CINCINNATI (AP) — Hunter Dickinson scored 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season. as No. 11 Kansas pulled away from Cincinnati for a 54-40 victory on Saturday.

The matchup between two of the nation's top defensive teams resulted in a low scoring affair. The Jayhawks held the Bearcats scoreless for more than six minutes in the second half to spark a 14-0 run.

The 40 points are the fewest for the Bearcats in head coach Wes Miller's four seasons.

Zeke Mayo scored eight points for Kansas (12-3, 3-1 Big 12) which has won three straight.

Dillon Mitchell scored 10 points and Arrinten Page and Dan Skillings Jr. each had nine for Cincinnati (10-5, 0-4 Big 12).

Both teams shot under 40% and were a combined 3 of 18 from 3-point range in the first half. The Bearcats led 25-24 at halftime behind eight points from Mitchell.

A Bearcats turnover resulted in a dunk by Moore off a lob from Mayo to put Kansas ahead 46-37 with 3:48 left.

Kansas: The Jayhawks' defense helped them rally again from a halftime deficit to win. They trailed by six points at home to Arizona State then allowed only 13 second-half points in a 74-55 win. They trailed by one at halftime on Saturday then allowed only 15 second-half points to pull away.

Cincinnati: The Bearcats, who've relied heavily on the 3-point shot, averaging 24 attempts per game, are now 16 of 60 (26 percent) from 3-point range in the past three games.

Page missed a dunk that would have made it a one-point game, and Shakeel Moore's layup put Kansas ahead 42-37 with 5:26 left. Kansas would outscore the Bearcats 12-3 from that point on.

Kansas scored 16 points off 12 Bearcats turnovers.

CINCINNATI (AP) — Hunter Dickinson scored 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season. as No. 11 Kansas pulled away from Cincinnati for a 54-40 victory on Saturday.The matchup between two of the nation's top defensive teams resulted in a low scoring affair. The Jayhawks held the Bearcats scoreless for more than six minutes in the second half to spark a 14-0 run.The 40 points are the fewest for the Bearcats in head coach Wes Miller's four seasons.Zeke Mayo scored eight points for Kansas (12-3, 3-1 Big 12) which has won three straight.Dillon Mitchell scored 10 points and Arrinten Page and Dan Skillings Jr. each had nine for Cincinnati (10-5, 0-4 Big 12).Both teams shot under 40% and were a combined 3 of 18 from 3-point range in the first half. The Bearcats led 25-24 at halftime behind eight points from Mitchell.A Bearcats turnover resulted in a dunk by Moore off a lob from Mayo to put Kansas ahead 46-37 with 3:48 left.<h2>Takeaways</h2>Kansas: The Jayhawks' defense helped them rally again from a halftime deficit to win. They trailed by six points at home to Arizona State then allowed only 13 second-half points in a 74-55 win. They trailed by one at halftime on Saturday then allowed only 15 second-half points to pull away.Cincinnati: The Bearcats, who've relied heavily on the 3-point shot, averaging 24 attempts per game, are now 16 of 60 (26 percent) from 3-point range in the past three games.<h2>Key moment</h2>Page missed a dunk that would have made it a one-point game, and Shakeel Moore's layup put Kansas ahead 42-37 with 5:26 left. Kansas would outscore the Bearcats 12-3 from that point on.<h2>Key stat</h2>Kansas scored 16 points off 12 Bearcats turnovers.<h2>Up next</h2>

Dickinson's 8th double-double lifts No. 11 Kansas to victory over Cincinnati

Barton Men 84 Colby 73; Barton Women 54 Colby 49

Barton Community College basketball on B104 3 The Point sponsored by Nex-Tech Wireless, Damm Pipe Testing, Mpire Overhead Door, Best Western Angus Inn, Marmie Auto Group, Rosenberg Family Dentistry, The University of Kansas Health System, Venture Corporation, Nex-Tech, Cougar Booster Club, The 10th Street Eye Care Center, Freedom Claims Management and Kansas Fishing Tools

<div><a href="https://www.bartonsports.com/information/boosterclub/index"><img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635967480149.jpeg"></a></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639328302345.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Barton Men 84 Colby 73; Barton Women 54 Colby 49<div><iframe width="100%" height="265" src="https://clyp.it/p0k1qi53/widget" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Barton Community College basketball on B104 3 The Point sponsored by Nex-Tech Wireless, Damm Pipe Testing, Mpire Overhead Door, Best Western Angus Inn, Marmie Auto Group, Rosenberg Family Dentistry, The University of Kansas Health System, Venture Corporation, Nex-Tech, Cougar Booster Club, The 10th Street Eye Care Center, Freedom Claims Management and Kansas Fishing Tools

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Out of NFL concussion protocol, Jalen Hurts is ready to roll for the Eagles.

With Hurts cleared, the NFC East champion Eagles (14-3) are close to full strength in the starting lineup for their NFC wild-card game Sunday against Green Bay.

“You always feel better when Jalen Hurts is on the field,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said Friday.

The Eagles quarterback hasn’t played since he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jalen-hurts-eagles-07bc0d5815c77af8a56742759dbdcdd1">suffered a concussion</a>&nbsp;and left a Dec. 22 game early against Washington. The 26-year-old Hurts returned to practice this week, a sure sign he was healthy enough to make the postseason start. Hurts missed the final two games — where backups Kenny Pickett and Tanner McKee led the Eagles to victories — but led the Eagles on a 10-game winning streak before he was injured in a loss to the Commanders.

The Eagles were a 4 1/2-point favorite on Monday to beat the Packers and had 7-1 odds to win the Super Bowl, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. On Friday, the Eagles moved to 5 1/2-point favorites to beat Green Bay.

There are&nbsp;<a href="https://static.www.nfl.com/image/upload/v1629471746/league/umfva5wnr32ozmukz5jd.pdf" target="_blank">five phases</a>&nbsp;in the concussion protocol, with the final one clearance by an independent neurological consultant.

Hurts said he had never suffered a concussion but added, “I feel great now.”

The Eagles are a legitimate Super Bowl contender with Hurts in the lineup and should have the upper-hand against Green Bay when it comes to healthy quarterbacks. Packers QB Jordan Love said this week his elbow — injured in the regular-season finale — was still sore, and he felt pain when he did some limited throwing in practice.

“It’s fun being around the guys. That’s really the main thing there,” Hurts said. “This team, these guys, are a big part of my routine. Just being around them. Taking ball. It’s been a great week.”

Hurts, who played late in the season with a broken finger on his non-throwing hand, threw for 2,903 yards this season with 18 touchdowns and five interceptions. He threw only one interception after the NFC East champion Eagles returned from their Week 5 bye. Thanks to the tush push, Hurts has 14 rushing touchdowns this season.

“We’re always careful with him,” Sirianni said. “He’s our quarterback so we always want to be careful with him. We always think about his health first and foremost because you never want him not to be on the field. You always want Jalen Hurts on the field.”

The Eagles seemingly erased minor concerns about the health of their receivers when they were all cleared Friday to play.

The Eagles got a needed boost when tight end Dallas Goedert returned from a four-game absence with a knee injury and was productive in his return in the regular-season finale with four catches for 55 yards. Wide receivers A.J Brown, who had 67 catches for 1,079 yards, and DeVonta Smith both missed a practice this week for rest and minor injury recovery.

Banged-up or not, Geodert, Smith and Brown are going to play against the Packers (11-6).

“Any time you can have them all on the field at the same time, it’s a good thing,” Sirianni said. “Those guys are really good players so we’re excited about the opportunity they’ll have together.”

As for the question of rest vs. rust late in the season, Sirianni had no concerns that Hurts’ production would suffer from the layoff or that he wouldn’t easily again find an instant connection with his receivers.

“They’ve got a lot of reps together prior to the last couple of weeks,” Sirianni said. “A lot, a lot of reps together. So that’s not a concern of mine. I just feel like we’re in a good spot going into this game.”

Hurts was 20 of 34 for 278 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions and led the Eagles to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eagles-packers-score-4699207bdddfc6883150bc82e93fab0a">34-29 victory</a>&nbsp;over the Packers in the season opener.

Hurts is a dual threat for the Eagles and his ability to run at any time is what has made him such a highly-paid — a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eagles-jalen-hurts-contract-b05ae18f336ee1dc959e287f4b195d2d">$179.3 million</a>&nbsp;guaranteed extension in 2023 — and dangerous —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eagles-jalen-hurts-contract-b05ae18f336ee1dc959e287f4b195d2d">NFL MVP runner-up</a>&nbsp;in 2022 — quarterback. He rushed for 630 yards this season. Hurts, though, was hurt against the Commanders after his head slammed against the ground on one run and he was hit in the helmet by Frankie Luvu at the end of another. Hurts had given a thumbs up that he was good to go but officials made him get tested for a concussion.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Out of NFL concussion protocol, Jalen Hurts is ready to roll for the Eagles.With Hurts cleared, the NFC East champion Eagles (14-3) are close to full strength in the starting lineup for their NFC wild-card game Sunday against Green Bay.“You always feel better when Jalen Hurts is on the field,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said Friday.The Eagles quarterback hasn’t played since he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jalen-hurts-eagles-07bc0d5815c77af8a56742759dbdcdd1">suffered a concussion</a>&nbsp;and left a Dec. 22 game early against Washington. The 26-year-old Hurts returned to practice this week, a sure sign he was healthy enough to make the postseason start. Hurts missed the final two games — where backups Kenny Pickett and Tanner McKee led the Eagles to victories — but led the Eagles on a 10-game winning streak before he was injured in a loss to the Commanders.The Eagles were a 4 1/2-point favorite on Monday to beat the Packers and had 7-1 odds to win the Super Bowl, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. On Friday, the Eagles moved to 5 1/2-point favorites to beat Green Bay.There are&nbsp;<a href="https://static.www.nfl.com/image/upload/v1629471746/league/umfva5wnr32ozmukz5jd.pdf" target="_blank">five phases</a>&nbsp;in the concussion protocol, with the final one clearance by an independent neurological consultant.Hurts said he had never suffered a concussion but added, “I feel great now.”The Eagles are a legitimate Super Bowl contender with Hurts in the lineup and should have the upper-hand against Green Bay when it comes to healthy quarterbacks. Packers QB Jordan Love said this week his elbow — injured in the regular-season finale — was still sore, and he felt pain when he did some limited throwing in practice.“It’s fun being around the guys. That’s really the main thing there,” Hurts said. “This team, these guys, are a big part of my routine. Just being around them. Taking ball. It’s been a great week.”Hurts, who played late in the season with a broken finger on his non-throwing hand, threw for 2,903 yards this season with 18 touchdowns and five interceptions. He threw only one interception after the NFC East champion Eagles returned from their Week 5 bye. Thanks to the tush push, Hurts has 14 rushing touchdowns this season.“We’re always careful with him,” Sirianni said. “He’s our quarterback so we always want to be careful with him. We always think about his health first and foremost because you never want him not to be on the field. You always want Jalen Hurts on the field.”The Eagles seemingly erased minor concerns about the health of their receivers when they were all cleared Friday to play.The Eagles got a needed boost when tight end Dallas Goedert returned from a four-game absence with a knee injury and was productive in his return in the regular-season finale with four catches for 55 yards. Wide receivers A.J Brown, who had 67 catches for 1,079 yards, and DeVonta Smith both missed a practice this week for rest and minor injury recovery.Banged-up or not, Geodert, Smith and Brown are going to play against the Packers (11-6).“Any time you can have them all on the field at the same time, it’s a good thing,” Sirianni said. “Those guys are really good players so we’re excited about the opportunity they’ll have together.”As for the question of rest vs. rust late in the season, Sirianni had no concerns that Hurts’ production would suffer from the layoff or that he wouldn’t easily again find an instant connection with his receivers.“They’ve got a lot of reps together prior to the last couple of weeks,” Sirianni said. “A lot, a lot of reps together. So that’s not a concern of mine. I just feel like we’re in a good spot going into this game.”Hurts was 20 of 34 for 278 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions and led the Eagles to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eagles-packers-score-4699207bdddfc6883150bc82e93fab0a">34-29 victory</a>&nbsp;over the Packers in the season opener.Hurts is a dual threat for the Eagles and his ability to run at any time is what has made him such a highly-paid — a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eagles-jalen-hurts-contract-b05ae18f336ee1dc959e287f4b195d2d">$179.3 million</a>&nbsp;guaranteed extension in 2023 — and dangerous —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eagles-jalen-hurts-contract-b05ae18f336ee1dc959e287f4b195d2d">NFL MVP runner-up</a>&nbsp;in 2022 — quarterback. He rushed for 630 yards this season. Hurts, though, was hurt against the Commanders after his head slammed against the ground on one run and he was hit in the helmet by Frankie Luvu at the end of another. Hurts had given a thumbs up that he was good to go but officials made him get tested for a concussion.

Eagles QB Hurts clears concussion protocol and will start wild-card game 

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Bill McCartney, who coached Colorado to its only football national championship in 1990, has died. He was 84.

McCartney died Friday night “after a courageous journey with dementia,” according to a family statement. His family announced in 2016 that he had been diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer's.

“Coach Mac touched countless lives with his unwavering faith, boundless compassion, and enduring legacy as a leader, mentor and advocate for family, community and faith,” the family said in its statement. “As a trailblazer and visionary, his impact was felt both on and off the field, and his spirit will forever remain in the hearts of those he inspired.”

McCartney remains the winningest coach in Colorado history, with a record of 93-55-5. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2013.

McCartney led Colorado to its best season in 1990, when the team finished 11-1-1 and beat Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl to clinch the national title. That season included a win at Missouri where the Buffaloes scored the winning touchdown on a “fifth down” as time expired -- one of the biggest blunders in college football history.

The chain crew didn’t flip the marker from second to third down and the officials failed to notice. On fourth down -- fifth in actuality -- Charles Johnson scored to keep Colorado’s national title hopes afloat. Asked later if he would consider forfeiting the game, McCartney pointed to poor field conditions and didn’t think it was a fair test.

McCartney coached at Colorado from 1982 to 1994, retiring early to spend more time with his wife, Lyndi, who died in 2013. Following his retirement, he worked full time at Promise Keepers, a ministry he started in 1990 after converting from Catholicism and whose aim is to encourage “godly men.”

The organization became a flash point in state politics, advocating unsuccessfully that gays be denied the designation of “protected class,” a position by the group that drew campus protests. He left as Promise Keepers’ president in 2003 because of his wife’s health but returned five years later.

As a football coach, McCartney’s impact at Colorado was immense. During a six-year span in the late ’80s and early ’90s, his teams were right up there with the powers of the time. McCartney coached Colorado to three Big Eight titles, 10 consecutive winning seasons in league competition and a 58-29-4 mark in conference play, all still school bests.

His 1989 team went 11-1 and lost to Notre Dame 21-6 in the Orange Bowl. That set the groundwork for a national title team that featured quarterbacks Darian Hagan and Charles Johnson, tailback Eric Bieniemy, along with a stalwart defense that included Alfred Williams, Greg Biekert, Chad Brown and Kanavis McGhee.

To think, McCartney nearly chose a basketball coaching career.

Born in Riverview, Michigan, McCartney played center and linebacker at the University of Missouri, where he met his wife. He later coached basketball and football at a high school in Dearborn, Michigan. His teams were good, too, each capturing the state title in 1973.

He caught the eye of Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler, who wanted McCartney to join his staff at Michigan. If that weren’t enough, Michigan basketball coach Johnny Orr urged him to join his staff.

He couldn’t decide. His wife gave him some simple advice — follow his heart.

He stepped into the world of college football.

McCartney learned under Schembechler for eight seasons, until an opportunity came up to guide his own team. When the late Chuck Fairbanks left Colorado to become involved with the New Jersey Generals in the upstart U.S. Football League, McCartney asked Schembechler if the Hall of Fame coach would put in a good word for him.

Schembechler’s backing carried a lot of weight and then-Colorado athletic director Eddie Crowder gave McCartney the position.

It was a rough start for McCartney with only seven victories in his first three seasons, including a 1-10 finish in 1984. Then things started to turn.

His last season with the Buffaloes was 1994, when the team went 11-1 behind a roster that included Kordell Stewart, Michael Westbrook and the late Rashaan Salaam. That season featured the “Miracle in Michigan,” with Westbrook hauling in a 64-yard TD catch from Stewart on a Hail Mary as time expired in a win at Michigan. Salaam also rushed for 2,055 yards to earn the Heisman Trophy.

McCartney also groomed the next wave of coaches, mentoring assistants such as Gary Barnett, Jim Caldwell, Ron Dickerson, Gerry DiNardo, Karl Dorrell, Jon Embree, Les Miles, Rick Neuheisel, Bob Simmons, Lou Tepper, Ron Vanderlinden and John Wristen.

In recent years, McCartney got to watch grandson Derek play defensive line at Colorado. Derek’s father, Shannon Clavelle, was a defensive lineman for Colorado from 1992-94 before playing a few seasons in the NFL. Derek’s brother, T.C. McCartney, was a quarterback at LSU and is the son of late Colorado quarterback Sal Aunese, who played for Bill McCartney in 1987 and ’88 before being diagnosed with stomach cancer in 1989 and dying six months later at 21.

Growing up, Derek McCartney used to go next door to his grandfather’s house to listen to his stories. He never tired of them.

Derek soaked up the tales about Salaam winning the Heisman Trophy and how Colorado beat Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl to cement the national title. His grandfather had a picture of the play from Michigan and a button to push to hear the broadcast audio.

When playing for Colorado, hardly a day would go by when someone wouldn’t ask Derek if he was somehow related to the coach.

“I like when that happens,” Derek said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736575695218.jpeg" alt="FILE - Colorado coach Bill McCartney, left, is escorted off the Orange Bowl field after the Buffaloes defeated Notre Dame, 10-9, in the 57th annual Orange Bowl Classic in Miami, Jan. 1, 1991. (AP Photo/Ray Fairall, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - Colorado coach Bill McCartney, left, is escorted off the Orange Bowl field after the Buffaloes defeated Notre Dame, 10-9, in the 57th annual Orange Bowl Classic in Miami, Jan. 1, 1991. (AP Photo/Ray Fairall, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Bill McCartney, who coached Colorado to its only football national championship in 1990, has died. He was 84.McCartney died Friday night “after a courageous journey with dementia,” according to a family statement. His family announced in 2016 that he had been diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer's.“Coach Mac touched countless lives with his unwavering faith, boundless compassion, and enduring legacy as a leader, mentor and advocate for family, community and faith,” the family said in its statement. “As a trailblazer and visionary, his impact was felt both on and off the field, and his spirit will forever remain in the hearts of those he inspired.”McCartney remains the winningest coach in Colorado history, with a record of 93-55-5. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2013.McCartney led Colorado to its best season in 1990, when the team finished 11-1-1 and beat Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl to clinch the national title. That season included a win at Missouri where the Buffaloes scored the winning touchdown on a “fifth down” as time expired -- one of the biggest blunders in college football history.The chain crew didn’t flip the marker from second to third down and the officials failed to notice. On fourth down -- fifth in actuality -- Charles Johnson scored to keep Colorado’s national title hopes afloat. Asked later if he would consider forfeiting the game, McCartney pointed to poor field conditions and didn’t think it was a fair test.McCartney coached at Colorado from 1982 to 1994, retiring early to spend more time with his wife, Lyndi, who died in 2013. Following his retirement, he worked full time at Promise Keepers, a ministry he started in 1990 after converting from Catholicism and whose aim is to encourage “godly men.”The organization became a flash point in state politics, advocating unsuccessfully that gays be denied the designation of “protected class,” a position by the group that drew campus protests. He left as Promise Keepers’ president in 2003 because of his wife’s health but returned five years later.As a football coach, McCartney’s impact at Colorado was immense. During a six-year span in the late ’80s and early ’90s, his teams were right up there with the powers of the time. McCartney coached Colorado to three Big Eight titles, 10 consecutive winning seasons in league competition and a 58-29-4 mark in conference play, all still school bests.His 1989 team went 11-1 and lost to Notre Dame 21-6 in the Orange Bowl. That set the groundwork for a national title team that featured quarterbacks Darian Hagan and Charles Johnson, tailback Eric Bieniemy, along with a stalwart defense that included Alfred Williams, Greg Biekert, Chad Brown and Kanavis McGhee.To think, McCartney nearly chose a basketball coaching career.Born in Riverview, Michigan, McCartney played center and linebacker at the University of Missouri, where he met his wife. He later coached basketball and football at a high school in Dearborn, Michigan. His teams were good, too, each capturing the state title in 1973.He caught the eye of Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler, who wanted McCartney to join his staff at Michigan. If that weren’t enough, Michigan basketball coach Johnny Orr urged him to join his staff.He couldn’t decide. His wife gave him some simple advice — follow his heart.He stepped into the world of college football.McCartney learned under Schembechler for eight seasons, until an opportunity came up to guide his own team. When the late Chuck Fairbanks left Colorado to become involved with the New Jersey Generals in the upstart U.S. Football League, McCartney asked Schembechler if the Hall of Fame coach would put in a good word for him.Schembechler’s backing carried a lot of weight and then-Colorado athletic director Eddie Crowder gave McCartney the position.It was a rough start for McCartney with only seven victories in his first three seasons, including a 1-10 finish in 1984. Then things started to turn.His last season with the Buffaloes was 1994, when the team went 11-1 behind a roster that included Kordell Stewart, Michael Westbrook and the late Rashaan Salaam. That season featured the “Miracle in Michigan,” with Westbrook hauling in a 64-yard TD catch from Stewart on a Hail Mary as time expired in a win at Michigan. Salaam also rushed for 2,055 yards to earn the Heisman Trophy.McCartney also groomed the next wave of coaches, mentoring assistants such as Gary Barnett, Jim Caldwell, Ron Dickerson, Gerry DiNardo, Karl Dorrell, Jon Embree, Les Miles, Rick Neuheisel, Bob Simmons, Lou Tepper, Ron Vanderlinden and John Wristen.In recent years, McCartney got to watch grandson Derek play defensive line at Colorado. Derek’s father, Shannon Clavelle, was a defensive lineman for Colorado from 1992-94 before playing a few seasons in the NFL. Derek’s brother, T.C. McCartney, was a quarterback at LSU and is the son of late Colorado quarterback Sal Aunese, who played for Bill McCartney in 1987 and ’88 before being diagnosed with stomach cancer in 1989 and dying six months later at 21.Growing up, Derek McCartney used to go next door to his grandfather’s house to listen to his stories. He never tired of them.Derek soaked up the tales about Salaam winning the Heisman Trophy and how Colorado beat Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl to cement the national title. His grandfather had a picture of the play from Michigan and a button to push to hear the broadcast audio.When playing for Colorado, hardly a day would go by when someone wouldn’t ask Derek if he was somehow related to the coach.“I like when that happens,” Derek said.

Bill McCartney, who coached Colorado to its only football championship, has died

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jack Sawyer had the kind of moment that will live on long past his playing days with Ohio State. Of course, one more victory would make it that much sweeter.

Sawyer stripped Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers — his former roommate — and returned the fumble 83 yards for the clinching touchdown in a 28-14 victory over the Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night, giving the Buckeyes a shot at their sixth AP national title.

“We talked before the game about how do you leave a legacy is to become your old legend. And there’s some guys on this team today that I believe will become legends in Ohio State history,” coach Ryan Day said. “Now they get 10 more days together, and an opportunity to tell their story if they go win one more.”

Led by Ohio native Sawyer and Quinshon Judkins, who rushed for two touchdowns, the Buckeyes (13-2) posted the semifinal victory in the same stadium where 10 years ago they were champions when the College Football Playoff debuted with a four-team format. Now they have the opportunity to be the winner again in the first season with an expanded 12-team field.

Ohio State plays Orange Bowl champion&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cfp-notre-dame-ohio-state-texas-276477d7ff38e93a3625632d515f189b">Notre Dame</a>&nbsp;in Atlanta on Jan. 20. It could be quite a finish for the Big Ten Buckeyes after they lost to rival Michigan on Nov. 30.

Sawyer got to Ewers on a fourth-and-goal from the 8, knocking the ball loose before scooping it up and lumbering all the way to the other end zone with 2:13 left. It was the longest fumble return in CFP history.

“I saw the ball pop out right to me after I tackled him, I was just thinking, I’ve got to stay on my feet, because I almost blacked out when I scooped it and saw a bunch of green grass ahead of me,” Sawyer said.

Ewers and Sawyer were roommates in Columbus for one semester before the quarterback transferred home to Texas. Ewers helped lead the Longhorns (13-3) to consecutive CFP semifinals, but next season will be their 20th since winning their last national title with Vince Young in 2005.

“I felt him. I started drifting away, thought I was going to be able to get the ball off before he got there,” Ewers said. “I saw Jack running with the ball down the sideline. ... Jack’s a good player made a great play.”

Texas had moved to the 1, helped by two pass-interference penalties in the end zone, before Quintrevion Wisner was stopped for a 7-yard loss. Ewers then threw a third-down incompletion while being pressured by Sawyer on the play before the defensive touchdown.

“He’s everything that we possibly ask for in a captain,” Day said. “To make a play like that in that moment ... He just became a legend at Ohio State.”

Judkins, a transfer from Mississippi, had a 1-yard touchdown for a 21-14 lead with 7:02 left, capping an 88-yard, 13-play drive over 7:45. That score came four plays after quarterback Will Howard converted a fourth-and-2 from the Texas 34 with a stumbling 18-yard run that probably should have been a score.

“That fourth down was huge. ... I fell on purpose. I'm joking,” Howard said. “A statement drive. We needed that.”

Howard was 24-of-33 passing for 289 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He played his first game at AT&amp;T Stadium since leading Kansas State to a win over undefeated TCU in the Big 12 championship two years ago. He was 0-3 as a starter against the Longhorns while at K-State, including an overtime thriller in Austin last season.

Ewers finished 23 of 39 for 283 yards with two TD passes to Jaydon Blue and an interception after getting the ball back one final time. It might have been his last play for the Longhorns since he could go into the NFL draft.

Texas won the Big 12 title last season before moving to the SEC.

The Buckeyes went ahead on their opening drive of the game when Judkins scored on a 9-yard run. It looked as if they could get off to another fast start, after jumping ahead 21-0 and 34-0 in their first two playoff games.

But Ohio State then punted on four consecutive possessions before Texas tied it at 7 on Ewers' 18-yard touchdown pass to Blue with 29 seconds left in the first half. Arch Manning, the backup and future starting quarterback, kept that drive alive when he converted fourth-and-1 from midfield with an 8-yard keeper — his only play in the game.

Right after Texas' first TD, Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson turned a screen pass into a 75-yard touchdown, following a wall of blockers before shooting through an open gap and sprinting to the end zone.

Blue had a tying 26-yard TD catch with 3:12 left in the third quarter. The drive featured a terrific play by Ewers, who was being dragged down by Sawyer on third-and-10 when he managed to scoop the ball underhanded to Wisner for a 13-yard gain.

While Ohio State prepares for the CFP title game, Texas waits for a rematch with the Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in the previously scheduled 2025 season opener Aug. 30.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736575503289.jpeg" alt="Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer, top, runs for a touchdown after recovering a fumble by Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, bottom, during the second half of the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal game, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)" />
 <figcaption>Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer, top, runs for a touchdown after recovering a fumble by Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, bottom, during the second half of the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal game, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)</figcaption>
 </figure>ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jack Sawyer had the kind of moment that will live on long past his playing days with Ohio State. Of course, one more victory would make it that much sweeter.Sawyer stripped Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers — his former roommate — and returned the fumble 83 yards for the clinching touchdown in a 28-14 victory over the Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night, giving the Buckeyes a shot at their sixth AP national title.“We talked before the game about how do you leave a legacy is to become your old legend. And there’s some guys on this team today that I believe will become legends in Ohio State history,” coach Ryan Day said. “Now they get 10 more days together, and an opportunity to tell their story if they go win one more.”Led by Ohio native Sawyer and Quinshon Judkins, who rushed for two touchdowns, the Buckeyes (13-2) posted the semifinal victory in the same stadium where 10 years ago they were champions when the College Football Playoff debuted with a four-team format. Now they have the opportunity to be the winner again in the first season with an expanded 12-team field.Ohio State plays Orange Bowl champion&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cfp-notre-dame-ohio-state-texas-276477d7ff38e93a3625632d515f189b">Notre Dame</a>&nbsp;in Atlanta on Jan. 20. It could be quite a finish for the Big Ten Buckeyes after they lost to rival Michigan on Nov. 30.Sawyer got to Ewers on a fourth-and-goal from the 8, knocking the ball loose before scooping it up and lumbering all the way to the other end zone with 2:13 left. It was the longest fumble return in CFP history.“I saw the ball pop out right to me after I tackled him, I was just thinking, I’ve got to stay on my feet, because I almost blacked out when I scooped it and saw a bunch of green grass ahead of me,” Sawyer said.Ewers and Sawyer were roommates in Columbus for one semester before the quarterback transferred home to Texas. Ewers helped lead the Longhorns (13-3) to consecutive CFP semifinals, but next season will be their 20th since winning their last national title with Vince Young in 2005.“I felt him. I started drifting away, thought I was going to be able to get the ball off before he got there,” Ewers said. “I saw Jack running with the ball down the sideline. ... Jack’s a good player made a great play.”Texas had moved to the 1, helped by two pass-interference penalties in the end zone, before Quintrevion Wisner was stopped for a 7-yard loss. Ewers then threw a third-down incompletion while being pressured by Sawyer on the play before the defensive touchdown.“He’s everything that we possibly ask for in a captain,” Day said. “To make a play like that in that moment ... He just became a legend at Ohio State.”Judkins, a transfer from Mississippi, had a 1-yard touchdown for a 21-14 lead with 7:02 left, capping an 88-yard, 13-play drive over 7:45. That score came four plays after quarterback Will Howard converted a fourth-and-2 from the Texas 34 with a stumbling 18-yard run that probably should have been a score.“That fourth down was huge. ... I fell on purpose. I'm joking,” Howard said. “A statement drive. We needed that.”Howard was 24-of-33 passing for 289 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He played his first game at AT&amp;T Stadium since leading Kansas State to a win over undefeated TCU in the Big 12 championship two years ago. He was 0-3 as a starter against the Longhorns while at K-State, including an overtime thriller in Austin last season.Ewers finished 23 of 39 for 283 yards with two TD passes to Jaydon Blue and an interception after getting the ball back one final time. It might have been his last play for the Longhorns since he could go into the NFL draft.Texas won the Big 12 title last season before moving to the SEC.<h2>Not so fast</h2>The Buckeyes went ahead on their opening drive of the game when Judkins scored on a 9-yard run. It looked as if they could get off to another fast start, after jumping ahead 21-0 and 34-0 in their first two playoff games.But Ohio State then punted on four consecutive possessions before Texas tied it at 7 on Ewers' 18-yard touchdown pass to Blue with 29 seconds left in the first half. Arch Manning, the backup and future starting quarterback, kept that drive alive when he converted fourth-and-1 from midfield with an 8-yard keeper — his only play in the game.Right after Texas' first TD, Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson turned a screen pass into a 75-yard touchdown, following a wall of blockers before shooting through an open gap and sprinting to the end zone.<h2>A great escape</h2>Blue had a tying 26-yard TD catch with 3:12 left in the third quarter. The drive featured a terrific play by Ewers, who was being dragged down by Sawyer on third-and-10 when he managed to scoop the ball underhanded to Wisner for a 13-yard gain.<h2>Up next</h2>While Ohio State prepares for the CFP title game, Texas waits for a rematch with the Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in the previously scheduled 2025 season opener Aug. 30.

Ohio State getting shot at 6th national title after 28-14 win over Texas in CFP 

Broken Arrow, Okla.
50, Wichita Life Prep 43

Friday AP ScoresBOYSAxtell 64, Linn 42Centralia 84,
Washington County 35Clifton-Clyde 54,
Frankfort 49, OTGoddard-Eisenhower
64, Goddard 43Great Bend 71,
Garden City 60Horton 56, Oskaloosa
39Moundridge 58,
Sterling 47Nemaha Central 49,
Perry-Lecompton 24Riley County 63,
Jefferson West 59Smith Center 57,
Ellis 45St Marys 65, Sabetha
58Stockton 62, Natoma
19Valley Center 67,
Wichita South 28Washburn Rural 67,
Topeka Hayden 54Wellington 56,
Clearwater 34Wichita Heights 66,
Maize 49Wichita Trinity 68,
Halstead 34GIRLSBeloit 59,
Hoisington 41Broken Arrow, Okla.
50, Wichita Life Prep 43Centralia 84,
Washington County 35Clifton-Clyde 49,
Frankfort 38De Soto 75, KC
Turner 13Doniphan West 51,
Valley Heights 38Elkhart 43, Sublette
28Ellinwood 74, Chase
8Ellis 49, Smith
Center 34Garden City 57,
Great Bend 26Goddard 48,
Goddard-Eisenhower 43Halstead 50, Wichita
Trinity 39Hiawatha 70,
Rossville 62Linn 49, Axtell 39Maize 35, Wichita
Northwest 28Meade 50, Ashland 31Mulvane 50,
McPherson 32Nemaha Central 58,
Perry-Lecompton 21Reno County 55,
Flint Hills Christian 41Riley County 52,
Jefferson West 21Satanta 43,
Deerfield 25South Gray 68,
Stanton County 35St Marys 50, Sabetha
19Topeka Hayden 46,
Washburn Rural 44Topeka Seaman 72,
Lansing 9Trego 40, Hill City
24Valley Center 43,
Wichita South 28Wallace County 52,
Rawlins County 46Wellington 46,
Clearwater 28Wheatland-Grinnell
57, Logan 22Wichita Campus 55,
Wichita West 15

Friday Statewide Scores

By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

Was it a shot or not? Garden City's Mia Hannagan threw up a three-quarter court shot to end the third quarter of Friday's Western Athletic Conference basketball game at Great Bend High School. The significance? It was the freshman's lone blemish in the second half. Hannagan hit eight threes in a nine-minute stretch to push the Buffs to a running clock and a 57-26 win.

Great Bend made just one of its first 19 attempts from the floor but remained competitive through two quarters. Trailing 11-4 after one period, senior DeShawnna Bryant got the Panthers on the board in the second with a jumper two minutes in. Junior Alyssa McCauley went end to end for another basket and a 16-8 score. Sophomore Alex Mayers scored underneath the basket, then her steal led to an offensive board from McCauley, which resulted in a free throw from Bryant. The Panthers eventually got as close as 18-15.

Garden City's 5-11 junior KJ Pinchon was problematic early on with 13 of her 17 points coming in the first half. Several of those came late in the second quarter to stretch the Buff lead to 24-16 by halftime.

Then it was Hannagan's time. The freshman connected on four threes in less than two minutes to open the third quarter. She hit her seventh triple of the third with a minute to play to push the Garden City lead to 50-19. She added one more trey 55 seconds into the fourth quarter to finish her night with 27 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the outside. Pinchon finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Garden City improves to 6-2 on the season.

The Lady Panthers drop to 3-5 ahead of next Friday's contest at Hutchinson. Sophomore Meredith Mazouch scored five of her team-high nine points in the second half. Cassie Ellegood and Bryant each added five points.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736571040131.jpeg" alt="Great Bend junior Alyssa McCauley looks to get past Garden City sophomore Myah Korf during Friday's 57-26 loss to the Buffs." />
 <figcaption>Great Bend junior Alyssa McCauley looks to get past Garden City sophomore Myah Korf during Friday's 57-26 loss to the Buffs.</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostWas it a shot or not? Garden City's Mia Hannagan threw up a three-quarter court shot to end the third quarter of Friday's Western Athletic Conference basketball game at Great Bend High School. The significance? It was the freshman's lone blemish in the second half. Hannagan hit eight threes in a nine-minute stretch to push the Buffs to a running clock and a 57-26 win.Great Bend made just one of its first 19 attempts from the floor but remained competitive through two quarters. Trailing 11-4 after one period, senior DeShawnna Bryant got the Panthers on the board in the second with a jumper two minutes in. Junior Alyssa McCauley went end to end for another basket and a 16-8 score. Sophomore Alex Mayers scored underneath the basket, then her steal led to an offensive board from McCauley, which resulted in a free throw from Bryant. The Panthers eventually got as close as 18-15.Garden City's 5-11 junior KJ Pinchon was problematic early on with 13 of her 17 points coming in the first half. Several of those came late in the second quarter to stretch the Buff lead to 24-16 by halftime.Then it was Hannagan's time. The freshman connected on four threes in less than two minutes to open the third quarter. She hit her seventh triple of the third with a minute to play to push the Garden City lead to 50-19. She added one more trey 55 seconds into the fourth quarter to finish her night with 27 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the outside. Pinchon finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Garden City improves to 6-2 on the season.The Lady Panthers drop to 3-5 ahead of next Friday's contest at Hutchinson. Sophomore Meredith Mazouch scored five of her team-high nine points in the second half. Cassie Ellegood and Bryant each added five points.

Garden City freshman hits eight threes in second half to bury Lady Panthers

The offense eventually slowed but a big first quarter was enough to push No. 10 Great Bend past Garden City Friday night. The Panthers entered the game shooting 51 percent from the floor and made 11 of their first 14 baskets against the Buffaloes to build a 25-11 lead. Garden City outscored Great Bend the rest of the way but still fell 71-60 in a packed GBHS gymnasium.

"It's awesome," said Panther senior Ben Nicholson, who scored 20 points in the win. "The community supports us a lot and I really appreciate them. It was a full gym tonight so it was fun."

Great Bend clung to a 56-46 lead with a quarter to play. Buffalo senior Dallas Rosales stayed hot with six points early in the frame to cut the gap to 60-55 with 4:37 to play. The Panthers answered with a putback from junior Jacob Hall. Then junior Ian Premer missed the second half of a trip to the line but tied up the rebound for a jump ball. That resulted in a Daxton Minton pass to Cooper Ohnmacht on the inbounds. Great Bend led 66-55 with 3:27 remaining and was able to skate to the finish.

Nicholson was a man on fire early on with five points in the first 54 seconds, including a three to put the Panthers ahead 6-2. He scored 11 points in the first quarter, highlighted by a jam for a 19-6 score. Premer picked up an assist on that dunk and added eight points in the period.

Hall hit a three in the first quarter in his return to the floor after missing with a broken nose. He and the sophomore Ohnmacht each scored five points in the second quarter to keep the gap at 43-33 heading into halftime. Garden City made it to the line nine times but made just four free throws in the period.

"We started to foul a little bit and got into a little bit of foul trouble," said Nicholson. "They started making a lot of free throws and that really helped them get back into the game. We started to pick up the pace defensively and that helped us pull it out in the end."

The Buffs made just five field goals in the third quarter but two of those shots happened to be threes from freshman MacKoy Hemmert. His effort was offset by eight points and four rebounds from Premer on the other end.

Rosales led all players with 22 points for Garden City. Senior Thomas Longa added 12 points, sophomore Drew Strecker scored 11 points, and Hemmert finished with 10 points. Garden City falls to 3-6 on the season.

Nicholson finished with his 20 points and Premer also scored 20 points to go with 11 rebounds. Ohnmacht scored 13 points, and Hall finished with 11 points and nine boards. The Panthers take a 7-1 record to Hutchinson next Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736570285331.jpeg" alt="Panther junior Daxton Minton guards Garden City senior Dallas Rosales during Friday's 71-60 win over the Buffs." />
 <figcaption>Panther junior Daxton Minton guards Garden City senior Dallas Rosales during Friday's 71-60 win over the Buffs.</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostThe offense eventually slowed but a big first quarter was enough to push No. 10 Great Bend past Garden City Friday night. The Panthers entered the game shooting 51 percent from the floor and made 11 of their first 14 baskets against the Buffaloes to build a 25-11 lead. Garden City outscored Great Bend the rest of the way but still fell 71-60 in a packed GBHS gymnasium."It's awesome," said Panther senior Ben Nicholson, who scored 20 points in the win. "The community supports us a lot and I really appreciate them. It was a full gym tonight so it was fun."Great Bend clung to a 56-46 lead with a quarter to play. Buffalo senior Dallas Rosales stayed hot with six points early in the frame to cut the gap to 60-55 with 4:37 to play. The Panthers answered with a putback from junior Jacob Hall. Then junior Ian Premer missed the second half of a trip to the line but tied up the rebound for a jump ball. That resulted in a Daxton Minton pass to Cooper Ohnmacht on the inbounds. Great Bend led 66-55 with 3:27 remaining and was able to skate to the finish.Nicholson was a man on fire early on with five points in the first 54 seconds, including a three to put the Panthers ahead 6-2. He scored 11 points in the first quarter, highlighted by a jam for a 19-6 score. Premer picked up an assist on that dunk and added eight points in the period.Hall hit a three in the first quarter in his return to the floor after missing with a broken nose. He and the sophomore Ohnmacht each scored five points in the second quarter to keep the gap at 43-33 heading into halftime. Garden City made it to the line nine times but made just four free throws in the period."We started to foul a little bit and got into a little bit of foul trouble," said Nicholson. "They started making a lot of free throws and that really helped them get back into the game. We started to pick up the pace defensively and that helped us pull it out in the end."The Buffs made just five field goals in the third quarter but two of those shots happened to be threes from freshman MacKoy Hemmert. His effort was offset by eight points and four rebounds from Premer on the other end.Rosales led all players with 22 points for Garden City. Senior Thomas Longa added 12 points, sophomore Drew Strecker scored 11 points, and Hemmert finished with 10 points. Garden City falls to 3-6 on the season.Nicholson finished with his 20 points and Premer also scored 20 points to go with 11 rebounds. Ohnmacht scored 13 points, and Hall finished with 11 points and nine boards. The Panthers take a 7-1 record to Hutchinson next Friday.

Nicholson, Premer put in 20 points to lift No. 10 Panthers past Garden City

Great Bend Boys 71 Garden City 60; Garden City Girls 57 Great Bend 26

Great Bend Sports on B104 3 The Point sponsored by USD #428, Keller Real Estate &amp; Insurance Agency, Equity Bank, The 10th Street Eyecare Center, People's Bank and Trust, Comfort Pro, Delgado's Mexican Restaurant, Great Bend Rec, Edward Jones, Damm Pipe Testing, University of Kansas Health System, The Fieldhouse, Scott's Welding Service, American Plains COOP, Farmer's Bank &amp; Trust, Innovative Livestock Services, Marmie Auto Group, Mpire Realty, Advanced Therapy &amp; Sports Medicine, GB Tarp Company, Freedom Claims Management, Coldwell Banker - Megan Wells, Advanced Truck &amp; Diesel, Nextech, Stone Sand Company/Stone Waste Management, Rosenberg Family Denistry, Sutherlands, Great Bend Redi Mix, Kern Floor Service, Magna Dry Cleaning Services, Shelter Insurance - Chris Ramsey, and Mitchell K Haney and Associates.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673886602159.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Great Bend Boys 71 Garden City 60; Garden City Girls 57 Great Bend 26<div><iframe width="100%" height="265" src="https://clyp.it/nz0ly2hq/widget" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Great Bend Sports on B104 3 The Point sponsored by USD #428, Keller Real Estate &amp; Insurance Agency, Equity Bank, The 10th Street Eyecare Center, People's Bank and Trust, Comfort Pro, Delgado's Mexican Restaurant, Great Bend Rec, Edward Jones, Damm Pipe Testing, University of Kansas Health System, The Fieldhouse, Scott's Welding Service, American Plains COOP, Farmer's Bank &amp; Trust, Innovative Livestock Services, Marmie Auto Group, Mpire Realty, Advanced Therapy &amp; Sports Medicine, GB Tarp Company, Freedom Claims Management, Coldwell Banker - Megan Wells, Advanced Truck &amp; Diesel, Nextech, Stone Sand Company/Stone Waste Management, Rosenberg Family Denistry, Sutherlands, Great Bend Redi Mix, Kern Floor Service, Magna Dry Cleaning Services, Shelter Insurance - Chris Ramsey, and Mitchell K Haney and Associates.

Beloit Boys 43 Hoisington 30; Beloit Girls 59 Hoisington 41

Hoisington Sports on 100.7 Eagle Country sponsored  by...USD #431 Hoisington, Ehler Chevrolet, Cardinal Pharmacy, Equity Bank, Donald E Reif Jr. Attorney at Law, Town &amp; Country Supermarket, Superior Essex, First Kansas Bank, Innovative Livestock Services, Mpire Realty Jessy Kirmer/Nikki Henderson, Clara Barton Medical Center, Hoisington Veterinary Hospital, Rosenberg Family Denistry, Hoisington Recreation Commission, Central Chiropractic, Dr. Tyler Schremmer, Bobcat Backhoe Service, and Barton Community College.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581739911992.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Beloit Boys 43 Hoisington 30; Beloit Girls 59 Hoisington 41<div><iframe width="100%" height="265" src="https://clyp.it/oagtletv/widget" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Hoisington Sports on 100.7 Eagle Country sponsored by...USD #431 Hoisington, Ehler Chevrolet, Cardinal Pharmacy, Equity Bank, Donald E Reif Jr. Attorney at Law, Town &amp; Country Supermarket, Superior Essex, First Kansas Bank, Innovative Livestock Services, Mpire Realty Jessy Kirmer/Nikki Henderson, Clara Barton Medical Center, Hoisington Veterinary Hospital, Rosenberg Family Denistry, Hoisington Recreation Commission, Central Chiropractic, Dr. Tyler Schremmer, Bobcat Backhoe Service, and Barton Community College.

-Barton Cougar basketball coach Jeremy Coombs recaps Wednesday's home win over Fort Hays Tech Northwest and looks ahead to Saturday's trip to Colby.

- Sunflower Sports Solutions Conor Nicholl returns for the first time in 2025 and gets us caught up on everything in Kansas high school sports.

- The "Voice of the Indians" Gary Wagner joins us talk everything Larned High School Sports.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693997740304.jpeg" alt="Friday show lineup with hosts Steve Webster and Mike Courson" />
 <figcaption>Friday show lineup with hosts Steve Webster and Mike Courson</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pyS4xRvUAgA?si=48YlB_J2R_4QjOcz" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>-Barton Cougar basketball coach Jeremy Coombs recaps Wednesday's home win over Fort Hays Tech Northwest and looks ahead to Saturday's trip to Colby.- Sunflower Sports Solutions Conor Nicholl returns for the first time in 2025 and gets us caught up on everything in Kansas high school sports.- The "Voice of the Indians" Gary Wagner joins us talk everything Larned High School Sports.- Friday Sports Headlines- Sounds of the past 24-hours

Friday on Sports Day(Watch)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — There is still a sense for some&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ohio-state-buckeyes-football">Ohio State</a>&nbsp;players that they haven’t done anything yet, even after winning twice already this postseason to get into the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl against Texas.

“Absolutely. I have been here for four years, and I have absolutely no hardware to show for it,” receiver Emeka Egbuka said. “That’s really on the forefront of our minds.”

While Ohio State (12-2) is the only school to appear in four of the last six CFPs — all since Ryan Day became head coach — and won four consecutive Big Ten titles from 2017-20 before Egbuka and most of the current players arrived, the Buckeyes’ last national championship was 10 years ago. That was the first season of the four-team College Football Playoff, when they won the title at AT&amp;T Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys where they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cfp-texas-ohio-state-cotton-bowl-cf5b7fdf1cef219dd2e1808699f2e7ca">play the in-state Longhorns</a>&nbsp;(13-2).

The winner Friday night advances to play&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/penn-state-notre-dame-orange-bowl-score-34fe8fc6414366145cfaa10f0147964c">Orange Bowl champion Notre Dame</a>&nbsp;(14-1) for the national title in Atlanta on Jan. 20.

Ohio State is the No. 8 seed now favored to win the national title after two lopsided playoff wins: 42-17 at home against Tennessee before a dominating 41-21 win over undefeated Big Ten champion and top seed Oregon in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day.

“We’re just fighting to get another opportunity to play with each other,” said linebacker and captain Cody Simon, one of nine Ohio State players still around from 2020. “That’s our biggest motivator right now. ... We don’t want to end this run right now.”

Texas last won the national title 19 years ago, and didn’t make its CFP debut until last season as the Big 12 champion. Coach Steve Sarkisian’s fifth-seeded Longhorns are now the last team standing for the Southeastern Conference, the only league that has been represented in the semifinals each year — and that has six of the last nine national champions.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cottom-bowl-texas-ohio-state-snow-d30679e21af56aca81748ca0589a8c27">15 games for the Longhorns</a>, who played in the SEC championship game before wins over Clemson and Big 12 champ Arizona State, are already one more than they had ever played in a single season.

“I like the new playoff dynamic. It’s fun,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-ohio-state-ewers-playoff-deda7a46d458a0ee5e336e5defabcde9">Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers</a>&nbsp;said.

“We’re obsessed with finishing up,” said Longhorns All-America senior cornerback Jahdae Barron. “But we’re obsessed with being enamored with us, and giving every day the respect that it deserves. And just being loving to one another and having a level bond with one another and continuing to build the culture.”

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard and Ewers both won Big 12 championships the last time they played at AT&amp;T Stadium.

Texas was the Big 12 champ last season. Howard transferred to Ohio State from Kansas State, which two years ago beat CFP-bound and undefeated TCU in overtime for that league title.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cfp-will-howard-ohio-state-d1602ab91225e0ca477d5610a195dd8d">Howard started three games against Texas</a>&nbsp;while with the Wildcats. Those were all losses, as was a fourth game when he was on the sideline.

The best matchup of the game could be Barron vs. Buckeyes freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Barron won the Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back. But Barron gives up four inches and 15 pounds to Smith, the second-team All-American who may be the most electric freshman in the country. Smith has 70 receptions for 1,224 yards and 14 touchdowns. Smith has four touchdowns in these playoffs.

“He’s a big baller. Strong,” Barron said. “He’s a physical player, and I’ll have to be physical.”

In its two losses to Georgia this season, Texas struggled to protect Ewers and surrendered 13 sacks. Now the Longhorns face a Buckeyes defensive front that sacked Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel eight times in the Rose Bowl. Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau each had two sacks in that game. Sawyer was Ewers’ roommate when the Longhorns QB spent a semester in Columbus before transferring to Texas.

Texas is playing in its 23rd Cotton Bowl, the most for any team. But this is the Longhorns’ first in 22 years. Ohio State is in its second Cotton Bowl in a row, and fourth overall, after losing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cotton-bowl-score-ohio-state-missouri-6283c392e4e1ffeb3ce6f68db92cfbfc">14-3 to Missouri</a>&nbsp;last season.

While the winner plays for the national title, the loser goes into an offseason that will lead up to a rematch when the two teams meet in a 2025 season opener at Ohio State on Aug. 30.

Their only previous regular-season meetings were a home-and-home series in 2005 and 2006. The road team won both of those games and went on to play for the national championship — Vince Young and the Longhorns beat Southern California for the 2005 national title. Ohio State lost to Florida the following season.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — There is still a sense for some&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ohio-state-buckeyes-football">Ohio State</a>&nbsp;players that they haven’t done anything yet, even after winning twice already this postseason to get into the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl against Texas.“Absolutely. I have been here for four years, and I have absolutely no hardware to show for it,” receiver Emeka Egbuka said. “That’s really on the forefront of our minds.”While Ohio State (12-2) is the only school to appear in four of the last six CFPs — all since Ryan Day became head coach — and won four consecutive Big Ten titles from 2017-20 before Egbuka and most of the current players arrived, the Buckeyes’ last national championship was 10 years ago. That was the first season of the four-team College Football Playoff, when they won the title at AT&amp;T Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys where they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cfp-texas-ohio-state-cotton-bowl-cf5b7fdf1cef219dd2e1808699f2e7ca">play the in-state Longhorns</a>&nbsp;(13-2).The winner Friday night advances to play&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/penn-state-notre-dame-orange-bowl-score-34fe8fc6414366145cfaa10f0147964c">Orange Bowl champion Notre Dame</a>&nbsp;(14-1) for the national title in Atlanta on Jan. 20.Ohio State is the No. 8 seed now favored to win the national title after two lopsided playoff wins: 42-17 at home against Tennessee before a dominating 41-21 win over undefeated Big Ten champion and top seed Oregon in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day.“We’re just fighting to get another opportunity to play with each other,” said linebacker and captain Cody Simon, one of nine Ohio State players still around from 2020. “That’s our biggest motivator right now. ... We don’t want to end this run right now.”Texas last won the national title 19 years ago, and didn’t make its CFP debut until last season as the Big 12 champion. Coach Steve Sarkisian’s fifth-seeded Longhorns are now the last team standing for the Southeastern Conference, the only league that has been represented in the semifinals each year — and that has six of the last nine national champions.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cottom-bowl-texas-ohio-state-snow-d30679e21af56aca81748ca0589a8c27">15 games for the Longhorns</a>, who played in the SEC championship game before wins over Clemson and Big 12 champ Arizona State, are already one more than they had ever played in a single season.“I like the new playoff dynamic. It’s fun,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-ohio-state-ewers-playoff-deda7a46d458a0ee5e336e5defabcde9">Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers</a>&nbsp;said.“We’re obsessed with finishing up,” said Longhorns All-America senior cornerback Jahdae Barron. “But we’re obsessed with being enamored with us, and giving every day the respect that it deserves. And just being loving to one another and having a level bond with one another and continuing to build the culture.”<h2>Championship QBs</h2>Ohio State quarterback Will Howard and Ewers both won Big 12 championships the last time they played at AT&amp;T Stadium.Texas was the Big 12 champ last season. Howard transferred to Ohio State from Kansas State, which two years ago beat CFP-bound and undefeated TCU in overtime for that league title.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cfp-will-howard-ohio-state-d1602ab91225e0ca477d5610a195dd8d">Howard started three games against Texas</a>&nbsp;while with the Wildcats. Those were all losses, as was a fourth game when he was on the sideline.<h2>Chasing Smith</h2>The best matchup of the game could be Barron vs. Buckeyes freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Barron won the Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back. But Barron gives up four inches and 15 pounds to Smith, the second-team All-American who may be the most electric freshman in the country. Smith has 70 receptions for 1,224 yards and 14 touchdowns. Smith has four touchdowns in these playoffs.“He’s a big baller. Strong,” Barron said. “He’s a physical player, and I’ll have to be physical.”<h2>Protecting Ewers</h2>In its two losses to Georgia this season, Texas struggled to protect Ewers and surrendered 13 sacks. Now the Longhorns face a Buckeyes defensive front that sacked Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel eight times in the Rose Bowl. Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau each had two sacks in that game. Sawyer was Ewers’ roommate when the Longhorns QB spent a semester in Columbus before transferring to Texas.<h2>Cotton history</h2>Texas is playing in its 23rd Cotton Bowl, the most for any team. But this is the Longhorns’ first in 22 years. Ohio State is in its second Cotton Bowl in a row, and fourth overall, after losing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cotton-bowl-score-ohio-state-missouri-6283c392e4e1ffeb3ce6f68db92cfbfc">14-3 to Missouri</a>&nbsp;last season.<h2>See you again soon</h2>While the winner plays for the national title, the loser goes into an offseason that will lead up to a rematch when the two teams meet in a 2025 season opener at Ohio State on Aug. 30.Their only previous regular-season meetings were a home-and-home series in 2005 and 2006. The road team won both of those games and went on to play for the national championship — Vince Young and the Longhorns beat Southern California for the 2005 national title. Ohio State lost to Florida the following season.

Ohio State and Texas enter semifinal seeking a chance to end title droughts

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The NFL has moved the Rams’ wild-card playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings to Arizona after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/wildfire-los-angeles-palisades-eaton-updates">days of devastating wildfires</a>&nbsp;in the Los Angeles area. The game will be played Monday night at State Farm Stadium, the home of the Arizona Cardinals, in suburban Glendale. The league&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NFL345/status/1877514629796041126" target="_blank">announced the decision</a>&nbsp;Thursday, a few hours after yet another fire broke out in an area several miles from the Rams’ training complex in the Woodland Hills neighborhood.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/los-angeles-rams">The Rams</a>&nbsp;canceled the post-practice media availability for their players to allow everyone to get home quickly. In a brief statement, the league said the decision was made “in the interest of public safety.”

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Georgia quarterback Carson Beck appears to be rethinking his plans for 2025, less than two weeks after announcing he would enter the NFL draft. Beck, who has one year of eligibility remaining, has entered the transfer portal and plans to complete his college career at another school, On3 and ESPN reported Thursday. Beck suffered a right elbow injury in the first half of the Bulldogs’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sec-championship-georgia-texas-score-top-25-7bd348ca620cfca3512c16caf295267b">22-19 overtime win over Texas</a>&nbsp;in the Southeastern Conference championship game on Dec. 7 in Atlanta. He had surgery on Dec. 23 to repair his ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow and is expected to begin throwing in the spring. Beck announced his intent to enter the NFL draft on Dec. 28 but the surgery could lower the fifth-year senior’s ranking among other quarterbacks. Before the season, Beck was rated as one of the top quarterbacks in the 2025 draft and was considered a possible first-round pick.

NEW YORK (AP) — Cleveland, Jacksonville and the New York Jets each will play a home game in London in 2025. The NFL announced the host teams Friday. Their opponents will be revealed, along with dates and kickoff times, when the full 2025 schedule is released this spring. The Browns and the Jets will play at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this fall. Cleveland is 0-1 in London, having lost to Minnesota in 2017. The Jets, who are searching for a new general manager and head coach, are 1-2 in London including a loss to the Vikings this season. The Jaguars, meanwhile, will return to Wembley Stadium as part of a multiyear agreement to play one home game annually across the pond. Jacksonville is 7-6 in London, including playing consecutive games — one as the home team and another as the visiting team — in each of the last two seasons.

NEW YORK (AP) — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays avoided a salary arbitration hearing when the first baseman agreed Thursday to a $28.5 million, one-year contract on the day players and teams exchanged proposed figures. Houston left-hander Framber Valdez also was among 148 players reaching deals, getting an $18 million, one-year contract. Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker asked for the highest amount among 17 players who swapped figures at $17.5 million. He was offered $15 million. Washington first baseman Nathaniel Lowe asked for $11.1 million and was offered $10.3 million, and San Diego right-hander Michael King requested $8.8 million and was offered $7,325,000. Guerrero and Valdez can become free agents after the World Series. Guerrero, a son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/guerrero-salary-arbitration-record-8282c56c957f84f0f0432ce8212a48f7">won a $19.9 million salary</a>&nbsp;last year in a record high for an arbitration decision when a panel picked his figure rather than the Blue Jays’ $18.05 million offer.

THURSDAY SCORES NCAA MEN TOP 25 No. 15 Oregon 73, Ohio State 71

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723542041782.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — The NFL has moved the Rams’ wild-card playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings to Arizona after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/wildfire-los-angeles-palisades-eaton-updates">days of devastating wildfires</a>&nbsp;in the Los Angeles area. The game will be played Monday night at State Farm Stadium, the home of the Arizona Cardinals, in suburban Glendale. The league&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NFL345/status/1877514629796041126" target="_blank">announced the decision</a>&nbsp;Thursday, a few hours after yet another fire broke out in an area several miles from the Rams’ training complex in the Woodland Hills neighborhood.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/los-angeles-rams">The Rams</a>&nbsp;canceled the post-practice media availability for their players to allow everyone to get home quickly. In a brief statement, the league said the decision was made “in the interest of public safety.”ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Georgia quarterback Carson Beck appears to be rethinking his plans for 2025, less than two weeks after announcing he would enter the NFL draft. Beck, who has one year of eligibility remaining, has entered the transfer portal and plans to complete his college career at another school, On3 and ESPN reported Thursday. Beck suffered a right elbow injury in the first half of the Bulldogs’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sec-championship-georgia-texas-score-top-25-7bd348ca620cfca3512c16caf295267b">22-19 overtime win over Texas</a>&nbsp;in the Southeastern Conference championship game on Dec. 7 in Atlanta. He had surgery on Dec. 23 to repair his ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow and is expected to begin throwing in the spring. Beck announced his intent to enter the NFL draft on Dec. 28 but the surgery could lower the fifth-year senior’s ranking among other quarterbacks. Before the season, Beck was rated as one of the top quarterbacks in the 2025 draft and was considered a possible first-round pick.NEW YORK (AP) — Cleveland, Jacksonville and the New York Jets each will play a home game in London in 2025. The NFL announced the host teams Friday. Their opponents will be revealed, along with dates and kickoff times, when the full 2025 schedule is released this spring. The Browns and the Jets will play at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this fall. Cleveland is 0-1 in London, having lost to Minnesota in 2017. The Jets, who are searching for a new general manager and head coach, are 1-2 in London including a loss to the Vikings this season. The Jaguars, meanwhile, will return to Wembley Stadium as part of a multiyear agreement to play one home game annually across the pond. Jacksonville is 7-6 in London, including playing consecutive games — one as the home team and another as the visiting team — in each of the last two seasons.NEW YORK (AP) — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays avoided a salary arbitration hearing when the first baseman agreed Thursday to a $28.5 million, one-year contract on the day players and teams exchanged proposed figures. Houston left-hander Framber Valdez also was among 148 players reaching deals, getting an $18 million, one-year contract. Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker asked for the highest amount among 17 players who swapped figures at $17.5 million. He was offered $15 million. Washington first baseman Nathaniel Lowe asked for $11.1 million and was offered $10.3 million, and San Diego right-hander Michael King requested $8.8 million and was offered $7,325,000. Guerrero and Valdez can become free agents after the World Series. Guerrero, a son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/guerrero-salary-arbitration-record-8282c56c957f84f0f0432ce8212a48f7">won a $19.9 million salary</a>&nbsp;last year in a record high for an arbitration decision when a panel picked his figure rather than the Blue Jays’ $18.05 million offer.THURSDAY SCORES NCAA MEN TOP 25 No. 15 Oregon 73, Ohio State 71No. 16 Michigan State 88, Washington 54No. 20 Purdue 68, Rutgers 50

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

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — A diving interception off an ill-advised pass set up Notre Dame’s trip to play for the program’s 12th national title after a thrill-a-minute 27-24 victory over Penn State on Thursday night in the Orange Bowl.

Fighting Irish defensive back Christian Gray snared Drew Allar’s pass across the middle at the Nittany Lions 42 with 33 seconds left, then the Irish moved 19 yards to set up Mitch Jeter’s 41-yard winner with 7 seconds left.

The game featured three ties, three lead changes and 31 points in the fourth quarter alone.

Notre Dame (14-1), seeded seventh in this, the first 12-team college playoff, will have a chance to bring its first title since 1988 back under the Golden Dome with a game Jan. 20 against the winner of Friday night’s Texas-Ohio State semifinal.

In that game, Irish coach Marcus Freeman will try to become the first Black coach to win the title at college football’s highest level.

No. 6 seed Penn State (13-3) fell agonizingly short in a game it controlled over the first 28 minutes. Coach James Franklin fell to 4-20 with the Nittany Lions against teams ranked in the AP Top 10.

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard shook off a hit late in the second quarter that sent him to the medical tent to be checked for a concussion. He led the Irish on four scoring drives in the second half, including the last one.

He finished with 223 yards passing, including a key 10-yard dart to Jaden Greathouse to convert third-and-3 on the last drive. Leonard also had 35 yards rushing, and passed and ran for a score each.

The game started slow (and boring), but Riley’s injury injected life into things. He led Notre Dame on TD drives of 75 and 72 yards in the third quarter to turn a 10-0 deficit into a 17-10 lead.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — A diving interception off an ill-advised pass set up Notre Dame’s trip to play for the program’s 12th national title after a thrill-a-minute 27-24 victory over Penn State on Thursday night in the Orange Bowl.Fighting Irish defensive back Christian Gray snared Drew Allar’s pass across the middle at the Nittany Lions 42 with 33 seconds left, then the Irish moved 19 yards to set up Mitch Jeter’s 41-yard winner with 7 seconds left.The game featured three ties, three lead changes and 31 points in the fourth quarter alone.Notre Dame (14-1), seeded seventh in this, the first 12-team college playoff, will have a chance to bring its first title since 1988 back under the Golden Dome with a game Jan. 20 against the winner of Friday night’s Texas-Ohio State semifinal.In that game, Irish coach Marcus Freeman will try to become the first Black coach to win the title at college football’s highest level.No. 6 seed Penn State (13-3) fell agonizingly short in a game it controlled over the first 28 minutes. Coach James Franklin fell to 4-20 with the Nittany Lions against teams ranked in the AP Top 10.Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard shook off a hit late in the second quarter that sent him to the medical tent to be checked for a concussion. He led the Irish on four scoring drives in the second half, including the last one.He finished with 223 yards passing, including a key 10-yard dart to Jaden Greathouse to convert third-and-3 on the last drive. Leonard also had 35 yards rushing, and passed and ran for a score each.The game started slow (and boring), but Riley’s injury injected life into things. He led Notre Dame on TD drives of 75 and 72 yards in the third quarter to turn a 10-0 deficit into a 17-10 lead.

Notre Dame gets late pick and field goal to make title game with  win over Penn State

By TODD MOORE Barton Sports Info

<a href="https://www.bartonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2024-25/bios/parlow-_jr._james_9gp2">James Parlow, Jr.</a>&nbsp;of the 17th ranked Barton Community College men's basketball team has been named the KJCCC's Week 8 Player of the Week.

Making just his third start of the season, Parlow returned from the holiday break putting up career high numbers in the Cougars' Saturday home win over Mineral Area College.

The sophomore transfer put up 15 of his game high 22 points in second half action in going 8-of-10 from the field with a pure pair of shots from beyond the arc and pulled down 7 rebounds in his 35 minutes of action.

Parlow becomes the second Cougar to receive the weekly award during the season in following&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bartonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2024-25/bios/moss_brent_th5a">Brent Moss</a>' week three recognition.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736430542262.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By TODD MOORE Barton Sports Info<a href="https://www.bartonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2024-25/bios/parlow-_jr._james_9gp2">James Parlow, Jr.</a>&nbsp;of the 17th ranked Barton Community College men's basketball team has been named the KJCCC's Week 8 Player of the Week.Making just his third start of the season, Parlow returned from the holiday break putting up career high numbers in the Cougars' Saturday home win over Mineral Area College.The sophomore transfer put up 15 of his game high 22 points in second half action in going 8-of-10 from the field with a pure pair of shots from beyond the arc and pulled down 7 rebounds in his 35 minutes of action.Parlow becomes the second Cougar to receive the weekly award during the season in following&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bartonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2024-25/bios/moss_brent_th5a">Brent Moss</a>' week three recognition.

Barton's Parlow earns Week Eight KJCCC Player of the Week honor

- Panther basketball coach Kyle Kreigh will join us live in the Mayo Money Management Studio to preview Friday's home game at the Fieldhouse against Garden City.

- Ellinwood Girls basketball coach Greg Maxwell joins the show to talk about his teams 6-0 start and their No. 6 ranking in Class 2A.

- Mike Courson goes "On the Prowl" for Panther sports with Great Bend bowling coach David Feldbauer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693997740304.jpeg" alt="Thursday show headlines with hosts Steve Webster and Mike Courson" />
 <figcaption>Thursday show headlines with hosts Steve Webster and Mike Courson</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rl_2oeo_Wmo?si=u3xZoj6mUzg9TyF6" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>- Panther basketball coach Kyle Kreigh will join us live in the Mayo Money Management Studio to preview Friday's home game at the Fieldhouse against Garden City.- Ellinwood Girls basketball coach Greg Maxwell joins the show to talk about his teams 6-0 start and their No. 6 ranking in Class 2A.- Mike Courson goes "On the Prowl" for Panther sports with Great Bend bowling coach David Feldbauer.- Thursday Sports Headlines- Sounds of the past 24-hours

Thursday on Sports Day(Watch)

DANIA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — It was some combination of religion, a grudge involving Knute Rockne and maybe the simple notion that some people just don’t like Notre Dame.

Back in the 1920s, the Fighting Irish made what might have been their biggest push to join what would become the Big Ten but the athletic director at Michigan blocked it. Ever since, Notre Dame has been an independent — an increasingly rare iconoclast as college athletics becomes more controlled by mega-conferences almost by the day.

Well, instead of splitting the $14 million they’ve earned by reaching the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/orange-bowl-cfp-penn-state-notre-dame-5db29612706626da7a78df18489e41cc">semifinals of the College Football Playoff</a>&nbsp;— the way Thursday’s opponent Penn State of the Big Ten must — they’ve pocketed every penny.

Notre Dame might not have the voice of the Southeastern Conference or Big Ten when it comes to the big-time decisions guiding this sport, but it has a seat at the table, along with another $12 million starting in 2026 — also unsplit with a league — simply for being part of this arrangement.

“For people at Notre Dame, it’s a point of differentiation,” said John Heisler, the longtime sports information guru who has written 10 books on the Irish. “And it’s just not something that anybody in South Bend really wants to give up on.”

It wasn’t always that way. As far back as 1899, Notre Dame was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newspapers.com/article/champaign-county-gazette/128105473/" target="_blank">looking to be admitted into what was about to become the Big Nine</a>. That time, it essentially got passed over in favor of Iowa and Indiana.

A generation later, in 1926, Rockne, then coaching the Fighting Irish, tried again to bring Notre Dame into the Big Ten.

Michigan’s athletic director, Fielding Yost, led the move to block the Irish — a move that, depending on what you read, came because he was anti-Catholic or involved in a feud with the Notre Dame legend that dated back more than a decade.

Either way, Notre Dame was left out and the Fighting Irish and Michigan, just a three-hour drive apart, didn’t play from 1910-1941.

Independence opened up chance to be a national program

Michigan and other schools’ refusal to play the team in South Bend, Indiana, opened opportunities Notre Dame still takes advantage of to this day.

The Fighting Irish have played USC every year since 1926. They have annual meetings with Army and Navy, and have played Stanford most years since 1988. More recently, they signed a deal that fills out their schedule with five games against Atlantic Coast Conference teams each season.

In today’s world, where cable, streaming and social media allow for every team to market themselves as a national product, that might not sound revolutionary. Decades ago, it was.

“I think the feeling was, if Notre Dame would have just wanted to be a Midwest institution, they would’ve joined the Big Ten a long time ago,” Heisler said. “But that’s not just the aspiration in terms of where their students in general come from, or where they recruit. They’ve always been very comfortable recruiting from all over the place.”

TV deals shaped college football’s future, especially Notre Dame’s

For decades, Notre Dame lived in a world where the big-name independent was not an anomaly. Miami, Pitt, Florida State and Syracuse were among them, as was this week’s opponent, Penn State.

In that atmosphere, the Fighting Irish went along with others in the 1970s and joined the College Football Association, which was established to maximize value for TV rights.

By 1990, with the CFA’s effectiveness as a TV market-maker in decline and Notre Dame football reaching a new golden era under Lou Holtz, the Fighting Irish in 1991 cut their own deal with NBC that, in many ways, was the first domino to fall on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/espn-cfp-9d75671decaa5e47ca2d1eaef8a0b693">multibillion-dollar road this sport is on today.</a>

The SEC expanded to 12 teams in 1992 and added what was then a revolutionary title game to cap off its season. Over the next three-plus decades, virtually every program got caught up in the mix of mega-conferences that, in turn, have helped shape the 12-team college playoff that debuted this season.

Holding steady throughout, in part thanks to the NBC deal that runs through the 2029 season, has been Notre Dame. Even though the Irish haven’t won the national title since 1988, their brand stayed strong enough to demand a spot in that playoff mix.

One drawback is that, without a conference championship available to win, the Fighting Irish could not find an easier path to the title by earning a bye that goes to those league’s champions.

Another is that because the big conferences have generated such massive media rights, Notre Dame needs every penny it can get to stay competitive. Its football program has one of the nation’s biggest budgets, at about $72 million a year,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportico.com/leagues/college-sports/2024/notre-dame-football-payout-college-football-playoff-1234822175/" target="_blank">according to Sportico.</a>

“We view being independent as a positive thing,” coach Marcus Freeman said. “We sell it to our recruits as a positive thing. We know we can’t play in a championship game and we can’t have a first-round bye. But we continue to use not playing in Week 13 as our bye. In terms of the finances and the TV deals, I’d say that’s another positive.”

Fighting Irish keep fighting the trend of mega-conferences

More change is destined for college football, its playoff system and the conferences themselves.

At the joint pregame news conference Wednesday, Penn State coach James Franklin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-football-commissioner-cfp-ffd1fb942d0ba0674152c4c2160ba428">opined about the need for more uniformity</a>&nbsp;across all of college football — for one, to give the playoff selection committee a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-football-playoff-a730a7971da9bd4f07bcda4179394c1c">more “apples to apples” comparison</a>&nbsp;when sorting through teams to fill the bracket.

“This is no knock at coach or Notre Dame, but I think everyone should be in a conference,” Franklin said, before almost apologetically looking at Freeman on the other end of the table.

Freeman said he doesn’t have opinions as strong as Franklin’s on the state of college football, and doesn’t see the need for Notre Dame to someday be like everybody else.

“We pride ourselves and our independence,” the Fighting Irish coach said. “If they come out with a decision where they tell us we can’t be independent, we’ll make it work.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736430948248.jpeg" alt="FILE - Notre Dame's head coach Lou Holtz and the Fighting Irish walk onto the field of the Los Angeles Coliseum to warm up for an NCAA college football game against Southern California Saturday, Nov. 30, 1996 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - Notre Dame's head coach Lou Holtz and the Fighting Irish walk onto the field of the Los Angeles Coliseum to warm up for an NCAA college football game against Southern California Saturday, Nov. 30, 1996 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>DANIA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — It was some combination of religion, a grudge involving Knute Rockne and maybe the simple notion that some people just don’t like Notre Dame.Back in the 1920s, the Fighting Irish made what might have been their biggest push to join what would become the Big Ten but the athletic director at Michigan blocked it. Ever since, Notre Dame has been an independent — an increasingly rare iconoclast as college athletics becomes more controlled by mega-conferences almost by the day.How’s that working out for the Irish?Well, instead of splitting the $14 million they’ve earned by reaching the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/orange-bowl-cfp-penn-state-notre-dame-5db29612706626da7a78df18489e41cc">semifinals of the College Football Playoff</a>&nbsp;— the way Thursday’s opponent Penn State of the Big Ten must — they’ve pocketed every penny.Notre Dame might not have the voice of the Southeastern Conference or Big Ten when it comes to the big-time decisions guiding this sport, but it has a seat at the table, along with another $12 million starting in 2026 — also unsplit with a league — simply for being part of this arrangement.“For people at Notre Dame, it’s a point of differentiation,” said John Heisler, the longtime sports information guru who has written 10 books on the Irish. “And it’s just not something that anybody in South Bend really wants to give up on.”<h2>Notre Dame and the Big Ten</h2>It wasn’t always that way. As far back as 1899, Notre Dame was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newspapers.com/article/champaign-county-gazette/128105473/" target="_blank">looking to be admitted into what was about to become the Big Nine</a>. That time, it essentially got passed over in favor of Iowa and Indiana.A generation later, in 1926, Rockne, then coaching the Fighting Irish, tried again to bring Notre Dame into the Big Ten.Michigan’s athletic director, Fielding Yost, led the move to block the Irish — a move that, depending on what you read, came because he was anti-Catholic or involved in a feud with the Notre Dame legend that dated back more than a decade.Either way, Notre Dame was left out and the Fighting Irish and Michigan, just a three-hour drive apart, didn’t play from 1910-1941.<h2>Independence opened up chance to be a national program</h2>Michigan and other schools’ refusal to play the team in South Bend, Indiana, opened opportunities Notre Dame still takes advantage of to this day.The Fighting Irish have played USC every year since 1926. They have annual meetings with Army and Navy, and have played Stanford most years since 1988. More recently, they signed a deal that fills out their schedule with five games against Atlantic Coast Conference teams each season.In today’s world, where cable, streaming and social media allow for every team to market themselves as a national product, that might not sound revolutionary. Decades ago, it was.“I think the feeling was, if Notre Dame would have just wanted to be a Midwest institution, they would’ve joined the Big Ten a long time ago,” Heisler said. “But that’s not just the aspiration in terms of where their students in general come from, or where they recruit. They’ve always been very comfortable recruiting from all over the place.”<h2>TV deals shaped college football’s future, especially Notre Dame’s</h2>For decades, Notre Dame lived in a world where the big-name independent was not an anomaly. Miami, Pitt, Florida State and Syracuse were among them, as was this week’s opponent, Penn State.In that atmosphere, the Fighting Irish went along with others in the 1970s and joined the College Football Association, which was established to maximize value for TV rights.By 1990, with the CFA’s effectiveness as a TV market-maker in decline and Notre Dame football reaching a new golden era under Lou Holtz, the Fighting Irish in 1991 cut their own deal with NBC that, in many ways, was the first domino to fall on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/espn-cfp-9d75671decaa5e47ca2d1eaef8a0b693">multibillion-dollar road this sport is on today.</a>The SEC expanded to 12 teams in 1992 and added what was then a revolutionary title game to cap off its season. Over the next three-plus decades, virtually every program got caught up in the mix of mega-conferences that, in turn, have helped shape the 12-team college playoff that debuted this season.Holding steady throughout, in part thanks to the NBC deal that runs through the 2029 season, has been Notre Dame. Even though the Irish haven’t won the national title since 1988, their brand stayed strong enough to demand a spot in that playoff mix.One drawback is that, without a conference championship available to win, the Fighting Irish could not find an easier path to the title by earning a bye that goes to those league’s champions.Another is that because the big conferences have generated such massive media rights, Notre Dame needs every penny it can get to stay competitive. Its football program has one of the nation’s biggest budgets, at about $72 million a year,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportico.com/leagues/college-sports/2024/notre-dame-football-payout-college-football-playoff-1234822175/" target="_blank">according to Sportico.</a>“We view being independent as a positive thing,” coach Marcus Freeman said. “We sell it to our recruits as a positive thing. We know we can’t play in a championship game and we can’t have a first-round bye. But we continue to use not playing in Week 13 as our bye. In terms of the finances and the TV deals, I’d say that’s another positive.”<h2>Fighting Irish keep fighting the trend of mega-conferences</h2>More change is destined for college football, its playoff system and the conferences themselves.At the joint pregame news conference Wednesday, Penn State coach James Franklin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-football-commissioner-cfp-ffd1fb942d0ba0674152c4c2160ba428">opined about the need for more uniformity</a>&nbsp;across all of college football — for one, to give the playoff selection committee a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-football-playoff-a730a7971da9bd4f07bcda4179394c1c">more “apples to apples” comparison</a>&nbsp;when sorting through teams to fill the bracket.“This is no knock at coach or Notre Dame, but I think everyone should be in a conference,” Franklin said, before almost apologetically looking at Freeman on the other end of the table.Freeman said he doesn’t have opinions as strong as Franklin’s on the state of college football, and doesn’t see the need for Notre Dame to someday be like everybody else.“We pride ourselves and our independence,” the Fighting Irish coach said. “If they come out with a decision where they tell us we can’t be independent, we’ll make it work.”