🎧🏀 K-State men win big; 🏈 Chiefs without Morris for remainder of season

The Kansas Football Coaches Association released its all-state teams Monday, with several area student-athletes earning statewide recognition.

Sterling High School running back Zane Farney, who helped lead the Black Bears to the Class 1A state championship, was selected to both the KFBCA All-State All-Class Team and the Class 1A All-State Team.

The KFBCA’s all-state lists, released online Monday, include seniors only and feature athletes from the association’s 11-man member programs.&nbsp;

Sterling head coach Brent Schneider was named the 1A Coach of the Year, while assistant Jaret Wohler earned 1A Assistant Coach of the Year honors.

Farney was joined on the 1A All-State Seniors Team by three Sterling teammates: offensive lineman Kevin Ploutz and defensive back Wyatt Newberry.

Trinity Catholic placed four players on the Class 1A list: wide receiver Kaid McElgunn, tight end Bentyn Chastain, defensive lineman Isaac Hammersmith and defensive back Drew Dechant.

Two Inman standouts, linebacker Dylan Larson and defensive lineman Cooper Wiens, were also selected to the 1A team.

In Class 4A, Buhler High School had two honorees: running back Ben Clouse and defensive back Jacob Miller.


Hutchinson High School linebacker Jackson Anderson represented the Salthawks on the Class 5A All-State Seniors Team.

Halstead kicker/punter Carlos Martinez earned a spot on the Class 2A All-State Team.&nbsp;

Hesston rounded out the area honorees with two selections: defensive lineman Ethan Coutre and punter/kicker Ethan Schrag.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701954911963.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Football Coaches Association released its all-state teams Monday, with several area student-athletes earning statewide recognition.Sterling High School running back Zane Farney, who helped lead the Black Bears to the Class 1A state championship, was selected to both the KFBCA All-State All-Class Team and the Class 1A All-State Team.The KFBCA’s all-state lists, released online Monday, include seniors only and feature athletes from the association’s 11-man member programs.&nbsp;Sterling head coach Brent Schneider was named the 1A Coach of the Year, while assistant Jaret Wohler earned 1A Assistant Coach of the Year honors.Farney was joined on the 1A All-State Seniors Team by three Sterling teammates: offensive lineman Kevin Ploutz and defensive back Wyatt Newberry.Trinity Catholic placed four players on the Class 1A list: wide receiver Kaid McElgunn, tight end Bentyn Chastain, defensive lineman Isaac Hammersmith and defensive back Drew Dechant.Two Inman standouts, linebacker Dylan Larson and defensive lineman Cooper Wiens, were also selected to the 1A team.In Class 4A, Buhler High School had two honorees: running back Ben Clouse and defensive back Jacob Miller.
Hutchinson High School linebacker Jackson Anderson represented the Salthawks on the Class 5A All-State Seniors Team.Halstead kicker/punter Carlos Martinez earned a spot on the Class 2A All-State Team.&nbsp;Hesston rounded out the area honorees with two selections: defensive lineman Ethan Coutre and punter/kicker Ethan Schrag.<figure>
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🏈 Several area standouts earn spots on KFBCA all-state football teams

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — P.J. Haggerty sank five of Kansas State's 19 3-pointers and scored 28, leading the Wildcats to a 108-49 romp over Mississippi Valley State on Monday night to snap a four-game losing streak.

Haggerty made 11 of 14 shots with just one miss from beyond the arc for the Wildcats (6-4), who improved to 5-2 at home.

David Castillo came off the bench to hit 5 of 8 from 3-point range, scoring 19 for K-State. Abdi Bashir Jr. scored 15 on 5-for-10 shooting from distance as the Wildcats hot 53% from outside the arc. Nate Johnson had two 3s and scored 14, adding six assists and five steals.

Haggerty scored seven in a game-opening 25-9 run by K-State. He had 15 points by halftime as the Wildcats opened up a 55-21 lead.

K-State shot just under 60% from the floor in the first half. The Wildcats made 6 of 13 from distance and 11 of 14 free throws. Mississippi Valley State missed 25 of 31 shots, including all six of its 3-pointers.

Haggerty and Castillo missed one shot each in the second half, combining for 25 of the Wildcats' 53 points after the break.

Michael James scored 23 to lead the Delta Devils (1-9), who are 0-7 on the road and have lost eight straight.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765279466746.jpeg" alt="Kansas State guard P.J. Haggerty (4)&nbsp; passes to Elias Rapieque (0) during the first half of their game against Mississippi Valley State on Monday, December 8, 2025 in Manhattan, Kan. (Kansas State Athletics photo)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas State guard P.J. Haggerty (4)&nbsp; passes to Elias Rapieque (0) during the first half of their game against Mississippi Valley State on Monday, December 8, 2025 in Manhattan, Kan. (Kansas State Athletics photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — P.J. Haggerty sank five of Kansas State's 19 3-pointers and scored 28, leading the Wildcats to a 108-49 romp over Mississippi Valley State on Monday night to snap a four-game losing streak.Haggerty made 11 of 14 shots with just one miss from beyond the arc for the Wildcats (6-4), who improved to 5-2 at home.David Castillo came off the bench to hit 5 of 8 from 3-point range, scoring 19 for K-State. Abdi Bashir Jr. scored 15 on 5-for-10 shooting from distance as the Wildcats hot 53% from outside the arc. Nate Johnson had two 3s and scored 14, adding six assists and five steals.Haggerty scored seven in a game-opening 25-9 run by K-State. He had 15 points by halftime as the Wildcats opened up a 55-21 lead.K-State shot just under 60% from the floor in the first half. The Wildcats made 6 of 13 from distance and 11 of 14 free throws. Mississippi Valley State missed 25 of 31 shots, including all six of its 3-pointers.Haggerty and Castillo missed one shot each in the second half, combining for 25 of the Wildcats' 53 points after the break.Michael James scored 23 to lead the Delta Devils (1-9), who are 0-7 on the road and have lost eight straight.<h2>Up next</h2>Kansas: At Creighton on Saturday.

🏀 Haggerty scores 28 as K-State rolls past Mississippi Valley State

South Carolina State vs. Prairie View A&amp;M, noon (ABC)

Troy vs. Jacksonville State, 9 p.m. (ESPN)

Old Dominion vs. South Florida, 5 p.m. (ESPN)

Arkansas State vs. Missouri State, 9 p.m. (ESPN2)

Kennesaw State vs. Western Michigan, 11 a.m. (ESPN)

No. 11 Alabama (10-3) at No. 8 Oklahoma (10-2), 8 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)

No. 10 Miami (Fla.) (10-2) at No. 7 Texas A&amp;M (11-1), noon (ESPN/ABC)

No. 17 Tulane (11-2) at No. 6 Mississippi (11-1), 3:30 p.m. (TNT/HBO Max)

No. 19 James Madison (12-1) at No. 5 Oregon (11-1), 7:30 p.m. (TNT/HBO Max)

Utah St. vs. Washington St., 2 p.m. (ESPN)

Western Kentucky vs. Southern Miss, 5:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Central Michigan vs. Northwestern, 1 p.m. (ESPN)

New Mexico vs. Minnesota, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Pittsburgh vs. East Carolina, 11 a.m. (ESPN)

No. 12 BYU vs. No. 24 Georgia Tech, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

Fresno St. vs. Miami (OH), 4:30 p.m. (CW Network)

No. 23 North Texas vs. San Diego St., 5:45 p.m. (ESPN)

No. 25 Missouri vs. NO. 20 Virginia, 7:30 p.m. (ABC)

Georgia Southern vs. Appalachian State, 2 p.m. (ESPN)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673708512245.jpeg" alt="The Mercedes-Benz stadium is seen after the Peach Bowl NCAA college football semifinal playoff game between Georgia and Ohio State, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Atlanta. Georgia won 42-41. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)" />
 <figcaption>The Mercedes-Benz stadium is seen after the Peach Bowl NCAA college football semifinal playoff game between Georgia and Ohio State, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Atlanta. Georgia won 42-41. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)</figcaption>
 </figure>All Times Eastern<h2>Dec. 13</h2>Celebration BowlAtlantaSouth Carolina State vs. Prairie View A&amp;M, noon (ABC)LA BowlInglewood, Calif.Boise State vs. Washington, 8 p.m. (ABC)<h2>Dec. 16</h2>Salute to Veterans BowlMontgomery, Ala.Troy vs. Jacksonville State, 9 p.m. (ESPN)<h2>Dec. 17</h2>Cure BowlOrlando, Fla.Old Dominion vs. South Florida, 5 p.m. (ESPN)68 Ventures BowlMobile, Ala.Louisiana vs. Delaware, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)<h2>Dec. 18</h2>Xbox BowlFrisco, TexasArkansas State vs. Missouri State, 9 p.m. (ESPN2)<h2>Dec. 19</h2>Myrtle Beach BowlConway, S.C.Kennesaw State vs. Western Michigan, 11 a.m. (ESPN)Gasparilla BowlTampa, Fla.Memphis vs N.C. State, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN)College Football PlayoffFirst RoundNo. 11 Alabama (10-3) at No. 8 Oklahoma (10-2), 8 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)<h2>Dec. 20</h2>College Football PlayoffFirst RoundNo. 10 Miami (Fla.) (10-2) at No. 7 Texas A&amp;M (11-1), noon (ESPN/ABC)No. 17 Tulane (11-2) at No. 6 Mississippi (11-1), 3:30 p.m. (TNT/HBO Max)No. 19 James Madison (12-1) at No. 5 Oregon (11-1), 7:30 p.m. (TNT/HBO Max)<h2>Dec. 22</h2>Famous Idaho Potato BowlBoise, IdahoUtah St. vs. Washington St., 2 p.m. (ESPN)<h2>Dec. 23</h2>Boca Raton BowlBoca Raton, Fla.Louisville vs. Toledo, 2 p.m. (ESPN)New Orleans BowlNew OrleansWestern Kentucky vs. Southern Miss, 5:30 p.m. (ESPN)Frisco BowlFrisco, TexasOhio vs. UNLV, 9 p.m. (ESPN)<h2>Dec. 24</h2>Hawai’i BowlHonoluluCal vs. Hawaii, 8 p.m. (ESPN)<h2>Dec. 26</h2>GameAbove Sports BowlDetroit, Mich.Central Michigan vs. Northwestern, 1 p.m. (ESPN)Rate BowlPhoenixNew Mexico vs. Minnesota, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN)First Responder BowlDallas, TexasFIU vs. UTSA, 8 p.m. (ESPN)<h2>Dec. 27</h2>Military BowlAnnapolis, Md.Pittsburgh vs. East Carolina, 11 a.m. (ESPN)Pinstripe BowlBronx, N.Y.Clemson vs. Penn St., noon (ABC)Fenway BowlBostonUConn vs. Army, 2:15 p.m. (ESPN)Pop-Tarts BowlOrlando, Fla.No. 12 BYU vs. No. 24 Georgia Tech, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)Arizona BowlTucson, Ariz.Fresno St. vs. Miami (OH), 4:30 p.m. (CW Network)New Mexico BowlAlbuquerqueNo. 23 North Texas vs. San Diego St., 5:45 p.m. (ESPN)Gator BowlJacksonville, Fla.No. 25 Missouri vs. NO. 20 Virginia, 7:30 p.m. (ABC)Texas BowlHoustonLSU vs. No. 21 Houston, 9:15 p.m. (ESPN)<h2>Dec. 29</h2>Birmingham BowlBirmingham, Ala.Georgia Southern vs. Appalachian State, 2 p.m. (ESPN)<h2>Dec. 30</h2>Independence BowlShreveport, La.Coastal Carolina vs. Louisiana Tech, 2 p.m. (ESPN)Music City BowlNashville, Tenn.Tennessee vs. Illinois, 5:30 p.m. (ESPN)Alamo BowlSan Antonio, TexasNo. 16 Southern Cal vs. TCU, 9 p.m. (ESPN)<h2>Dec. 31</h2>ReliaQuest BowlTampa, Fla.No. 13 Vanderbilt vs. No. 23 Iowa, noon (ESPN)Sun BowlEl Paso, TexasArizona St. vs. Duke, 2 p.m. (CBS)Citrus BowlOrlando, Fla.No. 14 Texas vs. No. 18 Michigan, 3 p.m. (ABC)Las Vegas BowlLas VegasNo. 15 Utah vs. Nebraska, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)College Football PlayoffQuarterfinalsAt Cotton Bowl, Arlington, TexasMiami/Texas A&amp;M winner at No. 3 Ohio St., 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)<h2>Jan. 1</h2>College Football PlayoffQuarterfinalsAt Orange Bowl, Miami Gardens, Fla.James Madison/Oregon winner at No. 4 Texas Tech, noon (ESPN)At Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif.Alabama/Oklahoma winner at No. 1 Indiana, 4 p.m. (ESPN)At Sugar Bowl, New OrleansTulane/Mississippi winner at No. 2 Georgia, 8 p.m. (ESPN)<h2>Jan. 2</h2>Armed Forces BowlFort Worth, TexasTexas State vs. Rice, 1 p.m. (ESPN)Liberty BowlMemphis, Tenn.No. 22 Navy vs. Cincinnati, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN)Duke’s Mayo BowlCharlotte, N.C.Mississippi St. vs. Wake Forest, 8 p.m. (ESPN)Holiday BowlSan Diego, Calif.No. 21 Arizona vs. SMU, 8 p.m. (FOX)<h2>Jan. 8</h2>College Football PlayoffSemifinalsAt Fiesta Bowl, Glendale, Ariz.TBD, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)<h2>Jan. 9</h2>College Football PlayoffSemifinalsAt Peach Bowl, AtlantaTBD, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)<h2>Jan. 19</h2>College Football PlayoffNational ChampionshipAt MiamiSemifinal winners, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

🏈 College Football Bowl Glance

Women's head coach John Ontjes Freshman KaMyra Barber Men's head coach Kyle Fisher Men's assistant Troy Potts

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762827753353.jpeg" alt=" " />
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 </figure>Show 5 GuestsWomen's head coach John Ontjes Freshman KaMyra Barber Men's head coach Kyle Fisher Men's assistant Troy Potts<div><iframe title="Dragon Talk with John Ontjes & Kyle Fisher (Dec. 8, 2025)" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=m6xjf-19e5e41-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

🎧🏀 Dragon Talk with John Ontjes and Kyle Fisher

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs trailed the Houston Texans 17-10 with just over six minutes remaining Sunday night. They had the ball at their own 35-yard line, and their chances of making the playoffs hinged on what would come next.

For nearly a decade, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs had come through in precisely this kind of dire situation.

Kareem Hunt was bottled up on first and second downs. Mahomes threw incomplete on third. Rather than punt and play defense on fourth down at their own 41, Chiefs coach Andy Reid elected to go for it, and Rashee Rice dropped an easy pass over that middle that would have given Kansas City a first down and kept its comeback hopes alive.

The Texans went on to add a field goal in the final minutes, giving them&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texans-chiefs-score-d31e13c1ad0ebe49c9844ee6c6a243ac">a 20-10 victory</a>&nbsp;inside Arrowhead Stadium.

“We had chances,” Mahomes said afterward, “and we didn't execute it.”

It didn't help that the Chiefs were down to their fourth-string tackle with Josh Simmons on injured reserve, Jawaan Taylor inactive and Wanya Morris hurting his knee on the first play of the game. Or that top cornerback Trent McDuffie also hurt his knee.

But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texans-chiefs-injuries-775ebe979ae3135b65a16b1d11c5cfbe">injuries are a part of the game</a>, however fluky they might be.

Rather the Chiefs lost because of the same things that have troubled them all season: inopportune penalties, dropped passes, failed pass protections and blown coverages. In fact, the Chiefs had at least six dropped passes against Houston, including one by Travis Kelce in the closing minutes, right before Mahomes was picked off for the third time in the game.

“Listen, he's a great player,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said, “but we have to make sure we catch the ball. It's not for lack of effort out there. The ball went through their hands. It happens. But these guys are great players.”

Therein may lie the biggest reason for such disappointment among Kansas City fans this season: The Chiefs do have great players. Arguably just as good, top to bottom, as last year. But they went 15-2 and reached a third straight Super Bowl with that team, and unless they get a whole lot of help, they'll be sitting out the playoffs entirely this season.

“We're 6-7. We have four games left. We can finish the season 10-7 and we can have a shot at the playoffs if the cards fall right,” Kansas City defensive tackle Chris Jones said. “We control how we finish the season. We can finish the season strong.

“God willing,” Jones said, "we can find a way to get into the playoffs.”

The Chiefs defense has been quietly excellent for most of the season. It kept them in the fight against the Texans on Sunday night.

The draft board. It may be time to reassess some of the draft picks made by Chiefs general manager Brett Veach in recent years. The past three classes have been filled with too many misses to help support Kansas City's aging core.

Jones has taken a lot of flack this season for a downturn in production and taking some plays off. But he showed as much fight as anyone against the Texans, bagging one sack, knocking down C.J. Stroud four times and even batting down a pass.

The Chiefs gave backup tight end Noah Gray a three-year, $18 million extension in September 2024, a deal they may regret. He had three targets on Sunday night and dropped two of them, and he has just 17 catches for 146 yard this season.

Morris could be out for awhile, which makes getting Taylor back from his triceps injury important. McDuffie spent the rest of the game standing on the sideline after hyperextending his knee Sunday night, so his injury appears to be less severe.

13 — The Chiefs have their worst record through 13 games since 2012, the year before Reid's arrival, when they started 2-11.

The Chiefs play the Chargers on Sunday. They lost to them 27-21 in the opener on Sept. 5 in Brazil.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765232379361.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce heads off the field following an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce heads off the field following an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports WriterKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs trailed the Houston Texans 17-10 with just over six minutes remaining Sunday night. They had the ball at their own 35-yard line, and their chances of making the playoffs hinged on what would come next.For nearly a decade, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs had come through in precisely this kind of dire situation.This season hasn't been like the rest.Kareem Hunt was bottled up on first and second downs. Mahomes threw incomplete on third. Rather than punt and play defense on fourth down at their own 41, Chiefs coach Andy Reid elected to go for it, and Rashee Rice dropped an easy pass over that middle that would have given Kansas City a first down and kept its comeback hopes alive.The Texans went on to add a field goal in the final minutes, giving them&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texans-chiefs-score-d31e13c1ad0ebe49c9844ee6c6a243ac">a 20-10 victory</a>&nbsp;inside Arrowhead Stadium.“We had chances,” Mahomes said afterward, “and we didn't execute it.”It didn't help that the Chiefs were down to their fourth-string tackle with Josh Simmons on injured reserve, Jawaan Taylor inactive and Wanya Morris hurting his knee on the first play of the game. Or that top cornerback Trent McDuffie also hurt his knee.But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texans-chiefs-injuries-775ebe979ae3135b65a16b1d11c5cfbe">injuries are a part of the game</a>, however fluky they might be.Rather the Chiefs lost because of the same things that have troubled them all season: inopportune penalties, dropped passes, failed pass protections and blown coverages. In fact, the Chiefs had at least six dropped passes against Houston, including one by Travis Kelce in the closing minutes, right before Mahomes was picked off for the third time in the game.“Listen, he's a great player,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said, “but we have to make sure we catch the ball. It's not for lack of effort out there. The ball went through their hands. It happens. But these guys are great players.”Therein may lie the biggest reason for such disappointment among Kansas City fans this season: The Chiefs do have great players. Arguably just as good, top to bottom, as last year. But they went 15-2 and reached a third straight Super Bowl with that team, and unless they get a whole lot of help, they'll be sitting out the playoffs entirely this season.“We're 6-7. We have four games left. We can finish the season 10-7 and we can have a shot at the playoffs if the cards fall right,” Kansas City defensive tackle Chris Jones said. “We control how we finish the season. We can finish the season strong.“God willing,” Jones said, "we can find a way to get into the playoffs.”<h2>What’s working</h2>The Chiefs defense has been quietly excellent for most of the season. It kept them in the fight against the Texans on Sunday night.<h2>What needs help</h2>The draft board. It may be time to reassess some of the draft picks made by Chiefs general manager Brett Veach in recent years. The past three classes have been filled with too many misses to help support Kansas City's aging core.<h2>Stock up</h2>Jones has taken a lot of flack this season for a downturn in production and taking some plays off. But he showed as much fight as anyone against the Texans, bagging one sack, knocking down C.J. Stroud four times and even batting down a pass.<h2>Stock down</h2>The Chiefs gave backup tight end Noah Gray a three-year, $18 million extension in September 2024, a deal they may regret. He had three targets on Sunday night and dropped two of them, and he has just 17 catches for 146 yard this season.<h2>Injuries</h2>Morris could be out for awhile, which makes getting Taylor back from his triceps injury important. McDuffie spent the rest of the game standing on the sideline after hyperextending his knee Sunday night, so his injury appears to be less severe.<h2>Key numbers</h2>13 — The Chiefs have their worst record through 13 games since 2012, the year before Reid's arrival, when they started 2-11.<h2>What’s next</h2>The Chiefs play the Chargers on Sunday. They lost to them 27-21 in the opener on Sept. 5 in Brazil.

🏈 Chiefs' playoff hopes dim after 20-10 loss to Texans

1. Arizona (8-0) — 1,461 points (33 first-place votes)
Last week: 1 | This week: def. Auburn 97–68

2. Michigan (8-0) — 1,440 (19)
Last week: 2 | def. Rutgers 101–60

3. Duke (10-0) — 1,400 (7)
Last week: 3 | def. Michigan State 66–60

4. Iowa State (9-0) — 1,304 (1)
Last week: 10 | def. Purdue 81–58

5. UConn (8-1) — 1,263
Last week: 5 | def. East Texas A&amp;M 83–59

6. Purdue (8-1) — 1,173
Last week: 1 | lost to Iowa State 81–58

7. Houston (8-1) — 1,064
Last week: 8 | def. Florida State 82–67

8. Gonzaga (9-1) — 1,054
Last week: 11 | def. North Florida 109–58

9. Michigan State (8-1) — 1,017
Last week: 7 | lost to Duke 66–60

10. BYU (7-1) — 1,007
Last week: 9 | def. California Baptist 91–60

11. Louisville (8-1) — 877
Last week: 6 | def. Indiana 87–78

12. Alabama (7-2) — 854
Last week: 12 | def. UTSA 97–55

13. Illinois (7-2) — 771
Last week: 14 | def. Tennessee 75–62

14. North Carolina (8-1) — 724
Last week: 16 | def. Georgetown 81–61

15. Vanderbilt (9-0) — 686
Last week: 17 | def. SMU 88–69

16. Texas Tech (7-2) — 508
Last week: 19 | def. LSU 82–58

17. Arkansas (7-2) — 488
Last week: 25 | def. Fresno State 82–58

18. Florida (5-3) — 422
Last week: 15 | lost at Duke 67–66

19. Kansas (7-3) — 380
Last week: 21 | def. Missouri 80–60

20. Tennessee (7-3) — 286
Last week: 13 | lost to Illinois 75–62

21. Auburn (7-3) — 264
Last week: 20 | lost at Arizona 97–68

22. St. John’s (5-3) — 254
Last week: 23 | def. Ole Miss 63–58

23. Nebraska (9-0) — 180
Last week: 24 | def. Creighton 71–50

24. Virginia (8-1) — 130
Last week: 25 | def. Dayton 86–73

25. UCLA (7-2) — 79
Last week: 25 | def. Oregon 74–63

Iowa 60; Oklahoma State 54; USC 50; Georgia 49; Saint Mary’s 38; Seton Hall 31; Kentucky 29; Wisconsin 24; Indiana 18; Clemson 14; LSU 14; Villanova 9; California 6; Notre Dame 4; Miami 4; SMU 3; TCU 2; Arizona State 2; Miami (Ohio) 2; St. Bonaventure 1.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739821509395.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>AP Top 25 — Week 6</h2>1. Arizona (8-0) — 1,461 points (33 first-place votes)
Last week: 1 | This week: def. Auburn 97–682. Michigan (8-0) — 1,440 (19)
Last week: 2 | def. Rutgers 101–603. Duke (10-0) — 1,400 (7)
Last week: 3 | def. Michigan State 66–604. Iowa State (9-0) — 1,304 (1)
Last week: 10 | def. Purdue 81–585. UConn (8-1) — 1,263
Last week: 5 | def. East Texas A&amp;M 83–596. Purdue (8-1) — 1,173
Last week: 1 | lost to Iowa State 81–587. Houston (8-1) — 1,064
Last week: 8 | def. Florida State 82–678. Gonzaga (9-1) — 1,054
Last week: 11 | def. North Florida 109–589. Michigan State (8-1) — 1,017
Last week: 7 | lost to Duke 66–6010. BYU (7-1) — 1,007
Last week: 9 | def. California Baptist 91–6011. Louisville (8-1) — 877
Last week: 6 | def. Indiana 87–7812. Alabama (7-2) — 854
Last week: 12 | def. UTSA 97–5513. Illinois (7-2) — 771
Last week: 14 | def. Tennessee 75–6214. North Carolina (8-1) — 724
Last week: 16 | def. Georgetown 81–6115. Vanderbilt (9-0) — 686
Last week: 17 | def. SMU 88–6916. Texas Tech (7-2) — 508
Last week: 19 | def. LSU 82–5817. Arkansas (7-2) — 488
Last week: 25 | def. Fresno State 82–5818. Florida (5-3) — 422
Last week: 15 | lost at Duke 67–6619. Kansas (7-3) — 380
Last week: 21 | def. Missouri 80–6020. Tennessee (7-3) — 286
Last week: 13 | lost to Illinois 75–6221. Auburn (7-3) — 264
Last week: 20 | lost at Arizona 97–6822. St. John’s (5-3) — 254
Last week: 23 | def. Ole Miss 63–5823. Nebraska (9-0) — 180
Last week: 24 | def. Creighton 71–5024. Virginia (8-1) — 130
Last week: 25 | def. Dayton 86–7325. UCLA (7-2) — 79
Last week: 25 | def. Oregon 74–63<h2>Others Receiving Votes</h2>Iowa 60; Oklahoma State 54; USC 50; Georgia 49; Saint Mary’s 38; Seton Hall 31; Kentucky 29; Wisconsin 24; Indiana 18; Clemson 14; LSU 14; Villanova 9; California 6; Notre Dame 4; Miami 4; SMU 3; TCU 2; Arizona State 2; Miami (Ohio) 2; St. Bonaventure 1.

🏀 KU up to No. 19 in AP Top 25

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The Kansas City Royals have announced that 2026 Royals Hall of Fame voting begins today. The online portion of this year’s vote will remain open to fans through Monday, Dec. 22 at 11:59 p.m. CT at&nbsp;[www.royals.com/hofvote]www.royals.com/hofvote.

The Royals Hall of Fame voting process includes two phases. The yearly Regular Phase vote, which focuses on eligible former players and managers, and the Veterans Committee, which is at the discretion of the Royals Hall of Fame Executive Board and considers both non-field personnel and alumni who have previously received Royals Hall of Fame (Regular Phase) votes but are no longer eligible for election in that manner.

To be eligible for the first time, Royals alumni must have been active with the team for at least three seasons and accumulated a minimum of 1,500 plate appearances or 300.0 innings pitched or managed the equivalent of three full seasons. Eligible alumni shall have ceased to be an active on-field member of the Royals (or for any other Major League organization) in the role for which they are being considered for at least three calendar years preceding the election.

The 2026 vote includes three first-time eligible Royals alumni and six that return after receiving at least 10% of the vote in 2025 cycle. Returning eligible alumni on the 2026 Royals Hall of Fame ballot are (in alphabetical order): outfielder&nbsp;Carlos Beltran&nbsp;(1998-2004), first baseman/designated hitter&nbsp;Billy Butler&nbsp;(2007-2014), pitcher&nbsp;Wade Davis&nbsp;(2013-2016; 2021), pitcher&nbsp;Kelvin Herrera&nbsp;(2011-2018), pitcher&nbsp;Joakim Soria&nbsp;(2007-2011; 2016-2017) and pitcher&nbsp;Yordano Ventura&nbsp;(2013-2016). They are joined by outfielder&nbsp;Lorenzo Cain&nbsp;(2011-2017), shortstop&nbsp;Alcides Escobar&nbsp;(2011-2018) and pitcher&nbsp;Greg Holland&nbsp;(2010-2015; 2020-2021), who are newly eligible and making their initial appearance on the ballot.

Fans will be joined by other voters, including all living members of the Royals Hall of Fame and the members of the Royals Hall of Fame Executive Board, select members of the Kansas City Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America, Kansas City media representatives and current Royals front office staff with 15 years of service or more, in selecting any Royals Hall of Fame inductees. The online fan ballot will account for three full votes for each of the top five vote getters. Any candidate receiving 75% of the vote will be elected and scheduled for induction during the 2026 Royals season.&nbsp; Eligible alumni that receive at least 10% of the vote can remain on the ballot for five regular phase election cycles.

The Royals Hall of Fame was established in 1986 to celebrate the accomplishments of those players, coaches and other personnel who have made exceptional contributions to Kansas City Royals baseball.

The first inductees were outfielder&nbsp;Amos Otis&nbsp;and pitcher&nbsp;Steve Busby. They have been joined by pitcher&nbsp;Paul Splittorff, second baseman&nbsp;Cookie Rojas, Manager&nbsp;Dick Howser, pitcher&nbsp;Dennis Leonard, designated hitter&nbsp;Hal McRae, shortstop&nbsp;Fred Patek, Club President&nbsp;Joe Burke, pitcher&nbsp;Larry Gura, Royals founders&nbsp;Ewing&nbsp;and&nbsp;Muriel Kauffman, third baseman&nbsp;George Brett, second baseman&nbsp;Frank White, first baseman&nbsp;John Mayberry, pitcher&nbsp;Dan Quisenberry, Manager&nbsp;Whitey Herzog, center fielder&nbsp;Willie Wilson, pitcher&nbsp;Jeff Montgomery, broadcaster&nbsp;Denny Matthews, pitcher&nbsp;Bret Saberhagen, pitcher&nbsp;Mark Gubicza, scout&nbsp;Art Stewart, pitcher&nbsp;Kevin Appier, Groundskeeper&nbsp;George Toma, first baseman&nbsp;Mike Sweeney, Manager&nbsp;Ned Yost, General Manager&nbsp;Cedric Tallis, General Manager&nbsp;John Schuerholz, outfielder&nbsp;Bo Jackson&nbsp;and outfielder&nbsp;Alex Gordon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757384001940.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas City RoyalsKANSAS CITY, Mo.—The Kansas City Royals have announced that 2026 Royals Hall of Fame voting begins today. The online portion of this year’s vote will remain open to fans through Monday, Dec. 22 at 11:59 p.m. CT at&nbsp;[www.royals.com/hofvote]www.royals.com/hofvote.The Royals Hall of Fame voting process includes two phases. The yearly Regular Phase vote, which focuses on eligible former players and managers, and the Veterans Committee, which is at the discretion of the Royals Hall of Fame Executive Board and considers both non-field personnel and alumni who have previously received Royals Hall of Fame (Regular Phase) votes but are no longer eligible for election in that manner.To be eligible for the first time, Royals alumni must have been active with the team for at least three seasons and accumulated a minimum of 1,500 plate appearances or 300.0 innings pitched or managed the equivalent of three full seasons. Eligible alumni shall have ceased to be an active on-field member of the Royals (or for any other Major League organization) in the role for which they are being considered for at least three calendar years preceding the election.The 2026 vote includes three first-time eligible Royals alumni and six that return after receiving at least 10% of the vote in 2025 cycle. Returning eligible alumni on the 2026 Royals Hall of Fame ballot are (in alphabetical order): outfielder&nbsp;Carlos Beltran&nbsp;(1998-2004), first baseman/designated hitter&nbsp;Billy Butler&nbsp;(2007-2014), pitcher&nbsp;Wade Davis&nbsp;(2013-2016; 2021), pitcher&nbsp;Kelvin Herrera&nbsp;(2011-2018), pitcher&nbsp;Joakim Soria&nbsp;(2007-2011; 2016-2017) and pitcher&nbsp;Yordano Ventura&nbsp;(2013-2016). They are joined by outfielder&nbsp;Lorenzo Cain&nbsp;(2011-2017), shortstop&nbsp;Alcides Escobar&nbsp;(2011-2018) and pitcher&nbsp;Greg Holland&nbsp;(2010-2015; 2020-2021), who are newly eligible and making their initial appearance on the ballot.Fans will be joined by other voters, including all living members of the Royals Hall of Fame and the members of the Royals Hall of Fame Executive Board, select members of the Kansas City Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America, Kansas City media representatives and current Royals front office staff with 15 years of service or more, in selecting any Royals Hall of Fame inductees. The online fan ballot will account for three full votes for each of the top five vote getters. Any candidate receiving 75% of the vote will be elected and scheduled for induction during the 2026 Royals season.&nbsp; Eligible alumni that receive at least 10% of the vote can remain on the ballot for five regular phase election cycles.The Royals Hall of Fame was established in 1986 to celebrate the accomplishments of those players, coaches and other personnel who have made exceptional contributions to Kansas City Royals baseball.The first inductees were outfielder&nbsp;Amos Otis&nbsp;and pitcher&nbsp;Steve Busby. They have been joined by pitcher&nbsp;Paul Splittorff, second baseman&nbsp;Cookie Rojas, Manager&nbsp;Dick Howser, pitcher&nbsp;Dennis Leonard, designated hitter&nbsp;Hal McRae, shortstop&nbsp;Fred Patek, Club President&nbsp;Joe Burke, pitcher&nbsp;Larry Gura, Royals founders&nbsp;Ewing&nbsp;and&nbsp;Muriel Kauffman, third baseman&nbsp;George Brett, second baseman&nbsp;Frank White, first baseman&nbsp;John Mayberry, pitcher&nbsp;Dan Quisenberry, Manager&nbsp;Whitey Herzog, center fielder&nbsp;Willie Wilson, pitcher&nbsp;Jeff Montgomery, broadcaster&nbsp;Denny Matthews, pitcher&nbsp;Bret Saberhagen, pitcher&nbsp;Mark Gubicza, scout&nbsp;Art Stewart, pitcher&nbsp;Kevin Appier, Groundskeeper&nbsp;George Toma, first baseman&nbsp;Mike Sweeney, Manager&nbsp;Ned Yost, General Manager&nbsp;Cedric Tallis, General Manager&nbsp;John Schuerholz, outfielder&nbsp;Bo Jackson&nbsp;and outfielder&nbsp;Alex Gordon.

⚾ Royals open 2026 Hall of Fame balloting

🎧🏈 Texans beat Chiefs, HCC wins over Northwest Mississippi 🏀 KU downs Mizzou in Border War

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/ce/index.cfm?stationCallSign=KHMY2">HERE</a>&nbsp;to listen to KHMY-FM (93.1)

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://streamdb5web.securenetsystems.net/v5/KHUT">HERE</a>&nbsp;to listen to KHUT-FM (102.9)

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/KWBW">HERE</a>&nbsp;to listen to KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5)

Dragon Talk with John Ontjes &amp; Kyle Fisher, 6-7 p.m. (KWBW) K-State MBB vs. Mississippi Valley State, 6 p.m. pregame, 7 p.m. tipoff (KHMY) Chiefs Kingdom Show, 7-8 p.m. (KWBW)

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

HutchCC WBB/MBB at Dodge City, 5:15 p.m. pregame, 5:30 p.m. tipoff (KHUT, KWBW)

Hutch High GBB/BBB vs. Buhler, 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 Creighton, 1 p.m. pregame, 2 p.m. tipoff (KHMY)

Chiefs vs. Chargers, 11 a.m. pregame, noon kickoff (KWBW)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725282945901.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Click&nbsp;<a href="https://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/ce/index.cfm?stationCallSign=KHMY2">HERE</a>&nbsp;to listen to KHMY-FM (93.1)Click&nbsp;<a href="https://streamdb5web.securenetsystems.net/v5/KHUT">HERE</a>&nbsp;to listen to KHUT-FM (102.9)Click&nbsp;<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/KWBW">HERE</a>&nbsp;to listen to KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5)<h2>Monday, Dec. 8</h2>Dragon Talk with John Ontjes &amp; Kyle Fisher, 6-7 p.m. (KWBW) K-State MBB vs. Mississippi Valley State, 6 p.m. pregame, 7 p.m. tipoff (KHMY) Chiefs Kingdom Show, 7-8 p.m. (KWBW)<h2>Tuesday, Dec. 9</h2>Hutch High GBB/BBB at Maize, 5:45 p.m. pregame, 6 p.m. tipoff (KWBW)<h2>Wednesday, Dec. 10</h2>HutchCC WBB/MBB at Dodge City, 5:15 p.m. pregame, 5:30 p.m. tipoff (KHUT, KWBW) <h2>Thursday, Dec. 11</h2>Jerome Tang Show, 7-8 p.m. (KHMY)<h2>Friday, Dec. 12</h2>Hutch High GBB/BBB vs. Buhler, 5:45 p.m. pregame, 6 p.m. tipoff (KWBW)<h2>Saturday, Dec. 13</h2>HutchCC WBB/MBB vs. Cloud County, 1:45 p.m. pregame, 2 p.m. tipoff (KHUT, KWBW) K-State MBB at Creighton, 1 p.m. pregame, 2 p.m. tipoff (KHMY) <h2>Sunday, Dec. 14</h2>Chiefs vs. Chargers, 11 a.m. pregame, noon kickoff (KWBW)

Eagle Media sports broadcast schedule for Dec. 8-Dec. 14

Nobody paying attention over the past 24 months would be surprised to see Indiana leading the way into this year’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/top-25-college-football-poll-12-7-2025">College Football Playoff</a>.

But anyone paying attention over the last 24 hours knew the only sure thing beyond the Hoosiers was that the playoff selection committee was destined to get picked apart when it released the pairings for this season’s 12-team bracket on Sunday.

Most of that second-guessing came&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/notre-dame-cfp-snub-0162b8f4affc23370e3e191dd57bf4a1">from Notre Dame</a>, which was passed over in favor of Alabama and Miami for two of the bracket’s bubble spots. The Fighting Irish dropped two notches in the CFP rankings over the last two weeks, to No. 11, despite a 10-game winning streak, winning their finale by 29 points and simply sitting on the couch Saturday.

“There is no explanation that could possibly be given to explain the outcome,” Irish athletic director Pete Bevacqua told Yahoo Sports, hours after the bracket was revealed and Notre Dame said it would skip bowl season altogether. “We feel like the playoff was stolen from our student-athletes.”

Notre Dame’s loss was Alabama’s gain. The Crimson Tide didn’t move an inch the CFP rankings despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-alabama-score-sec-championship-8cc6ebeb21c7921d3bfc70c987c99604">a 28-7 loss</a>&nbsp;to No. 3 Georgia that looked worse than that.

No. 10 Miami didn’t play, either, but the Hurricanes’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/notre-dame-miami-football-score-f63f2d411e1a1f4c1ada7c0910d1de87">27-24 win over Notre Dame in Week 1</a>&nbsp;played a role once the teams were grouped right next to each other after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/big-12-championship-byu-texas-tech-score-9db2ebbf007f8ce637f636d7467d5582">BYU lost its game</a>&nbsp;on Saturday and dropped one spot.

“Everyone can spin the metrics in favor of the team or teams they support,” committee chairman Hunter Yurachek said. “You’re always going to have controversy. That’s why we debated for so long, 9, 10 and 11, into the early-morning hours, and woke up at sunrise to do the same thing — make sure we got it right.”

The committee’s other key decision was choosing James Madison over Duke for the final spot. The selection left the Atlantic Coast Conference champion out of the mix, but didn’t fully exclude the ACC because Miami made it.

The rest of the field includes No. 2 seed Ohio State, No. 3 Georgia and No. 4 Texas Tech, all of which joined Indiana in getting first-round byes.

The Hoosiers moved up to No. 1 with their 13-10 win over the Buckeyes on Saturday — their first Big Ten title since 1967 — and the teams’ 1-2 positioning sets up a possible rematch in the national title game Jan. 19.

Then it was No. 5 seed Oregon, followed by Mississippi, Texas A&amp;M, Oklahoma, Alabama, Miami, American champion Tulane and James Madison of the Sun Belt.

The playoffs start Dec. 19 with No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma. On Dec. 20, it’s No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&amp;M, No. 11 Tulane at No. 6 Ole Miss and No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon.

The winners move to the quarterfinals, which will feature Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve, then Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl, Indiana in the Rose Bowl and Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.

It was a particularly costly and painful snub for the Fighting Irish.

They lost their first two games of the season — one to Miami, the other to Texas A&amp;M — by a combined four points. They did not play a tough schedule the rest of the way; it was ranked 44th, compared to sixth for Alabama but 45th for Miami. But the Irish won all those games easily.

It also hurts the pocketbook. Where conferences split $4 million for each team they place into the first round, Notre Dame — as an independent — would have banked the full amount for itself.

Yurachek said the committee had not previously considered Miami’s Aug. 31 win over Notre Dame because there were always other teams in the mix, namely Alabama and BYU. But when BYU lost, the Irish and Hurricanes ended up right next to each other, which made that Miami win more important. Yurachek directed the committee to go back and rewatch it.

“Really, how Miami’s defense dominated Notre Dame’s running game, where for the rest of the season, their running game dominated most of the teams they played,” Yurachek said when asked what the committee saw in that game.

Alabama (10-3) is in despite three losses. Those who believe the Tide deserve it will look at these factors:

— An eight-game winning streak after a shocking 14-point, season-opening loss to Florida State that included a 24-21 victory at Georgia for a season split while, for instance, BYU lost both its games against Texas Tech.

— Ignoring the above, there was the “you can’t lose ground for playing in the title game” argument. Last year, Alabama had three losses and was passed over for SMU, which was coming off a loss in the ACC title game. Using the same logic, someone other than the Tide needed to go this time.

Duke tried to make a compelling argument that its seven wins over Power Four teams, including the victory over Virginia in the ACC title game, made it more deserving than James Madison for that fifth and final automatic spot for conference champs.

But the Blue Devils had five losses. And Virginia was ranked four (now nine) spots lower than Miami, the ACC’s best team by many measurements.

James Madison’s playoff game against a mega-team from a mega-conference — Oregon — will suss out whether teams like that should be playing for the title.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734704373519.jpeg" alt="FILE - The trophy is displayed during media day ahead of the national championship NCAA College Football Playoff game between Washington and Michigan Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - The trophy is displayed during media day ahead of the national championship NCAA College Football Playoff game between Washington and Michigan Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>Associated PressNobody paying attention over the past 24 months would be surprised to see Indiana leading the way into this year’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/top-25-college-football-poll-12-7-2025">College Football Playoff</a>.But anyone paying attention over the last 24 hours knew the only sure thing beyond the Hoosiers was that the playoff selection committee was destined to get picked apart when it released the pairings for this season’s 12-team bracket on Sunday.Most of that second-guessing came&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/notre-dame-cfp-snub-0162b8f4affc23370e3e191dd57bf4a1">from Notre Dame</a>, which was passed over in favor of Alabama and Miami for two of the bracket’s bubble spots. The Fighting Irish dropped two notches in the CFP rankings over the last two weeks, to No. 11, despite a 10-game winning streak, winning their finale by 29 points and simply sitting on the couch Saturday.“There is no explanation that could possibly be given to explain the outcome,” Irish athletic director Pete Bevacqua told Yahoo Sports, hours after the bracket was revealed and Notre Dame said it would skip bowl season altogether. “We feel like the playoff was stolen from our student-athletes.”Notre Dame’s loss was Alabama’s gain. The Crimson Tide didn’t move an inch the CFP rankings despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-alabama-score-sec-championship-8cc6ebeb21c7921d3bfc70c987c99604">a 28-7 loss</a>&nbsp;to No. 3 Georgia that looked worse than that.No. 10 Miami didn’t play, either, but the Hurricanes’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/notre-dame-miami-football-score-f63f2d411e1a1f4c1ada7c0910d1de87">27-24 win over Notre Dame in Week 1</a>&nbsp;played a role once the teams were grouped right next to each other after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/big-12-championship-byu-texas-tech-score-9db2ebbf007f8ce637f636d7467d5582">BYU lost its game</a>&nbsp;on Saturday and dropped one spot.“Everyone can spin the metrics in favor of the team or teams they support,” committee chairman Hunter Yurachek said. “You’re always going to have controversy. That’s why we debated for so long, 9, 10 and 11, into the early-morning hours, and woke up at sunrise to do the same thing — make sure we got it right.”The committee’s other key decision was choosing James Madison over Duke for the final spot. The selection left the Atlantic Coast Conference champion out of the mix, but didn’t fully exclude the ACC because Miami made it.The rest of the field includes No. 2 seed Ohio State, No. 3 Georgia and No. 4 Texas Tech, all of which joined Indiana in getting first-round byes.The Hoosiers moved up to No. 1 with their 13-10 win over the Buckeyes on Saturday — their first Big Ten title since 1967 — and the teams’ 1-2 positioning sets up a possible rematch in the national title game Jan. 19.Then it was No. 5 seed Oregon, followed by Mississippi, Texas A&amp;M, Oklahoma, Alabama, Miami, American champion Tulane and James Madison of the Sun Belt.The playoffs start Dec. 19 with No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma. On Dec. 20, it’s No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&amp;M, No. 11 Tulane at No. 6 Ole Miss and No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon.The winners move to the quarterfinals, which will feature Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve, then Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl, Indiana in the Rose Bowl and Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.<h2>A costly miss for Notre Dame</h2>It was a particularly costly and painful snub for the Fighting Irish.They lost their first two games of the season — one to Miami, the other to Texas A&amp;M — by a combined four points. They did not play a tough schedule the rest of the way; it was ranked 44th, compared to sixth for Alabama but 45th for Miami. But the Irish won all those games easily.It also hurts the pocketbook. Where conferences split $4 million for each team they place into the first round, Notre Dame — as an independent — would have banked the full amount for itself.Yurachek said the committee had not previously considered Miami’s Aug. 31 win over Notre Dame because there were always other teams in the mix, namely Alabama and BYU. But when BYU lost, the Irish and Hurricanes ended up right next to each other, which made that Miami win more important. Yurachek directed the committee to go back and rewatch it.“Really, how Miami’s defense dominated Notre Dame’s running game, where for the rest of the season, their running game dominated most of the teams they played,” Yurachek said when asked what the committee saw in that game.<h2>Alabama back in after snub last year</h2>Alabama (10-3) is in despite three losses. Those who believe the Tide deserve it will look at these factors:— An eight-game winning streak after a shocking 14-point, season-opening loss to Florida State that included a 24-21 victory at Georgia for a season split while, for instance, BYU lost both its games against Texas Tech.— Ignoring the above, there was the “you can’t lose ground for playing in the title game” argument. Last year, Alabama had three losses and was passed over for SMU, which was coming off a loss in the ACC title game. Using the same logic, someone other than the Tide needed to go this time.<h2>Duke’s argument falls on deaf ears</h2>Duke tried to make a compelling argument that its seven wins over Power Four teams, including the victory over Virginia in the ACC title game, made it more deserving than James Madison for that fifth and final automatic spot for conference champs.But the Blue Devils had five losses. And Virginia was ranked four (now nine) spots lower than Miami, the ACC’s best team by many measurements.James Madison’s playoff game against a mega-team from a mega-conference — Oregon — will suss out whether teams like that should be playing for the title.

🏈 Indiana grabs top seed in College Football Playoff. Alabama and Miami make it, Notre Dame left out

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Houston Texans never made their trip to Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday night into anything more than their next game.

Didn't matter that the Kansas City Chiefs had been the AFC's bully for the better part of a decade. Or the Chiefs had knocked Houston out of the playoffs last year. Or that the Texans needed to win to keep pace with Jacksonville in the AFC South.

“It was our next game,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We needed to come out and execute. Play good football. And we did.”

C.J Stroud threw for 203 yards and a touchdown, the Texans leaned on the NFL's top-ranked defense to shut down Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, and Houston walked out with a 20-10 victory that gave a big boost to their postseason hopes.

Nico Collins contributed four catches for 121 yards, and Dare Ogunbowale added a go-ahead touchdown run in the fourth quarter, as the Texans (8-5) won their fifth straight overall and remained a game back of the Jaguars in a tight division race.

“We did what we came to do,” Ryans said. “It was just about accomplishing your mission. It wasn't anything extra on top for winning this game. We just knew we had to get the win no matter what it took.”

Mahomes, operating behind an ailing offensive line, was 14 of 33 for 160 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions. The last of the picks came late in the fourth quarter, when Kansas City was trailing by a touchdown and trying to get the game to overtime.

“I thought our defense did a great job sticking in coverage, and relentlessly rushing," Stroud said. "An amazing job.”

While the win gave a big boost to Houston's playoff chances, whether it be a division title or wild-card spot, it dealt a crippling blow to the defending AFC champs. Kansas City dropped to 6-7, its worst record through 13 games since a 2-11 start to the 2012 season.

“You're getting late in the season. You're not going to get these opportunities back,” Mahomes said. “That's a good football team, but we had chances and we didn't execute at the right time to win it.”

The Chiefs had won five straight against the Texans, including that divisional playoff matchup last January on their way to another Super Bowl appearance. But they were two different teams entirely when they returned for the rematch Sunday night.

The streaking Texans were trying to keep their momentum going, and perhaps join a rare club of teams that includes Houston's 2018 version that started 0-3 and made the playoffs. And the once-dominant Chiefs were simply trying to stay in the postseason fight amid a dismal season marked by injuries, underwhelming performances and too many mistakes across the board.

The first half turned into a microcosm of all of it.

Stroud, who played so well against Indianapolis last week in his return from a concussion, connected with Collins for a 46-yard gain that set up Ka'imi Fairbairn's field goal and a 53-yard catch that led to a short touchdown toss to Woody Marks.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs sustained&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texans-chiefs-injuries-775ebe979ae3135b65a16b1d11c5cfbe">two more significant injuries</a>, this time to left tackle Wanya Morris and cornerback Trent McDuffie, leaving them without their best defensive back and Mahomes working with an offensive line consisting of three backups.

“Listen, they battled,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said afterward. “Some of the guys in there hadn't practiced much.”

Still, the Chiefs wound up with just 98 first-half yards, and they trailed 10-0 at the break. It was only the fourth time with Mahomes at quarterback and the second time in the regular season that the Chiefs had been shut out in the first half.

The Chiefs' defense held its own, though, forcing Stroud into eight consecutive incompletions to start the second half. It allowed Mahomes and the offense to pick away at their deficit, first on Kareem Hunt's TD run and then on Harrison Butker's tying field goal.

Ultimately, the game hinged on two fourth-down decisions in the fourth quarter.

With the score still 10-10, the Texans had fourth-and-1 at their own 35 and punted. The Chiefs were then held to fourth-and-1 at their own 31, chose to go for it, and watched Mahomes throw incomplete with just over 10 minutes remaining.

Six plays later, Ogunbowale plowed into the end zone from 5 yards out to give Houston the lead again.

The Chiefs failed on fourth down again moments later, when Rashee Rice dropped a wide-open pass that would have produced a first down. And after Kansas City got the ball back one last time, Mahomes was picked off to end any hope of a comeback.

“We've still got an opportunity. Even though it's a slim opportunity, we have an opportunity,” Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones said. “For us, the door is still open. It might be a 10 percent chance. It might be a 5 percent chance. But as long as we have an opportunity and a chance, we can control that, and let the cards fall where they fall.”

Texans: RB Nick Chubb (ribs) left in the first half and did not return.

Chiefs: RG Trey Smith (ankle) and RT Jawaan Taylor (triceps) were inactive. Morris (knee) and CB McDuffie (knee) got hurt in the first half, leaving Kansas City with a patchwork offensive line and without its best defensive back.

Kansas City plays the Chargers the same day.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765164441878.png" alt="Photo Kansas City Chiefs" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas City Chiefs</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Houston Texans never made their trip to Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday night into anything more than their next game.Didn't matter that the Kansas City Chiefs had been the AFC's bully for the better part of a decade. Or the Chiefs had knocked Houston out of the playoffs last year. Or that the Texans needed to win to keep pace with Jacksonville in the AFC South.“It was our next game,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We needed to come out and execute. Play good football. And we did.”Did enough, anyway.C.J Stroud threw for 203 yards and a touchdown, the Texans leaned on the NFL's top-ranked defense to shut down Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, and Houston walked out with a 20-10 victory that gave a big boost to their postseason hopes.Nico Collins contributed four catches for 121 yards, and Dare Ogunbowale added a go-ahead touchdown run in the fourth quarter, as the Texans (8-5) won their fifth straight overall and remained a game back of the Jaguars in a tight division race.“We did what we came to do,” Ryans said. “It was just about accomplishing your mission. It wasn't anything extra on top for winning this game. We just knew we had to get the win no matter what it took.”Mahomes, operating behind an ailing offensive line, was 14 of 33 for 160 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions. The last of the picks came late in the fourth quarter, when Kansas City was trailing by a touchdown and trying to get the game to overtime.“I thought our defense did a great job sticking in coverage, and relentlessly rushing," Stroud said. "An amazing job.”While the win gave a big boost to Houston's playoff chances, whether it be a division title or wild-card spot, it dealt a crippling blow to the defending AFC champs. Kansas City dropped to 6-7, its worst record through 13 games since a 2-11 start to the 2012 season.“You're getting late in the season. You're not going to get these opportunities back,” Mahomes said. “That's a good football team, but we had chances and we didn't execute at the right time to win it.”The Chiefs had won five straight against the Texans, including that divisional playoff matchup last January on their way to another Super Bowl appearance. But they were two different teams entirely when they returned for the rematch Sunday night.The streaking Texans were trying to keep their momentum going, and perhaps join a rare club of teams that includes Houston's 2018 version that started 0-3 and made the playoffs. And the once-dominant Chiefs were simply trying to stay in the postseason fight amid a dismal season marked by injuries, underwhelming performances and too many mistakes across the board.The first half turned into a microcosm of all of it.Stroud, who played so well against Indianapolis last week in his return from a concussion, connected with Collins for a 46-yard gain that set up Ka'imi Fairbairn's field goal and a 53-yard catch that led to a short touchdown toss to Woody Marks.Meanwhile, the Chiefs sustained&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texans-chiefs-injuries-775ebe979ae3135b65a16b1d11c5cfbe">two more significant injuries</a>, this time to left tackle Wanya Morris and cornerback Trent McDuffie, leaving them without their best defensive back and Mahomes working with an offensive line consisting of three backups.“Listen, they battled,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said afterward. “Some of the guys in there hadn't practiced much.”Still, the Chiefs wound up with just 98 first-half yards, and they trailed 10-0 at the break. It was only the fourth time with Mahomes at quarterback and the second time in the regular season that the Chiefs had been shut out in the first half.The Chiefs' defense held its own, though, forcing Stroud into eight consecutive incompletions to start the second half. It allowed Mahomes and the offense to pick away at their deficit, first on Kareem Hunt's TD run and then on Harrison Butker's tying field goal.Ultimately, the game hinged on two fourth-down decisions in the fourth quarter.With the score still 10-10, the Texans had fourth-and-1 at their own 35 and punted. The Chiefs were then held to fourth-and-1 at their own 31, chose to go for it, and watched Mahomes throw incomplete with just over 10 minutes remaining.Six plays later, Ogunbowale plowed into the end zone from 5 yards out to give Houston the lead again.The Chiefs failed on fourth down again moments later, when Rashee Rice dropped a wide-open pass that would have produced a first down. And after Kansas City got the ball back one last time, Mahomes was picked off to end any hope of a comeback.“We've still got an opportunity. Even though it's a slim opportunity, we have an opportunity,” Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones said. “For us, the door is still open. It might be a 10 percent chance. It might be a 5 percent chance. But as long as we have an opportunity and a chance, we can control that, and let the cards fall where they fall.”<h2>Injuries</h2>Texans: RB Nick Chubb (ribs) left in the first half and did not return.Chiefs: RG Trey Smith (ankle) and RT Jawaan Taylor (triceps) were inactive. Morris (knee) and CB McDuffie (knee) got hurt in the first half, leaving Kansas City with a patchwork offensive line and without its best defensive back.<h2>Up next</h2>Houston plays the Cardinals next Sunday.Kansas City plays the Chargers the same day.

🏈 Texans beat the Chiefs in crucial matchup at Arrowhead

Final Score: No. 1 Hutchinson 27, No. 4 NW Mississippi 0

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/df9ddfff-359f-4eff-b6d5-03371c5ef692">Click here to read game recap</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757682777246.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Final Score: No. 1 Hutchinson 27, No. 4 NW Mississippi 0<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/df9ddfff-359f-4eff-b6d5-03371c5ef692">Click here to read game recap</a><div><iframe title="Blue Dragon Rewind: No. 1 HutchCC FB vs. No. 4 NW Mississippi (NJCAA National Semifinal on Dec. 6, 2025)" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=5fc4m-19e3e29-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

🎧🏈 Blue Dragon Rewind: No. 1 HutchCC vs. No. 4 NW Mississippi (NJCAA Semifinal)

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Brandie Harrod’s layup with 1 second remaining lifted Kansas State to a 61-60 victory over No. 13 Mississippi on Sunday in the third annual Bill Snyder Classic.

Neither team led by more than four points in the fourth quarter and it was 56-all heading to the final minute of regulation. Sira Thienou hit two free throws for a 58-56 lead for the Rebels with 48 seconds remaining. A three-point play by Taryn Sides, who scored 13 points, gave K-State a 59-58 lead then Cotie McMahon scored in the paint to put the Rebels back in front with 16 seconds remaining.

After a timeout, Harrod, a freshman, scored ahead of the final horn to give the Wildcats (6-5) the victory.

The Wildcats got plenty of support from their bench, with freshman Jordan Speiser scoring a career-high 19 points and Tess Heal adding 11 points. They both played 30 minutes due to foul trouble for a couple of starters.

McMahon led Ole Miss (8-1) with 22 points and Tianna Thompson scored 12 off the bench.

Ole Miss took an early 10-2 lead and led 15-9 with a minute left in the first quarter before K-State’s Izela Arenas and Speiser knocked down 3-pointers to tie the score heading to the second quarter.

Ole Miss went up 29-23 in the second, but the Wildcats rallied again and trailed 31-28 at halftime.

Kansas State had a strong start to the second half and went ahead 39-34 on the strength of an 8-0 run. By quarter’s end the score as tied at 42.

The only other game between Ole Miss and K-State was a 62-57 win for the Rebels 48 years ago.

Kansas State: San Diego State visits on Wednesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765149718971.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Brandie Harrod’s layup with 1 second remaining lifted Kansas State to a 61-60 victory over No. 13 Mississippi on Sunday in the third annual Bill Snyder Classic.Neither team led by more than four points in the fourth quarter and it was 56-all heading to the final minute of regulation. Sira Thienou hit two free throws for a 58-56 lead for the Rebels with 48 seconds remaining. A three-point play by Taryn Sides, who scored 13 points, gave K-State a 59-58 lead then Cotie McMahon scored in the paint to put the Rebels back in front with 16 seconds remaining.After a timeout, Harrod, a freshman, scored ahead of the final horn to give the Wildcats (6-5) the victory.The Wildcats got plenty of support from their bench, with freshman Jordan Speiser scoring a career-high 19 points and Tess Heal adding 11 points. They both played 30 minutes due to foul trouble for a couple of starters.McMahon led Ole Miss (8-1) with 22 points and Tianna Thompson scored 12 off the bench.Ole Miss took an early 10-2 lead and led 15-9 with a minute left in the first quarter before K-State’s Izela Arenas and Speiser knocked down 3-pointers to tie the score heading to the second quarter.Ole Miss went up 29-23 in the second, but the Wildcats rallied again and trailed 31-28 at halftime.Kansas State had a strong start to the second half and went ahead 39-34 on the strength of an 8-0 run. By quarter’s end the score as tied at 42.The only other game between Ole Miss and K-State was a 62-57 win for the Rebels 48 years ago.<h2>Up next</h2>Kansas State: San Diego State visits on Wednesday.

🏀 Harrod’s clutch layup lifts K-State women to win over No. 13 Mississippi

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas has proven over the past month that it can hang with the nation's best without Darryn Peterson on the floor.

The Jayhawks showed Sunday they are capable of beating anybody when he's out there.

The potential No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, Peterson returned from a lingering hamstring injury to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-tigers-kansas-jayhawks-score-697f371f46b4674affdf5cbad2707ecc">score 17 points in 23 minutes</a>&nbsp;against Missouri, leading the No. 21 Jayhawks to an 80-60 rout of their biggest rival in the latest edition of the Border War.

Oh, and the high-scoring guard did it while battling flu-like symptoms that had developed over the previous couple of days. He played 17 minutes in the first half but just six in the second, when the Jayhawks had already built a sizeable lead.

“I thought he did fine. I didn't think he pushed it,” Kansas coach Bill Self said, “but that's not because of his hammy. It's because he was sick. I was nervous he wasn't going to play, then I was going to have to tell you again that something came up.”

Peterson had missed most of the exhibition season because of issues with cramps. He proceeded to score 21 points in 22 minutes in the Jayhawks' opener against Green Bay, then had 22 points in 28 minutes in a loss at North Carolina later that week.

But he hadn't played since because of the hamstring, forcing the Jayhawks to develop without their best player. And they had made some significant progress, winning three games against power league opponents in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, and putting scares into fourth-ranked Duke and this past week to No. 5 UConn in a nip-and-tuck game at Allen Fieldhouse.

It was after that game against the Huskies that Kansas played a half-court scrimmage between its first and second teams. Peterson had 14 of his side's 20 points in that practice, and he had three assists in helping to produce the other six.

“I mean, he was responsible for every point,” Self said.

Still, the Jayhawks' coach didn't know exactly what to expect on Sunday, both because of the time that Peterson had spent nursing his injury and the illness that had him laid up on the trainer's table just 24 hours before tipoff.

“Man, you could see, even though he was limited in minutes, he was super efficient,” said Kansas forward Tre White, who led the way with 20 points and 13 rebounds against the Tigers. “I had a bunch of wide-open shots I haven't normally had. He just makes the game so much easier. He attracts a lot of bodies when he's playing, and that makes it easier for us.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765146850356.png" alt="Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas has proven over the past month that it can hang with the nation's best without Darryn Peterson on the floor.The Jayhawks showed Sunday they are capable of beating anybody when he's out there.The potential No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, Peterson returned from a lingering hamstring injury to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-tigers-kansas-jayhawks-score-697f371f46b4674affdf5cbad2707ecc">score 17 points in 23 minutes</a>&nbsp;against Missouri, leading the No. 21 Jayhawks to an 80-60 rout of their biggest rival in the latest edition of the Border War.Oh, and the high-scoring guard did it while battling flu-like symptoms that had developed over the previous couple of days. He played 17 minutes in the first half but just six in the second, when the Jayhawks had already built a sizeable lead.“I thought he did fine. I didn't think he pushed it,” Kansas coach Bill Self said, “but that's not because of his hammy. It's because he was sick. I was nervous he wasn't going to play, then I was going to have to tell you again that something came up.”Peterson had missed most of the exhibition season because of issues with cramps. He proceeded to score 21 points in 22 minutes in the Jayhawks' opener against Green Bay, then had 22 points in 28 minutes in a loss at North Carolina later that week.But he hadn't played since because of the hamstring, forcing the Jayhawks to develop without their best player. And they had made some significant progress, winning three games against power league opponents in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, and putting scares into fourth-ranked Duke and this past week to No. 5 UConn in a nip-and-tuck game at Allen Fieldhouse.It was after that game against the Huskies that Kansas played a half-court scrimmage between its first and second teams. Peterson had 14 of his side's 20 points in that practice, and he had three assists in helping to produce the other six.“I mean, he was responsible for every point,” Self said.Still, the Jayhawks' coach didn't know exactly what to expect on Sunday, both because of the time that Peterson had spent nursing his injury and the illness that had him laid up on the trainer's table just 24 hours before tipoff.“Man, you could see, even though he was limited in minutes, he was super efficient,” said Kansas forward Tre White, who led the way with 20 points and 13 rebounds against the Tigers. “I had a bunch of wide-open shots I haven't normally had. He just makes the game so much easier. He attracts a lot of bodies when he's playing, and that makes it easier for us.”Peterson wasn't available to talk after the game Sunday, but Self acknowledged that the time off had been difficult on him.“I think it frustrates him. But it's the world we live in,” Self said. “That kid is over there getting four treatments a day, 45 minutes in every treatment. That kid spends more time shooting on his own maybe than (any player) I've ever coached. That kid wants to be out there so bad, and then when I say whatever I'm going to say, it's not enough for me to say, ‘It’s day to day,' which that's what it's been.”Self then pondered the attention that Peterson — and his injury — have gotten this season.Perhaps the scrutiny hasn't been entirely bad, given he will be constantly under it when Peterson heads to the NBA.“How many people look at our guys and say, ‘We’re going to watch them grow up before our eyes?' If they're making a substantial amount of money? It's a different world,” Self said. “But it's also a world we say, ‘It’s so great for the kids.' But you also give people a reason to have opinions and talk. That's just the way it is. I think in his situation it may be good for him, because he's going to get talked about a lot moving forward. Hey, it's all preparation. I see it as part of the process more than I see it as a negative.”___