<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640113791941.jpeg" alt="Rankings 12/20/22" />
 <figcaption>Rankings 12/20/22</figcaption>
 </figure>BOYS
RANKINGS6A
Boys
1 Olathe West
2 Blue Valley North
3 Wichita Heights
4 Lawrence
5 Blue Valley Northwest
6 Derby
7 Olathe North
8 Lawrence Free State9
Garden City
10 Shawnee Mission East 5A
Boys
1 Maize South
2 Highland Park
3 Kapaun Mt. Carmel
4 Hutchinson
5 St. James Academy
6 De Soto
7 Topeka West
8 Andover Central
9 Andover
10 Bonner Springs4A
Boys
1 McPherson
2 Bishop Miege
3 Topeka-Hayden
4 Towanda-Circle
5 Atchison
6 Eudora
7 Wamego
8 Wellington
9 Baldwin
10 Chanute3A
Boys
1 Sabetha
2 Southeast of Saline
3 Hesston
4 Osage City
5 Haven
6 Wichita Collegiate
7 Cheney
8 Galena
9 Humboldt
10 Marysville2A
Boys
1 Wichita Independent2
Hays-Thomas More Prep
3 Inman4
Ellinwood
5 Lyndon
6 Moundridge7
Sterling
8 Chase County
9 Bennington
10 Wichita County 1A-Div
1-Boys
1 Olpe
2 Centralia
3 Burlingame4
Macksville
5 Clifton-Clyde
6 Madison-Hamilton
7 Wichita Classical School
8 Norwich
9 McPherson-Elyria Christian
10 Randolph-Blue Valley 1A-Div
2-Boys
1 Greeley County2
Pawnee Heights
3 Northern Valley
4 Hanover
5 Cunningham
6 Coldwater-South Central
7 Axtell
8 Lebo
9 Bucklin
10 Logan-PalcoGIRLS
RANKINGS6A
Girls
1 Blue Valley North
2 Olathe North
3 Shawnee Mission South4
Liberal
5 Blue Valley
6 Topeka High
7 Washburn Rural
8 Derby
9 Wichita Heights
10 Lawrence5A
Girls
1 St. Thomas Aquinas
2 Topeka Seaman
3 Emporia
4 Bishop Carroll
5 Hutchinson
6 St. James Academy
7 Andover8
Hays
9 De Soto
10 Goddard Eisenhower4A
Girls
1 Bishop Miege
2 Wamego
3 Wellington
4 McPherson
5 St. George-Rock Creek
6 Louisburg
7 Andale
8 Ft. Scott
9 Independence
10 Hugoton3A
Girls
1 Goodland
2 Silver Lake
3 Phillipsburg
4 Nemaha Central
5 Southeast of Saline
6 Cheney
7 Eureka
8 Haven
9 Rossville
10 Cimarron2A
Girls
1 Elbing- Berean Academy
2 Jackson Heights
3 St. Mary's Colgan
4 Smith Center
5 Hillsboro
6 Garden Plain
7 Remington
8 Hoxie
9 The Independent
10 Riverside1A-Div
1-Girls1
Little River
2 Osborne
3 Pretty Prairie
4 Clifton-Clyde
5 Madison-Hamilton
6 Centralia
7 Burlingame
8 Frankfort9
Hodgeman County10
Central Plains 1A-Div
2- Girls
1 Hanover
2 Lebo
3 Hutchinson - Central
Christian
4 Ashland
5 Attica
6 Rexford-Golden Plains
7 Kensington-Thunder Ridge
8 Bucklin9
Wilson
10 Linn

KBCA High School Basketball Rankings - 12/20/22

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero had a shot at a two-game tryout.

A chance to get a feel for the job of head coach, even if it was on an interim basis.

He turned it down. He will wait for another opportunity. Maybe with Denver through its hiring process. Maybe with another team.

Just not this time, following the dismissal of Evero’s good friend and first-time head coach Nathaniel Hackett. Evero will remain in charge of one of the league’s top defenses. It’s how he feels he can best help the team as interim coach Jerry Rosburg — hired in September to help Hackett with game-management duties — runs the show for the rest of the season.

“I don’t want to get into too much of the details,” Evero said when asked why he passed on the opportunity. “We just all agreed that the best thing for this team moving forward was for me to continue to work with the defense. I’m fully invested there. I think that’s where I could have the best value for this team.”

He and the Broncos have their hands full trying to stop Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs (12-3) on Sunday. The Chiefs have won 14 straight over the Broncos (4-11).

“He’s a hell of a player,” Evero said of Mahomes, who threw three touchdown passes and three interceptions in Kansas City’s 34-28 win at Denver in Week 14.

Evero described the aftermath of Hackett’s firing on Monday as “hard.” They’ve long been good friends and were teammates in college at UC Davis. Hackett’s tenure with Denver lasted 15 games as the offense sputtered under quarterback Russell Wilson.

“I hold him in high regard,” Evero said of Hackett. “I thought he did a great job here. There’s a lot of adverse situations and things that didn’t work our way. But at the end of the day, this is what we signed up for, and we have to live with these consequences when we have these type of results. But there are very few people — aside from my wife — in this world that I respect more.”

“My feeling is if that had happened to me with another close friend of mine in my career, I hope I would have done the same thing,” Rosburg said. “But it’s not an easy thing to do. I think he should be recognized for the magnanimous act that he did. Frankly, there are a lot of people who want to be standing up here. He’s highly qualified and he deserved the opportunity to say, ‘Yes.’ He chose to say, ‘No.’”

Should Evero ever need a glowing reference, just find safety Justin Simmons. He believes Evero will be a strong head coaching candidate.

“One of the brightest minds I’ve been around and one of the best leaders,” Simmons said. “I think he would be at the top of the list for that.”

Evero’s defense has been a bright spot even though the Broncos will miss the playoffs for a seventh straight time. It wasn’t pretty last week, though, when Baker Mayfield and the Los Angeles Rams carved it up for 388 yards on their way to a 51-14 win.

“That’s not what any of us expected,” said Evero, who was the secondary/pass game coordinator for the Rams last season when they won the Super Bowl. “We can’t take it back now.”

NOTES: The Broncos practiced Thursday in pads and on a field that had been cleared of about a foot of snow. “I used to work road construction — this is better,” Rosburg said of being a coach. ... Rosburg didn’t disclose who would be calling the offensive plays. “Maybe I’ll call a play or two, to enhance my resume,” Rosburg cracked. ... Among those who didn’t practice Thursday were TE Greg Dulcich (hamstring) and OLB Randy Gregory (knee). WR Jerry Jeudy (ankle) was limited. ... Jeudy defended Wilson having an office in a post on social media. “I’m just tired of reading things about my boy and making it seem like, ‘Oh, he’s not a good teammate,’” Jeudy explained after practice.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero had a shot at a two-game tryout.A chance to get a feel for the job of head coach, even if it was on an interim basis.He turned it down. He will wait for another opportunity. Maybe with Denver through its hiring process. Maybe with another team.Just not this time, following the dismissal of Evero’s good friend and first-time head coach Nathaniel Hackett. Evero will remain in charge of one of the league’s top defenses. It’s how he feels he can best help the team as interim coach Jerry Rosburg — hired in September to help Hackett with game-management duties — runs the show for the rest of the season.“I don’t want to get into too much of the details,” Evero said when asked why he passed on the opportunity. “We just all agreed that the best thing for this team moving forward was for me to continue to work with the defense. I’m fully invested there. I think that’s where I could have the best value for this team.”He and the Broncos have their hands full trying to stop Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs (12-3) on Sunday. The Chiefs have won 14 straight over the Broncos (4-11).“He’s a hell of a player,” Evero said of Mahomes, who threw three touchdown passes and three interceptions in Kansas City’s 34-28 win at Denver in Week 14.Evero described the aftermath of Hackett’s firing on Monday as “hard.” They’ve long been good friends and were teammates in college at UC Davis. Hackett’s tenure with Denver lasted 15 games as the offense sputtered under quarterback Russell Wilson.“I hold him in high regard,” Evero said of Hackett. “I thought he did a great job here. There’s a lot of adverse situations and things that didn’t work our way. But at the end of the day, this is what we signed up for, and we have to live with these consequences when we have these type of results. But there are very few people — aside from my wife — in this world that I respect more.”Rosburg respected Evero’s decision.“My feeling is if that had happened to me with another close friend of mine in my career, I hope I would have done the same thing,” Rosburg said. “But it’s not an easy thing to do. I think he should be recognized for the magnanimous act that he did. Frankly, there are a lot of people who want to be standing up here. He’s highly qualified and he deserved the opportunity to say, ‘Yes.’ He chose to say, ‘No.’”Should Evero ever need a glowing reference, just find safety Justin Simmons. He believes Evero will be a strong head coaching candidate.“One of the brightest minds I’ve been around and one of the best leaders,” Simmons said. “I think he would be at the top of the list for that.”Evero’s defense has been a bright spot even though the Broncos will miss the playoffs for a seventh straight time. It wasn’t pretty last week, though, when Baker Mayfield and the Los Angeles Rams carved it up for 388 yards on their way to a 51-14 win.“That’s not what any of us expected,” said Evero, who was the secondary/pass game coordinator for the Rams last season when they won the Super Bowl. “We can’t take it back now.”NOTES: The Broncos practiced Thursday in pads and on a field that had been cleared of about a foot of snow. “I used to work road construction — this is better,” Rosburg said of being a coach. ... Rosburg didn’t disclose who would be calling the offensive plays. “Maybe I’ll call a play or two, to enhance my resume,” Rosburg cracked. ... Among those who didn’t practice Thursday were TE Greg Dulcich (hamstring) and OLB Randy Gregory (knee). WR Jerry Jeudy (ankle) was limited. ... Jeudy defended Wilson having an office in a post on social media. “I’m just tired of reading things about my boy and making it seem like, ‘Oh, he’s not a good teammate,’” Jeudy explained after practice.

Evero passes on Broncos’ interim job, has head coach desire

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman experienced a setback in practice this week and will not play in Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos, leaving his status for the remainder of the season in question.

Hardman has not played since Week 9 because of an abdominal injury that landed him on injured reserve. He returned to practice two weeks ago, but has not been added to the active roster, and under NFL rules, players that are not added after 21 days must be placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the season.

That means the Chiefs, who are 12-3 and tied with Buffalo for the best record in the AFC, have until Wednesday to decide whether Hardman will be able to help in their regular-season finale at Las Vegas and their playoff games.

“I’m not worried about it,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Friday. “I think as long as he’s progressing and trying to work to get better here, we’ll be OK. If he can’t, then he can’t. Then we go move on and keep going with the guys we got.”

The Chiefs still boast the league’s No. 1 offense and second-best scoring offense despite the absence of Hardman, whose speed makes him a downfield threat along with a dangerous weapon on jet sweeps. He had scored five touchdowns over the three games prior to his injury, three through the air and two on the ground.

Reid said the setback to Hardman occurred during Wednesday’s workout.

“He just had some pain,” Reid said after final preparations for Sunday’s game against Denver, “and it was almost like a tweak up in the groin area, and so we just backed him off. I don’t want to take steps back. I don’t want to do that.”

The Chiefs are otherwise healthy to take on the Broncos, whom they have beaten 14 straight times. Tight end Noah Gray (shoulder), defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi (Achilles), right tackle Andrew Wylie (hip) and fullback Michael Burton (groin) were full participants in Friday’s practice. Offensive tackle Prince Tega Wanogho also was back after an illness.

The Chiefs have clinched the AFC West, but they’re trying to keep up with the Bills — who have the head-to-head tiebreaker over them — for the No. 1 seed in the conference and lone postseason bye. Buffalo visits Cincinnati on Monday night.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman experienced a setback in practice this week and will not play in Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos, leaving his status for the remainder of the season in question.Hardman has not played since Week 9 because of an abdominal injury that landed him on injured reserve. He returned to practice two weeks ago, but has not been added to the active roster, and under NFL rules, players that are not added after 21 days must be placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the season.That means the Chiefs, who are 12-3 and tied with Buffalo for the best record in the AFC, have until Wednesday to decide whether Hardman will be able to help in their regular-season finale at Las Vegas and their playoff games.“I’m not worried about it,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Friday. “I think as long as he’s progressing and trying to work to get better here, we’ll be OK. If he can’t, then he can’t. Then we go move on and keep going with the guys we got.”The Chiefs still boast the league’s No. 1 offense and second-best scoring offense despite the absence of Hardman, whose speed makes him a downfield threat along with a dangerous weapon on jet sweeps. He had scored five touchdowns over the three games prior to his injury, three through the air and two on the ground.Reid said the setback to Hardman occurred during Wednesday’s workout.“He just had some pain,” Reid said after final preparations for Sunday’s game against Denver, “and it was almost like a tweak up in the groin area, and so we just backed him off. I don’t want to take steps back. I don’t want to do that.”The Chiefs are otherwise healthy to take on the Broncos, whom they have beaten 14 straight times. Tight end Noah Gray (shoulder), defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi (Achilles), right tackle Andrew Wylie (hip) and fullback Michael Burton (groin) were full participants in Friday’s practice. Offensive tackle Prince Tega Wanogho also was back after an illness.The Chiefs have clinched the AFC West, but they’re trying to keep up with the Bills — who have the head-to-head tiebreaker over them — for the No. 1 seed in the conference and lone postseason bye. Buffalo visits Cincinnati on Monday night.

Chiefs to be without WR Hardman vs. Broncos after setback

The Chiefs will be trying to keep pace with Buffalo for the best record in the AFC when the West Division champs face Denver for the second time in three weeks on Sunday. Kansas City has beaten the Broncos the past 14 times, tied for the fifth longest by any opponent in NFL history. The Broncos will be playing their first game since coach Nathaniel Hackett was fired following a 51-14 loss to the Rams. Longtime coach Jerry Rosburg has taken over on an interim basis.

DENVER (4-11) at KANSAS CITY (12-3)

FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NFL LINE: Chiefs by 12½

AGAINST THE SPREAD: Broncos 6-9; Chiefs 5-9-1

LAST MEETING: Chiefs beat Broncos 34-28 on Dec. 11 in Denver.

LAST WEEK: Broncos lost to Rams 51-14; Chiefs beat Seahawks 24-10

BRONCOS OFFENSE: OVERALL (25), RUSH (23), PASS (20), SCORING (32)

BRONCOS DEFENSE: OVERALL (5), RUSH (16), PASS (6), SCORING (T7)

CHIEFS OFFENSE: OVERALL (1), RUSH (17), PASS (1), SCORING (2).

CHIEFS DEFENSE: OVERALL (15), RUSH (8), PASS (20), SCORING (16).

TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Broncos minus-1; Chiefs minus-5.

BRONCOS PLAYER TO WATCH: Jerry Rosburg. OK, he's not exactly a player, but rather the interim head coach, who took over this week for the fired Nathaniel Hackett. But nobody will be under the microscope more than Rosburg, a 40-year coaching veteran, as the Broncos try to jumpstart one of the league's worst offenses.

CHIEFS PLAYER TO WATCH: Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is making a strong bid for a second MVP award this season. He needs 378 yards passing to break his franchise record of 5,097 set in 2018, and two TD passes would give him 39 on the season, second only to his 50-TD season in 2018.

KEY MATCHUP: Mahomes against the Broncos pass defense, which caused plenty of problems when the teams met just three weeks ago in Denver. Mahomes threw for 352 yards and three touchdowns, but he also threw three interceptions and was sacked twice in a closer-than-expected win.

KEY INJURIES: Broncos CB K'Waun Williams (knee), DL Mike Purcell (elbow), DT D.J. Jones (knee), OLB Randy Gregory (knee) and TE Greg Dulcich (hamstring) missed practice time this week. ... Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman (abdominal injury) is expected to play for the first time since Week 9.

SERIES NOTES: The Chiefs have won 14 consecutive games against the Broncos, a franchise record for any opponent, and includes a 34-28 win in Denver earlier this season. The streak is also tied for the fifth longest by any team against an opponent in NFL history, and a 15th straight win would tie for the third longest. The Broncos have not beaten the Chiefs since a 31-24 victory on Sept. 17, 2015, in Kansas City.

STATS AND STUFF: The Broncos remain stuck on 499 regular-season wins as they try to become the 17th franchise with 500 and just the ninth since 1960. ... Broncos RB Latavius Murray has 54 TD runs. He needs one more to tie Melvin Gordon III for third most by an active running back since 2014. ... Broncos QB Russell Wilson has 4,921 yards rushing. He needs 8 more to pass Randall Cunningham for third by a QB in league history. ... Kansas City has clinched the AFC West and is tied with Buffalo for the conference's best record, though the Bills hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. ... The Chiefs have won at least 12 games in five consecutive seasons, the third-longest streak in NFL history. ... Mahomes has 388 completions and needs three more for the second most in a season in Chiefs history. He had 436 last season. ... Mahomes has four seasons of at least 4,500 yards passing and 35 TD passes, trailing only Tom Brady (five) for most in NFL history. ... Mahomes has 12 TD runs this season, more than any QB in Chiefs history. ... Chiefs TE Travis Kelce had six catches for 113 yards in last week's win over Seattle, giving him 801 catches for his career. He needs 16 to pass Shannon Sharpe for fourth most among NFL tight ends. ... RB Jerick McKinnon has six TDs over the past four games. He has a TD catch in each, which is tied for the longest streak by a running back since the 1970 merger. ... Chiefs LB Nick Bolton had 17 tackles against the Seahawks, giving him a club-record eight games with at least 10.

FANTASY TIP: As bad as the Broncos have been offensively, they've been good on defense, particularly against the pass. And with Hardman likely returning for the first time since Week 9 for Kansas City, the ball will probably get distributed even more than usual. That makes all of the Chiefs pass catchers (aside from Kelce) risky propositions.

By the Associated PressThe Chiefs will be trying to keep pace with Buffalo for the best record in the AFC when the West Division champs face Denver for the second time in three weeks on Sunday. Kansas City has beaten the Broncos the past 14 times, tied for the fifth longest by any opponent in NFL history. The Broncos will be playing their first game since coach Nathaniel Hackett was fired following a 51-14 loss to the Rams. Longtime coach Jerry Rosburg has taken over on an interim basis.DENVER (4-11) at KANSAS CITY (12-3)Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBSFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NFL LINE: Chiefs by 12½AGAINST THE SPREAD: Broncos 6-9; Chiefs 5-9-1SERIES RECORD: Chiefs lead 70-55LAST MEETING: Chiefs beat Broncos 34-28 on Dec. 11 in Denver.LAST WEEK: Broncos lost to Rams 51-14; Chiefs beat Seahawks 24-10BRONCOS OFFENSE: OVERALL (25), RUSH (23), PASS (20), SCORING (32)BRONCOS DEFENSE: OVERALL (5), RUSH (16), PASS (6), SCORING (T7)CHIEFS OFFENSE: OVERALL (1), RUSH (17), PASS (1), SCORING (2).CHIEFS DEFENSE: OVERALL (15), RUSH (8), PASS (20), SCORING (16).TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Broncos minus-1; Chiefs minus-5.BRONCOS PLAYER TO WATCH: Jerry Rosburg. OK, he's not exactly a player, but rather the interim head coach, who took over this week for the fired Nathaniel Hackett. But nobody will be under the microscope more than Rosburg, a 40-year coaching veteran, as the Broncos try to jumpstart one of the league's worst offenses.CHIEFS PLAYER TO WATCH: Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is making a strong bid for a second MVP award this season. He needs 378 yards passing to break his franchise record of 5,097 set in 2018, and two TD passes would give him 39 on the season, second only to his 50-TD season in 2018.KEY MATCHUP: Mahomes against the Broncos pass defense, which caused plenty of problems when the teams met just three weeks ago in Denver. Mahomes threw for 352 yards and three touchdowns, but he also threw three interceptions and was sacked twice in a closer-than-expected win.KEY INJURIES: Broncos CB K'Waun Williams (knee), DL Mike Purcell (elbow), DT D.J. Jones (knee), OLB Randy Gregory (knee) and TE Greg Dulcich (hamstring) missed practice time this week. ... Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman (abdominal injury) is expected to play for the first time since Week 9.SERIES NOTES: The Chiefs have won 14 consecutive games against the Broncos, a franchise record for any opponent, and includes a 34-28 win in Denver earlier this season. The streak is also tied for the fifth longest by any team against an opponent in NFL history, and a 15th straight win would tie for the third longest. The Broncos have not beaten the Chiefs since a 31-24 victory on Sept. 17, 2015, in Kansas City.STATS AND STUFF: The Broncos remain stuck on 499 regular-season wins as they try to become the 17th franchise with 500 and just the ninth since 1960. ... Broncos RB Latavius Murray has 54 TD runs. He needs one more to tie Melvin Gordon III for third most by an active running back since 2014. ... Broncos QB Russell Wilson has 4,921 yards rushing. He needs 8 more to pass Randall Cunningham for third by a QB in league history. ... Kansas City has clinched the AFC West and is tied with Buffalo for the conference's best record, though the Bills hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. ... The Chiefs have won at least 12 games in five consecutive seasons, the third-longest streak in NFL history. ... Mahomes has 388 completions and needs three more for the second most in a season in Chiefs history. He had 436 last season. ... Mahomes has four seasons of at least 4,500 yards passing and 35 TD passes, trailing only Tom Brady (five) for most in NFL history. ... Mahomes has 12 TD runs this season, more than any QB in Chiefs history. ... Chiefs TE Travis Kelce had six catches for 113 yards in last week's win over Seattle, giving him 801 catches for his career. He needs 16 to pass Shannon Sharpe for fourth most among NFL tight ends. ... RB Jerick McKinnon has six TDs over the past four games. He has a TD catch in each, which is tied for the longest streak by a running back since the 1970 merger. ... Chiefs LB Nick Bolton had 17 tackles against the Seahawks, giving him a club-record eight games with at least 10.FANTASY TIP: As bad as the Broncos have been offensively, they've been good on defense, particularly against the pass. And with Hardman likely returning for the first time since Week 9 for Kansas City, the ball will probably get distributed even more than usual. That makes all of the Chiefs pass catchers (aside from Kelce) risky propositions.

Chiefs face Broncos as they try to keep pace atop AFC

Big 12 men’s basketball brings 2022 to a close with four nonconference games before ringing in 2023 with the opening of league play on New Year’s Eve.

Saturday Schedule 11:00 Texas Tech @ TCU 1:00 Baylor @ Iowa State 1:00 Texas @ Oklahoma 1:00 Oklahoma State @ Kansas 6:00 West Virginia @ Kansas State Big 12 Basketball notes - -&nbsp;The Big 12 is the only conference with all teams in the top 60 of the Net: 5. Kansas, 9. Texas, 11. West Virginia, 19. Baylor, 32. Iowa State, 33, K-State, 46.&nbsp;Oklahoma State, 47. Oklahoma, 56. Texas Tech and 60. TCU.

-The Big 12’s conference NET ranking of 31.8 is the lowest of all leagues. The next lowest is at 57.5.

-The Big 12 has played 43 games vs. Quad 1 and 2 teams with a 26-17 record. Kansas’ four Q1 wins are tied for the most nationally.

-Baylor was chosen by the league’s head coaches to win the Big 12 regular season title for the second time in three years. The Bears were also the preseason favorite in 2020-21 and went on to win both the Big 12 and NCAA championships.

-The Bears received five first-place votes and totaled 77 points to edge out Kansas for the top spot. The Jayhawks had four first-place nods and 73 points to place second. Texas was picked third with the final first-place vote and 64 points.

-The Big 12 has a nation-leading .840 (100-19) non-conference win percentage and is the only conference over .800. The Big 12’s .500 (8-8) win percentage against Top 25 opponents also leads all leagues.

-The Big 12 has a .651 (29-15) win percentage vs. the other peer conferences, which tops the group. The Big 12 is 5-2 vs. the ACC, 8-7 against the Big East, 5-4 vs. the Big Ten, 6-0 vs. the Pac-12 and 5-2 vs. the SEC.

-The Big 12 has 44 non-conference wins by 20 or more points. The 4.4 average per team is the highest among the conferences. A nation-high 50 percent of teams are ranked nationally for the fourth time this season and 80 percent received votes. No. 4/4 Kansas, No. 6/6 Texas, No. 12/13 Baylor, No. 18/19 TCU and No. 24/24 West Virginia are ranked. Iowa State, K-State and Texas Tech received votes. The Mountaineers entered the polls for the first time this season. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665744409251.jpeg" alt="Big 12 Conference" />
 <figcaption>Big 12 Conference</figcaption>
 </figure>Big 12 men’s basketball brings 2022 to a close with four nonconference games before ringing in 2023 with the opening of league play on New Year’s Eve.Saturday Schedule 11:00 Texas Tech @ TCU 1:00 Baylor @ Iowa State 1:00 Texas @ Oklahoma 1:00 Oklahoma State @ Kansas 6:00 West Virginia @ Kansas State Big 12 Basketball notes - -&nbsp;The Big 12 is the only conference with all teams in the top 60 of the Net: 5. Kansas, 9. Texas, 11. West Virginia, 19. Baylor, 32. Iowa State, 33, K-State, 46.&nbsp;Oklahoma State, 47. Oklahoma, 56. Texas Tech and 60. TCU.-The Big 12’s conference NET ranking of 31.8 is the lowest of all leagues. The next lowest is at 57.5.-The Big 12 has played 43 games vs. Quad 1 and 2 teams with a 26-17 record. Kansas’ four Q1 wins are tied for the most nationally.-Baylor was chosen by the league’s head coaches to win the Big 12 regular season title for the second time in three years. The Bears were also the preseason favorite in 2020-21 and went on to win both the Big 12 and NCAA championships.-The Bears received five first-place votes and totaled 77 points to edge out Kansas for the top spot. The Jayhawks had four first-place nods and 73 points to place second. Texas was picked third with the final first-place vote and 64 points.-The Big 12 has a nation-leading .840 (100-19) non-conference win percentage and is the only conference over .800. The Big 12’s .500 (8-8) win percentage against Top 25 opponents also leads all leagues.-The Big 12 has a .651 (29-15) win percentage vs. the other peer conferences, which tops the group. The Big 12 is 5-2 vs. the ACC, 8-7 against the Big East, 5-4 vs. the Big Ten, 6-0 vs. the Pac-12 and 5-2 vs. the SEC.-The Big 12 has 44 non-conference wins by 20 or more points. The 4.4 average per team is the highest among the conferences. A nation-high 50 percent of teams are ranked nationally for the fourth time this season and 80 percent received votes. No. 4/4 Kansas, No. 6/6 Texas, No. 12/13 Baylor, No. 18/19 TCU and No. 24/24 West Virginia are ranked. Iowa State, K-State and Texas Tech received votes. The Mountaineers entered the polls for the first time this season.

Big 12 begins conference play Saturday

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are perhaps the most stable franchise in the NFL these days, led by a coach in Andy Reid who commands league-wide respect and a quarterback in Patrick Mahomes who is in the mix for a second MVP award.

So it's no surprise they have clinched the AFC West and are tied with Buffalo for the conference's best record.

Then there's the Denver Broncos (4-11), the Chiefs' opponent Sunday, who mortgaged much of their future to acquire struggling Russell Wilson from the Seahawks and just fired coach Nathaniel Hackett with two games left in his first year.

So it's also not surprising they'll be sitting out the playoffs for the seventh straight season.

“They played us tough this last one. They gave us everything that we could ask for,” said Mahomes, who nevertheless led the Chiefs (12-3) to a 34-28 victory in Denver three weeks ago. “We have to go out and play our best ball. If you look at the tape, you see the talent that they have and how hard they play.”

It will be up to 67-year-old Jerry Rosburg to finally get that talent playing at a high level.

The Broncos turned to the career assistant, who has 18 years of NFL coaching experience, to bridge the gap from Hackett's firing into next season. He was special teams coordinator in Baltimore for a decade with stops in Atlanta and Cleveland, and was hired by the Broncos in September to hire in-game management when Hackett struggled in his first two games.

“He actually worked for (Ravens coach) John Harbaugh for a number of years,” Reid said. “One of the top special teams coaches in the NFL and a good football coach, period. But a tremendous special teams coach. Good guy.”

“He’s a fine man. He’s been so gracious with my family over the years,” Rosburg said of Reid, who was Harbaugh's mentor in Philadelphia. “He’s a model for all coaches. We should all aspire to be like Andy Reid.”

While Wilson is suffering through the worst season of his career, Mahomes is on another tear for the Chiefs, putting himself in position to break the NFL record for yards passing in a season — albeit in a 17-game schedule rather than 16. And Rosburg has seen enough of Mahomes over the years that he's plenty impressed by him.

He's just not so excited about facing Mahomes in his first game running the show for Denver.

“I could list them, and you all know them,” Rosburg said of the Chiefs' playmakers. “Who would sign up for this? You get to coach in the National Football League? OK, here are the Kansas City Chiefs. Here I am, choose me.”

While the Chiefs are tied with the Bills for the AFC's best record, Buffalo would get the No. 1 seed and lone first-round bye because of its head-to-head win in October in Kansas City. So not only do the Chiefs need to beat Denver, and probably Las Vegas next week, they also need the Bengals or Patriots to beat the Bills down the stretch.

The Chiefs have won 14 straight against their longtime division rival, a franchise record for any opponent. It's the fifth-longest streak by any team against an opponent in NFL history, and one more would tie for the third longest. The last time the Broncos beat the Chiefs was a 31-24 victory on Sept. 17, 2015, in Kansas City.

The priority for the Broncos is fixing Wilson, who was brought in at a high cost (three players, four prime draft picks to Seattle) and signed to a five-year extension with about $165 million in guarantees. But this version of Wilson has been head-scratching: He’s on pace for career worsts in touchdowns, completion percentage and sacks.

“I believe in myself at the highest level,” Wilson said. “It’s not going to happen this year, but the mission is still the same and that’s to help bring Super Bowls to Denver. That’s the goal.”

Rosburg makes five different Broncos coaches for safety Justin Simmons since he was taken in the third-round of the 2016 draft. If owner and CEO Greg Penner wanted his opinion on, say, defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero getting a shot at the head coaching job, Simmons would gladly give it. Denver’s defense has been one of the best in the league until a clunker last weekend in a 51-14 loss to Baker Mayfield and the Los Angeles Rams.

“I just want to win,” Simmons said. “When stuff like this happens like with Coach Hackett, I think about what I could’ve done better to help keep his job stable. Whatever it is, whoever it is, I just want to win.”

The Chiefs expect to have wide receiver Mecole Hardman back for the first time since an abdominal injury in Week 9 put him on injured reserve. He practiced the last couple of weeks, but has not been inactive for games. He was on a tear before getting hurt, too, scoring five touchdowns in his last three games.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are perhaps the most stable franchise in the NFL these days, led by a coach in Andy Reid who commands league-wide respect and a quarterback in Patrick Mahomes who is in the mix for a second MVP award.So it's no surprise they have clinched the AFC West and are tied with Buffalo for the conference's best record.Then there's the Denver Broncos (4-11), the Chiefs' opponent Sunday, who mortgaged much of their future to acquire struggling Russell Wilson from the Seahawks and just fired coach Nathaniel Hackett with two games left in his first year.So it's also not surprising they'll be sitting out the playoffs for the seventh straight season.“They played us tough this last one. They gave us everything that we could ask for,” said Mahomes, who nevertheless led the Chiefs (12-3) to a 34-28 victory in Denver three weeks ago. “We have to go out and play our best ball. If you look at the tape, you see the talent that they have and how hard they play.”It will be up to 67-year-old Jerry Rosburg to finally get that talent playing at a high level.The Broncos turned to the career assistant, who has 18 years of NFL coaching experience, to bridge the gap from Hackett's firing into next season. He was special teams coordinator in Baltimore for a decade with stops in Atlanta and Cleveland, and was hired by the Broncos in September to hire in-game management when Hackett struggled in his first two games.“He actually worked for (Ravens coach) John Harbaugh for a number of years,” Reid said. “One of the top special teams coaches in the NFL and a good football coach, period. But a tremendous special teams coach. Good guy.”Turns out the affection goes both ways.“He’s a fine man. He’s been so gracious with my family over the years,” Rosburg said of Reid, who was Harbaugh's mentor in Philadelphia. “He’s a model for all coaches. We should all aspire to be like Andy Reid.”While Wilson is suffering through the worst season of his career, Mahomes is on another tear for the Chiefs, putting himself in position to break the NFL record for yards passing in a season — albeit in a 17-game schedule rather than 16. And Rosburg has seen enough of Mahomes over the years that he's plenty impressed by him.He's just not so excited about facing Mahomes in his first game running the show for Denver.“I could list them, and you all know them,” Rosburg said of the Chiefs' playmakers. “Who would sign up for this? You get to coach in the National Football League? OK, here are the Kansas City Chiefs. Here I am, choose me.”PLAYOFF POSITIONWhile the Chiefs are tied with the Bills for the AFC's best record, Buffalo would get the No. 1 seed and lone first-round bye because of its head-to-head win in October in Kansas City. So not only do the Chiefs need to beat Denver, and probably Las Vegas next week, they also need the Bengals or Patriots to beat the Bills down the stretch.DOMINANCE OF DENVERThe Chiefs have won 14 straight against their longtime division rival, a franchise record for any opponent. It's the fifth-longest streak by any team against an opponent in NFL history, and one more would tie for the third longest. The last time the Broncos beat the Chiefs was a 31-24 victory on Sept. 17, 2015, in Kansas City.FIXING WILSONThe priority for the Broncos is fixing Wilson, who was brought in at a high cost (three players, four prime draft picks to Seattle) and signed to a five-year extension with about $165 million in guarantees. But this version of Wilson has been head-scratching: He’s on pace for career worsts in touchdowns, completion percentage and sacks.“I believe in myself at the highest level,” Wilson said. “It’s not going to happen this year, but the mission is still the same and that’s to help bring Super Bowls to Denver. That’s the goal.”COACHING CAROUSELRosburg makes five different Broncos coaches for safety Justin Simmons since he was taken in the third-round of the 2016 draft. If owner and CEO Greg Penner wanted his opinion on, say, defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero getting a shot at the head coaching job, Simmons would gladly give it. Denver’s defense has been one of the best in the league until a clunker last weekend in a 51-14 loss to Baker Mayfield and the Los Angeles Rams.“I just want to win,” Simmons said. “When stuff like this happens like with Coach Hackett, I think about what I could’ve done better to help keep his job stable. Whatever it is, whoever it is, I just want to win.”WEAPON RETURNINGThe Chiefs expect to have wide receiver Mecole Hardman back for the first time since an abdominal injury in Week 9 put him on injured reserve. He practiced the last couple of weeks, but has not been inactive for games. He was on a tear before getting hurt, too, scoring five touchdowns in his last three games.

Stable Chiefs face reeling Broncos in midst of playoff push

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — In an age of opt outs in college football, the best NFL prospects for Alabama and Kansas State are opting in at the Sugar Bowl.

Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young and edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. have high-first-round draft grades and could have minimized exposure to injury by sitting out Saturday's game in the Superdome.

For Kansas State, standout players including running back Deuce Vaughn and defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah are risking their draft stock as well.

They say they have weighed the competing factors carefully and the benefits of playing won out.

“I love this program,” Young said. "I see how hard we work as a group, how much we pour into this and how much this means to us — how much it means to me. And it was easy.

“As a leader, I feel like it was important to me to make sure that we finish this year,” Young added. “With there being no opt-outs on both of the teams, I think that speaks to both of the programs.”

This season, as much as any other, opt-outs have been a common theme across games not tied into the four-team College Football Playoff, which this year are the Fiesta and Peach bowls.

Tennessee will be missin top receivers Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman and linebacker Jeremy Banks in Friday night's Orange Bowl against Clemson, which will be without top defensive end Myles Murphy.

Kentucky will play the Music City Bowl without quarterback Will Levis and running back Chris Rodriguez. Texas was without 1,580-yard rusher Bijan Robinson in Thursday night's Alamo Bowl against Washington. LSU will play the Citrus Bowl without edge rusher BJ Ojulari and receiver Kayshon Boutte.

All of those players have turned their attention to NFL draft preparations rather than exposing themselves to injury in one final college game.

Anudike-Uzomah said he and Vaughn never considered missing the Sugar Bowl, arguably the highest-profile postseason game for Kansas State in a decade.

“We worked so hard for this team, why would we just leave it, honestly? Just go finish it,” Anudike-Uzomah said. "It took us three years really to do this, me and Deuce. And it’s just been a dream come true.

“Growing up, I always looked at Alabama as the best program in college football history. So, it’s a dream come true and an honor the play them, honestly,” Anudike-Uzomah added. “I’m not going to lie; I never thought I would be in the Sugar Bowl.”

Anderson, along with fellow pro prospects on Alabama’s defense such as linebacker Henry To’oto’o and safety Jordan Battle, essentially said they would have felt like hypocrites had they opted out.

All season they had preached the importance of living up the “Alabama standard.” So, shortly after beating Auburn, seniors and other draft-eligible leaders made a pact that they would go out together in a bowl game.

“If you want to go out the right way and you want to be legendary, you want people to remember you by doing something good, this is how you do it,” Anderson said. He said he felt he was showing younger Alabama players “the right thing to do.”

In other words, the college team that, year-after-year, fields as many NFL caliber players as any is fostering an anti-opt-out culture. It's made an impression on younger Alabama players like sophomore defensive back Kool-Aid McKinstry.

Anderson's decision to play “made me feel even more confident about the guy that I already thought he was,” McKinstry said. “I feel like I'll make the same decision” should he end up facing a similar choice.

Young has not yet declared for the next NFL draft but is widely expected to do so. He was watching the Sugar Bowl a year ago when Mississippi quarterback Matt Corral was helped off of the field after injuring his ankle.

After finishing seventh in voting for the 2021 Heisman Trophy, which Young won that season, Corral was largely seen as a second-round NFL prospect. Carolina selected him 94th overall, at the end of the third round.

“Everything that happens happens for a reason," said Young, emphasizing that his faith in God also influenced his decision to play. "I know what happened (to Corral). I understand what happened. But again, I walk by faith.”

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — In an age of opt outs in college football, the best NFL prospects for Alabama and Kansas State are opting in at the Sugar Bowl.Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young and edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. have high-first-round draft grades and could have minimized exposure to injury by sitting out Saturday's game in the Superdome.For Kansas State, standout players including running back Deuce Vaughn and defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah are risking their draft stock as well.They say they have weighed the competing factors carefully and the benefits of playing won out.“I love this program,” Young said. "I see how hard we work as a group, how much we pour into this and how much this means to us — how much it means to me. And it was easy.“As a leader, I feel like it was important to me to make sure that we finish this year,” Young added. “With there being no opt-outs on both of the teams, I think that speaks to both of the programs.”This season, as much as any other, opt-outs have been a common theme across games not tied into the four-team College Football Playoff, which this year are the Fiesta and Peach bowls.Tennessee will be missin top receivers Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman and linebacker Jeremy Banks in Friday night's Orange Bowl against Clemson, which will be without top defensive end Myles Murphy.Kentucky will play the Music City Bowl without quarterback Will Levis and running back Chris Rodriguez. Texas was without 1,580-yard rusher Bijan Robinson in Thursday night's Alamo Bowl against Washington. LSU will play the Citrus Bowl without edge rusher BJ Ojulari and receiver Kayshon Boutte.All of those players have turned their attention to NFL draft preparations rather than exposing themselves to injury in one final college game.Anudike-Uzomah said he and Vaughn never considered missing the Sugar Bowl, arguably the highest-profile postseason game for Kansas State in a decade.“We worked so hard for this team, why would we just leave it, honestly? Just go finish it,” Anudike-Uzomah said. "It took us three years really to do this, me and Deuce. And it’s just been a dream come true.“Growing up, I always looked at Alabama as the best program in college football history. So, it’s a dream come true and an honor the play them, honestly,” Anudike-Uzomah added. “I’m not going to lie; I never thought I would be in the Sugar Bowl.”Anderson, along with fellow pro prospects on Alabama’s defense such as linebacker Henry To’oto’o and safety Jordan Battle, essentially said they would have felt like hypocrites had they opted out.All season they had preached the importance of living up the “Alabama standard.” So, shortly after beating Auburn, seniors and other draft-eligible leaders made a pact that they would go out together in a bowl game.“If you want to go out the right way and you want to be legendary, you want people to remember you by doing something good, this is how you do it,” Anderson said. He said he felt he was showing younger Alabama players “the right thing to do.”In other words, the college team that, year-after-year, fields as many NFL caliber players as any is fostering an anti-opt-out culture. It's made an impression on younger Alabama players like sophomore defensive back Kool-Aid McKinstry.Anderson's decision to play “made me feel even more confident about the guy that I already thought he was,” McKinstry said. “I feel like I'll make the same decision” should he end up facing a similar choice.Young has not yet declared for the next NFL draft but is widely expected to do so. He was watching the Sugar Bowl a year ago when Mississippi quarterback Matt Corral was helped off of the field after injuring his ankle.After finishing seventh in voting for the 2021 Heisman Trophy, which Young won that season, Corral was largely seen as a second-round NFL prospect. Carolina selected him 94th overall, at the end of the third round.“Everything that happens happens for a reason," said Young, emphasizing that his faith in God also influenced his decision to play. "I know what happened (to Corral). I understand what happened. But again, I walk by faith.”

Alabama, Kansas St extol virtues of opting in at Sugar Bowl

KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs have already clinched the AFC West
for the seventh straight year and are tied with Buffalo for the best
record in the conference. Then there's the Denver Broncos who are
their opponent Sunday. They mortgaged their future to acquire
struggling Russell Wilson from Seattle and just fired coach Nathaniel
Hackett with two games left in his first season. It will be up to
67-year-old Jerry Rosburg to guide the Broncos through the next
couple of weeks as the interim coach. Kansas City has beaten the
Broncos 14 straight times. A 15th win would tie the third longest
streak by any team against any opponent in NFL history.

NASHVILLE, Tenn.
(AP) — Dak Prescott threw for 282 yards and two touchdowns to
Dalton Schultz as the Dallas Cowboys beat the banged-up and resting
Tennessee Titans 27-13 for their sixth win in seven games. The
Cowboys posted their first back-to-back 12-win seasons since 1994 and
1995, when Dallas won its last of the franchise’s five Super Bowl
titles. Fans were chanting “Let’s go Cowboys!” throughout the
game. The Titans lost their sixth straight hours after placing
quarterback Ryan Tannehill on injured reserve. They gave Joshua Dobbs
his first NFL start after signing him Dec. 21 off Detroit's practice
squad.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) —
In an age of opt outs in college football, top NFL prospects for
Alabama and Kansas State are opting in at the Sugar Bowl. Alabama
quarterback Bryce Young and edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. headline
those players who could have skipped Saturday's game and the risk of
injury. Same goes for K-State running back Deuce Vaughn and defensive
end Felix Anudike-Uzomah. All decided to play. Anudike-Uzomah says he
and Vaughn worked three years to get the Wildcats to a major bowl and
that it's a “dream” to play against Alabama.

ATLANTA (AP) —
Only months after Georgia defensive linemen and Ohio State wide
receivers combined to fill five first-round slots in the NFL draft,
those positions again boast top talent for the teams preparing to
meet in the College Football Playoff Peach Bowl semifinal. Despite
important losses in this year's draft, Saturday night’s Peach Bowl
will showcase evidence that No. 4 Ohio State and No. 1 Georgia
reloaded with more star players. Wide receiver again is a strength
for the Buckeyes with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka. Jalen
Carter leads another strong defensive front for the Bulldogs.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) —
Michael Penix, Jr. threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns and No. 12
Washington held off No. 21 Texas 27-20 on Thursday night in the
Valero Alamo Bowl. Texas scored 10 late points, pulling within seven
on Bert Auburn’s 26-yard field goal with 1:40 remaining, but failed
on an onside kick try. The Longhorns (8-5) stopped the Huskies (11-2)
on the ensuing possession and took over on their own 16 with 32
seconds and got to the Washington 40 on the final play of the game.
Penix finished the season with 4,641 yards passing to break the
20-year-old Washington season mark of 4,458 set by Cody Pickett.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) —
Jordan Travis threw for 418 yards and two touchdowns and No. 13
Florida State beat Oklahoma 35-32 on Thursday night in the Cheez-It
Bowl. Johnny Wilson made a one-handed grab for a 58-yard gain to set
up Ryan Fitzgerald’s 32-yard field goal with 55 seconds left. The
Seminoles (10-3) held on, sacking quarterback Dillon Gabriel on the
Sooners’ comeback bid. Jovante Barnes tied it at 32 for Oklahoma
(6-7) with 3:37 left on a 12-yard run. That was after Travis fired a
17-yard pass to tight end Markeston Douglas in the end zone to put
the Seminoles up 32-25 midway through the fourth. Florida State won
its first bowl since the 2017 season, and its first under coach Mike
Norvell.

NEW YORK (AP) —
Mohamed Ibrahim rushed for 71 yards on 16 carries with a touchdown
and became Minnesota’s all-time rushing leader in the Golden
Gophers’ 28-20 win over Syracuse in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee
Stadium. Ibrahim broke the school record held by Darrell Thompson
(1986-89) on a 10-yard gain with about 2 1/2 minutes left in the
first half. Ibrahim finished with 71 yards on 16 carries before Trey
Potts replaced him in the backfield. Daniel Jackson hauled in a pair
of TD passes in the win.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.
(AP) — Quentin Johnston came to TCU because of its coaching
stability. Now he's playing in the biggest football game of his
career because of a coaching change. Johnston embraced first-year
coach Sonny Dykes and is one of many reasons the Horned Frogs have
flourished this season with a 12-1 record. They'll face Michigan on
Saturday in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Fiesta
Bowl. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Johnston is expected to be a coveted
prize in this spring’s NFL draft. His size, speed and strong hands
have some evaluators saying he’ll be the first receiver drafted and
a potential top 10 pick.

HOUSTON (AP) —
Texas Tech is denying claims by Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin that a
Red Raiders player spit on one of his players and possibly used a
racial slur in the Texas Bowl. There was pushing and shoving between
players after a fumble. When asked to clarify if a Texas Tech player
used a racial slur, Kiffin said he wasn’t sure but he said there
was a slur involved. Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire and Moore both
issued statements saying the allegations are false. The Red Raiders
beat Ole Miss, 42-25.

WACO, Texas (AP) —
Matt Powledge is returning to Baylor as defensive coordinator after a
season away at Oregon. Powledge replaces Ron Roberts, who was fired
after the 6-6 regular season and has since become defensive
coordinator at Auburn for new coach Hugh Freeze. Before spending this
season as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Oregon,
Powledge had been on Aranda’s original staff at Baylor. Powledge, a
Texas native, was the Bears’ safeties coach and special team’s
coordinator in 2020 and 2021.

SAO PAULO (AP) —
Pelé, Brazil’s mighty king of soccer, has died. He was 82. Since
2021, he had been undergoing treatment for colon cancer discovered
during a routine medical exam. Pelé was one of the most commanding
sports figures of the last century. He won a record three World Cups
with Brazil and was the standard-bearer of “the beautiful game”
with the national team and his club Santos. His exuberance and
mesmerizing moves transfixed generations of fans around the globe.
His flair personified his country’s samba-style elegance. Late in
his career, he helped popularize soccer in North America by joining
the New York Cosmos.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) —
Indiana’s Buddy Hield made the fastest 3-pointer on record when he
hit just three seconds into the Pacers’ game against Cleveland. The
opening tipoff was batted to Hield, who caught it behind the arc,
turned and shot. The ball went through with 11:57 remaining in the
first quarter, with Pacers center Myles Turner being credited with an
assist. ESPN Stats &amp; Info said the previous fastest 3-pointer in
an NBA game was by Pacers Hall of Famer Reggie Miller, who made one
four seconds into a game against Golden State on March 5, 2000.
Play-by-play has been recorded in the NBA since the 1996-97 season.

ALAMO: (12)Washington	27	(21)Texas	20

CHEEZE-IT: (13)Florida St.	35	Oklahoma	32

PINSTRIPE: Minnesota 28, Syracuse 20

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672223935757.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo.
(AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs have already clinched the AFC West
for the seventh straight year and are tied with Buffalo for the best
record in the conference. Then there's the Denver Broncos who are
their opponent Sunday. They mortgaged their future to acquire
struggling Russell Wilson from Seattle and just fired coach Nathaniel
Hackett with two games left in his first season. It will be up to
67-year-old Jerry Rosburg to guide the Broncos through the next
couple of weeks as the interim coach. Kansas City has beaten the
Broncos 14 straight times. A 15th win would tie the third longest
streak by any team against any opponent in NFL history.NASHVILLE, Tenn.
(AP) — Dak Prescott threw for 282 yards and two touchdowns to
Dalton Schultz as the Dallas Cowboys beat the banged-up and resting
Tennessee Titans 27-13 for their sixth win in seven games. The
Cowboys posted their first back-to-back 12-win seasons since 1994 and
1995, when Dallas won its last of the franchise’s five Super Bowl
titles. Fans were chanting “Let’s go Cowboys!” throughout the
game. The Titans lost their sixth straight hours after placing
quarterback Ryan Tannehill on injured reserve. They gave Joshua Dobbs
his first NFL start after signing him Dec. 21 off Detroit's practice
squad.NEW ORLEANS (AP) —
In an age of opt outs in college football, top NFL prospects for
Alabama and Kansas State are opting in at the Sugar Bowl. Alabama
quarterback Bryce Young and edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. headline
those players who could have skipped Saturday's game and the risk of
injury. Same goes for K-State running back Deuce Vaughn and defensive
end Felix Anudike-Uzomah. All decided to play. Anudike-Uzomah says he
and Vaughn worked three years to get the Wildcats to a major bowl and
that it's a “dream” to play against Alabama.ATLANTA (AP) —
Only months after Georgia defensive linemen and Ohio State wide
receivers combined to fill five first-round slots in the NFL draft,
those positions again boast top talent for the teams preparing to
meet in the College Football Playoff Peach Bowl semifinal. Despite
important losses in this year's draft, Saturday night’s Peach Bowl
will showcase evidence that No. 4 Ohio State and No. 1 Georgia
reloaded with more star players. Wide receiver again is a strength
for the Buckeyes with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka. Jalen
Carter leads another strong defensive front for the Bulldogs.SAN ANTONIO (AP) —
Michael Penix, Jr. threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns and No. 12
Washington held off No. 21 Texas 27-20 on Thursday night in the
Valero Alamo Bowl. Texas scored 10 late points, pulling within seven
on Bert Auburn’s 26-yard field goal with 1:40 remaining, but failed
on an onside kick try. The Longhorns (8-5) stopped the Huskies (11-2)
on the ensuing possession and took over on their own 16 with 32
seconds and got to the Washington 40 on the final play of the game.
Penix finished the season with 4,641 yards passing to break the
20-year-old Washington season mark of 4,458 set by Cody Pickett.ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) —
Jordan Travis threw for 418 yards and two touchdowns and No. 13
Florida State beat Oklahoma 35-32 on Thursday night in the Cheez-It
Bowl. Johnny Wilson made a one-handed grab for a 58-yard gain to set
up Ryan Fitzgerald’s 32-yard field goal with 55 seconds left. The
Seminoles (10-3) held on, sacking quarterback Dillon Gabriel on the
Sooners’ comeback bid. Jovante Barnes tied it at 32 for Oklahoma
(6-7) with 3:37 left on a 12-yard run. That was after Travis fired a
17-yard pass to tight end Markeston Douglas in the end zone to put
the Seminoles up 32-25 midway through the fourth. Florida State won
its first bowl since the 2017 season, and its first under coach Mike
Norvell.NEW YORK (AP) —
Mohamed Ibrahim rushed for 71 yards on 16 carries with a touchdown
and became Minnesota’s all-time rushing leader in the Golden
Gophers’ 28-20 win over Syracuse in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee
Stadium. Ibrahim broke the school record held by Darrell Thompson
(1986-89) on a 10-yard gain with about 2 1/2 minutes left in the
first half. Ibrahim finished with 71 yards on 16 carries before Trey
Potts replaced him in the backfield. Daniel Jackson hauled in a pair
of TD passes in the win.SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.
(AP) — Quentin Johnston came to TCU because of its coaching
stability. Now he's playing in the biggest football game of his
career because of a coaching change. Johnston embraced first-year
coach Sonny Dykes and is one of many reasons the Horned Frogs have
flourished this season with a 12-1 record. They'll face Michigan on
Saturday in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Fiesta
Bowl. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Johnston is expected to be a coveted
prize in this spring’s NFL draft. His size, speed and strong hands
have some evaluators saying he’ll be the first receiver drafted and
a potential top 10 pick.HOUSTON (AP) —
Texas Tech is denying claims by Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin that a
Red Raiders player spit on one of his players and possibly used a
racial slur in the Texas Bowl. There was pushing and shoving between
players after a fumble. When asked to clarify if a Texas Tech player
used a racial slur, Kiffin said he wasn’t sure but he said there
was a slur involved. Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire and Moore both
issued statements saying the allegations are false. The Red Raiders
beat Ole Miss, 42-25.WACO, Texas (AP) —
Matt Powledge is returning to Baylor as defensive coordinator after a
season away at Oregon. Powledge replaces Ron Roberts, who was fired
after the 6-6 regular season and has since become defensive
coordinator at Auburn for new coach Hugh Freeze. Before spending this
season as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Oregon,
Powledge had been on Aranda’s original staff at Baylor. Powledge, a
Texas native, was the Bears’ safeties coach and special team’s
coordinator in 2020 and 2021.SAO PAULO (AP) —
Pelé, Brazil’s mighty king of soccer, has died. He was 82. Since
2021, he had been undergoing treatment for colon cancer discovered
during a routine medical exam. Pelé was one of the most commanding
sports figures of the last century. He won a record three World Cups
with Brazil and was the standard-bearer of “the beautiful game”
with the national team and his club Santos. His exuberance and
mesmerizing moves transfixed generations of fans around the globe.
His flair personified his country’s samba-style elegance. Late in
his career, he helped popularize soccer in North America by joining
the New York Cosmos.INDIANAPOLIS (AP) —
Indiana’s Buddy Hield made the fastest 3-pointer on record when he
hit just three seconds into the Pacers’ game against Cleveland. The
opening tipoff was batted to Hield, who caught it behind the arc,
turned and shot. The ball went through with 11:57 remaining in the
first quarter, with Pacers center Myles Turner being credited with an
assist. ESPN Stats &amp; Info said the previous fastest 3-pointer in
an NBA game was by Pacers Hall of Famer Reggie Miller, who made one
four seconds into a game against Golden State on March 5, 2000.
Play-by-play has been recorded in the NBA since the 1996-97 season.THURSDAY SCORESNATIONAL FOOTBALL
LEAGUE
Final	Dallas	27	Tennessee	13	COLLEGE FOOTBALL
ALAMO: (12)Washington	27	(21)Texas	20	
CHEEZE-IT: (13)Florida St.	35	Oklahoma	32
PINSTRIPE: Minnesota 28, Syracuse 20	
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final	(1)Purdue	82	Florida A&amp;M	49	NATIONAL
BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final	Charlotte	121	Oklahoma City	113	
Final	Indiana	135	Cleveland	126	
Final	Boston	116	L.A. Clippers	110	
Final	Memphis	119	Toronto	106	
Final	San Antonio	122	New York	115	
Final	Dallas	129	Houston	114	NATIONAL HOCKEY
LEAGUE
Final	Buffalo	6	Detroit	3	
Final OT	Ottawa	4	Washington	3	
Final	Florida	7	Montreal	2	
Final SO	Tampa Bay	2	N-Y Rangers	1	
Final	N-Y Islanders	2	Columbus	1	
Final	St. Louis	3	Chicago	1	
Final	Winnipeg	4	Vancouver	2	
Final	Dallas	4	Minnesota	1	
Final	Arizona	6	Toronto	3	
Final SO	Los Angeles	5	Colorado	4	
Final OT	Philadelphia	4	San Jose	3

Friday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals were specific in their shopping list for a starting pitcher: They wanted someone capable of throwing a lot of innings, which would take some of the strain off the rest of their young and promising staff.

They decided that right-hander Jordan Lyles was the right fit.

The Royals announced their $17 million, two-year deal with the 32-year-old Lyles on Wednesday, a week after agreeing to terms with him. The Royals made space for him by designating for assignment first baseman Ryan O'Hearn, whom they had just re-signed last month to a $1.4 million contract to avoid salary arbitration.

“You never have enough pitching and you never have enough depth. The teams that went to the playoffs this year, they survived a lot of injuries because they had depth,” said Royals general manager J.J. Picollo, who signed left-hander Ryan Yarbrough to a one-year deal earlier in free agency.

“These two signs help us move in that direction where we can manage the season more effectively.”

Lyles has certainly proven to be durable the past couple of seasons. He made 32 starts for the Rangers in 2021, throwing 180 innings, and 32 more for the Orioles last season, when he tossed 179 innings and had a complete game.

“The reason we're excited about Jordan and Ryan,” Picollo said, “is when we look at their track record, they've been able to pitch significant innings. We're going into this season thinking between the two of them we can secure or stabilize 300 innings, which is a pretty good chunk between two pitchers.”

The trick is to make sure they're quality innings.

Lyles, who has played for seven teams over 12 seasons, was 12-11 with a 4.42 ERA in his lone year in Baltimore, and his best season came in 2018, when he went 12-8 with a 4.15 ERA during stints in Pittsburgh and Milwaukee. But Lyles is just 66-90 with a 5.10 ERA for his career, and his WAR — wins-above replacement — is a negative number.

Lyles said he's been working on some things during the offseason to gain a tick or two on his fastball, along with trying to be more consistent with his off-speed stuff. And there's some hope those tweaks, along with a new manager and coaching staff in Kansas City, will allow him to unlock his potential at a later stage in his career.

The Royals hired Matt Quatraro to replace Mike Matheny as manager shortly after the season. Quatraro arrived from Tampa Bay, which has a solid track record of maximizing pitchers. And his new pitching coach is Brian Sweeney, who had been the bullpen coach in Cleveland, which likewise has produced a stellar cast of pitchers over the years.

Lyles also can provide some veteran leadership for a staff full of 20-somethings such as Brady Singer and Kris Bubic.

“I've definitely been in that position the last couple of years," Lyles said, “but there's nothing I'm going to spring training searching for or looking to do. I just take pride in being the best teammate I can be.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals were specific in their shopping list for a starting pitcher: They wanted someone capable of throwing a lot of innings, which would take some of the strain off the rest of their young and promising staff.They decided that right-hander Jordan Lyles was the right fit.The Royals announced their $17 million, two-year deal with the 32-year-old Lyles on Wednesday, a week after agreeing to terms with him. The Royals made space for him by designating for assignment first baseman Ryan O'Hearn, whom they had just re-signed last month to a $1.4 million contract to avoid salary arbitration.“You never have enough pitching and you never have enough depth. The teams that went to the playoffs this year, they survived a lot of injuries because they had depth,” said Royals general manager J.J. Picollo, who signed left-hander Ryan Yarbrough to a one-year deal earlier in free agency.“These two signs help us move in that direction where we can manage the season more effectively.”Lyles has certainly proven to be durable the past couple of seasons. He made 32 starts for the Rangers in 2021, throwing 180 innings, and 32 more for the Orioles last season, when he tossed 179 innings and had a complete game.“The reason we're excited about Jordan and Ryan,” Picollo said, “is when we look at their track record, they've been able to pitch significant innings. We're going into this season thinking between the two of them we can secure or stabilize 300 innings, which is a pretty good chunk between two pitchers.”The trick is to make sure they're quality innings.Lyles, who has played for seven teams over 12 seasons, was 12-11 with a 4.42 ERA in his lone year in Baltimore, and his best season came in 2018, when he went 12-8 with a 4.15 ERA during stints in Pittsburgh and Milwaukee. But Lyles is just 66-90 with a 5.10 ERA for his career, and his WAR — wins-above replacement — is a negative number.Lyles said he's been working on some things during the offseason to gain a tick or two on his fastball, along with trying to be more consistent with his off-speed stuff. And there's some hope those tweaks, along with a new manager and coaching staff in Kansas City, will allow him to unlock his potential at a later stage in his career.The Royals hired Matt Quatraro to replace Mike Matheny as manager shortly after the season. Quatraro arrived from Tampa Bay, which has a solid track record of maximizing pitchers. And his new pitching coach is Brian Sweeney, who had been the bullpen coach in Cleveland, which likewise has produced a stellar cast of pitchers over the years.Lyles also can provide some veteran leadership for a staff full of 20-somethings such as Brady Singer and Kris Bubic.“I've definitely been in that position the last couple of years," Lyles said, “but there's nothing I'm going to spring training searching for or looking to do. I just take pride in being the best teammate I can be.”

Royals sign RHP Lyles to 2-year deal, hope for many innings

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs expect to have wide receiver Mecole Hardman on the field for the first time in nearly two months on Sunday when they play the Denver Broncos in the penultimate game of the regular season.

Hardman has been out since Nov. 6 with an abdominal injury that landed him on injured reserve. He returned to practice a couple of weeks ago, but the ailment caused the already lean Hardman to lose weight he's had to put back on. The time off also diminished the endurance.

“As the week went on," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said of last week, “he got a bit tired and sore, and I think that was good. He worked his way through what he needed to get through, and now it's a matter of getting him through a game.

“I presume," Reid said, “unless there's a setback that he'll be there.”

The Chiefs have overcome his loss by deploying their deep wide receiver group in different ways. The return of Kadarius Toney from a hamstring injury a couple of weeks ago has bought Hardman some additional time to recover.

Few players on the roster can match Hardman's speed, making him a unique downfield threat and very effective on jet sweeps. Hardman reached the end zone six times in the four games before he got hurt, three of them on touchdown passes and the other three on various rushing attempts.

“I think getting Mecole and KT back will just add another dimension,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. “I mean, they can do the jet sweeps and stuff like that, but just adding that speed to the field makes teams have to honor it."

It's not as if the Chiefs, who are 12-3 and tied with Buffalo for the best record in the AFC, have struggled without Hardman. Their offense leads the league in yards per game and trails only the Eagles in scoring.

“Marquez (Valdes-Scantling) has done a great job of filling that role and so has Skyy (Moore),” Mahomes said, noting the addition of Hardman and Toney will open things up for other players.

The Chiefs are among the league's healthiest teams as January approaches, getting tight end Blake Bell back for the first time last week. The AFC West champions' only notable absences are running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who remains on injured reserve with a high-ankle sprain, and tight end Jody Fortson, who is on IR with an elbow injury.

“(Edwards-Helaire is not ready yet. He's close but not ready," Reid said. "High-ankle sprains, those are tough deals on running backs. He's working through everything. He's busting his tail there.”

Reid said both have a chance to play in the postseason.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs expect to have wide receiver Mecole Hardman on the field for the first time in nearly two months on Sunday when they play the Denver Broncos in the penultimate game of the regular season.Hardman has been out since Nov. 6 with an abdominal injury that landed him on injured reserve. He returned to practice a couple of weeks ago, but the ailment caused the already lean Hardman to lose weight he's had to put back on. The time off also diminished the endurance.“As the week went on," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said of last week, “he got a bit tired and sore, and I think that was good. He worked his way through what he needed to get through, and now it's a matter of getting him through a game.“I presume," Reid said, “unless there's a setback that he'll be there.”The Chiefs have overcome his loss by deploying their deep wide receiver group in different ways. The return of Kadarius Toney from a hamstring injury a couple of weeks ago has bought Hardman some additional time to recover.Few players on the roster can match Hardman's speed, making him a unique downfield threat and very effective on jet sweeps. Hardman reached the end zone six times in the four games before he got hurt, three of them on touchdown passes and the other three on various rushing attempts.“I think getting Mecole and KT back will just add another dimension,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. “I mean, they can do the jet sweeps and stuff like that, but just adding that speed to the field makes teams have to honor it."It's not as if the Chiefs, who are 12-3 and tied with Buffalo for the best record in the AFC, have struggled without Hardman. Their offense leads the league in yards per game and trails only the Eagles in scoring.“Marquez (Valdes-Scantling) has done a great job of filling that role and so has Skyy (Moore),” Mahomes said, noting the addition of Hardman and Toney will open things up for other players.The Chiefs are among the league's healthiest teams as January approaches, getting tight end Blake Bell back for the first time last week. The AFC West champions' only notable absences are running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who remains on injured reserve with a high-ankle sprain, and tight end Jody Fortson, who is on IR with an elbow injury.“(Edwards-Helaire is not ready yet. He's close but not ready," Reid said. "High-ankle sprains, those are tough deals on running backs. He's working through everything. He's busting his tail there.”Reid said both have a chance to play in the postseason.

Chiefs expect WR Hardman back on field after nearly 2 months

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Darius Johnson's 15 points helped UCF defeat Wichita State 52-45 on Wednesday night to open American Athletic Conference play.

Johnson added five rebounds and four steals for the Knights (10-3). Taylor Hendricks scored nine points while going 4 of 11 (1 for 4 from distance), and added five rebounds. Brandon Suggs finished 4 of 5 from the field to finish with nine points.

Melvion Flanagan finished with 11 points for the Shockers (7-6). Jaron Pierre Jr. added seven points for Wichita State.

UCF led Wichita State at the half, 26-23, with Suggs (five points) their high scorer before the break. UCF outscored Wichita State by four points in the final half, while Johnson led the way with a team-high 12 second-half points.

These two teams both play Saturday. UCF visits Houston while Wichita State hosts East Carolina.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Darius Johnson's 15 points helped UCF defeat Wichita State 52-45 on Wednesday night to open American Athletic Conference play.Johnson added five rebounds and four steals for the Knights (10-3). Taylor Hendricks scored nine points while going 4 of 11 (1 for 4 from distance), and added five rebounds. Brandon Suggs finished 4 of 5 from the field to finish with nine points.Melvion Flanagan finished with 11 points for the Shockers (7-6). Jaron Pierre Jr. added seven points for Wichita State.UCF led Wichita State at the half, 26-23, with Suggs (five points) their high scorer before the break. UCF outscored Wichita State by four points in the final half, while Johnson led the way with a team-high 12 second-half points.NEXT UPThese two teams both play Saturday. UCF visits Houston while Wichita State hosts East Carolina.

UCF wins 52-45 against Wichita State

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Arkansas coach Sam Pittman admitted was exhausted after more than four hours of football. Who could blame him?

KJ Jefferson passed to Rashod Dubinion for a 2-point conversion in the third overtime and Arkansas held off a furious second-half rally by Kansas for a 55-53 win in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on Wednesday night.

The Jayhawks had rallied from 25 points down in the second half to force overtime, but failed on a 2-point conversion pass from Jason Bean to Lawrence Arnold in the third OT to end the marathon.

“What a game, what a crowd,” Pittman said. “I’m exhausted. I’m beat up. And I never played a snap.”

The longest game in the Liberty Bowl’s 64-year history set 24 records, including total points (108), total offense by one team (681 yards by Arkansas) and first downs (32 by Kansas).

Jefferson passed for 287 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 130 yards and two more scores to lead the Razorbacks.

“I just wanted to put my teammates in the best position to win and be able to tell the story (of winning the bowl game),” said Jefferson, the game’s MVP. “I’m proud of everyone.”

The Razorbacks (7-6) held leads of 38-13 (midway through the third quarter) and 38-23 (early in the fourth), but couldn’t stop the Jayhawks, who scored 25 straight to force the overtime. Kansas tied the game at 38 with 41 seconds left in regulation after recovering an onside kick with 1:05 to go. Jayhawks’ quarterback Jalon Daniels found Luke Grimm on 21-yard pass play and converted the 2-point conversion pass to Lawrence Arnold.

“We dug down deep and kept battling; we just couldn’t close it out,” Kansas coach Lance Leipold said.

Arkansas celebrated the win prematurely in the second overtime after stopping Daniels just shy of the goal line on a 2-point conversion try. But a targeting call on Arkansas’ Quincey McAdoo gave the Jayhawks another try, and they converted.

In the third overtime (only 2-point conversion attempts), Arkansas got the ball first and converted. Kansas (6-7) did not.

Daniels passed for 544 yards and five touchdowns. He set Liberty Bowl records for passing yards, touchdown passes, completions (37) and total TDs scored (6).

“It was a fun game to play in,” Daniels said. “The whole second half I played calm. A few times in the first half (he didn’t), I played outside myself. I’m sure after the first half a lot of people tuned us out.”

Arkansas and Kansas met for the first time in 116 years, and the Razorbacks used an old-school rushing attack to build their leads. Arkansas gained 394 of its 681 total yards on the ground. Dubinion added 112 yards for the Razorbacks.

Kansas played in its first bowl game since 2008, but was unable to stop a late-season streak in which it lost seven of its last eight games.

Arkansas was dominating despite playing with a roster thinned by opt-outs and transfer portal departures. The Razorbacks dressed only 51 scholarship players.

After leading 31-13 at halftime, Arkansas pushed its advantage to 38-13 midway through the third quarter on a 2-yard run by Dubinion. The TD punctuated an 80-yard drive.

But the 25-point deficit ignited the Jayhawks. Daniels passed for 342 yards and three touchdowns in the second half

“I do think there were so many situations where Kansas had to make the play and they did,” Pittman said. “Until the last one.”

During a span of eight seconds in the first quarter, Arkansas scored twice to erase a 7-3 deficit and take a 17-7 lead. An Arkansas interception two minutes later near the Razorbacks’ 10-yard line ignited a 73-yard scoring drive that ended on a short touchdown run by Jefferson for a 24-7 lead. Arkansas led 38-13 late in the third, building a big enough cushion to sustain a furious Kansas comeback.

Kansas was 2-10 in 2021 and finished last in the Big 12. But Leipold engineered a turnaround in 2022 that included a 5-1 start. The Jayhawks averaged more than seven yards per play this season to break a school record set in 1950 (6.4). “Things are moving in the right direction,” Leipold said. “Sometimes I like to defer to you guys (Kansas media) and ask your opinion. I’m not being sarcastic. But I do think we’re trending in the right direction.”

Arkansas: Begins its fourth season under Pittman against Western Carolina on Sept. 2.

Kansas: Opens Leipold’s third season, also on Sept. 2, at home against the Missouri State.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Arkansas coach Sam Pittman admitted was exhausted after more than four hours of football. Who could blame him?KJ Jefferson passed to Rashod Dubinion for a 2-point conversion in the third overtime and Arkansas held off a furious second-half rally by Kansas for a 55-53 win in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on Wednesday night.The Jayhawks had rallied from 25 points down in the second half to force overtime, but failed on a 2-point conversion pass from Jason Bean to Lawrence Arnold in the third OT to end the marathon.“What a game, what a crowd,” Pittman said. “I’m exhausted. I’m beat up. And I never played a snap.”The longest game in the Liberty Bowl’s 64-year history set 24 records, including total points (108), total offense by one team (681 yards by Arkansas) and first downs (32 by Kansas).Jefferson passed for 287 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 130 yards and two more scores to lead the Razorbacks.“I just wanted to put my teammates in the best position to win and be able to tell the story (of winning the bowl game),” said Jefferson, the game’s MVP. “I’m proud of everyone.”The Razorbacks (7-6) held leads of 38-13 (midway through the third quarter) and 38-23 (early in the fourth), but couldn’t stop the Jayhawks, who scored 25 straight to force the overtime. Kansas tied the game at 38 with 41 seconds left in regulation after recovering an onside kick with 1:05 to go. Jayhawks’ quarterback Jalon Daniels found Luke Grimm on 21-yard pass play and converted the 2-point conversion pass to Lawrence Arnold.“We dug down deep and kept battling; we just couldn’t close it out,” Kansas coach Lance Leipold said.Arkansas celebrated the win prematurely in the second overtime after stopping Daniels just shy of the goal line on a 2-point conversion try. But a targeting call on Arkansas’ Quincey McAdoo gave the Jayhawks another try, and they converted.In the third overtime (only 2-point conversion attempts), Arkansas got the ball first and converted. Kansas (6-7) did not.Daniels passed for 544 yards and five touchdowns. He set Liberty Bowl records for passing yards, touchdown passes, completions (37) and total TDs scored (6).“It was a fun game to play in,” Daniels said. “The whole second half I played calm. A few times in the first half (he didn’t), I played outside myself. I’m sure after the first half a lot of people tuned us out.”Arkansas and Kansas met for the first time in 116 years, and the Razorbacks used an old-school rushing attack to build their leads. Arkansas gained 394 of its 681 total yards on the ground. Dubinion added 112 yards for the Razorbacks.Kansas played in its first bowl game since 2008, but was unable to stop a late-season streak in which it lost seven of its last eight games.Arkansas was dominating despite playing with a roster thinned by opt-outs and transfer portal departures. The Razorbacks dressed only 51 scholarship players.After leading 31-13 at halftime, Arkansas pushed its advantage to 38-13 midway through the third quarter on a 2-yard run by Dubinion. The TD punctuated an 80-yard drive.But the 25-point deficit ignited the Jayhawks. Daniels passed for 342 yards and three touchdowns in the second half“I do think there were so many situations where Kansas had to make the play and they did,” Pittman said. “Until the last one.”THE TAKEAWAYDuring a span of eight seconds in the first quarter, Arkansas scored twice to erase a 7-3 deficit and take a 17-7 lead. An Arkansas interception two minutes later near the Razorbacks’ 10-yard line ignited a 73-yard scoring drive that ended on a short touchdown run by Jefferson for a 24-7 lead. Arkansas led 38-13 late in the third, building a big enough cushion to sustain a furious Kansas comeback.IT’S NOT KANSAS ANYMOREKansas was 2-10 in 2021 and finished last in the Big 12. But Leipold engineered a turnaround in 2022 that included a 5-1 start. The Jayhawks averaged more than seven yards per play this season to break a school record set in 1950 (6.4). “Things are moving in the right direction,” Leipold said. “Sometimes I like to defer to you guys (Kansas media) and ask your opinion. I’m not being sarcastic. But I do think we’re trending in the right direction.”UP NEXTArkansas: Begins its fourth season under Pittman against Western Carolina on Sept. 2.Kansas: Opens Leipold’s third season, also on Sept. 2, at home against the Missouri State.

Arkansas withstands furious Kansas rally, wins Liberty Bowl

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The winningest program in college basketball history, Kansas, is celebrating its 125th year of play during the 2022-23 season and will host a 125th reunion on Saturday, Jan. 14 when the Jayhawks host Iowa State in historic Allen Fieldhouse. The game will feature an on-court recognition honoring past Jayhawks in attendance. Additionally, the first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive a commemorative pennant celebrating 125 years of Kansas Basketball.

In 1997-98, Kansas basketball celebrated its rich tradition by recognizing its 100th season of existence and every five years since, KU has hosted reunions bringing back coaches, players and staff.

The Iowa State contest on Jan. 14, which will start at 3 p.m. (Central) and be televised on Big 12 NOW via ESPN+, will feature recognitions throughout the contest. Ticket information for the Iowa State game and other remaining home games in Allen Fieldhouse can be found here.

-Is the all-time winningest program with 2,368 victories

-Has won six NCAA national championships, four in the NCAA era (1922, 1923, 1952, 1988, 2008, 2022)

-Has had only eight head coaches in its 125 seasons

-Has won an NCAA-record 63 overall conference regular-season titles, including an NCAA record 14-consecutive from 2005-2018

-Has 31 Consensus All-America First Team selections, the most in NCAA Division I

-Has 21 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame members

-Has 39 current consecutive winning seasons beginning in 1983-84, the longest active streak in the NCAA

-Has 342 consecutive sellouts in Allen Fieldhouse dating back to the second game of the 2001-02 season

-Has posted 16 seasons of 30 or more wins, which tied for the most in NCAA history

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672242266712.jpeg" alt="Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. – The winningest program in college basketball history, Kansas, is celebrating its 125th year of play during the 2022-23 season and will host a 125th reunion on Saturday, Jan. 14 when the Jayhawks host Iowa State in historic Allen Fieldhouse. The game will feature an on-court recognition honoring past Jayhawks in attendance. Additionally, the first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive a commemorative pennant celebrating 125 years of Kansas Basketball.In 1997-98, Kansas basketball celebrated its rich tradition by recognizing its 100th season of existence and every five years since, KU has hosted reunions bringing back coaches, players and staff.The Iowa State contest on Jan. 14, which will start at 3 p.m. (Central) and be televised on Big 12 NOW via ESPN+, will feature recognitions throughout the contest. Ticket information for the Iowa State game and other remaining home games in Allen Fieldhouse can be found here.Kansas basketball…-Is the all-time winningest program with 2,368 victories-Has won six NCAA national championships, four in the NCAA era (1922, 1923, 1952, 1988, 2008, 2022)-Has had only eight head coaches in its 125 seasons-Has won an NCAA-record 63 overall conference regular-season titles, including an NCAA record 14-consecutive from 2005-2018-Has 31 Consensus All-America First Team selections, the most in NCAA Division I-Has 21 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame members-Has 24 retired jerseys-Has 39 current consecutive winning seasons beginning in 1983-84, the longest active streak in the NCAA-Has 342 consecutive sellouts in Allen Fieldhouse dating back to the second game of the 2001-02 season-Has posted 16 seasons of 30 or more wins, which tied for the most in NCAA history

Kansas Basketball to Celebrate 125 Years on Jan. 14


- The final show of 2022 will
include Sports Day alumni co-host's Lyles Lashley and Mike Marzolf
who will be joined by regular hosts Steve Webster, Mike Courson and
Mike Hesher with an appearance by KVGB football insider Aaron Clark.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661542094252.jpeg" alt="Presented By" />
 <figcaption>Presented By</figcaption>
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- The final show of 2022 will
include Sports Day alumni co-host's Lyles Lashley and Mike Marzolf
who will be joined by regular hosts Steve Webster, Mike Courson and
Mike Hesher with an appearance by KVGB football insider Aaron Clark.
- Wednesday Sports Headlines
- Sound of the past 24-hours

(WATCH) Wednesday on Sports Day

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Junior Nae'Qwan Tomlin earned his first career weekly award on Tuesday afternoon (December 27), as he was selected as the Big 12 co-Newcomer of the Week after his near double-double performance in the Wildcats' 73-65 win over Radford on Dec. 21.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672242061041.jpeg" alt="Kansas State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Kansas State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kan. – Junior Nae'Qwan Tomlin earned his first career weekly award on Tuesday afternoon (December 27), as he was selected as the Big 12 co-Newcomer of the Week after his near double-double performance in the Wildcats' 73-65 win over Radford on Dec. 21.Tomlin led four Wildcats in double figures in the win over the Highlanders with a season-high 26 points to help K-State (11-1) extend its winning streak to 5 games and continue its best start to a season since 2016-17. It was his first career 20-point game, as he connected on 11-of-18 field goals, which included 4 dunks, to go with a 3-pointer and all 3 free throws attempted. He also tied a season-high with 9 rebounds to go with 2 blocks, 1 assist and 1 steal in 33 minutes. He has now scored in double figures in 5 consecutive games, where he is averaging 16.4 points per game. He shared the weekly honor with Oklahoma's Grant Sherfield.A 6-foot-10, 210-pound forward from Harlem, N.Y., Tomlin leads the Wildcats in dunks (22) and blocked shots (1.2 bpg.), while he is second in field goals made (53) and rebounding (6.1 rpg.) and third in scoring (11.7 ppg.) and steals (1.2 spg.). He is connecting on 47.7 percent (53-of-111) from the field and 75.8 percent (25-of-33) from the free throw line. He ranks among the Big 12's top-20 in 5 categories, including blocked shots (fourth), rebounding (ninth), defensive rebounds (4.0 drpg./10th), offensive rebounds (2.08 orpg./11th) and scoring (19th).Tomlin is the second Wildcat to capture Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honors this season, as teammate Keyontae Johnson has won it twice on Nov. 14 and Dec. 19. Overall, it marks the school's 35th Newcomer of the Week honor since the inception of the Big 12 in 1997, including the third under head coach Jerome Tang.Tomlin, along with Johnson and senior Markquis Nowell, have combined for four Player of the Week honors.K-State returns from its 10-day holiday break on New Year's Eve by hosting No. 24/24 West Virginia (10-2) at 6 p.m., CT on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ in the Big 12 opener at Bramlage Coliseum. Tickets start at just $15 and can be purchased by visiting k-statesports.com, calling (800) 221.CATS, or in-person at the Bramlage Coliseum ticket office from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., CT, Monday through Friday.