LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Zeke Mayo scored 25 points, Hunter Dickinson had 15 points and 13 rebounds and No. 8 Kansas defeated Brown 87-53 on Sunday. Mayo hit two of his five 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to extend the Kansas lead to 25 points with 12 minutes to play. He was coming off a 26-point performance in a 75-60 win over NC State on Dec. 14, the team’s last outing. Brown (7-4) stayed competitive in the first half, trailing by a point 10 minutes into the game. But the Bears’ shooting touch went cold. Kino Lily Jr. scored 18 and Aaron Cooley and AJ Lesburt Jr. had six points each for Brown, which shot 26.7% (20 for 75). Kansas (9-2) shot 50% (34 for 68) and went 8 for 22 from 3-point range. Brown was 8 for 33 (24%) from distance. The Jayhawks have won two straight after losing consecutive games to Missouri and Creighton and extended their home winning streak this season to seven games.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Baker Mayfield came home to Texas looking to keep his Tampa Bay Buccaneers on track for the playoffs. Instead, they’ll need some help. Cooper Rush threw a touchdown pass and Brandon Aubrey kicked two 58-yarders among four field goals Sunday night, boosting the Dallas Cowboys to a 26-24 victory that cost the Bucs control of their playoff fate. The end of a four-game winning streak left Tampa Bay (8-7) even with Atlanta atop the NFC South with two games remaining. The Falcons have the tiebreaker because they won both meetings with the Bucs, who are on a four-year playoff run. “We lost, we fell back in the pack,” coach Todd Bowles said. “We’ve got to eat it, can’t spend too much time on it. We had our chances. We’ve got to take care of us and let everything else take care of itself.” A three-year playoff streak for the Cowboys (7-8) ended when they were eliminated from postseason contention before the prime-time kickoff. Still, Dallas won for the fourth time in five games since a five-game losing streak that put those playoff hopes in peril.
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Jalen Hurts was concussed minutes into the game and ruled out after evaluation, Kenny Pickett played like a backup quarterback and the Philadelphia Eagles’ winning streak is over. Hurts was ruled out early in a 36-33 loss at the Washington Commanders on Sunday 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. Coach Nick Sirianni had no update on his starting QB’s status afterward. “I haven’t talked to our medical staff yet,” Sirriani said. “Anything that has anything to do with the head is out our hands there.” Hurts’ status for next week’s home game against Dallas will linger for the Eagles, who might have blown their chance for the top seed in the NFC and the corresponding first-round bye.
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — JuJu Watkins and Paige Bueckers both showed out in a primetime matchup between two of the brightest stars in women’s basketball. Watkins got the best of the rematch from last season’s Elite Eight that UConn won, helping No. 7 USC to a 72-70 victory over the fourth-ranked Huskies on Saturday night in front of a sold out crowd of 15,684 fans. Watkins said it was probably the biggest crowd she’s played in front of so far. “I think it’s a testament to when you give women’s basketball a platform, we’re going to perform,” said Watkins, who scored 25 points. “I think tonight was an excellent game. ... It was beautiful to be a part of and I can imagine watching it, super exciting.” The regular season win was big, but Watkins said it didn’t erase the sting of last season’s loss that ended the Trojans’ season. “It was an Elite Eight game, clearly it weighs differently,” the sophomore sensation said. “Last year it meant a little bit more. Avenging that was important.”
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
Friday, Dec. 20
No. 7 Notre Dame 27, No. 10 Indiana 17
Saturday, Dec. 21
No. 6 Penn State 38, No. 11 SMU 10
No. 5 Texas 38, No. 12 Clemson 24
No. 8 Ohio State 42, No. 9 Tennessee 17
VRBO Fiesta Bowl
Tuesday, Dec. 31, 6:30 p.m.
No. 3 Boise State vs. No. 6 Penn State
Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl
Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, Noon
No. 4 Arizona State vs. No. 5 Texas
Rose Bowl Presented by Prudential
Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, 4 p.m.
No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 8 Ohio State
AllState Sugar Bowl
Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, 7:45 p.m.
No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 7 Notre Dame