the NL Championship Series. Trea
Turner also connected and J.T. Realmuto had two hits and three RBIs
as Philadelphia improved to 7-1 in the playoffs, moving closer to a
second straight World Series appearance. Aaron Nola tossed three-hit
ball and struck out seven in six innings. Game 3 is Thursday at Chase
Field.ARLINGTON, Texas
(AP) — Max Scherzer is getting back on the mound for the Texas
Rangers with a chance to put them up 3-0 in the AL Championship
Series against the Houston Astros. Scherzer has been out a month
because of a muscle strain in his shoulder. The three-time Cy Young
Award winner made only one more start after allowing seven runs on
three homers in three innings against Houston on September 6. That
was the end of a three-game series in Arlington when the Astros hit
16 homers and outscored them 39-10. Cristian Javier starts for the
Astros. The Rangers have won all seven of their playoff games. This
will be only their second one at home.TUESDAY SCORESNATIONAL LEAGUE
PLAYOFFSFinal	Philadelphia	10	Arizona	0	NATIONAL HOCKEY
LEAGUEFinal	Philadelphia	2	Vancouver	0	Final	Minnesota	5	Montreal	2	Final	N-Y
Islanders	1	Arizona	0	Final
OT	Buffalo	3	Tampa Bay	2	Final	Los
Angeles	5	Winnipeg	1	Final	Edmonton	6	Nashville	1	Final	Colorado	4	Seattle	1	Final	Carolina	6	San
Jose	3

Wednesday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

- The "Voice of the Cardinals" Cole Reif is in to talk about Hoisington's win over Larned Friday night.

- KVGB Baseball insider and Hall of Farmer Mike Warren looks at this year's ALCS and NLCS matchups.

- Mike Courson goes "On the Prowl" with Great Bend Panther Cross Country runners.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693997740304.jpeg" alt="Tuesday show lineup with hosts Steve Webster, Mike Courson, Aaron Clark and Mike Hesher" />
 <figcaption>Tuesday show lineup with hosts Steve Webster, Mike Courson, Aaron Clark and Mike Hesher</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HFOnGDfVeqE?si=XcNG89CPIGHiG5x4" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>- The "Voice of the Cardinals" Cole Reif is in to talk about Hoisington's win over Larned Friday night.- KVGB Baseball insider and Hall of Farmer Mike Warren looks at this year's ALCS and NLCS matchups.- Mike Courson goes "On the Prowl" with Great Bend Panther Cross Country runners.- Tuesday Sports Headlines- Sounds of the past 24-hours

Tuesday on Sports Day (Watch)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Big 12 is preparing to play a 20-game conference schedule in men's basketball, and an 18-game women's schedule, when the league loses Texas and Oklahoma but welcomes four additions from the Pac-12 beginning next season.

The arrival of Arizona, Arizona State and Utah along with former Big 12 member Colorado from the latest round of conference realignment has created new challenges in scheduling. The league will stretch across all four time zones, which was one of Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark's goals, but that also means some long and time-consuming road trips.

“Scheduling and travel are a major priority for the conference,” Yormark said Tuesday at the start of two days of basketball media days at T-Mobile Center, which for the first time will host both the men's and women's conference tournaments this season.

“For basketball, it's looking like a 20-game schedule and 18 for women is in our future, and on the football front we're working diligently as well," said Yormark, whose league is losing Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC. "Our schedule is being guided by a few key parameters, including geography, competitive balance, historic matchups and rivalries.”

That could mean the continuation of the Territorial Cup between Arizona and Arizona State.

“We haven't come up with any definitive decisions,” Yormark said, “but rivalries and historic matchups are critically important to us. They're part of our guiding principles. It's most likely that will occur but nothing has been cemented yet.”

The men are expected to play two conference basketball games more than the women because of the preferences of Big 12 coaches and the fact that the women's conference tournament will take place a week before the men's championship.

Yormark reiterated the Big 12 is doubling down on basketball, particularly with the arrival of hoops heavyweight Arizona next season. The league intends to begin playing games internationally beginning with the 2023-24 season, and the league is looking into alternative broadcasts and streaming options that could better bring the game to younger demographics.

When it comes to streaming, Yormark said “volume is key. Big 12 basketball and its depth provide that better than anyone.”

The Big 12 has finished atop KenPom's conference ranking eight of the past 10 seasons, and Baylor and Kansas — the preseason No. 1 team this season — have given the league two of the past three national championships.

“I said before, I think basketball is undervalued, but it goes beyond monetizing it," said Yormark, who has previously worked for the Pistons and Nets. "No sport connects better with culture than basketball. It is also a great catalyst for international growth, and it will continue to grow and play a huge role in the future of our industry.”

In fact, Yormark so values college basketball as a product that he considered its future in the latest of TV negotiations, which resulted in a deal with ESPN and Fox Sports worth about $2.3 billion that goes through at least the 2030-31 season.

“We gave ourselves some optionality when you think about our back-end rights, not only to renew our traditional format but to potentially break apart football from basketball,” he said. “Our job is to explore all options and further monetize what we do, and create value for our member institutions.”

Given its focus on college basketball, it is only natural to ask whether the Big 12 would renew conversations with West Coast Conference power Gonzaga and reigning national champion UConn, which is a member of the Big East. Yormark said earlier this year that those talks had ended in part due to the latest round of realignment involving the Pac 12.

Yormark declined to take questions about future expansion, but did say that “no different from last year, if an opportunity presents itself to strengthen this conference, I'm going to explore it.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Big 12 is preparing to play a 20-game conference schedule in men's basketball, and an 18-game women's schedule, when the league loses Texas and Oklahoma but welcomes four additions from the Pac-12 beginning next season.The arrival of Arizona, Arizona State and Utah along with former Big 12 member Colorado from the latest round of conference realignment has created new challenges in scheduling. The league will stretch across all four time zones, which was one of Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark's goals, but that also means some long and time-consuming road trips.“Scheduling and travel are a major priority for the conference,” Yormark said Tuesday at the start of two days of basketball media days at T-Mobile Center, which for the first time will host both the men's and women's conference tournaments this season.“For basketball, it's looking like a 20-game schedule and 18 for women is in our future, and on the football front we're working diligently as well," said Yormark, whose league is losing Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC. "Our schedule is being guided by a few key parameters, including geography, competitive balance, historic matchups and rivalries.”That could mean the continuation of the Territorial Cup between Arizona and Arizona State.“We haven't come up with any definitive decisions,” Yormark said, “but rivalries and historic matchups are critically important to us. They're part of our guiding principles. It's most likely that will occur but nothing has been cemented yet.”The men are expected to play two conference basketball games more than the women because of the preferences of Big 12 coaches and the fact that the women's conference tournament will take place a week before the men's championship.Yormark reiterated the Big 12 is doubling down on basketball, particularly with the arrival of hoops heavyweight Arizona next season. The league intends to begin playing games internationally beginning with the 2023-24 season, and the league is looking into alternative broadcasts and streaming options that could better bring the game to younger demographics.When it comes to streaming, Yormark said “volume is key. Big 12 basketball and its depth provide that better than anyone.”The Big 12 has finished atop KenPom's conference ranking eight of the past 10 seasons, and Baylor and Kansas — the preseason No. 1 team this season — have given the league two of the past three national championships.“I said before, I think basketball is undervalued, but it goes beyond monetizing it," said Yormark, who has previously worked for the Pistons and Nets. "No sport connects better with culture than basketball. It is also a great catalyst for international growth, and it will continue to grow and play a huge role in the future of our industry.”In fact, Yormark so values college basketball as a product that he considered its future in the latest of TV negotiations, which resulted in a deal with ESPN and Fox Sports worth about $2.3 billion that goes through at least the 2030-31 season.“We gave ourselves some optionality when you think about our back-end rights, not only to renew our traditional format but to potentially break apart football from basketball,” he said. “Our job is to explore all options and further monetize what we do, and create value for our member institutions.”Given its focus on college basketball, it is only natural to ask whether the Big 12 would renew conversations with West Coast Conference power Gonzaga and reigning national champion UConn, which is a member of the Big East. Yormark said earlier this year that those talks had ended in part due to the latest round of realignment involving the Pac 12.Yormark declined to take questions about future expansion, but did say that “no different from last year, if an opportunity presents itself to strengthen this conference, I'm going to explore it.”“There's nothing imminent," he said, "but I do explore all options that come to me, and if it creates value for membership both short- and long-term, we're going to explore it even more.”Yormark also was quick to defend the Big 12 as the nation's premier basketball conference after UConn coach Dan Hurley said on a recent podcast that the Big East was “the best conference in the country and it's not particularly close.”