FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Eddie Lampkin Jr. slammed both of his hands on the court after a layup during TCU's early go-ahead run, doing his best to work the home fans into more of a frenzy. All of his inside baskets helped, too.

Lampkin scored a season-high 17 points, including back-to-back layups on passes from Mike Miles Jr. in another big burst, and the 17th-ranked Horned Frogs beat No. 11 Kansas State 82-68 on Saturday to end the Wildcats' nine-game winning streak.

“I've been telling them I've been open. Now they're trusting me,” the 6-foot-11, 263-pound Lampkin said of his teammates. “They're trusting me better, and my confidence is getting better every game.”

Emanuel Miller scored 23 points and Miles had 13 points with 11 assists for the Frogs (14-3, 3-2 Big 12), who were coming off back-to-back losses after an 11-game winning streak of their own. Damion Baugh added 11 points.

“I wasn't making shots early, so you've got to do something else to affect the game,” said Miles, who entered as the Big 12's second-leading scorer at 19.5 points a game.

Kansas State (15-2, 4-1) had gone from unranked to the verge of the top 10 after winning three consecutive games against Top 25 teams. The Wildcats beat Oklahoma State in their first home game as a ranked team in four years on Tuesday, then jumped out to a 11-6 lead in their first road game before Lampkin and TCU took over.

Keyontae Johnson had 18 for the Wildcats, who trailed by as many as 25 points midway through the second half before a late surge when Markquis Nowell scored 14 of his 16 points in the final 5 1/2 minutes. Nowell was coming four consecutive 20-point games.

“Panic about what?” first-year Wildcats coach Jerome Tang said, responding to a question postgame. “I don’t know our record, but I know we have two losses. There’s nothing to panic about. I’ve got a veteran group. I’ve got a bunch of winners in a locker room, both on the staff and on the team. And this is the Big 12.”

Lampkin had back-to-back layups on passes from Miles during TCU’s second 13-2 run before halftime. He took an inbound pass from Miles, who then stole the ball from Nowell and was in the lane when he made a leaping no-look pass to Lampkin for another layup to make 32-21.

It was during their earlier 13-2 run, which took the Frogs from a five-point deficit to leading for good, when Lampkin followed his layup with his hand-banging on the floor. He finished 6-of-7 shooting with a dunk and five layups.

Kansas State: The Wildcats shot 43.1% (28 of 65), but had 20 turnovers, including seven by Johnson and six by Nowell — both season highs. K-State was down 22 and Nowell had only two points before a 3-pointer with 5 1/2 minutes left that he followed with two quick layups.

TCU: The Frogs played their fourth consecutive Top 25 opponent, and split those games. The two losses were by a combined six points, 69-67 at home to Iowa State before they blew an 18-point lead in a 79-75 loss at No. 10 Texas.

TCU outscored the Wildcats 32-13 on fast-break points, some of that while turning K-State’s turnovers into 26 points.

“We really got to the aggressiveness and the team defense going and that’s where we got the turnovers and the transition once again,” TCU coach Jamie Dixon said. “It’s kind of fun when you spend all summer working on something you want to get better and it comes to fruition.”

Kansas State won't move into the top 10 for the first time since March 2013, but the Wildcats will still be solidly ranked in the new poll Monday. The Frogs were unchanged after a loss last week, and may be that way again when they will be ranked for the seventh consecutive poll.

Kansas State hosts second-ranked defending national champion Kansas on Tuesday night.

TCU is on road twice next week, at West Virginia on Wednesday before playing at Kansas on Saturday.

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Eddie Lampkin Jr. slammed both of his hands on the court after a layup during TCU's early go-ahead run, doing his best to work the home fans into more of a frenzy. All of his inside baskets helped, too.Lampkin scored a season-high 17 points, including back-to-back layups on passes from Mike Miles Jr. in another big burst, and the 17th-ranked Horned Frogs beat No. 11 Kansas State 82-68 on Saturday to end the Wildcats' nine-game winning streak.“I've been telling them I've been open. Now they're trusting me,” the 6-foot-11, 263-pound Lampkin said of his teammates. “They're trusting me better, and my confidence is getting better every game.”Emanuel Miller scored 23 points and Miles had 13 points with 11 assists for the Frogs (14-3, 3-2 Big 12), who were coming off back-to-back losses after an 11-game winning streak of their own. Damion Baugh added 11 points.“I wasn't making shots early, so you've got to do something else to affect the game,” said Miles, who entered as the Big 12's second-leading scorer at 19.5 points a game.Kansas State (15-2, 4-1) had gone from unranked to the verge of the top 10 after winning three consecutive games against Top 25 teams. The Wildcats beat Oklahoma State in their first home game as a ranked team in four years on Tuesday, then jumped out to a 11-6 lead in their first road game before Lampkin and TCU took over.Keyontae Johnson had 18 for the Wildcats, who trailed by as many as 25 points midway through the second half before a late surge when Markquis Nowell scored 14 of his 16 points in the final 5 1/2 minutes. Nowell was coming four consecutive 20-point games.“Panic about what?” first-year Wildcats coach Jerome Tang said, responding to a question postgame. “I don’t know our record, but I know we have two losses. There’s nothing to panic about. I’ve got a veteran group. I’ve got a bunch of winners in a locker room, both on the staff and on the team. And this is the Big 12.”13-2 TIMES 2Lampkin had back-to-back layups on passes from Miles during TCU’s second 13-2 run before halftime. He took an inbound pass from Miles, who then stole the ball from Nowell and was in the lane when he made a leaping no-look pass to Lampkin for another layup to make 32-21.It was during their earlier 13-2 run, which took the Frogs from a five-point deficit to leading for good, when Lampkin followed his layup with his hand-banging on the floor. He finished 6-of-7 shooting with a dunk and five layups.BIG PICTUREKansas State: The Wildcats shot 43.1% (28 of 65), but had 20 turnovers, including seven by Johnson and six by Nowell — both season highs. K-State was down 22 and Nowell had only two points before a 3-pointer with 5 1/2 minutes left that he followed with two quick layups.TCU: The Frogs played their fourth consecutive Top 25 opponent, and split those games. The two losses were by a combined six points, 69-67 at home to Iowa State before they blew an 18-point lead in a 79-75 loss at No. 10 Texas.FASTBREAK FROGSTCU outscored the Wildcats 32-13 on fast-break points, some of that while turning K-State’s turnovers into 26 points.“We really got to the aggressiveness and the team defense going and that’s where we got the turnovers and the transition once again,” TCU coach Jamie Dixon said. “It’s kind of fun when you spend all summer working on something you want to get better and it comes to fruition.”POLL IMPLICATIONSKansas State won't move into the top 10 for the first time since March 2013, but the Wildcats will still be solidly ranked in the new poll Monday. The Frogs were unchanged after a loss last week, and may be that way again when they will be ranked for the seventh consecutive poll.UP NEXTKansas State hosts second-ranked defending national champion Kansas on Tuesday night.TCU is on road twice next week, at West Virginia on Wednesday before playing at Kansas on Saturday.

No. 17 TCU snaps No. 11 Kansas State's 9-game winning streak

By PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports Columnist

ATLANTA (AP) — If Buffalo and Kansas City both reach the AFC championship game, they'll head to Atlanta, of all places, to compete for a spot in the Super Bowl.

The neutral site is just a one-off for now, the hasty solution to a crucial game being called off in the next-to-last week of the regular season after Damar Hamlin's frightening collapse on the field.

Hamlin, thankfully, is on the road to recovery.

Now, one can't help but wonder if the NFL, in a never-ending quest to increase its wealth and raise an already towering profile, could use this as a test run for staging conference title games at predetermined sites — just like it does with the Super Bowl.

The owners are surely intrigued by the thought of two mini-Super Bowls before the Super Bowl.

Don't brush off this idea, which has been bandied about before — most notably by the late Lamar Hunt, longtime owner of the Chiefs, whose proposal in the 1990s was rebuffed by his fellow owners.

“He was a big-event guy. He loved big events,” remembered Bob Moore, the team's historian and former media relations director. “He thought a warm-weather, indoor location somewhere would be preferable" to decide which two teams went to the Super Bowl.

Not surprisingly, the players seem against the idea.

They believe the team that posts the best record in each conference deserves to play at home at least until the Super Bowl — with all the advantages that entails, from fan support to a familiar stadium surface to potentially inclement weather they're used to playing in.

“It's only right to reward the No. 1 seed from a long season to be able have home-field advantage through the playoffs,” Bills safety Micah Hyde said Friday.

But player sentiments are unlikely to carry a whole lot of weight.

This will come down to money, and whether the owners think they can make more of it with conference title games being held at neutral stadiums.

“Obviously, the NFL is going to love that, because they’re able to pick and choose more stadiums to play in, revenue," Hyde said. “It would make sense for them.”

This season's potential neutral location for the AFC title was mandated by the league after Hamlin went into cardiac arrest during a Bills-Bengals game that would've had a major impact on playoff seeding.

Buffalo had a shot at gaining the top seed — and home-field advantage — by beating Cincinnati. Instead, the Bills (13-3) wound up playing one less game than Kansas City (14-3) and settled for the No. 2 seed.

Kansas City does get the advantage of being off this weekend, while Buffalo is set to host Miami in a wild-card game. But if the Bills win that one, and both Buffalo and the Chiefs win at home in the divisional round, then Atlanta would host the AFC title game on Jan. 29.

Whether that happens or not, look for the league to take a serious look at a permanent change to the playoff format.

It's already done that way at the college level, where the semifinals are rotated among six major bowls and the championship game is held at a site selected years earlier. And when the college playoff expands to 12 teams for the 2024 season, the quarterfinals, semifinals and title game will be held at sites that have already been selected.

Just as it does with the Super Bowl, the NFL could pick the hosts of its conference championship games years in advance. And, unlike the final game of the season, the league could largely ensure a true neutral site, with little chance of teams playing in their own stadium as happened at the last two Super Bowls.

An AFC city would be picked for NFC title game. An NFC city would be chosen for the AFC title game.

There are certainly no shortage of candidates.

On the NFC side, there are domed stadiums in Atlanta, New Orleans, Arizona and Dallas, which also have more favorable winter climates. Detroit and Minnesota are bitterly cold at this time of year but have previously hosted Super Bowls in their domed stadiums. The weather isn't a factor for Tampa Bay, which has hosted multiple Super Bowls in its outdoor stadium. Carolina and San Francisco also have outdoor facilities, with geography that makes them potential contenders.

There are fewer options in the AFC but more than enough to make it work. Las Vegas, Houston and Indianapolis all have domed stadiums, and Nashville is planning to build one for the Tennessee Titans. Balmy Miami is a hugely popular stop on the Super Bowl circuit and would fit right in for an NFC title game. Jacksonville is generally mild in the winter and, as a smaller city that seems unlikely to land another Super Bowl, would undoubtedly work much better as a conference championship site.

We left out one of the most appealing locations of all, SoFi Stadium in the Los Angeles area, the host of last season's Super Bowl and site just this week of the college football national championship game.

The NFL would undoubtedly want Los Angeles in the conference championship mix as well, though that would run the risk of either the NFC Rams or AFC Chargers — who share the futuristic facility — getting a home game in the conference championship round. The impact of a local crowd, though, could be lessened by the way the tickets are distributed.

As with the Super Bowl, a neutral site would provide plenty of time for pregame events in the host city, such as concerts and parties and media spectacles that can't be done on just a week's notice with the current system.

“I think they should keep it like it is,” said defensive end Brandon Graham of the Philadelphia Eagles, the NFC's top seed. But, he quickly added with a dose of realism, “It's all about the money anyway."

By PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports ColumnistATLANTA (AP) — If Buffalo and Kansas City both reach the AFC championship game, they'll head to Atlanta, of all places, to compete for a spot in the Super Bowl.The neutral site is just a one-off for now, the hasty solution to a crucial game being called off in the next-to-last week of the regular season after Damar Hamlin's frightening collapse on the field.Hamlin, thankfully, is on the road to recovery.Now, one can't help but wonder if the NFL, in a never-ending quest to increase its wealth and raise an already towering profile, could use this as a test run for staging conference title games at predetermined sites — just like it does with the Super Bowl.The owners are surely intrigued by the thought of two mini-Super Bowls before the Super Bowl.Don't brush off this idea, which has been bandied about before — most notably by the late Lamar Hunt, longtime owner of the Chiefs, whose proposal in the 1990s was rebuffed by his fellow owners.“He was a big-event guy. He loved big events,” remembered Bob Moore, the team's historian and former media relations director. “He thought a warm-weather, indoor location somewhere would be preferable" to decide which two teams went to the Super Bowl.Not surprisingly, the players seem against the idea.They believe the team that posts the best record in each conference deserves to play at home at least until the Super Bowl — with all the advantages that entails, from fan support to a familiar stadium surface to potentially inclement weather they're used to playing in.“It's only right to reward the No. 1 seed from a long season to be able have home-field advantage through the playoffs,” Bills safety Micah Hyde said Friday.But player sentiments are unlikely to carry a whole lot of weight.This will come down to money, and whether the owners think they can make more of it with conference title games being held at neutral stadiums.In all likelihood, they can.“Obviously, the NFL is going to love that, because they’re able to pick and choose more stadiums to play in, revenue," Hyde said. “It would make sense for them.”This season's potential neutral location for the AFC title was mandated by the league after Hamlin went into cardiac arrest during a Bills-Bengals game that would've had a major impact on playoff seeding.Buffalo had a shot at gaining the top seed — and home-field advantage — by beating Cincinnati. Instead, the Bills (13-3) wound up playing one less game than Kansas City (14-3) and settled for the No. 2 seed.Kansas City does get the advantage of being off this weekend, while Buffalo is set to host Miami in a wild-card game. But if the Bills win that one, and both Buffalo and the Chiefs win at home in the divisional round, then Atlanta would host the AFC title game on Jan. 29.Whether that happens or not, look for the league to take a serious look at a permanent change to the playoff format.It's already done that way at the college level, where the semifinals are rotated among six major bowls and the championship game is held at a site selected years earlier. And when the college playoff expands to 12 teams for the 2024 season, the quarterfinals, semifinals and title game will be held at sites that have already been selected.Just as it does with the Super Bowl, the NFL could pick the hosts of its conference championship games years in advance. And, unlike the final game of the season, the league could largely ensure a true neutral site, with little chance of teams playing in their own stadium as happened at the last two Super Bowls.An AFC city would be picked for NFC title game. An NFC city would be chosen for the AFC title game.There are certainly no shortage of candidates.On the NFC side, there are domed stadiums in Atlanta, New Orleans, Arizona and Dallas, which also have more favorable winter climates. Detroit and Minnesota are bitterly cold at this time of year but have previously hosted Super Bowls in their domed stadiums. The weather isn't a factor for Tampa Bay, which has hosted multiple Super Bowls in its outdoor stadium. Carolina and San Francisco also have outdoor facilities, with geography that makes them potential contenders.There are fewer options in the AFC but more than enough to make it work. Las Vegas, Houston and Indianapolis all have domed stadiums, and Nashville is planning to build one for the Tennessee Titans. Balmy Miami is a hugely popular stop on the Super Bowl circuit and would fit right in for an NFC title game. Jacksonville is generally mild in the winter and, as a smaller city that seems unlikely to land another Super Bowl, would undoubtedly work much better as a conference championship site.We left out one of the most appealing locations of all, SoFi Stadium in the Los Angeles area, the host of last season's Super Bowl and site just this week of the college football national championship game.The NFL would undoubtedly want Los Angeles in the conference championship mix as well, though that would run the risk of either the NFC Rams or AFC Chargers — who share the futuristic facility — getting a home game in the conference championship round. The impact of a local crowd, though, could be lessened by the way the tickets are distributed.As with the Super Bowl, a neutral site would provide plenty of time for pregame events in the host city, such as concerts and parties and media spectacles that can't be done on just a week's notice with the current system.“I think they should keep it like it is,” said defensive end Brandon Graham of the Philadelphia Eagles, the NFC's top seed. But, he quickly added with a dose of realism, “It's all about the money anyway."

Super Bowls before the Super Bowl? Don't rule it out

Travis Kelce and Justin Jefferson are unanimous choices for The Associated Press 2022 NFL All-Pro Team, and Sauce Gardner is the first rookie cornerback selected in 41 years.

The Chiefs’ Kelce and the Vikings’ Jefferson received first-team votes Friday from all 50 members of a nationwide panel of media members who regularly cover the league.

Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes, San Francisco 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa and Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones each got 49 of 50 first-team votes. The Chiefs and Niners led the way with four players each on the first team.

Gardner, the fourth overall pick by the New York Jets, was named on all 50 ballots, receiving 43 first-place votes. Pro Football Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott was the last rookie cornerback chosen for the first team in 1981.

“That’s a big deal to me,” Gardner told the AP. “It was one of my goals before training camp. It’s something I pray for. I worked so hard for it. It’s a true blessing for sure.”

Kelce’s older brother, Jason, also earned first-team honors for the fifth time in his career to stay one ahead of his pass-catching brother. Jason Kelce’s fellow Philadelphia Eagles linemate, right tackle Lane Johnson, joins him on the squad.

“Big honor, especially happy for (Johnson) who is the best tackle in the NFL without question, especially on the right side,” Jason Kelce told the AP.

Johnson, a second-time All-Pro, has missed the past two games with an adductor injury but hopes to return when the No. 1 seed Eagles host a divisional round playoff game next week.

“We put in a lot of time and effort in the game, especially as you get older, you start to cherish it,” Johnson told the AP.

Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs is among the 16 first-time All-Pros. Jacobs led the NFL in rushing with 1,653 yards, scored 12 touchdowns rushing and averaged 4.9 yards per carry. The Raiders had three first-team picks despite finishing 6-11.

“The year definitely didn’t go the way we wanted it to but, individually, it’s definitely an honor to be selected,” Jacobs told the AP.

Jefferson, who had a league-best 128 catches and 1,809 yards receiving, is the other newcomer on offense. Miami’s Tyreek Hill made it for the fourth time, third as a receiver. Hill had 119 catches for 1,710 yards and seven TDs in his first season with the Dolphins. Raiders wideout Davante Adams got the nod for a third time. Adams had 100 receptions for 1,516 yards and 14 TDs in his first season in Las Vegas.

Cowboys right guard Zack Martin is a six-time All-Pro, 49ers left tackle Trent Williams and Browns left guard Joel Bitonio made it for the second straight season.

Mahomes also was an All-Pro in 2018 when he was the NFL MVP. He led the league with 5,250 yards passing and 41 TDs, helping the Chiefs go 14-3 to capture their seventh straight AFC West title. Philadelphia's Jalen Hurts got one first-team vote, preventing Mahomes from being a unanimous choice.

Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons, 49ers linebacker Fred Warner and Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick are the only returning All-Pros on defense. It’s a third time for Fitzpatrick. Parsons, who had 13 1/2 sacks, made it as a linebacker his rookie season last year.

Bosa, Jones, Jets defensive lineman Quinnen Williams, Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith, Bills linebacker Matt Milano, Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II and Niners safety Talanoa Hufanga all earned their first All-Pro selection.

Bosa led the NFL with 18 1/2 sacks. Williams had 11.

“I tell my wife my goals every day so she can keep me accountable and make sure I do the right thing and it was become a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro,” Williams told the AP. “To get this news, all the work I put in has paid off and I gotta continue to do the same thing.”

All six special-teams players are first-timers, too.

They are: Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson, Chiefs punter Tommy Townsend, Packers kick returner Keisean Nixon, Patriots punt returner Marcus Jones, Commanders special teamer Jeremy Reaves and Vikings long snapper Andrew DePaola.

This was the first year for the AP's new voting system. Voters chose a first team and a second team. First-team votes are worth 3 points, second-team votes are worth 1.

Travis Kelce and Justin Jefferson are unanimous choices for The Associated Press 2022 NFL All-Pro Team, and Sauce Gardner is the first rookie cornerback selected in 41 years.The Chiefs’ Kelce and the Vikings’ Jefferson received first-team votes Friday from all 50 members of a nationwide panel of media members who regularly cover the league.Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes, San Francisco 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa and Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones each got 49 of 50 first-team votes. The Chiefs and Niners led the way with four players each on the first team.Gardner, the fourth overall pick by the New York Jets, was named on all 50 ballots, receiving 43 first-place votes. Pro Football Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott was the last rookie cornerback chosen for the first team in 1981.“That’s a big deal to me,” Gardner told the AP. “It was one of my goals before training camp. It’s something I pray for. I worked so hard for it. It’s a true blessing for sure.”Kelce’s older brother, Jason, also earned first-team honors for the fifth time in his career to stay one ahead of his pass-catching brother. Jason Kelce’s fellow Philadelphia Eagles linemate, right tackle Lane Johnson, joins him on the squad.“Big honor, especially happy for (Johnson) who is the best tackle in the NFL without question, especially on the right side,” Jason Kelce told the AP.Johnson, a second-time All-Pro, has missed the past two games with an adductor injury but hopes to return when the No. 1 seed Eagles host a divisional round playoff game next week.“We put in a lot of time and effort in the game, especially as you get older, you start to cherish it,” Johnson told the AP.Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs is among the 16 first-time All-Pros. Jacobs led the NFL in rushing with 1,653 yards, scored 12 touchdowns rushing and averaged 4.9 yards per carry. The Raiders had three first-team picks despite finishing 6-11.“The year definitely didn’t go the way we wanted it to but, individually, it’s definitely an honor to be selected,” Jacobs told the AP.Jefferson, who had a league-best 128 catches and 1,809 yards receiving, is the other newcomer on offense. Miami’s Tyreek Hill made it for the fourth time, third as a receiver. Hill had 119 catches for 1,710 yards and seven TDs in his first season with the Dolphins. Raiders wideout Davante Adams got the nod for a third time. Adams had 100 receptions for 1,516 yards and 14 TDs in his first season in Las Vegas.Cowboys right guard Zack Martin is a six-time All-Pro, 49ers left tackle Trent Williams and Browns left guard Joel Bitonio made it for the second straight season.Mahomes also was an All-Pro in 2018 when he was the NFL MVP. He led the league with 5,250 yards passing and 41 TDs, helping the Chiefs go 14-3 to capture their seventh straight AFC West title. Philadelphia's Jalen Hurts got one first-team vote, preventing Mahomes from being a unanimous choice.Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons, 49ers linebacker Fred Warner and Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick are the only returning All-Pros on defense. It’s a third time for Fitzpatrick. Parsons, who had 13 1/2 sacks, made it as a linebacker his rookie season last year.Bosa, Jones, Jets defensive lineman Quinnen Williams, Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith, Bills linebacker Matt Milano, Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II and Niners safety Talanoa Hufanga all earned their first All-Pro selection.Bosa led the NFL with 18 1/2 sacks. Williams had 11.“I tell my wife my goals every day so she can keep me accountable and make sure I do the right thing and it was become a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro,” Williams told the AP. “To get this news, all the work I put in has paid off and I gotta continue to do the same thing.”All six special-teams players are first-timers, too.They are: Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson, Chiefs punter Tommy Townsend, Packers kick returner Keisean Nixon, Patriots punt returner Marcus Jones, Commanders special teamer Jeremy Reaves and Vikings long snapper Andrew DePaola.This was the first year for the AP's new voting system. Voters chose a first team and a second team. First-team votes are worth 3 points, second-team votes are worth 1.

NFL All-Pros: Kelce, Jefferson unanimous; 16 first-timers

Glasco/Miltonvale-Southern Cloud def. Rock Hills, forfeit

Kapaun Mount Carmel 69, Wichita Northwest 41

Wichita Bishop Carroll 73, Wichita North 48

Wichita Classical 78, Central Christian 19

Wichita Independent 53, Conway Springs 41

FRIDAY BOYS SCORESAndover 72, Salina South 42Andover Central 55, Arkansas City 37Augusta 60, Winfield 44Basehor-Linwood 45, Lansing 32Beloit 75, Minneapolis 31Bennington 51, Berean Academy 34Burden Central 72, Oxford 70Burlingame 47, Lebo 46Canton-Galva 53, Goessel 52, OTCentral Heights 56, Council Grove 47Central Plains 42, Victoria 35Cheney 67, Kingman 49Cheylin 45, Western Plains-Healy 26, 6OTCimarron 48, St. John 46Colby 65, Ulysses 38Columbus 63, Baxter Springs 42Cunningham 53, South Barber 51Dodge City 73, Liberal 47Elkhart 64, Boise City, Okla. 57Ellinwood 69, Macksville 56Galena 55, Riverton 49Garden City 60, Hays 54Glasco/Miltonvale-Southern Cloud def. Rock Hills, forfeitHays-TMP-Marian 65, Ellis 36Heritage Christian 55, Cair Paravel 39Hesston 71, Lyons 28Highland Park 91, KC Harmon 29Hill City 97, Stockton 21Hugoton 53, Goodland 50, 6OTHumboldt 47, Cherryvale 46Hutchinson 69, Great Bend 53Independence 47, Chanute 33Jayhawk Linn 47, Oswego 29Junction City 52, Emporia 39Kapaun Mount Carmel 69, Wichita Northwest 41LaCrosse 77, Otis-Bison 37Lakeside 63, Lincoln 43Lawrence 46, Mill Valley 39Leavenworth 77, KC Turner 60Logan/Palco 65, Golden Plains 32Maize 64, Newton 51Manhattan 60, Washburn Rural 58McPherson 60, Mulvane 30Medicine Lodge 57, Garden Plain 54Norwich 55, Pretty Prairie 41Olathe East 73, Lawrence Free State 8Olathe North 65, Olathe South 54Olathe Northwest 52, Olathe West 45Olpe 53, Madison/Hamilton 31Oskaloosa 53, Pleasant Ridge 45Phillipsburg 55, Norton 51Pike Valley 68, Natoma 20Pittsburg 61, Labette County 22Pratt 58, Hillsboro 49Pratt Skyline 65, Fairfield 51Remington 67, Moundridge 62Rose Hill 34, El Dorado 25Scott City 56, Holcomb 43Shawnee Heights 65, Topeka Seaman 51Smoky Valley 71, Larned 46South Gray 88, Bucklin 64Stafford 38, Central Christian 31St. John's Beloit-Tipton 69, Tescott 40St. Thomas Aquinas 70, Bishop Miege 65Stanton County 55, Sublette 48Thunder Ridge 77, Chase 20Triplains-Brewster 61, Weskan 47Valley Center 58, Salina Central 41Wellington 52, Andale 48Wellsville 69, Iola 49West Elk 59, Argonia 53West Franklin 61, Osage City 60Wichita Bishop Carroll 73, Wichita North 48Wichita Classical 78, Central Christian 19Wichita Collegiate 76, Clearwater 38Wichita East 80, Wichita South 41Wichita Heights 71, Wichita West 44Wichita Independent 53, Conway Springs 41Wichita Trinity 52, Chaparral 51FRIDAY GIRLS SCORESAndover 58, Salina South 28Andover Central 54, Arkansas City 34Berean Academy 50, Bennington 30Burlington 67, Eureka 20Burrton 43, Oxford 41Canton-Galva 66, Goessel 41Central Plains 63, Victoria 16Cheney 58, Kingman 27Circle 38, Buhler 37Clay Center 45, Abilene 31Clearwater 53, Wichita Collegiate 14Colby 57, Ulysses 11Columbus 52, Baxter Springs 29Dodge City 32, Liberal 29Douglass 40, Belle Plaine 33Emporia 56, Junction City 24Eureka 74, Burlington 47Fairfield 39, Pratt Skyline 29Fort Scott 44, Coffeyville 35Frontenac 69, Girard 52Garden Plain 55, Medicine Lodge 26Goddard-Eisenhower 39, Goddard 24Golden Plains 49, Logan/Palco 4Haven 56, Nickerson 52, 2OTHays 52, Garden City 43Herington 42, Solomon 39Heritage Christian 47, Cair Paravel 19Hesston 59, Lyons 39Highland Park 96, KC Harmon 18Hillsboro 48, Pratt 47, 2OTHodgeman County 58, Ingalls 36Holcomb 73, Scott City 55Hutchinson 45, Great Bend 33Hutchinson Trinity 43, Chaparral 39Inman 53, Marion 23Jefferson North 68, Jackson Heights 49KC Piper 55, Topeka West 45LaCrosse 44, Otis-Bison 30Lakeside 55, Glasco/Miltonvale-Southern Cloud 20Lawrence 59, Mill Valley 15Little River 55, Rural Vista 23Macksville 38, Ellinwood 32Maize South 68, Wichita Campus 19McPherson 60, Mulvane 30Minneapolis 43, Beloit 41Mission Valley 54, Chase County 49Nemaha Central 58, Royal Valley 39Newton 34, Maize 25Osage City 65, West Franklin 39Phillipsburg 57, Norton 27Pike Valley 34, Tescott 19Remington 42, Moundridge 31Reno County 29, Flint Hills Christian 26Riley County 48, Silver Lake 47, 3OTRiverside 40, Holton 25Riverton 54, Galena 41Rock Creek 60, Wabaunsee 22Rock Hills 47, Lincoln 30Rose Hill 34, El Dorado 25Sabetha 48, Perry-Lecompton 21Santa Fe Trail 49, Anderson County 31Sedgwick 37, Ell-Saline 35Smith Center 56, Republic County 39Smoky Valley 50, Larned 44South Barber 41, Cunningham 19St. Francis 46, Dighton 23St. John's Beloit-Tipton 67, Natoma 36St. Mary's 51, Rossville 47Thunder Ridge 49, Chase 14Topeka 60, Topeka Hayden 25Topeka Seaman 30, Shawnee Heights 27Trego 61, Oakley 43Wallace County 50, Quinter 29Wamego 83, Marysville 25Washburn Rural 48, Manhattan 32Wellington 44, Andale 34Wichita Bishop Carroll 56, Wichita North 16Wichita Classical 45, Central Christian 31Wichita Independent 57, Conway Springs 41Wichita Northwest 58, Kapaun Mount Carmel 54Wichita Trinity 43, Chaparral 39

Friday Statewide Scores

Hutchinson Boys 69 Great Bend 53; Hutchinson Girls 45 Great Bend 33

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 </figure>Hutchinson Boys 69 Great Bend 53; Hutchinson Girls 45 Great Bend 33<div><iframe width="100%" height="265" src="https://clyp.it/qzwp21jx/widget" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>

Smoky Valley Boys 71 Larned 46; Smoky Valley Girls 50 Larned 44

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600485516602.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>Smoky Valley Boys 71 Larned 46; Smoky Valley Girls 50 Larned 44<div><iframe width="100%" height="265" src="https://clyp.it/gcep4m4x/widget" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>

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(WATCH) FRIDAY SPORTS DAY (1/13/23)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — No matter what route the Kansas City Chiefs take through the playoffs, it is sure to be a familiar one.

That tends to happen when you've been near the top as long as they have been.

In the divisional round, the Chiefs could face former Andy Reid assistants now leading the Jacksonville Jaguars (Doug Pederson) and Baltimore Ravens (John Harbaugh), an AFC West rival in the Los Angeles Chargers or longtime star Tyreek Hill with his new team, the Miami Dolphins.

Get through that and, well, the Chiefs have had some doozies with the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals.

Just last year, the Chiefs and Bills played a divisional playoff game for the ages, combining for 25 points in the final 2 minutes of regulation. Kansas City drove 44 yards in the final 13 seconds and tied the game on Harrison Butker's 49-yarder as time expired, then drove 75 yards in overtime for the winning touchdown.

Then in the AFC title game — the fourth straight played in Kansas City — the Chiefs jumped to a 21-3 lead over the Bengals late in the first half. But their offense, so dynamic for so long, wilted over the final 35 minutes, allowing Joe Burrow to lead Cincinnati to a 27-24 overtime victory and a spot in the Super Bowl.

“Obviously you don’t know for sure who you’re going to play,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said this week, "so what I’ll do is watch a game or two from each team that we have a possibility of playing, kind of each day, just to get a general sense of the team without being too much of a deep dive.

“Luckily, two of the teams we’ve already played this year,” Mahomes said of the Bills and Bengals, both of whom beat Kansas City, “so I have a general sense of them already. You make sure you stay working out, stay moving around — not just sitting on the couch — and then when we get ready to go next week, I just try to be prepared and ready to roll.”

The Chiefs may have been the biggest beneficiary in the Bills having their Week 17 game against the Bengals canceled following the collapse of Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin. It allowed them to finish a half-game ahead of the Bills for the best record in the AFC, and that gave them this week off for the third time in the last five years.

The last time, two years ago, the Chiefs advanced to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“We can’t control when we play, where we play. The only thing we can control is how we play and to be ready for that moment whenever that happens,” Chiefs safety Justin Reid said. "It’s fortunate for us that we were able to get the No. 1 seed. That’s something that we aimed for at the beginning of the season, so congratulations to our team on doing that.

“Wherever we end up playing next, however these scenarios play out,” Reid continued, "wherever that location and time is, we’re going to be ready to play and we’re going to play it.”

The Chiefs at least know their first two games would be played at Arrowhead Stadium, and an AFC title game against anyone but the Bills would be played there, too, for the record fifth consecutive year. If the Chiefs and Bills meet for a spot in the Super Bowl for the second time in three years, that would be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

“A couple of teams we’ve played,” Reid said. “We’ll try to focus in on the ones that we think that we have a chance, most of all, but also cover all of them while we have time – I’m saying as a coaching staff. Then we'll narrow that down for the players as we get them this week before we actually know for next week."

Reid also said the Chiefs will “work on some things that we need to work on” during their week off.

The Chiefs are always trying to hit their stride this time of year, and while they've often played down to the level of their opposition this season, everything seemed to click in their regular-season finale. They raced to a 24-3 halftime lead over the Las Vegas Raiders before coasting to a 31-13 victory and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.

Their turnover trouble? They finished plus-2 against the Raiders. Their penalty woes? They had five for just 43 yards. Their frustrating special teams problems? Butker was perfect on field goals and extra points.

“I mean, defense has stepped up, played really good these last few weeks. Offensively, we’ve had good spurts,” Mahomes said. "We feel like we can play even better; I’ll always feel like we can play better as an offense. But it’s coming from everywhere. ... We have guys everywhere getting involved, making plays happen. But like you said, a win is a win. We’re worried about winning, not covering spreads, so we’ll try to keep that momentum rolling."

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — No matter what route the Kansas City Chiefs take through the playoffs, it is sure to be a familiar one.That tends to happen when you've been near the top as long as they have been.In the divisional round, the Chiefs could face former Andy Reid assistants now leading the Jacksonville Jaguars (Doug Pederson) and Baltimore Ravens (John Harbaugh), an AFC West rival in the Los Angeles Chargers or longtime star Tyreek Hill with his new team, the Miami Dolphins.Get through that and, well, the Chiefs have had some doozies with the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals.Just last year, the Chiefs and Bills played a divisional playoff game for the ages, combining for 25 points in the final 2 minutes of regulation. Kansas City drove 44 yards in the final 13 seconds and tied the game on Harrison Butker's 49-yarder as time expired, then drove 75 yards in overtime for the winning touchdown.Then in the AFC title game — the fourth straight played in Kansas City — the Chiefs jumped to a 21-3 lead over the Bengals late in the first half. But their offense, so dynamic for so long, wilted over the final 35 minutes, allowing Joe Burrow to lead Cincinnati to a 27-24 overtime victory and a spot in the Super Bowl.“Obviously you don’t know for sure who you’re going to play,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said this week, "so what I’ll do is watch a game or two from each team that we have a possibility of playing, kind of each day, just to get a general sense of the team without being too much of a deep dive.“Luckily, two of the teams we’ve already played this year,” Mahomes said of the Bills and Bengals, both of whom beat Kansas City, “so I have a general sense of them already. You make sure you stay working out, stay moving around — not just sitting on the couch — and then when we get ready to go next week, I just try to be prepared and ready to roll.”The Chiefs may have been the biggest beneficiary in the Bills having their Week 17 game against the Bengals canceled following the collapse of Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin. It allowed them to finish a half-game ahead of the Bills for the best record in the AFC, and that gave them this week off for the third time in the last five years.The last time, two years ago, the Chiefs advanced to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.“We can’t control when we play, where we play. The only thing we can control is how we play and to be ready for that moment whenever that happens,” Chiefs safety Justin Reid said. "It’s fortunate for us that we were able to get the No. 1 seed. That’s something that we aimed for at the beginning of the season, so congratulations to our team on doing that.“Wherever we end up playing next, however these scenarios play out,” Reid continued, "wherever that location and time is, we’re going to be ready to play and we’re going to play it.”The Chiefs at least know their first two games would be played at Arrowhead Stadium, and an AFC title game against anyone but the Bills would be played there, too, for the record fifth consecutive year. If the Chiefs and Bills meet for a spot in the Super Bowl for the second time in three years, that would be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.“A couple of teams we’ve played,” Reid said. “We’ll try to focus in on the ones that we think that we have a chance, most of all, but also cover all of them while we have time – I’m saying as a coaching staff. Then we'll narrow that down for the players as we get them this week before we actually know for next week."Reid also said the Chiefs will “work on some things that we need to work on” during their week off.There doesn't seem to be much right now.The Chiefs are always trying to hit their stride this time of year, and while they've often played down to the level of their opposition this season, everything seemed to click in their regular-season finale. They raced to a 24-3 halftime lead over the Las Vegas Raiders before coasting to a 31-13 victory and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.Their turnover trouble? They finished plus-2 against the Raiders. Their penalty woes? They had five for just 43 yards. Their frustrating special teams problems? Butker was perfect on field goals and extra points.“I mean, defense has stepped up, played really good these last few weeks. Offensively, we’ve had good spurts,” Mahomes said. "We feel like we can play even better; I’ll always feel like we can play better as an offense. But it’s coming from everywhere. ... We have guys everywhere getting involved, making plays happen. But like you said, a win is a win. We’re worried about winning, not covering spreads, so we’ll try to keep that momentum rolling."

No. 1 seed Chiefs to see familiar route through postseason

Just two days after making the long trip to Liberal for a pair of wins Tuesday, the Great Bend High School bowlers were back in action Thursday at the Walnut Bowl. Both squads again cruised to wins, this time beating Dodge City and Holcomb.

The Panther boys finished with a total score of 2,397 pins, followed by Holcomb with 2,158, and Dodge City with 2,039. Great Bend won the WAC competition against Dodge City 11-2.

Dylan Ferguson had a monster series with games of 243, 206, and 225 to win the individual title by 49 pins with a 674. Jalen Daniels had the hot start with a 235 in his first game to finish third overall with a 611 series. Ferguson and Daniels had the two highest games on the day. Kamron Stude peaked with a 201 in game two for a 560 series, Jordan Manning shot a 552, Caleb McNett finished with a 495, and Kolby Burnham rolled a 431 series.

The Lady Panthers finished with 2,252 total pins, beating Dodge City's 2,070 and Holcomb's 1,374. Great Bend won the WAC competition 12-1.

The Lady Panthers rolled three of the top four series on the afternoon. Sahara Rziha missed a 200 by a single pin in her first game, then a 224 in game two. Her 600 series led all bowlers. Kaylin Wahlmeier went toe-to-toe with Rziha in game one with a 199 and shot a 226 to finish out her day. A 136 middle game put her in second overall with a 561 series. Zoey Mayberry got off to a mild start, but her high 242 moved her to fourth overall with a 539. Emilee Nelson was consistent for sixth place with a 516, Aliyah Fryberger shot a 423, and Rionna Rodriguez finished with a 395.

Just two days after making the long trip to Liberal for a pair of wins Tuesday, the Great Bend High School bowlers were back in action Thursday at the Walnut Bowl. Both squads again cruised to wins, this time beating Dodge City and Holcomb.The Panther boys finished with a total score of 2,397 pins, followed by Holcomb with 2,158, and Dodge City with 2,039. Great Bend won the WAC competition against Dodge City 11-2.Dylan Ferguson had a monster series with games of 243, 206, and 225 to win the individual title by 49 pins with a 674. Jalen Daniels had the hot start with a 235 in his first game to finish third overall with a 611 series. Ferguson and Daniels had the two highest games on the day. Kamron Stude peaked with a 201 in game two for a 560 series, Jordan Manning shot a 552, Caleb McNett finished with a 495, and Kolby Burnham rolled a 431 series.The Lady Panthers finished with 2,252 total pins, beating Dodge City's 2,070 and Holcomb's 1,374. Great Bend won the WAC competition 12-1.The Lady Panthers rolled three of the top four series on the afternoon. Sahara Rziha missed a 200 by a single pin in her first game, then a 224 in game two. Her 600 series led all bowlers. Kaylin Wahlmeier went toe-to-toe with Rziha in game one with a 199 and shot a 226 to finish out her day. A 136 middle game put her in second overall with a 561 series. Zoey Mayberry got off to a mild start, but her high 242 moved her to fourth overall with a 539. Emilee Nelson was consistent for sixth place with a 516, Aliyah Fryberger shot a 423, and Rionna Rodriguez finished with a 395.

Great Bend bowlers beat Dodge City, Holcomb at home

By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports Writer

From top to bottom, the Big 12 hasn't started conference play like this in a decade.

No. 11 Kansas State has already surpassed last season's overall win total and made an impressive Top 25 poll debut this week after being picked to finish last in the 10-team league with new coach Jerome Tang and a completely revamped roster.

The Wildcats (15-1) have won their first four Big 12 games, just like defending national champion No. 2 Kansas and No. 14 Iowa State, which is surging again after a surprise run to the NCAA Sweet 16 last March.

“I’m very thankful. I’ve been really blessed by God to have this opportunity,” Tang said after K-State beat Oklahoma State for its ninth win in a row before he praised his 15-player roster. “I know this is not about me.”

The Big 12 is the only league in the county with half of its teams ranked, and every team still with a winning record. That is with previously ranked teams Texas Tech and West Virginia both 0-4 in the conference.

“We’ve just got to go on a run here," Mountaineers coach Bob Huggins said. “And it’s not going to be easy.”

The last time the Big 12 had multiple teams open league play 4-0 with multiple other teams 0-4 was 2012-13, the season it became a 10-school league. There is also a lot going on in between those two extremes.

Texas (14-2, 3-1 Big 12), moving forward without fired coach Chris Beard, had its biggest comeback in 10 years by overcoming an 18-point deficit to beat TCU at home Wednesday night. The Horned Frogs (13-3, 2-2) had rallied from 17 down for a win at Baylor a week earlier.

"In the Big 12, we’re going to be in games like this all season long,” said Longhorns interim coach Rodney Terry, who is 7-1 since taking over the program when Beard was suspended after an arrest on a felony domestic violence charge before being fired last week.

TCU, which last March got its first NCAA Tournament victory in 35 years, had an 11-game winning streak until Gabe Kalscheur's 3-pointer with 1.3 seconds left gave Iowa State a 69-67 win on Saturday.

“In the second half, we’ve got to pick up our pace and show our will,” TCU guard Emanuel Miller said after the Texas loss. “We’ve got to know every possession matters. In this league, you mess up one possession, it can cost you the game.”

Only six of the 20 conference games played so far have been decided by more than six points and home court hasn't been an advantage so far: Visiting teams have an 11-9 record.

“It’s reality, we play in the toughest conference in college basketball. ... We have literally no off night," Oklahoma State senior forward Kalib Boone said.

The Cowboys now go to preseason Big 12 favorite Baylor (11-5, 1-3), the national champion two seasons ago and two-time defending league champ. The Bears avoided an 0-4 start when freshman Keyonte George had 32 points in an 83-78 victory at West Virginia on Wednesday in their first game as an unranked team since the end of the 2018-19 season.

Baylor was in a school-record 65 consecutive polls until back-to-back home losses last week. The Bears lost 88-87 to TCU before K-State's overtime win in Tang's return to Waco, where he was on Scott Drew's staff the previous 19 seasons.

“Coach Tang has done a great job with their chemistry, their grit, their toughness,” Drew said.

The Wildcats, off to their best overall start since 1958-59, has 10 transfers and three freshmen. The only holdovers from last season are junior forward Ismael Massoud and senior guard Markquis Nowell, the Big 12 leader with 8.8 assists a game and seventh with 17.2 points.

Kansas State debuted just outside the top 10 in the same AP Top 25 that saw Iowa State made a 11-point jump from 25th. The Cyclones have won the two most-lopsided conference games so far, by 15 over Baylor on New Years' Eve and 84-50 over Texas Tech this week.

Big 12 coaches picked Iowa State to finish eighth, even after coach T.J. Otzelberger won 22 games and took the Cyclones to the Sweet 16 in his debut last season after inheriting a two-win team. Their starting lineup has a true freshman guard and four transfers.

The Cyclones play Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse, where Kansas (15-1) just overcame a 10-point deficit in the final five minutes for a 79-75 victory over Oklahoma.

“We told them before the game you might as well enjoy it because it is going to be a grind,” Jayhawks coach Bill Self said.

That describes just about every Big 12 game so far this season.

By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports WriterFrom top to bottom, the Big 12 hasn't started conference play like this in a decade.No. 11 Kansas State has already surpassed last season's overall win total and made an impressive Top 25 poll debut this week after being picked to finish last in the 10-team league with new coach Jerome Tang and a completely revamped roster.The Wildcats (15-1) have won their first four Big 12 games, just like defending national champion No. 2 Kansas and No. 14 Iowa State, which is surging again after a surprise run to the NCAA Sweet 16 last March.“I’m very thankful. I’ve been really blessed by God to have this opportunity,” Tang said after K-State beat Oklahoma State for its ninth win in a row before he praised his 15-player roster. “I know this is not about me.”The Big 12 is the only league in the county with half of its teams ranked, and every team still with a winning record. That is with previously ranked teams Texas Tech and West Virginia both 0-4 in the conference.“We’ve just got to go on a run here," Mountaineers coach Bob Huggins said. “And it’s not going to be easy.”The last time the Big 12 had multiple teams open league play 4-0 with multiple other teams 0-4 was 2012-13, the season it became a 10-school league. There is also a lot going on in between those two extremes.Texas (14-2, 3-1 Big 12), moving forward without fired coach Chris Beard, had its biggest comeback in 10 years by overcoming an 18-point deficit to beat TCU at home Wednesday night. The Horned Frogs (13-3, 2-2) had rallied from 17 down for a win at Baylor a week earlier."In the Big 12, we’re going to be in games like this all season long,” said Longhorns interim coach Rodney Terry, who is 7-1 since taking over the program when Beard was suspended after an arrest on a felony domestic violence charge before being fired last week.TCU, which last March got its first NCAA Tournament victory in 35 years, had an 11-game winning streak until Gabe Kalscheur's 3-pointer with 1.3 seconds left gave Iowa State a 69-67 win on Saturday.“In the second half, we’ve got to pick up our pace and show our will,” TCU guard Emanuel Miller said after the Texas loss. “We’ve got to know every possession matters. In this league, you mess up one possession, it can cost you the game.”Only six of the 20 conference games played so far have been decided by more than six points and home court hasn't been an advantage so far: Visiting teams have an 11-9 record.“It’s reality, we play in the toughest conference in college basketball. ... We have literally no off night," Oklahoma State senior forward Kalib Boone said.The Cowboys now go to preseason Big 12 favorite Baylor (11-5, 1-3), the national champion two seasons ago and two-time defending league champ. The Bears avoided an 0-4 start when freshman Keyonte George had 32 points in an 83-78 victory at West Virginia on Wednesday in their first game as an unranked team since the end of the 2018-19 season.Baylor was in a school-record 65 consecutive polls until back-to-back home losses last week. The Bears lost 88-87 to TCU before K-State's overtime win in Tang's return to Waco, where he was on Scott Drew's staff the previous 19 seasons.“Coach Tang has done a great job with their chemistry, their grit, their toughness,” Drew said.The Wildcats, off to their best overall start since 1958-59, has 10 transfers and three freshmen. The only holdovers from last season are junior forward Ismael Massoud and senior guard Markquis Nowell, the Big 12 leader with 8.8 assists a game and seventh with 17.2 points.Kansas State debuted just outside the top 10 in the same AP Top 25 that saw Iowa State made a 11-point jump from 25th. The Cyclones have won the two most-lopsided conference games so far, by 15 over Baylor on New Years' Eve and 84-50 over Texas Tech this week.Big 12 coaches picked Iowa State to finish eighth, even after coach T.J. Otzelberger won 22 games and took the Cyclones to the Sweet 16 in his debut last season after inheriting a two-win team. Their starting lineup has a true freshman guard and four transfers.The Cyclones play Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse, where Kansas (15-1) just overcame a 10-point deficit in the final five minutes for a 79-75 victory over Oklahoma.“We told them before the game you might as well enjoy it because it is going to be a grind,” Jayhawks coach Bill Self said.That describes just about every Big 12 game so far this season.

Big 12 hasn't had top-to-bottom start like this in a decade

Hoisington Boys 49 Halstead 42; Halstead Girls 39 Hoisington 24

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 </figure>Hoisington Boys 49 Halstead 42; Halstead Girls 39 Hoisington 24<div><iframe width="100%" height="265" src="https://clyp.it/budlb0ge/widget" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>

Patrick Mahomes is the graybeard of the quarterbacks in the AFC playoffs even though he's only 27 and wasn't even born yet when Tom Brady was a freshman at the University of Michigan in 1995.

With Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) out and Teddy Bridgewater, 30, also hurt, the Miami Dolphins are preparing rookie Skylar Thompson, 25, to start at Buffalo this weekend.

That would make Mahomes the oldest starting quarterback in the AFC field.

Mahomes said he certainly feels as if he's entered a new phase in which he's no longer the puerile passer who took the league by storm in 2018 when he threw for 50 touchdowns and was the league MVP in his first season as the Kansas City Chiefs' starter.

“Yeah, I feel like it’s changed. I have two kids now, I’m married. I’m kind of an old soul, so I am kind of the oldest — I am literally the oldest — quarterback in the AFC,” Mahomes said.

“It speaks to the talent that we have in the AFC and the guys that I’m looking around at are going to be there for the long time. So, I’ll be the old head in the AFC for a while now and I’ll try to use that experience to my advantage.”

Buffalo's Josh Allen and Cincinnati's Joe Burrow are both 26. Chargers QB Justin Herbert and Ravens QB Tyler Huntley, who's filling in for Lamar Jackson (knee), are both 24, and Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence is 23.

Not that he'll be reclining in a rocking chair, but Mahomes gets to sit out wild-card weekend after the Chiefs earned the top seed in the AFC for the third time in his five seasons as the starter.

If they win in the divisional round, the Chiefs would host the conference championship game for a record-extending fifth consecutive year so long as the opponent isn't the Bills (13-3), whose game at Cincinnati was canceled after safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on Jan 2.

If the Bills and Chiefs reach the AFC title game, it will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The league brokered the neutral site deal because Buffalo could have been the top seed with a victory over the Bengals.

It all starts Saturday when the Chargers (10-7) visit the Jaguars (9-8) for the playoff debuts of Herbert and Lawrence. On Sunday, the Dolphins (9-8) visit the Bills (13-3) and the Ravens (10-7) visit the Bengals (12-4).

1. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (14-3). Two Lombardi trophies in four Super Bowl appearances: lost to Packers 35-10 in Super Bowl 1, beat Vikings 23-7 in Super Bowl 4, beat 49ers 31-20 in Super Bowl 54, lost to Buccaneers 31-9 in Super Bowl 55. Last year: No. 2 seed, beat Steelers 42-21 in wild-card round, beat Bills 42-36 (OT) in divisional round, lost to Bengals 27-24 (OT) in AFC championship game. Eighth consecutive trip to the playoffs. Seventh consecutive AFC West title.

Plan the parade: Because of Patrick Mahomes. It’s the same reason as last year and the three years before, all of which ended in the AFC title game or beyond. He has never failed to advance past the divisional round as the full-time starter in Kansas City. Mahomes was better than ever this season despite losing Tyreek Hill in a trade with Miami. He threw for 5,250 yards to break his own franchise record along with a league-best 41 TD throws.

Hold the confetti: Turnovers, penalties and special teams. The Chiefs were minus-3 in turnover differential this season, putting them squarely in the bottom half of the league. They also were in the bottom half in penalty yards. And long a strong suit for Kansas City, special teams have been a headache. Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney have had trouble with fumbles on punt returns and Harrison Butker is a career-worst 18 of 24 on field-goal attempts with three missed PATs.

“We had a lot of close games this year where we had to step up, and guys had to step up, in big moments, and even though it doesn’t make it easy as a fan watching it, I think it shows that we have guys that will compete at the end of the games and make these plays to win football games." — Mahomes.

2. BUFFALO BILLS (13-3). No Lombardi trophies in four Super Bowl appearances: lost to Giants 20-19 in Super Bowl 25, lost to Washington 37-24 in Super Bowl 26, lost to Cowboys 52-17 in Super Bowl 27, lost to Cowboys 30-13 in Super Bowl 28. Last year: 11-6, No. 3 seed, beat Patriots 47-17 in wild-card round, lost to Chiefs 42-36 (OT) in divisional round. Third straight AFC East title.

Plan the parade: With Josh Allen at quarterback, any objective is achievable. Though he's thrown 14 interceptions, he’s also shown an ability to carry the Bills on his back. Buffalo is 8-3 when trailing at any juncture of a game this season after going 2-6 last year. The Bills' three losses have been decided by three points or fewer. The team is also battle-tested in having overcome much adversity in closing out the season winning seven straight and matching a single-season record for victories. The Bills have won despite having their schedule disrupted by two major winter storms, and they rallied to close the season by beating New England following an emotionally draining week following Hamlin's collapse at Cincinnati.

Cancel the confetti: Injuries are becoming an issue with the most notable to Von Miller, who significantly muscled up Buffalo’s middling pass rush before sustaining a season-ending knee injury in November. Miller was the missing piece on a defense that had trouble generating pressure at Kansas City in the playoffs last year. Buffalo’s secondary is also thin. Hamlin was starting in place of Micah Hyde, who has been sidelined by a neck injury since September. CB Tre’Davious White is gradually returning to form since being activated in November after missing a calendar year with a knee injury.

“I’m so proud of our organization, our team, just so many people, the way we’ve dealt with so much this year.” — GM Brandon Beane.

3. CINCINNATI BENGALS (12-4). No Lombardi trophies in three Super Bowl appearances: lost to 49ers 26-21 in Super Bowl 16, lost to 49ers 20-16 in Super Bowl 23, lost to Rams 23-20 in Super Bowl 56. Last year: 10-7, No. 4 seed, beat Raiders 26-19 in wild-card round, beat Titans 19-16 in divisional round, beat Chiefs 27-24 (OT) in AFC championship, lost to Rams 23-20 in Super Bowl 56. Second straight AFC North title.

Plan the parade: Third-year QB Joe Burrow has a knack for finding creative ways to win. He passed for 4,475 yards in 16 games and his 35 TDs tied him with Allen for second most in the league behind Mahomes’ 41. He has two 1,000-yard receivers in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins along with veteran Tyler Boyd and others who have stepped up big. The defense has outstanding edge rushers in Sam Hubbard and Trey Hendrickson along with run-stopping DT DJ Reader and a pair of versatile linebackers in Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt. The Bengals haven't lost since Oct. 31.

Cancel the confetti: RB Joe Mixon is tough in fighting for extra yards, but the Bengals running game hasn’t been a huge factor. He topped 100 yards just once this season. The Bengals will have to start backups in both offensive line positions on the right side after injuries to La’el Collins and Alex Cappa. The offense has shown a tendency to be flat for parts of some games. Depth in the secondary also has been an issue.

“We’ve adjusted to what teams are doing to us throughout the year. The beginning of the year was a lot of ups and downs. Then, as the season went on, we made some tweaks and adjustments that have been really good for us both in the run game and pass game, understanding how to win games.” — Burrow.

4. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (9-8). One of four teams with no Super Bowl appearances. Last year: 3-14, missed the playoffs. First playoff appearance since 2017, when they lost to the Patriots 24-20 in AFC championship game. Won AFC South in Doug Pederson's first season as head coach in Jacksonville.

Plan the parade: Trevor Lawrence is a rising star in a conference stacked with young, stellar quarterbacks. At 23, Lawrence is the youngest QB in the playoffs. He completed 66.3% of his passes for 4,113 yards, 25 TDs and eight INTs, in his second season. He also has five rushing scores. Fumbles have been his biggest issue — he has lost nine — but he’s clearly figuring out what it takes to get it done at the most important position in professional sports.

Cancel the confetti: Although Jacksonville’s defense has played well down the stretch, allowing a combined 22 points in victories over the Jets, Texans and Titans, that success came against a slew of bottom-tier QBs: Zach Wilson and Chris Streveler for the Jets; Davis Mills and Jeff Driskel for the Texans; and Joshua Dobbs for the Titans. The Jaguars’ pass rush has been mostly suspect against top-flight passers, although takeaways keep coming and LB Josh Allen is showing signs of becoming the dominant force the team expected when it drafted him seventh overall in 2019.

“We’re ready to take over. We’re not in this for no reason. We worked our butts off to get to this point.” — Allen.

5. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (10-7). No Lombardi trophies in one Super Bowl appearance: lost to 49ers 49-26 in Super Bowl 29. Last year: 9-8, missed the playoffs. First playoff appearance since 2018 when they beat Ravens 23-17 in wild-card round and lost to Patriots 41-28 in divisional round.

Plan the parade: After dealing with injuries for most of the season, the Chargers are finally healthy and playing their best football. Los Angeles has won four of its past five, the offense is showing a semblance of balance with more consistency in the run game and the defense has done a good job of generating pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Justin Herbert threw for at least 300 yards in every game this season.

Hold the confetti: Brandon Staley is going into his first playoffs as a head coach. He is one of the most aggressive coaches in the league, but this is the time of year when the wrong decision could have huge ramifications. The Chargers also have one of the worst run defenses in the league. They allowed 5.42 yards per carry, the worst average by any team since the 1970 merger, while 10 running backs had 100-yard games against the Chargers.

“I think that we have a team that is full of quality experiences, and it has been fun to watch this group take shape together to carve its own path here with the Chargers. We get a big opportunity on Saturday to really make our mark.” — Staley on not having a lot of playoff experience on his roster.

6. BALTIMORE RAVENS (10-7). Two Lombardi trophies in two appearances: beat Giants 34-7 in Super Bowl 35 and beat 49ers 34-31 in Super Bowl 47. Last year: 8-9, missed the playoffs. Fourth playoff appearance in five years.

Plan the parade: Since acquiring LB Roquan Smith in a trade, the Ravens are allowing just 14.7 points per game. If they can do that in the playoffs, they can hang with anyone, even if QB Lamar Jackson remains out because of his knee injury he sustained last month. RB J.K. Dobbins has looked refreshed and healthy since returning from injured reserve, averaging nearly 100 yards rushing in four outings. The Ravens also have one of the league’s great clutch performers in a close game in K Justin Tucker. And if Jackson can actually return at some point ...

Cancel the confetti: Jackson hasn’t even practiced since his injury in early December when he was tackled by Broncos OLB Jonathan Cooper, so expecting him to provide a major lift is fanciful at this point. Furthermore, QB2 Tyler Huntley hasn’t been totally healthy, either. The Ravens benefitted from a favorable schedule down the stretch and grinded out enough wins to make the playoffs, but asking their defense to dominate against a team such as the Bengals — and the perhaps the Chiefs or Bills later in the postseason — is a different thing entirely.

“This team has been through a lot. There’s been a lot of ups, there’s been a lot of downs, and one thing that we keep on doing is fighting.”—TE Mark Andrews.

7. MIAMI DOLPHINS (9-8). Two Lombardi trophies in five appearances: lost to Cowboys 24-3 in Super Bowl 6, beat Washington 14-7 in Super Bowl 7, beat Vikings 24-7 in Super Bowl 8, lost to Washington 27-17 in Super Bowl 17, lost to 49ers 38-16 in Super Bowl 19.

Plan the parade: The speed of WRs Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle has given defenses fits all season, and Miami’s timing-based offense is at its best when those two find openings over the middle of the field. Hill was second in yards (1,710) and receptions (119) during the regular season and has the playoff experience to help carry Miami’s passing game. Waddle was seventh with 1,356 yards.

Hold the confetti: Injuries. The O-line is banged up, and the QB situation seems ever-changing. Tagovailoa was among the NFL’s highest-rated passers all season, but he hasn’t been cleared to return to football activities yet after being diagnosed with a concussion and it’s unclear when the Dolphins will see him back on the field. While Thompson did just enough to lead the Dolphins to a playoff-clinching win over the Jets, Miami’s offense, which was waning even with Tagovailoa toward the end of the season, is severely limited without him.

“There’s still confidence in this team, confidence in this whole building. I feel like you never lose that as a competitor." — Hill.

Patrick Mahomes is the graybeard of the quarterbacks in the AFC playoffs even though he's only 27 and wasn't even born yet when Tom Brady was a freshman at the University of Michigan in 1995.With Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) out and Teddy Bridgewater, 30, also hurt, the Miami Dolphins are preparing rookie Skylar Thompson, 25, to start at Buffalo this weekend.That would make Mahomes the oldest starting quarterback in the AFC field.Mahomes said he certainly feels as if he's entered a new phase in which he's no longer the puerile passer who took the league by storm in 2018 when he threw for 50 touchdowns and was the league MVP in his first season as the Kansas City Chiefs' starter.“Yeah, I feel like it’s changed. I have two kids now, I’m married. I’m kind of an old soul, so I am kind of the oldest — I am literally the oldest — quarterback in the AFC,” Mahomes said.“It speaks to the talent that we have in the AFC and the guys that I’m looking around at are going to be there for the long time. So, I’ll be the old head in the AFC for a while now and I’ll try to use that experience to my advantage.”Buffalo's Josh Allen and Cincinnati's Joe Burrow are both 26. Chargers QB Justin Herbert and Ravens QB Tyler Huntley, who's filling in for Lamar Jackson (knee), are both 24, and Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence is 23.Not that he'll be reclining in a rocking chair, but Mahomes gets to sit out wild-card weekend after the Chiefs earned the top seed in the AFC for the third time in his five seasons as the starter.If they win in the divisional round, the Chiefs would host the conference championship game for a record-extending fifth consecutive year so long as the opponent isn't the Bills (13-3), whose game at Cincinnati was canceled after safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on Jan 2.If the Bills and Chiefs reach the AFC title game, it will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The league brokered the neutral site deal because Buffalo could have been the top seed with a victory over the Bengals.It all starts Saturday when the Chargers (10-7) visit the Jaguars (9-8) for the playoff debuts of Herbert and Lawrence. On Sunday, the Dolphins (9-8) visit the Bills (13-3) and the Ravens (10-7) visit the Bengals (12-4).1. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (14-3). Two Lombardi trophies in four Super Bowl appearances: lost to Packers 35-10 in Super Bowl 1, beat Vikings 23-7 in Super Bowl 4, beat 49ers 31-20 in Super Bowl 54, lost to Buccaneers 31-9 in Super Bowl 55. Last year: No. 2 seed, beat Steelers 42-21 in wild-card round, beat Bills 42-36 (OT) in divisional round, lost to Bengals 27-24 (OT) in AFC championship game. Eighth consecutive trip to the playoffs. Seventh consecutive AFC West title.Plan the parade: Because of Patrick Mahomes. It’s the same reason as last year and the three years before, all of which ended in the AFC title game or beyond. He has never failed to advance past the divisional round as the full-time starter in Kansas City. Mahomes was better than ever this season despite losing Tyreek Hill in a trade with Miami. He threw for 5,250 yards to break his own franchise record along with a league-best 41 TD throws.Hold the confetti: Turnovers, penalties and special teams. The Chiefs were minus-3 in turnover differential this season, putting them squarely in the bottom half of the league. They also were in the bottom half in penalty yards. And long a strong suit for Kansas City, special teams have been a headache. Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney have had trouble with fumbles on punt returns and Harrison Butker is a career-worst 18 of 24 on field-goal attempts with three missed PATs.“We had a lot of close games this year where we had to step up, and guys had to step up, in big moments, and even though it doesn’t make it easy as a fan watching it, I think it shows that we have guys that will compete at the end of the games and make these plays to win football games." — Mahomes.2. BUFFALO BILLS (13-3). No Lombardi trophies in four Super Bowl appearances: lost to Giants 20-19 in Super Bowl 25, lost to Washington 37-24 in Super Bowl 26, lost to Cowboys 52-17 in Super Bowl 27, lost to Cowboys 30-13 in Super Bowl 28. Last year: 11-6, No. 3 seed, beat Patriots 47-17 in wild-card round, lost to Chiefs 42-36 (OT) in divisional round. Third straight AFC East title.Plan the parade: With Josh Allen at quarterback, any objective is achievable. Though he's thrown 14 interceptions, he’s also shown an ability to carry the Bills on his back. Buffalo is 8-3 when trailing at any juncture of a game this season after going 2-6 last year. The Bills' three losses have been decided by three points or fewer. The team is also battle-tested in having overcome much adversity in closing out the season winning seven straight and matching a single-season record for victories. The Bills have won despite having their schedule disrupted by two major winter storms, and they rallied to close the season by beating New England following an emotionally draining week following Hamlin's collapse at Cincinnati.Cancel the confetti: Injuries are becoming an issue with the most notable to Von Miller, who significantly muscled up Buffalo’s middling pass rush before sustaining a season-ending knee injury in November. Miller was the missing piece on a defense that had trouble generating pressure at Kansas City in the playoffs last year. Buffalo’s secondary is also thin. Hamlin was starting in place of Micah Hyde, who has been sidelined by a neck injury since September. CB Tre’Davious White is gradually returning to form since being activated in November after missing a calendar year with a knee injury.“I’m so proud of our organization, our team, just so many people, the way we’ve dealt with so much this year.” — GM Brandon Beane.3. CINCINNATI BENGALS (12-4). No Lombardi trophies in three Super Bowl appearances: lost to 49ers 26-21 in Super Bowl 16, lost to 49ers 20-16 in Super Bowl 23, lost to Rams 23-20 in Super Bowl 56. Last year: 10-7, No. 4 seed, beat Raiders 26-19 in wild-card round, beat Titans 19-16 in divisional round, beat Chiefs 27-24 (OT) in AFC championship, lost to Rams 23-20 in Super Bowl 56. Second straight AFC North title.Plan the parade: Third-year QB Joe Burrow has a knack for finding creative ways to win. He passed for 4,475 yards in 16 games and his 35 TDs tied him with Allen for second most in the league behind Mahomes’ 41. He has two 1,000-yard receivers in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins along with veteran Tyler Boyd and others who have stepped up big. The defense has outstanding edge rushers in Sam Hubbard and Trey Hendrickson along with run-stopping DT DJ Reader and a pair of versatile linebackers in Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt. The Bengals haven't lost since Oct. 31.Cancel the confetti: RB Joe Mixon is tough in fighting for extra yards, but the Bengals running game hasn’t been a huge factor. He topped 100 yards just once this season. The Bengals will have to start backups in both offensive line positions on the right side after injuries to La’el Collins and Alex Cappa. The offense has shown a tendency to be flat for parts of some games. Depth in the secondary also has been an issue.“We’ve adjusted to what teams are doing to us throughout the year. The beginning of the year was a lot of ups and downs. Then, as the season went on, we made some tweaks and adjustments that have been really good for us both in the run game and pass game, understanding how to win games.” — Burrow.4. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (9-8). One of four teams with no Super Bowl appearances. Last year: 3-14, missed the playoffs. First playoff appearance since 2017, when they lost to the Patriots 24-20 in AFC championship game. Won AFC South in Doug Pederson's first season as head coach in Jacksonville.Plan the parade: Trevor Lawrence is a rising star in a conference stacked with young, stellar quarterbacks. At 23, Lawrence is the youngest QB in the playoffs. He completed 66.3% of his passes for 4,113 yards, 25 TDs and eight INTs, in his second season. He also has five rushing scores. Fumbles have been his biggest issue — he has lost nine — but he’s clearly figuring out what it takes to get it done at the most important position in professional sports.Cancel the confetti: Although Jacksonville’s defense has played well down the stretch, allowing a combined 22 points in victories over the Jets, Texans and Titans, that success came against a slew of bottom-tier QBs: Zach Wilson and Chris Streveler for the Jets; Davis Mills and Jeff Driskel for the Texans; and Joshua Dobbs for the Titans. The Jaguars’ pass rush has been mostly suspect against top-flight passers, although takeaways keep coming and LB Josh Allen is showing signs of becoming the dominant force the team expected when it drafted him seventh overall in 2019.“We’re ready to take over. We’re not in this for no reason. We worked our butts off to get to this point.” — Allen.5. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (10-7). No Lombardi trophies in one Super Bowl appearance: lost to 49ers 49-26 in Super Bowl 29. Last year: 9-8, missed the playoffs. First playoff appearance since 2018 when they beat Ravens 23-17 in wild-card round and lost to Patriots 41-28 in divisional round.Plan the parade: After dealing with injuries for most of the season, the Chargers are finally healthy and playing their best football. Los Angeles has won four of its past five, the offense is showing a semblance of balance with more consistency in the run game and the defense has done a good job of generating pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Justin Herbert threw for at least 300 yards in every game this season.Hold the confetti: Brandon Staley is going into his first playoffs as a head coach. He is one of the most aggressive coaches in the league, but this is the time of year when the wrong decision could have huge ramifications. The Chargers also have one of the worst run defenses in the league. They allowed 5.42 yards per carry, the worst average by any team since the 1970 merger, while 10 running backs had 100-yard games against the Chargers.“I think that we have a team that is full of quality experiences, and it has been fun to watch this group take shape together to carve its own path here with the Chargers. We get a big opportunity on Saturday to really make our mark.” — Staley on not having a lot of playoff experience on his roster.6. BALTIMORE RAVENS (10-7). Two Lombardi trophies in two appearances: beat Giants 34-7 in Super Bowl 35 and beat 49ers 34-31 in Super Bowl 47. Last year: 8-9, missed the playoffs. Fourth playoff appearance in five years.Plan the parade: Since acquiring LB Roquan Smith in a trade, the Ravens are allowing just 14.7 points per game. If they can do that in the playoffs, they can hang with anyone, even if QB Lamar Jackson remains out because of his knee injury he sustained last month. RB J.K. Dobbins has looked refreshed and healthy since returning from injured reserve, averaging nearly 100 yards rushing in four outings. The Ravens also have one of the league’s great clutch performers in a close game in K Justin Tucker. And if Jackson can actually return at some point ...Cancel the confetti: Jackson hasn’t even practiced since his injury in early December when he was tackled by Broncos OLB Jonathan Cooper, so expecting him to provide a major lift is fanciful at this point. Furthermore, QB2 Tyler Huntley hasn’t been totally healthy, either. The Ravens benefitted from a favorable schedule down the stretch and grinded out enough wins to make the playoffs, but asking their defense to dominate against a team such as the Bengals — and the perhaps the Chiefs or Bills later in the postseason — is a different thing entirely.“This team has been through a lot. There’s been a lot of ups, there’s been a lot of downs, and one thing that we keep on doing is fighting.”—TE Mark Andrews.7. MIAMI DOLPHINS (9-8). Two Lombardi trophies in five appearances: lost to Cowboys 24-3 in Super Bowl 6, beat Washington 14-7 in Super Bowl 7, beat Vikings 24-7 in Super Bowl 8, lost to Washington 27-17 in Super Bowl 17, lost to 49ers 38-16 in Super Bowl 19.Plan the parade: The speed of WRs Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle has given defenses fits all season, and Miami’s timing-based offense is at its best when those two find openings over the middle of the field. Hill was second in yards (1,710) and receptions (119) during the regular season and has the playoff experience to help carry Miami’s passing game. Waddle was seventh with 1,356 yards.Hold the confetti: Injuries. The O-line is banged up, and the QB situation seems ever-changing. Tagovailoa was among the NFL’s highest-rated passers all season, but he hasn’t been cleared to return to football activities yet after being diagnosed with a concussion and it’s unclear when the Dolphins will see him back on the field. While Thompson did just enough to lead the Dolphins to a playoff-clinching win over the Jets, Miami’s offense, which was waning even with Tagovailoa toward the end of the season, is severely limited without him.“There’s still confidence in this team, confidence in this whole building. I feel like you never lose that as a competitor." — Hill.

Chiefs top seed in AFC, but title game could be in Atlanta-AFC Playoff Preview

Western Athletic Conference Great Bend @ Hutchinson Liberal @ Dodge City Garden City @ Hays

Central Kansas League Friday Larned @ Smoky Valley Hillsboro @ Pratt Hesston @ Lyons Nickerson @ Haven

Central Prairie League Ellinwood @ Macksville Central Plains @ Victoria Otis-Bison @ LaCrosse Cimarron @ St. John Kiowa County @ Kinsley

Other Area Games Central Christian @ Stafford Ellsworth @ Sacred Heart Ellis @ TMP Sterling @ Hutch-Trinity Ingalls @ Hodgeman County Little River @ Rural Vista

Western Athletic Conference Great Bend @ Hutchinson Liberal @ Dodge City Garden City @ HaysCentral Kansas League Friday Larned @ Smoky Valley Hillsboro @ Pratt Hesston @ Lyons Nickerson @ HavenCentral Prairie League Ellinwood @ Macksville Central Plains @ Victoria Otis-Bison @ LaCrosse Cimarron @ St. John Kiowa County @ KinsleyOther Area Games Central Christian @ Stafford Ellsworth @ Sacred Heart Ellis @ TMP Sterling @ Hutch-Trinity Ingalls @ Hodgeman County Little River @ Rural Vista

Friday Area Basketball Schedule

The Kansas City
Chiefs earned the AFC's top seed for the third time in Patrick
Mahomes' five seasons as their starting quarterback. Even if they win
in the divisional round as they've done every year under Mahomes, the
Chiefs would only get to host another AFC championship game if it's
not against the Buffalo Bills. The NFL decided that if it's a
Chiefs-Bills matchup, that title game will be played in Atlanta.
That's because the Bills' game at Cincinnati was canceled following
Damar Hamlin's medical emergency on Jan. 2. The Bills could have
secured the No. 1 seed by beating the Bengals.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs will have a familiar route through
the playoffs no matter what direction it goes. In the divisional
round, the Chiefs could face former Andy Reid assistants now leading
the Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens, an AFC West rival in
the Los Angeles Chargers or longtime star Tyreek Hill with his new
team, the Miami Dolphins. And in a potential AFC title game, the
Chiefs would face the Bills in a rematch of two years ago or the
Bengals in a rematch of last year. Kansas City also played Buffalo in
last year's divisional round in an epic overtime thriller before
losing to Cincinnati in overtime with a spot in the Super Bowl on the
line.

OWINGS MILLS, Md.
(AP) — The Baltimore Ravens are still practicing without Lamar
Jackson. But Thursday did include one significant development. There
was an update from the star quarterback’s Twitter account. Jackson
tweeted that he's suffered a grade 2 PCL sprain. He says there's
still inflammation surrounding his knee and his knee remains
unstable. Jackson hasn’t practiced since injuring his knee in a
Dec. 4 win over Denver. He missed the final five games of the regular
season. Now the Ravens face the prospect of playing their postseason
opener at Cincinnati without him Sunday night.

FRISCO, Texas (AP) —
Ezekiel Elliott is no longer the lead running back for the Dallas
Cowboys. The two-time rushing champ shares the backfield role with
Tony Pollard. The understudy is the team's leading rusher going into
a wild-card playoff game at Tampa Bay on Monday night. Elliott's
teammates and coaches grade his value on a scale beyond production on
the field. Quarterback Dak Prescott is the leader among Elliott's
supporters. They've been the face of the Dallas offense since their
remarkable rookie season together in 2016.

LAS VEGAS (AP) —
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr posted on Twitter that he is
ready for the challenge of playing in a new city. Those were his
first public comments since being benched by coach Josh McDaniels
with two weeks left in the season. Carr was the Raiders QB for nine
seasons. He owns multiple team records, including most career passing
yards with 35,222 and passing touchdowns with 217. The Raiders have
until Feb. 15 to release Carr or his $32.9 million salary for 2023
will be guaranteed.

UNDATED (AP) — Big
12 men's basketball is off to roaring start. No. 11 Kansas State has
already surpassed last season's overall win total at 15-1 and is 4-0
in conference play along with No. 2 Kansas and No. 14 Iowa State.
That comes as Texas Tech and West Virginia have lost their first four
conference games. The last time the Big 12 had multiple teams open
league play 4-0 with multiple other teams going 0-4 was 2012-13. The
Big 12 is still the only league in the county with half of its teams
ranked, and every team still has a winning record.

UNDATED (AP) —
Derek Mason announced on social media that he is stepping down as
Oklahoma State's defensive coordinator and taking a sabbatical from
coaching football. Mason took over this past season after Jim Knowles
took the same position at Ohio State. Under Mason, Oklahoma State
allowed 28.9 points per game, fifth in the Big 12, and surrendered
435.7 yards per game, eighth in the 10-team conference. Mason joined
the staff this season after being defensive coordinator at Auburn in
2021. He was the head coach at Vanderbilt from 2014-2020 and was
defensive coordinator at Stanford before that.

UNDATED (AP) —
Clemson is working to hire TCU assistant Garrett Riley as its next
offensive coordinator, a person with knowledge of the decision told
The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity
because a deal was being finalized and still needed approval from the
school’s Board of Trustees. The board’s compensation committee
had a meeting scheduled for Friday with a lone action item on the
agenda: Football assistant coach contract. Tigers coach Dabo Swinney
announced earlier that offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter would
not return to the coaching staff. Streeter is a longtime member of
Swinney’s staff who was promoted to offensive coordinator after
last season.

NEW YORK (AP) —
Trevor Bauer was released by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who cut ties
after the pitcher’s unprecedented 324-game suspension over sexual
misconduct allegations was reduced by an arbitrator. Los Angeles
designated Bauer for assignment on Jan. 6, the last day to restore
him to the roster, after arbitrator Martin Scheinman cut the
suspension imposed by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred to 194 games.
The Dodgers placed the pitcher on waivers Thursday and any team can
claim Bauer by Friday. Bauer is owed about $22.5 million from the
remainder of his $102 million, three-year contract, making a waiver
claim unlikely.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) —
At the NCAA convention, outgoing President Mark Emmert said goodbye,
incoming President Charlie Baker introduced himself and the state of
college sports was declared unstable. Baylor President Linda
Livingstone says college sports is "both thriving and
threatened.” Livingstone is chairwoman of the NCAA’s Board of
Governors. Earlier in the day the Division I Board Division I Board
of Directors approved a host of recommendations intended to reform
the top-tier of college sports, from membership standards to the size
of championship brackets. But Livingstone re-iterated federal
intervention is needed to help preserve college sports.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) —
Former Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines led a group of about two dozen
demonstrators outside the NCAA convention. They were protesting the
inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports. They also
threatened the NCAA with legal action if it doesn’t change its
policies. Gaines competed in last year’s NCAA swimming and diving
championships against Penn’s Lia Thomas, who became first
transgender woman to win a national title. Eighteen states have
passed laws banning transgender athletes from participating on girls'
or women's sports teams.

Final	Oklahoma
City	133	Philadelphia	114	

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672310479832.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas City
Chiefs earned the AFC's top seed for the third time in Patrick
Mahomes' five seasons as their starting quarterback. Even if they win
in the divisional round as they've done every year under Mahomes, the
Chiefs would only get to host another AFC championship game if it's
not against the Buffalo Bills. The NFL decided that if it's a
Chiefs-Bills matchup, that title game will be played in Atlanta.
That's because the Bills' game at Cincinnati was canceled following
Damar Hamlin's medical emergency on Jan. 2. The Bills could have
secured the No. 1 seed by beating the Bengals.KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs will have a familiar route through
the playoffs no matter what direction it goes. In the divisional
round, the Chiefs could face former Andy Reid assistants now leading
the Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens, an AFC West rival in
the Los Angeles Chargers or longtime star Tyreek Hill with his new
team, the Miami Dolphins. And in a potential AFC title game, the
Chiefs would face the Bills in a rematch of two years ago or the
Bengals in a rematch of last year. Kansas City also played Buffalo in
last year's divisional round in an epic overtime thriller before
losing to Cincinnati in overtime with a spot in the Super Bowl on the
line.OWINGS MILLS, Md.
(AP) — The Baltimore Ravens are still practicing without Lamar
Jackson. But Thursday did include one significant development. There
was an update from the star quarterback’s Twitter account. Jackson
tweeted that he's suffered a grade 2 PCL sprain. He says there's
still inflammation surrounding his knee and his knee remains
unstable. Jackson hasn’t practiced since injuring his knee in a
Dec. 4 win over Denver. He missed the final five games of the regular
season. Now the Ravens face the prospect of playing their postseason
opener at Cincinnati without him Sunday night.FRISCO, Texas (AP) —
Ezekiel Elliott is no longer the lead running back for the Dallas
Cowboys. The two-time rushing champ shares the backfield role with
Tony Pollard. The understudy is the team's leading rusher going into
a wild-card playoff game at Tampa Bay on Monday night. Elliott's
teammates and coaches grade his value on a scale beyond production on
the field. Quarterback Dak Prescott is the leader among Elliott's
supporters. They've been the face of the Dallas offense since their
remarkable rookie season together in 2016.LAS VEGAS (AP) —
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr posted on Twitter that he is
ready for the challenge of playing in a new city. Those were his
first public comments since being benched by coach Josh McDaniels
with two weeks left in the season. Carr was the Raiders QB for nine
seasons. He owns multiple team records, including most career passing
yards with 35,222 and passing touchdowns with 217. The Raiders have
until Feb. 15 to release Carr or his $32.9 million salary for 2023
will be guaranteed.UNDATED (AP) — Big
12 men's basketball is off to roaring start. No. 11 Kansas State has
already surpassed last season's overall win total at 15-1 and is 4-0
in conference play along with No. 2 Kansas and No. 14 Iowa State.
That comes as Texas Tech and West Virginia have lost their first four
conference games. The last time the Big 12 had multiple teams open
league play 4-0 with multiple other teams going 0-4 was 2012-13. The
Big 12 is still the only league in the county with half of its teams
ranked, and every team still has a winning record.UNDATED (AP) —
Derek Mason announced on social media that he is stepping down as
Oklahoma State's defensive coordinator and taking a sabbatical from
coaching football. Mason took over this past season after Jim Knowles
took the same position at Ohio State. Under Mason, Oklahoma State
allowed 28.9 points per game, fifth in the Big 12, and surrendered
435.7 yards per game, eighth in the 10-team conference. Mason joined
the staff this season after being defensive coordinator at Auburn in
2021. He was the head coach at Vanderbilt from 2014-2020 and was
defensive coordinator at Stanford before that.UNDATED (AP) —
Clemson is working to hire TCU assistant Garrett Riley as its next
offensive coordinator, a person with knowledge of the decision told
The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity
because a deal was being finalized and still needed approval from the
school’s Board of Trustees. The board’s compensation committee
had a meeting scheduled for Friday with a lone action item on the
agenda: Football assistant coach contract. Tigers coach Dabo Swinney
announced earlier that offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter would
not return to the coaching staff. Streeter is a longtime member of
Swinney’s staff who was promoted to offensive coordinator after
last season.NEW YORK (AP) —
Trevor Bauer was released by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who cut ties
after the pitcher’s unprecedented 324-game suspension over sexual
misconduct allegations was reduced by an arbitrator. Los Angeles
designated Bauer for assignment on Jan. 6, the last day to restore
him to the roster, after arbitrator Martin Scheinman cut the
suspension imposed by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred to 194 games.
The Dodgers placed the pitcher on waivers Thursday and any team can
claim Bauer by Friday. Bauer is owed about $22.5 million from the
remainder of his $102 million, three-year contract, making a waiver
claim unlikely.SAN ANTONIO (AP) —
At the NCAA convention, outgoing President Mark Emmert said goodbye,
incoming President Charlie Baker introduced himself and the state of
college sports was declared unstable. Baylor President Linda
Livingstone says college sports is "both thriving and
threatened.” Livingstone is chairwoman of the NCAA’s Board of
Governors. Earlier in the day the Division I Board Division I Board
of Directors approved a host of recommendations intended to reform
the top-tier of college sports, from membership standards to the size
of championship brackets. But Livingstone re-iterated federal
intervention is needed to help preserve college sports.SAN ANTONIO (AP) —
Former Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines led a group of about two dozen
demonstrators outside the NCAA convention. They were protesting the
inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports. They also
threatened the NCAA with legal action if it doesn’t change its
policies. Gaines competed in last year’s NCAA swimming and diving
championships against Penn’s Lia Thomas, who became first
transgender woman to win a national title. Eighteen states have
passed laws banning transgender athletes from participating on girls'
or women's sports teams.THURSDAY SCORESTOP-25 COLLEGE
BASKETBALLFinal	(7)UCLA	68	Utah	49	Final	(8)Gonzaga	75	BYU	74	Final	(9)Arizona	86	Oregon
St.	74	NATIONAL
BASKETBALL ASSOCIATIONFinal	Oklahoma
City	133	Philadelphia	114	Final	Miami	108	Milwaukee	102	Final	Boston	109	Brooklyn	98	Final	Toronto	124	Charlotte	114	Final	Cleveland	119	Portland	113	Final
2OT	Dallas	119	L.A. Lakers	115	NATIONAL HOCKEY
LEAGUEFinal	Seattle	3	Boston	0	Final	Detroit	4	Toronto	1	Final OT	N-Y
Rangers	2	Dallas	1	Final	Winnipeg	4	Buffalo	2	Final	Carolina	6	Columbus	2	Final	Montreal	4	Nashville	3	Final	Tampa
Bay	5	Vancouver	4	Final	Minnesota	3	N-Y
Islanders	1	Final	Calgary	4	St.
Louis	1	Final	Chicago	3	Colorado	2	Final	Ottawa	5	Arizona	3	Final	Vegas	4	Florida	2

Friday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

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