ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Ty Zentner kicked a 31-yard field goal in overtime as 13th-ranked Kansas State beat No. 3 and previously undefeated TCU 31-28 in the Big 12 championship game. That leaves the 12-1 Horned Frogs to wait until Sunday to find out if they had already done enough to get into the four-team College Football Playoff. TCU could still get in the playoff. Its case was helped when fourth-ranked Southern California lost to Utah in the Pac-12 championship game. Deuce Vaughn ran for 130 yards and a touchdown and Will Howard threw two TDs for the 10-3 Wildcats.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Deuce Vaughn remembers coach Chris Klieman telling him about building a winning culture when he was recruiting the running back to Kansas State. Consider that a promise kept. Vaughn ran for 130 yards with a 44-yard touchdown and was the game’s MVP as the 13th-ranked Wildcats beat third-ranked playoff hopeful TCU 31-28 in the Big 12 championship game. Former backup Will Howard threw two touchdowns and Ty Zentner kicked a 31-yard field goal in overtime Saturday The Wildcats are likely headed to the Sugar Bowl after they reached 10 wins for the first time since 2012.

UNDATED (AP) — Alabama is going to get one last look from the College Football Playoff selection committee. Whether the Crimson Tide deserves it is debatable, at best, but after both TCU and Southern California lost on championship weekend the committee has to at least talk about making Alabama the first team with two losses to make the playoff. The field of four will be set Sunday. TCU coach Sonny Dykes said he was concerned about the Frogs' playoff status, but that he also had faith in the committee.

ATLANTA (AP) — With all sorts of turmoil behind them, No. 1 Georgia left no doubt about the top team heading into the College Football Playoff. The Bulldogs dismantled No. 11 LSU 50-30 in the Southeastern Conference championship game, earning a return trip to Atlanta on New Year's Eve for the Peach Bowl. Stetson Bennett’s threw a season-high four touchdown passes. Christopher Smith gave Georgia an early spark with a heads-up play that turned a seemingly harmless blocked field goal into a 96-yard TD. Georgia also turned a deflected pass off an LSU receiver's helmet into an interception that set up a TD.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Donovan Edwards ran for 185 yards and a score, J.J. McCarthy threw three touchdown passes and No. 2 Michigan beat Purdue 43-22 on Saturday night for its second straight Big Ten title and a likely No. 2 playoff seed. College football’s winningest program has the first 13-win season in school history. Two more victories would give the Wolverines (13-0, No. 2 CFP) their first national championship since 1997. And with injured star Blake Corum sidelined by a season-ending left knee injury, Edwards stole the show for the second straight week. Purdue dropped to 8-5.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Backup quarterback Cade Klubnik completed 20 of 24 passes for 279 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score and No. 10 Clemson reclaimed the Atlantic Coast Conference championship with a 39-10 victory over No. 24 North Carolina on Saturday night. Cornerback Nate Wiggins broke up two passes in the end zone, blocked a field goal and returned an interception 98 yards for a touchdown to help the Tigers win their seventh ACC title in eight seasons. Clemson (11-2, No. 9 CFP) won six straight ACC championships from 2015 to 2020 before failing to reach the title game last season. But coach Dabo Swinney’s Tigers rebounded in a big way, going 9-0 against ACC foes this season to reach the Orange Bowl.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — No. 12 Utah pounded a limping, bloodied Caleb Williams and roared past fourth-ranked Southern California 47-24 to not only win the Pac-12 Championship, but all but end USC’s College Football Playoff hopes. The loss by the Trojans could open the way for Ohio State to find a way in the CFP. USC is fourth in the CFP rankings, the Buckeyes are one step behind. Utah is heading to the Rose Bowl, but the Utes already were going there regardless of this outcome. They are responsible for USC’s only losses, having edged the Trojans 43-42 on Oct. 15 in Salt Lake City.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Keyontae Johnson scored 17 points, Marquis Nowell hit a go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute and Kansas State had the last rally in a 55-50 victory over Wichita State. Gus Okafor’s 3-pointer gave Wichita State a 45-39 lead with 10:02 left to play, but the Shockers didn’t score again until Quincy Ballard made 1 of 2 free throws with 5:14 remaining. Kansas State (7-1) took a 49-46, but Ballard sank two free throws, Craig Porter Jr. buried a jumper and Wichita State (4-4) grabbed a 50-49 lead with 2:13 to go. Nowell sank 1 of 2 free throws to knot the score, then stole the ball and sank a 3-pointer with an assist from Desi Sills to put K-State up 53-50 with 54 seconds left.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Caleb Daniels scored 22 points and top freshman Cam Whitmore brought instant energy in his debut following a thumb injury to lead Villanova to a 70-66 win over Oklahoma in the first game with former Wildcats coach Jay Wright in the broadcast booth. Wright wore a headset on the CBS broadcast for both his broadcast debut and the first collegiate game for Whitmore, arguably his most prized recruit over his Hall of Fame coaching career. Wright never coached Whitmore following his stunning resignation in April after he won two national championships and took the Wildcats to the Final Four last season.

CINCINNATI (AP) — Souley Boum scored 23 points, Jack Nunge added 17 points and 14 rebounds, and Xavier defeated West Virginia 84-74 in the Big East-Big 12 Battle. Boum, coming off an all-tournament performance at the Phil Knight Legacy, added seven assists and four rebounds. He attempted only eight shots but made 11 of 14 free throws. After trailing 43-36 at halftime, Xavier made a push early in the second half and took a 56-55 lead on a jumper by Nunge with 12:53 remaining. After the 4-minute media timeout, Boum made three free throws that began a stretch in which he scored nine of Xavier’s next 10 points and the Musketeers won going away.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Adam Flagler hit a pair of 3s as No. 6 Baylor scored the final eight points of the game to rally past No. 14 Gonzaga 64-63. Gonzaga’s Rasir Bolton missed a wild, driving layup try at the buzzer. The Bears are 6-2. They trailed 63-56 before Flagler hit a 3-pointer with 1:33 left. Flagler’s 3 with just over a minute to play cut Baylor’s deficit to 63-62. Flagler later missed a 3-point attempt, but teammate Jalen Bridges was fouled by Drew Timme on the rebound attempt. Bridges hit two free throws with 16 seconds left for the lead. Freshman Keyonte George had 18 points and seven rebounds for Baylor. Flagler had 11 points. Malchi Smith scored 16 points for Gonzaga. The Zags are 5-3.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark says the conference is already getting younger and more contemporary. That is just like he hoped when he took the job during the summer. The football is pretty good, too. Speaking at the league’s championship game Saturday, Yormark says this has been probably the league’s most exciting football season in years. He says third-ranked TCU has captured the imagination of fans all over the country. He adds attendance and ratings were up league-wide with eight of the 10 teams being bowl eligible. The league is also finalizing an extension of its media rights deal with ESPN and Fox.

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Deion Sanders is taking over as head coach at Colorado, bringing his charisma and larger-than-life persona to a beleaguered Pac-12 program that’s plunged to the bottom of college football. The deal was announced Saturday by CU athletic director Rick George. The Pro Football Hall of Famer has been at Jackson State, a historically Black college that plays in the NCAA’s second tier of Division I, since 2020. Sanders has guided the Tigers to consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference titles. The Tigers beat Southern in the SWAC championship game Saturday in Jackson, Mississippi. A few hours later, Colorado announced he was coming to Boulder. The Tigers went 27-5 in the Sanders era. Colorado is coming off a 1-11 season.

Final	(10)Clemson	39	(24)North Carolina	10	

Final	(1)Houston	53	Saint Mary's (Cal.)	48	

Final	(25)Ohio St.	96	St. Francis (Pa.)	59

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663782628157.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Ty Zentner kicked a 31-yard field goal in overtime as 13th-ranked Kansas State beat No. 3 and previously undefeated TCU 31-28 in the Big 12 championship game. That leaves the 12-1 Horned Frogs to wait until Sunday to find out if they had already done enough to get into the four-team College Football Playoff. TCU could still get in the playoff. Its case was helped when fourth-ranked Southern California lost to Utah in the Pac-12 championship game. Deuce Vaughn ran for 130 yards and a touchdown and Will Howard threw two TDs for the 10-3 Wildcats.ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Deuce Vaughn remembers coach Chris Klieman telling him about building a winning culture when he was recruiting the running back to Kansas State. Consider that a promise kept. Vaughn ran for 130 yards with a 44-yard touchdown and was the game’s MVP as the 13th-ranked Wildcats beat third-ranked playoff hopeful TCU 31-28 in the Big 12 championship game. Former backup Will Howard threw two touchdowns and Ty Zentner kicked a 31-yard field goal in overtime Saturday The Wildcats are likely headed to the Sugar Bowl after they reached 10 wins for the first time since 2012.UNDATED (AP) — Alabama is going to get one last look from the College Football Playoff selection committee. Whether the Crimson Tide deserves it is debatable, at best, but after both TCU and Southern California lost on championship weekend the committee has to at least talk about making Alabama the first team with two losses to make the playoff. The field of four will be set Sunday. TCU coach Sonny Dykes said he was concerned about the Frogs' playoff status, but that he also had faith in the committee.ATLANTA (AP) — With all sorts of turmoil behind them, No. 1 Georgia left no doubt about the top team heading into the College Football Playoff. The Bulldogs dismantled No. 11 LSU 50-30 in the Southeastern Conference championship game, earning a return trip to Atlanta on New Year's Eve for the Peach Bowl. Stetson Bennett’s threw a season-high four touchdown passes. Christopher Smith gave Georgia an early spark with a heads-up play that turned a seemingly harmless blocked field goal into a 96-yard TD. Georgia also turned a deflected pass off an LSU receiver's helmet into an interception that set up a TD.INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Donovan Edwards ran for 185 yards and a score, J.J. McCarthy threw three touchdown passes and No. 2 Michigan beat Purdue 43-22 on Saturday night for its second straight Big Ten title and a likely No. 2 playoff seed. College football’s winningest program has the first 13-win season in school history. Two more victories would give the Wolverines (13-0, No. 2 CFP) their first national championship since 1997. And with injured star Blake Corum sidelined by a season-ending left knee injury, Edwards stole the show for the second straight week. Purdue dropped to 8-5.CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Backup quarterback Cade Klubnik completed 20 of 24 passes for 279 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score and No. 10 Clemson reclaimed the Atlantic Coast Conference championship with a 39-10 victory over No. 24 North Carolina on Saturday night. Cornerback Nate Wiggins broke up two passes in the end zone, blocked a field goal and returned an interception 98 yards for a touchdown to help the Tigers win their seventh ACC title in eight seasons. Clemson (11-2, No. 9 CFP) won six straight ACC championships from 2015 to 2020 before failing to reach the title game last season. But coach Dabo Swinney’s Tigers rebounded in a big way, going 9-0 against ACC foes this season to reach the Orange Bowl.LAS VEGAS (AP) — No. 12 Utah pounded a limping, bloodied Caleb Williams and roared past fourth-ranked Southern California 47-24 to not only win the Pac-12 Championship, but all but end USC’s College Football Playoff hopes. The loss by the Trojans could open the way for Ohio State to find a way in the CFP. USC is fourth in the CFP rankings, the Buckeyes are one step behind. Utah is heading to the Rose Bowl, but the Utes already were going there regardless of this outcome. They are responsible for USC’s only losses, having edged the Trojans 43-42 on Oct. 15 in Salt Lake City.MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Keyontae Johnson scored 17 points, Marquis Nowell hit a go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute and Kansas State had the last rally in a 55-50 victory over Wichita State. Gus Okafor’s 3-pointer gave Wichita State a 45-39 lead with 10:02 left to play, but the Shockers didn’t score again until Quincy Ballard made 1 of 2 free throws with 5:14 remaining. Kansas State (7-1) took a 49-46, but Ballard sank two free throws, Craig Porter Jr. buried a jumper and Wichita State (4-4) grabbed a 50-49 lead with 2:13 to go. Nowell sank 1 of 2 free throws to knot the score, then stole the ball and sank a 3-pointer with an assist from Desi Sills to put K-State up 53-50 with 54 seconds left.PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Caleb Daniels scored 22 points and top freshman Cam Whitmore brought instant energy in his debut following a thumb injury to lead Villanova to a 70-66 win over Oklahoma in the first game with former Wildcats coach Jay Wright in the broadcast booth. Wright wore a headset on the CBS broadcast for both his broadcast debut and the first collegiate game for Whitmore, arguably his most prized recruit over his Hall of Fame coaching career. Wright never coached Whitmore following his stunning resignation in April after he won two national championships and took the Wildcats to the Final Four last season.CINCINNATI (AP) — Souley Boum scored 23 points, Jack Nunge added 17 points and 14 rebounds, and Xavier defeated West Virginia 84-74 in the Big East-Big 12 Battle. Boum, coming off an all-tournament performance at the Phil Knight Legacy, added seven assists and four rebounds. He attempted only eight shots but made 11 of 14 free throws. After trailing 43-36 at halftime, Xavier made a push early in the second half and took a 56-55 lead on a jumper by Nunge with 12:53 remaining. After the 4-minute media timeout, Boum made three free throws that began a stretch in which he scored nine of Xavier’s next 10 points and the Musketeers won going away.SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Adam Flagler hit a pair of 3s as No. 6 Baylor scored the final eight points of the game to rally past No. 14 Gonzaga 64-63. Gonzaga’s Rasir Bolton missed a wild, driving layup try at the buzzer. The Bears are 6-2. They trailed 63-56 before Flagler hit a 3-pointer with 1:33 left. Flagler’s 3 with just over a minute to play cut Baylor’s deficit to 63-62. Flagler later missed a 3-point attempt, but teammate Jalen Bridges was fouled by Drew Timme on the rebound attempt. Bridges hit two free throws with 16 seconds left for the lead. Freshman Keyonte George had 18 points and seven rebounds for Baylor. Flagler had 11 points. Malchi Smith scored 16 points for Gonzaga. The Zags are 5-3.ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark says the conference is already getting younger and more contemporary. That is just like he hoped when he took the job during the summer. The football is pretty good, too. Speaking at the league’s championship game Saturday, Yormark says this has been probably the league’s most exciting football season in years. He says third-ranked TCU has captured the imagination of fans all over the country. He adds attendance and ratings were up league-wide with eight of the 10 teams being bowl eligible. The league is also finalizing an extension of its media rights deal with ESPN and Fox.BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Deion Sanders is taking over as head coach at Colorado, bringing his charisma and larger-than-life persona to a beleaguered Pac-12 program that’s plunged to the bottom of college football. The deal was announced Saturday by CU athletic director Rick George. The Pro Football Hall of Famer has been at Jackson State, a historically Black college that plays in the NCAA’s second tier of Division I, since 2020. Sanders has guided the Tigers to consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference titles. The Tigers beat Southern in the SWAC championship game Saturday in Jackson, Mississippi. A few hours later, Colorado announced he was coming to Boulder. The Tigers went 27-5 in the Sanders era. Colorado is coming off a 1-11 season.SATURDAY SCORESTOP-25 COLLEGE FOOTBALLFinal	(1)Georgia	50	(11)LSU	30	Final	(13)Kansas St.	31	(3)TCU	28	Final	(18)Tulane	45	(22)UCF	28	Final	(10)Clemson	39	(24)North Carolina	10	Final	(2)Michigan	43	Purdue	22	TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALLFinal	(1)Houston	53	Saint Mary's (Cal.)	48	Final	(3)Virginia	62	Florida St.	57	Final	Rutgers	63	(10)Indiana	48	Final	(11)Arkansas	99	San Jose St.	58	Final	(11)Alabama	78	S. Dakota St.	65	Final	(17)Duke	75	Boston College	59	Final	(25)Ohio St.	96	St. Francis (Pa.)	59NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATIONFinal	Dallas	121	New York	100	Final	Sacramento	123	L.A. Clippers	96	Final	Milwaukee	105	Charlotte	96	Final	Toronto	121	Orlando	108	Final	Oklahoma City	135	Minnesota	128	Final	Golden State	120	Houston	101	Final	Portland	116	Utah	111	NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUEFinal SO	Minnesota	5	Anaheim	4	Final	New Jersey	3	Philadelphia	2	Final	Vegas	4	Detroit	1	Final	Pittsburgh	6	St. Louis	2	Final	Ottawa	5	San Jose	2	Final	Edmonton	5	Montreal	3	Final	Boston	5	Colorado	1	Final OT	Tampa Bay	4	Toronto	3	Final	Chicago	5	N-Y Rangers	2	Final	Florida	5	Seattle	1	Final	Calgary	5	Washington	2	Final OT	Vancouver	3	Arizona	2	Final	Carolina	4	Los Angeles	2

Sunday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

AL RAYYAN, Qatar (AP) — Christian Pulisic covered his face as he walked off. Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Kellyn Acosta gathered for a group hug. Tim Weah, DeAndre Yedlin and Sean Johnson sat on the field in a small circle with their cleats off.

“It hurts after a tough loss like that when we feel like we could have had more,” Pulisic said, managing a voice only just above a whisper. “We don't want to feel like this again.”

The United States' return to the World Cup ended with a 3-1 loss to the Netherlands on Saturday in the round of 16. While the Oranje extended their unbeaten streak to 19 games and advanced to a quarterfinal with Argentina, the Americans contemplated how far they came and how short they fell.

Defensive lapses gave the Dutch a treat as Memphis Depay scored in the 10th minute and Daley Blind in first-half stoppage time.

U.S. hope revived when Pulisic's cross hit the trailing foot of second-half substitute Haji Wright and popped over goalkeeper Andries Noppert and into the net in the 76th. But Denzel Dumfries, named after actor Denzel Washington, scored on a volley in the 81st after assisting on the first two goals.

“The American public should be optimistic,” said Gregg Berhalter, the first person to play for and coach the U.S. team at a World Cup. “When you look at the way we wanted to play and did play, it should be positive.”

The U.S. hasn't reached the quarterfinals since 2002 and was eliminated in the first knockout round, just like in 2010 and 2014.

After the American failure to qualify for the 2018, Yedlin was the only holdover on a roster that was the tournament's second-youngest, averaging just over 25 years.

“Now they know that feeling of what it’s like to lose after putting so much into it,” the 29-year-old defender said, “and the feeling of defeat from the past can only fuel success in the future.”

The U.S. is winless in 12 games against European opponents at the World Cup since 2002 and has won once and lost seven in knockout rounds since the championship launched in 1930.

“This tournament has really restored a lot of belief, restored a lot of respect to U.S. soccer and to soccer in our country,” McKennie said. “I think we’ve shown that we can be giants eventually. Maybe we may not be there yet, but I think we’re definitely on our way.”

Before a crowd of 44,846 at the renovated Khalifa International Stadium, Pulisic had a chance to put the U.S. ahead in the third minute. McKennie knocked a poor clearance back into the penalty area, but Noppert blocked his point-blank shot with his left thigh.

“I thought I was way offside when it happened, but I still hit it and he made a good save,” Pulisic said.

The Dutch went ahead when Cody Gakpo played the ball to Dumfries on the right flank. Depay sprinted into the penalty area as Adams failed to track him, and Dumfries one-timed a cross that Depay redirected inside Matt Turner's far post for the first goal against the U.S. during the run of play in the tournament.

Blind scored in the first minute of stoppage time. Following a throw-in, Dumfries got a cross around Adams and Blind beat a late-arriving Sergiño Dest to the ball at the penalty spot for his first international goal in eight years.

Wright entered in the 67th and scored his second international goal on the unusual touch from three yards out, sparking U.S. hopes. But Dumfries was left unmarked by Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson and scored off Blind’s cross from six yards for his sixth goal.

"When you play a team with so much quality like that and you give them three, four chances, they’re going to put three or four away,” Adams said. “We can show that we can hang with some of the best teams in the world, some of the best players in world, and that’s a lot of progress for U.S. soccer.”

Players didn't want to leave the field at first, wanting more time together.

“Just putting perspective and reflecting on the journey,” Yedlin said. “Just giving thanks to the Earth. After every training and game we try to do a thing called grounding. It just helps put in perspective to come, good or bad.”

Others absorbed the defeat without words.

“Just looking around that locker room, the silence is deafening,” Turner said. “We all want to create moments for people back at home to fall in love with the game and tonight was not one of those nights, unfortunately.”

Depay took sole possession of second in the Dutch career scoring list with 43 goals, trailing only Robin van Persie’s 50.

The Americans begin the 2026 cycle with a match against Serbia on Jan. 25 in Los Angeles.

AL RAYYAN, Qatar (AP) — Christian Pulisic covered his face as he walked off. Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Kellyn Acosta gathered for a group hug. Tim Weah, DeAndre Yedlin and Sean Johnson sat on the field in a small circle with their cleats off.“It hurts after a tough loss like that when we feel like we could have had more,” Pulisic said, managing a voice only just above a whisper. “We don't want to feel like this again.”The United States' return to the World Cup ended with a 3-1 loss to the Netherlands on Saturday in the round of 16. While the Oranje extended their unbeaten streak to 19 games and advanced to a quarterfinal with Argentina, the Americans contemplated how far they came and how short they fell.Defensive lapses gave the Dutch a treat as Memphis Depay scored in the 10th minute and Daley Blind in first-half stoppage time.U.S. hope revived when Pulisic's cross hit the trailing foot of second-half substitute Haji Wright and popped over goalkeeper Andries Noppert and into the net in the 76th. But Denzel Dumfries, named after actor Denzel Washington, scored on a volley in the 81st after assisting on the first two goals.“The American public should be optimistic,” said Gregg Berhalter, the first person to play for and coach the U.S. team at a World Cup. “When you look at the way we wanted to play and did play, it should be positive.”The U.S. hasn't reached the quarterfinals since 2002 and was eliminated in the first knockout round, just like in 2010 and 2014.After the American failure to qualify for the 2018, Yedlin was the only holdover on a roster that was the tournament's second-youngest, averaging just over 25 years.“Now they know that feeling of what it’s like to lose after putting so much into it,” the 29-year-old defender said, “and the feeling of defeat from the past can only fuel success in the future.”The U.S. is winless in 12 games against European opponents at the World Cup since 2002 and has won once and lost seven in knockout rounds since the championship launched in 1930.“This tournament has really restored a lot of belief, restored a lot of respect to U.S. soccer and to soccer in our country,” McKennie said. “I think we’ve shown that we can be giants eventually. Maybe we may not be there yet, but I think we’re definitely on our way.”Before a crowd of 44,846 at the renovated Khalifa International Stadium, Pulisic had a chance to put the U.S. ahead in the third minute. McKennie knocked a poor clearance back into the penalty area, but Noppert blocked his point-blank shot with his left thigh.“I thought I was way offside when it happened, but I still hit it and he made a good save,” Pulisic said.The Dutch went ahead when Cody Gakpo played the ball to Dumfries on the right flank. Depay sprinted into the penalty area as Adams failed to track him, and Dumfries one-timed a cross that Depay redirected inside Matt Turner's far post for the first goal against the U.S. during the run of play in the tournament.Blind scored in the first minute of stoppage time. Following a throw-in, Dumfries got a cross around Adams and Blind beat a late-arriving Sergiño Dest to the ball at the penalty spot for his first international goal in eight years.Wright entered in the 67th and scored his second international goal on the unusual touch from three yards out, sparking U.S. hopes. But Dumfries was left unmarked by Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson and scored off Blind’s cross from six yards for his sixth goal."When you play a team with so much quality like that and you give them three, four chances, they’re going to put three or four away,” Adams said. “We can show that we can hang with some of the best teams in the world, some of the best players in world, and that’s a lot of progress for U.S. soccer.”Players didn't want to leave the field at first, wanting more time together.“Just putting perspective and reflecting on the journey,” Yedlin said. “Just giving thanks to the Earth. After every training and game we try to do a thing called grounding. It just helps put in perspective to come, good or bad.”Others absorbed the defeat without words.“Just looking around that locker room, the silence is deafening,” Turner said. “We all want to create moments for people back at home to fall in love with the game and tonight was not one of those nights, unfortunately.”MOVING UPDepay took sole possession of second in the Dutch career scoring list with 43 goals, trailing only Robin van Persie’s 50.UP NEXTThe Americans begin the 2026 cycle with a match against Serbia on Jan. 25 in Los Angeles.

US knocked out of World Cup, loses to the Netherlands 3-1

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Ty Zentner kicked a 31-yard field goal in overtime as 13th-ranked Kansas State beat No. 3 TCU 31-28 in the Big 12 championship game Saturday, leaving the Horned Frogs to wait another day to find out if they had already done enough to get into the four-team College Football Playoff.

The Wildcats set up the winning field goal after TCU had the opening possession of overtime and Kendre Miller was stopped short on consecutive plays from inside the 1.

Deuce Vaughn ran for 130 yards and a touchdown and Will Howard threw two TDs for the Wildcats (10-3, No. 10 CFP), who six weeks earlier had jumped out to a 28-10 lead early in the second quarter before TCU scored the game’s last 28 points.

That was one of five games the Horned Frogs (12-1, No. 3 CFP) won when trailing after halftime. But they couldn’t do it again with the chance to guarantee being the first Big 12 team other than Oklahoma to make the playoff.

“We got beat today and now it’s out of our hands. That’s something that we wanted to do is be in control,” TCU quarterback Max Duggan said. “All we can do is kind of watch."

TCU, the first Big 12 team to complete a regular season undefeated since Texas in 2009, could still get into the playoff. While their case was helped when fourth-ranked Southern California (11-2) lost 47-24 to Utah in the Pac-12 championship game Friday night, the Frogs now have to wait until the final CFP rankings come out Sunday.

“I think we’re certainly deserving. I think the league is one of the best leagues in the country to go through, undefeated in the league, certainly we ought to get in," first-year TCU coach Sonny Dykes said. “And I don’t think we should be punished for coming to the Big 12 championship game.”

Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark said before the game that TCU, with first-year coach Sonny Dykes, already deserved to be in the playoff.

“You look at their strength of schedule. You think about how they’ve performed all year long,” Yormark said. “I think regardless, they should be in, for sure.”

Kansas State coach Chris Klieman agreed after his team reached 10 wins for the first time since 2012, when the Wildcats won the Big 12 title when there was no championship game.

“TCU should be in the in the CFP, they’re one of the best four teams,” Klieman said. "We went toe to toe with them. I thought we could go toe to toe with them and find a way to win. It was an exceptional football game.”

Max Duggan, who went from losing his job as TCU's starting quarterback going into the season to now being a potential Heisman Trophy finalist, threw for 251 yards and a touchdown, and also ran for 110 yards with an 8-yard score with 1:51 remaining in regulation.

Duggan was stopped just short when stretching for another touchdown when TCU had the ball in regulation, dropping his helmet face-first into the turf when looking up and not seeing a touchdown signaled. The spot was upheld after a replay review, and two plays later the quarterback was standing alone well behind the play with his hands on his helmet when Miller, who had a 6-yard TD earlier, was stopped short to give the ball to K-State.

Vaughn’s 44-yard touchdown, including an open-field move that led to a defensive back falling down yards from him, made it 28-17 and capped a drive set up after Julius Brent intercepted a pass by Duggan in the end zone on the first play of the fourth quarter.

But TCU scored the last 11 points of regulation, including Griffin Kell’s 42-yard field goal with 7 1/2 minute left. The kick ended a drive that Duggan kept alive with a 16-yard pass to Taye Barber on fourth-and-10.

Duggan went to his knees in the end zone, clearly exhausted, after his 8-yard TD run late in regulation. That came right after his 40-yard sprint down the left sideline after scrambling away from pressure on the previous play, though he still had to get up and throw a tying 2-point conversion to tight end Jared Wiley.

He also had runs of 15, 13 and 19 yards on the drive, the longest of those three converting a fourth-and-2 from near midfield. He appeared to throw a 38-yard TD pass after that, but Jordan Hudson was called for offensive pass interference for pushing off to make the catch.

TCU went 92 yards in 13 plays on its opening drive of the game, going ahead 7-0 on Duggan’s 1-yard pass to Barber, but scored only three points its next six drives before halftime.

Kell missed a 55-yard field goal attempt on the Frogs' next drive, and K-State capitalized on Howard's 6-yard TD to Ben Sinnott, never to trail again. Howard made it 14-7 with a 1-yard TD run in the second quarter.

Just like 2014, the inaugural season of the four-team playoff, TCU went into its last game before the final rankings at No. 3, with Ohio State fifth.

TCU got left out that time, even after a seven-TD win over Iowa State in its regular-season finale before the Buckeyes beat Wisconsin 59-0 in the Big Ten title game later that day to make the playoff and win the national title. But this year, the Buckeyes (11-1) missed their conference title game after a loss last week to Michigan.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Ty Zentner kicked a 31-yard field goal in overtime as 13th-ranked Kansas State beat No. 3 TCU 31-28 in the Big 12 championship game Saturday, leaving the Horned Frogs to wait another day to find out if they had already done enough to get into the four-team College Football Playoff.The Wildcats set up the winning field goal after TCU had the opening possession of overtime and Kendre Miller was stopped short on consecutive plays from inside the 1.Deuce Vaughn ran for 130 yards and a touchdown and Will Howard threw two TDs for the Wildcats (10-3, No. 10 CFP), who six weeks earlier had jumped out to a 28-10 lead early in the second quarter before TCU scored the game’s last 28 points.That was one of five games the Horned Frogs (12-1, No. 3 CFP) won when trailing after halftime. But they couldn’t do it again with the chance to guarantee being the first Big 12 team other than Oklahoma to make the playoff.“We got beat today and now it’s out of our hands. That’s something that we wanted to do is be in control,” TCU quarterback Max Duggan said. “All we can do is kind of watch."TCU, the first Big 12 team to complete a regular season undefeated since Texas in 2009, could still get into the playoff. While their case was helped when fourth-ranked Southern California (11-2) lost 47-24 to Utah in the Pac-12 championship game Friday night, the Frogs now have to wait until the final CFP rankings come out Sunday.“I think we’re certainly deserving. I think the league is one of the best leagues in the country to go through, undefeated in the league, certainly we ought to get in," first-year TCU coach Sonny Dykes said. “And I don’t think we should be punished for coming to the Big 12 championship game.”Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark said before the game that TCU, with first-year coach Sonny Dykes, already deserved to be in the playoff.“You look at their strength of schedule. You think about how they’ve performed all year long,” Yormark said. “I think regardless, they should be in, for sure.”Kansas State coach Chris Klieman agreed after his team reached 10 wins for the first time since 2012, when the Wildcats won the Big 12 title when there was no championship game.“TCU should be in the in the CFP, they’re one of the best four teams,” Klieman said. "We went toe to toe with them. I thought we could go toe to toe with them and find a way to win. It was an exceptional football game.”Max Duggan, who went from losing his job as TCU's starting quarterback going into the season to now being a potential Heisman Trophy finalist, threw for 251 yards and a touchdown, and also ran for 110 yards with an 8-yard score with 1:51 remaining in regulation.Duggan was stopped just short when stretching for another touchdown when TCU had the ball in regulation, dropping his helmet face-first into the turf when looking up and not seeing a touchdown signaled. The spot was upheld after a replay review, and two plays later the quarterback was standing alone well behind the play with his hands on his helmet when Miller, who had a 6-yard TD earlier, was stopped short to give the ball to K-State.Vaughn’s 44-yard touchdown, including an open-field move that led to a defensive back falling down yards from him, made it 28-17 and capped a drive set up after Julius Brent intercepted a pass by Duggan in the end zone on the first play of the fourth quarter.But TCU scored the last 11 points of regulation, including Griffin Kell’s 42-yard field goal with 7 1/2 minute left. The kick ended a drive that Duggan kept alive with a 16-yard pass to Taye Barber on fourth-and-10.Duggan went to his knees in the end zone, clearly exhausted, after his 8-yard TD run late in regulation. That came right after his 40-yard sprint down the left sideline after scrambling away from pressure on the previous play, though he still had to get up and throw a tying 2-point conversion to tight end Jared Wiley.He also had runs of 15, 13 and 19 yards on the drive, the longest of those three converting a fourth-and-2 from near midfield. He appeared to throw a 38-yard TD pass after that, but Jordan Hudson was called for offensive pass interference for pushing off to make the catch.TCU went 92 yards in 13 plays on its opening drive of the game, going ahead 7-0 on Duggan’s 1-yard pass to Barber, but scored only three points its next six drives before halftime.Kell missed a 55-yard field goal attempt on the Frogs' next drive, and K-State capitalized on Howard's 6-yard TD to Ben Sinnott, never to trail again. Howard made it 14-7 with a 1-yard TD run in the second quarter.Just like 2014, the inaugural season of the four-team playoff, TCU went into its last game before the final rankings at No. 3, with Ohio State fifth.TCU got left out that time, even after a seven-TD win over Iowa State in its regular-season finale before the Buckeyes beat Wisconsin 59-0 in the Big Ten title game later that day to make the playoff and win the national title. But this year, the Buckeyes (11-1) missed their conference title game after a loss last week to Michigan.

No. 3 TCU loses 31-28 in OT to K-State in Big 12 title game

The Panther wrestlers have hit the mats running to open
the 2022-23 season. After a dual win Thursday in Manhattan, Great Bend finished
fifth in a tough Valley Center tournament that featured two of Class 5A’s top
teams.

Twelve Panther wrestlers combined for 150.5 points for
fifth place, just two points behind Valley Center. Second-ranked Newton, with
15 wrestlers, won the tournament with 224.5 points. No. 3 Rose Hill (4A) and
No. 6 Bishop Carroll (5A) rounded out the top three.

Sixth-ranked Jace Schartz stayed unbeaten with a 5-0
showing at 150 pounds. The sophomore did it a variety of ways with two pins, a tech
fall, and a 14-3 major decision. Schartz edged Newton’s Kamden Wise 10-9 in his
final match.

Fourth-ranked Cooper Liles followed with a win at 157
pounds. The junior needed just 70 seconds to pin two pool opponents, and also
won a 9-2 decision. Liles pinned his final two opponents, including Rose Hill’s
No. 6 Rhett Briggs, for the championship.

Junior Matthew Johnson won a round-robin bracket at 175
pounds. Ranked No. 4, Johnson pinned all five opponents on his way to the title,
including sixth-ranked Brody Harper of Newton in the championship match.

Senior Skyler McMullen advanced to the finals at 138
pounds. He pinned his first two opponents and won a 7-4 decision against a
ranked Newton opponent in pool matches. McMullen opened the championship
bracket with a pin before falling 10-3 to third-ranked Brady Duling of Bishop
Carroll in the finals.

Junior Kaiden Hoffman suffered a pair of tech fall losses
to good wrestlers from Newton and Rose Hill at 132 pounds. Hoffman pinned his
other three opponents to place third in the bracket. 

Sixth-ranked junior Keyven Schroeder finished fourth at
215 pounds with a 3-2 record. He went 3-0 in pool matches with a pair of pins
but opened bracket competition with an 8-0 loss. Schroeder was pinned by Bishop
Carroll in the consolation finals.

Sophomore Brody Schnoebelen had a similar day at 285
pounds, going 2-1 in pool matches with a pair of pins, and a loss to Rose Hill’s
top-ranked sophomore Milan Colvin. That pitted Schnoebelen against Newton’s
top-ranked senior Rio Gomez in the finals. Gomez pinned Schnoebelen on his way
to the title. Schnoebelen was pinned in the third-place match.

Freshman Tristan Tomlinson went 1-2 in pool matches at
106 pounds with a quick pin. After a bye, he defeated his Bishop Carroll
opponent 6-0 to finish fifth. Freshman Trenton Kern went 1-2 in pool matches
with a pin at 190 pounds. He picked up another win by fall in the fifth-place
match.

Freshman Hayden Kelly avoided top-ranked AB Stokes of
Newton at 126 pounds but still went 0-3 in pool matches. He finished the day at
1-4 with a pin for sixth place. The 120-pound bracket featured two of 5A’s
best. Panther sophomore Ambrose Kramer finished his day at 0-4 for seventh
overall.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611744919556.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Panther wrestlers have hit the mats running to open
the 2022-23 season. After a dual win Thursday in Manhattan, Great Bend finished
fifth in a tough Valley Center tournament that featured two of Class 5A’s top
teams.Twelve Panther wrestlers combined for 150.5 points for
fifth place, just two points behind Valley Center. Second-ranked Newton, with
15 wrestlers, won the tournament with 224.5 points. No. 3 Rose Hill (4A) and
No. 6 Bishop Carroll (5A) rounded out the top three.Sixth-ranked Jace Schartz stayed unbeaten with a 5-0
showing at 150 pounds. The sophomore did it a variety of ways with two pins, a tech
fall, and a 14-3 major decision. Schartz edged Newton’s Kamden Wise 10-9 in his
final match.Fourth-ranked Cooper Liles followed with a win at 157
pounds. The junior needed just 70 seconds to pin two pool opponents, and also
won a 9-2 decision. Liles pinned his final two opponents, including Rose Hill’s
No. 6 Rhett Briggs, for the championship.Junior Matthew Johnson won a round-robin bracket at 175
pounds. Ranked No. 4, Johnson pinned all five opponents on his way to the title,
including sixth-ranked Brody Harper of Newton in the championship match.Senior Skyler McMullen advanced to the finals at 138
pounds. He pinned his first two opponents and won a 7-4 decision against a
ranked Newton opponent in pool matches. McMullen opened the championship
bracket with a pin before falling 10-3 to third-ranked Brady Duling of Bishop
Carroll in the finals.Junior Kaiden Hoffman suffered a pair of tech fall losses
to good wrestlers from Newton and Rose Hill at 132 pounds. Hoffman pinned his
other three opponents to place third in the bracket. Sixth-ranked junior Keyven Schroeder finished fourth at
215 pounds with a 3-2 record. He went 3-0 in pool matches with a pair of pins
but opened bracket competition with an 8-0 loss. Schroeder was pinned by Bishop
Carroll in the consolation finals.Sophomore Brody Schnoebelen had a similar day at 285
pounds, going 2-1 in pool matches with a pair of pins, and a loss to Rose Hill’s
top-ranked sophomore Milan Colvin. That pitted Schnoebelen against Newton’s
top-ranked senior Rio Gomez in the finals. Gomez pinned Schnoebelen on his way
to the title. Schnoebelen was pinned in the third-place match.Freshman Tristan Tomlinson went 1-2 in pool matches at
106 pounds with a quick pin. After a bye, he defeated his Bishop Carroll
opponent 6-0 to finish fifth. Freshman Trenton Kern went 1-2 in pool matches
with a pin at 190 pounds. He picked up another win by fall in the fifth-place
match.Freshman Hayden Kelly avoided top-ranked AB Stokes of
Newton at 126 pounds but still went 0-3 in pool matches. He finished the day at
1-4 with a pin for sixth place. The 120-pound bracket featured two of 5A’s
best. Panther sophomore Ambrose Kramer finished his day at 0-4 for seventh
overall.

Panther wrestlers finish fifth at Valley Center tourney

Flint Hills Christian 52, Topeka Heritage Christian 47

Northeast Christian Homeschool 52, Waverly 43

Tyro Community Christian 65, St. Xavier 30

Wichita Bishop Carroll 66, Wichita Southeast 63

Friday AP ScoresBOYSAnderson County 61, Iola 54Andover 73, Wichita Campus 34Arkansas City 64, Winfield, Mo. 45Axtell 61, Doniphan West 29BV Southwest 52, Lawrence 48Basehor-Linwood 58, Topeka West 52Bennington 69, Sylvan-Lucas 29Berean Academy 42, Central Plains 40Bishop Miege 73, KIPP KC Legacy, Mo. 41Buhler 57, Nickerson 27Burden Central 44, Attica 34Burlingame 58, Cair Paravel 32Centralia 42, Nemaha Central 39Chase County 34, Central Heights 30Cheney 63, Clearwater 30Cimarron 64, Holcomb 61Circle 68, Kingman 55Columbus 49, Pittsburg Colgan 35Concordia 51, Beloit 48Cunningham 57, Minneola 55Douglass 56, Udall 25Elkhorn, Neb. 41, Bennington 35Emporia 72, Ottawa 65Eudora 38, Spring Hill 23Flint Hills Christian 52, Topeka Heritage Christian 47Frontenac 58, Nevada, Mo. 52Galena 71, St. Paul 29Goddard 58, Augusta 34Goddard-Eisenhower 65, Salina South 63Halstead 46, Sedgwick 44Heritage Christian 53, Barstow, Mo. 49Hill City 58, Ellis 32Hodgeman County 45, Deerfield 12Humboldt 62, Eureka 29Independence 65, Caney Valley 31Inman 51, Minneapolis 24Jayhawk Linn 39, Cass-Midway, Mo. 18Jefferson North 49, Pleasant Ridge 41Junction City 84, Great Bend 51KC Piper 79, Leavenworth 56Kapaun Mount Carmel 68, Wichita North 33Lakeside 68, Tescott 47Lawrence Free State 59, Hays 54Liberal 74, Ulysses 60Linn 40, Washington County 23Little River 74, Lincoln 23Logan 49, Wheatland-Grinnell 31Logan/Palco 49, Wheatland-Grinnell 31Lyons 52, Ellsworth 46Macksville 63, Ness City 29Manhattan 51, Wichita Life Prep 40Meade 76, Bucklin 65Mill Valley 62, BV West 60Northeast Christian Homeschool 52, Waverly 43Norwich 72, Belle Plaine 46Oakley 55, Phillipsburg 51Onaga 46, Wetmore 34Oxford 89, Fairfield 56Pawnee City, Neb. 60, Frankfort 44Pike Valley 37, Rock Hills 26Plainville 60, Smith Center 44Pratt 65 Larned 19Pretty Prairie 71, Argonia 45Quinter 62, Victoria 31Remington 58, Bluestem 10Royal Valley 49, Jackson Heights 45Russell 75, Stockton 10Salina Sacred Heart 50, Clifton-Clyde 47Satanta 60, Spearville 27Scott City 40, Hoisington 22South Central 72, Pawnee Heights 65South Gray 84, Ashland 37Southeast Saline 56, Hesston 46St. John's Beloit-Tipton 77, Natoma 18Stafford 56, St. John 30Sterling 66, Hillsboro 60Sublette 77, Kinsley 51Thunder Ridge 63, Chase 16Topeka Seaman 56, Lansing 35Tyro Community Christian 65, St. Xavier 30Valley Falls 58, Oskaloosa 40Wellington 60, Mulvane 28Weskan 77, Golden Plains 25West Elk 61, Oswego 32West Franklin 60, Council Grove 47Wichita Bishop Carroll 66, Wichita Southeast 63Wichita Heights 47, Wichita Northwest 37Wichita Trinity 53, Garden Plain 31Wichita West 67, Wichita South 60Wilson 62, Otis-Bison 55GIRLSAnderson County 52, Iola 32Andover 67, Wichita Campus 10Attica 52, Burden Central 27Augusta 33, Goddard 27BV North 55, Rock Bridge, Mo. 47BV West 43, Mill Valley 31Baldwin 43, Paola 36Basehor-Linwood 52, Topeka West 36Beloit 36, Concordia 29Bennington 40, Sylvan-Lucas 35Berean Academy 46, Central Plains 29Blue Valley 54, Wetmore 26Bucklin 58, Meade 29Buhler 45, Nickerson 43Burlingame 47, Cair Paravel 20Cheney 63, Clearwater 30Cimarron 52, Holcomb 43Circle 46, Kingman 39Clifton-Clyde 52, Salina Sacred Heart 40Council Grove 40, West Franklin 35Doniphan West 49, Axtell 26Douglass 59, Udall 27El Dorado Springs, Mo. 54, Olathe East 46Ell-Saline 53, Herington 14Ellinwood 53, La Crosse 40Ellsworth 48, Lyons 33Emporia 57, Ottawa 44Eureka 61, Humboldt 29FS Northside, Ark. 52, Olathe West 24Fairfield 53, Oxford 21Frankfort 59, Pawnee City, Neb. 12Garden Plain 54, Wichita Trinity 38Goddard-Eisenhower 42, Salina South 30Goessel 41, Marion 33Goodland 60, Syracuse 20Great Bend 47, Junction City 28Halstead 39, Sedgwick 13Haven 48, Hutchinson Trinity 22Hays 37, Washburn Rural 33Hillsboro 44, Sterling 18Hodgeman County 62, Deerfield 17Horton 48, McLouth 44Hutchinson Central Christian 57, Wichita Classical 36KC Piper 49, Leavenworth 47Lakeside 49, Tescott 40Lakin 59, Wallace County 42Lee's Summit Community Christian, Mo. 34, Christ Preparatory Academy 23Liberal 49, Ulysses 17Liberal 57, Northeast-Arma 37Little River 65, Lincoln 18Minneapolis 45, Inman 35Minneola 56, Cunningham 37Nemaha Central 54, Centralia 37Ness City 51, Macksville 43Norwich 40, Belle Plaine 28Pawnee Heights 44, South Central 24Phillipsburg 47, Oakley 20Pratt 52, Larned 50Quinter 71, Victoria 25Remington 35, Bluestem 27Riverside 52, Troy 46Rock Creek 37, Clay Center 27Rock Hills 45, Pike Valley 34Rossville 58, Atchison 30Rural Vista 42, Canton-Galva 32Salina Central 40, Maize 32Scott City 50, Hoisington 40Smith Center 71, Plainville 12Southeast 40, Erie 32Southeast Saline 49, Hesston 36Southwestern Hts. 59, Pratt Skyline 23Spring Hill 38, Eudora 26St. John's Beloit-Tipton 60, Natoma 33St. Mary's 46, Olpe 41St. Paul 47, Galena 44Sublette 52, Kinsley 22Thunder Ridge 64, Chase 35Topeka Seaman 62, Lansing 32Wakefield 42, Centre 22Washington County 53, Linn 50Wellington 49, Mulvane 29Wheatland-Grinnell 49, Logan/Palco 43Wichita Bishop Carroll 45, Wichita Southeast 25Wichita Heights 47, Wichita Northwest 37Wichita South 76, Wichita West 10Wilson 53, Otis-Bison 38

Friday Statewide Scores

Scott City Boys 40 Hoisington 22; Scott City Girls 50 Hoisington 40

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582693944473.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Scott City Boys 40 Hoisington 22; Scott City Girls 50 Hoisington 40<div><iframe width="100%" height="265" src="https://clyp.it/czbqyynj/widget" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>

Junction City Boys 84 Great Bend 51; Great Bend Girls 47 Junction City 28

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642278253811.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Junction City Boys 84 Great Bend 51; Great Bend Girls 47 Junction City 28<div><iframe width="100%" height="265" src="https://clyp.it/rt4awrdy/widget" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>

Pratt Boys 65 Larned 19; Pratt Girls 52 Larned 50

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600485516602.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Pratt Boys 65 Larned 19; Pratt Girls 52 Larned 50<div><iframe width="100%" height="265" src="https://clyp.it/2kz5xgtm/widget" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals hired Guardians bullpen coach Brian Sweeney as their new pitching coach and Nationals minor league coordinator Jose Alguacil as their infield coach Thursday, filling two of the spots on new manager Matt Quatraro's staff.

The 48-year-old Sweeney spent five seasons on the Guardians staff, including the last three overseeing the bullpen. He also spent time in the Phillies' player development system after an 18-year playing career career that spanned time with Seattle and San Diego to three years pitching in Japan and time with Italy in the World Baseball Classic.

Alguacil had spent 15 years in the Giants organization before spending last season in Washington. He worked in various roles in San Francisco, including infield coordinator, minor league manager and big league first base coach, after a nine-year playing career and beginning his coaching career with the Expos and Nationals.

Quatraro, who was hired to replace the fired Mike Matheny in Kansas City, had previously announced the addition of former Tampa Bay major league field coordinator Paul Hoover as his bench coach.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals hired Guardians bullpen coach Brian Sweeney as their new pitching coach and Nationals minor league coordinator Jose Alguacil as their infield coach Thursday, filling two of the spots on new manager Matt Quatraro's staff.The 48-year-old Sweeney spent five seasons on the Guardians staff, including the last three overseeing the bullpen. He also spent time in the Phillies' player development system after an 18-year playing career career that spanned time with Seattle and San Diego to three years pitching in Japan and time with Italy in the World Baseball Classic.Alguacil had spent 15 years in the Giants organization before spending last season in Washington. He worked in various roles in San Francisco, including infield coordinator, minor league manager and big league first base coach, after a nine-year playing career and beginning his coaching career with the Expos and Nationals.Quatraro, who was hired to replace the fired Mike Matheny in Kansas City, had previously announced the addition of former Tampa Bay major league field coordinator Paul Hoover as his bench coach.

Royals hire Guardians' Brian Sweeney as pitching coach

Over the past 25 years, college football's postseason format for crowning a national champion has grown from two teams to four and now, starting in 2024, to 12.

For a sport that started in 1869 and spent most of the 20th century using bowls and polls to determine who was No. 1, evolution has hit warp speed, racing from Bowl Championship Series to College Football Playoff 2.0.

“The times change, things change,” CFP Executive Director Bill Hancock said. “Things have moved pretty quickly relative to the last 153 years.”

The CFP announced Thursday it will expand to a 12-team event in two years, completing an 18-month process that was fraught with delays and disagreements. It is a momentous step that will bring in billions of dollars in television revenue and change the very fabric of the postseason.

The announcement came a day after the Rose Bowl agreed to amend its contract for the 2024 and 2025 seasons, the last hurdle CFP officials needed cleared to triple the size of what is now a four-team format.

Expansion is expected to produce about $450 million in additional gross revenue for the conferences and schools that participate. The CFP’s current 12-year contract with ESPN runs through the 2025-26 season. CFP officials have said they would like to explore having multiple broadcast partners in the next cycle.

The idea of major college football holding a playoff dates back decades and the Championship Subdivision has had one since 1978. The late Penn State coach Joe Paterno pined for one in the 1970s. Former Big Eight Commissioner Chuck Nienas proposed one in the late 1980s.

The creation of the BCS in the late 1990s was the first step toward a real playoff, Hancock said.

“The BCS for the first time gave an opportunity to decide a national champion on the field every year, not just at the whims of the bowl pairings,” Hancock said.

The BCS used polls and computer rankings to ensure a 1 vs. 2 bowl game from 1998-2013, but at times produced questionable matchups that left fans unsatisfied.

“We had congressmen and senators getting involved in the selection process. There was a general unhappiness with the fact that somebody was always third on the outside looking in,” former Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said.

Former Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany was a playoff opponent — or at least skeptic — for years, but even he grew weary of defending the BCS.

“Everybody threw confetti when (the BCS) happened, but within three years it was getting killed,” Delany said.

Delany and the late former Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive, a playoff advocate, were instrumental in creating the current four-team format. The CFP debuted in 2014 with a 12-year contract, but less than halfway through it became apparent that fear of missing out had grown exponentially from the BCS days.

Bowlsby recalled Delany lamenting about how much more difficult it was to stomach being fifth in the selection committee's CFP rankings than it was being third in the BCS standings.

“It’s hard being the one left out and you’re drawing conclusions based on very thin evidence a lot of the time,” Bowlsby said.

Delany compared the latest expansion of the playoff to NCAA men's basketball tournament expansion from 1975-85, when the field doubled from 32 to 64 teams. Much like the CFP now, that expansion wasn't so much about making sure a potential champion wasn't left out.

“It made it a truly national event,” Delany said.

The latest plan to expand the playoff was unveiled in June 2021, but conference commissioners could not come to the unanimous consensus needed to push it forward. Expansion for the 2024 season was pronounced dead back in February.

“Getting from four to 12 didn’t have to be this difficult,” said Bowlsby, who was part of the four-person working group that spent more than two years developing the 12-team plan.

University presidents and chancellors who oversee the CFP stepped in and revived the process over the summer. They approved the original plan for use by 2026, and directed the commissioners to try to expand by 2024.

No longer haggling over the format, the commissioners needed to work through when and where the games will be played and whether bowl partners and championship game host cities could accommodate a change in schedule for 2024 and 2025.

The Rose Bowl issue was the last to be settled, as organizers for the 120-year-old bowl game were hoping to get some assurances from the CFP that they would keep their valuable New Year's Day time when new contracts go into effect in 2026.

CFP officials balked. Facing the possibility of being painted as an obstructionist and potentially being shut out of the expanded playoff in the long term, the Rose Bowl agreed to move forward in good faith.

“It’s our intent to keep the Rose Bowl game on Jan. 1," said Laura Farber, chairwoman of the Rose Bowl Management Committee. "But we’ll remain flexible in scheduling as needed.”

That's important with how quickly things are moving in college football.

Delany speculated it was unlikely the next CFP contract would be as long as the last. He also noted that when the playoff becomes it a four-week event, it would be fairly easy to add four more teams.

Asked when to expect expansion to 16 teams, Hancock laughed.

Over the past 25 years, college football's postseason format for crowning a national champion has grown from two teams to four and now, starting in 2024, to 12.For a sport that started in 1869 and spent most of the 20th century using bowls and polls to determine who was No. 1, evolution has hit warp speed, racing from Bowl Championship Series to College Football Playoff 2.0.“The times change, things change,” CFP Executive Director Bill Hancock said. “Things have moved pretty quickly relative to the last 153 years.”The CFP announced Thursday it will expand to a 12-team event in two years, completing an 18-month process that was fraught with delays and disagreements. It is a momentous step that will bring in billions of dollars in television revenue and change the very fabric of the postseason.The announcement came a day after the Rose Bowl agreed to amend its contract for the 2024 and 2025 seasons, the last hurdle CFP officials needed cleared to triple the size of what is now a four-team format.“I never gave up,” Hancock said.Expansion is expected to produce about $450 million in additional gross revenue for the conferences and schools that participate. The CFP’s current 12-year contract with ESPN runs through the 2025-26 season. CFP officials have said they would like to explore having multiple broadcast partners in the next cycle.The idea of major college football holding a playoff dates back decades and the Championship Subdivision has had one since 1978. The late Penn State coach Joe Paterno pined for one in the 1970s. Former Big Eight Commissioner Chuck Nienas proposed one in the late 1980s.The creation of the BCS in the late 1990s was the first step toward a real playoff, Hancock said.“The BCS for the first time gave an opportunity to decide a national champion on the field every year, not just at the whims of the bowl pairings,” Hancock said.The BCS used polls and computer rankings to ensure a 1 vs. 2 bowl game from 1998-2013, but at times produced questionable matchups that left fans unsatisfied.“We had congressmen and senators getting involved in the selection process. There was a general unhappiness with the fact that somebody was always third on the outside looking in,” former Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said.Former Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany was a playoff opponent — or at least skeptic — for years, but even he grew weary of defending the BCS.“Everybody threw confetti when (the BCS) happened, but within three years it was getting killed,” Delany said.Delany and the late former Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive, a playoff advocate, were instrumental in creating the current four-team format. The CFP debuted in 2014 with a 12-year contract, but less than halfway through it became apparent that fear of missing out had grown exponentially from the BCS days.Bowlsby recalled Delany lamenting about how much more difficult it was to stomach being fifth in the selection committee's CFP rankings than it was being third in the BCS standings.“It’s hard being the one left out and you’re drawing conclusions based on very thin evidence a lot of the time,” Bowlsby said.Delany compared the latest expansion of the playoff to NCAA men's basketball tournament expansion from 1975-85, when the field doubled from 32 to 64 teams. Much like the CFP now, that expansion wasn't so much about making sure a potential champion wasn't left out.It was about increasing participation.“It made it a truly national event,” Delany said.The latest plan to expand the playoff was unveiled in June 2021, but conference commissioners could not come to the unanimous consensus needed to push it forward. Expansion for the 2024 season was pronounced dead back in February.“Getting from four to 12 didn’t have to be this difficult,” said Bowlsby, who was part of the four-person working group that spent more than two years developing the 12-team plan.University presidents and chancellors who oversee the CFP stepped in and revived the process over the summer. They approved the original plan for use by 2026, and directed the commissioners to try to expand by 2024.No longer haggling over the format, the commissioners needed to work through when and where the games will be played and whether bowl partners and championship game host cities could accommodate a change in schedule for 2024 and 2025.The Rose Bowl issue was the last to be settled, as organizers for the 120-year-old bowl game were hoping to get some assurances from the CFP that they would keep their valuable New Year's Day time when new contracts go into effect in 2026.CFP officials balked. Facing the possibility of being painted as an obstructionist and potentially being shut out of the expanded playoff in the long term, the Rose Bowl agreed to move forward in good faith.“It’s our intent to keep the Rose Bowl game on Jan. 1," said Laura Farber, chairwoman of the Rose Bowl Management Committee. "But we’ll remain flexible in scheduling as needed.”That's important with how quickly things are moving in college football.Delany speculated it was unlikely the next CFP contract would be as long as the last. He also noted that when the playoff becomes it a four-week event, it would be fairly easy to add four more teams.Asked when to expect expansion to 16 teams, Hancock laughed."Next question," he said.

College Football Playoff expands to 12 teams in 2024 season

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — It has been quite a comeback for third-ranked TCU, one much bigger than that 18-point deficit the Horned Frogs erased to beat Kansas State six weeks ago.

A year after Sonny Dykes became their coach, the Frogs (12-0, 9-0 Big 12, No. 3 CFP) still haven’t lost a game. They have already made a strong case to be in the four-team College Football Playoff, even before their rematch against No. 13 Kansas State (9-3, 7-2, No. 10 CFP) in the Big 12 championship game on Saturday.

"A majority of our team, we took a lot of Ls last year,” running back Kendre Miller said. “We’re just proving to ourselves really that this is who we could be. … I feel like it shocked lot of people, like even people on our team, that we were going to do this good, me included.”

Dykes took over a few days before last year’s Big 12 championship game, with the Frogs already done playing after going 23-24 in a four-year span since being in the 2017 title game. Their last four games were after coach Gary Patterson’s sudden departure during his 21st season.

Now after plenty of close games – seven wins in a row by 10 points or less – TCU is playing for a Big 12 title that would make it the first league team other than Oklahoma to make the four-team playoff. The Frogs’ undefeated regular season is the first by a Big 12 team since Texas in 2009.

“A chance to win that is obviously a big deal, and obviously our players know the implications of all that on the bigger picture as well,” said Dykes, an off-field analyst for Patterson in 2017 before a successful stint as SMU’s coach. “I don’t get a sense that the guys are tight or any of that. ... They’re just excited about the opportunity.”

Still, they know the challenge of trying to beat a team twice in the same season. K-State jumped ahead 28-10 on Oct. 22 before the Frogs scored the game’s last 28 points.

“I was sick after that game,” Kansas State center Hayden Gillum said. “It was probably one of the harder losses in the year. … We know we owe these guys one.”

The Wildcats won their last three games, two on the road — and had to win all of those to make their first Big 12 title game since 2003, when they beat then-No. 1 and undefeated Oklahoma 35-7. They are 4-1 since the TCU loss, averaging 40 points a game and giving up a total of only 15 after halftime during that span.

“We have an opportunity to play one of the best teams in the country. We earned the opportunity to get to this point,” fourth-year Wildcats coach Chris Klieman said. “Never looked ahead and never looked behind.”

After K-State dual-threat QB Adrian Martinez got hurt on the opening series at TCU, Will Howard took his first snaps of the season after 10 starts the previous two years. He ran for 14 yards on his first play, then completed his first seven passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns as the Wildcats went up 28-10 midway through the second quarter. Their third quarterback threw an interception on his only play when Howard left the game briefly after banging his shoulder.

“You forget we played three quarterbacks that game. I’d forgotten,” Klieman said. “It was a physical game. We lost some bodies.”

Deuce Vaughn, K-State's 5-foot-6 dynamo, has rushed for 1,295 yards overall, and has 25 catches for 274 yards with all three of his receiving TDs the past five games.

At 6 feet and 220 pounds, Miller has 1,260 yards and 16 touchdowns rushing for TCU. His 13 games in a row running for a TD mark the longest active FBS streak, and is two short of LaDainian Tomlinson’s school record. Miller had 153 yards with two second-half TDs in the comeback against the Wildcats.

Neither Howard or TCU quarterback Max Duggan began the season as starters.

Duggan lost his starting job going into the season, but took over in the second half of the opener after Chandler Morris sprained his knee. Duggan, set for his 41st career start, leads the Big 12 with 3,070 yards and 29 TDs passing, and only three interceptions.

Martinez missed the last two games after getting hurt again. Klieman said there was a chance he could return Saturday and be involved in some packages, but that Howard, with 13 passing TDs in his five games, “is going to be the guy.”

TCU receiver Quentin Johnston, an NFL prospect, has 49 catches for 764 yards and five TDs, even as the 6-foot-4 junior has dealt with an ankle issue for more than a month.

He was held out of last week's 62-14 win over Iowa State in hopes of having him as healthy as possible for the Big 12 title game. Dykes said Johnston looked better in practice this week than he had for some time, “Just like his old self.”

This is the second Big 12 title game since 11-time winner Oklahoma and Texas, the only league teams to win national titles, announced they would be moving to the SEC no later than 2025. The Sooners and/or Longhorns have been part of 17 of the first 18 Big 12 title games before missing the last two — with four different teams making it instead. They will be part of a 14-team Big 12 next season after four new teams join.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — It has been quite a comeback for third-ranked TCU, one much bigger than that 18-point deficit the Horned Frogs erased to beat Kansas State six weeks ago.A year after Sonny Dykes became their coach, the Frogs (12-0, 9-0 Big 12, No. 3 CFP) still haven’t lost a game. They have already made a strong case to be in the four-team College Football Playoff, even before their rematch against No. 13 Kansas State (9-3, 7-2, No. 10 CFP) in the Big 12 championship game on Saturday."A majority of our team, we took a lot of Ls last year,” running back Kendre Miller said. “We’re just proving to ourselves really that this is who we could be. … I feel like it shocked lot of people, like even people on our team, that we were going to do this good, me included.”Dykes took over a few days before last year’s Big 12 championship game, with the Frogs already done playing after going 23-24 in a four-year span since being in the 2017 title game. Their last four games were after coach Gary Patterson’s sudden departure during his 21st season.Now after plenty of close games – seven wins in a row by 10 points or less – TCU is playing for a Big 12 title that would make it the first league team other than Oklahoma to make the four-team playoff. The Frogs’ undefeated regular season is the first by a Big 12 team since Texas in 2009.“A chance to win that is obviously a big deal, and obviously our players know the implications of all that on the bigger picture as well,” said Dykes, an off-field analyst for Patterson in 2017 before a successful stint as SMU’s coach. “I don’t get a sense that the guys are tight or any of that. ... They’re just excited about the opportunity.”Still, they know the challenge of trying to beat a team twice in the same season. K-State jumped ahead 28-10 on Oct. 22 before the Frogs scored the game’s last 28 points.“I was sick after that game,” Kansas State center Hayden Gillum said. “It was probably one of the harder losses in the year. … We know we owe these guys one.”The Wildcats won their last three games, two on the road — and had to win all of those to make their first Big 12 title game since 2003, when they beat then-No. 1 and undefeated Oklahoma 35-7. They are 4-1 since the TCU loss, averaging 40 points a game and giving up a total of only 15 after halftime during that span.“We have an opportunity to play one of the best teams in the country. We earned the opportunity to get to this point,” fourth-year Wildcats coach Chris Klieman said. “Never looked ahead and never looked behind.”THE FIRST GAMEAfter K-State dual-threat QB Adrian Martinez got hurt on the opening series at TCU, Will Howard took his first snaps of the season after 10 starts the previous two years. He ran for 14 yards on his first play, then completed his first seven passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns as the Wildcats went up 28-10 midway through the second quarter. Their third quarterback threw an interception on his only play when Howard left the game briefly after banging his shoulder.“You forget we played three quarterbacks that game. I’d forgotten,” Klieman said. “It was a physical game. We lost some bodies.”TOP RUNNERSDeuce Vaughn, K-State's 5-foot-6 dynamo, has rushed for 1,295 yards overall, and has 25 catches for 274 yards with all three of his receiving TDs the past five games.At 6 feet and 220 pounds, Miller has 1,260 yards and 16 touchdowns rushing for TCU. His 13 games in a row running for a TD mark the longest active FBS streak, and is two short of LaDainian Tomlinson’s school record. Miller had 153 yards with two second-half TDs in the comeback against the Wildcats.NON-STARTERS TO TITLE GAMENeither Howard or TCU quarterback Max Duggan began the season as starters.Duggan lost his starting job going into the season, but took over in the second half of the opener after Chandler Morris sprained his knee. Duggan, set for his 41st career start, leads the Big 12 with 3,070 yards and 29 TDs passing, and only three interceptions.Martinez missed the last two games after getting hurt again. Klieman said there was a chance he could return Saturday and be involved in some packages, but that Howard, with 13 passing TDs in his five games, “is going to be the guy.”Q FACTORTCU receiver Quentin Johnston, an NFL prospect, has 49 catches for 764 yards and five TDs, even as the 6-foot-4 junior has dealt with an ankle issue for more than a month.He was held out of last week's 62-14 win over Iowa State in hopes of having him as healthy as possible for the Big 12 title game. Dykes said Johnston looked better in practice this week than he had for some time, “Just like his old self.”NO SOONERS, NO HORNSThis is the second Big 12 title game since 11-time winner Oklahoma and Texas, the only league teams to win national titles, announced they would be moving to the SEC no later than 2025. The Sooners and/or Longhorns have been part of 17 of the first 18 Big 12 title games before missing the last two — with four different teams making it instead. They will be part of a 14-team Big 12 next season after four new teams join.

TCU takes its CFP hopes into Big 12 title game vs K-State


- Great Bend Lady Panther Basketball coach Cindy Beck


- Barton Men's Basketball coach Jeremy Coombs


- Sports in Kansas and K-Preps contributor Conor Nichol

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- Great Bend Lady Panther Basketball coach Cindy Beck
- Barton Men's Basketball coach Jeremy Coombs
- Sports in Kansas and K-Preps contributor Conor Nichol
- Friday Sports Headlines
- Sounds of the past 24-hours

Friday on Sports Day

Lawrence Free State 76, Hays-TMP-Marian 34

Midland Adventist 61, Maranatha Academy 42

Thayer Central, Neb. 36, Republic County 34

Thursday AP ScoresBaxter Springs 61, Liberal, Mo. 49Hays 65, Newton 40Holton 65, Burlington 62, 2OTHugoton 66, Wichita Life Prep 60Lawrence Free State 76, Hays-TMP-Marian 34Maize South 46, Andover Central 40McPherson 74, Dodge City 32Midland Adventist 61, Maranatha Academy 42Olathe North 46, Chrisman, Ill. 45Olathe West 74, Manhattan 70Riley County 41, Valley Heights 36Thayer Central, Neb. 36, Republic County 34

Thursday Statewide Scores

CINCINNATI (AP) — Bengals safety Vonn Bell said the timing of this season's game against the Chiefs feels a lot like last season when the teams met in two high-profile games in the span of a month.

The Bengals beat the Chiefs 34-31 in Cincinnati on Jan. 2 to clinch the AFC North title. In a rematch in Kansas City in the AFC championship game on Jan. 30, the Bengals earned a trip to the Super Bowl with a 27-24 overtime win. Like in the previous matchup, the victory margin was an Evan McPherson field goal.

“It feels like we keep on seeing them at the right time,” Bell said. “But it's just the nature of the business. It's two explosive teams trying to win at the right pivotal time going into December. And that's where the ballgames are won, and seasons are won and lost.”

The Chiefs (9-2) behind Patrick Mahomes again have a good grip on the AFC West and are playing for the No. 1 seed and first-round bye in the playoffs.

The 26-10 win over the Los Angeles Rams was their fifth straight, giving them at least one five-game winning streak in each of the past 10 seasons.

The Bengals (7-4) stumbled out of the gate this season, losing their first two but have won seven of the past nine, including three in a row for the first time this season.

Quarterback Joe Burrow figured out how to win without his best receiver Ja'Marr Chase and featured back Joe Mixon. Chase, who has missed the past four games, could be back for Sunday's game. Mixon, who was in concussion protocol, is questionable.

“It goes down to both the quarterbacks,” Cincinnati receiver Tyler Boyd said. “I think these are the two best quarterbacks in the league. At least in the top three. It's going to be a high-powered offensive game.”

Mahomes, who welcomed his second child on Monday, has been outstanding, compiling an NFL-leading 3,585 passing yards and 29 touchdowns.

The Chiefs have the top scoring offense in the league, averaging nearly 30 points per game.

“I don't know if it means more,” Mahomes said of the rematch with Cincinnati. “I think you have to keep stuff in perspective. It's a brand new season. Any time a team beats you before, you want to beat them, especially when they beat you in a game like they did to go to the Super Bowl.”

Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who returned last week after missing a game with a concussion, was out of practice early this week with an illness. That further depleted a group still missing Kadarius Toney to a hamstring injury and with Mecole Hardman on injured reserve with an abdominal problem. The Chiefs added depth this week by signing former Raiders wide receiver Bryan Edwards to the practice squad, but he’s unlikely to be ready to help by Sunday.

Chase is back at practice for the second consecutive week and said he is ready to play on Sunday. How much he’ll play is the question.

Chase told reporters on Wednesday that he suffered a hairline fracture of his right hip when he hyperextended his leg making a touchdown catch at New Orleans on Oct. 16. He tried to play against Atlanta the next week but had to leave the game.

“I feel good, man. I’m here at practice. I’m smiling,” Chase said, noting that he is pain-free.

Chase had 605 receiving yards and six touchdowns in seven games until going out with the injury.

Chris Jones triggered a $1.25 million bonus last week when the Chiefs defensive tackle picked up his 10th sack of the season, and he still has six regular-season games to go. Jones also has at least a half sack in six straight games, tying the third-longest streak in franchise history. He set the record with 11 straight in 2018.

Burrow wasn't in the mood this week to reminisce about the first win over the Chiefs last season in which he brought Cincinnati back from a 28-17 halftime deficit. The win touched off a raucous locker room celebration.

“Oh man, (that) feels like so long ago,” Burrow said Wednesday. “That was the day we won the division, but that's so far behind us now. It was almost a year ago now. So it is what it is — last year happened and we're on to this year.”

CINCINNATI (AP) — Bengals safety Vonn Bell said the timing of this season's game against the Chiefs feels a lot like last season when the teams met in two high-profile games in the span of a month.The Bengals beat the Chiefs 34-31 in Cincinnati on Jan. 2 to clinch the AFC North title. In a rematch in Kansas City in the AFC championship game on Jan. 30, the Bengals earned a trip to the Super Bowl with a 27-24 overtime win. Like in the previous matchup, the victory margin was an Evan McPherson field goal.“It feels like we keep on seeing them at the right time,” Bell said. “But it's just the nature of the business. It's two explosive teams trying to win at the right pivotal time going into December. And that's where the ballgames are won, and seasons are won and lost.”The Chiefs (9-2) behind Patrick Mahomes again have a good grip on the AFC West and are playing for the No. 1 seed and first-round bye in the playoffs.The 26-10 win over the Los Angeles Rams was their fifth straight, giving them at least one five-game winning streak in each of the past 10 seasons.The Bengals (7-4) stumbled out of the gate this season, losing their first two but have won seven of the past nine, including three in a row for the first time this season.Quarterback Joe Burrow figured out how to win without his best receiver Ja'Marr Chase and featured back Joe Mixon. Chase, who has missed the past four games, could be back for Sunday's game. Mixon, who was in concussion protocol, is questionable.“It goes down to both the quarterbacks,” Cincinnati receiver Tyler Boyd said. “I think these are the two best quarterbacks in the league. At least in the top three. It's going to be a high-powered offensive game.”Mahomes, who welcomed his second child on Monday, has been outstanding, compiling an NFL-leading 3,585 passing yards and 29 touchdowns.The Chiefs have the top scoring offense in the league, averaging nearly 30 points per game.“I don't know if it means more,” Mahomes said of the rematch with Cincinnati. “I think you have to keep stuff in perspective. It's a brand new season. Any time a team beats you before, you want to beat them, especially when they beat you in a game like they did to go to the Super Bowl.”WIDE RECEIVER WOESChiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who returned last week after missing a game with a concussion, was out of practice early this week with an illness. That further depleted a group still missing Kadarius Toney to a hamstring injury and with Mecole Hardman on injured reserve with an abdominal problem. The Chiefs added depth this week by signing former Raiders wide receiver Bryan Edwards to the practice squad, but he’s unlikely to be ready to help by Sunday.CHASE’S COMEBACKChase is back at practice for the second consecutive week and said he is ready to play on Sunday. How much he’ll play is the question.Chase told reporters on Wednesday that he suffered a hairline fracture of his right hip when he hyperextended his leg making a touchdown catch at New Orleans on Oct. 16. He tried to play against Atlanta the next week but had to leave the game.“I feel good, man. I’m here at practice. I’m smiling,” Chase said, noting that he is pain-free.Chase had 605 receiving yards and six touchdowns in seven games until going out with the injury.JONESING FOR SACKSChris Jones triggered a $1.25 million bonus last week when the Chiefs defensive tackle picked up his 10th sack of the season, and he still has six regular-season games to go. Jones also has at least a half sack in six straight games, tying the third-longest streak in franchise history. He set the record with 11 straight in 2018.THAT WAS THENBurrow wasn't in the mood this week to reminisce about the first win over the Chiefs last season in which he brought Cincinnati back from a 28-17 halftime deficit. The win touched off a raucous locker room celebration.“Oh man, (that) feels like so long ago,” Burrow said Wednesday. “That was the day we won the division, but that's so far behind us now. It was almost a year ago now. So it is what it is — last year happened and we're on to this year.”

Chiefs look to avenge last season's playoff loss to Bengals

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas forward Kevin McCullar Jr. claimed the Jayhawks have “so many weapons that anyone can score 10-plus a game.”

McCullar returned from an injury to score 17 points and grab 10 rebounds, Jalen Wilson added 15 points and 13 boards, and six players hit double-figures for the No. 9 Jayhawks in their 91-65 victory over Seton Hall in the Big East-Big 12 Battle.

Gradey Dick also scored 15 points, KJ Adams contributed 11, DaJuan Harris Jr. had 10 with seven assists and Ernest Udeh Jr. finished with a career-best 10 for the Jayhawks (8-1), who now have more than a week to wait before they visit bitter rival Missouri for the first time in a decade next Saturday.

The Jayhawks romped past the Tigers 102-65 last year, when they resumed their series after a nine-year hiatus following Missouri's departure for the SEC. Kansas has not faced them on the road since losing on Feb. 4, 2012.

“There's no reason we shouldn't be rested before we play Mizzou,” Jayhawks coach Bill Self said, “and there's some things we definitely need to work on. Hopefully we'll be better equipped when we go over there.”

Kadary Richmond had 17 points, but also turned the ball over seven times for the Pirates (4-4), who were just 4 of 19 from the 3-point arc in losing their third straight game. Tyrese Samuel added with 16 points.

“Everything is a lesson. You can take a lesson out of this,” said Shaheen Holloway, who's in his first season coaching his alma mater. “You have to give those guys credit. They came out and played hard.”

The teams were meeting for just the third time and first since 2018, when the Jayhawks edged Seton Hall in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. They went on to play for the national championship this year.

Now the defending champs, Kansas built a big first-half lead against the Pirates on Thursday night. But rather than going on one of their familiar runs to take control of the game, the Jayhawks methodically extended their advantage over the first 20 minutes, taking advantage of their speed on the perimeter to get easy baskets at the rim.

“It's about us finding the best shot,” said McCullar, who'd been dealing with a sore groin, “and playing together.”

Kansas led 40-29 at the break. Harris was 4 for 4 by that point with five assists, the best of them coming midway through the half, when the diminutive guard found Adams for an ally-oop dunk that turned into a three-point play.

“It's great when we can all move the ball, share the ball and score,” Udeh said.

Meanwhile, Seton Hall couldn't make a shot.

The Pirates missed their first eight from beyond the arc, went 19 of 32 from the foul line and rarely got anything to go that wasn't at the basket. And that made digging out of their halftime hole seemingly impossible.

By the time KC Ndefo curled in their first 3, the Jayhawks had extended their lead to 50-31 with 14 1/2 minutes to go.

The poor shooting, coupled with turnover problems, proved too much for Seton Hall to overcome.

“Free throws. If we can make free throws, we're right there,” Holloway said. “We started to throw the ball away and were not making our free throws. I thought that was the difference.”

Seton Hall was similarly poor from beyond the arc in losses to Iowa, Oklahoma and Siena, when the Pirates were 1 for 9 from the 3-point line in a 65-60 defeat their last time out. They were 20 of 32 from the foul line in that game.

Kansas forced the Pirates into 16 turnovers while committing 11 of their own, and they had a big edge on the boards, which meant the Jayhawks simply had more opportunities on the offensive end. They took advantage of them, too.

Seton Hall heads home to face Lincoln on Sunday.

Kansas has the week off before visiting the Tigers.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas forward Kevin McCullar Jr. claimed the Jayhawks have “so many weapons that anyone can score 10-plus a game.”Just about everyone did Thursday night.McCullar returned from an injury to score 17 points and grab 10 rebounds, Jalen Wilson added 15 points and 13 boards, and six players hit double-figures for the No. 9 Jayhawks in their 91-65 victory over Seton Hall in the Big East-Big 12 Battle.Gradey Dick also scored 15 points, KJ Adams contributed 11, DaJuan Harris Jr. had 10 with seven assists and Ernest Udeh Jr. finished with a career-best 10 for the Jayhawks (8-1), who now have more than a week to wait before they visit bitter rival Missouri for the first time in a decade next Saturday.The Jayhawks romped past the Tigers 102-65 last year, when they resumed their series after a nine-year hiatus following Missouri's departure for the SEC. Kansas has not faced them on the road since losing on Feb. 4, 2012.“There's no reason we shouldn't be rested before we play Mizzou,” Jayhawks coach Bill Self said, “and there's some things we definitely need to work on. Hopefully we'll be better equipped when we go over there.”Kadary Richmond had 17 points, but also turned the ball over seven times for the Pirates (4-4), who were just 4 of 19 from the 3-point arc in losing their third straight game. Tyrese Samuel added with 16 points.“Everything is a lesson. You can take a lesson out of this,” said Shaheen Holloway, who's in his first season coaching his alma mater. “You have to give those guys credit. They came out and played hard.”The teams were meeting for just the third time and first since 2018, when the Jayhawks edged Seton Hall in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. They went on to play for the national championship this year.Now the defending champs, Kansas built a big first-half lead against the Pirates on Thursday night. But rather than going on one of their familiar runs to take control of the game, the Jayhawks methodically extended their advantage over the first 20 minutes, taking advantage of their speed on the perimeter to get easy baskets at the rim.“It's about us finding the best shot,” said McCullar, who'd been dealing with a sore groin, “and playing together.”Kansas led 40-29 at the break. Harris was 4 for 4 by that point with five assists, the best of them coming midway through the half, when the diminutive guard found Adams for an ally-oop dunk that turned into a three-point play.“It's great when we can all move the ball, share the ball and score,” Udeh said.Meanwhile, Seton Hall couldn't make a shot.The Pirates missed their first eight from beyond the arc, went 19 of 32 from the foul line and rarely got anything to go that wasn't at the basket. And that made digging out of their halftime hole seemingly impossible.By the time KC Ndefo curled in their first 3, the Jayhawks had extended their lead to 50-31 with 14 1/2 minutes to go.The poor shooting, coupled with turnover problems, proved too much for Seton Hall to overcome.“Free throws. If we can make free throws, we're right there,” Holloway said. “We started to throw the ball away and were not making our free throws. I thought that was the difference.”THE TAKEAWAYSeton Hall was similarly poor from beyond the arc in losses to Iowa, Oklahoma and Siena, when the Pirates were 1 for 9 from the 3-point line in a 65-60 defeat their last time out. They were 20 of 32 from the foul line in that game.Kansas forced the Pirates into 16 turnovers while committing 11 of their own, and they had a big edge on the boards, which meant the Jayhawks simply had more opportunities on the offensive end. They took advantage of them, too.UP NEXTSeton Hall heads home to face Lincoln on Sunday.Kansas has the week off before visiting the Tigers.