MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/david-n-guessan/12168">David N'Guessan</a>&nbsp;was named the Big 12 Player of the Week for the first time in his career on Monday afternoon (Feb. 10) after averaging 21 points in helping Kansas State to wins over Arizona State and No. 16/17 Kansas last week.

N'Guessan averaged 21.0 points on 70.8 percent (17-of-24) shooting, including 50 percent (1-of-2) from 3-point range, and 77.8 percent (7-of-9) from the free throw line to go with 7.5 rebounds in 34.4 minutes per game in victories over the Sun Devils and Jayhawks. He followed his season-high 22-point performance vs. ASU with a team-high 20 points vs. Kansas to post consecutive 20-point games for the first time in his career. He now has 4 career 20-point games.

N'Guessan opened the week by posting his first 20-point game in Big 12 play in a 71-70 win at Arizona State on Feb. 4 with a season-high 22 points to go with 8 rebounds in 36 minutes. He went 8-of-11 from the field, including 1-of-1 from 3-point range, and 5-of-6 from the free throw line. He had the game's biggest play, as he fouled Sun Devil freshman&nbsp;Jayden Quaintance&nbsp;as he was attempting the game-winning dunk with 4.1 seconds, forcing him to win the game at the free throw line. He missed both and K-State got the rebound to earn their second consecutive road game.

N'Guessan capped the week with a 20-point, 7-rebound performance in an 81-73 win over No. 16/17 Kansas at home on Feb. 8 to finish his career a perfect 3-0 at home against the Jayhawks. He went 9-of-13 from the field and 2-of-3 from the free throw line to go with his team-high 7 boards. The De Lier, The Netherlands native is the Wildcats' leader in both scoring (13.0 ppg.) and rebounding (7.0 rpg.) while connecting on 64.5 percent (120-of-186) from the field. He has scored in double figures in a team-high 20 games, including 10 of 12 Big 12 contests.

In a matchup of the two hottest teams in the Big 12, K-State (12-11, 6-6 Big 12) plays host to No. 13/13 Arizona (16-6, 11-1 Big 12) on Tuesday night at 7 p.m., CT on ESPN+. Arizona is the Big 12 co-leader with No. 5/5 Houston (19-4, 11-1 Big 12), having won 6 straight games, while K-State is currently on a 5-game winning streak, which is the team's longest since 2022-23. Tickets are available at&nbsp;<a href="https://kstatesports.evenue.net/event/MB24/M13">kstatesports.com/tickets</a>&nbsp;or by calling the ticket office at (800) 221.CATS.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737856610753.jpeg" alt="Kansas State guard David N'Guessan (1) dunks the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against West Virginia, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas State guard David N'Guessan (1) dunks the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against West Virginia, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas State Athletics&nbsp;MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/david-n-guessan/12168">David N'Guessan</a>&nbsp;was named the Big 12 Player of the Week for the first time in his career on Monday afternoon (Feb. 10) after averaging 21 points in helping Kansas State to wins over Arizona State and No. 16/17 Kansas last week.N'Guessan averaged 21.0 points on 70.8 percent (17-of-24) shooting, including 50 percent (1-of-2) from 3-point range, and 77.8 percent (7-of-9) from the free throw line to go with 7.5 rebounds in 34.4 minutes per game in victories over the Sun Devils and Jayhawks. He followed his season-high 22-point performance vs. ASU with a team-high 20 points vs. Kansas to post consecutive 20-point games for the first time in his career. He now has 4 career 20-point games.N'Guessan opened the week by posting his first 20-point game in Big 12 play in a 71-70 win at Arizona State on Feb. 4 with a season-high 22 points to go with 8 rebounds in 36 minutes. He went 8-of-11 from the field, including 1-of-1 from 3-point range, and 5-of-6 from the free throw line. He had the game's biggest play, as he fouled Sun Devil freshman&nbsp;Jayden Quaintance&nbsp;as he was attempting the game-winning dunk with 4.1 seconds, forcing him to win the game at the free throw line. He missed both and K-State got the rebound to earn their second consecutive road game.N'Guessan capped the week with a 20-point, 7-rebound performance in an 81-73 win over No. 16/17 Kansas at home on Feb. 8 to finish his career a perfect 3-0 at home against the Jayhawks. He went 9-of-13 from the field and 2-of-3 from the free throw line to go with his team-high 7 boards. The De Lier, The Netherlands native is the Wildcats' leader in both scoring (13.0 ppg.) and rebounding (7.0 rpg.) while connecting on 64.5 percent (120-of-186) from the field. He has scored in double figures in a team-high 20 games, including 10 of 12 Big 12 contests.In a matchup of the two hottest teams in the Big 12, K-State (12-11, 6-6 Big 12) plays host to No. 13/13 Arizona (16-6, 11-1 Big 12) on Tuesday night at 7 p.m., CT on ESPN+. Arizona is the Big 12 co-leader with No. 5/5 Houston (19-4, 11-1 Big 12), having won 6 straight games, while K-State is currently on a 5-game winning streak, which is the team's longest since 2022-23. Tickets are available at&nbsp;<a href="https://kstatesports.evenue.net/event/MB24/M13">kstatesports.com/tickets</a>&nbsp;or by calling the ticket office at (800) 221.CATS.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏀 K-State's N'Guessan named Big 12 Player of the Week

WICHITA, Kan. -&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/lauren-lucas/9314">Lauren Lucas</a>&nbsp;made her much-awaited return to the diamond for Wichita State softball this past weekend, and it looked like she hadn't missed a beat. Lucas was named the American Athletic Conference Player of the Week after a stellar opening weekend in Phoenix.

Over five games, Lucas hit .667 (10-for-15) with three doubles, two home runs, seven RBIs and eight runs scored. The Little Elm, Texas, native produced a four-hit game against Montana where she notched a double, home run and four RBIs, while scoring three times. This is her third AAC Player of the Week honor and first since 2023.

<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/chloe-barber/9310">Chloe Barber</a>&nbsp;earned a spot on the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honorable Mention list after a 2-0 weekend in the circle. In 13.2 innings, Barber allowed no earned runs and struck out 18. In her season debut against Grand Canyon, she tossed a complete game with nine strikeouts and just one walk.

Wichita State will have its hands full this weekend when they travel to Florida for the Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational, Feb. 13-15.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739256385874.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>Wichita State Athletics&nbsp;WICHITA, Kan. -&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/lauren-lucas/9314">Lauren Lucas</a>&nbsp;made her much-awaited return to the diamond for Wichita State softball this past weekend, and it looked like she hadn't missed a beat. Lucas was named the American Athletic Conference Player of the Week after a stellar opening weekend in Phoenix.Over five games, Lucas hit .667 (10-for-15) with three doubles, two home runs, seven RBIs and eight runs scored. The Little Elm, Texas, native produced a four-hit game against Montana where she notched a double, home run and four RBIs, while scoring three times. This is her third AAC Player of the Week honor and first since 2023.<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/chloe-barber/9310">Chloe Barber</a>&nbsp;earned a spot on the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honorable Mention list after a 2-0 weekend in the circle. In 13.2 innings, Barber allowed no earned runs and struck out 18. In her season debut against Grand Canyon, she tossed a complete game with nine strikeouts and just one walk.Wichita State will have its hands full this weekend when they travel to Florida for the Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational, Feb. 13-15.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🥎 WSU's Lucas picks up AAC weekly honor

JOE REEDYAssociated Press Fox Sports is projecting a Super Bowl record average audience of 126 million U.S. viewers across television and streaming platforms for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2025-eagles-chiefs-score-e2ff209c074a00a6faff39750ff048f8">Philadelphia’s 40-22 victory over Kansas City</a>on Sunday night.

The game was televised by Fox, Fox Deportes and Telemundo and streamed on Tubi as well as the NFL’s digital platforms.

Fox’s projections on Monday included Nielsen’s early numbers and streaming data from Tubi and the NFL. Updated and more complete numbers were expected on Tuesday.

It would be the second straight year the Super Bowl has reached a record audience. The Chiefs’ 25-22 overtime victory over San Francisco last year averaged 123.7 million on CBS, Nickelodeon, Univision and streaming platforms.

According to Fox, the audience peaked at 135.7 million in the second quarter.

The early data projects 14.5 million watched on streaming platforms, including 13.6 million on Tubi, where the game was available for free.

Some of the increase can be attributed to a change in the way viewers are counted. This is the first year Nielsen is measuring out-of-home viewers for all states but Hawaii and Alaska.

It was previously the top 44 media markets, which covered 65% of the country.

The ratings also include Nielsen data from smart TVs along with cable and satellite set-top boxes.

After two straight years of close Super Bowls, Sunday’s game was decided in the first half as Philadelphia built a 24-0 lead.

This Super Bowl also had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-nfl-super-bowl-first-president-766c628f4ea3faf38d100e4f33f2ac8c">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-taylor-swift-travis-kelce-35c7b3b896c226566e4afa0baa7b69c5">Taylor Swift</a>&nbsp;in attendance.

Trump was the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl, while Swift’s romance with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce continues to keep the pop superstar’s fans interested in the NFL.

It was the third straight year the Super Bowl averaged more than 100 million viewers after a period where four of the five games before 2023 had fallen short of that number because of cord-cutting. That included 95.2 million for the 2021 Super Bowl between Tampa Bay and Kansas City, which was the game’s lowest TV-only average since 2007.

The NFL playoffs averaged 35.2 million viewers the first three weekends, down 9% from last year’s record of 38.5 million.

That followed a regular season that averaged 17.5 million. While that was the sixth-highest average dating to 1995, it was a 2% decline from 2023.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739257803294.jpeg" alt="A UH-1Y Venom helicopter from Marine Light Attack Squadron 773 flies over Caesars Superdome ahead of Super Bowl 59 between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)" />
 <figcaption>A UH-1Y Venom helicopter from Marine Light Attack Squadron 773 flies over Caesars Superdome ahead of Super Bowl 59 between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)</figcaption>
 </figure>JOE REEDYAssociated Press Fox Sports is projecting a Super Bowl record average audience of 126 million U.S. viewers across television and streaming platforms for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2025-eagles-chiefs-score-e2ff209c074a00a6faff39750ff048f8">Philadelphia’s 40-22 victory over Kansas City</a>on Sunday night.The game was televised by Fox, Fox Deportes and Telemundo and streamed on Tubi as well as the NFL’s digital platforms.Fox’s projections on Monday included Nielsen’s early numbers and streaming data from Tubi and the NFL. Updated and more complete numbers were expected on Tuesday.It would be the second straight year the Super Bowl has reached a record audience. The Chiefs’ 25-22 overtime victory over San Francisco last year averaged 123.7 million on CBS, Nickelodeon, Univision and streaming platforms.According to Fox, the audience peaked at 135.7 million in the second quarter.The early data projects 14.5 million watched on streaming platforms, including 13.6 million on Tubi, where the game was available for free.Some of the increase can be attributed to a change in the way viewers are counted. This is the first year Nielsen is measuring out-of-home viewers for all states but Hawaii and Alaska.It was previously the top 44 media markets, which covered 65% of the country.The ratings also include Nielsen data from smart TVs along with cable and satellite set-top boxes.After two straight years of close Super Bowls, Sunday’s game was decided in the first half as Philadelphia built a 24-0 lead.This Super Bowl also had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-nfl-super-bowl-first-president-766c628f4ea3faf38d100e4f33f2ac8c">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-taylor-swift-travis-kelce-35c7b3b896c226566e4afa0baa7b69c5">Taylor Swift</a>&nbsp;in attendance.Trump was the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl, while Swift’s romance with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce continues to keep the pop superstar’s fans interested in the NFL.It was the third straight year the Super Bowl averaged more than 100 million viewers after a period where four of the five games before 2023 had fallen short of that number because of cord-cutting. That included 95.2 million for the 2021 Super Bowl between Tampa Bay and Kansas City, which was the game’s lowest TV-only average since 2007.The NFL playoffs averaged 35.2 million viewers the first three weekends, down 9% from last year’s record of 38.5 million.That followed a regular season that averaged 17.5 million. While that was the sixth-highest average dating to 1995, it was a 2% decline from 2023.

🏈 Fox projects the Super Bowl averaged a record 126 million U.S. viewers

By&nbsp;&nbsp;DOUG FEINBERG Associated Press

Notre Dame moved up to No. 2 in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll">The Associated Press women’s basketball Top 25</a>&nbsp;on Monday for the Irish’s best ranking since 2019.

The Fighting Irish replaced South Carolina in the second spot behind UCLA after the Gamecocks lost&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-carolina-texas-sec-d12378780456658b51c4f75c0b27ab1b">66-62</a>&nbsp;to Texas over the weekend. It is Notre Dame’s best ranking since the team was No. 1 on Jan. 21, 2019. The Bruins remained the unanimous No. 1 choice of the 31-member media panel.

The Longhorns climbed to third with their victory. South Carolina dropped to fourth after seeing its 57-game conference winning streak in the regular season come to an end.

No. 5 LSU and No. 6 USC followed the Gamecocks, each moving up one spot after UConn&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tennessee-caldwell-dbe8fa8bd68270c4f9526c89f30a7834">lost at then-No. 19 Tennessee</a>&nbsp;last week. The Huskies fell two places to seventh. Tennessee, which lost to LSU on Sunday, moved up four spots to 15th.

Kentucky moved up to eighth, giving the Wildcats their best ranking since Dec. 8, 2015, when they were seventh. Ohio State was ninth and North Carolina State jumped up four places to 10th. The Wolfpack had wins over then-No. 10 Duke and 22nd-ranked Florida State last week.

Creighton and Baylor came into the poll at No. 24 and 25 while Vanderbilt and California dropped out. The Bluejays were ranked in the preseason Top 25 before falling out. Baylor has been in and out of the poll a few times this season.

The appearance this week was UConn’s 600th straight in the poll. It’s the longest streak ever, dating to the preseason poll in 1993. South Carolina has the next longest active streak with 242 consecutive weeks in the Top 25.

Grand Canyon received its first vote in the poll as the Antelopes were ranked 25th on a ballot. The program underwent the transition to Division I beginning in 2013, joining the Western Athletic Conference that season. They are 22-2 this season and have won 20 consecutive games after losses to Middle Tennessee and Oregon.

The Southeastern Conference still reigns with seven ranked teams. The ACC has six, the Big Ten and Big 12 each have five, and the Big East has two.

No. 1 UCLA at No. 6 USC, Thursday. First place will be on the line when the Bruins visit the Trojans in the first of two meetings over the next few weeks.

No. 7 UConn at No. 4 South Carolina, Sunday. The Huskies will have their last chance to get a victory against a top opponent before the NCAA Tournament.

No. 5 LSU at No. 3 Texas, Sunday. Two of the three teams atop the SEC face off in a key conference showdown.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693941910870.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;DOUG FEINBERG Associated PressNotre Dame moved up to No. 2 in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll">The Associated Press women’s basketball Top 25</a>&nbsp;on Monday for the Irish’s best ranking since 2019.The Fighting Irish replaced South Carolina in the second spot behind UCLA after the Gamecocks lost&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-carolina-texas-sec-d12378780456658b51c4f75c0b27ab1b">66-62</a>&nbsp;to Texas over the weekend. It is Notre Dame’s best ranking since the team was No. 1 on Jan. 21, 2019. The Bruins remained the unanimous No. 1 choice of the 31-member media panel.The Longhorns climbed to third with their victory. South Carolina dropped to fourth after seeing its 57-game conference winning streak in the regular season come to an end.No. 5 LSU and No. 6 USC followed the Gamecocks, each moving up one spot after UConn&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tennessee-caldwell-dbe8fa8bd68270c4f9526c89f30a7834">lost at then-No. 19 Tennessee</a>&nbsp;last week. The Huskies fell two places to seventh. Tennessee, which lost to LSU on Sunday, moved up four spots to 15th.Kentucky moved up to eighth, giving the Wildcats their best ranking since Dec. 8, 2015, when they were seventh. Ohio State was ninth and North Carolina State jumped up four places to 10th. The Wolfpack had wins over then-No. 10 Duke and 22nd-ranked Florida State last week.<h2>Ins and outs</h2>Creighton and Baylor came into the poll at No. 24 and 25 while Vanderbilt and California dropped out. The Bluejays were ranked in the preseason Top 25 before falling out. Baylor has been in and out of the poll a few times this season.<h2>Milestone ranking</h2>The appearance this week was UConn’s 600th straight in the poll. It’s the longest streak ever, dating to the preseason poll in 1993. South Carolina has the next longest active streak with 242 consecutive weeks in the Top 25.<h2>Receiving recognition</h2>Grand Canyon received its first vote in the poll as the Antelopes were ranked 25th on a ballot. The program underwent the transition to Division I beginning in 2013, joining the Western Athletic Conference that season. They are 22-2 this season and have won 20 consecutive games after losses to Middle Tennessee and Oregon.<h2>Conference breakdown</h2>The Southeastern Conference still reigns with seven ranked teams. The ACC has six, the Big Ten and Big 12 each have five, and the Big East has two.<h2>Games</h2><h2>of the week</h2>No. 1 UCLA at No. 6 USC, Thursday. First place will be on the line when the Bruins visit the Trojans in the first of two meetings over the next few weeks.No. 7 UConn at No. 4 South Carolina, Sunday. The Huskies will have their last chance to get a victory against a top opponent before the NCAA Tournament.No. 5 LSU at No. 3 Texas, Sunday. Two of the three teams atop the SEC face off in a key conference showdown.

🏀 K-State women drop to No. 14

By&nbsp;&nbsp;JOHN MARSHALL Associated Press

Auburn’s run at No. 1 is still intact despite a loss to No. 3 Florida. UConn’s latest loss has dropped the two-time defending national champions out of the poll for the first time in two years.

The Tigers held&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll">the top spot in the poll</a>&nbsp;for the fifth straight week Monday, receiving 34 first-place votes from a 61-person media panel. No. 2 Alabama moved up a spot and had 23 first-place votes, just nine points behind Auburn, while Florida earned three top votes and No. 5 Tennessee got one.

Duke was tied with Florida at No. 3, with No. 9 St. John’s moving into the top 10 for the first time since finishing the 1999-2000 season at No. 9.

UConn dropped out of the poll from No. 19 after&nbsp;<a href="https://finishing%20the%201999-2000%20season%20at%20no.%209./" target="_blank">a 68-62 home loss</a>&nbsp;to St. John’s on Friday, ending the nation’s fourth-longest active streak of being ranked (53 weeks).

Florida has its highest ranking since reaching No. 1 in 2013-14 after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-auburn-6c23162a0540abc77fc588504c7d6bb0">beating Auburn 90-81</a>&nbsp;for the first true road win over a top-ranked team in program history. It was the Gators’ second win over a top-ranked team this season after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tennessee-florida-mens-basketball-score-984ee9d455743235479f8ebd70271934">beating then-No. 1 Tennessee</a>&nbsp;at home on Jan. 7.

Auburn had won 14 straight and was unanimous No. 1 the past three weeks.

The Tigers weren’t the only top team to lose.

Duke dropped two places to No. 4 after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/duke-clemson-score-f3c5f107176304fe68f38ee570dad25a">a 77-71 loss to Clemson</a>&nbsp;ended its 16-game winning streak. No. 10 Iowa State also dropped two places after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-state-cyclones-kansas-jayhawks-score-big-12-8a5ff246c16167421c51dbbdd5564890">losing 69-52 to No. 17 Kansas</a>. The Cyclones reached their highest ranking ever at No. 2 last month, but lost three in a row before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-state-tcu-score-8f72db99772c72bd2a736babc10797d3">blowing out TCU</a>&nbsp;on Saturday.

UConn started the season at No. 3 and climbed to No. 2 its bid to become the first team since John Wooden’s UCLA Bruins to win three straight national championships in the early 1960s.

UConn (16-7, 8-4 Big East) has lost three of five and is down to fourth in the Big East, 3 1/2 games behind St. John’s.

“I’m very optimistic,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said. “I think right now is a really good time to play us. I think we’ve got a chance in February to kind of get this thing rolling and be looking a lot different in March.”

No. 13 Arizona had the week’s biggest jump, climbing seven places after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-byu-score-be290706e351ffaa36eae8a18d82f1ef">beating BYU</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-texas-tech-score-5c7da3f061d6a1600e07abcfa83cc910">No. 12 Texas Tech</a>&nbsp;last week. No. 16 Ole Miss moved up six places after taking down&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kentucky-mississippi-mens-basketball-score-ab24b21d2a2b3e28f360ceadab28ad8f">No. 15 Kentucky</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mississippi-lsu-score-8b817ca103feaf7cd837d904e803cbc1">beating LSU 72-70</a>&nbsp;on Dre Davis’ last-second shot.

No. 18 Marquette and No. 25 Maryland had the biggest drops of teams still in the poll, each losing seven places. No. 21 Missouri fell six spots after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tennessee-missouri-score-74650ab87923494fe6b254fd379843b8">losing to No. 5 Tennessee</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-am-missouri-score-1e0882e1a914b9b37e9fe022a4d36e93">to No. 8 Texas A&amp;M</a>&nbsp;on a last-second 3-pointer.

No. 24 Creighton returned to the poll for the first time since Nov. 25 after wins&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/sports/mens-college-basketball-creighton-bluejays-ryan-kalkbrenner-college-basketball-providence-friars-f5ee8a83f22a41f3902389bae79caf10">over Providence</a>&nbsp;and Marquette. No. 23 Clemson is back in after taking down Duke. Illinois joined UConn in dropping out of the poll following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/illinois-rutgers-scoere-11e039f96dd629806fb0456ae8e53c13">an 82-73 loss to Rutgers</a>.

The SEC had at least nine teams in the poll for the seventh straight week, including the top three and five of the top 10. No other league has had more than six ranked teams in any week this season.

The Big Ten has six ranked teams, followed by the Big 12 with five and the Big East with three. The Atlantic Coast and American Athletic conferences each had one.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693941910870.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;JOHN MARSHALL Associated PressAuburn’s run at No. 1 is still intact despite a loss to No. 3 Florida. UConn’s latest loss has dropped the two-time defending national champions out of the poll for the first time in two years.The Tigers held&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll">the top spot in the poll</a>&nbsp;for the fifth straight week Monday, receiving 34 first-place votes from a 61-person media panel. No. 2 Alabama moved up a spot and had 23 first-place votes, just nine points behind Auburn, while Florida earned three top votes and No. 5 Tennessee got one.Duke was tied with Florida at No. 3, with No. 9 St. John’s moving into the top 10 for the first time since finishing the 1999-2000 season at No. 9.UConn dropped out of the poll from No. 19 after&nbsp;<a href="https://finishing%20the%201999-2000%20season%20at%20no.%209./" target="_blank">a 68-62 home loss</a>&nbsp;to St. John’s on Friday, ending the nation’s fourth-longest active streak of being ranked (53 weeks).Florida has its highest ranking since reaching No. 1 in 2013-14 after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-auburn-6c23162a0540abc77fc588504c7d6bb0">beating Auburn 90-81</a>&nbsp;for the first true road win over a top-ranked team in program history. It was the Gators’ second win over a top-ranked team this season after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tennessee-florida-mens-basketball-score-984ee9d455743235479f8ebd70271934">beating then-No. 1 Tennessee</a>&nbsp;at home on Jan. 7.Auburn had won 14 straight and was unanimous No. 1 the past three weeks.The Tigers weren’t the only top team to lose.Duke dropped two places to No. 4 after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/duke-clemson-score-f3c5f107176304fe68f38ee570dad25a">a 77-71 loss to Clemson</a>&nbsp;ended its 16-game winning streak. No. 10 Iowa State also dropped two places after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-state-cyclones-kansas-jayhawks-score-big-12-8a5ff246c16167421c51dbbdd5564890">losing 69-52 to No. 17 Kansas</a>. The Cyclones reached their highest ranking ever at No. 2 last month, but lost three in a row before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-state-tcu-score-8f72db99772c72bd2a736babc10797d3">blowing out TCU</a>&nbsp;on Saturday.<h2>Sinking Huskies</h2>UConn started the season at No. 3 and climbed to No. 2 its bid to become the first team since John Wooden’s UCLA Bruins to win three straight national championships in the early 1960s.UConn (16-7, 8-4 Big East) has lost three of five and is down to fourth in the Big East, 3 1/2 games behind St. John’s.“I’m very optimistic,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said. “I think right now is a really good time to play us. I think we’ve got a chance in February to kind of get this thing rolling and be looking a lot different in March.”<h2>Rising and falling</h2>No. 13 Arizona had the week’s biggest jump, climbing seven places after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-byu-score-be290706e351ffaa36eae8a18d82f1ef">beating BYU</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-texas-tech-score-5c7da3f061d6a1600e07abcfa83cc910">No. 12 Texas Tech</a>&nbsp;last week. No. 16 Ole Miss moved up six places after taking down&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kentucky-mississippi-mens-basketball-score-ab24b21d2a2b3e28f360ceadab28ad8f">No. 15 Kentucky</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mississippi-lsu-score-8b817ca103feaf7cd837d904e803cbc1">beating LSU 72-70</a>&nbsp;on Dre Davis’ last-second shot.No. 18 Marquette and No. 25 Maryland had the biggest drops of teams still in the poll, each losing seven places. No. 21 Missouri fell six spots after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tennessee-missouri-score-74650ab87923494fe6b254fd379843b8">losing to No. 5 Tennessee</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-am-missouri-score-1e0882e1a914b9b37e9fe022a4d36e93">to No. 8 Texas A&amp;M</a>&nbsp;on a last-second 3-pointer.<h2>In and out</h2>No. 24 Creighton returned to the poll for the first time since Nov. 25 after wins&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/sports/mens-college-basketball-creighton-bluejays-ryan-kalkbrenner-college-basketball-providence-friars-f5ee8a83f22a41f3902389bae79caf10">over Providence</a>&nbsp;and Marquette. No. 23 Clemson is back in after taking down Duke. Illinois joined UConn in dropping out of the poll following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/illinois-rutgers-scoere-11e039f96dd629806fb0456ae8e53c13">an 82-73 loss to Rutgers</a>.<h2>Conference watch</h2>The SEC had at least nine teams in the poll for the seventh straight week, including the top three and five of the top 10. No other league has had more than six ranked teams in any week this season.The Big Ten has six ranked teams, followed by the Big 12 with five and the Big East with three. The Atlantic Coast and American Athletic conferences each had one.

🏀 SEC dominates latest AP Top 25, KU drops to No. 17

<a href="https://www.njcaa.org/sports/wbkb/rankings/DI/index">Complete rankings can be found here</a>

The Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team dropped two spots in the latest NJCAA rankings released on Monday afternoon to No. 8.

The Blue Dragons are 21-2 overall, 15-2 in the Jayhawk Conference.

HutchCC went 0-1 last week, losing on the road at then-No. 22 Coffeyville, 64-55.&nbsp;

Hutch was off on Saturday with a bye, and is scheduled to be on the road at Garden City on Wednesday evening, weather permitting. Tipoff time is 5:30 p.m. from Conestoga Arena.

Dodge City dropped two spots to No. 7, while Coffeyville moved up five spots to No. 17.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738121542855.jpeg" alt="(Paityn Kaminkow/Blue Dragon Sports Information)" />
 <figcaption>(Paityn Kaminkow/Blue Dragon Sports Information)</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.njcaa.org/sports/wbkb/rankings/DI/index">Complete rankings can be found here</a>The Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team dropped two spots in the latest NJCAA rankings released on Monday afternoon to No. 8.The Blue Dragons are 21-2 overall, 15-2 in the Jayhawk Conference.HutchCC went 0-1 last week, losing on the road at then-No. 22 Coffeyville, 64-55.&nbsp;Hutch was off on Saturday with a bye, and is scheduled to be on the road at Garden City on Wednesday evening, weather permitting. Tipoff time is 5:30 p.m. from Conestoga Arena.Dodge City dropped two spots to No. 7, while Coffeyville moved up five spots to No. 17.&nbsp;

🏀 HutchCC women drop to No. 8 in NJCAA poll

Kansas State didn't take long to find its offensive coordinator after Coor Riley left for the Dallas Cowboys, per ESPN's Pete Thamel, the Wildcats have promoted Matt Wells to the position.

Wells served as the co-offensive coordinator during the 2024 season alongside Riley. Wells has over 25 years of coaching, and just finished his first season in Manhattan.&nbsp;

He worked closely with K-State quarterback Avery Johnson during the 2024 season.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739201698285.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas State didn't take long to find its offensive coordinator after Coor Riley left for the Dallas Cowboys, per ESPN's Pete Thamel, the Wildcats have promoted Matt Wells to the position.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Sources: Kansas State is promoting Matt Wells to the school’s offensive coordinator and play caller. He spent last year as the co-offensive coordinator, QB coach and associate head coach. He’s the former head coach at Texas Tech and Utah State. <a href="https://t.co/3FxdElrnNt">pic.twitter.com/3FxdElrnNt</a>&mdash; Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/1888922491126419900?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Wells served as the co-offensive coordinator during the 2024 season alongside Riley. Wells has over 25 years of coaching, and just finished his first season in Manhattan.&nbsp;He worked closely with K-State quarterback Avery Johnson during the 2024 season.&nbsp;

🏈 K-State promotes Wells to offensive coordinator, source says

• HutchCC MBB at Coffeyville - 5:45 p.m. pregame, 6 p.m. tipoff (KHUT) • Chiefs Kingdom Show - 7 p.m. (KWBW)

• Hutch High GBB/BBB at Valley Center - 5:45 p.m. pregame, 6 p.m. tipoff (KWBW) • K-State MBB vs. Arizona - 6 p.m. pregame, 7 p.m. tipoff (KHMY)

• HutchCC WBB/MBB at Garden City - 3:45 p.m. pregame, 4 p.m. tipoff (KHUT) • Reno County Coaches Show - 6 p.m. (KWBW) • Jerome Tang Show - 7 p.m. (KHMY)

• Hutch High GBB/BBB at Derby - 5:45 p.m. pregame, 6 p.m. tipoff (KWBW)

• HutchCC WBB/MBB vs. Cloud County - 1:45 p.m. pregame, 2 p.m. tipoff (KHUT, KWBW) • K-State MBB at BYU - 7 p.m. pregame, 8 p.m. tipoff (KHMY)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725282945901.png" alt="EAGLE Media" />
 <figcaption>EAGLE Media</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/ce/index.cfm?stationCallSign=KHMY2">KHMY-FM (93.1)</a> <a href="https://streamdb5web.securenetsystems.net/v5/KHUT">KHUT-FM (102.9)</a> <a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/KWBW">KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5)</a>Monday, Feb. 10• HutchCC MBB at Coffeyville - 5:45 p.m. pregame, 6 p.m. tipoff (KHUT) • Chiefs Kingdom Show - 7 p.m. (KWBW)Tuesday, Feb. 11• Hutch High GBB/BBB at Valley Center - 5:45 p.m. pregame, 6 p.m. tipoff (KWBW) • K-State MBB vs. Arizona - 6 p.m. pregame, 7 p.m. tipoff (KHMY)Wednesday, Feb. 12Thursday, Feb. 13• HutchCC WBB/MBB at Garden City - 3:45 p.m. pregame, 4 p.m. tipoff (KHUT) • Reno County Coaches Show - 6 p.m. (KWBW) • Jerome Tang Show - 7 p.m. (KHMY)Friday, Feb. 14• Hutch High GBB/BBB at Derby - 5:45 p.m. pregame, 6 p.m. tipoff (KWBW)Saturday, Feb. 15• HutchCC WBB/MBB vs. Cloud County - 1:45 p.m. pregame, 2 p.m. tipoff (KHUT, KWBW) • K-State MBB at BYU - 7 p.m. pregame, 8 p.m. tipoff (KHMY)Sunday, Feb. 16

🎧 EAGLE Media Sports Broadcast Calendar (Feb. 10-Feb. 16)

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Former Iowa player and Nickerson High School standout Ava Jones announced on social media Saturday that she has cancer.

Jones said on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/avajones_35/p/DF0uLFnxNcZ/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>&nbsp;that she has Hodgkin lymphoma.

Just days after she committed to play for the Hawkeyes in 2022, Jones and her family were struck by a car in Kentucky. Her father, Trey Jones, died and she suffered a brain injury. Her mom was also injured.

“I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma after the results from the biopsy came back,” she wrote. “This is the news no one ever wants to get, but especially after spending the last 2 and a half years working my butt off and recovering from getting hit by a car. My body is very strong and I am confident in the doctors here at Iowa.”

Her former teammate Caitlin Clark commented on Jones’ post writing, “Praying for you kid."

Jones' scholarship was honored by Iowa and she was on the basketball team as a freshman before she&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-ava-jones-retires-2b80c94b58f419264a4db5fb96a741a1" target="_blank">medically retired</a>&nbsp;eight months ago. She had several surgeries to address the brain injury as well as the multiple torn ligaments in her knees. She redshirted last season with hopes of playing at some point during her career at Iowa.

“It is with great sadness to announce that I am medically retiring from college basketball. My coaches, doctors, teammates and trainers have been amazing since the accident,” Jones said when she retired. “While I will no longer be a member of the women’s basketball program, I will still be on scholarship, receive a world-class education and forever be a Hawkeye. I’d like to thank my family for the never-ending support and I am excited for the next chapter of my life.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739063585196.jpeg" alt="FILE - Iowa Hawkeyes forward Ava Jones looks on during an exhibition game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Clarke Pride at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, Oct. 22, 2023. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette via AP, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - Iowa Hawkeyes forward Ava Jones looks on during an exhibition game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Clarke Pride at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, Oct. 22, 2023. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette via AP, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Former Iowa player and Nickerson High School standout Ava Jones announced on social media Saturday that she has cancer. Jones said on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/avajones_35/p/DF0uLFnxNcZ/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>&nbsp;that she has Hodgkin lymphoma.Just days after she committed to play for the Hawkeyes in 2022, Jones and her family were struck by a car in Kentucky. Her father, Trey Jones, died and she suffered a brain injury. Her mom was also injured.“I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma after the results from the biopsy came back,” she wrote. “This is the news no one ever wants to get, but especially after spending the last 2 and a half years working my butt off and recovering from getting hit by a car. My body is very strong and I am confident in the doctors here at Iowa.”Her former teammate Caitlin Clark commented on Jones’ post writing, “Praying for you kid."Jones' scholarship was honored by Iowa and she was on the basketball team as a freshman before she&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-ava-jones-retires-2b80c94b58f419264a4db5fb96a741a1" target="_blank">medically retired</a>&nbsp;eight months ago. She had several surgeries to address the brain injury as well as the multiple torn ligaments in her knees. She redshirted last season with hopes of playing at some point during her career at Iowa.“It is with great sadness to announce that I am medically retiring from college basketball. My coaches, doctors, teammates and trainers have been amazing since the accident,” Jones said when she retired. “While I will no longer be a member of the women’s basketball program, I will still be on scholarship, receive a world-class education and forever be a Hawkeye. I’d like to thank my family for the never-ending support and I am excited for the next chapter of my life.”

Former Nickerson player Ava Jones reveals cancer diagnosis

AP Sports Summary for February 10th, 2025:

Eagles deny the Chiefs a Super Bowl three-peat with dominant defense in a 40-22 rout

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Cooper DeJean, Josh Sweat and the Philadelphia Eagles' ferocious defense denied Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs a Super Bowl three-peat. It wasn't even close. DeJean got a pick-6 on his 22nd birthday, Sweat tormented Mahomes and the Eagles routed the Chiefs 40-22 on Sunday to secure the franchise's second Super Bowl championship. Jalen Hurts threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score on a tush push, and Vic Fangio's defense was so dominant that the Eagles didn't need much from Saquon Barkley. With Donald Trump becoming the first president in office to attend a Super Bowl, the Eagles outplayed Kansas City in every facet.

Eagles answer Mahomes magic with 6 sacks, 3 turnovers of KC QB in Super Bowl blowout

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had one of his worst games as a professional at the worst of times on Sunday night. The two-time NFL MVP was intercepted twice, including a pick-6, and was sacked six times by the Philadelphia defense as the Eagles rolled to a 40-22 victory. Mahomes and the Chiefs were trying to make history as the first team to win three straight Super Bowls. Instead, they were saddled with a lopsided loss in the big game. It reminded many of the 31-9 loss that Kansas City endured against the Buccaneers in the Super Bowl four years ago.

Jalen Hurts quiets any doubters with a Super Bowl MVP

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Jalen Hurts has often been judged by his failings more than his successes over the course of his career. Getting benched at halftime of a college football championship game. Being forced to transfer from Alabama to Oklahoma just to be able to regain a starting job. Getting drafted in the second round to be a backup and then having his passing prowess questioned as he quickly became a starter. All those doubts helped fuel Hurts along the way and now he will be forever known as a Super Bowl MVP.

Eagles defense smothers Mahomes and dominates Kansas City in franchise's second Super Bowl win

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Cooper DeJean took one to the house, Zack Baun made a pick in his old professional home and the Eagles defense so thoroughly thrashed Patrick Mahomes that by the time Kendrick Lamar had "Game Over" brightened in the Superdome stands to end his halftime set, it was just as clear, so too, was the Super Bowl. From Broad Street to Bourbon Street, the Eagles defense this season never failed defensive mastermind Vic Fangio. The Eagles overwhelmed Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in 40-22 victory on Sunday to win only the franchise's second Super Bowl.

Eagles running back Saquon Barkley sets the NFL's season rushing record, including the playoffs

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Saquon Barkley rushed for 31 yards in the first half of Philadelphia's Super Bowl win and set the NFL season rushing record, postseason included, topping the mark of 2,476 yards set by Terrell Davis. The AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year needed only 30 yards to top Davis' total set in 1998 when he helped the Denver Broncos win the Super Bowl. Also that season, Davis was the last running back to win Super Bowl MVP. Barkley finally got the mark after a slow first half on a 2-yard run on the last play of the half. Barkley finished with a modest 57 yards rushing in Eagles' 40-22 win over Kansas City.

No on-field kisses for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce at this Super Bowl

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — There was no couple's celebration for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce after the Super Bowl. Last year, the two celebrated the Kansas City Chiefs' title with a kiss on the field at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. They didn't get to repeat it. The Chiefs lost 40-22 to the Philadelphia Eagles. It was the first time the team had lost a playoff game with the singing superstar in attendance. Swift was booed by the heavily pro-Eagles crowd when shown on the video boards early in the game. Swift and Kelce have been a couple since early last season.

Jets tell Aaron Rodgers they're 'moving on' from the QB for next season, report says

Aaron Rodgers is still contemplating whether to continue his playing career. If he does, it appears it won't be with the New York Jets. The team has told the 41-year-old quarterback it is "moving on from him," Fox Sports reported Sunday. Rodgers said toward the end of the Jets' 5-12 season he was undecided on his playing future and wanted to take a mental break. There was also uncertainty as to whether the Jets would even want to move forward with Rodgers. The Jets recently hired general manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn, and owner Woody Johnson said at their introductory news conference on Jan. 27 the new regime would have the final say in that decision.

A presidential first: Trump at the Super Bowl, latest chapter in a complicated legacy with football

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Donald Trump made history Sunday as the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl. After flying from Florida to New Orleans, he met with emergency personnel who responded to a New Year's Day terrorist attack on the city's historic French Quarter and relatives of the victims. As for the Chiefs-Eagles matchup, Trump thinks Kansas City will win, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes the difference-maker. Trump says in a pregame interview with Fox News Channel's Bret Baier that "I guess you have to say that when a quarterback wins as much as he's won, I have to go with Kansas City."

Review: Kendrick Lamar brings America and 'Not Like Us' into history-making Super Bowl halftime show

"Salutations!," the actor Samuel L. Jackson dressed as Uncle Sam introduced Kendrick Lamar at New Orleans' Caesars Superdome for the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show. It was a powerful, commanding creative choice by the first solo hip-hop artist to ever headline the coveted slot. As if there were any doubts of the Pulitzer Prize winning rapper's ability to put on a show. In a review, The Associated Press' Maria Sherman describes Lamar's performance as a continued victory lap. SZA was a previously announced guest performer and frequent Lamar collaborator. Lamar performed his Drake diss track "Not Like Us."

Eagles' Cooper DeJean celebrates his 22nd birthday with a Super Bowl first

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Cooper DeJean became the first player in Super Bowl history to intercept a pass or score a touchdown on his birthday when he returned a poor throw by Patrick Mahomes 38 yards for a TD to give Philadelphia a 17-0 lead over Kansas City in the second quarter. DeJean undercut a route by DeAndre Hopkins and picked off Mahomes before racing in for the first pick-6 in a Super Bowl since Robert Alford had one for Atlanta against Tom Brady and New England eight years ago.

Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701494597443.png" alt="Sports Headlines and News for Monday, February 10th, 2025" />
 <figcaption>Sports Headlines and News for Monday, February 10th, 2025</figcaption>
 </figure>AP Sports Summary for February 10th, 2025:<div><iframe title="AP Early Morning Sports Wrap for February 10th, 2025" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=ns6jq-17f0fa9-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>Eagles deny the Chiefs a Super Bowl three-peat with dominant defense in a 40-22 routNEW ORLEANS (AP) — Cooper DeJean, Josh Sweat and the Philadelphia Eagles' ferocious defense denied Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs a Super Bowl three-peat. It wasn't even close. DeJean got a pick-6 on his 22nd birthday, Sweat tormented Mahomes and the Eagles routed the Chiefs 40-22 on Sunday to secure the franchise's second Super Bowl championship. Jalen Hurts threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score on a tush push, and Vic Fangio's defense was so dominant that the Eagles didn't need much from Saquon Barkley. With Donald Trump becoming the first president in office to attend a Super Bowl, the Eagles outplayed Kansas City in every facet.Eagles answer Mahomes magic with 6 sacks, 3 turnovers of KC QB in Super Bowl blowoutNEW ORLEANS (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had one of his worst games as a professional at the worst of times on Sunday night. The two-time NFL MVP was intercepted twice, including a pick-6, and was sacked six times by the Philadelphia defense as the Eagles rolled to a 40-22 victory. Mahomes and the Chiefs were trying to make history as the first team to win three straight Super Bowls. Instead, they were saddled with a lopsided loss in the big game. It reminded many of the 31-9 loss that Kansas City endured against the Buccaneers in the Super Bowl four years ago.Jalen Hurts quiets any doubters with a Super Bowl MVPNEW ORLEANS (AP) — Jalen Hurts has often been judged by his failings more than his successes over the course of his career. Getting benched at halftime of a college football championship game. Being forced to transfer from Alabama to Oklahoma just to be able to regain a starting job. Getting drafted in the second round to be a backup and then having his passing prowess questioned as he quickly became a starter. All those doubts helped fuel Hurts along the way and now he will be forever known as a Super Bowl MVP.Eagles defense smothers Mahomes and dominates Kansas City in franchise's second Super Bowl winNEW ORLEANS (AP) — Cooper DeJean took one to the house, Zack Baun made a pick in his old professional home and the Eagles defense so thoroughly thrashed Patrick Mahomes that by the time Kendrick Lamar had "Game Over" brightened in the Superdome stands to end his halftime set, it was just as clear, so too, was the Super Bowl. From Broad Street to Bourbon Street, the Eagles defense this season never failed defensive mastermind Vic Fangio. The Eagles overwhelmed Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in 40-22 victory on Sunday to win only the franchise's second Super Bowl.Eagles running back Saquon Barkley sets the NFL's season rushing record, including the playoffsNEW ORLEANS (AP) — Saquon Barkley rushed for 31 yards in the first half of Philadelphia's Super Bowl win and set the NFL season rushing record, postseason included, topping the mark of 2,476 yards set by Terrell Davis. The AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year needed only 30 yards to top Davis' total set in 1998 when he helped the Denver Broncos win the Super Bowl. Also that season, Davis was the last running back to win Super Bowl MVP. Barkley finally got the mark after a slow first half on a 2-yard run on the last play of the half. Barkley finished with a modest 57 yards rushing in Eagles' 40-22 win over Kansas City.No on-field kisses for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce at this Super BowlNEW ORLEANS (AP) — There was no couple's celebration for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce after the Super Bowl. Last year, the two celebrated the Kansas City Chiefs' title with a kiss on the field at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. They didn't get to repeat it. The Chiefs lost 40-22 to the Philadelphia Eagles. It was the first time the team had lost a playoff game with the singing superstar in attendance. Swift was booed by the heavily pro-Eagles crowd when shown on the video boards early in the game. Swift and Kelce have been a couple since early last season.Jets tell Aaron Rodgers they're 'moving on' from the QB for next season, report saysAaron Rodgers is still contemplating whether to continue his playing career. If he does, it appears it won't be with the New York Jets. The team has told the 41-year-old quarterback it is "moving on from him," Fox Sports reported Sunday. Rodgers said toward the end of the Jets' 5-12 season he was undecided on his playing future and wanted to take a mental break. There was also uncertainty as to whether the Jets would even want to move forward with Rodgers. The Jets recently hired general manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn, and owner Woody Johnson said at their introductory news conference on Jan. 27 the new regime would have the final say in that decision.A presidential first: Trump at the Super Bowl, latest chapter in a complicated legacy with footballNEW ORLEANS (AP) — Donald Trump made history Sunday as the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl. After flying from Florida to New Orleans, he met with emergency personnel who responded to a New Year's Day terrorist attack on the city's historic French Quarter and relatives of the victims. As for the Chiefs-Eagles matchup, Trump thinks Kansas City will win, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes the difference-maker. Trump says in a pregame interview with Fox News Channel's Bret Baier that "I guess you have to say that when a quarterback wins as much as he's won, I have to go with Kansas City."Review: Kendrick Lamar brings America and 'Not Like Us' into history-making Super Bowl halftime show"Salutations!," the actor Samuel L. Jackson dressed as Uncle Sam introduced Kendrick Lamar at New Orleans' Caesars Superdome for the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show. It was a powerful, commanding creative choice by the first solo hip-hop artist to ever headline the coveted slot. As if there were any doubts of the Pulitzer Prize winning rapper's ability to put on a show. In a review, The Associated Press' Maria Sherman describes Lamar's performance as a continued victory lap. SZA was a previously announced guest performer and frequent Lamar collaborator. Lamar performed his Drake diss track "Not Like Us."Eagles' Cooper DeJean celebrates his 22nd birthday with a Super Bowl firstNEW ORLEANS (AP) — Cooper DeJean became the first player in Super Bowl history to intercept a pass or score a touchdown on his birthday when he returned a poor throw by Patrick Mahomes 38 yards for a TD to give Philadelphia a 17-0 lead over Kansas City in the second quarter. DeJean undercut a route by DeAndre Hopkins and picked off Mahomes before racing in for the first pick-6 in a Super Bowl since Robert Alford had one for Atlanta against Tom Brady and New England eight years ago.AP-ScorecardHere are the scores from yesterday's sports events:___NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATIONFinal	Detroit	112	Charlotte	102	Final	Houston	94	Toronto	87	Final	Milwaukee	135	Philadelphia	127	___NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUEFinal SO	Utah	5	Washington	4	Final	Tampa Bay	5	Montreal	3	___NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYOFFSFinal	Philadelphia	40	Kansas City	22	___TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALLFinal	(17)Memphis	90	Temple	82	Final	(18)Maryland	90	Rutgers	81	___TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE___NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION		Atlanta	at	Orlando	7 p.m.			Minnesota	at	Cleveland	7 p.m.			San Antonio	at	Washington	7 p.m.			Boston	at	Miami	7:30 p.m.			Charlotte	at	Brooklyn	7:30 p.m.			Golden State	at	Milwaukee	8 p.m.			New Orleans	at	Oklahoma City	8 p.m.			Sacramento	at	Dallas	8:30 p.m.			Portland	at	Denver	9 p.m.			Utah	at	L.A. Lakers	10:30 p.m.	___TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL		Baylor	at	(5)Houston	9 p.m.	___

📢📰🎧 Sports Headlines for Monday

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Cooper DeJean, Josh Sweat and the Philadelphia Eagles’ ferocious defense denied Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs a Super Bowl three-peat.

<a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/1888750819786256472">DeJean got a pick-6</a>&nbsp;on his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-birthday-cooper-dejean-barkley-697c91e35802293f29cf0aed95e15436">22nd birthday</a>, Sweat tormented Mahomes and the Eagles routed the Chiefs 40-22 on Sunday to secure the franchise’s second Super Bowl championship.

Jalen Hurts threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score on a tush push, and Vic Fangio's defense was so dominant that the Eagles didn't need much from Saquon Barkley.

The game-changing running back finished with 57 yards,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-eagles-barkley-5e28abc26e50169e124fa99c2ef4058e">breaking Terrell Davis’ record</a>&nbsp;for yards rushing in a season, playoffs included. Hurts threw for 221 yards.

With Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-nfl-super-bowl-first-president-766c628f4ea3faf38d100e4f33f2ac8c">becoming the first president in office to attend a Super Bowl</a>, the Eagles outplayed Kansas City in every facet, delighting a raucous pro-Philly crowd that celebrated each score with a familiar rendition of “Fly! Eagles! Fly!”

Even&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-taylor-swift-travis-kelce-35c7b3b896c226566e4afa0baa7b69c5">Taylor Swift’s presence</a>&nbsp;couldn’t help the Chiefs. They lost for the first time in 10 games this season with the pop superstar in a suite watching boyfriend Travis Kelce, who didn’t catch a pass until late in the third quarter.

Not in Kansas City’s worst nightmares could its fans have imagined such a lackluster performance. The Chiefs had won three of the previous five Super Bowls, losing 31-9 to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers four years ago.

Mahomes was 8-0 against Fangio’s defenses before the longtime coordinator and former Broncos head coach outcoached Andy Reid, capping his first season with his hometown team. Reid fell to 3-3 in Super Bowls, including a loss with the Eagles.

The Eagles sacked Mahomes six times, the most of his career, including 2 1/2 by Sweat. And they did it without Fangio calling a single blitz.

Barkley, the 2024 AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year, only had 31 yards rushing in the first half when Philly built a 24-0 lead.

The Chiefs were aiming to become the third team in NFL history to win three straight championships and the first to three-peat in the Super Bowl era.

Hurts nearly led the Eagles to victory against the Chiefs two years ago in Arizona, but Mahomes led a comeback and Harrison Butker kicked the game-winning field goal in the final minute for a 38-35 victory. Mahomes rallied Kansas City to an overtime victory over San Francisco last year for the Chiefs' second straight title.

This time, a revamped Philly defense featuring eight new starters from the 2022 team made sure Mahomes had no chance to pull off his magic.

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eagles-analysis-sirianni-sideline-antics-125b677b3a4d8cca37d89ead27b5fe1e">who mocked fans chanting “Fire Nick!”</a>&nbsp;during a victory over Cleveland in October and was called a “clown” on national television, should finally silence critics by adding a championship ring to a resume that includes the fifth-best winning percentage in league history.

Sirianni was showered with Gatorade with nearly three minutes left in the game while backup QB Kenny Pickett took snaps in mop-up duty.

Barkley helped push Hurts into the end zone from the 1 to give Philadelphia a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

Up 10-0 after Jake Elliott’s 48-yard field goal, Sweat and Jalyx Hunt sacked Mahomes on consecutive plays. Mahomes then rolled out and made an errant throw that was picked by DeJean, who returned it 38 yards for a 17-0 lead.

It was Mahomes’ first pick-6 in 21 career playoff games and ended a streak of 297 straight passes without an interception.

All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun picked Mahomes again late in the second quarter, and Hurts connected with A.J. Brown on a 12-yard TD pass for a 24-0 lead.

<a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/1888774848114983241">Hurts threw a perfect 46-yard TD pass to DeVonta Smith</a>&nbsp;to make it 34-0 late in the third.

Mahomes fired a 24-yard TD pass to Xavier Worthy to avoid the shutout, but the 2-point conversion failed. He threw two late, mostly meaningless TD passes, one to DeAndre Hopkins and another to Worthy.

After two weeks of discussions about questionable calls that led to public perception that officials favor the Chiefs — a theory NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell called “ridiculous” — the first penalty of the game only fueled critics.

A 32-yard pass from Hurts to Brown to the Chiefs 18 on fourth-and-2 was negated by a penalty for offensive pass interference. Brady, now a Fox analyst, and officiating analyst Mike Pereira both disagreed with the call, although Brown shoved Trent McDuffie’s facemask.

On the next possession, the Eagles benefited from an unnecessary roughness penalty on McDuffie against Dallas Goedert following an incomplete pass on third-and-5.

Hurts then connected with Jahan Dotson on a 27-yard pass to the 1 and scored on the next play.

Hurts’ streak of 217 passes without a pick ended in the first half when he was intercepted deep in Kansas City territory, but the Chiefs didn’t capitalize.

The Green Bay Packers are the only NFL team to win three championships in a row, doing it from 1929-31 and 1965-67.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739157518917.png" alt="Photo Philadelphia Eagles" />
 <figcaption>Photo Philadelphia Eagles</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Cooper DeJean, Josh Sweat and the Philadelphia Eagles’ ferocious defense denied Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs a Super Bowl three-peat.It wasn’t even close.<a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/1888750819786256472">DeJean got a pick-6</a>&nbsp;on his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-birthday-cooper-dejean-barkley-697c91e35802293f29cf0aed95e15436">22nd birthday</a>, Sweat tormented Mahomes and the Eagles routed the Chiefs 40-22 on Sunday to secure the franchise’s second Super Bowl championship.Jalen Hurts threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score on a tush push, and Vic Fangio's defense was so dominant that the Eagles didn't need much from Saquon Barkley.The game-changing running back finished with 57 yards,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-eagles-barkley-5e28abc26e50169e124fa99c2ef4058e">breaking Terrell Davis’ record</a>&nbsp;for yards rushing in a season, playoffs included. Hurts threw for 221 yards.With Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-nfl-super-bowl-first-president-766c628f4ea3faf38d100e4f33f2ac8c">becoming the first president in office to attend a Super Bowl</a>, the Eagles outplayed Kansas City in every facet, delighting a raucous pro-Philly crowd that celebrated each score with a familiar rendition of “Fly! Eagles! Fly!”Even&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-taylor-swift-travis-kelce-35c7b3b896c226566e4afa0baa7b69c5">Taylor Swift’s presence</a>&nbsp;couldn’t help the Chiefs. They lost for the first time in 10 games this season with the pop superstar in a suite watching boyfriend Travis Kelce, who didn’t catch a pass until late in the third quarter.Not in Kansas City’s worst nightmares could its fans have imagined such a lackluster performance. The Chiefs had won three of the previous five Super Bowls, losing 31-9 to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers four years ago.Mahomes was 8-0 against Fangio’s defenses before the longtime coordinator and former Broncos head coach outcoached Andy Reid, capping his first season with his hometown team. Reid fell to 3-3 in Super Bowls, including a loss with the Eagles.The Eagles sacked Mahomes six times, the most of his career, including 2 1/2 by Sweat. And they did it without Fangio calling a single blitz.Barkley, the 2024 AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year, only had 31 yards rushing in the first half when Philly built a 24-0 lead.The Chiefs were aiming to become the third team in NFL history to win three straight championships and the first to three-peat in the Super Bowl era.Hurts nearly led the Eagles to victory against the Chiefs two years ago in Arizona, but Mahomes led a comeback and Harrison Butker kicked the game-winning field goal in the final minute for a 38-35 victory. Mahomes rallied Kansas City to an overtime victory over San Francisco last year for the Chiefs' second straight title.This time, a revamped Philly defense featuring eight new starters from the 2022 team made sure Mahomes had no chance to pull off his magic.Eagles coach Nick Sirianni,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eagles-analysis-sirianni-sideline-antics-125b677b3a4d8cca37d89ead27b5fe1e">who mocked fans chanting “Fire Nick!”</a>&nbsp;during a victory over Cleveland in October and was called a “clown” on national television, should finally silence critics by adding a championship ring to a resume that includes the fifth-best winning percentage in league history.Sirianni was showered with Gatorade with nearly three minutes left in the game while backup QB Kenny Pickett took snaps in mop-up duty.Barkley helped push Hurts into the end zone from the 1 to give Philadelphia a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.Up 10-0 after Jake Elliott’s 48-yard field goal, Sweat and Jalyx Hunt sacked Mahomes on consecutive plays. Mahomes then rolled out and made an errant throw that was picked by DeJean, who returned it 38 yards for a 17-0 lead.It was Mahomes’ first pick-6 in 21 career playoff games and ended a streak of 297 straight passes without an interception.All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun picked Mahomes again late in the second quarter, and Hurts connected with A.J. Brown on a 12-yard TD pass for a 24-0 lead.<a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/1888774848114983241">Hurts threw a perfect 46-yard TD pass to DeVonta Smith</a>&nbsp;to make it 34-0 late in the third.Mahomes fired a 24-yard TD pass to Xavier Worthy to avoid the shutout, but the 2-point conversion failed. He threw two late, mostly meaningless TD passes, one to DeAndre Hopkins and another to Worthy.After two weeks of discussions about questionable calls that led to public perception that officials favor the Chiefs — a theory NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell called “ridiculous” — the first penalty of the game only fueled critics.A 32-yard pass from Hurts to Brown to the Chiefs 18 on fourth-and-2 was negated by a penalty for offensive pass interference. Brady, now a Fox analyst, and officiating analyst Mike Pereira both disagreed with the call, although Brown shoved Trent McDuffie’s facemask.On the next possession, the Eagles benefited from an unnecessary roughness penalty on McDuffie against Dallas Goedert following an incomplete pass on third-and-5.Hurts then connected with Jahan Dotson on a 27-yard pass to the 1 and scored on the next play.Hurts’ streak of 217 passes without a pick ended in the first half when he was intercepted deep in Kansas City territory, but the Chiefs didn’t capitalize.The Green Bay Packers are the only NFL team to win three championships in a row, doing it from 1929-31 and 1965-67.

🏈 Eagles spoil Chiefs' three-peat bid, win the Super Bowl 

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Xavier Bell had 26 points to help Wichita State hold off South Florida 75-70 on Sunday.

Bell made 14 of 15 free throws and added five rebounds for the Shockers (13-10, 3-7 American Athletic Conference). Quincy Ballard totaled 12 points and 12 rebounds. Corey Washington had 11 points.

Jamille Reynolds led the way for the Bulls (12-12, 5-6) with 18 points, six rebounds and five blocks. Jimmie Williams added 12 points and Brandon Stroud scored 11 with three blocks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739197814659.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Xavier Bell had 26 points to help Wichita State hold off South Florida 75-70 on Sunday.Bell made 14 of 15 free throws and added five rebounds for the Shockers (13-10, 3-7 American Athletic Conference). Quincy Ballard totaled 12 points and 12 rebounds. Corey Washington had 11 points.Jamille Reynolds led the way for the Bulls (12-12, 5-6) with 18 points, six rebounds and five blocks. Jimmie Williams added 12 points and Brandon Stroud scored 11 with three blocks.

🏀 Xavier Bell scores 26 to lead WSU past South Florida

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Clark Hunt was not quite 5 years old when he settled into his seat in Tulane Stadium beside his parents to watch the Kansas City Chiefs, the franchise his father had founded in the brazen days of the American Football League, as they played the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV.

Hunt doesn’t remember the game itself. But once in a while, photos will surface that he has never seen before.

“I do have a photo of me sitting with my parents in the stands, right? I think they were benches. It sort of looked like a corner,” said Hunt, now 59, who assumed control of the Chiefs when his father, the visionary Lamar Hunt, died in December 2006.

“I guess that shows you how things have changed,” Hunt said.

Indeed, it’s a safe bet that Hunt and the rest of his family will have comfortable seats in a luxury suite when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-kansas-city-chiefs-philadelphia-eagles-8d39bd71118260412913f13138c40328">the Chiefs face the Eagles on Sunday at the Superdome</a>.

Led by Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, and with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2025-entertainment-concerts-9d822651a9ce876fba61e722f95481e6">a celebrity fan base</a>&nbsp;that includes Taylor Swift and Caitlin Clark,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-kansas-city-chiefs-philadelphia-eagles-0c42ca6674a9a25aa6816bc044050747">the Chiefs were chasing</a>&nbsp;an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-threepeat-f6cb75b11ec371fc46cd40e4cda7772e">unprecedented third consecutive Lombardi Trophy</a>.

The fact was not lost on Hunt that they were trying to make history in the same city where they won their first Super Bowl with a 23-7 victory over the Vikings on Jan. 11, 1970.

In fact, Hunt seemed to view the coincidence as something closer to kismet, a point that he underscored by pointing out that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-superdome-19f1ca369835b50e40af07673878b7bb">the Chiefs spent this week</a>&nbsp;practicing at Tulane University.

“I hate to say I don’t have any memories from that Super Bowl,” he said, “but getting to go to Tulane where we’re training and being literally a stone’s throw from the old stadium where we won Super Bowl IV is really special.

“I always think about my parents Super Bowl week,” Hunt added, “There’s no way not to. But this one is going to be special.”

There’s an argument to be made that nobody had a greater influence on the big game than Lamar Hunt.

The oil magnate was part of the “Foolish Club” that founded the AFL, back when they were being kept out of the NFL, and he was instrumental in the merger years later that ultimately brought the two professional football leagues together.

In a letter to NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle, Hunt mused about the pending title game, saying: “I have kiddingly called it the ‘Super Bowl,’ which obviously can be approved upon.” He was inspired by the must-have Christmas gift of the year that his wife, Norma, had gotten Clark Hunt and the rest of the kids: the Super Ball, made by toy company Wham-O.

Lamar Hunt regularly attended the Super Bowl, though he never saw his Chiefs play in it again. They wouldn’t make it back until Andy Reid arrived in town, and Mahomes and Kelce helped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/san-francisco-49ers-sports-general-super-bowl-football-ap-top-news-8f6178fbfa3844677b5fc374bc53b80f">Kansas City beat the 49ers in February 2020</a>&nbsp;— five full decades after they triumphed over the “Purple People Eaters” and the rest of the Vikings at Tulane Stadium.

Norma Hunt continued to attend the Super Bowl&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-norma-hunt-776f263369c70dba8122dc10bf409560">until her death in June 2023</a>. At the time, she was one of four people — and the only woman — who had attended every game, beginning with the Chiefs’ loss to the Packers on Jan. 15, 1967.

The Chiefs are back Sunday for the fifth time in six years. And they are chasing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2025-chiefs-eagles-811d9ac7075af395805235efcf1f0b0b">a three-peat against the Eagles</a>, the team Kansas City beat a couple of years ago in Glendale, Arizona, to win the first of its back-to-back championships.

“I would say every Chiefs fan is spoiled, and that includes me, right? Because it has been such a special five or six years,” Hunt told a small group of local reporters this week. “And I think we know we’re spoiled because of the journey that it took to get to this point, and the five decades we went without getting back to the Super Bowl.”

This is the 11th time that New Orleans has played host to the big game, tying Miami for the most of any city. The French Quarter had been packed all week with fans wearing Chiefs red and Eagles green, creating a kaleidoscope of Christmas colors stretching from Jackson Square to Canal Street, and bubbling all the way up to the Superdome.

The home of the Saints, and the de facto replacement for Tulane Stadium, is hosting the game for the eighth time.

“I don’t think any of us really could have dreamed it being like this, and having the success we’ve had,” Clark Hunt said. “My dad would have loved it because in his heart, he was a fan — him and my mom were fans, first and foremost. And he would love it for our fans, because that was always a focus of his.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738064300346.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid holds the Lamar Hunt Trophy after the Chiefs defeated the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid holds the Lamar Hunt Trophy after the Chiefs defeated the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Clark Hunt was not quite 5 years old when he settled into his seat in Tulane Stadium beside his parents to watch the Kansas City Chiefs, the franchise his father had founded in the brazen days of the American Football League, as they played the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV.Hunt doesn’t remember the game itself. But once in a while, photos will surface that he has never seen before.“I do have a photo of me sitting with my parents in the stands, right? I think they were benches. It sort of looked like a corner,” said Hunt, now 59, who assumed control of the Chiefs when his father, the visionary Lamar Hunt, died in December 2006.“I guess that shows you how things have changed,” Hunt said.Indeed, it’s a safe bet that Hunt and the rest of his family will have comfortable seats in a luxury suite when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-kansas-city-chiefs-philadelphia-eagles-8d39bd71118260412913f13138c40328">the Chiefs face the Eagles on Sunday at the Superdome</a>.Led by Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, and with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2025-entertainment-concerts-9d822651a9ce876fba61e722f95481e6">a celebrity fan base</a>&nbsp;that includes Taylor Swift and Caitlin Clark,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-kansas-city-chiefs-philadelphia-eagles-0c42ca6674a9a25aa6816bc044050747">the Chiefs were chasing</a>&nbsp;an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-threepeat-f6cb75b11ec371fc46cd40e4cda7772e">unprecedented third consecutive Lombardi Trophy</a>.The fact was not lost on Hunt that they were trying to make history in the same city where they won their first Super Bowl with a 23-7 victory over the Vikings on Jan. 11, 1970.In fact, Hunt seemed to view the coincidence as something closer to kismet, a point that he underscored by pointing out that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-superdome-19f1ca369835b50e40af07673878b7bb">the Chiefs spent this week</a>&nbsp;practicing at Tulane University.“I hate to say I don’t have any memories from that Super Bowl,” he said, “but getting to go to Tulane where we’re training and being literally a stone’s throw from the old stadium where we won Super Bowl IV is really special.“I always think about my parents Super Bowl week,” Hunt added, “There’s no way not to. But this one is going to be special.”There’s an argument to be made that nobody had a greater influence on the big game than Lamar Hunt.The oil magnate was part of the “Foolish Club” that founded the AFL, back when they were being kept out of the NFL, and he was instrumental in the merger years later that ultimately brought the two professional football leagues together.In a letter to NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle, Hunt mused about the pending title game, saying: “I have kiddingly called it the ‘Super Bowl,’ which obviously can be approved upon.” He was inspired by the must-have Christmas gift of the year that his wife, Norma, had gotten Clark Hunt and the rest of the kids: the Super Ball, made by toy company Wham-O.Lamar Hunt regularly attended the Super Bowl, though he never saw his Chiefs play in it again. They wouldn’t make it back until Andy Reid arrived in town, and Mahomes and Kelce helped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/san-francisco-49ers-sports-general-super-bowl-football-ap-top-news-8f6178fbfa3844677b5fc374bc53b80f">Kansas City beat the 49ers in February 2020</a>&nbsp;— five full decades after they triumphed over the “Purple People Eaters” and the rest of the Vikings at Tulane Stadium.Norma Hunt continued to attend the Super Bowl&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-norma-hunt-776f263369c70dba8122dc10bf409560">until her death in June 2023</a>. At the time, she was one of four people — and the only woman — who had attended every game, beginning with the Chiefs’ loss to the Packers on Jan. 15, 1967.The Chiefs are back Sunday for the fifth time in six years. And they are chasing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2025-chiefs-eagles-811d9ac7075af395805235efcf1f0b0b">a three-peat against the Eagles</a>, the team Kansas City beat a couple of years ago in Glendale, Arizona, to win the first of its back-to-back championships.“I would say every Chiefs fan is spoiled, and that includes me, right? Because it has been such a special five or six years,” Hunt told a small group of local reporters this week. “And I think we know we’re spoiled because of the journey that it took to get to this point, and the five decades we went without getting back to the Super Bowl.”This is the 11th time that New Orleans has played host to the big game, tying Miami for the most of any city. The French Quarter had been packed all week with fans wearing Chiefs red and Eagles green, creating a kaleidoscope of Christmas colors stretching from Jackson Square to Canal Street, and bubbling all the way up to the Superdome.The home of the Saints, and the de facto replacement for Tulane Stadium, is hosting the game for the eighth time.“I don’t think any of us really could have dreamed it being like this, and having the success we’ve had,” Clark Hunt said. “My dad would have loved it because in his heart, he was a fan — him and my mom were fans, first and foremost. And he would love it for our fans, because that was always a focus of his.”

🏈 Chiefs aim to make history in city where they won their first Super Bowl. Eagles stand in the way

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Andy Reid and Matt Nagy vs. Vic Fangio. Nick Sirianni and Kellen Moore vs. Steve Spagnuolo.

This Super Bowl is a matchup of some of the brightest — and oldest — minds in the NFL. Reid and Fangio are 66. Spagnuolo is 65.

When the Kansas City Chiefs (17-2) go for a three-peat in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-pro-picks-super-bowl-af28d2e3c798106008a2657d929f3fcd">rematch</a>&nbsp;against the Eagles (17-3) on Sunday, the game will come down to what Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Chris Jones and teammates do on the field against Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, Jalen Carter and the rest of Philadelphia’s talented roster.

But it starts with the coaches and the coordinators and their schemes. They have to devise the correct game plan and make the best play calls.

The Chiefs were in the middle of the pack in offense this season, ranking 16th in total yards. But Reid has been an offensive mastermind for three decades and Mahomes is always capable of making some magic, especially on the biggest stage.

They’ll face off against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2025-vic-fangio-105826c7afa24c28a825d4a0cc6f6ea8">Fangio</a>, who inherited one of the league’s worst units and turned it into the No. 1 defense in the NFL in his first season in Philadelphia.

The Eagles had the second-best rushing offense thanks to Barkley’s historic season and Hurts has A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith so the passing attack is potent despite finishing 29th.

They have to find a way against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-steve-spagnuolo-kansas-city-chiefs-2d81b8c2d4179ef72ace9ff5218d8b4a">Spagnuolo</a>, who came up with the perfect plan to prevent the Patriots from a perfect season 17 years ago. Spagnuolo won his first ring as a defensive coordinator for the Giants and has won three more with the Chiefs.

Barkley. Barkley. Barkley. The AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year has 2,447 combined yards rushing and 18 TDs, including seven scores of 60-plus yards. Everything starts with him. He’s been spectacular this season and can take it the distance every time he touches the ball. But the Eagles have plenty more fire power. Hurts is a threat to run, which helps keep defenses guessing and that helped Barkley become the best home run hitter in the NFL.

Despite pedestrian passing stats, Hurts has been productive. He takes care of the ball, tossing just five interceptions and only one in his past 15 games. He had a 103.7 passer rating and had big passing games when the Eagles needed him against the Commanders in the NFC championship game and Steelers in mid-December.

Brown is an elite receiver, even when he’s reading a book on the sideline. Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert are top targets for Hurts, too.

The key to Philadelphia’s success on offense is one of the top lines in the NFL led by tackles Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata.

Spagnuolo can make things difficult even for the best teams. Tom Brady, Randy Moss and the Patriots found out almost two decades ago in the Super Bowl.

Buffalo’s Josh Allen got another taste of it in the AFC championship game when Spagnuolo sent a corner blitz on fourth-and-5 with the game on the line.

Kansas City’s defense finished ninth overall, allowing the fourth-fewest points.

Jones is an All-Pro interior lineman, edge George Karlaftis led the team with eight sacks and defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton had 6 1/2. Cornerback Trent McDuffie was a second-team All-Pro. The McDuffie-Brown matchup could be a classic.

Protecting Hurts will be crucial for Philadelphia, though he has the ability to escape and scramble for long gains.

Sirianni turned the offense over to Moore, a first-year Eagles coordinator likely coaching his last game with Philadelphia. Moore is expected to become the head coach for the Saints.

The Chiefs had the league’s 14th-ranked passing offense behind Mahomes and 22nd-ranked rushing attack. The Eagles were No. 1 overall and against the pass, 10th against the run and second best in scoring.

Mahomes is 8-0 against Fangio’s defenses. But teams that were first in defense are 10-2 in the Super Bowl since 1970.

Mahomes is a master at making plays and finding ways to win games, especially close ones. He had subpar numbers by his standards — 3,928 yards, 26 TDs, 11 interceptions and a 93.5 rating.

Kelce, despite a drop-off in the regular season, is a prime-time player in the postseason. And, Mahomes has DeAndre Hopkins, Marquise Brown and first-round pick Xavier Worthy. Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco are effective runners.

All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney and All-Pro center Creed Humphrey anchor the offensive line along with right guard Trey Smith. Thuney is playing left tackle.

They’ll be tasked with keeping Carter and edge Nolan Smith away from Mahomes. Brandon Graham, whose strip-sack of Brady sealed Philadelphia’s only Super Bowl victory seven years ago, could be back to bolster the rush.

All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun will play an important role against Mahomes and rookie slot cornerback Cooper DeJean going against Kelce could determine the game. Cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Darius Slay give Philadelphia a top tandem against the pass.

Reid is creative and not afraid to add different wrinkles. Fangio disguises coverages and aims to take away big plays.

Mahomes was under constant pressure in his only Super Bowl loss to Tampa Bay four years ago. The Eagles have to make him uncomfortable to have a chance.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738842216308.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid watches from the sidelines alongside defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, right, during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid watches from the sidelines alongside defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, right, during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Andy Reid and Matt Nagy vs. Vic Fangio. Nick Sirianni and Kellen Moore vs. Steve Spagnuolo.This Super Bowl is a matchup of some of the brightest — and oldest — minds in the NFL. Reid and Fangio are 66. Spagnuolo is 65.When the Kansas City Chiefs (17-2) go for a three-peat in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-pro-picks-super-bowl-af28d2e3c798106008a2657d929f3fcd">rematch</a>&nbsp;against the Eagles (17-3) on Sunday, the game will come down to what Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Chris Jones and teammates do on the field against Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, Jalen Carter and the rest of Philadelphia’s talented roster.But it starts with the coaches and the coordinators and their schemes. They have to devise the correct game plan and make the best play calls.The Chiefs were in the middle of the pack in offense this season, ranking 16th in total yards. But Reid has been an offensive mastermind for three decades and Mahomes is always capable of making some magic, especially on the biggest stage.They’ll face off against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2025-vic-fangio-105826c7afa24c28a825d4a0cc6f6ea8">Fangio</a>, who inherited one of the league’s worst units and turned it into the No. 1 defense in the NFL in his first season in Philadelphia.The Eagles had the second-best rushing offense thanks to Barkley’s historic season and Hurts has A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith so the passing attack is potent despite finishing 29th.They have to find a way against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-steve-spagnuolo-kansas-city-chiefs-2d81b8c2d4179ef72ace9ff5218d8b4a">Spagnuolo</a>, who came up with the perfect plan to prevent the Patriots from a perfect season 17 years ago. Spagnuolo won his first ring as a defensive coordinator for the Giants and has won three more with the Chiefs.<h2>When the Eagles have the ball</h2>Barkley. Barkley. Barkley. The AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year has 2,447 combined yards rushing and 18 TDs, including seven scores of 60-plus yards. Everything starts with him. He’s been spectacular this season and can take it the distance every time he touches the ball. But the Eagles have plenty more fire power. Hurts is a threat to run, which helps keep defenses guessing and that helped Barkley become the best home run hitter in the NFL.Despite pedestrian passing stats, Hurts has been productive. He takes care of the ball, tossing just five interceptions and only one in his past 15 games. He had a 103.7 passer rating and had big passing games when the Eagles needed him against the Commanders in the NFC championship game and Steelers in mid-December.Brown is an elite receiver, even when he’s reading a book on the sideline. Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert are top targets for Hurts, too.The key to Philadelphia’s success on offense is one of the top lines in the NFL led by tackles Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata.Spagnuolo can make things difficult even for the best teams. Tom Brady, Randy Moss and the Patriots found out almost two decades ago in the Super Bowl.Buffalo’s Josh Allen got another taste of it in the AFC championship game when Spagnuolo sent a corner blitz on fourth-and-5 with the game on the line.Kansas City’s defense finished ninth overall, allowing the fourth-fewest points.Jones is an All-Pro interior lineman, edge George Karlaftis led the team with eight sacks and defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton had 6 1/2. Cornerback Trent McDuffie was a second-team All-Pro. The McDuffie-Brown matchup could be a classic.Protecting Hurts will be crucial for Philadelphia, though he has the ability to escape and scramble for long gains.Sirianni turned the offense over to Moore, a first-year Eagles coordinator likely coaching his last game with Philadelphia. Moore is expected to become the head coach for the Saints.<h2>When the Chiefs have the ball</h2>The Chiefs had the league’s 14th-ranked passing offense behind Mahomes and 22nd-ranked rushing attack. The Eagles were No. 1 overall and against the pass, 10th against the run and second best in scoring.Mahomes is 8-0 against Fangio’s defenses. But teams that were first in defense are 10-2 in the Super Bowl since 1970.Mahomes is a master at making plays and finding ways to win games, especially close ones. He had subpar numbers by his standards — 3,928 yards, 26 TDs, 11 interceptions and a 93.5 rating.Kelce, despite a drop-off in the regular season, is a prime-time player in the postseason. And, Mahomes has DeAndre Hopkins, Marquise Brown and first-round pick Xavier Worthy. Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco are effective runners.All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney and All-Pro center Creed Humphrey anchor the offensive line along with right guard Trey Smith. Thuney is playing left tackle.They’ll be tasked with keeping Carter and edge Nolan Smith away from Mahomes. Brandon Graham, whose strip-sack of Brady sealed Philadelphia’s only Super Bowl victory seven years ago, could be back to bolster the rush.All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun will play an important role against Mahomes and rookie slot cornerback Cooper DeJean going against Kelce could determine the game. Cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Darius Slay give Philadelphia a top tandem against the pass.Reid is creative and not afraid to add different wrinkles. Fangio disguises coverages and aims to take away big plays.Mahomes was under constant pressure in his only Super Bowl loss to Tampa Bay four years ago. The Eagles have to make him uncomfortable to have a chance.<h2>Special teams</h2>Eagles kicker Jake Elliott has been shaky this season. He was 28 of 36 in the regular season, making just 1 of 7 field goals from beyond 50 yards. He’s 6 for 7 on field goals in the playoffs but has missed three extra points.Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker hit the game-winning field goal against the Eagles two years ago in the Super Bowl and hit a tying field goal to force overtime last year. He was 21 of 25 on field goals in the regular season and missed two extra points. He is 9 for 9 on kicks in the playoffs.The Eagles averaged 9.2 yards on punt returns and 26.5 on kick returns.The Chiefs averaged 9.9 yards on punt returns and 27.1 on kick returns.<h2>Coaching</h2>Sirianni was thought to be coaching for his job this season and the fickle folks in Philly were calling for him to be fired at 2-2. But he just keeps winning. He has the fifth-best winning percentage in NFL history and is the only coach in franchise history to reach the Super Bowl twice.Reid will be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame after he retires. He already has three Super Bowl rings and is the winningest coach in the history of the Chiefs and Eagles.<h2>Intangibles</h2>The Eagles came close two years ago and know anything less than winning a Lombardi trophy won’t be considered a success in Philadelphia. They’re not satisfied with getting here.