<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703798936708.png" alt="KWBW Sports w Sean Boston" />
 <figcaption>KWBW Sports w Sean Boston</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Evening sports for Thursday, Dec. 28" 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=6438e-1537917-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 LISTEN: Audio from K-State 🏈 and Chiefs coordinators

Courtesy of Wichita State Athletics&nbsp;

WICHITA, Kan. --&nbsp;Wichita State left-handed pitcher&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/caden-favors/7628">Caden Favors</a>&nbsp;was selected to the American Athletic Conference preseason all-conference team, the league announced Thursday.

Wichita State is picked seventh in the 10-team preseason coaches poll. Defending champion East Carolina tops the poll, garnering a first-place vote from the other nine conference members.

Favors is coming off a season in which he handled nearly every role on the Wichita State pitching staff, from starter to long reliever to closer. The southpaw finished the year 3-4 with a 4.04 ERA in 21 appearances, three of which were starts. He worked 42.1 innings, striking out 37 while issuing 15 walks, and held opponents to a .261 batting average.&nbsp; 

The senior delivered&nbsp;several of Wichita State's best relief outings of the season, including 4.0 scoreless innings at Long Beach State (February 17), 4.2 shutout innings at Utah Tech (February 24), 3.0 hitless, scoreless innings with five strikeouts to earn the save at Cincinnati (March 31) and 4.0 spotless innings at UCF (May 20). As a starter, Favors fired perhaps the finest outing of his career against Oklahoma on March 14, holding the Sooners off the board for a career-best 5.0 innings to earn the win.

For his career, Favors owns a 3.38 ERA in 93.1 innings pitched, logging a 5-5 record with one save.

East Carolina leads the conference with six preseason All-AAC selections, including the preseason Pitcher of the Year in Trey Yesavage. South Florida has five representatives; no other school has more than one.&nbsp;&nbsp;

2024 American Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll&nbsp;(First-place votes in parentheses)

East Carolina (9) -- 81 Charlotte -- 67 UTSA&nbsp;-- 64 Florida Atlantic -- 54 South Florida (1) -- 47 Memphis -- 35 Wichita State -- 34 Rice -- 29 Tulane&nbsp;-- 25 UAB -- 14&nbsp;&nbsp;

Preseason Player of the Year Teo Banks, Jr., OF, Tulane

Preseason Pitcher of the Year Trey Yesavage, Jr., East Carolina

Preseason All-Conference P – Trey Yesavage, Jr., East Carolina* P – Parker Smith, Jr., Rice P – Jack Cebert, Jr., South Florida P – Cameron Hansen, Sr., Charlotte P – Zach Root, So., East Carolina P –&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/caden-favors/7628">Caden Favors</a>, Sr., Wichita State RP – Danny Beal, Sr., East Carolina C – Justin Wilcoxen, Sr., East Carolina 1B – Carter Cunningham, Sr., East Carolina 2B – Bobby Boser, Jr., South Florida SS – Eric Snow, So., South Florida 3B – Matt King, Jr., UTSAOF – Teo Banks, Jr., Tulane OF – Jacob Jenkins-Cowart, Jr., East Carolina OF – Drew Brutcher, Sr., South Florida DH – Ben Rozenblum, R-Sr., South Florida

 * denotes unanimous selection

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703793670583.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics." />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics.</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy of Wichita State Athletics&nbsp;WICHITA, Kan. --&nbsp;Wichita State left-handed pitcher&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/caden-favors/7628">Caden Favors</a>&nbsp;was selected to the American Athletic Conference preseason all-conference team, the league announced Thursday.Wichita State is picked seventh in the 10-team preseason coaches poll. Defending champion East Carolina tops the poll, garnering a first-place vote from the other nine conference members.Favors is coming off a season in which he handled nearly every role on the Wichita State pitching staff, from starter to long reliever to closer. The southpaw finished the year 3-4 with a 4.04 ERA in 21 appearances, three of which were starts. He worked 42.1 innings, striking out 37 while issuing 15 walks, and held opponents to a .261 batting average.&nbsp; The senior delivered&nbsp;several of Wichita State's best relief outings of the season, including 4.0 scoreless innings at Long Beach State (February 17), 4.2 shutout innings at Utah Tech (February 24), 3.0 hitless, scoreless innings with five strikeouts to earn the save at Cincinnati (March 31) and 4.0 spotless innings at UCF (May 20). As a starter, Favors fired perhaps the finest outing of his career against Oklahoma on March 14, holding the Sooners off the board for a career-best 5.0 innings to earn the win.For his career, Favors owns a 3.38 ERA in 93.1 innings pitched, logging a 5-5 record with one save.East Carolina leads the conference with six preseason All-AAC selections, including the preseason Pitcher of the Year in Trey Yesavage. South Florida has five representatives; no other school has more than one.&nbsp;&nbsp;2024 American Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll&nbsp;(First-place votes in parentheses) East Carolina (9) -- 81 Charlotte -- 67 UTSA&nbsp;-- 64 Florida Atlantic -- 54 South Florida (1) -- 47 Memphis -- 35 Wichita State -- 34 Rice -- 29 Tulane&nbsp;-- 25 UAB -- 14&nbsp;&nbsp;Preseason Player of the Year Teo Banks, Jr., OF, TulanePreseason Pitcher of the Year Trey Yesavage, Jr., East CarolinaPreseason All-Conference P – Trey Yesavage, Jr., East Carolina* P – Parker Smith, Jr., Rice P – Jack Cebert, Jr., South Florida P – Cameron Hansen, Sr., Charlotte P – Zach Root, So., East Carolina P –&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/caden-favors/7628">Caden Favors</a>, Sr., Wichita State RP – Danny Beal, Sr., East Carolina C – Justin Wilcoxen, Sr., East Carolina 1B – Carter Cunningham, Sr., East Carolina 2B – Bobby Boser, Jr., South Florida SS – Eric Snow, So., South Florida 3B – Matt King, Jr., UTSAOF – Teo Banks, Jr., Tulane OF – Jacob Jenkins-Cowart, Jr., East Carolina OF – Drew Brutcher, Sr., South Florida DH – Ben Rozenblum, R-Sr., South Florida

 * denotes unanimous selection

⚾ Shockers tabbed 7th in AAC preseason poll

Courtesy of the Kansas Shrine Bowl

KANSAS-&nbsp;The Kansas Shrine Bowl Board of Directors is pleased to announce Brice Kesler as its new Executive Director effective January 1, 2024.&nbsp; Kesler will replace B.J. Harris, whose resignation was accepted in November to step down at the end of 2023 to pursue additional career opportunities.

“Hiring Brice to take on the role of Executive Director is another step in the right direction for the Kansas Shrine Bowl,” said Drew Couch, 2024 President of the Kansas Shrine Bowl Board of Directors. “We put on a grand event with our football game to raise money for Shrine Kids. With the addition of our wrestling event and hopefully others in the future, Brice is the guy that will help lead the Kansas Shrine Bowl organization into the future.”

Brice has served as the Business &amp; Office Manager for the Kansas Shrine Bowl since March of 2021. Prior to joining the Kansas Shrine Bowl staff, Brice’s career began as a Business Development Executive and Sports Director for Rocking M Media in Goodland, Kansas. Brice then moved to North Platte, Nebraska to become the Sports Director at Eagle Radio before returning to Kansas and becoming part of the Kansas Shrine Bowl staff.

“I’m honored and thankful to the Kansas Shrine Bowl Board of Directors for awarding me this opportunity to lead such a wonderful organization,” said Brice Kesler. “Seeing the impact that this organization has on children and families from all across the state and beyond is a powerful motivator. I’m excited to be in a position to lead that effort forward and continue to promote the tremendous work done by Shriners in Kansas through the lens of our premier all-star events.”

Alongside new Executive Director Brice Kesler, Whitney Kesler will continue her role as Events &amp; Business Manager for the Kansas Shrine Bowl. Whitney joined the Kansas Shrine Bowl staff in May of 2023 after eight years as the Assistant Director/Sports Coordinator at Baldwin City Recreation Commission. Brice and Whitney will continue to lead the corporate partnership development of the Kansas Shrine Bowl, while exploring new ways to expand the statewide footprint and awareness of the organization and Shriners Children’s.

“Serving in this position has been the most rewarding role of my career,” said B.J. Harris, who served in the role of Executive Director since 2017. “I'm forever grateful to the Board of Directors and staff, and look forward to seeing the continued growth of the Kansas Shrine Bowl and the organization's increased impact on the patients of Shriners Children's."

The Kansas Shrine Bowl is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that produces annual events and related activities, with net proceeds benefiting Shriners Children’s. Since its inception in 1974, the Kansas Shrine &nbsp;Bowl has been promoting Kansas talent and the incredible network of Shriners Children’s Hospitals by &nbsp;donating more than $3.8 million. To learn more about the organization and its cause visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kansasshrinebowl.com/" target="_blank">www.KansasShrineBowl.com</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703782918495.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas Shrine Bowl." />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas Shrine Bowl.</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy of the Kansas Shrine BowlKANSAS-&nbsp;The Kansas Shrine Bowl Board of Directors is pleased to announce Brice Kesler as its new Executive Director effective January 1, 2024.&nbsp; Kesler will replace B.J. Harris, whose resignation was accepted in November to step down at the end of 2023 to pursue additional career opportunities.“Hiring Brice to take on the role of Executive Director is another step in the right direction for the Kansas Shrine Bowl,” said Drew Couch, 2024 President of the Kansas Shrine Bowl Board of Directors. “We put on a grand event with our football game to raise money for Shrine Kids. With the addition of our wrestling event and hopefully others in the future, Brice is the guy that will help lead the Kansas Shrine Bowl organization into the future.”Brice has served as the Business &amp; Office Manager for the Kansas Shrine Bowl since March of 2021. Prior to joining the Kansas Shrine Bowl staff, Brice’s career began as a Business Development Executive and Sports Director for Rocking M Media in Goodland, Kansas. Brice then moved to North Platte, Nebraska to become the Sports Director at Eagle Radio before returning to Kansas and becoming part of the Kansas Shrine Bowl staff.“I’m honored and thankful to the Kansas Shrine Bowl Board of Directors for awarding me this opportunity to lead such a wonderful organization,” said Brice Kesler. “Seeing the impact that this organization has on children and families from all across the state and beyond is a powerful motivator. I’m excited to be in a position to lead that effort forward and continue to promote the tremendous work done by Shriners in Kansas through the lens of our premier all-star events.”Alongside new Executive Director Brice Kesler, Whitney Kesler will continue her role as Events &amp; Business Manager for the Kansas Shrine Bowl. Whitney joined the Kansas Shrine Bowl staff in May of 2023 after eight years as the Assistant Director/Sports Coordinator at Baldwin City Recreation Commission. Brice and Whitney will continue to lead the corporate partnership development of the Kansas Shrine Bowl, while exploring new ways to expand the statewide footprint and awareness of the organization and Shriners Children’s.“Serving in this position has been the most rewarding role of my career,” said B.J. Harris, who served in the role of Executive Director since 2017. “I'm forever grateful to the Board of Directors and staff, and look forward to seeing the continued growth of the Kansas Shrine Bowl and the organization's increased impact on the patients of Shriners Children's."The Kansas Shrine Bowl is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that produces annual events and related activities, with net proceeds benefiting Shriners Children’s. Since its inception in 1974, the Kansas Shrine &nbsp;Bowl has been promoting Kansas talent and the incredible network of Shriners Children’s Hospitals by &nbsp;donating more than $3.8 million. To learn more about the organization and its cause visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kansasshrinebowl.com/" target="_blank">www.KansasShrineBowl.com</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏈 Kansas Shrine Bowl names new executive director

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1701263164849.png" alt="Early Morning Sports with Nick Gosnell for Thursday, December 28th, 2023." />
 <figcaption>Early Morning Sports with Nick Gosnell for Thursday, December 28th, 2023.</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="December 28th, 2023 Eagle Media Sports" 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=59t4a-153710f-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 LISTEN: 🏈 West Virginia and OSU both earn bowl wins; 🏈 K-State vs NC State today

AP Sports Summary for December 28th, 2023.

Owens, Presley help No. 22 Oklahoma State beat Texas A&amp;M 31-23 in Texas Bowl

HOUSTON (AP) — Rashod Owens had a career-high 164 yards receiving with two touchdowns and Brennan Presley tied a school record with 16 receptions and had 152 yards receiving in No. 22 Oklahoma State's 31-23 victory over Texas A&amp;M in the Texas Bowl on Wednesday night. Ollie Gordon II, the Doak Walker Award winner, added 118 yards rushing to finish the season with 2,062 yards of offense for Oklahoma State (10-4). Alan Bowman had 402 yards passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The Cowboys missed a 47-yard field goal with 17 seconds to go and the Aggies (7-6) had another chance to score. But Marcel Reed's pass was intercepted near the end zone by Kendal Daniels on the last play of the game.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto joins the Los Angeles Dodgers, vows to compete for championships alongside Ohtani

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers have finalized their 12-year deal with Yoshinobu Yamamoto. They've teamed the prized free-agent right-hander with Shohei Ohtani in their prolific winter spending spree. The 25-year-old Yamamoto was coveted by teams across the majors after he elected to leave the Orix Buffaloes this offseason. The big-budget Dodgers landed him with a mammoth deal after already acquiring Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow this month. Yamamoto has posted spectacular numbers in Japan's top league in recent years, winning three straight Most Valuable Player awards in the Nippon Pacific League.

Denver Broncos bench QB Russell Wilson and will turn to Jarrett Stidham

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos are benching quarterback Russell Wilson for their game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Wilson will serve as a backup to Jarrett Stidham. Coach Sean Payton said he made the move because the offense needs a spark. Payton has been vocal about his displeasure over the team's offensive struggles and two weeks ago had a sideline blowup directed at Wilson. The Broncos could move on from Wilson in the offseason, but it would be costly as they'd have $85 million in dead cap money over the next two years.

Chiefs' Andy Reid and Travis Kelce hash things out after sideline outburst vs Raiders

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid says he has talked with Travis Kelce after the star tight end's sideline outburst in which he chucked his helmet toward the benches during a loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas. Reid didn't elaborate on what was said during the conversation. Kelce said on his "New Heights" podcast earlier Wednesday that he "reacted in a bad way" to the way the Kansas City offense continued to underperform. The Chiefs have lost three of their past four games to fall to 9-6, leaving them still in need of a win to clinch the AFC West. They play the Bengals on Sunday.

Picking the CFP semis: Alabama and Texas have the edge to reach the national championship game

The final four-team College Football Playoff promises to be one of the closest in the 10-year history of the event. The combined spread of the two New Year's Day semifinals is just six points, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. No. 1 Michigan is a 1 1/2-point favorite against fourth-seeded Alabama in the Rose Bowl. No. 3 Texas is a 4 1/2-point favorite over No. 2 Washington in the Sugar Bowl. AP College Football Writer Ralph Russo thinks Alabama and Texas will advance to the national title game.

USC's Moss throws Holiday Bowl-record 6 TD passes in 42-28 victory over No. 16 Louisville

SAN DIEGO (AP) — With Caleb Williams watching from the sideline, Miller Moss threw a Holiday Bowl-record six touchdown passes in his first college start and Southern California ended a frustrating season by beating No. 16 Louisville 42-28. Moss took full advantage of the opportunity he was given when Williams opted out. Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner and presumptive first overall pick in the NFL draft, watched from the sideline wearing a white T-shirt with his No. 13 jersey hanging around his neck. Moss was 23 of 33 for 372 yards, with one interception.

Mark Cuban says the changing NBA landscape led to his sale of the Mavs to casino families

DALLAS (AP) — Mark Cuban sees a future of NBA ownership where the advantages will be in real estate. The high-profile billionaire says that's why he sold his majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks to a pair of families with strong ties to the hotel and casino industry. The NBA on Wednesday approved Cuban's sale of a controlling interest in the Mavericks to the Adelson and Dumont families, who run Las Vegas Sands Corp. They will spend roughly $3.5 billion for their share of the team. Patrick Dumont will serve as Mavericks governor. Cuban will be alternate governor with a 27% share of the team and retain control of basketball operations.

Herb Kohl, former US senator and owner of the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks, has died. He was 88

Herb Kohl, a former Democratic U.S. senator from Wisconsin and former owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, has died. He was 88. His death Wednesday was announced by Herb Kohl Philanthropies. The foundation did not give a cause but said he died after a brief illness. Kohl was a popular figure in Wisconsin. He purchased the Bucks to keep them from leaving town and spent generously from his fortune on civic and educational causes throughout the state. He also used his money to fund his Senate races, allowing to him to portray himself as "nobody's senator but yours."

Kris Letang becomes 1st NHL defenseman with 5 points in a period, Penguins bury Islanders 7-0

NEW YORK (AP) — Kris Letang became the first defenseman in NHL history to record five points in a period with five assists in the second for the Pittsburgh Penguins in a 7-0 win over the New York Islanders. Letang had a total of six assists in the game while Jake Guentzel and Evgeni Malkin each scored two goals. Tristan Jarry finished with 21 saves for his fourth shutout of the season. Rickard Rakell, Radim Zohorna and Valtteri Puustinen also scored for Pittsburgh and Marcus Pettersson picked up four assists in the first game back following a three-day NHL holiday break.

Garrett Greene helps West Virginia beat North Carolina 30-10 in the Duke's Mayo Bowl

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Garrett Greene threw for 204 yards and a touchdown, Beanie Bishop Jr. returned a punt 78 yards for a score and West Virginia closed a season in which it exceeded expectations with a 30-10 victory over North Carolina in the Duke's Mayo Bowl. Traylon Ray had a 75-yard touchdown reception on the first play from scrimmage for the Mountaineers, who won their final three games to finish 9-4 after being picked to finish last in the Big 12. Selected the game MVP, Greene completed 11 of 22 passes. Jahiem White ran for 50 yards and a touchdown for West Virginia. North Carolina played quarterback Drake Maye andreceiver Tez Walker, who opted out of the game to begin preparing for the NFL draft.

Final	(22)Oklahoma St.	31	Texas A&amp;M	23	

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701494597443.png" alt="Sports Headlines and News for Friday, December 28th, 2023." />
 <figcaption>Sports Headlines and News for Friday, December 28th, 2023.</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="December 28th, 2023 Eagle Media Sports" 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=59t4a-153710f-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>AP Sports Summary for December 28th, 2023.Owens, Presley help No. 22 Oklahoma State beat Texas A&amp;M 31-23 in Texas BowlHOUSTON (AP) — Rashod Owens had a career-high 164 yards receiving with two touchdowns and Brennan Presley tied a school record with 16 receptions and had 152 yards receiving in No. 22 Oklahoma State's 31-23 victory over Texas A&amp;M in the Texas Bowl on Wednesday night. Ollie Gordon II, the Doak Walker Award winner, added 118 yards rushing to finish the season with 2,062 yards of offense for Oklahoma State (10-4). Alan Bowman had 402 yards passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The Cowboys missed a 47-yard field goal with 17 seconds to go and the Aggies (7-6) had another chance to score. But Marcel Reed's pass was intercepted near the end zone by Kendal Daniels on the last play of the game.Yoshinobu Yamamoto joins the Los Angeles Dodgers, vows to compete for championships alongside OhtaniLOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers have finalized their 12-year deal with Yoshinobu Yamamoto. They've teamed the prized free-agent right-hander with Shohei Ohtani in their prolific winter spending spree. The 25-year-old Yamamoto was coveted by teams across the majors after he elected to leave the Orix Buffaloes this offseason. The big-budget Dodgers landed him with a mammoth deal after already acquiring Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow this month. Yamamoto has posted spectacular numbers in Japan's top league in recent years, winning three straight Most Valuable Player awards in the Nippon Pacific League.Denver Broncos bench QB Russell Wilson and will turn to Jarrett StidhamENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos are benching quarterback Russell Wilson for their game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Wilson will serve as a backup to Jarrett Stidham. Coach Sean Payton said he made the move because the offense needs a spark. Payton has been vocal about his displeasure over the team's offensive struggles and two weeks ago had a sideline blowup directed at Wilson. The Broncos could move on from Wilson in the offseason, but it would be costly as they'd have $85 million in dead cap money over the next two years.Chiefs' Andy Reid and Travis Kelce hash things out after sideline outburst vs RaidersKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid says he has talked with Travis Kelce after the star tight end's sideline outburst in which he chucked his helmet toward the benches during a loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas. Reid didn't elaborate on what was said during the conversation. Kelce said on his "New Heights" podcast earlier Wednesday that he "reacted in a bad way" to the way the Kansas City offense continued to underperform. The Chiefs have lost three of their past four games to fall to 9-6, leaving them still in need of a win to clinch the AFC West. They play the Bengals on Sunday.Picking the CFP semis: Alabama and Texas have the edge to reach the national championship gameThe final four-team College Football Playoff promises to be one of the closest in the 10-year history of the event. The combined spread of the two New Year's Day semifinals is just six points, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. No. 1 Michigan is a 1 1/2-point favorite against fourth-seeded Alabama in the Rose Bowl. No. 3 Texas is a 4 1/2-point favorite over No. 2 Washington in the Sugar Bowl. AP College Football Writer Ralph Russo thinks Alabama and Texas will advance to the national title game.USC's Moss throws Holiday Bowl-record 6 TD passes in 42-28 victory over No. 16 LouisvilleSAN DIEGO (AP) — With Caleb Williams watching from the sideline, Miller Moss threw a Holiday Bowl-record six touchdown passes in his first college start and Southern California ended a frustrating season by beating No. 16 Louisville 42-28. Moss took full advantage of the opportunity he was given when Williams opted out. Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner and presumptive first overall pick in the NFL draft, watched from the sideline wearing a white T-shirt with his No. 13 jersey hanging around his neck. Moss was 23 of 33 for 372 yards, with one interception.Mark Cuban says the changing NBA landscape led to his sale of the Mavs to casino familiesDALLAS (AP) — Mark Cuban sees a future of NBA ownership where the advantages will be in real estate. The high-profile billionaire says that's why he sold his majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks to a pair of families with strong ties to the hotel and casino industry. The NBA on Wednesday approved Cuban's sale of a controlling interest in the Mavericks to the Adelson and Dumont families, who run Las Vegas Sands Corp. They will spend roughly $3.5 billion for their share of the team. Patrick Dumont will serve as Mavericks governor. Cuban will be alternate governor with a 27% share of the team and retain control of basketball operations.Herb Kohl, former US senator and owner of the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks, has died. He was 88Herb Kohl, a former Democratic U.S. senator from Wisconsin and former owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, has died. He was 88. His death Wednesday was announced by Herb Kohl Philanthropies. The foundation did not give a cause but said he died after a brief illness. Kohl was a popular figure in Wisconsin. He purchased the Bucks to keep them from leaving town and spent generously from his fortune on civic and educational causes throughout the state. He also used his money to fund his Senate races, allowing to him to portray himself as "nobody's senator but yours."Kris Letang becomes 1st NHL defenseman with 5 points in a period, Penguins bury Islanders 7-0NEW YORK (AP) — Kris Letang became the first defenseman in NHL history to record five points in a period with five assists in the second for the Pittsburgh Penguins in a 7-0 win over the New York Islanders. Letang had a total of six assists in the game while Jake Guentzel and Evgeni Malkin each scored two goals. Tristan Jarry finished with 21 saves for his fourth shutout of the season. Rickard Rakell, Radim Zohorna and Valtteri Puustinen also scored for Pittsburgh and Marcus Pettersson picked up four assists in the first game back following a three-day NHL holiday break.Garrett Greene helps West Virginia beat North Carolina 30-10 in the Duke's Mayo BowlCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Garrett Greene threw for 204 yards and a touchdown, Beanie Bishop Jr. returned a punt 78 yards for a score and West Virginia closed a season in which it exceeded expectations with a 30-10 victory over North Carolina in the Duke's Mayo Bowl. Traylon Ray had a 75-yard touchdown reception on the first play from scrimmage for the Mountaineers, who won their final three games to finish 9-4 after being picked to finish last in the Big 12. Selected the game MVP, Greene completed 11 of 22 passes. Jahiem White ran for 50 yards and a touchdown for West Virginia. North Carolina played quarterback Drake Maye andreceiver Tez Walker, who opted out of the game to begin preparing for the NFL draft.AP-ScorecardTODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE___NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATIONFinal	Toronto	132	Washington	102	Final	Philadelphia	112	Orlando	92	Final	Milwaukee	144	Brooklyn	122	Final	Phoenix	129	Houston	113	Final	Oklahoma City	129	New York	120	Final	Cleveland	113	Dallas	110	___NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUEFinal	N-Y Rangers	5	Washington	1	Final	Florida	3	Tampa Bay	2	Final OT	New Jersey	4	Columbus	3	Final	Ottawa	4	Toronto	2	Final	Boston	4	Buffalo	1	Final	Pittsburgh	7	N-Y Islanders	0	Final	Minnesota	6	Detroit	3	Final	St. Louis	2	Dallas	1	Final	Carolina	5	Nashville	2	Final OT	Chicago	2	Winnipeg	1	Final OT	Arizona	5	Colorado	4	Final	Seattle	2	Calgary	1	Final	Anaheim	5	Vegas	2	Final	Los Angeles	5	San Jose	1	___TOP-25 COLLEGE FOOTBALLFinal	Virginia Tech	41	(23)Tulane	20	Final	Southern Cal	42	(16)Louisville	28	Final	(22)Oklahoma St.	31	Texas A&amp;M	23

📢📰 Sports Headlines for Thursday

🎧 LISTEN: Audio from KU bowl win, K-State bowl prep, and Chiefs week 17 prep

🎧 LISTEN: 🏈 KU wins Guaranteed Rate Bowl for 9th win

<a href="https://kuathletics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/KU-vs-UNLV.pdf">BOX SCORE</a><a href="https://kuathletics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/23-Postgame-Notes-UNLV.pdf">POSTGAME NOTES</a>

PHOENIX –&nbsp;The Kansas Jayhawks defeated the UNLV Rebels, 49-36, in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl inside Chase Field in Phoenix Arizona on Tuesday night, highlighted by six touchdown passes from Jason Bean and three touchdown receptions apiece by Lawrence Arnold and Luke Grimm.

Bean tied the Kansas football record with six touchdown passes and this was the first time two players have had three touchdown receptions in the same game in school history. Bean was named the Guaranteed Rate Bowl offensive MVP, while Kenny Logan Jr. was named defensive MVP.

The Kansas win gives the Jayhawks its first bowl victory since 2008, while the Jayhawks finish the season at 9-4, Kansas’ first 9-win season since 2007. The victory makes Kansas 7-7 in all-time bowl appearances.

UNLV scored first on their first possession, marching down the field on an eight-play, 65-yard drive, which was capped off by a 3-yard rushing touchdown by running back Vincent Davis.&nbsp;

The Jayhawks evened the score while still in the first quarter on a six-yard passing touchdown from Bean to Grimm. The touchdown came on the heels of a 98-yard drive, which was Kansas’ longest scoring drive since 2019.&nbsp;

KU got possession at its own 30-yard line with 5:03 to play in the half and drove 70 yards in nine plays, including a 44-yard reception from Bean to Quintin Skinner which moved the ball down to the UNLV one-yard line. On the next play, Devin Neal plunged into the end zone, making it 28-7, before UNLV knocked in a 40-yard field goal attempt to cut down KU’s lead to 28-10 heading into the half.

Following the halftime break, UNLV stopped Kansas on its first drive and moved to an 11-point deficit at 28-17 with 12:15 remaining in the third quarter on a 5-yard pass from Maiava to Shelton Zeon III. UNLV would add another passing touchdown on a 37-yard strike to make the score 28-24 with 10:30 left in the third quarter.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Kansas struck back on a 40-yard throw from Bean to Arnold, which put Kansas back up 11 with 14:52 to play. The 40-yard touchdown reception capped off a 99-yard drive, Kansas’ second drive of 98 or more yards in the game to put the Jayhawks up 35-24.

After the long drive by the Jayhawks, UNLV responded with a seven-play, 88-yard yard drive to bring the score to 35-30. The Rebels failed to convert on the 2-point conversion.

With two receiving touchdowns already between the duo, Bean found Arnold a third time on a 56 yard screen play to put Kansas up further, 42-30 with 11:10 remaining in the game. The three touchdown receptions tied the Kansas bowl record for receiving touchdowns in a game, tying Dezmon Briscoe’s three receiving touchdowns set in the 2008 Insight Bowl vs. Minnesota.&nbsp;

On the ensuing UNLV possession, Kansas cornerback Cobee Bryant recorded his fourth interception of the season on a pass by UNLV’s Jayden Maiava. Kansas would take advantage of the Bryant interception, as Grimm scored his second touchdown of the day on a 60-yard touchdown pass from Bean to put Kansas up, 14-7 with 11:37 remaining in the first half.

UNLV missed a 52-yard field goal on their next possession, setting the Jayhawks up with good field position for a five-play touchdown drive that covered 66 yards and was capped with a 15-yard touchdown strike from Bean to Arnold. At that point, Kansas led 21-7 with 7:57 to play in the half.&nbsp;

On the first play of UNLV’s next drive, Maiava was picked off again, this time with KU linebacker Craig Young hauling in his second career interception. The Jayhawks gave the ball right back, however, two plays later as Bean was picked off in the end zone. Kansas then held the Rebels to a three and out on the next drive, setting the stage for another scoring drive.&nbsp;

Grimm added another touchdown reception to his tally on a 43-yard strike from Bean in the fourth quarter to extend KU’s lead to 49-30. This was the first time in Kansas football history that two players recorded three touchdown receptions each.&nbsp;

UNLV answered with a long touchdown of its own, completing a 50-yard touchdown reception before failing a two-point conversion. Kansas maintained a 13-point, 49-36 advantage with 6:25 left in the game.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703676036778.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://kuathletics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/KU-vs-UNLV.pdf">BOX SCORE</a><a href="https://kuathletics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/23-Postgame-Notes-UNLV.pdf">POSTGAME NOTES</a>PHOENIX –&nbsp;The Kansas Jayhawks defeated the UNLV Rebels, 49-36, in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl inside Chase Field in Phoenix Arizona on Tuesday night, highlighted by six touchdown passes from Jason Bean and three touchdown receptions apiece by Lawrence Arnold and Luke Grimm.Bean tied the Kansas football record with six touchdown passes and this was the first time two players have had three touchdown receptions in the same game in school history. Bean was named the Guaranteed Rate Bowl offensive MVP, while Kenny Logan Jr. was named defensive MVP.The Kansas win gives the Jayhawks its first bowl victory since 2008, while the Jayhawks finish the season at 9-4, Kansas’ first 9-win season since 2007. The victory makes Kansas 7-7 in all-time bowl appearances.UNLV scored first on their first possession, marching down the field on an eight-play, 65-yard drive, which was capped off by a 3-yard rushing touchdown by running back Vincent Davis.&nbsp;The Jayhawks evened the score while still in the first quarter on a six-yard passing touchdown from Bean to Grimm. The touchdown came on the heels of a 98-yard drive, which was Kansas’ longest scoring drive since 2019.&nbsp;KU got possession at its own 30-yard line with 5:03 to play in the half and drove 70 yards in nine plays, including a 44-yard reception from Bean to Quintin Skinner which moved the ball down to the UNLV one-yard line. On the next play, Devin Neal plunged into the end zone, making it 28-7, before UNLV knocked in a 40-yard field goal attempt to cut down KU’s lead to 28-10 heading into the half.Following the halftime break, UNLV stopped Kansas on its first drive and moved to an 11-point deficit at 28-17 with 12:15 remaining in the third quarter on a 5-yard pass from Maiava to Shelton Zeon III. UNLV would add another passing touchdown on a 37-yard strike to make the score 28-24 with 10:30 left in the third quarter.On the first play of the fourth quarter, Kansas struck back on a 40-yard throw from Bean to Arnold, which put Kansas back up 11 with 14:52 to play. The 40-yard touchdown reception capped off a 99-yard drive, Kansas’ second drive of 98 or more yards in the game to put the Jayhawks up 35-24.After the long drive by the Jayhawks, UNLV responded with a seven-play, 88-yard yard drive to bring the score to 35-30. The Rebels failed to convert on the 2-point conversion.With two receiving touchdowns already between the duo, Bean found Arnold a third time on a 56 yard screen play to put Kansas up further, 42-30 with 11:10 remaining in the game. The three touchdown receptions tied the Kansas bowl record for receiving touchdowns in a game, tying Dezmon Briscoe’s three receiving touchdowns set in the 2008 Insight Bowl vs. Minnesota.&nbsp;On the ensuing UNLV possession, Kansas cornerback Cobee Bryant recorded his fourth interception of the season on a pass by UNLV’s Jayden Maiava. Kansas would take advantage of the Bryant interception, as Grimm scored his second touchdown of the day on a 60-yard touchdown pass from Bean to put Kansas up, 14-7 with 11:37 remaining in the first half.UNLV missed a 52-yard field goal on their next possession, setting the Jayhawks up with good field position for a five-play touchdown drive that covered 66 yards and was capped with a 15-yard touchdown strike from Bean to Arnold. At that point, Kansas led 21-7 with 7:57 to play in the half.&nbsp;On the first play of UNLV’s next drive, Maiava was picked off again, this time with KU linebacker Craig Young hauling in his second career interception. The Jayhawks gave the ball right back, however, two plays later as Bean was picked off in the end zone. Kansas then held the Rebels to a three and out on the next drive, setting the stage for another scoring drive.&nbsp;Grimm added another touchdown reception to his tally on a 43-yard strike from Bean in the fourth quarter to extend KU’s lead to 49-30. This was the first time in Kansas football history that two players recorded three touchdown receptions each.&nbsp;UNLV answered with a long touchdown of its own, completing a 50-yard touchdown reception before failing a two-point conversion. Kansas maintained a 13-point, 49-36 advantage with 6:25 left in the game.&nbsp;

🏈 Kansas earns ninth win in 37th Annual Guaranteed Rate Bowl

AP Sports Summary for December 27th, 2023.

Bean throws for 6 TDs, Kansas overcomes flags to beat UNLV 49-36 in Guaranteed Rate Bowl

PHOENIX (AP) — Jason Bean threw for 449 yards and all six of his touchdown passes to two receivers, and penalty-plagued Kansas outlasted UNLV 49-36 in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. The Jayhawks were flagged 18 times for 210 yards, including four personal fouls. They made up for it with an explosive offense that produced 591 total yards at Chase Field, home of baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks. Luke Grimm had four catches for 160 yards and three touchdowns. Lawrence Arnold added six catches for 132 yards and three more scores. UNLV's Jayden Maiava threw for 291 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions.

Analysis: Christmas was rough on Super Bowl contenders except for the Ravens

The Chiefs lost again. The Eagles struggled against the lowly Giants. The 49ers were embarrassed at home. Christmas Day was rough on Super Bowl contenders except for the Ravens. Lamar Jackson boosted his MVP chances and Baltimore made a major statement with a convincing 33-19 victory over San Francisco in a prime-time matchup that featured the NFL's two No. 1 seeds. Monday's results along with the rest of Week 16 left more questions open across the NFL. There's two weeks remaining to answer those before the playoffs.

Odds for more sports betting expansion could fade after rapid growth to 38 states

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Sports betting has spread rapidly across U.S. states in the past five years. But the odds for further expansion may be fading as state legislatures prepare to return to work in 2024. A 2018 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court opened the way for states to legalize sports betting. Since then, a total of 38 have done so. But proposals in some other states have become bogged down by political resistance and competing financial interests from casinos, tribal gaming groups, horse tracks and other gambling operations. California and Texas — the two most populous states — are among the dozen where sports betting still is illegal.

Pistons lose NBA single-season record 27 straight games, falling to Nets 118-112

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Pistons have made NBA history. Detroit became the league's first team to lose 27 straight games in a season, falling 118-112 to the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night. The Nets beat the Pistons on Saturday in Brooklyn, handing them their 26th consecutive defeat to match the 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers and 2013-14 Philadelphia 76ers for the most losses in a row within one season. Next up is the overall record of 28 straight losses, set by the Philadelphia 76ers from late in the 2014-15 season through early 2015-16. Detroit's next game is Thursday night against Boston on the road.

Houston Texans claim safety Kareem Jackson off waivers from Broncos, who had hoped to re-sign him

The Houston Texans have claimed hard-hitting but oft-suspended safety Kareem Jackson off waivers from the Denver Broncos. Jackson began his 14-year career with the Texans as the 20th overall pick in the 2010 draft out of Alabama. After nine seasons with Houston, he moved to safety when he joined the Broncos in 2019. This year, he's repeatedly run afoul of the league's safety rules with several illegal hits. Those have cost him nearly $1 million in salary and fines. He met with Commissioner Roger Goodell last month to see what he could do to avoid future fines.

USC's JuJu Watkins is poised to step in as the next big star of women's college basketball

LOS ANGELES (AP) — JuJu Watkins is poised to step in as the next big star of women's college basketball. The Southern California freshman guard is the nation's second-leading scorer at 26.8 points per game, just behind Iowa's Caitlin Clark with 30.5. Watkins broke Lisa Leslie's school record for most 30-point games by a freshman with five. She's led the Trojans to a No. 6 ranking and a 10-0 start. Watkins was already a prep sensation when she chose USC as the nation's top recruit in the class of 2023. Her outstanding play is attracting celebrities and men, women and children of all ages and races who want a moment with her after games.

Washington WR Rome Odunze looks for a final starring chapter in the College Football Playoff

SEATTLE (AP) — Rome Odunze will leave Washington in the discussion as the best wide receiver ever to wear the purple and the gold. He's made all the big catches asked of him, had one very important and memorable run, played the middle portion of the year with a broken rib and finished the year as a first-team All-American on seemingly every list. All that's left for is the big stage of the College Football Playoff, where Odunze and the No. 2 Huskies will face No. 3 Texas in the Sugar Bowl. On their way to the first 13-0 season in school history, the last Pac-12 championship in the current form of the conference and a spot in the playoff, Odunze became a star.

Despair then delight at Old Trafford as United beats Villa in 1st game after deal. Liverpool top

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Old Trafford witnessed the best and worst of Erik ten Hag's team in the space of 90 minutes and in front of soon-to-be director Dave Brailsford. It is two days since confirmation that British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe will buy a stake of up to 25% in the club. But a new era did not start well as United trailed by two goals inside 26 minutes against Aston Villa and was booed by the home crowd. Ten Hag's players then produced a spectacular comeback to win 3-2 and spark celebrations rarely seen at its famed stadium during a troubled season so far. Liverpool is back on top of the league and Darwin Nunez is again among the goals after a 2-0 win against Burnley.

Column: Tales from the PGA Tour in a year mostly about money and surprises

The PGA Tour has its own version of D-Day. It was on June 6 that it announced a proposed partnership with the Saudi backers of LIV Golf. No one was sure what that meant six months ago and no one is sure where it will lead. But golf marched on. There were two new major champions, rising stars and plenty of memories along the way. Justin Rose and Xander Schauffele got a new appreciation for Olympic stardom. Justin Thomas ended the year with a nice gesture to his caddie. All are part of this year's tales from the tour.

Steelers will turn to Mason Rudolph once again if Kenny Pickett's right ankle can't go vs. Seattle

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mason Rudolph's dynamic play against Cincinnati helped keep the Pittsburgh Steelers' season alive. The longtime backup quarterback could get a chance to do it again when the Steelers visit Seattle on New Year's Eve. Coach Mike Tomlin says Rudolph will "have the ball" to begin the week and will get the nod against the Seahawks if starter Kenny Pickett's surgically repaired right ankle is not ready in time. Rudolph threw for 290 yards and two long touchdowns to George Pickens in a win over the Bengals that moved Pittsburgh to 8-7 and kept its faint playoff hopes afloat.

Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:

		Texas A&amp;M	at	(22)Oklahoma St.	9 p.m.	

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701494597443.png" alt="Sports Headlines and News for Wednesday Morning, December 27th, 2023." />
 <figcaption>Sports Headlines and News for Wednesday Morning, December 27th, 2023.</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="December 27th, 2023 Eagle Media Sports" 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=6w8xp-1535d52-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>AP Sports Summary for December 27th, 2023.Bean throws for 6 TDs, Kansas overcomes flags to beat UNLV 49-36 in Guaranteed Rate BowlPHOENIX (AP) — Jason Bean threw for 449 yards and all six of his touchdown passes to two receivers, and penalty-plagued Kansas outlasted UNLV 49-36 in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. The Jayhawks were flagged 18 times for 210 yards, including four personal fouls. They made up for it with an explosive offense that produced 591 total yards at Chase Field, home of baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks. Luke Grimm had four catches for 160 yards and three touchdowns. Lawrence Arnold added six catches for 132 yards and three more scores. UNLV's Jayden Maiava threw for 291 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions.Analysis: Christmas was rough on Super Bowl contenders except for the RavensThe Chiefs lost again. The Eagles struggled against the lowly Giants. The 49ers were embarrassed at home. Christmas Day was rough on Super Bowl contenders except for the Ravens. Lamar Jackson boosted his MVP chances and Baltimore made a major statement with a convincing 33-19 victory over San Francisco in a prime-time matchup that featured the NFL's two No. 1 seeds. Monday's results along with the rest of Week 16 left more questions open across the NFL. There's two weeks remaining to answer those before the playoffs.Odds for more sports betting expansion could fade after rapid growth to 38 statesJEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Sports betting has spread rapidly across U.S. states in the past five years. But the odds for further expansion may be fading as state legislatures prepare to return to work in 2024. A 2018 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court opened the way for states to legalize sports betting. Since then, a total of 38 have done so. But proposals in some other states have become bogged down by political resistance and competing financial interests from casinos, tribal gaming groups, horse tracks and other gambling operations. California and Texas — the two most populous states — are among the dozen where sports betting still is illegal.Pistons lose NBA single-season record 27 straight games, falling to Nets 118-112DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Pistons have made NBA history. Detroit became the league's first team to lose 27 straight games in a season, falling 118-112 to the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night. The Nets beat the Pistons on Saturday in Brooklyn, handing them their 26th consecutive defeat to match the 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers and 2013-14 Philadelphia 76ers for the most losses in a row within one season. Next up is the overall record of 28 straight losses, set by the Philadelphia 76ers from late in the 2014-15 season through early 2015-16. Detroit's next game is Thursday night against Boston on the road.Houston Texans claim safety Kareem Jackson off waivers from Broncos, who had hoped to re-sign himThe Houston Texans have claimed hard-hitting but oft-suspended safety Kareem Jackson off waivers from the Denver Broncos. Jackson began his 14-year career with the Texans as the 20th overall pick in the 2010 draft out of Alabama. After nine seasons with Houston, he moved to safety when he joined the Broncos in 2019. This year, he's repeatedly run afoul of the league's safety rules with several illegal hits. Those have cost him nearly $1 million in salary and fines. He met with Commissioner Roger Goodell last month to see what he could do to avoid future fines.USC's JuJu Watkins is poised to step in as the next big star of women's college basketballLOS ANGELES (AP) — JuJu Watkins is poised to step in as the next big star of women's college basketball. The Southern California freshman guard is the nation's second-leading scorer at 26.8 points per game, just behind Iowa's Caitlin Clark with 30.5. Watkins broke Lisa Leslie's school record for most 30-point games by a freshman with five. She's led the Trojans to a No. 6 ranking and a 10-0 start. Watkins was already a prep sensation when she chose USC as the nation's top recruit in the class of 2023. Her outstanding play is attracting celebrities and men, women and children of all ages and races who want a moment with her after games.Washington WR Rome Odunze looks for a final starring chapter in the College Football PlayoffSEATTLE (AP) — Rome Odunze will leave Washington in the discussion as the best wide receiver ever to wear the purple and the gold. He's made all the big catches asked of him, had one very important and memorable run, played the middle portion of the year with a broken rib and finished the year as a first-team All-American on seemingly every list. All that's left for is the big stage of the College Football Playoff, where Odunze and the No. 2 Huskies will face No. 3 Texas in the Sugar Bowl. On their way to the first 13-0 season in school history, the last Pac-12 championship in the current form of the conference and a spot in the playoff, Odunze became a star.Despair then delight at Old Trafford as United beats Villa in 1st game after deal. Liverpool topMANCHESTER, England (AP) — Old Trafford witnessed the best and worst of Erik ten Hag's team in the space of 90 minutes and in front of soon-to-be director Dave Brailsford. It is two days since confirmation that British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe will buy a stake of up to 25% in the club. But a new era did not start well as United trailed by two goals inside 26 minutes against Aston Villa and was booed by the home crowd. Ten Hag's players then produced a spectacular comeback to win 3-2 and spark celebrations rarely seen at its famed stadium during a troubled season so far. Liverpool is back on top of the league and Darwin Nunez is again among the goals after a 2-0 win against Burnley.Column: Tales from the PGA Tour in a year mostly about money and surprisesThe PGA Tour has its own version of D-Day. It was on June 6 that it announced a proposed partnership with the Saudi backers of LIV Golf. No one was sure what that meant six months ago and no one is sure where it will lead. But golf marched on. There were two new major champions, rising stars and plenty of memories along the way. Justin Rose and Xander Schauffele got a new appreciation for Olympic stardom. Justin Thomas ended the year with a nice gesture to his caddie. All are part of this year's tales from the tour.Steelers will turn to Mason Rudolph once again if Kenny Pickett's right ankle can't go vs. SeattlePITTSBURGH (AP) — Mason Rudolph's dynamic play against Cincinnati helped keep the Pittsburgh Steelers' season alive. The longtime backup quarterback could get a chance to do it again when the Steelers visit Seattle on New Year's Eve. Coach Mike Tomlin says Rudolph will "have the ball" to begin the week and will get the nod against the Seahawks if starter Kenny Pickett's surgically repaired right ankle is not ready in time. Rudolph threw for 290 yards and two long touchdowns to George Pickens in a win over the Bengals that moved Pittsburgh to 8-7 and kept its faint playoff hopes afloat.AP-ScorecardHere are the scores from yesterday's sports events:___NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATIONFinal	Orlando	127	Washington	119	Final	Brooklyn	118	Detroit	112	Final	Oklahoma City	129	Minnesota	106	Final	Indiana	123	Houston	117	Final	Utah	130	San Antonio	118	Final	Chicago	118	Atlanta	113	Final OT	Memphis	116	New Orleans	115	Final	Portland	130	Sacramento	113	Final	L.A. Clippers	113	Charlotte	104	___TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE___NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION		Philadelphia	at	Orlando	7 p.m.			Toronto	at	Washington	7 p.m.			Milwaukee	at	Brooklyn	7:30 p.m.			New York	at	Oklahoma City	8 p.m.			Phoenix	at	Houston	8 p.m.			Cleveland	at	Dallas	8:30 p.m.	___NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE		Columbus	at	New Jersey	7 p.m.			Florida	at	Tampa Bay	7 p.m.			Ottawa	at	Toronto	7 p.m.			Washington	at	N-Y Rangers	7 p.m.			Boston	at	Buffalo	7:30 p.m.			Pittsburgh	at	N-Y Islanders	7:30 p.m.			Carolina	at	Nashville	8 p.m.			Dallas	at	St. Louis	8 p.m.			Detroit	at	Minnesota	8 p.m.			Colorado	at	Arizona	9 p.m.			Winnipeg	at	Chicago	9 p.m.			Seattle	at	Calgary	9:30 p.m.			San Jose	at	Los Angeles	10 p.m.			Vegas	at	Anaheim	10 p.m.	___TOP-25 COLLEGE FOOTBALL		Virginia Tech	at	(23)Tulane	2 p.m.			(16)Louisville	at	Southern Cal	8 p.m.			Texas A&amp;M	at	(22)Oklahoma St.	9 p.m.	___

📢📰 Sports Headlines for Wednesday

🎧 LISTEN: Audio from Mahomes & Jones; audio from Leipold ahead of KU bowl game

Courtesy of Kansas State Athletics

(Complete Bowl Guide&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/documents/2023/12/17/2023_K-State_Pop-Tarts_Bowl_Guide.pdf" target="_blank">Available Here</a>)

2023 Pop-Tarts Bowl25/rv/rv&nbsp;K-State vs.&nbsp;18/19/18&nbsp;NC State Date: Thursday, December 28, 2023 Kickoff: 5:45 p.m. (ET) Location: Orlando, Fla. Stadium: Camping World Stadium (65,000) Series: First Meeting TV: ESPN (<a href="https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/1f65357b-1a77-49cb-ab1e-e28efac81ed1" target="_blank">watch</a>) &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Anish Shroff (Play-by-Play) &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Andre Ware (Analyst) &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Paul Carcaterra (Sidelines)

Radio: K-State Sports Network (<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/watch/?Live=5639&amp;type=Live" target="_blank">Listen</a>) – SXM Channel 84 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Wyatt Thompson (Play-by-Play)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Stan Weber (Analyst) &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Matt Walters (Sidelines)

National Radio: ESPN Radio (SXM Channel 80) &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Sean Kelley (Play-by-Play)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Rene Ingoglia (Analyst)

BOWL PREVIEW Following an 8-4 regular season and another final College Football Playoff Top 25 ranking, No. 25 Kansas State will be in search of its second-straight season with at least nine victories as it faces 18th-ranked NC State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Thursday, December 28 inside Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The game, which kicks off at 5:45 p.m. (ET), will be shown to a national audience on ESPN.

The Pop-Tarts Bowl marks the 25th bowl game all-time for the Wildcats, who are advancing to a bowl for a fourth time in five years under head coach Chris Klieman. This will be Kansas State’s first-ever bowl game in the state of Florida and just the seventh game all-time in The Sunshine State.

K-State is looking for its fourth bowl victory in its last six tries for just the second time in school history and in search of ending the season with a winning note for the first time since a 42-20 win over LSU in the Texas Bowl after the 2021 season.

The Wildcats have never played a bowl game against an ACC opponent at the time of the game, but did face Syracuse three times and Boston College once when those schools were members of the Big EAST.

A LOOK AT THE WILDCATS K-State is the only Big 12 team to collect at least eight wins in each of the last three seasons and has reached the mark in three-straight years for the first time since doing so four-consecutive years from 2011 through 2014. The Wildcats’ four losses this season were by a combined 21 points, and three of those four defeats were at the hands of teams that finished in the final College Football Playoff Top 25 in No. 3 Texas, No. 9 Missouri and No. 20 Oklahoma State.

The Wildcats started the season with two resounding wins over SEMO (45-0) and eventual Sun Belt Conference Champion Troy (42-13), the latter being a program that has won 11 games prior to its Birmingham Bowl against Duke on December 23.

The Wildcats opened conference play with a dominating 44-31 victory over new Big 12 member UCF – which is playing in the Gasparilla Bowl against Georgia Tech on December 22 – before suffering a 29-21 loss at Oklahoma State on a Friday night.

K-State rebounded from that defeat by reeling off three-straight convincing victories – a 38-21 win at Texas Tech, a 41-3 blowout of TCU and a 41-0 shutout of another new conference member, Houston.

The Wildcats then went to Austin, Texas, looking to take down the top-10 Longhorns. Trailing 27-7 late in the third quarter, the Wildcats outscored UT, 23-6, over the final 15-plus minutes to send the game into overtime. K-State held Texas to a field goal on its first overtime possession, and the Wildcats drove down to the four-yard line on their possession before a sack on 4th down ended the game with a 33-30 defeat.

Much like it did following the loss at Oklahoma State, K-State bounced back in a big way by blowing out Baylor, 59-25. The next week at Kansas, K-State trailed, 27-16, but scored the game’s final 15 points to earn its 15th-straight win over the Wildcats’ in-state rival with a 31-27 victory.

The Wildcats enter the Pop-Tarts Bowl with a sour taste in their mouth after finishing the regular season with a 42-35 home loss to Iowa State in the snowiest K-State game in recent memory.

A new era of K-State football opens in the 2023 Pop-Tarts Bowl as true freshman quarterback Avery Johnson will earn his first start under center for the Wildcats. The top dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2023, Johnson has played in seven games this year, throwing for 301 yards and three touchdowns on 23-of-35 (65.7%) aim, while he has rushed for 225 yards and six touchdowns on just 45 carries. His six rushing touchdowns this season are tied for third nationally among true freshmen and tied for first among true freshman quarterbacks.

Sophomore running back DJ Giddens produced the 19th 1,000-yard rushing season in school history as he enters the Pop-Tarts Bowl with 1,075 rushing yards. It is the third-straight season the Wildcats have had a 1,000-yard rusher (Deuce Vaughn), while it is the third-most rushing yards by a sophomore in school history behind Darren Sproles (1,465 yards in 2022) and Vaughn (1,404 yards in 2021). With 66 rushing yards against NC State, Giddens will enter the school’s top-10 list for single-season rushing yards among all players.

Leading the way on the ground is an experienced offensive line in which the five expected starters have combined for 228 career games played in 169 starts. That unit is led by two-time Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the year and Consensus All-American Cooper Beebe, who has started 47 of his 50 career games played. He is the first offensive lineman in school history and 12th player overall to earn Consensus All-America honors, while it is the 14th time a Wildcat has earned the distinction.

Young wide receivers in freshman Jayce Brown and sophomore Keagan Johnson came on toward the end of the season as the duo combined for 371 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 27 catches over the final four regular-season games. Brown enters the Pop-Tarts Bowl ranked fifth in school history in receiving yards by a freshman and is 50 yards away from having the most in school history by a true freshman.

Defensively, K-State enters bowl season ranked in the top 30 nationally in seven categories, which includes a No. 29 ranking in scoring defense at 21.2 points allowed per game to rank second in the Big 12.&nbsp; Additionally, K-State was one of the most ballhawking teams over the second half of the season, leading the country with 18 takeaways over the final seven games.

Safety Marques Sigle leads five defenders that will be playing in the Pop-Tarts Bowl that have carded at least 35 tackles this season. He is joined on that list by linebackers Austin Moore (59) and Desmond Purnell (47), safety VJ Payne (47) and cornerback Jacob Parrish (38).

A LOOK AT THE WOLFPACK NC State finished the regular season with a 9-3 overall record and a 6-2 ACC record to finish third in the conference. The Wolfpack enter the Pop-Tarts Bowl on a five-game winning streak, including a 24-17 win over Clemson, which finished at No. 23 in the final College Football Playoff Top 25.

Quarterback Brennan Armstrong threw for 1,621 yards and 11 touchdowns on 146-of-234 (62.4%) aim and was also the team’s leading rusher with 544 yards and six touchdowns on 126 carries.

The Wolfpack defense is led by linebacker Payton Wilson, the 2023 Chuck Bednarik Award and Butkus Award winner who collected 138 tackles with 17.5 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks and three interceptions.

TEAM NOTESWILDCATS HEADED TO POP-TARTS BOWL • Coming off an 8-4 regular season – including a 6-3 conference mark to tie for fourth in the Big 12 – Kansas State earned its 25th bowl berth all time and fourth under head coach Chris Klieman as the 25th-ranked Wildcats will face No. 18 NC State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Thursday, December 28, inside Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

• Of K-State’s 25 total bowl appearances all-time, 23 of those have come since 1993.

• The Wildcats hold a 10-14 record in bowl games and are looking to win their fourth bowl game in their last six appearances. It would be the first time since the 1997 through 2002 seasons the Wildcats won four bowls in six tries.

• This will mark the ninth different state in which K-State has traveled to bowl games. The most frequent destinations are Arizona (4-Copper/Insight/Buffalo Wild Wings/Cactus, 3-Fiesta) and Texas (3-Cotton, 3-Texas, 2-Alamo).

K-STATE IN FLORIDA • K-State is playing its first ever bowl game in the state of Florida and just the seventh overall game in The Sunshine State.

• The last time K-State played in Florida was 2011 at Miami, a 28-24 victory. Four of the other five games came in the 1970s as the Wildcats played in Gainesville against Florida (1947 – L; 1973 – L), in Tallahassee against Florida State (1970 – L; 1976 – L) and in Tampa against the University of Tampa (1973 – W).

CATS AND WOLFPACK • For the second-straight season, Kansas State will see a first-time matchup in a bowl game as the Wildcats and NC State are meeting for the first time ever on the gridiron in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

• Last season in the Sugar Bowl, K-State and Alabama met for the first time.

• In fact, this year’s Pop-Tarts Bowl will represent just the fourth time the Cats will face a team from the state of North Carolina.

• K-State defeated Charlotte, 55-7, in Manhattan in 2017. The Cats also split road victories against Wake Forest in 1975 (17-16 win in Winston Salem) and 1976 (13-0 loss in Manhattan).

K-STATE AND THE ACC • Kansas State will be playing its 19th game all-time against current members of the ACC.

• The 2023 Pop-Tarts Bowl will be the first time ever the Cats will play a bowl game against a team in the ACC at the time of the game. K-State did defeat Syracuse, 35-18, in the 1997 Fiesta Bowl and lost in the 2001 Insight.com Bowl and 2010 Pinstripe Bowl when it was a member of the Big EAST. The Cats lost to another Big EAST-turned-ACC member Boston College in the 1994 Aloha Bowl.

• This will be K-State’s first game against an ACC member since a 52-13 home victory over Miami in 2012. The Wildcats also defeated the Hurricanes a year prior in Miami Gardens.

BOWLING AGAIN • In an era of college football where over 80 teams play in bowl games each year, K-State is one of just 16 Power 5 schools to advance to a bowl in 12 of the last 14 years.

• The Wildcats are one of three Big 12 teams to accomplish the feat, joining Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

• Since 1993, Kansas State has advanced to 24 bowl games, which is tied for 16th nationally and fourth in the Big 12.

RANKED AGAIN • Kansas State was ranked No. 25 in the final College Football Playoff Top 25, marking the second-straight year the Wildcats were ranked in the final poll.

• The Wildcats have been ranked in 12-straight CFP Top 25 polls, which is tied for the sixth-longest active streak.

RANKED VS. RANKED •&nbsp;This year’s Pop-Tarts Bowl is one of 10 bowls pitting two teams ranked in the final College Football Playoff Top 25, but one of just four that are not part of the New Year’s Six.

• The other non-NY6 ranked vs. ranked matchups this year are in the Alamo Bowl (No. 12 Oklahoma vs. No. 14 Arizona), Sun Bowl (No. 16 Notre Dame vs. No. 19 Oregon State) and Citrus Bowl (No. 17 Iowa vs. No. 21 Tennessee), the latter being played inside Camping World Stadium just four days after the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

EIGHT IS GREAT • K-State enters the Pop-Tarts Bowl with an 8-4 record, marking the third-straight season the Cats have totaled at least eight wins.

• The Wildcats are the only Big 12 team with a current three-year streak of at least eight wins, while they are one of only 11 Power 5 teams to claim that feat (Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, NC State, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Oregon and Utah).

TOP 30 IN BOTH •&nbsp; Kansas State enters bowl season ranked 10th nationally in scoring offense (37.8 points per game) and 29th in scoring defense (21.2 points allowed per game). The Wildcats are one of just 10 Power 5 teams to rank in the top 30 in both categories, joining Alabama, Arizona, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State and Texas.

• The Wildcats are looking to finish in the top 30 nationally in both categories in the same season for the first time since 2014 when they ranked 24th in scoring offense (35.8 points per game) and 29th in scoring defense (23.2 points allowed per game).

AMONG THE NATION’S BEST • K-State has 221 victories since 1996, which is tied for 22nd nationally. Among current Big 12 teams, the Wildcats rank fifth behind Oklahoma (272), Texas (241), TCU (229) and BYU (228).

• Over the last 13 seasons, the Wildcats have won at least eight games 10 times. That is the second most among current Big 12 teams (Oklahoma – 12).

A WINNING TRADITION • Kansas State has been one of the best Big 12 teams since the inception of the conference in 1996. The Wildcats are third with 139 conference victories, trailing only Oklahoma and Texas.

• The Wildcats are also third in the conference in winning percentage since non-divisional play began in 2011. They sit at 59.8% (70-47), trailing only Oklahoma (77.6%; 90-26) and Oklahoma State (65.8%; 77-40).

• During that stretch, the Wildcats are 39-20 (66.1%) at home in Big 12 play and 31-27 (53.4%) on the road.

A CULTURE OF WINNING • A proven winner with a championship history, Chris Klieman holds a 110-37 career record, as his 74.8% career winning percentage ranks fourth among current FBS coaches that have led programs for at least 10 seasons.

• Klieman, who is 38-24 since arriving at K-State prior to the 2019 season, is also one of just 14 current Power 5 head coaches with at least 110 career wins.

TO’s MAKE THE DIFFERENCE • Prior to the Texas Tech game, K-State ranked 105th nationally in turnover margin (minus-3) but flipped that script over the final half of the regular season as it enters bowl season ranked seventh nationally with a plus-10 margin and 17th nationally in turnovers gained (21).

• In the final seven weeks of the regular season, K-State forced a nation-leading 18 turnovers (10 interceptions, eight fumbles) while only committing five (three interceptions, two fumbles).

OH, SO CLOSE • K-State’s four losses this season are by a combined 21 points with three of those coming against teams that finished in the final CFP Top 25 (No. 3 Texas, No. 9 Missouri, No. 20 Oklahoma State).

• K-State’s 5.25 average margin of defeat this season is the smallest among three- and four-loss Power 5 teams and over 14 points per game better than any other Big 12 team (West Virginia – 19.50; Oklahoma State and Kansas – 25.75).

TOP-NOTCH DISCIPLINE • K-State has been one of the most disciplined teams in the Big 12, ranking third with 42.75 penalty yards per game.

• The Wildcats enter bowl season ranked 22nd nationally in penalty yards per game, which would be their best ranking since finishing ninth in 2015 (38.85 yards per game).

CATS TOPS IN NON-OFFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS • K-State is the nation’s best in non-offensive touchdowns over the last 25 seasons as it has 131 since 1999, six more than the next closest team (Alabama – 125).

• K-State recorded two non-offensive scores against Baylor when linebacker Desmond Purnell returned a fumble 15 yards for a score, while cornerback Keenan Garber returned an interception 45 yards to paydirt. It was the first time K-State had two defensive scores in a game since 2017 (Charlotte), while it was the first for a Big 12 game since 2002 (Iowa State).

• Of the 131 non-offensive scores since 1999, 44 have been punt returns, 41 interception returns, 33 kickoff returns, 11 fumble returns and 2 missed/blocked field goal returns.

OFFENSIVE NOTESRILEY TAKING THE REINS • Offensive line coach Conor Riley will direct the offense for the Pop-Tarts Bowl as he was named the interim offensive coordinator. This will be the first time in Riley’s career that he will serve as the primary play caller.

• Riley, a native of Omaha, Nebraska, began his coaching career as a student assistant and graduate assistant at his alma mater, Omaha. He served one season as the offensive line coach at Concordia (MN) before moving back to Omaha as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator from 2007 to 2010.

• After spending two seasons as the offensive line coach at Sacramento State (2011-12), he was hired as the fullbacks coach at North Dakota State in 2013 and moved to offensive line on Chris Klieman’s original staff in 2014. He was with the Bison until 2019 when he followed Klieman to Kansas State.

SCORING SURGE • Kansas State enters bowl season ranked 10th nationally by scoring 37.8 points per game, a mark that currently ranks sixth in school history.

• The Wildcats are looking to finish in the top 10 in the country in scoring offense for the first time since ranking ninth in 2003. Their current average of 37.8 points per game is the highest since scoring 38.9 points per game in 2012.

• K-State has scored at least 30 points in each of the last seven games, which is the third-longest active streak in the nation entering bowl season.

TOTAL OFFENSE • K-State has totaled at least 375 yards in 21 of 26 games dating back to the beginning of the 2022 season. During that stretch, the Wildcats held a 10-game streak against Big 12 foes with 375 or more yards, the longest in school history.

• The Cats enter bowl season ranked 23rd nationally by averaging 446.1 yards per game, a mark that currently ranks second in school history. They also currently rank 10th in school history with 6.02 yards per play.

500 CLUB • Kansas State produced 500-yard contests this year against SEMO (588 yards), UCF (536 yards) and TCU (587 yards), while it narrowly missed out on a fourth 500-yard game in the regular-season finale against Iowa State (497 yards).

• K-State’s effort against TCU included 406 yards in the first half, the most in a half since at least 1999. The 587 yards against the Horned Frogs were also the sixth-most in school history and most ever for a conference game.

• The Wildcats’ 588 yards against SEMO were the fifth most in school history and the most ever for a season opener.

• This is the first year K-State has produced at least three 500-yard games since 2003 (535 vs. California; 503 at Iowa State; 561 at Nebraska; 519 vs. Oklahoma) and the first time with at least two in Big 12 play since 2014 (505 vs. Kansas and 535 vs. Texas Tech).

RUSHING TO VICTORY • K-State has steadily been one of the top rushing attacks in the country this year as it enters bowl season ranking 13th nationally with 199.7 rushing yards per game.

• A year after ranking 15th in the nation in rushing (208.3 yards per game), the Cats are looking to finish back-to-back seasons in the top 15 nationally in rushing for the first time since doing so in 2001 (5th; 257.7), 2002 (5th; 264.1) and 2003 (9th; 228.6).

• The Wildcats are also tied for 15th nationally with 30 rushing touchdowns, needing two in the Pop-Tarts Bowl to tie for 10th in school history.

TAKING CARE OF THE BALL • A staple of K-State football over the past decade has been committing very few turnovers, as the Wildcats rank third among Power 5 teams in fewest turnovers since 2012 with 178.

• That figure leads returning Big 12 teams, as the Wildcats are 18 better than the next closest program (Oklahoma, 196).

• The Wildcats finished the 2022 season tied for 12th nationally and first in the Big 12 with 12 turnovers lost. They also have 12 turnovers lost this year to enter bowl season tied for 15th in the country and second in the conference.

THIRD DOWN SUCCESS • Kansas State has been one of the best teams in the nation in terms of converting on third down, as the Wildcats are eighth nationally and second in the Big 12 with a 49.3% (86-of-174) success rate. K-State’s 86 total third-down conversions are tied for third in the country and are first in the Big 12.

• The Wildcats are looking to finish 50% or better on third downs in a season for the first time since 2012 (50.0% – 80-of-160)., which was also the last time they finished in the top 10 in the country (7th).

• The Wildcats have put together four games with at least 10 third-down conversions, the most in the nation. They had 11 conversions against Iowa State and 10 apiece against Troy, TCU and Houston. The four games with 10 or more third-down conversions are the most by the Wildcats since at least 1990.

• The Cats hit on 74.1% of their third-down attempts over the TCU and Houston games (20-of-27), nearly 10% higher than any other team in the country over those two weeks.

RED ZONE SUCCESS • Kansas State has been one of the best teams in the nation in turning red-zone trips into touchdowns, as the Wildcats enter bowl season leading the nation by finding paydirt on 78.69% percent of their red-zone possessions (48-of-61).

• K-State’s 48 red-zone touchdowns this year are tied for second nationally with Georgia and just three behind Oregon (51), while they are four more than the next closest Big 12 team (Oklahoma – 44).

• This year is a continuation of red-zone success under head coach Chris Klieman, as the Wildcats are second in the Big 12 by scoring on 90.7% (224-of-247) of their overall red-zone trips since 2019, just behind Oklahoma (90.9%).

THE START OF THE AVERY ERA • Avery Johnson, the top dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2023, is set to become just the second true freshman signal caller in school history to start a bowl game, while he will be the fifth true freshman to start any game under center.

• The other true freshman quarterback to start a bowl game was Josh Freeman in the 2006 Texas Bowl. Freeman went on to be a first-round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

• The other true freshman quarterbacks to start any game for the Wildcats are James Mack (one game in 1975), Duane Howard (three games in 1976), Freeman (eight games in 2006) and Will Howard (seven games in 2020).

• Johnson did start the TCU game earlier this season as he was one of two quarterbacks on the field, lining up out wide and taking an end-around on the first offensive play.

RUNNING TO PAYDIRT • Avery Johnson has six rushing touchdowns this season, which is tied for third in school history among freshmen. He is two shy of the record held by then-redshirt freshman fullback Ayo Saba in 2002 and one shy of tying the school’s true freshman record held by running back Deuce Vaughn in 2020.

• Johnson’s six rushing touchdowns this year are tied for the third most nationally among true freshmen and tied for the most among true freshman quarterbacks (FIU’s Keyone Jenkins).

BOOKENDING 2023 IN ORLANDO • The 2023 Pop-Tarts Bowl will allow quarterback Avery Johnson to begin and end calendar year 2023 in the same stadium.

• A product of Wichita, Kansas, Johnson began the year playing in the 2023 Under Armour Next All-America Game inside Camping World Stadium on January 3.

🏈 Pop-Tarts Bowl Preview: K-State vs. North Carolina State

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