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.

“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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

🏈 Notre Dame gets late field goal to make title game with win over Penn State

The Kansas Wesleyan men played well for the first 32½ minutes of their game against Bethel. The final 7½ minutes were their undoing, though.

The Threshers erased an 18-point deficit by outscoring the Coyotes 27-6 down the stretch and eked out a 74-71 Kansas Conference victory Wednesday night inside Mabee Arena.

KWU fell to 8-7 overall, 3-6 in the conference while Bethel improved to 9-6 and 5-4.

The heartbreaking loss overshadowed outstanding performances by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4453a313-79e1-4491-892f-744ad1485506?elinkdata=17131">Alex Littlejohn</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d8bff2af-3005-41aa-acc1-90029f8129e0?elinkdata=17131">Evens Appolon</a>.

Littlejohn scored 21 points and moved within 12 of becoming KWU's career scoring leader. Gary Cassel's record of 1,544 points has lasted 70 years (1955) but Littlejohn could pass him when the Coyotes play Avila on Saturday in Kansas City, Mo. Littlejohn also had 14 rebounds, three assists and two blocks while playing 32½ minutes.

Appolon, KWU's 6-foot-8 center, scored a career-high 21 points on 9 of 12 shooting that included four thunderous second-half dunks. He also grabbed eight rebounds and blocked five shots.

Wesleyan trailed by 10 twice in the first half but outscored Bethel 15-7 the final 6½ minutes and led 34-32 at the intermission.

Leading 45-42 early in the second half the Coyotes went on a 20-5 surge and led 65-47 with 7:45 left in the game. Bethel responded with 12 unanswered points, but KWU still had a 69-62 with 2:26 left after two Appolon baskets that sandwiched an Eli Wiseman 3-pointer.

The Threshers, though, scored the next eight points and took the lead 71-69 on two Harper Jonas free throws with 58 seconds left.

Two Littlejohn free throws tied it at 17 with 45.5 seconds remaining but Bethel regained the lead 73-71 on a Carmelo Yakubu basket with 31 seconds left. Littlejohn missed a closely guarded shot inside and Yakubu made one of two free throws with 5.1 seconds left for the game's final point.

Yakubu scored a game-high 24 points, 18 in the second half, 10 the final 2:15.

"When they started pressing us a little bit it sped us up and we just made some really careless plays that gave them momentum," KWU coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f2f1fa30-5ff6-4e17-af09-6eca64c4b8c2?elinkdata=17131">Anthony Monson</a> said on his postgame radio show. "They got downhill and we thought we had a bigger lead than we really did. It evaporated really quickly because they got a lot of transition buckets.

"Carmelo Yakubu made a lot of plays getting to the basket and we couldn't stop them from scoring. Give them credit, they knocked the free throws at the end to seal it."

KWU had 12 turnovers that led to 25 Bethel points while the Coyotes scored nine off the Threshers' eight turnovers. Bethel also had 17 offensive rebounds to Wesleyan's nine and Bethel won the overall rebounding battle 41-38.

"This game was a game of runs and they had one last run," Monson said. "We've got to be better down the stretch and really value that basketball. I think we got a little too loose with it and that's on me. I've got to do a better job by making sure that we take care of it and get us into what we want to get into. When we did, we did a good job."

KWU shot 47.5 percent (29 of 61) while Bethel shot 39.7 percent (27 of 68). The Threshers were 13 of 20 at the foul line, the Coyotes 7 of 12.

The Kansas Wesleyan men played well for the first 32½ minutes of their game against Bethel. The final 7½ minutes were their undoing, though.The Threshers erased an 18-point deficit by outscoring the Coyotes 27-6 down the stretch and eked out a 74-71 Kansas Conference victory Wednesday night inside Mabee Arena.KWU fell to 8-7 overall, 3-6 in the conference while Bethel improved to 9-6 and 5-4.The heartbreaking loss overshadowed outstanding performances by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4453a313-79e1-4491-892f-744ad1485506?elinkdata=17131">Alex Littlejohn</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d8bff2af-3005-41aa-acc1-90029f8129e0?elinkdata=17131">Evens Appolon</a>.Littlejohn scored 21 points and moved within 12 of becoming KWU's career scoring leader. Gary Cassel's record of 1,544 points has lasted 70 years (1955) but Littlejohn could pass him when the Coyotes play Avila on Saturday in Kansas City, Mo. Littlejohn also had 14 rebounds, three assists and two blocks while playing 32½ minutes.Appolon, KWU's 6-foot-8 center, scored a career-high 21 points on 9 of 12 shooting that included four thunderous second-half dunks. He also grabbed eight rebounds and blocked five shots.Wesleyan trailed by 10 twice in the first half but outscored Bethel 15-7 the final 6½ minutes and led 34-32 at the intermission.Leading 45-42 early in the second half the Coyotes went on a 20-5 surge and led 65-47 with 7:45 left in the game. Bethel responded with 12 unanswered points, but KWU still had a 69-62 with 2:26 left after two Appolon baskets that sandwiched an Eli Wiseman 3-pointer.The Threshers, though, scored the next eight points and took the lead 71-69 on two Harper Jonas free throws with 58 seconds left.Two Littlejohn free throws tied it at 17 with 45.5 seconds remaining but Bethel regained the lead 73-71 on a Carmelo Yakubu basket with 31 seconds left. Littlejohn missed a closely guarded shot inside and Yakubu made one of two free throws with 5.1 seconds left for the game's final point.Yakubu scored a game-high 24 points, 18 in the second half, 10 the final 2:15."When they started pressing us a little bit it sped us up and we just made some really careless plays that gave them momentum," KWU coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f2f1fa30-5ff6-4e17-af09-6eca64c4b8c2?elinkdata=17131">Anthony Monson</a> said on his postgame radio show. "They got downhill and we thought we had a bigger lead than we really did. It evaporated really quickly because they got a lot of transition buckets."Carmelo Yakubu made a lot of plays getting to the basket and we couldn't stop them from scoring. Give them credit, they knocked the free throws at the end to seal it."KWU had 12 turnovers that led to 25 Bethel points while the Coyotes scored nine off the Threshers' eight turnovers. Bethel also had 17 offensive rebounds to Wesleyan's nine and Bethel won the overall rebounding battle 41-38."This game was a game of runs and they had one last run," Monson said. "We've got to be better down the stretch and really value that basketball. I think we got a little too loose with it and that's on me. I've got to do a better job by making sure that we take care of it and get us into what we want to get into. When we did, we did a good job."KWU shot 47.5 percent (29 of 61) while Bethel shot 39.7 percent (27 of 68). The Threshers were 13 of 20 at the foul line, the Coyotes 7 of 12.

KWU MBB falters late, drops heartbreaker to Bethel 74-71

Kansas Wesleyan Women's Basketball fell behind to the Bethel Threshers and couldn't find a rally late as Bethel knocked off the Coyotes 69-61 on Wednesday night at Mabee Arena.

Kansas Wesleyan Women's Basketball fell behind to the Bethel Threshers and couldn't find a rally late as Bethel knocked off the Coyotes 69-61 on Wednesday night at Mabee Arena.It was the first KCAC loss this season for the Coyotes, who dropped the 12-3 overall and 8-1 in the KCAC, and saw a 10-game winning streak snapped.Wesleyan jumped out to a 4-0 lead to start the game, but Bethel came back with a 7-0 run to take a 7-4 lead as the Threshers made 17 of 30 first half shots (56.7 percent).A bucket by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d60fec53-3435-43f0-8a24-42c2d649573b?elinkdata=17161">Angel Lee</a> stopped Bethel's run, but the Threshers pushed the lead out to six points at 14-8 with 4:38 left in the half.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0e2d133f-99d1-4a28-bdaa-f6cb9a532fb8?elinkdata=17161">Alexis Dixon</a> scored for the Coyotes with 3:39 left in the first as KWU cut the lead to two at 14-12, but Bethel made another run with five straight to take a 19-12 lead with 2:32 to go.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9e36e61d-b748-46fa-858d-39477e03cc53?elinkdata=17161">Hampton Williams</a> cut Bethel's lead to a point at 20-19 with 25 seconds left, but Bethel got a score right before the first quarter buzzer to lead 22-19 after one.Bethel led for a majority of the second quarter until the Coyotes took their first lead since early on when <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7634ea60-b079-4900-89b9-a842a03ab15f?elinkdata=17161">LaMyah Ricks</a> scored with 3:04 left, putting Wesleyan up 35-33 on a three-point play.The Threshers closed the half on a 7-0 run to take a 40-35 lead into the break.Bethel again pushed its lead out to seven at 44-37 with 7:39 left in the third, but the Coyotes battled back again getting within two at 46-44 with 4:44 left on a bucket by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/43db5ae9-768c-4286-a76d-6eb75084354d?elinkdata=17161">Paige Chauncey</a> and were within a point at 49-48 on a Williams score, but could not retake the lead, trailing 54-50 after three.A 3-pointer by Ricks to open the fourth got the Coyotes within a point, but again Bethel answered pushing its lead out to seven at 60-53 with 5:49 to go.Wesleyan was within three twice, the last time at 62-59 on a score by Ozuna, but six straight by the Threshers pushed the lead out to a game-high nine points at 68-59 with 37 seconds left.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4d1568ea-10c9-41aa-bc44-6407dbdfebbd?elinkdata=17161">Angel Lee</a> led four double figure scorers for the Coyotes with 13 points, while <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/25bb8519-7c9c-4d5c-8112-fcbc2b591c51?elinkdata=17161">Catherine Bowman</a> had 12, Ricks 11 and Williams 10. The Coyotes dominated the boards 42-28, led by eight each by Ricks and Williams, while Ozuna added seven. Wesleyan did have 18 turnovers that resulted in 22 Bethel points.

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