Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid Quotes

OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Alright, go ahead and fire away.”

Q: What did you see from D.J. Humphries? Do you think he’s ready to start at left tackle again?

REID:&nbsp;“Listen, I thought D.J. (Humphries) did a pretty good job there. (There are) a few plays that he’d probably like to have back, but he’s headed in the right direction, for sure. I haven’t made any decisions on that (or) which direction to go right this minute, so we’ll see. We’ll get there by the time we get to the end of next week there.”

Q: What’s your take on Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy and Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo readiness to be a head coach again?

REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, Pete (Sweeney), you know this from what I’ve said before that I think both of them (Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy and Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) deserve an opportunity again to be head coaches. They’re obviously getting some play here so other people recognize that too, and we’ll just see where it goes. I know they’re focused on taking care of business now here and then looking at these other things this week and then that stops after this week.”

Q: What factors are most important when determining the starter at left tackle?

REID:&nbsp;“Well, the best part is that they both (Joe Thuney and D.J. Humphries) are good players and (Mike) Caliendo’s playing well, too, so I’m not too worried about that whole situation. We’ll just see how it plays out. (Offensive Line Coach) Andy (Heck) rotates them during the week anyways, so they’ll all get work and we’ll just go from there. Obviously, you want the best combination, but I think in this case you’ve got three guys there that are pretty good players.”

Q: Where do you feel like you guys are at with Harrison Butker coming off the injury heading into the playoffs?

REID:&nbsp;“He’s (Harrison Butker) working through that, and he’ll be fine. He’s a hard worker, that’s what he does and he’s a perfectionist on everything. He’ll just keep cranking and I think he’s getting better every day as he goes through this.

Q: Is there any affect on your friends and family in Los Angeles with the fires?

REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, I’ve had a couple friends that had some problems out there, but our hearts go out to all those people. You know, (our) prayers are with them and hopefully they get these things contained. They’re all in different areas of the city but those ones along the coast there, those are rough ones. We just pray for everybody’s safety, number one.”

Q:&nbsp;On the Chiefs recent success and legacy.

REID:&nbsp;“Listen, I mean there’s no place better to do it than right here in Kansas City, but when you’re in the middle of it, you really don’t think about it. You’re thinking about the next game. I mean, that’s just how this business is. When you look in the rear-view mirror, then you normally get your tail kicked so you have to be careful of that. We’re just trying to keep pushing forward but at the same time, we know we have great fans, I don’t ever want to slight that part. That’s an – GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium’s an unbelievable place to play with the support of GEHA as part of this thing too. We – the thing I enjoy the most about the present is for however great this thing is, these guys are so humble, and they work so hard, and I appreciate that part from a coach’s standpoint.”

Q:&nbsp;What does this weekend look like for you guys and how do you prepare for the possibility of playing four different teams?

REID:&nbsp;“We actually have played, which is crazy, but we’ve played all the teams that are in the playoffs. You have to go back though, you can’t be content with that so the four teams that we have a chance to potentially play in a couple weeks here, we’ve tried to hammer those out, and we’re going to continue to do that until we find out what the results are probably Sunday night, somewhere in that area, or at least late afternoon I would imagine. We’ll figure it out and see where it goes, but we’re going to try to be ready for all of them while we have this time, and we’ve tried to use it smart as a coaching staff. At the same time, we want to make sure our players are fresh but still stay sharp, so they worked today in pads and they’ll go tomorrow and then Sunday, whether it’s a Saturday game or a Sunday game, they’ll have Sunday off.”

Q:&nbsp;How are the injured guys doing right now?

REID:&nbsp;“Listen, they (Isiah Pacheco, Jawaan Taylor, Chris Jones and Chamarri Conner) all practiced today so that was a good thing, Matt (Derrick), that they were all able to get in there and bang it around a little bit. That was the big plus, so they’re all doing well to answer your question. They’re doing well.”

Q: On how Jaylen Watson has looked returning to practice.

REID:&nbsp;“He (Jaylen Watson) worked last week, he came out of those workouts and felt good. He worked hard today. We did a lot of one-on-one stuff today, so ones versus ones, so he was able to get in there and work that and he looked good from what I’ve seen. I haven’t gone back and looked at the tape yet, but he looked like he was moving around pretty good.”

Q: On what the team has been doing since the Denver game.

REID:&nbsp;“We gave the guys time off there. It’s very similar to two years ago, about the same schedule as we had two years ago, almost to the point – to the tee. The coaches have worked, Adam (Teicher), just so you know that.”

Q: On how beneficial earning the No. 1 seed will be for divvying up snaps for Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt.

REID:&nbsp;“You know how that position (running back) – that’s a tough position, you take a beating at that position. I think this period of time, the rest period, benefits a lot of people, but those running backs really. I mean that’s a good time for recovery, and I think they were smart with it. All the guys have been working out, so they were kind of chomping at the bit to get going, so that’s kind of how you want it. They knew that this bye week was going to be different than your in-season bye week, so they’ve all been in working and doing their thing. With those two (Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt), I don’t know how I’ll divvy up, but I would imagine it would just end up being the same as we’ve been doing with them. They will both be in there battling, you know.”

Q: Do you find any value in reinforcing to the guys what historic accomplishments are on the line?

REID:&nbsp;“No, I don’t think it is Vahe (Gregorian). The important thing is that you stay focused on the team at hand that you’re going to have an opportunity to play. For the coaches, it’s important that we know all these teams and then being able to put together a game plan where the players can execute it fast. If you start getting caught up in the what ifs and all that you get into trouble. You just have to take the next one and let’s go and play our best and do the best you can do and then let the chips fall where they may. You have to make sure you maximize that part and if anything gets in the way of that you have to get rid of it. It’s not – it’ll hinder you but better than help you.”

Q: How beneficial is it to have veterans that have been in big moments to lean on?

REID:&nbsp;“The experience helps. Especially with some of the younger guys to be able to talk to them and tell them about the urgency of this thing. It is single elimination. That’s easier said than putting that in your brain and getting yourself right for every snap that you have at practice to practice hard and aggressive with. You just have to make sure you really stay focused and don’t let distractions in there the best you can.”

Q: How do you approach practice tempos with the young guy to give them a taste of playoffs?

REID:&nbsp;“Today we did ones versus ones, that would be an example of what you’re saying. So, they get that speed against each other and have to compete. These are all competitive guys, but you put the ones out there against each other, they really get competitive and that’s kind of a fun thing to be a part of and it’s good for the guys. It’s good to get caught up like that on the speed part of it.”

Q: The organization released a survey to fans on what they want the new stadium to have. Any requests that you have?

Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid QuotesJanuary 10, 2025OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Alright, go ahead and fire away.”Q: What did you see from D.J. Humphries? Do you think he’s ready to start at left tackle again?REID:&nbsp;“Listen, I thought D.J. (Humphries) did a pretty good job there. (There are) a few plays that he’d probably like to have back, but he’s headed in the right direction, for sure. I haven’t made any decisions on that (or) which direction to go right this minute, so we’ll see. We’ll get there by the time we get to the end of next week there.”Q: What’s your take on Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy and Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo readiness to be a head coach again?REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, Pete (Sweeney), you know this from what I’ve said before that I think both of them (Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy and Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) deserve an opportunity again to be head coaches. They’re obviously getting some play here so other people recognize that too, and we’ll just see where it goes. I know they’re focused on taking care of business now here and then looking at these other things this week and then that stops after this week.”Q: What factors are most important when determining the starter at left tackle?REID:&nbsp;“Well, the best part is that they both (Joe Thuney and D.J. Humphries) are good players and (Mike) Caliendo’s playing well, too, so I’m not too worried about that whole situation. We’ll just see how it plays out. (Offensive Line Coach) Andy (Heck) rotates them during the week anyways, so they’ll all get work and we’ll just go from there. Obviously, you want the best combination, but I think in this case you’ve got three guys there that are pretty good players.”Q: Where do you feel like you guys are at with Harrison Butker coming off the injury heading into the playoffs?REID:&nbsp;“He’s (Harrison Butker) working through that, and he’ll be fine. He’s a hard worker, that’s what he does and he’s a perfectionist on everything. He’ll just keep cranking and I think he’s getting better every day as he goes through this.Q: Is there any affect on your friends and family in Los Angeles with the fires?REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, I’ve had a couple friends that had some problems out there, but our hearts go out to all those people. You know, (our) prayers are with them and hopefully they get these things contained. They’re all in different areas of the city but those ones along the coast there, those are rough ones. We just pray for everybody’s safety, number one.”Q:&nbsp;On the Chiefs recent success and legacy.REID:&nbsp;“Listen, I mean there’s no place better to do it than right here in Kansas City, but when you’re in the middle of it, you really don’t think about it. You’re thinking about the next game. I mean, that’s just how this business is. When you look in the rear-view mirror, then you normally get your tail kicked so you have to be careful of that. We’re just trying to keep pushing forward but at the same time, we know we have great fans, I don’t ever want to slight that part. That’s an – GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium’s an unbelievable place to play with the support of GEHA as part of this thing too. We – the thing I enjoy the most about the present is for however great this thing is, these guys are so humble, and they work so hard, and I appreciate that part from a coach’s standpoint.”Q:&nbsp;What does this weekend look like for you guys and how do you prepare for the possibility of playing four different teams?REID:&nbsp;“We actually have played, which is crazy, but we’ve played all the teams that are in the playoffs. You have to go back though, you can’t be content with that so the four teams that we have a chance to potentially play in a couple weeks here, we’ve tried to hammer those out, and we’re going to continue to do that until we find out what the results are probably Sunday night, somewhere in that area, or at least late afternoon I would imagine. We’ll figure it out and see where it goes, but we’re going to try to be ready for all of them while we have this time, and we’ve tried to use it smart as a coaching staff. At the same time, we want to make sure our players are fresh but still stay sharp, so they worked today in pads and they’ll go tomorrow and then Sunday, whether it’s a Saturday game or a Sunday game, they’ll have Sunday off.”Q:&nbsp;How are the injured guys doing right now?REID:&nbsp;“Listen, they (Isiah Pacheco, Jawaan Taylor, Chris Jones and Chamarri Conner) all practiced today so that was a good thing, Matt (Derrick), that they were all able to get in there and bang it around a little bit. That was the big plus, so they’re all doing well to answer your question. They’re doing well.”Q: On how Jaylen Watson has looked returning to practice.REID:&nbsp;“He (Jaylen Watson) worked last week, he came out of those workouts and felt good. He worked hard today. We did a lot of one-on-one stuff today, so ones versus ones, so he was able to get in there and work that and he looked good from what I’ve seen. I haven’t gone back and looked at the tape yet, but he looked like he was moving around pretty good.”Q: On what the team has been doing since the Denver game.REID:&nbsp;“We gave the guys time off there. It’s very similar to two years ago, about the same schedule as we had two years ago, almost to the point – to the tee. The coaches have worked, Adam (Teicher), just so you know that.”Q: On how beneficial earning the No. 1 seed will be for divvying up snaps for Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt.REID:&nbsp;“You know how that position (running back) – that’s a tough position, you take a beating at that position. I think this period of time, the rest period, benefits a lot of people, but those running backs really. I mean that’s a good time for recovery, and I think they were smart with it. All the guys have been working out, so they were kind of chomping at the bit to get going, so that’s kind of how you want it. They knew that this bye week was going to be different than your in-season bye week, so they’ve all been in working and doing their thing. With those two (Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt), I don’t know how I’ll divvy up, but I would imagine it would just end up being the same as we’ve been doing with them. They will both be in there battling, you know.”Q: Do you find any value in reinforcing to the guys what historic accomplishments are on the line?REID:&nbsp;“No, I don’t think it is Vahe (Gregorian). The important thing is that you stay focused on the team at hand that you’re going to have an opportunity to play. For the coaches, it’s important that we know all these teams and then being able to put together a game plan where the players can execute it fast. If you start getting caught up in the what ifs and all that you get into trouble. You just have to take the next one and let’s go and play our best and do the best you can do and then let the chips fall where they may. You have to make sure you maximize that part and if anything gets in the way of that you have to get rid of it. It’s not – it’ll hinder you but better than help you.”Q: How beneficial is it to have veterans that have been in big moments to lean on?REID:&nbsp;“The experience helps. Especially with some of the younger guys to be able to talk to them and tell them about the urgency of this thing. It is single elimination. That’s easier said than putting that in your brain and getting yourself right for every snap that you have at practice to practice hard and aggressive with. You just have to make sure you really stay focused and don’t let distractions in there the best you can.”Q: How do you approach practice tempos with the young guy to give them a taste of playoffs?REID:&nbsp;“Today we did ones versus ones, that would be an example of what you’re saying. So, they get that speed against each other and have to compete. These are all competitive guys, but you put the ones out there against each other, they really get competitive and that’s kind of a fun thing to be a part of and it’s good for the guys. It’s good to get caught up like that on the speed part of it.”Q: The organization released a survey to fans on what they want the new stadium to have. Any requests that you have?

Chiefs Quotes: 1-10-24

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The Kansas City Royals announced today that they have invited 23 players to Major League Spring Training in Surprise, Ariz. Among the invitees are 10 pitchers, six catchers, five infielders and two outfielders.

Of the 23 invitees, 15 were originally signed or drafted by Kansas City: left-handed pitchers Austin Cox and Tyson Guerrero; right-handed pitchers Ben Kudrna (koo-dur-nuh), Anthony Simonelli and Steven Zobac; catchers Kyle Hayes, Omar Hernández, Carter Jensen, Blake Mitchell and Luca Tresh; infielders Jac Caglianone (cag-lee-ohn), Tyler Tolbert and Javier Vaz (rhymes with jazz) and outfielders Gavin Cross and John Rave.

There are five invitees who are returning to the organization in 2025, including right-handed pitchers Chandler Champlain, Andrew Hoffmann and Beck Way, catcher Brian O’Keefe and infielder Cam Devanney (duh-VAY-nee).

Super utility player Cavan Biggio signed with Kansas City on Sunday and brings six Major League seasons of experience with him. He debuted with Toronto in 2019 and remained with them into 2024 before making appearances with the Dodgers and Braves to end the season. He is the son of Hall of Fame catcher/infielder Craig Biggio.

Right-handed pitcher Taylor Clarke, who pitched for Kansas City from 2022-23, returns to the Royals after spending 2024 in the Brewers organization. There have been 34 players in Royals history to appear in at least 1 game, leave the organization and return to play in at least 1 game for the team, most recently done by left-handed pitcher Will Smith (2012-13, 2024).

Right-handed pitcher Junior Fernández joins the Royals following big league stints with St. Louis (2019-22) and Pittsburgh (2022). He spent last season in Japan with the Chiba Lotte Marines.

2025 marks the first invitation to Major League Spring Training for 11 players, including Guerrero, Hoffmann, Kudrna, Simonelli, Zobac, Hayes, Hernández, Mitchell, Caglianone, Vaz and Cross, with all but Hoffmann being homegrown.

Kansas City’s 63-man Spring Training roster is attached.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The Kansas City Royals announced today that they have invited 23 players to Major League Spring Training in Surprise, Ariz. Among the invitees are 10 pitchers, six catchers, five infielders and two outfielders.Of the 23 invitees, 15 were originally signed or drafted by Kansas City: left-handed pitchers Austin Cox and Tyson Guerrero; right-handed pitchers Ben Kudrna (koo-dur-nuh), Anthony Simonelli and Steven Zobac; catchers Kyle Hayes, Omar Hernández, Carter Jensen, Blake Mitchell and Luca Tresh; infielders Jac Caglianone (cag-lee-ohn), Tyler Tolbert and Javier Vaz (rhymes with jazz) and outfielders Gavin Cross and John Rave.There are five invitees who are returning to the organization in 2025, including right-handed pitchers Chandler Champlain, Andrew Hoffmann and Beck Way, catcher Brian O’Keefe and infielder Cam Devanney (duh-VAY-nee).Super utility player Cavan Biggio signed with Kansas City on Sunday and brings six Major League seasons of experience with him. He debuted with Toronto in 2019 and remained with them into 2024 before making appearances with the Dodgers and Braves to end the season. He is the son of Hall of Fame catcher/infielder Craig Biggio.Right-handed pitcher Taylor Clarke, who pitched for Kansas City from 2022-23, returns to the Royals after spending 2024 in the Brewers organization. There have been 34 players in Royals history to appear in at least 1 game, leave the organization and return to play in at least 1 game for the team, most recently done by left-handed pitcher Will Smith (2012-13, 2024).Right-handed pitcher Junior Fernández joins the Royals following big league stints with St. Louis (2019-22) and Pittsburgh (2022). He spent last season in Japan with the Chiba Lotte Marines.2025 marks the first invitation to Major League Spring Training for 11 players, including Guerrero, Hoffmann, Kudrna, Simonelli, Zobac, Hayes, Hernández, Mitchell, Caglianone, Vaz and Cross, with all but Hoffmann being homegrown.Kansas City’s 63-man Spring Training roster is attached.

Royals invite 23 players to Major League spring training

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

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -&nbsp;(12/10) K-State (16-1, 4-0 Big 12) ends a two-game road trip through the state of Utah, as the Wildcats visit BYU (10-5, 1-3) on Saturday at 5 p.m. (CT).

• K-State has opened this season with a 16-1 record for the second straight season and the third time since 2008-09. With a win Saturday, K-State would achieve the fifth 17-1 or better start to a season in school history and its second straight.

• Saturday’s game will air on ESPN+, as Spencer Linton (play-by-play) and Kristen Kozlowski (analyst) will have the call.

Five names, numbers or storylines about K-State women’s basketball

• K-State owns an active win streak of 11. This is the second straight season (14, Dec. 1, 2023 - Jan. 31, 2024) the Wildcats have recorded a double figure win streak.

2. Handful of 1,000+ Point Scorers

• K-State features four players with 1,000 or more career points: Ayoka Lee (2,450), Temira Poindexter (1,761), Serena Sundell (1,479) and Jaelyn Glenn (1,027). The Wildcats and Miami (Fla.) are the only two teams in the nation with a 2,000+ point scorer, 1,500+ point scorer and a 1,000+ point scorer on their roster.

3. Mittie Tied With a K-State Legend

• K-State head coach Jeff Mittie needs one win (206-136, .602; 2014-present) to pass Judy Akers (206-94, .687; 1968-79) for second on the K-State career wins list.

• K-State leads the nation in field goal percentage (.508), field goal percentage defense (.316) and assists per game (22.9).

5. Lee Named to Midseason Wooden List

• Senior center and All-America candidate Ayoka Lee has been named to the 2025 Wooden Award Midseason Top-25 Watch List. This is the fourth time in her career that she has been named to the award’s midseason watch list.

• This season, K-State has shot 50.0 percent or better in 43 quarters.

• Of the 68 quarters played this season, the Wildcats have registered a field goal percentage of 50.0 percent or better in 63.2 percent of those quarters. This would surpass the highest percentage of 34.5 in 2023-24.

• Since the quarter system began in NCAA Division I women’s basketball in 2015-16, K-State’s top mark for quarters with a field goal percentage of 50.0 percent or better is 48 in the 2023-24 season.

2024-25 K-State Coach &amp; Player Milestones to Watch

• Needs one win to move into second on the K-State Women’s Basketball wins list (Judy Akers, 206)

• Needs three double-doubles to move into second in Big 12 history for career double-doubles

• Needs 175 rebounds to move into second in Big 12 history for career rebounds

• Needs 22 made free throws to set the school record for career free throws made

• Needs 21 points to reach 1,500 career points

• Needs 57 steals to move into third on K-State career steals list

• Needs 39 rebounds for sole possession of 20th on the K-State career rebounds list

• BYU (10-5, 1-3 Big 12) snapped a three-game losing streak with an 89-75 win over Houston on Wednesday night.

• On the sideline, BYU is led by third-year head coach Amber Whiting. Whiting, a 2001 graduate of BYU, is 42-39 (.519) during her time in Provo.

• On the floor, the Cougars feature three players in double figures including freshman guard Delaney Gibb, senior forward Emma Calvert and sophomore Amari Whiting.

• Gibb, a guard from Raymond, Alberta, Canada, paces BYU in scoring at 16.5 points per game and 3-point field goals made and attempted (39-of-99). She is second on the squad in assists (56; 3.7 apg). Against Houston, Gibb tallied 16 points, four rebounds and three assists.

• Calvert, a forward from Farr West, Utah, is second on the team in scoring (13.5 ppg), leads the team in field goal percentage (.541) and blocks (17) and is third in rebounding (5.5 rpg). Against the Cougars, Calvert led BYU with 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting, seven rebounds and two blocks.

• Whiting is third on the squad in scoring with 10.7 points per game and tied for the team lead in rebounding (6.0 rpg) and paces the team in assists (63; 4.2 apg). Against Houston, Whiting tallied 20 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals.

• Kansas State has opened the season with a 16-1 overall record.

• This is the second straight season and equals the best 16-game start for K-State in the Jeff Mittie era.

• In program history, K-State has opened a season 16-1 five times.

• K-State has strung together one of the longest winning streaks in program history to boost its overall win total this season.

• The Wildcats’ current 11-game winning streak is tied for the sixth-longest in program history.

• This is the 11th double-digit winning streak in school history.

• This is the first time since the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons in which K-State has registered a double-digit win streak in consecutive seasons.

• Last season the Wildcats won 14 consecutive games from Dec. 1, 2023 to Jan. 31, 2024. This was the longest winning streak in the Jeff Mittie era and tied for the second-longest in school history.

• K-State’s nine-game winning streak in Big 12 play last season was the longest conference win streak in the Mittie era and tied for the longest conference win streaks in program history joining the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons. K-State was the first team since Baylor in 2019-20 to win its first nine Big 12 games.

Three is not a Crowd, It’s a Benefit

• Since 2011-12, when three or more players reach double figures in scoring in the same game, K-State is 190-85 (.691) including a 15-1 record in the 2024-25 season.

• The Wildcats had a season-high six players reach double figures against Milwaukee on Nov. 20.

• The combination of Ayoka Lee and Serena Sundell have scored in double figures in 45 of 74 games played together since 2021-22.

• Lee and Sundell combined to score 52 points in a win over New Mexico State on Dec. 18. This is the third time the duo has combined to score 50 or more points in the same game including the school record of 72 against Oklahoma on Jan. 23, 2022.

K-State Holds Foes to Single-Digits

• In the 10th season of the quarter system in women’s college basketball, K-State’s defense has limited its opponents point production for 10 minute durations.

• Kansas State is 108-29 (.788) when holding an opponent to single digits in any quarter in a game.

• K-State has held foes to 20 quarters this season with single-digits. The Wildcats are 14-0 when holding an opponent to single digits in any quarter in a game.

• Against USC Upstate on Dec. 5, K-State held the Spartans to two points in two different quarters (first and fourth quarters). The 2 points in a quarter tied the school record for fewest points allowed in any quarter.

• K-State held USC Upstate to 11 points in the second half (9 pts - 3rd qtr; 2 pts - 4th qtr). The 11 points in the second half were the fewest K-State allowed since holding Clemson on Nov. 24, 2022, to 9 second half points.

• In the 2023-24 season, K-State held its opponents to 25 quarters with single digits. The Wildcats were 16-1 last season when holding an opponent to single digits in any quarter of a game.

• At Baylor on Jan. 22, the Wildcats held the Bears to 16 points in the second half allowing eight points in both the third and fourth quarters. This was the first time in 10 years that Baylor was held under 20 points in the second half of a game.

• Senior Temira Poindexter has sparked K-State from deep to open the 2024-25 season.

• This season, Poindexter is 35-of-98 (.357) from 3-point range. She has 10 games with two or more connections from long range. She ranks 12th in the Big 12 in 3-point field goals made per game (2.06).

• Against Belmont on Nov. 7, Poindexter made a personal season-high five 3-point field goals.

• In her collegiate career, Poindexter is 216-of-681 (.317) from distance. She owns 64 career games with two or more 3-point field goals made, including 18 career games with four or more 3-point field goals made.

• Jaelyn Glenn continues to provide K-State with diverse lines.

• In the season-opener against Green Bay on Nov. 4, Glenn tallied 17 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three steals. With the effort, she is the seventh player in the Jeff Mittie era to register a single-game stat line of 15 or more points, five or more rebounds, five or more assists and two or more steals.

• At Utah on Jan. 8, Glenn notched 11 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals.

• Against Belmont on Nov. 7, Glenn notched 10 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals.

• In her career, Glenn owns 22 career games with 10 or more points, five or more rebounds and two or more steals in a game.

• Glenn is the fifth player in program history and first since 2009 with 1,000 or more points, 500 or more rebounds, 250 or more assists and 225 or more steals.

•&nbsp; Glenn ended the 2023-24 regular season with diverse lines. In the regular season home finale against Iowa State, Glenn tallied 15 points, six rebounds and three steals. At Texas Tech in the regular season finale, Glenn carded 10 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.

• These were her second and third games this seson with 10 or more points, five or more rebounds and two or more steals.

• In the 2022-23 season, Glenn’s diverse stat line included averaging 11.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.1 assists.

• Glenn was one of two players in the Big 12 in the 2022-23 season to average 11 or more points, five or more rebounds, two or more assists and two or more steals.

• She was the only player in the Big 12 and one of five in the nation in the 2022-23 season with totals of 400 or more points, 175 or more rebounds and 90 or more steals. Glenn was the first Wildcat in program history to reach 400 or more points, 175 or more rebounds and 90 or more steals in a season.

• Glenn established career season-highs for points (406), field goals made and attempted (150-of-363), field goal percentage (.413), 3-point field goals made and attempted (71-of-195), three-point field goal percentage (.364), free throws made and attempted (35-of-52), free throw percentage (.673), steals (91) and blocked shots (17).

• At Iowa State on Jan. 11, 2023, Glenn tallied 17 points, 10 rebounds, six steals, three assists and two blocks. According to HerHoopStats, Glenn was the only Power 5 player in the nation and one of just four nationally in the 2022-23 season to reach these marks in a game. She was the only K-State player to achieve these numbers in all of these categories in a game since at least 2009-10.

• Serena Sundell continues to use her length to disrupt her opponents on the defensive end.

• In her career, Sundell owns 89 career blocked shots (0.74 bpg) and ranks ninth in school history and owns the school record for career blocked shots by a guard.

• Sundell has 18 games with two or more blocks including a career-high four at Oklahoma State on Jan. 5, 2022.

• She has tallied 160 steals (1.33 spg) in her career and has 42 career games with two or more steals including nine career games with four or more steals.

• In the 2023-24 season, Sundell averaged 1.2 steals and 0.7 blocks. She tallied 12 games with two or more steals and six games with two or more blocks. She had two games last season with three steals and three blocks in the same game - Presbyterian (Nov. 6) and Kansas (Jan. 20).

• Ayoka Lee has continued to own the glass in her K-State career and owns the top spot in the category in program history.

• Lee holds the school record for career rebounds with 1,217 and was the second player in school history with 1,000 or more career rebounds (Kendra Wecker, 2001-05; 1,087).

• Lee is sixth in Big 12 history for career rebounds and is second among active NCAA Division I players for career rebounds and fifth for career rebound average.

• She owns the school record for career rebounding average and ranks fourth in Big 12 history at 9.4 rebounds per game.

• She owns the school record for career games with 15 or more rebounds (8).

• This season, Lee is averaging 6.6 rebounds per game and has 10 games with five or more rebounds including a season-high 11 against Little Rock on Nov. 18 and New Mexico State on Dec. 18.

• In the 2023-24 season, Lee lead the Wildcats with 8.6 rebounds per game (231 total rebounds) and was third in the Big 12.

• Lee is one of four players in school history with four or more consecutive seasons with 200 or more rebounds.

• When combining her total from her last active season of 2021-22 (339), she has registered 570 rebounds which ranks second in school history for rebounds in consecutive active seasons.

• In the 2021-22 season, Lee ranked second in the Big 12 and 31st in the nation with 10.3 rebounds per game. She ranked 17th in the nation in total rebounds (339). In Big 12-only games, Lee was second in the league in rebounding with 9.78 per game.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -&nbsp;(12/10) K-State (16-1, 4-0 Big 12) ends a two-game road trip through the state of Utah, as the Wildcats visit BYU (10-5, 1-3) on Saturday at 5 p.m. (CT).• K-State has opened this season with a 16-1 record for the second straight season and the third time since 2008-09. With a win Saturday, K-State would achieve the fifth 17-1 or better start to a season in school history and its second straight.• Saturday’s game will air on ESPN+, as Spencer Linton (play-by-play) and Kristen Kozlowski (analyst) will have the call.Starting 5Five names, numbers or storylines about K-State women’s basketball1. We’re Going Streaking!• K-State owns an active win streak of 11. This is the second straight season (14, Dec. 1, 2023 - Jan. 31, 2024) the Wildcats have recorded a double figure win streak.2. Handful of 1,000+ Point Scorers• K-State features four players with 1,000 or more career points: Ayoka Lee (2,450), Temira Poindexter (1,761), Serena Sundell (1,479) and Jaelyn Glenn (1,027). The Wildcats and Miami (Fla.) are the only two teams in the nation with a 2,000+ point scorer, 1,500+ point scorer and a 1,000+ point scorer on their roster.3. Mittie Tied With a K-State Legend• K-State head coach Jeff Mittie needs one win (206-136, .602; 2014-present) to pass Judy Akers (206-94, .687; 1968-79) for second on the K-State career wins list.4. Cats Pacing the Nation• K-State leads the nation in field goal percentage (.508), field goal percentage defense (.316) and assists per game (22.9).5. Lee Named to Midseason Wooden List• Senior center and All-America candidate Ayoka Lee has been named to the 2025 Wooden Award Midseason Top-25 Watch List. This is the fourth time in her career that she has been named to the award’s midseason watch list.Number to Know43• This season, K-State has shot 50.0 percent or better in 43 quarters.• Of the 68 quarters played this season, the Wildcats have registered a field goal percentage of 50.0 percent or better in 63.2 percent of those quarters. This would surpass the highest percentage of 34.5 in 2023-24.• Since the quarter system began in NCAA Division I women’s basketball in 2015-16, K-State’s top mark for quarters with a field goal percentage of 50.0 percent or better is 48 in the 2023-24 season.2024-25 K-State Coach &amp; Player Milestones to WatchJeff Mittie• Needs one win to move into second on the K-State Women’s Basketball wins list (Judy Akers, 206)Ayoka Lee• Needs three double-doubles to move into second in Big 12 history for career double-doubles• Needs 175 rebounds to move into second in Big 12 history for career rebounds• Needs 22 made free throws to set the school record for career free throws madeSerena Sundell• Needs 21 points to reach 1,500 career pointsJaelyn Glenn• Needs 57 steals to move into third on K-State career steals list• Needs 39 rebounds for sole possession of 20th on the K-State career rebounds listAt a Glance: BYU• BYU (10-5, 1-3 Big 12) snapped a three-game losing streak with an 89-75 win over Houston on Wednesday night.• On the sideline, BYU is led by third-year head coach Amber Whiting. Whiting, a 2001 graduate of BYU, is 42-39 (.519) during her time in Provo.• On the floor, the Cougars feature three players in double figures including freshman guard Delaney Gibb, senior forward Emma Calvert and sophomore Amari Whiting.• Gibb, a guard from Raymond, Alberta, Canada, paces BYU in scoring at 16.5 points per game and 3-point field goals made and attempted (39-of-99). She is second on the squad in assists (56; 3.7 apg). Against Houston, Gibb tallied 16 points, four rebounds and three assists.• Calvert, a forward from Farr West, Utah, is second on the team in scoring (13.5 ppg), leads the team in field goal percentage (.541) and blocks (17) and is third in rebounding (5.5 rpg). Against the Cougars, Calvert led BYU with 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting, seven rebounds and two blocks.• Whiting is third on the squad in scoring with 10.7 points per game and tied for the team lead in rebounding (6.0 rpg) and paces the team in assists (63; 4.2 apg). Against Houston, Whiting tallied 20 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals.Wildcats Off to Fast Start• Kansas State has opened the season with a 16-1 overall record.• This is the second straight season and equals the best 16-game start for K-State in the Jeff Mittie era.• In program history, K-State has opened a season 16-1 five times.Wildcats Build Extended Streak• K-State has strung together one of the longest winning streaks in program history to boost its overall win total this season.• The Wildcats’ current 11-game winning streak is tied for the sixth-longest in program history.• This is the 11th double-digit winning streak in school history.• This is the first time since the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons in which K-State has registered a double-digit win streak in consecutive seasons.• Last season the Wildcats won 14 consecutive games from Dec. 1, 2023 to Jan. 31, 2024. This was the longest winning streak in the Jeff Mittie era and tied for the second-longest in school history.• K-State’s nine-game winning streak in Big 12 play last season was the longest conference win streak in the Mittie era and tied for the longest conference win streaks in program history joining the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons. K-State was the first team since Baylor in 2019-20 to win its first nine Big 12 games.Three is not a Crowd, It’s a Benefit• Since 2011-12, when three or more players reach double figures in scoring in the same game, K-State is 190-85 (.691) including a 15-1 record in the 2024-25 season.• The Wildcats had a season-high six players reach double figures against Milwaukee on Nov. 20.• The combination of Ayoka Lee and Serena Sundell have scored in double figures in 45 of 74 games played together since 2021-22.• Lee and Sundell combined to score 52 points in a win over New Mexico State on Dec. 18. This is the third time the duo has combined to score 50 or more points in the same game including the school record of 72 against Oklahoma on Jan. 23, 2022.K-State Holds Foes to Single-Digits• In the 10th season of the quarter system in women’s college basketball, K-State’s defense has limited its opponents point production for 10 minute durations.• Kansas State is 108-29 (.788) when holding an opponent to single digits in any quarter in a game.• K-State has held foes to 20 quarters this season with single-digits. The Wildcats are 14-0 when holding an opponent to single digits in any quarter in a game.• Against USC Upstate on Dec. 5, K-State held the Spartans to two points in two different quarters (first and fourth quarters). The 2 points in a quarter tied the school record for fewest points allowed in any quarter.• K-State held USC Upstate to 11 points in the second half (9 pts - 3rd qtr; 2 pts - 4th qtr). The 11 points in the second half were the fewest K-State allowed since holding Clemson on Nov. 24, 2022, to 9 second half points.• In the 2023-24 season, K-State held its opponents to 25 quarters with single digits. The Wildcats were 16-1 last season when holding an opponent to single digits in any quarter of a game.• At Baylor on Jan. 22, the Wildcats held the Bears to 16 points in the second half allowing eight points in both the third and fourth quarters. This was the first time in 10 years that Baylor was held under 20 points in the second half of a game.Poindexter Attacks from 3• Senior Temira Poindexter has sparked K-State from deep to open the 2024-25 season.• This season, Poindexter is 35-of-98 (.357) from 3-point range. She has 10 games with two or more connections from long range. She ranks 12th in the Big 12 in 3-point field goals made per game (2.06).• Against Belmont on Nov. 7, Poindexter made a personal season-high five 3-point field goals.• In her collegiate career, Poindexter is 216-of-681 (.317) from distance. She owns 64 career games with two or more 3-point field goals made, including 18 career games with four or more 3-point field goals made.Glenn Reaches Rare Lines• Jaelyn Glenn continues to provide K-State with diverse lines.• In the season-opener against Green Bay on Nov. 4, Glenn tallied 17 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three steals. With the effort, she is the seventh player in the Jeff Mittie era to register a single-game stat line of 15 or more points, five or more rebounds, five or more assists and two or more steals.• At Utah on Jan. 8, Glenn notched 11 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals.• Against Belmont on Nov. 7, Glenn notched 10 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals.• In her career, Glenn owns 22 career games with 10 or more points, five or more rebounds and two or more steals in a game.• Glenn is the fifth player in program history and first since 2009 with 1,000 or more points, 500 or more rebounds, 250 or more assists and 225 or more steals.•&nbsp; Glenn ended the 2023-24 regular season with diverse lines. In the regular season home finale against Iowa State, Glenn tallied 15 points, six rebounds and three steals. At Texas Tech in the regular season finale, Glenn carded 10 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.• These were her second and third games this seson with 10 or more points, five or more rebounds and two or more steals.• In the 2022-23 season, Glenn’s diverse stat line included averaging 11.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.1 assists.• Glenn was one of two players in the Big 12 in the 2022-23 season to average 11 or more points, five or more rebounds, two or more assists and two or more steals.• She was the only player in the Big 12 and one of five in the nation in the 2022-23 season with totals of 400 or more points, 175 or more rebounds and 90 or more steals. Glenn was the first Wildcat in program history to reach 400 or more points, 175 or more rebounds and 90 or more steals in a season.• Glenn established career season-highs for points (406), field goals made and attempted (150-of-363), field goal percentage (.413), 3-point field goals made and attempted (71-of-195), three-point field goal percentage (.364), free throws made and attempted (35-of-52), free throw percentage (.673), steals (91) and blocked shots (17).• At Iowa State on Jan. 11, 2023, Glenn tallied 17 points, 10 rebounds, six steals, three assists and two blocks. According to HerHoopStats, Glenn was the only Power 5 player in the nation and one of just four nationally in the 2022-23 season to reach these marks in a game. She was the only K-State player to achieve these numbers in all of these categories in a game since at least 2009-10.Sundell Uses Her Length• Serena Sundell continues to use her length to disrupt her opponents on the defensive end.• In her career, Sundell owns 89 career blocked shots (0.74 bpg) and ranks ninth in school history and owns the school record for career blocked shots by a guard.• Sundell has 18 games with two or more blocks including a career-high four at Oklahoma State on Jan. 5, 2022.• She has tallied 160 steals (1.33 spg) in her career and has 42 career games with two or more steals including nine career games with four or more steals.• In the 2023-24 season, Sundell averaged 1.2 steals and 0.7 blocks. She tallied 12 games with two or more steals and six games with two or more blocks. She had two games last season with three steals and three blocks in the same game - Presbyterian (Nov. 6) and Kansas (Jan. 20).Lee Owns Career Boards Record• Ayoka Lee has continued to own the glass in her K-State career and owns the top spot in the category in program history.• Lee holds the school record for career rebounds with 1,217 and was the second player in school history with 1,000 or more career rebounds (Kendra Wecker, 2001-05; 1,087).• Lee is sixth in Big 12 history for career rebounds and is second among active NCAA Division I players for career rebounds and fifth for career rebound average.• She owns the school record for career rebounding average and ranks fourth in Big 12 history at 9.4 rebounds per game.• She owns the school record for career games with 15 or more rebounds (8).• This season, Lee is averaging 6.6 rebounds per game and has 10 games with five or more rebounds including a season-high 11 against Little Rock on Nov. 18 and New Mexico State on Dec. 18.• In the 2023-24 season, Lee lead the Wildcats with 8.6 rebounds per game (231 total rebounds) and was third in the Big 12.• Lee is one of four players in school history with four or more consecutive seasons with 200 or more rebounds.• When combining her total from her last active season of 2021-22 (339), she has registered 570 rebounds which ranks second in school history for rebounds in consecutive active seasons.• In the 2021-22 season, Lee ranked second in the Big 12 and 31st in the nation with 10.3 rebounds per game. She ranked 17th in the nation in total rebounds (339). In Big 12-only games, Lee was second in the league in rebounding with 9.78 per game.

 K-State WBB Faces BYU Saturday Afternoon in Provo

<a>MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–</a>&nbsp;Tickets for Kansas State’s 2025 season opener in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic will go on sale in the coming weeks. This on-sale window is for tickets only and does not include premium seats or travel packages. Individuals who have already purchased official travel packages have game tickets included in their packages, and they do not need to purchase tickets during this on-sale window.

Tickets to the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in the official K-State sections are only available during the dates listed below and are available while supplies last. Tickets can be purchased by&nbsp;<a href="https://app.kstatesports.com/Ireland" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.

Ahearn Fund members can begin requesting tickets on Tuesday, January 21, with a deadline of 5 p.m. on Thursday, January 30. Ahearn Fund requests will be fulfilled via priority point order.

Remaining tickets will go on sale to the public online only beginning at 5 p.m., on Monday, February 3, with a pick-your-own seat map. Phone and in-person orders will be available starting at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 4.

The public on-sale window is Monday, February 3, through Friday, February 28, prior to tickets going on sale to the Irish public on Monday, March 3.

<a>MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–</a>&nbsp;Tickets for Kansas State’s 2025 season opener in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic will go on sale in the coming weeks. This on-sale window is for tickets only and does not include premium seats or travel packages. Individuals who have already purchased official travel packages have game tickets included in their packages, and they do not need to purchase tickets during this on-sale window.Tickets to the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in the official K-State sections are only available during the dates listed below and are available while supplies last. Tickets can be purchased by&nbsp;<a href="https://app.kstatesports.com/Ireland" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.Ahearn Fund members can begin requesting tickets on Tuesday, January 21, with a deadline of 5 p.m. on Thursday, January 30. Ahearn Fund requests will be fulfilled via priority point order.Remaining tickets will go on sale to the public online only beginning at 5 p.m., on Monday, February 3, with a pick-your-own seat map. Phone and in-person orders will be available starting at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 4.The public on-sale window is Monday, February 3, through Friday, February 28, prior to tickets going on sale to the Irish public on Monday, March 3.

Tickets for Aer Lingus College Football Classic on Sale Soon

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.

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.

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