Tuesday, January 14
 KFIX: Hays High MWBKB
at Emporia, 5:40pm &nbsp;KKQY: Logan-Palco MWBKB at Stockton, approx. 5:45pm

Wednesday, January 15
 KAYS: Tiger Talk,
12:15pm
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB at Iowa State, 4:30pm

Thursday, January 16
 KJLS: Fort Hays State
WMBKB vs. Missouri Western State, 5:05pm
 KHAZ: TMP-Marian MWBKB vs. Ellis, 5:40pm

Friday, January 17
 KKQY: Otis-Bison
MWBKB at LaCrosse, 5:15pm *
 KFIX: Hays High MWBKB at Garden City, 5:40pm

Saturday, January 18
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB vs.
Kansas State, 10:30am &nbsp;KJLS: Fort Hays State WMBKB vs. Northwest Missouri State, 1:35pm
 KFIX: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans, 2pm
 Sunday,
1/19
none

Tuesday, January 14
 KFIX: Hays High MWBKB
at Emporia, 5:40pm &nbsp;KKQY: Logan-Palco MWBKB at Stockton, approx. 5:45pmWednesday, January 15
 KAYS: Tiger Talk,
12:15pm
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB at Iowa State, 4:30pmThursday, January 16
 KJLS: Fort Hays State
WMBKB vs. Missouri Western State, 5:05pm
 KHAZ: TMP-Marian MWBKB vs. Ellis, 5:40pmFriday, January 17
 KKQY: Otis-Bison
MWBKB at LaCrosse, 5:15pm *
 KFIX: Hays High MWBKB at Garden City, 5:40pmSaturday, January 18
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB vs.
Kansas State, 10:30am &nbsp;KJLS: Fort Hays State WMBKB vs. Northwest Missouri State, 1:35pm
 KFIX: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans, 2pm
 Sunday,
1/19
none

🎧 Eagle Radio, Hull sports broadcast schedule

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22ARNIE%20STAPLETON%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Pro Football Writer</a>

DENVER (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/broncos-season-wrapup-nix-payton-b2593dd576936f77873176ae24350c97">Denver Broncos</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chargers-season-wrapup-harbaugh-1efa14152cb290aec5b399b5643065ca">Los Angeles Chargers</a>&nbsp;felt good about their chances heading into the playoffs in large part because they had played the reigning&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-nfl-playoffs-6f7dbffff1f69e7b31277850fa6626b3">two-time Super Bowl</a>&nbsp;champion Kansas City Chiefs so tough this season.

Their wipeouts in the wild-card round show they're not as close to overtaking the Chiefs as they may have thought.

The Broncos (10-8) would have swept Kansas City (15-2) were it not for a blocked field goal as time expired in Week 10 that preserved the Chiefs' 16-14 escape at Arrowhead, and Denver ended its eight-year playoff drought with a 38-0 shutout of K.C.'s backups in Week 18.

If not for that fluke failure from his field goal protection unit, Sean Payton would be 3-1 against Kansas City since becoming Broncos head coach, and Jim Harbaugh was really close to going 2-0 against Andy Reid this season.

The Chargers (11-7) lost by two and seven points to K.C., which won its ninth consecutive AFC West crown in its quest for an unprecedented three-peat as Super Bowl champs.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texans-chargers-score-5a108d64ad9775007e5b4baade32bcf8">Chargers face-planted 32-12 at Houston</a>&nbsp;on Saturday after taking a 6-0 lead into the second quarter, and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/broncos-bills-playoffs-score-0519472b100dbacf96e8204dba436ffb">Broncos were blown out 31-7 at Buffalo</a>&nbsp;after grabbing a 7-0 lead just five snaps into the game.

The remaining teams — Baltimore, Buffalo and Houston — in the AFC field all could pose stiff challenges to the Chiefs. But Patrick Mahomes is 15-3 in the playoffs, has won his last seven postseason starts and is 4-0 against the AFC quarterbacks remaining in the playoffs.

Josh Allen is 0-3 against Mahomes in the playoffs and 6-2 against everybody else. Lamar Jackson is 0-1 against Mahomes and 3-3 against others, and Stroud is 2-1 and will face Mahomes for the first time in the postseason Saturday, when Mahomes and several other starters will be coming off a whopping 24 days' rest.

The Ravens and Bills meet in the other divisional round game while the Chargers and Broncos both look toward next season and ponder the painful lessons learned from their early exits.

Though not nearly as strong as the NFC North, which produced the 15-2 Lions, 14-3 Vikings and 11-6 Packers, all playoff teams, the AFC West sent three teams to the postseason for the first time since 2013.

“One of the things we learned early on is we got to find a way to play these games at home,” coach Sean Payton said.

That would mean upending the Chiefs, who have owned the division ever since Peyton Manning retired in 2016 and have averaged almost 13 wins a season since Mahomes became their starter in 2018.

So, how close are the Broncos to knocking the Chiefs from their pedestal? Several players who were cleaning out their lockers Monday said they felt they were close, although one thought it was a gotcha question.

“I mean, if you look at us, we were in all those games, every single one of them,” left tackle Garett Bolles said of the Broncos' 3-3 divisional record that included a sweep of Las Vegas and a pair of seven-point losses to the Chargers. “None of them were blowouts. We're right there. I think that we need to get some more playmakers but everything we have in this locker room, the core value, is here.

“The sky's the limit for us and I think we're going to be exactly where we want to be.”

Asked how close he felt the Broncos were to catching the Chiefs, right guard Quinn Meinerz, fresh off his first All-Pro season, was having none of it.

“You're already assuming the Chiefs,” he retorted.

Well, they have won nine consecutive division titles, second most ever behind the New England Patriots' 11-year dominance of the AFC East from 2009-19 under Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.

“We're not even on to the next season yet,” Meinerz interjected. “I mean, I can't predict any of that. We just got done playing in the playoffs. I think that's kind of a, kind of baiting question to ask, to be honest."

“This is all speculation and I'm not here to speculate,” Meinerz said. “I'm here to talk about what we just accomplished and not necessarily speculate on the future.”

He'll leave it to his coach to talk about supplanting Kansas City next season, by which time the Chiefs might just have another Lombardi Trophy glistening in their trophy case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736894536636.jpeg" alt="Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) congratulates wide receiver Troy Franklin (16) after Franklin caught a touchdown pass against the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter of an NFL wild card playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)" />
 <figcaption>Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) congratulates wide receiver Troy Franklin (16) after Franklin caught a touchdown pass against the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter of an NFL wild card playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22ARNIE%20STAPLETON%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Pro Football Writer</a>DENVER (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/broncos-season-wrapup-nix-payton-b2593dd576936f77873176ae24350c97">Denver Broncos</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chargers-season-wrapup-harbaugh-1efa14152cb290aec5b399b5643065ca">Los Angeles Chargers</a>&nbsp;felt good about their chances heading into the playoffs in large part because they had played the reigning&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-nfl-playoffs-6f7dbffff1f69e7b31277850fa6626b3">two-time Super Bowl</a>&nbsp;champion Kansas City Chiefs so tough this season.Their wipeouts in the wild-card round show they're not as close to overtaking the Chiefs as they may have thought.The Broncos (10-8) would have swept Kansas City (15-2) were it not for a blocked field goal as time expired in Week 10 that preserved the Chiefs' 16-14 escape at Arrowhead, and Denver ended its eight-year playoff drought with a 38-0 shutout of K.C.'s backups in Week 18.If not for that fluke failure from his field goal protection unit, Sean Payton would be 3-1 against Kansas City since becoming Broncos head coach, and Jim Harbaugh was really close to going 2-0 against Andy Reid this season.The Chargers (11-7) lost by two and seven points to K.C., which won its ninth consecutive AFC West crown in its quest for an unprecedented three-peat as Super Bowl champs.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texans-chargers-score-5a108d64ad9775007e5b4baade32bcf8">Chargers face-planted 32-12 at Houston</a>&nbsp;on Saturday after taking a 6-0 lead into the second quarter, and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/broncos-bills-playoffs-score-0519472b100dbacf96e8204dba436ffb">Broncos were blown out 31-7 at Buffalo</a>&nbsp;after grabbing a 7-0 lead just five snaps into the game.The remaining teams — Baltimore, Buffalo and Houston — in the AFC field all could pose stiff challenges to the Chiefs. But Patrick Mahomes is 15-3 in the playoffs, has won his last seven postseason starts and is 4-0 against the AFC quarterbacks remaining in the playoffs.Josh Allen is 0-3 against Mahomes in the playoffs and 6-2 against everybody else. Lamar Jackson is 0-1 against Mahomes and 3-3 against others, and Stroud is 2-1 and will face Mahomes for the first time in the postseason Saturday, when Mahomes and several other starters will be coming off a whopping 24 days' rest.The Ravens and Bills meet in the other divisional round game while the Chargers and Broncos both look toward next season and ponder the painful lessons learned from their early exits.Though not nearly as strong as the NFC North, which produced the 15-2 Lions, 14-3 Vikings and 11-6 Packers, all playoff teams, the AFC West sent three teams to the postseason for the first time since 2013.“One of the things we learned early on is we got to find a way to play these games at home,” coach Sean Payton said.That would mean upending the Chiefs, who have owned the division ever since Peyton Manning retired in 2016 and have averaged almost 13 wins a season since Mahomes became their starter in 2018.So, how close are the Broncos to knocking the Chiefs from their pedestal? Several players who were cleaning out their lockers Monday said they felt they were close, although one thought it was a gotcha question.“I mean, if you look at us, we were in all those games, every single one of them,” left tackle Garett Bolles said of the Broncos' 3-3 divisional record that included a sweep of Las Vegas and a pair of seven-point losses to the Chargers. “None of them were blowouts. We're right there. I think that we need to get some more playmakers but everything we have in this locker room, the core value, is here.“The sky's the limit for us and I think we're going to be exactly where we want to be.”Asked how close he felt the Broncos were to catching the Chiefs, right guard Quinn Meinerz, fresh off his first All-Pro season, was having none of it.“You're already assuming the Chiefs,” he retorted.Well, they have won nine consecutive division titles, second most ever behind the New England Patriots' 11-year dominance of the AFC East from 2009-19 under Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.“We're not even on to the next season yet,” Meinerz interjected. “I mean, I can't predict any of that. We just got done playing in the playoffs. I think that's kind of a, kind of baiting question to ask, to be honest."Are you around the corner, at least?“This is all speculation and I'm not here to speculate,” Meinerz said. “I'm here to talk about what we just accomplished and not necessarily speculate on the future.”He'll leave it to his coach to talk about supplanting Kansas City next season, by which time the Chiefs might just have another Lombardi Trophy glistening in their trophy case.

🏈 Blowouts show the Broncos, Chargers aren't as close to upending the Chiefs as they may have thought

Hays High at Emporia Tuesday, Jan. 14th – 6:00 p.m.&nbsp; Emporia, Kan. - Emporia High School

Radio: KFIX (96.9)&nbsp;<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KFIX">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> Video: Hays High Sports Network <a href="https://vcloud.hudl.com/broadcast/embed/1989318">CLICK HERE TO WATCH $$</a>

After a lengthy holiday break the Hays High Indians open the 2025 portion of their schedule Tuesday night on the road at Emporia.

The Hays girls are one of three unbeaten teams in 5A West at 6-0 while Emporia is 0-5.

The Indians boys look to get back to over .500 as they put their 3-3 record on the line against the 3-2&nbsp; Spartans.

Tip-off for the girls' game is set for 6 p.m., and the boys' game will follow on the Indians Sports Network.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694699014932.jpeg" alt="HHS Listen Live" />
 <figcaption>HHS Listen Live</figcaption>
 </figure>Hays High at Emporia Tuesday, Jan. 14th – 6:00 p.m.&nbsp; Emporia, Kan. - Emporia High SchoolRadio: KFIX (96.9)&nbsp;<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/KFIX">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN</a> Video: Hays High Sports Network <a href="https://vcloud.hudl.com/broadcast/embed/1989318">CLICK HERE TO WATCH $$</a>After a lengthy holiday break the Hays High Indians open the 2025 portion of their schedule Tuesday night on the road at Emporia.The Hays girls are one of three unbeaten teams in 5A West at 6-0 while Emporia is 0-5.The Indians boys look to get back to over .500 as they put their 3-3 record on the line against the 3-2&nbsp; Spartans.Tip-off for the girls' game is set for 6 p.m., and the boys' game will follow on the Indians Sports Network.

🏀🎥 Hays High travels to Emporia

Monday, January 13
 KAYS: Hawk Talk with
Bill Self, 6pm &nbsp;KFIX: Chiefs Kingdom, 6pm

Monday, January 13
 KAYS: Hawk Talk with
Bill Self, 6pm &nbsp;KFIX: Chiefs Kingdom, 6pmTuesday, January 14
 KFIX: Hays High MWBKB
at Emporia, 5:40pm &nbsp;KKQY: Logan-Palco MWBKB at Stockton, approx. 5:45pmWednesday, January 15
 KAYS: Tiger Talk,
12:15pm
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB at Iowa State, 4:30pmThursday, January 16
 KJLS: Fort Hays State
WMBKB vs. Missouri Western State, 5:05pm
 KHAZ: TMP-Marian MWBKB vs. Ellis, 5:40pmFriday, January 17
 KKQY: Otis-Bison
MWBKB at LaCrosse, 5:15pm *
 KFIX: Hays High MWBKB at Garden City, 5:40pmSaturday, January 18
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB vs.
Kansas State, 10:30am &nbsp;KJLS: Fort Hays State WMBKB vs. Northwest Missouri State, 1:35pm
 KFIX: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans, 2pm
 Sunday,
1/19
none

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-bills-josh-allen-7ce3fc8ddcb6da68f7d1b83109912ab7">spread-the-wealth approach on offense</a>&nbsp;that was so productive in the regular season proved unstoppable in their playoff opener.

Whether it was Allen completing a 24-yard touchdown pass to&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/1878533116509446443">sliding running back Ty Johnson on fourth down</a>, or James Cook racking up 120 yards rushing, including&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/BuffaloBills/status/1878512854384435499">a 5-yard touchdown run</a>, the Bills leaned on a balanced attack in a 31-7 win over the Denver Broncos in a wild-card playoff game on Sunday.

“I don’t think there was one certain thing over another. We just wanted to come out and execute well,” Allen said. “At the end of the day, we just wanted to come out and play our best football, and I feel like we did that today.”

With Allen completing 20 of 26 attempts for 272 yards passing and two touchdowns, and the running game combining for 210 yards, Buffalo methodically wore down the Broncos by scoring on six of its first seven drives in a game where the Bills finished with a 23-minute edge in time of possession.

Allen completed passes to eight players, including getting receiver Curtis Samuel involved by essentially sealing the win&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NFLonCBS/status/1878537183746793497">with a 55-yard touchdown catch</a>&nbsp;on the opening snap of the fourth quarter.

“I’ll speak on behalf of Curtis. He probably didn’t have the season that he wanted to have,” Allen said of the eighth-year player who was limited to 31 catches for 253 yards and a touchdown. “But he just continued to work hard, and that’s kind of the mentality we’ve had all year is everybody eats. And today was his day.”

The five-time defending AFC East champion Bills, who became the NFL’s first team to score 30 touchdowns rushing and passing in a season, advanced to the divisional round for a fifth straight postseason, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/allen-jackson-mahomes-stroud-beac74965e8b949f99bf43d26a4d53d0">will face the third-seeded Baltimore Ravens next Sunday night</a>.

The Ravens, coming off a 28-14 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday, routed Buffalo 35-10 at Baltimore in Week 4 this season. The outing will mark the second playoff meeting between Allen and Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson after Buffalo defeated the Ravens 17-3 in the 2020 divisional round.

“This is what everyone’s been waiting for, right?” coach Sean McDermott said. “So it’ll be a nice week and everyone will be looking forward to it, and they’re a great football team. I mean they handled us pretty good the first go around and they’re certainly playing well.”

The seventh-seeded Broncos were outclassed in their first playoff appearance since their Super Bowl-winning season in 2015.

Denver’s offense essentially stalled after rookie Bo Nix capped a five-play opening drive with a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NFLonCBS/status/1878504209831600380">43-yard touchdown pass to former college teammate Troy Franklin</a>. Nix finished 13 of 22 for 144 yards in an outing where Denver punted four times and turned the ball over on downs twice.

The game served as a lesson in how much further the first-round pick and the Broncos still have to go after a promising season in which Nix threw 29 touchdown passes — two short of the NFL rookie record.

“I’m really proud of these guys. We’ve overcome a lot and not really been counted in many games,” Nix said. “But to make the playoffs was a special moment for this group. It’s something we can build off of. ... Our goals are changing.”

Meantime, the Broncos attacking defense was kept at bay by an Allen-led attack that was more than content in gaining small chunks of yards on lengthy time-consuming drives. The Broncos, who had an NFL-leading 63 sacks this seasons, sacked Allen just twice in an game where the Bills punted once.

“Who got punched in the mouth?” Bills edge rusher Greg Rousseau asked, dismissively, regarding the Broncos scoring 2:24 into the game.

“It really was just a message to ourselves,” Rousseau said. “We know who we are week after week, and what we’re capable of and what we’re supposed to do out there. That’s what it’s all about.”

Though the Bills didn't force a takeaway, they made impactful plays in limiting the Broncos to convert just two of nine third down opportunities.

And then there was Cam Lewis' diving tackle in shoving running back Jaleel McLaughlin out of bounds for no gain on fourth-and-2 at the Buffalo 14 early in the fourth quarter.

With Buffalo leading 13-7, Allen broke the game open with his touchdown pass to Johnson with 3:06 left in the third quarter. The score held up following a replay review, which showed Johnson’s foot touching out of bounds but after he secured the ball.

“You tell me it’s complete, I’m going to sign up for it every week,” McDermott said in placing his faith in Allen to convert on fourth down. “You guys know that. I trust him and I believe in him.”

Allen's touchdown to Samuel came on Buffalo's next possession.

Cook became Buffalo’s first player to top 100 yards rushing in a playoff game since Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas had 158 yards rushing in a 1995 wild-card playoff win over Miami. Allen increased his playoff total to 23 passing touchdowns, breaking the franchise record of 21 held by Hall of Famer Jim Kelly.

Bills: Host the Ravens in a matchup of two quarterbacks selected in the first round of the 2018 draft.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736767100219.jpeg" alt="Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (4) carries the ball for a first down against the Denver Broncos during the third quarter of an NFL wild card playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)" />
 <figcaption>Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (4) carries the ball for a first down against the Denver Broncos during the third quarter of an NFL wild card playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)</figcaption>
 </figure>ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-bills-josh-allen-7ce3fc8ddcb6da68f7d1b83109912ab7">spread-the-wealth approach on offense</a>&nbsp;that was so productive in the regular season proved unstoppable in their playoff opener.Whether it was Allen completing a 24-yard touchdown pass to&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/1878533116509446443">sliding running back Ty Johnson on fourth down</a>, or James Cook racking up 120 yards rushing, including&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/BuffaloBills/status/1878512854384435499">a 5-yard touchdown run</a>, the Bills leaned on a balanced attack in a 31-7 win over the Denver Broncos in a wild-card playoff game on Sunday.“I don’t think there was one certain thing over another. We just wanted to come out and execute well,” Allen said. “At the end of the day, we just wanted to come out and play our best football, and I feel like we did that today.”With Allen completing 20 of 26 attempts for 272 yards passing and two touchdowns, and the running game combining for 210 yards, Buffalo methodically wore down the Broncos by scoring on six of its first seven drives in a game where the Bills finished with a 23-minute edge in time of possession.Allen completed passes to eight players, including getting receiver Curtis Samuel involved by essentially sealing the win&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NFLonCBS/status/1878537183746793497">with a 55-yard touchdown catch</a>&nbsp;on the opening snap of the fourth quarter.“I’ll speak on behalf of Curtis. He probably didn’t have the season that he wanted to have,” Allen said of the eighth-year player who was limited to 31 catches for 253 yards and a touchdown. “But he just continued to work hard, and that’s kind of the mentality we’ve had all year is everybody eats. And today was his day.”The five-time defending AFC East champion Bills, who became the NFL’s first team to score 30 touchdowns rushing and passing in a season, advanced to the divisional round for a fifth straight postseason, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/allen-jackson-mahomes-stroud-beac74965e8b949f99bf43d26a4d53d0">will face the third-seeded Baltimore Ravens next Sunday night</a>.The Ravens, coming off a 28-14 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday, routed Buffalo 35-10 at Baltimore in Week 4 this season. The outing will mark the second playoff meeting between Allen and Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson after Buffalo defeated the Ravens 17-3 in the 2020 divisional round.“This is what everyone’s been waiting for, right?” coach Sean McDermott said. “So it’ll be a nice week and everyone will be looking forward to it, and they’re a great football team. I mean they handled us pretty good the first go around and they’re certainly playing well.”The seventh-seeded Broncos were outclassed in their first playoff appearance since their Super Bowl-winning season in 2015.Denver’s offense essentially stalled after rookie Bo Nix capped a five-play opening drive with a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NFLonCBS/status/1878504209831600380">43-yard touchdown pass to former college teammate Troy Franklin</a>. Nix finished 13 of 22 for 144 yards in an outing where Denver punted four times and turned the ball over on downs twice.The game served as a lesson in how much further the first-round pick and the Broncos still have to go after a promising season in which Nix threw 29 touchdown passes — two short of the NFL rookie record.“I’m really proud of these guys. We’ve overcome a lot and not really been counted in many games,” Nix said. “But to make the playoffs was a special moment for this group. It’s something we can build off of. ... Our goals are changing.”Meantime, the Broncos attacking defense was kept at bay by an Allen-led attack that was more than content in gaining small chunks of yards on lengthy time-consuming drives. The Broncos, who had an NFL-leading 63 sacks this seasons, sacked Allen just twice in an game where the Bills punted once.“Who got punched in the mouth?” Bills edge rusher Greg Rousseau asked, dismissively, regarding the Broncos scoring 2:24 into the game.“It really was just a message to ourselves,” Rousseau said. “We know who we are week after week, and what we’re capable of and what we’re supposed to do out there. That’s what it’s all about.”Though the Bills didn't force a takeaway, they made impactful plays in limiting the Broncos to convert just two of nine third down opportunities.And then there was Cam Lewis' diving tackle in shoving running back Jaleel McLaughlin out of bounds for no gain on fourth-and-2 at the Buffalo 14 early in the fourth quarter.With Buffalo leading 13-7, Allen broke the game open with his touchdown pass to Johnson with 3:06 left in the third quarter. The score held up following a replay review, which showed Johnson’s foot touching out of bounds but after he secured the ball.“You tell me it’s complete, I’m going to sign up for it every week,” McDermott said in placing his faith in Allen to convert on fourth down. “You guys know that. I trust him and I believe in him.”Allen's touchdown to Samuel came on Buffalo's next possession.Cook became Buffalo’s first player to top 100 yards rushing in a playoff game since Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas had 158 yards rushing in a 1995 wild-card playoff win over Miami. Allen increased his playoff total to 23 passing touchdowns, breaking the franchise record of 21 held by Hall of Famer Jim Kelly.<h2>Up next</h2>Broncos: offseason.Bills: Host the Ravens in a matchup of two quarterbacks selected in the first round of the 2018 draft.

🏈 Josh Allen leads balanced offense as Bills dominate Broncos for wild-card win

Sunday, 1/12 none&nbsp;&nbsp;

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Emanuel Sharp scored 15 points, Joseph Tugler had 13 points and 10 rebounds, and No. 12 Houston used two big first-half runs to build a 22-point halftime lead in an 87-57 blowout of Kansas State on Saturday.

LJ Cryer and Ja'Vier Francis added 11 points apiece for the Cougars, who cruised to their eighth straight victory in their first trip to Manhattan since 1971. Houston beat the Wildcats by 22 at home last season in their first game as Big 12 foes.

The Cougars (12-3, 4-0) used runs of 16-2 and 18-3 to take a 46-24 halftime lead. Kansas State (7-8, 1-3) managed to close to 60-46 with just under 10 minutes to go, but the Cougars scored the next 12 points to put the game away.

Brendan Hausen hit five 3-pointers and had 15 points for the Wildcats, who were outrebounded 44-20 and outscored 52-18 in the paint. Max Jones added 13 points and four assists.

Houston held its previous seven opponents to 55 points or fewer. But against the Wildcats, the Cougars also showed they could score efficiently from anywhere on the floor.

Kansas State has been prone to game-deciding runs. It was a 15-0 spurt by Oklahoma State to end the first half in a 79-66 loss last week, and it was the Cougars' two big runs in the first half Saturday that doomed the Wildcats.

The Wildcats led 9-5 in the opening minutes when Sharp hit his first 3-pointer. That sent the Cougars on their 16-2 run over more than six minutes that resulted in a double-digit lead they never relinquished.

The Cougars did not turn over the ball until there was 13:03 left. They finished with five turnovers for the game.

Houston plays No. 21 West Virginia on Wednesday night. Kansas State plays Texas Tech on Tuesday night.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736646229453.png" alt="Photo K-State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo K-State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Emanuel Sharp scored 15 points, Joseph Tugler had 13 points and 10 rebounds, and No. 12 Houston used two big first-half runs to build a 22-point halftime lead in an 87-57 blowout of Kansas State on Saturday.LJ Cryer and Ja'Vier Francis added 11 points apiece for the Cougars, who cruised to their eighth straight victory in their first trip to Manhattan since 1971. Houston beat the Wildcats by 22 at home last season in their first game as Big 12 foes.The Cougars (12-3, 4-0) used runs of 16-2 and 18-3 to take a 46-24 halftime lead. Kansas State (7-8, 1-3) managed to close to 60-46 with just under 10 minutes to go, but the Cougars scored the next 12 points to put the game away.Brendan Hausen hit five 3-pointers and had 15 points for the Wildcats, who were outrebounded 44-20 and outscored 52-18 in the paint. Max Jones added 13 points and four assists.<h2>Takeaways</h2>Houston held its previous seven opponents to 55 points or fewer. But against the Wildcats, the Cougars also showed they could score efficiently from anywhere on the floor.Kansas State has been prone to game-deciding runs. It was a 15-0 spurt by Oklahoma State to end the first half in a 79-66 loss last week, and it was the Cougars' two big runs in the first half Saturday that doomed the Wildcats.<h2>Key moment</h2>The Wildcats led 9-5 in the opening minutes when Sharp hit his first 3-pointer. That sent the Cougars on their 16-2 run over more than six minutes that resulted in a double-digit lead they never relinquished.<h2>Key stat</h2>The Cougars did not turn over the ball until there was 13:03 left. They finished with five turnovers for the game.<h2>Up next</h2>Houston plays No. 21 West Virginia on Wednesday night. Kansas State plays Texas Tech on Tuesday night.___

🏀 Houston rides 2 big first-half runs, routs Kansas State 

HASTINGS, Neb. - The Fort Hays State men's wrestling team picked up 41 wins and had five student-athletes reach the podium at the Hastings Open on Saturday (Jan. 11).

Two Tigers reached the championship bout, with&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/connor-padgett/8304">Connor Padgett</a>&nbsp;(174 pounds) and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/ryan-patterson/8305">Ryan Patterson</a>&nbsp;(197 pounds) both finishing second, while&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/matthew-rodriguez/8306">Matthew Rodriguez</a>&nbsp;finished third at 184 pounds and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/a-b-stokes/8307">A.B. Stokes</a>&nbsp;(125 pounds) and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/drew-bell/8290">Drew Bell</a>&nbsp;(149 pounds) both placed fourth.

Padgett made quick work of his first two opponents, recording a pin in 42 seconds in the opening round before racking up a 19-4 technical fall in the quarterfinals. The redshirt-freshman then picked up a 4-2 decision against a Division I opponent from the University of Nebraska before falling in the championship bout to a competitor from Nebraska-Kearney. This is the second time Padgett has placed at the Hastings open after finishing fourth last season while this is his first podium finish this season.

Patterson also beat a DI wrestler on his road to the championship bout, beating another Nebraska competitor with a 10-0 major decision. The Peyton, Colo. native then slipped by with a 5-4 decision in the quarterfinals before securing a trip to the finals with a 7-4 win in sudden victory over a Loper from UNK. He fell in the title match via technical fall. This is Patterson's second podium finish at the Hastings Open after he placed fourth as a true freshman in 2023. It is his second-straight podium finish after winning the Cougar Open.

Rodriguez advanced to the quarterfinals with a medical forfeit before picking up a first-period pin in his first action of the day. His lone defeat of the day came against a Cornhusker from Nebraska before the sophomore picked up a pair of wins in the consolation bracket, including another first-period pin in the third-place match to earn his first placement of the season.

Bell turned in a record of 4-2 on the day to finish fourth and reach the podium for the first time this season. He suffered an early loss to a DI wrestler from Nebraska before rattling off four-straight wins in the consolation bracket to reach the third-place bout. The Hoxie, Kan. native picked up one pin, one technical fall and two decisions before falling in the consolation final.

Stokes also picked up his first placement of the season with a 3-2 record. The redshirt-freshman lost a narrow 4-3 decision in his first bout of the day before picking up three-straight wins in the consolation bracket. He picked up a 16-1 technical fall before beating a UNK wrestler with a 10-1 major decision. Stokes reached the consolation finals with a medical forfeit before falling to the same wrestler he lost to in the opening round.

<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/jacob-judd/8315">Jacob Judd</a>&nbsp;finished the day with a 3-2 record in the 165-pound bracket, reaching the consolation semifinals. His tournament opened with an 11-0 major decision before falling in the quarterfinals 4-1. The freshman then picked up a 1-0 decision and a win via medical forfeit before falling just before the 3rd-place bout.

<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/marcell-dely/8293">Marcell Dely</a>&nbsp;tied for the team lead with four wins on the day, finishing 4-2 in the 157-pound bracket. The Budapest, Hungary native won via fall in the opening round before suffering a defeat in his second bout of the day. He then recorded three more bonus-point wins, including two technical falls and another pin. Dely's four wins via pin or technical fall were tied for the most out of any of the 165 wrestlers in the event.

<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/cody-castelline/8311">Cody Castelline</a>&nbsp;went 3-2 in the 133-pound bracket, including two wins via decision and one win in sudden victory.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/jett-schwartz/8317">Jett Schwartz</a>&nbsp;(133 pounds),&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/d-andre-brown/8292">D'Andre Brown</a>&nbsp;(133 pounds),&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/houston-frank/8312">Houston Frank</a>&nbsp;(174 pounds) and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/ernesto-duenez/8377">Ernesto Duenez</a>&nbsp;(184 pounds) all picked up a pair of wins on the day, including two bonus-point wins from Schwartz and Duenez and one from Frank.

<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/kevin-honas/8296">Kevin Honas</a>&nbsp;picked up one win via fall at 141 pounds, pinning his opponent in 21 seconds for the second-quickest pin of the tournament and the fastest by a Tiger this season.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/justus-hulse/8297">Justus Hulse</a>&nbsp;(149 pounds), Charlie Huston (157 pounds),&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/griffin-mitchell/8316">Griffin Mitchell</a>&nbsp;(165 pounds),&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/jaxson-thomas/8308">Jaxson Thomas</a>&nbsp;(285 pounds) and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/riah-ostrander/8302">Riah Ostrander</a>&nbsp;(285) all finished the day 1-2.

Looking ahead, the Tigers will next travel to Marshall, Minn. for the SMSU Duals next Saturday (Jan. 18). FHSU will match up with DIII program Wisconsin-Eau Claire before battling host Southwest Minnesota State and Minot State.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736766687155.png" alt="FHSU Athletics photo/Coryn Hahn" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics photo/Coryn Hahn</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsHASTINGS, Neb. - The Fort Hays State men's wrestling team picked up 41 wins and had five student-athletes reach the podium at the Hastings Open on Saturday (Jan. 11).Two Tigers reached the championship bout, with&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/connor-padgett/8304">Connor Padgett</a>&nbsp;(174 pounds) and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/ryan-patterson/8305">Ryan Patterson</a>&nbsp;(197 pounds) both finishing second, while&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/matthew-rodriguez/8306">Matthew Rodriguez</a>&nbsp;finished third at 184 pounds and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/a-b-stokes/8307">A.B. Stokes</a>&nbsp;(125 pounds) and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/drew-bell/8290">Drew Bell</a>&nbsp;(149 pounds) both placed fourth.Padgett made quick work of his first two opponents, recording a pin in 42 seconds in the opening round before racking up a 19-4 technical fall in the quarterfinals. The redshirt-freshman then picked up a 4-2 decision against a Division I opponent from the University of Nebraska before falling in the championship bout to a competitor from Nebraska-Kearney. This is the second time Padgett has placed at the Hastings open after finishing fourth last season while this is his first podium finish this season.Patterson also beat a DI wrestler on his road to the championship bout, beating another Nebraska competitor with a 10-0 major decision. The Peyton, Colo. native then slipped by with a 5-4 decision in the quarterfinals before securing a trip to the finals with a 7-4 win in sudden victory over a Loper from UNK. He fell in the title match via technical fall. This is Patterson's second podium finish at the Hastings Open after he placed fourth as a true freshman in 2023. It is his second-straight podium finish after winning the Cougar Open.Rodriguez advanced to the quarterfinals with a medical forfeit before picking up a first-period pin in his first action of the day. His lone defeat of the day came against a Cornhusker from Nebraska before the sophomore picked up a pair of wins in the consolation bracket, including another first-period pin in the third-place match to earn his first placement of the season.Bell turned in a record of 4-2 on the day to finish fourth and reach the podium for the first time this season. He suffered an early loss to a DI wrestler from Nebraska before rattling off four-straight wins in the consolation bracket to reach the third-place bout. The Hoxie, Kan. native picked up one pin, one technical fall and two decisions before falling in the consolation final.Stokes also picked up his first placement of the season with a 3-2 record. The redshirt-freshman lost a narrow 4-3 decision in his first bout of the day before picking up three-straight wins in the consolation bracket. He picked up a 16-1 technical fall before beating a UNK wrestler with a 10-1 major decision. Stokes reached the consolation finals with a medical forfeit before falling to the same wrestler he lost to in the opening round.<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/jacob-judd/8315">Jacob Judd</a>&nbsp;finished the day with a 3-2 record in the 165-pound bracket, reaching the consolation semifinals. His tournament opened with an 11-0 major decision before falling in the quarterfinals 4-1. The freshman then picked up a 1-0 decision and a win via medical forfeit before falling just before the 3rd-place bout.<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/marcell-dely/8293">Marcell Dely</a>&nbsp;tied for the team lead with four wins on the day, finishing 4-2 in the 157-pound bracket. The Budapest, Hungary native won via fall in the opening round before suffering a defeat in his second bout of the day. He then recorded three more bonus-point wins, including two technical falls and another pin. Dely's four wins via pin or technical fall were tied for the most out of any of the 165 wrestlers in the event.<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/cody-castelline/8311">Cody Castelline</a>&nbsp;went 3-2 in the 133-pound bracket, including two wins via decision and one win in sudden victory.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/jett-schwartz/8317">Jett Schwartz</a>&nbsp;(133 pounds),&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/d-andre-brown/8292">D'Andre Brown</a>&nbsp;(133 pounds),&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/houston-frank/8312">Houston Frank</a>&nbsp;(174 pounds) and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/ernesto-duenez/8377">Ernesto Duenez</a>&nbsp;(184 pounds) all picked up a pair of wins on the day, including two bonus-point wins from Schwartz and Duenez and one from Frank.<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/kevin-honas/8296">Kevin Honas</a>&nbsp;picked up one win via fall at 141 pounds, pinning his opponent in 21 seconds for the second-quickest pin of the tournament and the fastest by a Tiger this season.&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/justus-hulse/8297">Justus Hulse</a>&nbsp;(149 pounds), Charlie Huston (157 pounds),&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/griffin-mitchell/8316">Griffin Mitchell</a>&nbsp;(165 pounds),&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/jaxson-thomas/8308">Jaxson Thomas</a>&nbsp;(285 pounds) and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/wrestling/roster/riah-ostrander/8302">Riah Ostrander</a>&nbsp;(285) all finished the day 1-2.UP NEXTLooking ahead, the Tigers will next travel to Marshall, Minn. for the SMSU Duals next Saturday (Jan. 18). FHSU will match up with DIII program Wisconsin-Eau Claire before battling host Southwest Minnesota State and Minot State.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🤼‍♂️ Five placers for FHSU men at Hastings Open

CINCINNATI (AP) — Hunter Dickinson scored 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season. as No. 11 Kansas pulled away from Cincinnati for a 54-40 victory on Saturday.

The matchup between two of the nation's top defensive teams resulted in a low scoring affair. The Jayhawks held the Bearcats scoreless for more than six minutes in the second half to spark a 14-0 run.

The 40 points are the fewest for the Bearcats in head coach Wes Miller's four seasons.

Zeke Mayo scored eight points for Kansas (12-3, 3-1 Big 12) which has won three straight.

Dillon Mitchell scored 10 points and Arrinten Page and Dan Skillings Jr. each had nine for Cincinnati (10-5, 0-4 Big 12).

Both teams shot under 40% and were a combined 3 of 18 from 3-point range in the first half. The Bearcats led 25-24 at halftime behind eight points from Mitchell.

A Bearcats turnover resulted in a dunk by Moore off a lob from Mayo to put Kansas ahead 46-37 with 3:48 left.

Kansas: The Jayhawks' defense helped them rally again from a halftime deficit to win. They trailed by six points at home to Arizona State then allowed only 13 second-half points in a 74-55 win. They trailed by one at halftime on Saturday then allowed only 15 second-half points to pull away.

Cincinnati: The Bearcats, who've relied heavily on the 3-point shot, averaging 24 attempts per game, are now 16 of 60 (26 percent) from 3-point range in the past three games.

Page missed a dunk that would have made it a one-point game, and Shakeel Moore's layup put Kansas ahead 42-37 with 5:26 left. Kansas would outscore the Bearcats 12-3 from that point on.

Kansas scored 16 points off 12 Bearcats turnovers.

Kansas plays at Iowa State on Wednesday, while Cincinnati plays at Colorado on Wednesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736630339255.png" alt="Photo Kansas athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>CINCINNATI (AP) — Hunter Dickinson scored 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season. as No. 11 Kansas pulled away from Cincinnati for a 54-40 victory on Saturday.The matchup between two of the nation's top defensive teams resulted in a low scoring affair. The Jayhawks held the Bearcats scoreless for more than six minutes in the second half to spark a 14-0 run.The 40 points are the fewest for the Bearcats in head coach Wes Miller's four seasons.Zeke Mayo scored eight points for Kansas (12-3, 3-1 Big 12) which has won three straight.Dillon Mitchell scored 10 points and Arrinten Page and Dan Skillings Jr. each had nine for Cincinnati (10-5, 0-4 Big 12).Both teams shot under 40% and were a combined 3 of 18 from 3-point range in the first half. The Bearcats led 25-24 at halftime behind eight points from Mitchell.A Bearcats turnover resulted in a dunk by Moore off a lob from Mayo to put Kansas ahead 46-37 with 3:48 left.<h2>Takeaways</h2>Kansas: The Jayhawks' defense helped them rally again from a halftime deficit to win. They trailed by six points at home to Arizona State then allowed only 13 second-half points in a 74-55 win. They trailed by one at halftime on Saturday then allowed only 15 second-half points to pull away.Cincinnati: The Bearcats, who've relied heavily on the 3-point shot, averaging 24 attempts per game, are now 16 of 60 (26 percent) from 3-point range in the past three games.<h2>Key moment</h2>Page missed a dunk that would have made it a one-point game, and Shakeel Moore's layup put Kansas ahead 42-37 with 5:26 left. Kansas would outscore the Bearcats 12-3 from that point on.<h2>Key stat</h2>Kansas scored 16 points off 12 Bearcats turnovers.<h2>Up next</h2>Kansas plays at Iowa State on Wednesday, while Cincinnati plays at Colorado on Wednesday.

🏀 Dickinson's 8th double-double lifts KU over Cincinnati

The Fort Hays State men look to start another win streak when they host Emporia State on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays, Kan.

The Fort Hays State men look to start another win streak when they host Emporia State on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays, Kan.<div><iframe title="FHSU Rewind-MBB vs. Emporia State (January 9, 2025)" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=pmc84-17a71a2-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=1&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=2" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 Defend the Fort Podcast: FHSU Rewind-MBB vs. Emporia State

Voice of the Chiefs Mitch Holthus discusses the regular season ending loss to the Broncos and how the Chiefs will handle their first round playoff bye.

The Holthus Hotline airs Saturday at 8:00 a.m. on 96.9, KFIX.

Voice of the Chiefs Mitch Holthus discusses the regular season ending loss to the Broncos and how the Chiefs will handle their first round playoff bye.The Holthus Hotline airs Saturday at 8:00 a.m. on 96.9, KFIX.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2005994167%3Fsecret_token%3Ds-wZDWbe7Aqq6&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/holthus-hotline-january-11-2025/s-wZDWbe7Aqq6" title="Holthus Hotline (January 11, 2025)" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Holthus Hotline (January 11, 2025)</a></div></div>

🎧 Holthus Hotline with Voice of the Chiefs Mitch Holthus

Saturday, January 11
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB at
Cincinnati, 11:30am

Saturday, January 11
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB at
Cincinnati, 11:30amSunday,
1/12 none

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Bill McCartney, who coached Colorado to its only football national championship in 1990, has died. He was 84.

The charismatic figure known as Coach Mac died Friday night “after a courageous journey with dementia,” according to a family statement. His family announced in 2016 that he had been diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer's.

“Coach Mac touched countless lives with his unwavering faith, boundless compassion, and enduring legacy as a leader, mentor and advocate for family, community and faith,” the family said in its statement. “As a trailblazer and visionary, his impact was felt both on and off the field, and his spirit will forever remain in the hearts of those he inspired.”

McCartney remains the winningest coach in Colorado history, with a record of 93-55-5. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2013.

“I am very saddened at the passing of Coach Mac,” said Colorado athletic director Rick George, who remained lifelong friends with McCartney after he hired George as his recruiting coordinator in 1987. “Coach Mac was an incredible man who taught me about the importance of faith, family and being a good husband, father and grandfather. He instilled discipline and accountability to all of us who worked and played under his leadership."

McCartney led Colorado to its best season in 1990, when the team finished 11-1-1 and beat Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl to clinch the national title. That season included a win at Missouri where the Buffaloes scored the winning touchdown on a “fifth down” as time expired — one of the biggest blunders in college football history.

The chain crew didn’t flip the marker from second to third down and the officials failed to notice. On fourth down — fifth in actuality — Charles Johnson scored to keep Colorado’s national title hopes afloat. Asked later if he would consider forfeiting the game, McCartney pointed to poor field conditions and didn’t think it was a fair test.

McCartney coached at Colorado from 1982-94, retiring early to spend more time with his wife, Lyndi, who died in 2013. Following his retirement, he worked full time at Promise Keepers, a ministry he started in 1990 after converting from Catholicism and whose aim is to encourage “godly men.”

The organization became a flash point in state politics, advocating unsuccessfully that gays be denied the designation of “protected class,” a position by the group that drew campus protests. He left as Promise Keepers’ president in 2003 because of his wife’s health but returned five years later.

As a football coach, McCartney’s impact at Colorado was immense. During a six-year span in the late ’80s and early ’90s, his teams were right up there with the powers of the time. McCartney coached Colorado to three Big Eight titles, 10 consecutive winning seasons in league competition and a 58-29-4 mark in conference play, all still school bests.

His 1989 squad went 11-1 and lost to Notre Dame 21-6 in the Orange Bowl. That set the groundwork for a national championship team that featured quarterbacks Darian Hagan and Charles Johnson, tailback Eric Bieniemy, and a stalwart defense that included Alfred Williams,&nbsp;<a href="https://cubuffs.com/honors/cu-athletic-hall-of-fame/greg-biekert/143">Greg Biekert</a>, Chad Brown and Kanavis McGhee.

“A hall of fame coach but somehow a better man and human being,” Brown&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/chadbrown94/status/1877952879794778560">wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.</a>&nbsp;“Love you Coach!”

Added&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/BigAlRadio/status/1877963947032371583">Williams in a post on X:</a>&nbsp;“His legacy is firmly built on love, character, integrity, hope, and faith. I will always thank God for blessing me with the opportunity to have him in my life. Thank you Coach for loving on all of us.”

To think, McCartney nearly chose a basketball coaching career.

Born in Riverview, Michigan, McCartney played center and linebacker at the University of Missouri, where he met his wife. He later coached basketball and football at a high school in Dearborn, Michigan. His teams were good, too, each capturing the state title in 1973.

He caught the eye of Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler, who wanted McCartney to join his staff at Michigan. If that weren’t enough, Michigan basketball coach Johnny Orr urged him to join his staff.

McCartney couldn’t decide. His wife gave him some simple advice — follow his heart.

He stepped into the world of college football.

McCartney learned under Schembechler for eight seasons, until an opportunity came up to guide his own team. When the late Chuck Fairbanks left Colorado to become involved with the New Jersey Generals in the upstart United States Football League, McCartney asked Schembechler if the Hall of Fame coach would put in a good word for him.

Schembechler’s backing carried a lot of weight, and then-Colorado athletic director Eddie Crowder gave McCartney the position.

It was a rough start for McCartney with only seven victories in his first three seasons, including a 1-10 finish in 1984. Then things started to turn.

His last season with the Buffaloes was 1994, when the team went 11-1 behind a roster that included Kordell Stewart, Michael Westbrook and the late Rashaan Salaam. That season featured the “Miracle in Michigan,” with Westbrook hauling in a 64-yard TD catch from Stewart on a Hail Mary as time expired in a road win over the Wolverines. Salaam also rushed for 2,055 yards and won the Heisman Trophy.

McCartney also groomed the next wave of coaches, mentoring assistants such as Gary Barnett, Jim Caldwell, Ron Dickerson, Gerry DiNardo, Karl Dorrell, Jon Embree, Les Miles, Rick Neuheisel, Bob Simmons, Lou Tepper, Ron Vanderlinden and John Wristen.

In recent years, McCartney got to watch grandson Derek play defensive line at Colorado. Derek’s father, Shannon Clavelle, was a defensive lineman for Colorado from 1992-94 before playing a few seasons in the NFL. Derek’s brother, T.C. McCartney, was a quarterback at LSU and is the son of late Colorado quarterback Sal Aunese, who played for Bill McCartney in 1987 and ’88 before being diagnosed with stomach cancer in 1989 and dying six months later at 21.

Growing up, Derek McCartney used to go next door to his grandfather’s house to listen to his stories. He never tired of them.

Derek soaked up the tales about Salaam winning the Heisman Trophy and how Colorado beat Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl to cement the national title. His grandfather had a picture of the famous play at Michigan and a button to push to hear the broadcast audio.

When playing for Colorado, hardly a day would go by when someone didn't ask Derek if he was somehow related to the coach.

“I like when that happens,” Derek said.

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Bill McCartney, who coached Colorado to its only football national championship in 1990, has died. He was 84.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A legend of the game. A legacy that will live forever. Rest in Peace, Coach Mac 🪽<a href="https://t.co/sSXySmmlZb">https://t.co/sSXySmmlZb</a> <a href="https://t.co/RKZqHvIZdl">pic.twitter.com/RKZqHvIZdl</a>&mdash; Colorado Buffaloes (@CUBuffs) <a href="https://twitter.com/CUBuffs/status/1877943660479685022?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The charismatic figure known as Coach Mac died Friday night “after a courageous journey with dementia,” according to a family statement. His family announced in 2016 that he had been diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer's.“Coach Mac touched countless lives with his unwavering faith, boundless compassion, and enduring legacy as a leader, mentor and advocate for family, community and faith,” the family said in its statement. “As a trailblazer and visionary, his impact was felt both on and off the field, and his spirit will forever remain in the hearts of those he inspired.”McCartney remains the winningest coach in Colorado history, with a record of 93-55-5. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2013.“I am very saddened at the passing of Coach Mac,” said Colorado athletic director Rick George, who remained lifelong friends with McCartney after he hired George as his recruiting coordinator in 1987. “Coach Mac was an incredible man who taught me about the importance of faith, family and being a good husband, father and grandfather. He instilled discipline and accountability to all of us who worked and played under his leadership."McCartney led Colorado to its best season in 1990, when the team finished 11-1-1 and beat Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl to clinch the national title. That season included a win at Missouri where the Buffaloes scored the winning touchdown on a “fifth down” as time expired — one of the biggest blunders in college football history.The chain crew didn’t flip the marker from second to third down and the officials failed to notice. On fourth down — fifth in actuality — Charles Johnson scored to keep Colorado’s national title hopes afloat. Asked later if he would consider forfeiting the game, McCartney pointed to poor field conditions and didn’t think it was a fair test.McCartney coached at Colorado from 1982-94, retiring early to spend more time with his wife, Lyndi, who died in 2013. Following his retirement, he worked full time at Promise Keepers, a ministry he started in 1990 after converting from Catholicism and whose aim is to encourage “godly men.”The organization became a flash point in state politics, advocating unsuccessfully that gays be denied the designation of “protected class,” a position by the group that drew campus protests. He left as Promise Keepers’ president in 2003 because of his wife’s health but returned five years later.As a football coach, McCartney’s impact at Colorado was immense. During a six-year span in the late ’80s and early ’90s, his teams were right up there with the powers of the time. McCartney coached Colorado to three Big Eight titles, 10 consecutive winning seasons in league competition and a 58-29-4 mark in conference play, all still school bests.His 1989 squad went 11-1 and lost to Notre Dame 21-6 in the Orange Bowl. That set the groundwork for a national championship team that featured quarterbacks Darian Hagan and Charles Johnson, tailback Eric Bieniemy, and a stalwart defense that included Alfred Williams,&nbsp;<a href="https://cubuffs.com/honors/cu-athletic-hall-of-fame/greg-biekert/143">Greg Biekert</a>, Chad Brown and Kanavis McGhee.“A hall of fame coach but somehow a better man and human being,” Brown&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/chadbrown94/status/1877952879794778560">wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.</a>&nbsp;“Love you Coach!”Added&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/BigAlRadio/status/1877963947032371583">Williams in a post on X:</a>&nbsp;“His legacy is firmly built on love, character, integrity, hope, and faith. I will always thank God for blessing me with the opportunity to have him in my life. Thank you Coach for loving on all of us.”To think, McCartney nearly chose a basketball coaching career.Born in Riverview, Michigan, McCartney played center and linebacker at the University of Missouri, where he met his wife. He later coached basketball and football at a high school in Dearborn, Michigan. His teams were good, too, each capturing the state title in 1973.He caught the eye of Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler, who wanted McCartney to join his staff at Michigan. If that weren’t enough, Michigan basketball coach Johnny Orr urged him to join his staff.McCartney couldn’t decide. His wife gave him some simple advice — follow his heart.He stepped into the world of college football.McCartney learned under Schembechler for eight seasons, until an opportunity came up to guide his own team. When the late Chuck Fairbanks left Colorado to become involved with the New Jersey Generals in the upstart United States Football League, McCartney asked Schembechler if the Hall of Fame coach would put in a good word for him.Schembechler’s backing carried a lot of weight, and then-Colorado athletic director Eddie Crowder gave McCartney the position.It was a rough start for McCartney with only seven victories in his first three seasons, including a 1-10 finish in 1984. Then things started to turn.His last season with the Buffaloes was 1994, when the team went 11-1 behind a roster that included Kordell Stewart, Michael Westbrook and the late Rashaan Salaam. That season featured the “Miracle in Michigan,” with Westbrook hauling in a 64-yard TD catch from Stewart on a Hail Mary as time expired in a road win over the Wolverines. Salaam also rushed for 2,055 yards and won the Heisman Trophy.McCartney also groomed the next wave of coaches, mentoring assistants such as Gary Barnett, Jim Caldwell, Ron Dickerson, Gerry DiNardo, Karl Dorrell, Jon Embree, Les Miles, Rick Neuheisel, Bob Simmons, Lou Tepper, Ron Vanderlinden and John Wristen.In recent years, McCartney got to watch grandson Derek play defensive line at Colorado. Derek’s father, Shannon Clavelle, was a defensive lineman for Colorado from 1992-94 before playing a few seasons in the NFL. Derek’s brother, T.C. McCartney, was a quarterback at LSU and is the son of late Colorado quarterback Sal Aunese, who played for Bill McCartney in 1987 and ’88 before being diagnosed with stomach cancer in 1989 and dying six months later at 21.Growing up, Derek McCartney used to go next door to his grandfather’s house to listen to his stories. He never tired of them.Derek soaked up the tales about Salaam winning the Heisman Trophy and how Colorado beat Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl to cement the national title. His grandfather had a picture of the famous play at Michigan and a button to push to hear the broadcast audio.When playing for Colorado, hardly a day would go by when someone didn't ask Derek if he was somehow related to the coach.“I like when that happens,” Derek said.

Bill McCartney, who coached Colorado to its only football national championship has died

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jack Sawyer had the kind of moment that will live on long past his playing days with Ohio State. Of course, one more victory would make it that much sweeter.

Sawyer stripped Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers — his former roommate — and returned the fumble 83 yards for the clinching touchdown in a 28-14 victory over the Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night, giving the Buckeyes a shot at their sixth AP national title.

“We talked before the game about how do you leave a legacy is to become your old legend. And there’s some guys on this team today that I believe will become legends in Ohio State history,” coach Ryan Day said. “Now they get 10 more days together, and an opportunity to tell their story if they go win one more.”

Led by Ohio native Sawyer and Quinshon Judkins, who rushed for two touchdowns, the Buckeyes (13-2) posted the semifinal victory in the same stadium where 10 years ago they were champions when the College Football Playoff debuted with a four-team format. Now they have the opportunity to be the winner again in the first season with an expanded 12-team field.

Ohio State plays Orange Bowl champion&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cfp-notre-dame-ohio-state-texas-276477d7ff38e93a3625632d515f189b">Notre Dame</a>&nbsp;in Atlanta on Jan. 20. It could be quite a finish for the Big Ten Buckeyes after they lost to rival Michigan on Nov. 30.

Sawyer got to Ewers on a fourth-and-goal from the 8, knocking the ball loose before scooping it up and lumbering all the way to the other end zone with 2:13 left. It was the longest fumble return in CFP history.

“I saw the ball pop out right to me after I tackled him, I was just thinking, I’ve got to stay on my feet, because I almost blacked out when I scooped it and saw a bunch of green grass ahead of me,” Sawyer said.

Ewers and Sawyer were roommates in Columbus for one semester before the quarterback transferred home to Texas. Ewers helped lead the Longhorns (13-3) to consecutive CFP semifinals, but next season will be their 20th since winning their last national title with Vince Young in 2005.

“I felt him. I started drifting away, thought I was going to be able to get the ball off before he got there,” Ewers said. “I saw Jack running with the ball down the sideline. ... Jack’s a good player made a great play.”

Texas had moved to the 1, helped by two pass-interference penalties in the end zone, before Quintrevion Wisner was stopped for a 7-yard loss. Ewers then threw a third-down incompletion while being pressured by Sawyer on the play before the defensive touchdown.

“He’s everything that we possibly ask for in a captain,” Day said. “To make a play like that in that moment ... He just became a legend at Ohio State.”

Judkins, a transfer from Mississippi, had a 1-yard touchdown for a 21-14 lead with 7:02 left, capping an 88-yard, 13-play drive over 7:45. That score came four plays after quarterback Will Howard converted a fourth-and-2 from the Texas 34 with a stumbling 18-yard run that probably should have been a score.

“That fourth down was huge. ... I fell on purpose. I'm joking,” Howard said. “A statement drive. We needed that.”

Howard was 24-of-33 passing for 289 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He played his first game at AT&amp;T Stadium since leading Kansas State to a win over undefeated TCU in the Big 12 championship two years ago. He was 0-3 as a starter against the Longhorns while at K-State, including an overtime thriller in Austin last season.

Ewers finished 23 of 39 for 283 yards with two TD passes to Jaydon Blue and an interception after getting the ball back one final time. It might have been his last play for the Longhorns since he could go into the NFL draft.

Texas won the Big 12 title last season before moving to the SEC.

The Buckeyes went ahead on their opening drive of the game when Judkins scored on a 9-yard run. It looked as if they could get off to another fast start, after jumping ahead 21-0 and 34-0 in their first two playoff games.

But Ohio State then punted on four consecutive possessions before Texas tied it at 7 on Ewers' 18-yard touchdown pass to Blue with 29 seconds left in the first half. Arch Manning, the backup and future starting quarterback, kept that drive alive when he converted fourth-and-1 from midfield with an 8-yard keeper — his only play in the game.

Right after Texas' first TD, Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson turned a screen pass into a 75-yard touchdown, following a wall of blockers before shooting through an open gap and sprinting to the end zone.

Blue had a tying 26-yard TD catch with 3:12 left in the third quarter. The drive featured a terrific play by Ewers, who was being dragged down by Sawyer on third-and-10 when he managed to scoop the ball underhanded to Wisner for a 13-yard gain.

While Ohio State prepares for the CFP title game, Texas waits for a rematch with the Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in the previously scheduled 2025 season opener Aug. 30.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apnews.com/newsletters">here</a>. AP college football:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll">https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-football">https://apnews.com/hub/college-football</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736575503289.jpeg" alt="Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer, top, runs for a touchdown after recovering a fumble by Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, bottom, during the second half of the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal game, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)" />
 <figcaption>Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer, top, runs for a touchdown after recovering a fumble by Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, bottom, during the second half of the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal game, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)</figcaption>
 </figure>ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jack Sawyer had the kind of moment that will live on long past his playing days with Ohio State. Of course, one more victory would make it that much sweeter.Sawyer stripped Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers — his former roommate — and returned the fumble 83 yards for the clinching touchdown in a 28-14 victory over the Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night, giving the Buckeyes a shot at their sixth AP national title.“We talked before the game about how do you leave a legacy is to become your old legend. And there’s some guys on this team today that I believe will become legends in Ohio State history,” coach Ryan Day said. “Now they get 10 more days together, and an opportunity to tell their story if they go win one more.”Led by Ohio native Sawyer and Quinshon Judkins, who rushed for two touchdowns, the Buckeyes (13-2) posted the semifinal victory in the same stadium where 10 years ago they were champions when the College Football Playoff debuted with a four-team format. Now they have the opportunity to be the winner again in the first season with an expanded 12-team field.Ohio State plays Orange Bowl champion&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cfp-notre-dame-ohio-state-texas-276477d7ff38e93a3625632d515f189b">Notre Dame</a>&nbsp;in Atlanta on Jan. 20. It could be quite a finish for the Big Ten Buckeyes after they lost to rival Michigan on Nov. 30.Sawyer got to Ewers on a fourth-and-goal from the 8, knocking the ball loose before scooping it up and lumbering all the way to the other end zone with 2:13 left. It was the longest fumble return in CFP history.“I saw the ball pop out right to me after I tackled him, I was just thinking, I’ve got to stay on my feet, because I almost blacked out when I scooped it and saw a bunch of green grass ahead of me,” Sawyer said.Ewers and Sawyer were roommates in Columbus for one semester before the quarterback transferred home to Texas. Ewers helped lead the Longhorns (13-3) to consecutive CFP semifinals, but next season will be their 20th since winning their last national title with Vince Young in 2005.“I felt him. I started drifting away, thought I was going to be able to get the ball off before he got there,” Ewers said. “I saw Jack running with the ball down the sideline. ... Jack’s a good player made a great play.”Texas had moved to the 1, helped by two pass-interference penalties in the end zone, before Quintrevion Wisner was stopped for a 7-yard loss. Ewers then threw a third-down incompletion while being pressured by Sawyer on the play before the defensive touchdown.“He’s everything that we possibly ask for in a captain,” Day said. “To make a play like that in that moment ... He just became a legend at Ohio State.”Judkins, a transfer from Mississippi, had a 1-yard touchdown for a 21-14 lead with 7:02 left, capping an 88-yard, 13-play drive over 7:45. That score came four plays after quarterback Will Howard converted a fourth-and-2 from the Texas 34 with a stumbling 18-yard run that probably should have been a score.“That fourth down was huge. ... I fell on purpose. I'm joking,” Howard said. “A statement drive. We needed that.”Howard was 24-of-33 passing for 289 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He played his first game at AT&amp;T Stadium since leading Kansas State to a win over undefeated TCU in the Big 12 championship two years ago. He was 0-3 as a starter against the Longhorns while at K-State, including an overtime thriller in Austin last season.Ewers finished 23 of 39 for 283 yards with two TD passes to Jaydon Blue and an interception after getting the ball back one final time. It might have been his last play for the Longhorns since he could go into the NFL draft.Texas won the Big 12 title last season before moving to the SEC.<h2>Not so fast</h2>The Buckeyes went ahead on their opening drive of the game when Judkins scored on a 9-yard run. It looked as if they could get off to another fast start, after jumping ahead 21-0 and 34-0 in their first two playoff games.But Ohio State then punted on four consecutive possessions before Texas tied it at 7 on Ewers' 18-yard touchdown pass to Blue with 29 seconds left in the first half. Arch Manning, the backup and future starting quarterback, kept that drive alive when he converted fourth-and-1 from midfield with an 8-yard keeper — his only play in the game.Right after Texas' first TD, Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson turned a screen pass into a 75-yard touchdown, following a wall of blockers before shooting through an open gap and sprinting to the end zone.<h2>A great escape</h2>Blue had a tying 26-yard TD catch with 3:12 left in the third quarter. The drive featured a terrific play by Ewers, who was being dragged down by Sawyer on third-and-10 when he managed to scoop the ball underhanded to Wisner for a 13-yard gain.<h2>Up next</h2>While Ohio State prepares for the CFP title game, Texas waits for a rematch with the Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in the previously scheduled 2025 season opener Aug. 30.___Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apnews.com/newsletters">here</a>. AP college football:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll">https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-football">https://apnews.com/hub/college-football</a>

🏈 Ohio State gets shot at 6th national title after win over Texas in CFP semi Cotton Bowl

HAYS, Kan. - Due to poor road conditions and more winter weather in the forecast over the weekend in Colorado, the Fort Hays State men's wrestling team has adjusted its schedule for this weekend. Instead of competing at the Western Colorado Open and the Tracy Borah Duals in Gunnison, Colo., the Tigers will now head to Hastings, Neb. for the Hastings Open.

Fort Hays State has sent redshirts and reserves to this event each of the last two years, but this is the first time the Tigers will send a full team to Hastings since January 2011 when they came home with two championships (133 - Aldon Isenberg, 285 - Justin Glenn) and six placers. The Tigers had a pair of placers at last year's event, with Jaxson Thomas&nbsp;finishing third at 285 pounds and Connor Padgett&nbsp;placing fourth at 174 pounds while Ryan Patterson&nbsp;finished fourth at 197 pounds in 2023.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736526528005.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsHAYS, Kan. - Due to poor road conditions and more winter weather in the forecast over the weekend in Colorado, the Fort Hays State men's wrestling team has adjusted its schedule for this weekend. Instead of competing at the Western Colorado Open and the Tracy Borah Duals in Gunnison, Colo., the Tigers will now head to Hastings, Neb. for the Hastings Open.Fort Hays State has sent redshirts and reserves to this event each of the last two years, but this is the first time the Tigers will send a full team to Hastings since January 2011 when they came home with two championships (133 - Aldon Isenberg, 285 - Justin Glenn) and six placers. The Tigers had a pair of placers at last year's event, with Jaxson Thomas&nbsp;finishing third at 285 pounds and Connor Padgett&nbsp;placing fourth at 174 pounds while Ryan Patterson&nbsp;finished fourth at 197 pounds in 2023.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🤼‍♂️ FHSU men adjust weekend schedule

The 7th-ranked Fort Hays State women look to bounce back from their first loss of the season when they host Emporia State on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at Gross Memorial Coliseum.

The 7th-ranked Fort Hays State women look to bounce back from their first loss of the season when they host Emporia State on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at Gross Memorial Coliseum.<div><iframe title="FHSU Rewind-WBB vs. Emporia State (January 9, 2025)" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=ufc2t-17a7170-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=1&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=2" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 Defend the Fort Podcast: FHSU Rewind-WBB vs. Emporia State

Hays High and TMP-Marian will have to wait a little longer to begin the 2025 portion of their basketball schedule. Their games scheduled for Friday night have been postponed to due to snowfall in eastern and southern Kansas.

The Indians were to travel to Emporia. Their games with the Spartans have been moved to this Tuesday.

No makeup date has been announced for the Monarchs who were to play Sacred Heart in Salina.

Hays PostHays High and TMP-Marian will have to wait a little longer to begin the 2025 portion of their basketball schedule. Their games scheduled for Friday night have been postponed to due to snowfall in eastern and southern Kansas.The Indians were to travel to Emporia. Their games with the Spartans have been moved to this Tuesday.No makeup date has been announced for the Monarchs who were to play Sacred Heart in Salina.

🏀 HHS, TMP Friday games postponed

Friday, January 10
 KKQY: Smith Center
MWBKB at Ellis, 5:15 *
 KFIX: Hays High MWBKB at Emporia, 5:40pm
 KHAZ: TMP-Marian MWBKB at Salina Sacred Heart, 5:40pm

Friday, January 10
 KKQY: Smith Center
MWBKB at Ellis, 5:15 *
 KFIX: Hays High MWBKB at Emporia, 5:40pm
 KHAZ: TMP-Marian MWBKB at Salina Sacred Heart, 5:40pmSaturday, January 11
 KAYS: Kansas MBKB at
Cincinnati, 11:30amSunday,
1/12 none

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Penn State quarterback Drew Allar said he was trying to throw the ball into the ground. Notre Dame defensive back Christian Gray dove for it anyway and — luck of the Irish — the ball ended up right in his hands.

A few seconds later, Gray and Notre Dame found themselves with a spot in the national title game after a thrill-a-minute 27-24 victory Thursday night in the Orange Bowl.

Gray's snag of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/drew-allar-penn-state-cfp-orange-bowl-3cb58be7733cc04cd3888c23ab831695">Allar's ill-advised pass</a>&nbsp;across the middle at the Penn State 42 with 33 seconds left, set up a 19-yard drive that ended with Mitch Jeter's winning 41-yard field goal.

The Irish (14-1), seeded seventh in this, the first 12-team college playoff, will have a chance to bring their 12th title and first since 1988 back under the Golden Dome with a game Jan. 20 in Atlanta. Their opponent will be the winner Friday night of the Texas-Ohio State semifinal in the Cotton Bowl.

“Just catch the ball. Just catch the ball,” Gray said about his interception. “That was going through my mind and I knew I was going to make a play.”

Penn State QB was trying to throw it away

Allar explained he saw his first two options covered on the play, then wanted to throw the ball into the dirt. But the throw, under pressure and across his body, didn't have enough zip on it to reach either receiver Omari Evans or the ground before Gray slid in.

“Honestly, I was trying to ‘dirt’ it at his feet,” said the junior quarterback. “I should’ve thrown it away when I saw the first two progressions were not open. I didn’t execute.”

It was the most memorable play of a game that was the best of what's been a sleepy few weeks of playoff football. It featured three ties and three lead changes, along with 31 points in the fourth quarter alone.

In the final, Irish coach Marcus Freeman will try to become&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/black-coaches-franklin-freeman-playoff-522b80d7553d3494889f9b0e8da5539a">the first Black coach to win the title at college</a>&nbsp;football’s highest level. Freeman, whose mother is South Korean, also is the first coach of Asian heritage to get this far.

“We found a way to make a play when it mattered the most,” Freeman said. “In my opinion, great teams, great programs, find a way to do that.”

Penn State coach James Franklin fell to 4-20 with the Nittany Lions against teams ranked in the AP Top 10. The sixth-seeded Nittany Lions ended the season at 13-3.

“Everyone wants to look at a specific play,” Franklin said. “But there's probably eight to 12 plays in that game that could have made a difference. I'm not going to call out specific plays or specific players. There are a ton of plays where we could have done better.”

Hit on Leonard shook up the QB and shook up the Irish

Notre Dame quarterback&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/notre-dame-riley-leonard-4fb493f918fcf60876e38e42b9134b00">Riley Leonard shook off a hit</a>&nbsp;late in the second quarter that sent him to the medical tent to be checked for a concussion. He came back and led the Irish on four scoring drives in the second half, including the last one.

“He’s a competitor and competitors find a way to win, and that’s what Riley does," Freeman said. "That’s what this team does.”

Leonard finished with 223 yards passing, including a key 10-yard dart to Jaden Greathouse to convert third-and-3 on the last drive. Leonard also had 35 yards rushing, and passed and ran for a score each.

With 4:38 left in the game, the senior quarterback hit Greathouse for a 54-yard score to tie it at 24 after a defender slipped.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Penn State quarterback Drew Allar said he was trying to throw the ball into the ground. Notre Dame defensive back Christian Gray dove for it anyway and — luck of the Irish — the ball ended up right in his hands.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">TEAM GLORY ☘️ ORANGE BOWL CHAMPIONS <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoIrish?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoIrish</a> <a href="https://t.co/CbqnL8fYTG">pic.twitter.com/CbqnL8fYTG</a>&mdash; Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDFootball/status/1877584129094484314?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">2025 ORANGE BOWL CHAMPIONS<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoIrish?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoIrish</a> <a href="https://t.co/V6Q4YLQA5h">pic.twitter.com/V6Q4YLQA5h</a>&mdash; Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDFootball/status/1877570838897029277?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>A few seconds later, Gray and Notre Dame found themselves with a spot in the national title game after a thrill-a-minute 27-24 victory Thursday night in the Orange Bowl.Gray's snag of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/drew-allar-penn-state-cfp-orange-bowl-3cb58be7733cc04cd3888c23ab831695">Allar's ill-advised pass</a>&nbsp;across the middle at the Penn State 42 with 33 seconds left, set up a 19-yard drive that ended with Mitch Jeter's winning 41-yard field goal.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">GOOD FROM 4️⃣1️⃣ MITCH JETER IS CLUTCH. MR. JANUARY. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoIrish?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoIrish</a> <a href="https://t.co/W3HO408OHQ">pic.twitter.com/W3HO408OHQ</a>&mdash; Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDFootball/status/1877569954662293539?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Irish (14-1), seeded seventh in this, the first 12-team college playoff, will have a chance to bring their 12th title and first since 1988 back under the Golden Dome with a game Jan. 20 in Atlanta. Their opponent will be the winner Friday night of the Texas-Ohio State semifinal in the Cotton Bowl.“Just catch the ball. Just catch the ball,” Gray said about his interception. “That was going through my mind and I knew I was going to make a play.”<h2>Penn State QB was trying to throw it away</h2>Allar explained he saw his first two options covered on the play, then wanted to throw the ball into the dirt. But the throw, under pressure and across his body, didn't have enough zip on it to reach either receiver Omari Evans or the ground before Gray slid in.“Honestly, I was trying to ‘dirt’ it at his feet,” said the junior quarterback. “I should’ve thrown it away when I saw the first two progressions were not open. I didn’t execute.”It was the most memorable play of a game that was the best of what's been a sleepy few weeks of playoff football. It featured three ties and three lead changes, along with 31 points in the fourth quarter alone.In the final, Irish coach Marcus Freeman will try to become&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/black-coaches-franklin-freeman-playoff-522b80d7553d3494889f9b0e8da5539a">the first Black coach to win the title at college</a>&nbsp;football’s highest level. Freeman, whose mother is South Korean, also is the first coach of Asian heritage to get this far.“We found a way to make a play when it mattered the most,” Freeman said. “In my opinion, great teams, great programs, find a way to do that.”Penn State coach James Franklin fell to 4-20 with the Nittany Lions against teams ranked in the AP Top 10. The sixth-seeded Nittany Lions ended the season at 13-3.“Everyone wants to look at a specific play,” Franklin said. “But there's probably eight to 12 plays in that game that could have made a difference. I'm not going to call out specific plays or specific players. There are a ton of plays where we could have done better.”<h2>Hit on Leonard shook up the QB and shook up the Irish</h2>Notre Dame quarterback&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/notre-dame-riley-leonard-4fb493f918fcf60876e38e42b9134b00">Riley Leonard shook off a hit</a>&nbsp;late in the second quarter that sent him to the medical tent to be checked for a concussion. He came back and led the Irish on four scoring drives in the second half, including the last one.“He’s a competitor and competitors find a way to win, and that’s what Riley does," Freeman said. "That’s what this team does.”Leonard finished with 223 yards passing, including a key 10-yard dart to Jaden Greathouse to convert third-and-3 on the last drive. Leonard also had 35 yards rushing, and passed and ran for a score each.With 4:38 left in the game, the senior quarterback hit Greathouse for a 54-yard score to tie it at 24 after a defender slipped.The game started slow (and boring), but Riley’s injury injected life into things. He led Notre Dame on TD drives of 75 and 72 yards in the third quarter to take a 17-10 lead.At that point, the fun was just getting started.Penn State had its chances, and Allar, considered a first-round pick by some if he leaves for the NFL, will spend the offseason reliving that last throw — or trying to forget it.Penn State forced a Notre Dame punt and looked assured of at least going to overtime when they took over at their 15 with 47 seconds left.After a gain of 13, Allar dropped to pass and had pressure coming. He threw across his body to the middle of the field, where Gray dove for the pick.A review showed it was a catch, and the Irish were onto the next step on a road that looked all but impossible when they fell 16-14 to Northern Illinois back in September.“To see how far we’ve come after the hiccup early on, just to know that we have one more guaranteed, one last one guaranteed, it’s just so exciting,” Notre Dame linebacker Jack Kiser said.Nick Singleton ran for 84 yards and all three Penn State touchdowns. Off target for much of the day, Allar finished 12 for 23 for 135 yards with the interception.“He's hurting right now. He should be. We're all hurting,” Franklin said.The quarterback didn't duck questions about the play or his role in the loss.“We didn’t win the game so it wasn't good enough, it’s plain and simple,” Allar said. “I’ll try to learn from it, do everything in my power to get better and just grow from it.”<h2>Cameo from Notre Dame's backup</h2>When Leonard went out, backup Steve Angeli came in and injected life into the Fighting Irish offense on the way to its first score.Angelli went 6 for 7 for 44 yards and moved Notre Dame to field goal range to trim its deficit to 10-3 just before halftime.“We have a lot of confidence in Steve,” Freeman said when asked why he allowed the Irish to play aggressively when he entered.<h2>Chilly Orange Bowl</h2>The kickoff temperature was 56 degrees, unseasonably cool for South Florida — and making it the second-coldest Orange Bowl ever, next to the Georgia Tech-Iowa game in 2010 that started at 49 and felt like the upper 30s.<h2>Up next</h2>Notre Dame will face either Ohio State or Texas in the CFP national championship game on Jan. 20. Penn State opens its 2025 season at home against Nevada on Aug. 30.