Here is the latest Big 12 Conference sports news from The Associated Press
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Michigan's Sherrone Moore and TCU's Garrett Riley will arrive at the Fiesta Bowl for a College Football Playoff semifinal Saturday between No. 2 Michigan and No. 3 TCU as rising-star offensive coordinators. A couple of millennials with old souls, Moore and Riley seem to be on a fast-track to head coaching jobs —- eventually. Neither is in a rush to move up, but it's apparent bigger things lie ahead in their careers.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Quentin Johnston came to TCU because of its coaching stability. Now he's playing in the biggest football game of his career because of a coaching change. Johnston embraced first-year coach Sonny Dykes and is one of many reasons the Horned Frogs have flourished this season with a 12-1 record. They'll face Michigan on Saturday in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Fiesta Bowl. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Johnston is expected to be a coveted prize in this spring's NFL draft. His size, speed and strong hands have some evaluators saying he'll be the first receiver drafted and a potential top 10 pick.
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Michael Penix, Jr. threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns and No. 12 Washington held off No. 21 Texas 27-20 on Thursday night in the Valero Alamo Bowl. Texas scored 10 late points, pulling within seven on Bert Auburn's 26-yard field goal with 1:40 remaining, but failed on an onside kick try. The Longhorns (8-5) stopped the Huskies (11-2) on the ensuing possession and took over on their own 16 with 32 seconds and got to the Washington 40 on the final play of the game. Penix finished the season with 4,641 yards passing to break the 20-year-old Washington season mark of 4,458 set by Cody Pickett.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Jordan Travis threw for 418 yards and two touchdowns and No. 13 Florida State beat Oklahoma 35-32 on Thursday night in the Cheez-It Bowl. Johnny Wilson made a one-handed grab for a 58-yard gain to set up Ryan Fitzgerald's 32-yard field goal with 55 seconds left. The Seminoles (10-3) held on, sacking quarterback Dillon Gabriel on the Sooners' comeback bid. Jovante Barnes tied it at 32 for Oklahoma (6-7) with 3:37 left on a 12-yard run. That was after Travis fired a 17-yard pass to tight end Markeston Douglas in the end zone to put the Seminoles up 32-25 midway through the fourth. Florida State won its first bowl since the 2017 season, and its first under coach Mike Norvell.
HOUSTON (AP) — Texas Tech is denying claims by Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin that a Red Raiders player spit on one of his players and possibly used a racial slur in the Texas Bowl. There was pushing and shoving between players after a fumble. When asked to clarify if a Texas Tech player used a racial slur, Kiffin said he wasn't sure but he said there was a slur involved. Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire and Moore both issued statements saying the allegations are false. The Red Raiders beat Ole Miss, 42-25.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — In an age of opt outs in college football, top NFL prospects for Alabama and Kansas State are opting in at the Sugar Bowl. Alabama quarterback Bryce Young and edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. headline those players who could have skipped Saturday's game and the risk of injury. Same goes for K-State running back Deuce Vaughn and defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah. All decided to play. Anudike-Uzomah says he and Vaughn worked three years to get the Wildcats to a major bowl and that it's a "dream" to play against Alabama.
WACO, Texas (AP) — Matt Powledge is returning to Baylor as defensive coordinator after a season away at Oregon. Powledge replaces Ron Roberts, who was fired after the 6-6 regular season and has since become defensive coordinator at Auburn for new coach Hugh Freeze. Before spending this season as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Oregon, Powledge had been on Aranda's original staff at Baylor. Powledge, a Texas native, was the Bears' safeties coach and special team's coordinator in 2020 and 2021.