Nov 30, 2022

Big 12 Sports News for Wednesday

Posted Nov 30, 2022 1:07 PM

Here is the latest Big 12 Conference sports news for Wednesday  from The Associated Press

UNDATED (AP) — Ohio State was No. 5 in the second-to-last College Football Playoff rankings, positioned to possibly take advantage if one of the top four slips up on championship weekend. Georgia was No. 1 again. No. 2 Michigan and No. 3 TCU both moved up a spot, and Southern California (11-1) climbed two spots into the fourth slot. The Buckeyes dropped three spots after losing 45-23 to the rival Wolverines on Saturday at home. Alabama moved up a spot to No. 6 and was followed by Southeastern Conference rival Tennessee, which beat the Crimson Tide in October.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Olivier-Maxence Prosper scored 24 points and Marquette capitalized on a dominant start from its defense to roll past No. 6 Baylor 96-70 in the Big 12-Big East Battle. Marquette raced to a 51-25 halftime lead thanks to a 24-0 edge in points off turnovers. Baylor already had a season-high 16 turnovers by halftime and finished with 20. The margin never dropped below 22 points in the second half. This was the highest-ranked team Marquette has beaten under second-year coach Shaka Smart. Marquette owns a 7-6 record against Top 25 teams under Smart.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Chris Klieman received a rather tepid reception when Kansas State hired him away from North Dakota State. Wildcat fans pined for someone from the Bill Snyder coaching tree, and the longtime small college coach hardly fit the bill. Four years later, Klieman has the No. 13 Wildcats playing third-ranked TCU for a Big 12 title. Everything about his program, from the hard-nosed and mistake-free football to the lack of ego or selfishness, also seems to fit seamlessly in his new home. And wouldn't you know it? Klieman has won over even the most ardent of naysayers.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Lexi Donarski scored 22 points as No. 8 Iowa State routed SIU-Edwardsville 93-43 on Tuesday night. The Cyclones (6-1) were playing just 48 hours after suffering their first loss - to North Carolina in Portland, Ore. on Sunday - and returning home around 5:45 a.m. Monday. Emily Ryan contributed 13 points for Iowa State. Ashley Joens and Stephanie Soares each scored 11. Soares also grabbed 10 rebounds. Olivia Clayton Ajulu Thatha each scored seven points for SIU-Edwardsville (0-6) which shot just 26.2 percent for the game.

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Third-ranked TCU might not be undefeated, getting ready for the Big 12 championship game and on the verge of making the College Football Playoff if they didn't have quarterback Max Duggan. The fourth-year senior lost his starting job going into this season. He took over when the other starter got hurt in the opener, and has since been one of the nation's most efficient passers. Duggan has completed two-thirds of his passes and leads the Big 12 with 3,070 yards and 29 touchdowns. His teammates call him a warrior and a leader. The Horned Frogs play No. 13 Kansas State on Saturday.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Lance Leipold has signed his lucrative contract extension at Kansas, which includes a massive pay raise for the Jayhawks' football coach along with his assistants and staff, and could keep him tied to the school through the 2029 season. Under terms of the contract, obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press, Leipold will make $5 million in the first year of the deal with annual $100,000 increases. That averages out to $5.3 million and tops out at $5.6 million in the final year. Leipold gets a $750,000 signing bonus while his buyout rises to $12.5 million. Leipold led the Jayhawks to a 6-6 record in his second year and their first bowl game since 2008.

UNDATED (AP) — Gonzaga has already faced a brutal schedule this season with wins over No. 19 Kentucky and No. 20 Michigan State and losses to second-ranked Texas and fifth-ranked Purdue. Next up: No. 6 Baylor on Friday night at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It will be a rematch of the 2021 national championship game won by the Bears in a rout. Other marquee games this week include Creighton-Texas in the Big East-Big 12 Battle, North Carolina-Indiana in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge and Michigan facing Kentucky at the 02 Arena in London.