<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2213634f-8583-4f8e-9fe0-13955fdbfbec?elinkdata=35502">Bill Neale</a> remembers when his Kansas Wesleyan baseball teams pursued those in the Kansas Conference's upper echelon.

"I was chasing those teams for several years here chasing (Oklahoma Wesleyan) and chasing McPherson or Friends at times, whoever it was," he said.

Things have changed dramatically, though. The Coyotes are now the hunted rather than the hunters in Neale's 12th season.

"We've kind of flipped the script and it's the other way," he said. "It's fun, it's enjoyable."

They shared the conference title with OKWU last spring - their third consecutive crown - and won the KCAC postseason tournament en route to qualifying for the NAIA's Opening Round for the third consecutive year. The Coyotes were 41-15, 30-6 in the KCAC, and have won 133 games since 2023.

Neale expects nothing less moving forward.

"The plan is to get to Lewiston (Idaho, site of the NAIA World Series) and make some noise there," he said. "Obviously, it starts with winning the KCAC and winning the tournament. We know we've set a high bar here. We're not going to rebuild; we're going to reload and go get good players."

The task won't be easy. Graduation depleted the pitching staff along with the outfield, and there's the typically rugged KCAC to deal with.

"I don't think there's any pressure with it, I don't think our guys feel that. We believe in ourselves, we believe that the only team that can beat us is us, so we prepare very well every week so that when we get to games we're going to win," he said.

Neale points to the coaching staff as a big reason for their success. Associate head coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/94a000ed-cb06-4cd1-9e25-1470bbe657de?elinkdata=35502">Bret Ringer</a> and pitching coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/63c76402-512f-4880-82ae-ca6597591b96?elinkdata=35502">Tyler Huffstickler</a> each return for their fourth season.

"I think it's the consistency of how we operate and honestly how the three of us are so different, but we work so well together," he said. "We have a consistent mindset. The kids that come back each year have bought into what we're doing and the new ones that come in say 'This is the Coyote way, this is how we win Coyote baseball games'."

"We're only bringing back 140 innings of 460 innings pitched last year, and that was mostly from three guys," Neale said. "There's going to be a lot of new faces."

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0227040b-9589-4ab5-942b-fb549449f5a9?elinkdata=35502">Shaw Lee</a> (5-0, 2.45 ERA) started six games last year. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a5c6ca94-1429-4a1c-9328-5bba7748e843?elinkdata=35502">Riley Gwin</a> (3-1, 2.61) earned All-KCAC Second Team honors as a relief pitcher and is joined by fellow reliever <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/5ce18b95-838f-4e7b-bda6-79153915ebb6?elinkdata=35502">Hunter Blea</a> (0-0, 3.47, 5 saves). <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/506b7c53-a892-4fea-b937-370dcb5fe394?elinkdata=35502">Thalen Wright</a>, Will Yamka, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/dadb5aec-9bca-4b86-b4c9-d8a529927c18?elinkdata=35502">Davin Hinote</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f68fef0a-cdd9-498f-b65a-3b0614207355?elinkdata=35502">Tyler Wise</a> also return after seeing spot duty. Aiden Henderson is back after missing last season with an arm injury.

"We have some guys that were a part of it that are coming back, but they're going to be asked to step into bigger roles," Neale said.

Top newcomers are <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b0c06099-2ece-49d6-98be-88d926134c6e?elinkdata=35502">Russell Freedheim</a>, a transfer from Santa Rosa; <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/8398695a-bdab-49a3-b62e-07990e728541?elinkdata=35502">Kayden Shivers</a>, a transfer from Loras; and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/205f8c67-34d1-49b6-8fd5-a4b73f46c8f2?elinkdata=35502">Logan Baptista</a>, a transfer from Merced. Shivers will work out of the bullpen while Freedheim and Baptista will start. Baptista is also and quality hitter and will be used as a designated hitter along with first base and the outfield.

"He's a big two-way guy, that type of guy we haven't had since Tyler Triano," Neale said.

KWU returns most of the infield - third baseman <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6eaf4619-acbf-4b87-9709-76e5add70ab3?elinkdata=35502">Garrett Garfield</a>, second baseman <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/33ca597d-dbec-45dd-b0fb-06dd9e2f2c09?elinkdata=35502">Joe Finder</a>, first baseman <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4acddaff-d9c9-4823-aa3c-1413af5212bc?elinkdata=35502">Fernando Ruvalcaba</a> and utility player <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d51bf05a-0bc2-416a-8297-68d6082e9723?elinkdata=35502">Blake Dale</a>.

Ruvalcaba hit .326 with 18 home runs and 65 runs batted in, Garfield .290 with 15 homers and 59 RBI, Finder 11 homers and 38 RBI and Dale .276 with seven homers and 20 RBI. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a7097171-157a-4159-9aaf-2a0bf6d9bba8?elinkdata=35502">Carter Allen</a> (15 homers, 66 RBI) will open at catcher. He joined the team after transferring from Eastern Illinois and replaces First Team All-KCAC catcher <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4bc086c4-2822-4bbd-842f-4edc62ffb263?elinkdata=35502">Tyler Favretto</a>.

"(Allen) had a lot to do with why we had the success that we did coming from a Division I school," Neale said. "He's one of those guys that kind of makes us go. Having Garfield back at third base is really important and obviously (Ruvalcaba) at first base or right field."

A key addition to the infield is shortstop <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/469fcaea-c452-431f-bdd6-96cc955095a5?elinkdata=35502">Niko Olson</a>, a transfer from Division I Santa Clara.

"He has a chance to be special for us," Neale said.

Catchers <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/ce2e423d-6e94-412f-a893-12cfac30c81f?elinkdata=35502">Zac Goldenberg</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/fb49efcb-fafb-434c-ab62-13965a9cf0ef?elinkdata=35502">Jackson Harriger</a> will also see duty, according to Neale.

The outfield is a bit murkier following the graduation of <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/045ba2eb-7c08-443a-8b5d-9972e30cacd6?elinkdata=35502">Jacob Williamson</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/fc07a6d5-46f4-46b1-9a9c-7b5842d1c491?elinkdata=35502">Eric Romero</a>. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c47de7e3-d610-4571-a187-2cbd5d5a631d?elinkdata=35502">Coulson Riggs</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/8d7b0824-ed0c-4389-9b48-1fc557777445?elinkdata=35502">Lakin Franz</a> were backups last season and return. Neale signed transfers <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/dfae27df-e210-43f8-b915-7876ed51b362?elinkdata=35502">Chris Finocchario</a> from Niagara, Tyler Nordike from Santa Rosa and Mason Allmara from North Dakota College of Science. Isaac Hawthorne, a transfer from West Valley College, will be used in the outfield and infield.

"Offensively I'll say this - I think this is going to be the hardest team just to pick the roster, to pick the top 18 hitters to take with us let alone figure out who's starting," Neale said. "We've got 14, 15 guys that could start for us right now. Great problem for me but I might have to have some tough conversations with guys. That's never fun."

Neale expects the KCAC to be a gauntlet once again.

"It's as deep as ever," he said. "OKWU is going to be a menace. They're getting probably the best pitcher in the conference back off Tommy John surgery, and they brought some guys in. Ottawa is going to be really good; Tabor is always right there and making (NAIA) Opening Rounds; Friends is talented and plays really good baseball. Then there's McPherson, always one of the most talented teams. It should be another great year for the KCAC."

The Coyotes won't have to go far for the conference tournament which will be played April 29-May 2 at Dean Evans Stadium.

"It's great for our community," Neale said. "It means a lot to me because this is my 12th year and Salina is one of the reasons why I haven't left. It will be nice for us to sleep in our own beds and all that good stuff."

Weather has already affected the start of the season. KWU's season opening series at University of the Southwest (N.M.) has been moved to January 26 and 27 in Hobbs, N.M.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2213634f-8583-4f8e-9fe0-13955fdbfbec?elinkdata=35502">Bill Neale</a> remembers when his Kansas Wesleyan baseball teams pursued those in the Kansas Conference's upper echelon."I was chasing those teams for several years here chasing (Oklahoma Wesleyan) and chasing McPherson or Friends at times, whoever it was," he said.Things have changed dramatically, though. The Coyotes are now the hunted rather than the hunters in Neale's 12th season."We've kind of flipped the script and it's the other way," he said. "It's fun, it's enjoyable."They shared the conference title with OKWU last spring - their third consecutive crown - and won the KCAC postseason tournament en route to qualifying for the NAIA's Opening Round for the third consecutive year. The Coyotes were 41-15, 30-6 in the KCAC, and have won 133 games since 2023.Neale expects nothing less moving forward."The plan is to get to Lewiston (Idaho, site of the NAIA World Series) and make some noise there," he said. "Obviously, it starts with winning the KCAC and winning the tournament. We know we've set a high bar here. We're not going to rebuild; we're going to reload and go get good players."The task won't be easy. Graduation depleted the pitching staff along with the outfield, and there's the typically rugged KCAC to deal with.Neale welcomes the challenge."I don't think there's any pressure with it, I don't think our guys feel that. We believe in ourselves, we believe that the only team that can beat us is us, so we prepare very well every week so that when we get to games we're going to win," he said.Neale points to the coaching staff as a big reason for their success. Associate head coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/94a000ed-cb06-4cd1-9e25-1470bbe657de?elinkdata=35502">Bret Ringer</a> and pitching coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/63c76402-512f-4880-82ae-ca6597591b96?elinkdata=35502">Tyler Huffstickler</a> each return for their fourth season."I think it's the consistency of how we operate and honestly how the three of us are so different, but we work so well together," he said. "We have a consistent mindset. The kids that come back each year have bought into what we're doing and the new ones that come in say 'This is the Coyote way, this is how we win Coyote baseball games'."Reloading the pitching staff is the key."We're only bringing back 140 innings of 460 innings pitched last year, and that was mostly from three guys," Neale said. "There's going to be a lot of new faces."<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0227040b-9589-4ab5-942b-fb549449f5a9?elinkdata=35502">Shaw Lee</a> (5-0, 2.45 ERA) started six games last year. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a5c6ca94-1429-4a1c-9328-5bba7748e843?elinkdata=35502">Riley Gwin</a> (3-1, 2.61) earned All-KCAC Second Team honors as a relief pitcher and is joined by fellow reliever <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/5ce18b95-838f-4e7b-bda6-79153915ebb6?elinkdata=35502">Hunter Blea</a> (0-0, 3.47, 5 saves). <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/506b7c53-a892-4fea-b937-370dcb5fe394?elinkdata=35502">Thalen Wright</a>, Will Yamka, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/dadb5aec-9bca-4b86-b4c9-d8a529927c18?elinkdata=35502">Davin Hinote</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f68fef0a-cdd9-498f-b65a-3b0614207355?elinkdata=35502">Tyler Wise</a> also return after seeing spot duty. Aiden Henderson is back after missing last season with an arm injury."We have some guys that were a part of it that are coming back, but they're going to be asked to step into bigger roles," Neale said.Top newcomers are <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b0c06099-2ece-49d6-98be-88d926134c6e?elinkdata=35502">Russell Freedheim</a>, a transfer from Santa Rosa; <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/8398695a-bdab-49a3-b62e-07990e728541?elinkdata=35502">Kayden Shivers</a>, a transfer from Loras; and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/205f8c67-34d1-49b6-8fd5-a4b73f46c8f2?elinkdata=35502">Logan Baptista</a>, a transfer from Merced. Shivers will work out of the bullpen while Freedheim and Baptista will start. Baptista is also and quality hitter and will be used as a designated hitter along with first base and the outfield."He's a big two-way guy, that type of guy we haven't had since Tyler Triano," Neale said.KWU returns most of the infield - third baseman <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6eaf4619-acbf-4b87-9709-76e5add70ab3?elinkdata=35502">Garrett Garfield</a>, second baseman <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/33ca597d-dbec-45dd-b0fb-06dd9e2f2c09?elinkdata=35502">Joe Finder</a>, first baseman <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4acddaff-d9c9-4823-aa3c-1413af5212bc?elinkdata=35502">Fernando Ruvalcaba</a> and utility player <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d51bf05a-0bc2-416a-8297-68d6082e9723?elinkdata=35502">Blake Dale</a>.Ruvalcaba hit .326 with 18 home runs and 65 runs batted in, Garfield .290 with 15 homers and 59 RBI, Finder 11 homers and 38 RBI and Dale .276 with seven homers and 20 RBI. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a7097171-157a-4159-9aaf-2a0bf6d9bba8?elinkdata=35502">Carter Allen</a> (15 homers, 66 RBI) will open at catcher. He joined the team after transferring from Eastern Illinois and replaces First Team All-KCAC catcher <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4bc086c4-2822-4bbd-842f-4edc62ffb263?elinkdata=35502">Tyler Favretto</a>."(Allen) had a lot to do with why we had the success that we did coming from a Division I school," Neale said. "He's one of those guys that kind of makes us go. Having Garfield back at third base is really important and obviously (Ruvalcaba) at first base or right field."A key addition to the infield is shortstop <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/469fcaea-c452-431f-bdd6-96cc955095a5?elinkdata=35502">Niko Olson</a>, a transfer from Division I Santa Clara."He has a chance to be special for us," Neale said.Catchers <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/ce2e423d-6e94-412f-a893-12cfac30c81f?elinkdata=35502">Zac Goldenberg</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/fb49efcb-fafb-434c-ab62-13965a9cf0ef?elinkdata=35502">Jackson Harriger</a> will also see duty, according to Neale.The outfield is a bit murkier following the graduation of <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/045ba2eb-7c08-443a-8b5d-9972e30cacd6?elinkdata=35502">Jacob Williamson</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/fc07a6d5-46f4-46b1-9a9c-7b5842d1c491?elinkdata=35502">Eric Romero</a>. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c47de7e3-d610-4571-a187-2cbd5d5a631d?elinkdata=35502">Coulson Riggs</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/8d7b0824-ed0c-4389-9b48-1fc557777445?elinkdata=35502">Lakin Franz</a> were backups last season and return. Neale signed transfers <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/dfae27df-e210-43f8-b915-7876ed51b362?elinkdata=35502">Chris Finocchario</a> from Niagara, Tyler Nordike from Santa Rosa and Mason Allmara from North Dakota College of Science. Isaac Hawthorne, a transfer from West Valley College, will be used in the outfield and infield."Offensively I'll say this - I think this is going to be the hardest team just to pick the roster, to pick the top 18 hitters to take with us let alone figure out who's starting," Neale said. "We've got 14, 15 guys that could start for us right now. Great problem for me but I might have to have some tough conversations with guys. That's never fun."Neale expects the KCAC to be a gauntlet once again."It's as deep as ever," he said. "OKWU is going to be a menace. They're getting probably the best pitcher in the conference back off Tommy John surgery, and they brought some guys in. Ottawa is going to be really good; Tabor is always right there and making (NAIA) Opening Rounds; Friends is talented and plays really good baseball. Then there's McPherson, always one of the most talented teams. It should be another great year for the KCAC."The Coyotes won't have to go far for the conference tournament which will be played April 29-May 2 at Dean Evans Stadium."It's great for our community," Neale said. "It means a lot to me because this is my 12th year and Salina is one of the reasons why I haven't left. It will be nice for us to sleep in our own beds and all that good stuff."Weather has already affected the start of the season. KWU's season opening series at University of the Southwest (N.M.) has been moved to January 26 and 27 in Hobbs, N.M.

⚾️ Neale, Coyotes look to have another impact season on the diamond

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Fernando Mendoza lowered his pads into a defender, spun in a full circle, used his hand to keep his balance,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/espn/status/2013456653866201453">then launched himself horizontally</a>&nbsp;and reached the ball over the goal line — an Indiana touchdown and a ready-made poster pic for a title run straight from the movies.

The Heisman Trophy winner’s touchdown Monday night put an exclamation point on a 27-21 win over Miami that closed out an undefeated season and brought an improbable — maybe impossible? — national championship to a program that had known nothing but losing and indifference for almost 140 years.

“Let me tell you: We won the national championship at Indiana University. It can be done,” said coach Curt Cignetti, who took over a program with a nation-leading 713 losses and turned it into the game's biggest winner in the span of two years.

Cignetti, the 64-year-old coaching lifer, started it. Mendoza helped get the Hoosiers over the line. He finished with 186 yards passing, but it was that tackle-breaking, sprawled-out 12-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-4 with 9:18 left that defined this game — and the Hoosiers' season.

“I had to go airborne,” said Mendoza, who had his lip split and his arm bloodied by a ferocious Miami defense that sacked him three times and hit him many more. “I would die for my team.”

Mendoza's TD gave Indiana a 24-14 lead — barely enough breathing room to hold off a frenzied charge by the hard-hitting Hurricanes — a team that barely made the College Football Playoff and barely showed up in the first half of the final before coming to life behind 112 yards and two scores from Mark Fletcher.

“They're the best thing that happened to the University of Miami in 25 years,” said coach Mario Cristobal, who was part of the title run that put this colorful program on the map in the 1980s and '90s.

The CFP trophy now heads to the most unlikely of places: Bloomington, Indiana — home of the college that famously boasts the most living alumni (805,000), including billionaire Mark Cuban and several thousand of his closest friends who packed Miami's home stadium and turned a title-game ticket into a $4,000-or-more splurge.

“It's way up there, that's for damn sure,” Cuban said when asked where this ranked among the out-of-nowhere success stories he helped bankroll on his reality show “Shark Tank.”

Indiana finished 16-0 — using the extra games afforded by the expanded 12-team playoff to match a perfect-season win total last compiled by Yale in 1894. President Donald Trump was in the stands for what he said “turned out to be a great game” after a slow start — Indiana led 10-0 at half.

In a fitting bit of symmetry, this undefeated title comes 50 years after Bob Knight’s basketball team went 32-0 to win it all in that state’s favorite sport.

That hasn’t happened since, and there’s already some thought that college football — in its evolving, money-soaked, name-image-likeness era — might not see a team like this again, either.

Players like Mendoza — a transfer from Cal who grew up just a few miles away from Miami’s campus, “The U” — certainly don’t come around often.

Two fourth-down gambles by Cignetti in the fourth quarter, after Fletcher’s second touchdown carved the Hurricanes' deficit to three, put the QB in position to shine.

The first was a 19-yard-completion to Charlie Becker on a back-shoulder fade those guys have been perfecting all season. Four plays later came a decision and play that wins championships.

Cignetti sent his kicker out on fourth-and-4 from the 12, but quickly called his second timeout. The team huddled on the field and the coach drew up a quarterback draw, hoping the Hurricanes would be in a defense they had shown before.

“We rolled the dice and said, ‘They’re going to be in it again and they were,’” Cignetti said. “We blocked it well, he broke a tackle or two and got in the end zone.”

Mendoza's play could very well join John Elway's “helicopter” run in Super Bowl 32 as one of the greatest examples of a quarterback willing to put everything on the line to win it all. Mendoza might soon have something else in common with Elway: This game did little to diminish his projection as the first pick in the upcoming NFL draft.

“Everyone on the team, including my coach, makes fun of my running style,” Mendoza said. “But it’s fourth down, so you’ve got to put it all on the line. Every player, if they had that opportunity, they’d put their body on the line, too.”

A team listed 18th in the first CFP rankings moved to 10th and sneaked into the playoff, bringing as many questions about the process as the selection itself.

The Hurricanes proved they belonged all the way. Fletcher was a one-man force, hitting triple digits for the third time in four playoff games and turning a moribund offense into something much more.

His first touchdown run was a 57-yard burst through the right side that pulled Miami within 10-7 early in the third quarter.

But after forcing an Indiana punt deep into Miami territory, Hoosiers lineman Mikail Kamara slid past the ’Canes’ protectors and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/CFBPlayoff/status/2013450145979867387">blocked the kick</a>. Isaiah Jones recovered to make it 17-7. Miami was in comeback mode the rest of the way.

It ended as a one-score game, and the ’Canes — the visiting team playing on their home field — moved into Indiana territory before Carson Beck’s heave got picked off by Jamari Sharpe, a Miami native who made sure the only miracle in this season would be Indiana’s.

This was a program that was so bad that coach Lee Corso stopped a game in 1976 to take a picture of a scoreboard when it read “Indiana 7, Ohio State 6.” Indiana lost 47-7.

There were hundreds of losses in front of half-empty stadiums between then and now.

But those days are over. The Hoosiers — yes, the Hoosiers — are national champions.

“I know nobody thought it was possible,” Cignetti said. “It probably is one of the greatest sports stories of all time.”

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Fernando Mendoza lowered his pads into a defender, spun in a full circle, used his hand to keep his balance,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/espn/status/2013456653866201453">then launched himself horizontally</a>&nbsp;and reached the ball over the goal line — an Indiana touchdown and a ready-made poster pic for a title run straight from the movies.Maybe they’ll call it “Hoosiers.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768906574424.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Heisman Trophy winner’s touchdown Monday night put an exclamation point on a 27-21 win over Miami that closed out an undefeated season and brought an improbable — maybe impossible? — national championship to a program that had known nothing but losing and indifference for almost 140 years.“Let me tell you: We won the national championship at Indiana University. It can be done,” said coach Curt Cignetti, who took over a program with a nation-leading 713 losses and turned it into the game's biggest winner in the span of two years.Cignetti, the 64-year-old coaching lifer, started it. Mendoza helped get the Hoosiers over the line. He finished with 186 yards passing, but it was that tackle-breaking, sprawled-out 12-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-4 with 9:18 left that defined this game — and the Hoosiers' season.Indiana would not be denied.“I had to go airborne,” said Mendoza, who had his lip split and his arm bloodied by a ferocious Miami defense that sacked him three times and hit him many more. “I would die for my team.”Mendoza's TD gave Indiana a 24-14 lead — barely enough breathing room to hold off a frenzied charge by the hard-hitting Hurricanes — a team that barely made the College Football Playoff and barely showed up in the first half of the final before coming to life behind 112 yards and two scores from Mark Fletcher.“They're the best thing that happened to the University of Miami in 25 years,” said coach Mario Cristobal, who was part of the title run that put this colorful program on the map in the 1980s and '90s.The CFP trophy now heads to the most unlikely of places: Bloomington, Indiana — home of the college that famously boasts the most living alumni (805,000), including billionaire Mark Cuban and several thousand of his closest friends who packed Miami's home stadium and turned a title-game ticket into a $4,000-or-more splurge.“It's way up there, that's for damn sure,” Cuban said when asked where this ranked among the out-of-nowhere success stories he helped bankroll on his reality show “Shark Tank.”Indiana finished 16-0 — using the extra games afforded by the expanded 12-team playoff to match a perfect-season win total last compiled by Yale in 1894. President Donald Trump was in the stands for what he said “turned out to be a great game” after a slow start — Indiana led 10-0 at half.In a fitting bit of symmetry, this undefeated title comes 50 years after Bob Knight’s basketball team went 32-0 to win it all in that state’s favorite sport.That hasn’t happened since, and there’s already some thought that college football — in its evolving, money-soaked, name-image-likeness era — might not see a team like this again, either.Players like Mendoza — a transfer from Cal who grew up just a few miles away from Miami’s campus, “The U” — certainly don’t come around often.Two fourth-down gambles by Cignetti in the fourth quarter, after Fletcher’s second touchdown carved the Hurricanes' deficit to three, put the QB in position to shine.The first was a 19-yard-completion to Charlie Becker on a back-shoulder fade those guys have been perfecting all season. Four plays later came a decision and play that wins championships.Cignetti sent his kicker out on fourth-and-4 from the 12, but quickly called his second timeout. The team huddled on the field and the coach drew up a quarterback draw, hoping the Hurricanes would be in a defense they had shown before.“We rolled the dice and said, ‘They’re going to be in it again and they were,’” Cignetti said. “We blocked it well, he broke a tackle or two and got in the end zone.”Mendoza's play could very well join John Elway's “helicopter” run in Super Bowl 32 as one of the greatest examples of a quarterback willing to put everything on the line to win it all. Mendoza might soon have something else in common with Elway: This game did little to diminish his projection as the first pick in the upcoming NFL draft.“Everyone on the team, including my coach, makes fun of my running style,” Mendoza said. “But it’s fourth down, so you’ve got to put it all on the line. Every player, if they had that opportunity, they’d put their body on the line, too.”For Miami, it was a very close call.A team listed 18th in the first CFP rankings moved to 10th and sneaked into the playoff, bringing as many questions about the process as the selection itself.The Hurricanes proved they belonged all the way. Fletcher was a one-man force, hitting triple digits for the third time in four playoff games and turning a moribund offense into something much more.His first touchdown run was a 57-yard burst through the right side that pulled Miami within 10-7 early in the third quarter.But after forcing an Indiana punt deep into Miami territory, Hoosiers lineman Mikail Kamara slid past the ’Canes’ protectors and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/CFBPlayoff/status/2013450145979867387">blocked the kick</a>. Isaiah Jones recovered to make it 17-7. Miami was in comeback mode the rest of the way.It ended as a one-score game, and the ’Canes — the visiting team playing on their home field — moved into Indiana territory before Carson Beck’s heave got picked off by Jamari Sharpe, a Miami native who made sure the only miracle in this season would be Indiana’s.How big a miracle?This was a program that was so bad that coach Lee Corso stopped a game in 1976 to take a picture of a scoreboard when it read “Indiana 7, Ohio State 6.” Indiana lost 47-7.There were hundreds of losses in front of half-empty stadiums between then and now.But those days are over. The Hoosiers — yes, the Hoosiers — are national champions.“I know nobody thought it was possible,” Cignetti said. “It probably is one of the greatest sports stories of all time.”

🏈 Indiana completes undefeated season, wins national title, beating Miami in CFP final

WICHITA, Kan. -&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a468ce1b-3393-47c2-a21c-b8a4b5be7801?elinkdata=35466" target="_blank">Wyatt Johnson</a>&nbsp;of Kansas Wesleyan University&nbsp;and Cedric Wilson of Sterling College have earned the KCAC Men's Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Week honors, respectively, the conference office announced Monday. The two student-athletes were selected for their performances from Jan. 12-18 by a vote of conference sports information directors.

All KCAC Player of the Week honors are presented by&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f057adb0-8831-4f28-a7ee-4b23651d67a1?elinkdata=35466" target="_blank">Athletic Solutions</a>.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/fdff0da7-5fb7-452b-9b06-8805777653a8?elinkdata=35466" target="_blank">Wyatt Johnson</a>&nbsp;- Kansas Wesleyan University

Johnson's time in the mile (4:16.47) at the Washburn Rust Buster ranks third all-time at KWU in that event. He currently has the 12th-fastest NAIA performance in the mile this season, and ranks second in the KCAC in the event. At the Washburn Rust Buster, he was the top NAIA and KCAC finisher out of 102 competitors.

WICHITA, Kan. -&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a468ce1b-3393-47c2-a21c-b8a4b5be7801?elinkdata=35466" target="_blank">Wyatt Johnson</a>&nbsp;of Kansas Wesleyan University&nbsp;and Cedric Wilson of Sterling College have earned the KCAC Men's Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Week honors, respectively, the conference office announced Monday. The two student-athletes were selected for their performances from Jan. 12-18 by a vote of conference sports information directors. All KCAC Player of the Week honors are presented by&nbsp;<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/f057adb0-8831-4f28-a7ee-4b23651d67a1?elinkdata=35466" target="_blank">Athletic Solutions</a>.Track Athlete of the Week<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/fdff0da7-5fb7-452b-9b06-8805777653a8?elinkdata=35466" target="_blank">Wyatt Johnson</a>&nbsp;- Kansas Wesleyan UniversityJr. | Lindsborg, Kan.Johnson's time in the mile (4:16.47) at the Washburn Rust Buster ranks third all-time at KWU in that event. He currently has the 12th-fastest NAIA performance in the mile this season, and ranks second in the KCAC in the event. At the Washburn Rust Buster, he was the top NAIA and KCAC finisher out of 102 competitors.

Wyatt Johnson earns KCAC Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week honor

Kansas Wesleyan Men's Basketball got its first win of 2026 as the Coyotes knocked off the Evangel University Valor 72-70 on Saturday night inside Mabee Arena.

It was two free throws by freshman <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2c4cb83d-3529-463f-ab96-d54e793f3069?elinkdata=35358">Braylin Goins</a> with 1.7 seconds left that sealed the deal for the Coyotes in a game that neither team led by more than six points - a 23-17 lead for KWU with 7:27 left in the first half on a 3-pointer by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/425ee3ce-3498-4b28-9f4c-d29df07123cf?elinkdata=35358">Matthew Garber</a> and a 61-55 lead with 7:25 left in the game.

Evangel's Harrison Doennig hit a shot as time expired to make the final score 72-70.

"It feels good to get out of a rut like we have been in, losing a bunch of close games, but we have continued to fight each night," KWU coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/75bb7fbc-a6cb-4e00-aca9-386c7339d33a?elinkdata=35358">Jordan Murdock</a> said on the postgame radio show. "It was fun again for us tonight."

Wesleyan's young lineup again was key as several players who had not seen action recently or were just called up to the varsity squad from the developmental team played key roles in Saturday's win, including <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a8ae5da1-6398-44ce-afbe-73bd596440d4?elinkdata=35358">Jayden Hall</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/df13646e-6436-424e-baec-f999f8f05e9c?elinkdata=35358">Garrett Robertson</a>.

"We are a really young team and sometimes I think the adversity of losing several games in a row was hard for us, but I am proud of the way we came out tonight and played hard," Murdock said. "The energy was different for us tonight, but we have to make sure we continue that."

It took nearly two minutes for either team to score in the game as <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/bb3fd13d-bdca-4c35-8842-3e006da6bf0a?elinkdata=35358">Caiden Punt's</a> free throws with 18:03 in the first broke the ice.

The lead bounced back and forth until a bucket by Gabriel Phillips gave Wesleyan a 6-5 lead that pushed out to 10-6 on a Punt field goal with 15:22 left.

Evangel took an 11-10 lead with a bucket with 11:44 to go, but <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4873d53f-f2da-40ae-9756-ee66de729c80?elinkdata=35358">Wyatt Powell</a> scored for the Coyotes sparking a 5-0 KWU run, all points from Powell to make it 15-11. Evangel scored the next four to tie it, but Goins nailed a 3-pointer to give the lead back to the Coyotes.

Garber's triple with 7:27 left gave KWU its biggest lead of the game at six points at 23-17.

Evangel cut the difference to one and took the lead back again at 33-30 with 3:18 to go in the half.

The lead changed hands a couple more times until Evangel would take a 38-36 lead into the half.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0c83202f-75d5-45cf-9ec5-de473d649a08?elinkdata=35358">Evens Appolon</a> tied it to start the second half for the Coyotes, but the Valor would take a 41-38 lead with just under 18 minutes left.

Back came the resilient Coyotes again, tying it on a Goins triple that sparked an 8-0 KWU run that made it 46-41 on Hall's triple with 15:13 to go.

An 8-2 run by Evangel gave the Valor a 49-48 lead with 11:26 left, but free throws by Appolon pushed the Coyotes back ahead at 50-49.

Evangel led 55-54 with 8:17 left, but Punt's free throws gave the Coyotes the lead for good, sparking a 7-0 run that made it 61-55 with 7:25 left on a bucket by Hall.

The Valor got within a point with 3:12 left, but the Coyotes wouldn't give up the lead the rest of the way.

Punt led the Coyotes with 15 points, while Goins had 14. Hall added nine and Appolon eight as KWU was 22 of 48 from the field for 45.8 percent. Goins led the team with five rebounds and handed out four assists.

"Tonight's win was a total team effort against a really good Evangel team," Murdock said. "I am excited for our group moving forward."

Kansas Wesleyan Men's Basketball got its first win of 2026 as the Coyotes knocked off the Evangel University Valor 72-70 on Saturday night inside Mabee Arena.It was two free throws by freshman <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2c4cb83d-3529-463f-ab96-d54e793f3069?elinkdata=35358">Braylin Goins</a> with 1.7 seconds left that sealed the deal for the Coyotes in a game that neither team led by more than six points - a 23-17 lead for KWU with 7:27 left in the first half on a 3-pointer by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/425ee3ce-3498-4b28-9f4c-d29df07123cf?elinkdata=35358">Matthew Garber</a> and a 61-55 lead with 7:25 left in the game.Evangel's Harrison Doennig hit a shot as time expired to make the final score 72-70."It feels good to get out of a rut like we have been in, losing a bunch of close games, but we have continued to fight each night," KWU coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/75bb7fbc-a6cb-4e00-aca9-386c7339d33a?elinkdata=35358">Jordan Murdock</a> said on the postgame radio show. "It was fun again for us tonight."Wesleyan's young lineup again was key as several players who had not seen action recently or were just called up to the varsity squad from the developmental team played key roles in Saturday's win, including <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a8ae5da1-6398-44ce-afbe-73bd596440d4?elinkdata=35358">Jayden Hall</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/df13646e-6436-424e-baec-f999f8f05e9c?elinkdata=35358">Garrett Robertson</a>."We are a really young team and sometimes I think the adversity of losing several games in a row was hard for us, but I am proud of the way we came out tonight and played hard," Murdock said. "The energy was different for us tonight, but we have to make sure we continue that."It took nearly two minutes for either team to score in the game as <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/bb3fd13d-bdca-4c35-8842-3e006da6bf0a?elinkdata=35358">Caiden Punt's</a> free throws with 18:03 in the first broke the ice.The lead bounced back and forth until a bucket by Gabriel Phillips gave Wesleyan a 6-5 lead that pushed out to 10-6 on a Punt field goal with 15:22 left.Evangel took an 11-10 lead with a bucket with 11:44 to go, but <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4873d53f-f2da-40ae-9756-ee66de729c80?elinkdata=35358">Wyatt Powell</a> scored for the Coyotes sparking a 5-0 KWU run, all points from Powell to make it 15-11. Evangel scored the next four to tie it, but Goins nailed a 3-pointer to give the lead back to the Coyotes.Garber's triple with 7:27 left gave KWU its biggest lead of the game at six points at 23-17.Evangel cut the difference to one and took the lead back again at 33-30 with 3:18 to go in the half.The lead changed hands a couple more times until Evangel would take a 38-36 lead into the half.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0c83202f-75d5-45cf-9ec5-de473d649a08?elinkdata=35358">Evens Appolon</a> tied it to start the second half for the Coyotes, but the Valor would take a 41-38 lead with just under 18 minutes left.Back came the resilient Coyotes again, tying it on a Goins triple that sparked an 8-0 KWU run that made it 46-41 on Hall's triple with 15:13 to go.An 8-2 run by Evangel gave the Valor a 49-48 lead with 11:26 left, but free throws by Appolon pushed the Coyotes back ahead at 50-49.Evangel led 55-54 with 8:17 left, but Punt's free throws gave the Coyotes the lead for good, sparking a 7-0 run that made it 61-55 with 7:25 left on a bucket by Hall.The Valor got within a point with 3:12 left, but the Coyotes wouldn't give up the lead the rest of the way.Punt led the Coyotes with 15 points, while Goins had 14. Hall added nine and Appolon eight as KWU was 22 of 48 from the field for 45.8 percent. Goins led the team with five rebounds and handed out four assists."Tonight's win was a total team effort against a really good Evangel team," Murdock said. "I am excited for our group moving forward."

🏀 Coyote Men’s Basketball ends skid knocks off Evangel 72-70

It wasn't the outcome <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c4c1398d-1580-4ef3-a9e3-0a97b9c540ca?elinkdata=35322">Harper Taylor</a> wanted, but she had few qualms with the way her Kansas Wesleyan women's basketball team played against the 22nd-ranked team in the NAIA.

The Coyotes lost to Evangel 96-89 in a Kansas Conference game Saturday afternoon inside Mabee Arena but gave the Valor a battle for the full 40 minutes.

"I thought we gave it everything we had, I thought they had a lot of fight," Taylor said on the postgame radio show. "We just needed a couple more possessions."

Evangel (15-1, 12-0 KCAC) shot 58 percent for the game (36 of 62) including a blistering 63 percent in the first half (20 of 32), but the Coyotes would not quit. They shot 44 percent (30 of 68), forced 15 turnovers while committing just nine and won the rebounding battle 34-33.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/ce06c40f-78b5-401e-ab65-7781c1929bea?elinkdata=35322">Odessa Ozuna</a>, KWU's irrepressible point guard, led the way with 21 points, five assists and four rebounds. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b56f6aef-13e6-4167-a184-66d3bebdf2c9?elinkdata=35322">Izzy McCool</a> had 19 points and eight rebounds, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4665ed6b-2b6a-483d-83fe-7f9c106c00d6?elinkdata=35322">Anna Jueneman</a> came off the bench and contributed 17 points, three rebounds and two steals and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7c5f887f-ee13-4587-a90f-b3fd69753c89?elinkdata=35322">Jocelyn Hall</a> grabbed 10 rebounds to go along with six points.

A 7-0 Evangel run in the second quarter extended the lead to 41-32. KWU (9-9, 6-6 KCAC) promptly answered with a 9-2 surge then scored seven of the last 11 points in the quarter to trail 52-48 at halftime.

The Valor built a 60-53 lead with 7½ minutes remaining in the third quarter, but the Coyotes responded once again with a 6-0 surge to get within 60-59.

A blowout appeared in the offing when Evangel scored the first five points of the fourth quarter and led by 15 three times, the third 85-70.

Undaunted as usual, KWU scored nine unanswered points to get within 85-79 with 3:40 left. Evangel built the lead back to nine (92-83), but four consecutive Ozuna points made it 92-87 with 1:19 left.

The Valor closed it out with four free throws in the final 51.6 seconds.

"There were a lot of good learning lessons and a lot of things we can take away from the game," Taylor said. "It was a great effort, but it just wasn't good enough."

Junior center Heaven Shockley led five Valor players in double figures with 24 points on 11 of 15 shooting.

The Valor was 7 of 12 from 3-point range while KWU was 3 of 18. The Coyotes thrived at the free throw line, making 26 of their 30 attempts. Evangel was 17 of 20.

It wasn't the outcome <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c4c1398d-1580-4ef3-a9e3-0a97b9c540ca?elinkdata=35322">Harper Taylor</a> wanted, but she had few qualms with the way her Kansas Wesleyan women's basketball team played against the 22nd-ranked team in the NAIA.The Coyotes lost to Evangel 96-89 in a Kansas Conference game Saturday afternoon inside Mabee Arena but gave the Valor a battle for the full 40 minutes."I thought we gave it everything we had, I thought they had a lot of fight," Taylor said on the postgame radio show. "We just needed a couple more possessions."Evangel (15-1, 12-0 KCAC) shot 58 percent for the game (36 of 62) including a blistering 63 percent in the first half (20 of 32), but the Coyotes would not quit. They shot 44 percent (30 of 68), forced 15 turnovers while committing just nine and won the rebounding battle 34-33.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/ce06c40f-78b5-401e-ab65-7781c1929bea?elinkdata=35322">Odessa Ozuna</a>, KWU's irrepressible point guard, led the way with 21 points, five assists and four rebounds. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b56f6aef-13e6-4167-a184-66d3bebdf2c9?elinkdata=35322">Izzy McCool</a> had 19 points and eight rebounds, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4665ed6b-2b6a-483d-83fe-7f9c106c00d6?elinkdata=35322">Anna Jueneman</a> came off the bench and contributed 17 points, three rebounds and two steals and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7c5f887f-ee13-4587-a90f-b3fd69753c89?elinkdata=35322">Jocelyn Hall</a> grabbed 10 rebounds to go along with six points.A 7-0 Evangel run in the second quarter extended the lead to 41-32. KWU (9-9, 6-6 KCAC) promptly answered with a 9-2 surge then scored seven of the last 11 points in the quarter to trail 52-48 at halftime.The Valor built a 60-53 lead with 7½ minutes remaining in the third quarter, but the Coyotes responded once again with a 6-0 surge to get within 60-59.A blowout appeared in the offing when Evangel scored the first five points of the fourth quarter and led by 15 three times, the third 85-70.Undaunted as usual, KWU scored nine unanswered points to get within 85-79 with 3:40 left. Evangel built the lead back to nine (92-83), but four consecutive Ozuna points made it 92-87 with 1:19 left.The Valor closed it out with four free throws in the final 51.6 seconds."There were a lot of good learning lessons and a lot of things we can take away from the game," Taylor said. "It was a great effort, but it just wasn't good enough."Junior center Heaven Shockley led five Valor players in double figures with 24 points on 11 of 15 shooting.The Valor was 7 of 12 from 3-point range while KWU was 3 of 18. The Coyotes thrived at the free throw line, making 26 of their 30 attempts. Evangel was 17 of 20.

🏀 KWU WBB battles with but can't get by hot-shooting No. 22 ranked Evangel

TEMPE, Ariz. –&nbsp;The Kansas Jayhawks were held to a season-low 51 points on Saturday as KU suffered a 67-51 defeat to Arizona State at Desert Financial Arena.

The loss is the fourth straight for KU as the Jayhawks fall to 11-8 (1-6 Big 12) on the season. Arizona State improves to 16-3 (4-2 Big 12). Kansas concludes its road trip with a trip to Tucson, Arizona, on Tuesday, Jan. 20, to meet Arizona. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Jaliya Davis and Regan Williams had 11 points apiece to lead the Jayhawks, while S’Mya Nichols had eight points in 21 minutes before exiting the game with an injury in the third quarter. The Jayhawks shot 38.0 percent (19-50) from the field and 20.0 percent (4-20) from three-point range, while knocking down all nine free throw attempts in the game.

“We have to play with more discipline,” Kansas head coach Brandon Schneider said following the game. “I think there's a frustration when things aren't going your way, and there's a way to respond in a competitive way. We just fouled too much today, and I thought a lot of it was a frustration with how the game was going but also with where we are.”

The first quarter featured alternating runs from the two teams as they combined for two ties and four lead changes. Arizona State scored the first four points of the game at the free throw line before Davis and Libby Fandel combined to score the next seven as KU took its first lead of the day. ASU answered with a 9-2 run, building a 13-9 lead before Williams scored a basket and Davis hit two free throws to tie the game at 13-13 at the end of one quarter.&nbsp;

Nichols broke the tie with a three-point play to open the second quarter and Kansas led 18-15 at the 8:37 mark after Sania Copeland scored a driving basket. The Jayhawks were held to one basket - a Lilly Meister three-pointer - over the next six minutes as ASU went on a 19-3 run to build a 34-21 lead at the 2:14 mark. Nichols ended that streak with a three-pointer and Brittany Harshaw knocked down a triple of her own on KU’s final possession of the half, but ASU beat the buzzer with a jump shot to carry a 40-29 lead into the break.&nbsp;

Davis knocked down KU’s first two buckets of the second half, briefly cutting the deficit into single digits before ASU went on an 8-3 run to take their largest lead at 50-36. Williams scored the next six points for the Jayhawks and Elle Evans added a basket, but Kansas faced a 55-43 deficit at the end of three.&nbsp;

TEMPE, Ariz. –&nbsp;The Kansas Jayhawks were held to a season-low 51 points on Saturday as KU suffered a 67-51 defeat to Arizona State at Desert Financial Arena.The loss is the fourth straight for KU as the Jayhawks fall to 11-8 (1-6 Big 12) on the season. Arizona State improves to 16-3 (4-2 Big 12). Kansas concludes its road trip with a trip to Tucson, Arizona, on Tuesday, Jan. 20, to meet Arizona. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.Jaliya Davis and Regan Williams had 11 points apiece to lead the Jayhawks, while S’Mya Nichols had eight points in 21 minutes before exiting the game with an injury in the third quarter. The Jayhawks shot 38.0 percent (19-50) from the field and 20.0 percent (4-20) from three-point range, while knocking down all nine free throw attempts in the game.“We have to play with more discipline,” Kansas head coach Brandon Schneider said following the game. “I think there's a frustration when things aren't going your way, and there's a way to respond in a competitive way. We just fouled too much today, and I thought a lot of it was a frustration with how the game was going but also with where we are.”The first quarter featured alternating runs from the two teams as they combined for two ties and four lead changes. Arizona State scored the first four points of the game at the free throw line before Davis and Libby Fandel combined to score the next seven as KU took its first lead of the day. ASU answered with a 9-2 run, building a 13-9 lead before Williams scored a basket and Davis hit two free throws to tie the game at 13-13 at the end of one quarter.&nbsp;Nichols broke the tie with a three-point play to open the second quarter and Kansas led 18-15 at the 8:37 mark after Sania Copeland scored a driving basket. The Jayhawks were held to one basket - a Lilly Meister three-pointer - over the next six minutes as ASU went on a 19-3 run to build a 34-21 lead at the 2:14 mark. Nichols ended that streak with a three-pointer and Brittany Harshaw knocked down a triple of her own on KU’s final possession of the half, but ASU beat the buzzer with a jump shot to carry a 40-29 lead into the break.&nbsp;Davis knocked down KU’s first two buckets of the second half, briefly cutting the deficit into single digits before ASU went on an 8-3 run to take their largest lead at 50-36. Williams scored the next six points for the Jayhawks and Elle Evans added a basket, but Kansas faced a 55-43 deficit at the end of three.&nbsp;

🏀 Road Swing Starts with Setback at Arizona State

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Broncos wrangled their biggest win in a decade from Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills but suffered an enormous loss in the process.

About an hour after second-year quarterback Bo Nix led the Broncos to a 33-30 win on Wil Lutz's 23-yard field goal in overtime Saturday, Denver coach Sean Payton returned to the postgame lectern to deliver the stunning news.

He said Nix broke his right ankle a few plays before Lutz's kick sent the top-seeded Broncos (15-3) to the AFC championship game against either New England or Houston.

Nix will have season-ending surgery Tuesday in Birmingham, Alabama.

“We celebrate the season for him," Payton said. “And listen, the city's ready and we'll be ready for the next challenge.”

Backup QB Jarrett Stidham takes over for Nix. He took just one snap this season, a kneel-down in a blowout win over Dallas in Week 8.

“Stiddy’s ready,” Payton declared. “He's ready. I said this at the beginning of the season I've got a 2 that's capable of starting for a number of teams. And I know he feels the same way. So, watch out."

Stidham has appeared in 20 games in six NFL seasons, starting four and winning one.

Nix got hurt on a keeper where he lost 2 yards and was tackled by safety Cole Bishop. Nix was limping after the play, but there was no indication that he suffered such a serious injury.

On the next play, Nix threw a deep pass to Marvin Mims Jr. that drew a 30-yard pass interference flag and got the Broncos well into field-goal range. Nix then took a knee to center the ball for Lutz’s game-ending field goal.

Nix tied Russell Wilson’s NFL record with two dozen victories in his first two seasons. Saturday’s victory was his first in the playoffs. The Broncos lost last year at Buffalo but Nix led Denver to the AFC’s top seed this season.

“He’s a tough cookie,” Payton said. “And this team all year has lost key players and will rise up for the next challenge.”

Before word of Nix's injury broke, Denver was jubilant over the Broncos' first playoff victory in a decade.

Denver's game-winning drive came after nickel back Ja'Quan McMillian intercepted Allen's deep pass in overtime.&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/2012692527359651953">McMillian's pick</a>&nbsp;was Denver's fifth takeaway of the game after they were minus-3 in turnover differential during the season.

McMillian wrested the ball away from Brandin Cooks at the Broncos 20-yard line when a field goal would have won the game for Buffalo (13-6).

“He actually had the ball coming down and I had my hand on the ball,” McMillian said. “I was able to take it from him. I fell on top of him, just held the ball up, showed the fans some love.”

“I feel that way,” he said. "But at the end of the day, you don’t, you know, no matter, ultimately this is where we’re sitting now.”

Referee Carl Cheffers said in a pool report, “The receiver has to complete the process of a catch. He was going to the ground as part of the process of the catch and he lost possession of the ball when he hit the ground. The defender gained possession of it at that point. The defender is the one that completed the process of the catch, so the defender was awarded the ball.”

Cooks said he just has to make sure next time not to leave it in the "officials' hands.”

Nix said nothing about being hurt&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NFLonCBS/status/2012696279042711683">during a postgame interview</a>&nbsp;with CBS, and he sounded as if he was looking forward to the next game.

“It’s great to have home-field advantage in a situation like this. It’s exciting. This is why you play the game, this is why you compete. You get to playoff football, and good things happen,” Nix said.

Former Broncos kicker Matt Prater nailed a 50-yard field goal with 5 seconds left in regulation, knotting it up at 30-all. That came after Nix's 26-yard touchdown throw to Mims with 55 seconds left had given Denver a 30-27 lead.

Allen, who hadn't turned the ball over in his previous six playoff appearances, threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles.

“I felt like I let my teammates down," a teary-eyed Allen said.

The Bills failed once again to reach the Super Bowl with Allen under center even though Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson weren’t standing in his way this time as that trio of franchise quarterbacks all missed the postseason party.

Coming off the first road playoff win of his career, Allen’s first three turnovers helped Denver built a 23-10 lead before he threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Keon Coleman and a 14-yarder to Dalton Kincaid to give Buffalo a 24-23 lead early in the fourth quarter.

The Broncos scored 10 points in the final 22 seconds of the first half to take a 20-10 lead into the locker room, and they got their third takeaway just two plays into the second half on Nik Bonitto’s strip-sack of Allen that was recovered by Malcolm Roach at the Bills 17, leading to a field goal.

Denver avenged a 31-7 loss at Buffalo in the playoffs last year.

“We weren't ready last year,” Payton said. “But we were ready today.”

Bills: LB Dorian Williams (neck) got hurt covering the opening kickoff and was taken to a hospital. ... DT Ed Oliver (knee) left in the third quarter.

Broncos: WR Pat Bryant sustained a concussion on Denver's initial drive after he caught three passes for 32 yards. ... WR Troy Franklin pulled a hamstring.

The Bills are left wondering what it'll take to get to the Super Bowl.

The Broncos host their first AFC championship game in a decade.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768728440275.png" alt="Photo Denver Broncos" />
 <figcaption>Photo Denver Broncos</figcaption>
 </figure>DENVER (AP) — The Denver Broncos wrangled their biggest win in a decade from Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills but suffered an enormous loss in the process.About an hour after second-year quarterback Bo Nix led the Broncos to a 33-30 win on Wil Lutz's 23-yard field goal in overtime Saturday, Denver coach Sean Payton returned to the postgame lectern to deliver the stunning news.He said Nix broke his right ankle a few plays before Lutz's kick sent the top-seeded Broncos (15-3) to the AFC championship game against either New England or Houston.Nix will have season-ending surgery Tuesday in Birmingham, Alabama.“We celebrate the season for him," Payton said. “And listen, the city's ready and we'll be ready for the next challenge.”Backup QB Jarrett Stidham takes over for Nix. He took just one snap this season, a kneel-down in a blowout win over Dallas in Week 8.“Stiddy’s ready,” Payton declared. “He's ready. I said this at the beginning of the season I've got a 2 that's capable of starting for a number of teams. And I know he feels the same way. So, watch out."Stidham has appeared in 20 games in six NFL seasons, starting four and winning one.Nix got hurt on a keeper where he lost 2 yards and was tackled by safety Cole Bishop. Nix was limping after the play, but there was no indication that he suffered such a serious injury.On the next play, Nix threw a deep pass to Marvin Mims Jr. that drew a 30-yard pass interference flag and got the Broncos well into field-goal range. Nix then took a knee to center the ball for Lutz’s game-ending field goal.Nix tied Russell Wilson’s NFL record with two dozen victories in his first two seasons. Saturday’s victory was his first in the playoffs. The Broncos lost last year at Buffalo but Nix led Denver to the AFC’s top seed this season.“He’s a tough cookie,” Payton said. “And this team all year has lost key players and will rise up for the next challenge.”Before word of Nix's injury broke, Denver was jubilant over the Broncos' first playoff victory in a decade.Denver's game-winning drive came after nickel back Ja'Quan McMillian intercepted Allen's deep pass in overtime.&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/2012692527359651953">McMillian's pick</a>&nbsp;was Denver's fifth takeaway of the game after they were minus-3 in turnover differential during the season.McMillian wrested the ball away from Brandin Cooks at the Broncos 20-yard line when a field goal would have won the game for Buffalo (13-6).“He actually had the ball coming down and I had my hand on the ball,” McMillian said. “I was able to take it from him. I fell on top of him, just held the ball up, showed the fans some love.”Cooks said he thought it was a catch.“I feel that way,” he said. "But at the end of the day, you don’t, you know, no matter, ultimately this is where we’re sitting now.”Referee Carl Cheffers said in a pool report, “The receiver has to complete the process of a catch. He was going to the ground as part of the process of the catch and he lost possession of the ball when he hit the ground. The defender gained possession of it at that point. The defender is the one that completed the process of the catch, so the defender was awarded the ball.”Cooks said he just has to make sure next time not to leave it in the "officials' hands.”Or McMillian's.Nix said nothing about being hurt&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NFLonCBS/status/2012696279042711683">during a postgame interview</a>&nbsp;with CBS, and he sounded as if he was looking forward to the next game.“It’s great to have home-field advantage in a situation like this. It’s exciting. This is why you play the game, this is why you compete. You get to playoff football, and good things happen,” Nix said.Former Broncos kicker Matt Prater nailed a 50-yard field goal with 5 seconds left in regulation, knotting it up at 30-all. That came after Nix's 26-yard touchdown throw to Mims with 55 seconds left had given Denver a 30-27 lead.Allen, who hadn't turned the ball over in his previous six playoff appearances, threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles.“I felt like I let my teammates down," a teary-eyed Allen said.The Bills failed once again to reach the Super Bowl with Allen under center even though Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson weren’t standing in his way this time as that trio of franchise quarterbacks all missed the postseason party.Coming off the first road playoff win of his career, Allen’s first three turnovers helped Denver built a 23-10 lead before he threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Keon Coleman and a 14-yarder to Dalton Kincaid to give Buffalo a 24-23 lead early in the fourth quarter.<h2>Quick strikes</h2>The Broncos scored 10 points in the final 22 seconds of the first half to take a 20-10 lead into the locker room, and they got their third takeaway just two plays into the second half on Nik Bonitto’s strip-sack of Allen that was recovered by Malcolm Roach at the Bills 17, leading to a field goal.Denver avenged a 31-7 loss at Buffalo in the playoffs last year.“We weren't ready last year,” Payton said. “But we were ready today.”<h2>Injuri</h2><h2>es</h2>Bills: LB Dorian Williams (neck) got hurt covering the opening kickoff and was taken to a hospital. ... DT Ed Oliver (knee) left in the third quarter.Broncos: WR Pat Bryant sustained a concussion on Denver's initial drive after he caught three passes for 32 yards. ... WR Troy Franklin pulled a hamstring.<h2>Up next</h2>The Bills are left wondering what it'll take to get to the Super Bowl.The Broncos host their first AFC championship game in a decade.

🏈Broncos reach AFC title game with win over Bills, but lose Nix with ankle injury

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Anthony Roy scored 23 points, Vyctorius Miller was fouled on a corner 3-point shot with 2.8 seconds left and hit all three free throws and Oklahoma State beat Kansas State 84-83 on Saturday night.

Parsa Fallah had 17 points, nine rebounds and two steals for Oklahoma State and Kanye Clary had 12 points and six assists. Andrija Vukovic added 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting and Miller finished with nine points, seven rebounds and four assists.

The Cowboys (14-4, 2-3 Big 12) are 24-0 under coach second-year coach Steve Lutz when they score at least 81 points. The 53-year-old Lutz earned his 100th career win in four-plus seasons.

Kansas State (9-9) is 0-5 in conference play for the first time since the 1996-97 season.

PJ Haggerty scored 14 of his 21 points in the second half for the Wildcats and Abdi Bashir Jr. added 15, which included 5 3s. Khamari McGriff scored 14 points on 7-of-7 shooting before he fouled out with 6:02 remaining. Nate Johnson also scored 14.

Haggerty made a running floater that gave Kansas State a two-point lead with 49 seconds to play. Kanye Clary missed back-to-back 3-point shots but Miller secured OSU's second consecutive offensive rebound on a tie-up with 4.0 seconds remaining. Miller then caught the inbounds pass in the corner and was fouled.

Clary and Miller each hit a 3 as Oklahoma State scored eight of the first 11 second-half points to push its lead into double figures with 17:22 left in the game.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768728142293.png" alt="Photo K-State Athlatics" />
 <figcaption>Photo K-State Athlatics</figcaption>
 </figure>STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Anthony Roy scored 23 points, Vyctorius Miller was fouled on a corner 3-point shot with 2.8 seconds left and hit all three free throws and Oklahoma State beat Kansas State 84-83 on Saturday night.Parsa Fallah had 17 points, nine rebounds and two steals for Oklahoma State and Kanye Clary had 12 points and six assists. Andrija Vukovic added 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting and Miller finished with nine points, seven rebounds and four assists.The Cowboys (14-4, 2-3 Big 12) are 24-0 under coach second-year coach Steve Lutz when they score at least 81 points. The 53-year-old Lutz earned his 100th career win in four-plus seasons.Kansas State (9-9) is 0-5 in conference play for the first time since the 1996-97 season.PJ Haggerty scored 14 of his 21 points in the second half for the Wildcats and Abdi Bashir Jr. added 15, which included 5 3s. Khamari McGriff scored 14 points on 7-of-7 shooting before he fouled out with 6:02 remaining. Nate Johnson also scored 14.Haggerty made a running floater that gave Kansas State a two-point lead with 49 seconds to play. Kanye Clary missed back-to-back 3-point shots but Miller secured OSU's second consecutive offensive rebound on a tie-up with 4.0 seconds remaining. Miller then caught the inbounds pass in the corner and was fouled.Clary and Miller each hit a 3 as Oklahoma State scored eight of the first 11 second-half points to push its lead into double figures with 17:22 left in the game.<h2>Up next</h2>Kansas State: Hosts Utah on Tuesday.Oklahoma State: Plays Tuesday at TCU.

🏀 Roy scores 23 as Oklahoma State beats Kansas State

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post

The Southeast of Saline girls’ basketball team continued to roll, winning a third-straight game on Friday night, while the boys came up just short in a tight game with Clay Center.

Girls: SE of Saline 54, Clay Center 43

The Lady Trojans jumped on Clay Center early, doubling up the Lady Tigers to take a 16-8 lead into the second quarter.

That lead continued to build, as SES held a ten-point advantage at halftime, an eleven-point lead after three, and eventually closed out a win of the same margin.

Three different Lady Trojans finished the game in double figures, led by Taryn Goetz, who posted a new career high of 17 points, Kyiah Samuelson, who added 12 more, and Abigail Pearson, who scored a season-high 11 in the win.

On the other side of the matchup, Lily Edwards led all scorers in a heroic 20-point effort, and Miley McGee added 12 more, but it wasn’t enough as the rest of the team combined for just nine points.

This win takes Southeast to 8-3 overall while Clay Center falls to 2-7.

Boys: Clay Center 53, SE of Saline 50

The boys’ game felt eerily similar to the matchup against Lyons, with Southeast taking a sizable early lead, up 21-16 at the end of the first quarter.

That lead wouldn’t last long, however, as Clay Center came storming back, outscoring SES 17-9 in the second quarter to hold a 33-30 lead at half.

Southeast kept things close all the way to the finish line, but the Tigers held on for a narrow but well-deserved 53-50 victory.

Tiernan Ptacek led all scorers with 17 points despite the loss.

A trio of Tigers closed out the game in double figures, led by Rylan Gurney (16), Abram Stratton (15), and Grady Theuer (10).

This loss drops Southeast to 3-8 while Clay Center improves to 6-3.

You can watch both games on demand below.

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765031258309.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here." />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here.</figcaption>
 </figure>The Southeast of Saline girls’ basketball team continued to roll, winning a third-straight game on Friday night, while the boys came up just short in a tight game with Clay Center.Girls: SE of Saline 54, Clay Center 43The Lady Trojans jumped on Clay Center early, doubling up the Lady Tigers to take a 16-8 lead into the second quarter.That lead continued to build, as SES held a ten-point advantage at halftime, an eleven-point lead after three, and eventually closed out a win of the same margin.Three different Lady Trojans finished the game in double figures, led by Taryn Goetz, who posted a new career high of 17 points, Kyiah Samuelson, who added 12 more, and Abigail Pearson, who scored a season-high 11 in the win.On the other side of the matchup, Lily Edwards led all scorers in a heroic 20-point effort, and Miley McGee added 12 more, but it wasn’t enough as the rest of the team combined for just nine points.This win takes Southeast to 8-3 overall while Clay Center falls to 2-7.Boys: Clay Center 53, SE of Saline 50The boys’ game felt eerily similar to the matchup against Lyons, with Southeast taking a sizable early lead, up 21-16 at the end of the first quarter.That lead wouldn’t last long, however, as Clay Center came storming back, outscoring SES 17-9 in the second quarter to hold a 33-30 lead at half.Southeast kept things close all the way to the finish line, but the Tigers held on for a narrow but well-deserved 53-50 victory.Tiernan Ptacek led all scorers with 17 points despite the loss.A trio of Tigers closed out the game in double figures, led by Rylan Gurney (16), Abram Stratton (15), and Grady Theuer (10).This loss drops Southeast to 3-8 while Clay Center improves to 6-3.You can watch both games on demand below.<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QCIrWXB5FYI"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

🏀 Southeast splits set with Clay Center, Lady Trojans win third in a row

Sacred Heart was back in League action on Friday in Ellsworth, with the Lady Knights dropping their first league game of the year, and the Knights staying perfect.

Girls: Sacred Heart 45 Ellsworth 53

On the girls’ side of this matchup, Sacred Heart would find themselves locked in with a battle just leading 13-12 to close out the first. Ellsworth would shoot lights out and the Lady Knights would fall behind 30-21 going into intermission.

Coming out of Halftime the Lady Knights would play the best quarter of defense and only allow three field goals to go in for Ellsworth but on our side struggled moving the ball and be down 38-32 going into the final quarter.

Three pointers started to fall for the Lady Knights, and they clawed back to as close as 4 points with 4 minutes left and Ellsworth backed by Lainey Peschka would keep the lead and hand the Lady Knights their first league loss of the season 53-45.

Sacred Heart was led in scoring by Skylar Douglas she finished with 19 in the loss.

Ellsworth was led in the hot shooting Lainey Peschka she compiled 20.

Sacred Heart falls to 9-3 overall 4-1 League and looks to the Trojan Classic Mid-season Tournament to face Hillsboro on Tuesday.

Boys: Sacred Heart 70 Ellsworth 43

On the Boys’ side, Sacred Heart dominated with Defense, holding Ellsworth to just 10 first quarter points, and 17 at half.

The Knights had an explosive second quarter in company Kolton Sprague he compiled 12 in the quarter. Sacred Heart would force 18 turnovers and turned the defense into offense only allowing one Bearcat to double digits.

The Knights would go on in the third putting up 21 in the quarter and lead 63-34 going into the final quarter.

The Knights would utilize the bench and take the starters out; Luke Koland and Kolton Sprague would put points on the board and help the Knights pull of the 70-43 victory.

The Knights had 4 finish with double digits, Kolton Sprague would have a career night and finish with 18, Will Tuttle with 15, Noah Hines(13), Luke Koland(12)

The Knights stay perfect and move to 12-0 overall 5-0 league. The Knights will battle in the Trojan Classic next week as the 1-seed and face Hillsboro first on Tuesday.

Sacred Heart was back in League action on Friday in Ellsworth, with the Lady Knights dropping their first league game of the year, and the Knights staying perfect.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765031258309.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here." />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here.</figcaption>
 </figure>Girls: Sacred Heart 45 Ellsworth 53On the girls’ side of this matchup, Sacred Heart would find themselves locked in with a battle just leading 13-12 to close out the first. Ellsworth would shoot lights out and the Lady Knights would fall behind 30-21 going into intermission.Coming out of Halftime the Lady Knights would play the best quarter of defense and only allow three field goals to go in for Ellsworth but on our side struggled moving the ball and be down 38-32 going into the final quarter.Three pointers started to fall for the Lady Knights, and they clawed back to as close as 4 points with 4 minutes left and Ellsworth backed by Lainey Peschka would keep the lead and hand the Lady Knights their first league loss of the season 53-45.Sacred Heart was led in scoring by Skylar Douglas she finished with 19 in the loss.Ellsworth was led in the hot shooting Lainey Peschka she compiled 20.Sacred Heart falls to 9-3 overall 4-1 League and looks to the Trojan Classic Mid-season Tournament to face Hillsboro on Tuesday.Boys: Sacred Heart 70 Ellsworth 43On the Boys’ side, Sacred Heart dominated with Defense, holding Ellsworth to just 10 first quarter points, and 17 at half.The Knights had an explosive second quarter in company Kolton Sprague he compiled 12 in the quarter. Sacred Heart would force 18 turnovers and turned the defense into offense only allowing one Bearcat to double digits.The Knights would go on in the third putting up 21 in the quarter and lead 63-34 going into the final quarter.The Knights would utilize the bench and take the starters out; Luke Koland and Kolton Sprague would put points on the board and help the Knights pull of the 70-43 victory.The Knights had 4 finish with double digits, Kolton Sprague would have a career night and finish with 18, Will Tuttle with 15, Noah Hines(13), Luke Koland(12)The Knights stay perfect and move to 12-0 overall 5-0 league. The Knights will battle in the Trojan Classic next week as the 1-seed and face Hillsboro first on Tuesday.

🏀 Knights remain perfect while Lady Bearcats swipe win

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Freshman Darryn Peterson scored 26 points on 11-of-13 shooting, Flory Bidunga had 23 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks, and Kansas beat Baylor 80-62 on Friday night.

Kansas led by 15 points after opening the game on a 19-4 run, but the Bears rallied behind an 8-0 run to take their first lead at 37-36. The Jayhawks scored the final seven points of the half, capped by a stepback jumper by Peterson, who had 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting.

Bidunga threw down an alley-oop dunk while being fouled and he made the free throw to cap Kansas’ 15-3 run to begin the second half for a 58-40 lead. Baylor began the second half by making just 1 for 6 shots — after missing its final four field goals of the first half.

Kansas led by at least 14 points the rest of the way.

Peterson, averaging a team-high 21.8 points per game, has six games of 20 or more points for Kansas (13-5, 3-2 Big 12), which was coming off an 84-63 win against No. 2 Iowa State on Tuesday. The Jayhawks have shot above 50% from the field the past two games.

Cameron Carr led Baylor (11-6, 1-4) with 24 points and five 3-pointers. Tounde Yessoufou added three of Baylor's 11 3-pointers and 20 points.

It marked the first time since Dec. 10, 1966, that the two teams met while both were unranked in the AP poll.

The Jayhawks lead the all-time series with Baylor, 37-11, including 21-1 at Allen Fieldhouse

Baylor: Returns home to play No. 15 Texas Tech on Tuesday.

Kansas: Goes on the road to face Colorado on Tuesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768619755528.png" alt="Photo Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Freshman Darryn Peterson scored 26 points on 11-of-13 shooting, Flory Bidunga had 23 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks, and Kansas beat Baylor 80-62 on Friday night.Kansas led by 15 points after opening the game on a 19-4 run, but the Bears rallied behind an 8-0 run to take their first lead at 37-36. The Jayhawks scored the final seven points of the half, capped by a stepback jumper by Peterson, who had 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting.Bidunga threw down an alley-oop dunk while being fouled and he made the free throw to cap Kansas’ 15-3 run to begin the second half for a 58-40 lead. Baylor began the second half by making just 1 for 6 shots — after missing its final four field goals of the first half.Kansas led by at least 14 points the rest of the way.Peterson, averaging a team-high 21.8 points per game, has six games of 20 or more points for Kansas (13-5, 3-2 Big 12), which was coming off an 84-63 win against No. 2 Iowa State on Tuesday. The Jayhawks have shot above 50% from the field the past two games.Cameron Carr led Baylor (11-6, 1-4) with 24 points and five 3-pointers. Tounde Yessoufou added three of Baylor's 11 3-pointers and 20 points.It marked the first time since Dec. 10, 1966, that the two teams met while both were unranked in the AP poll.The Jayhawks lead the all-time series with Baylor, 37-11, including 21-1 at Allen Fieldhouse<h2>Up next</h2>Baylor: Returns home to play No. 15 Texas Tech on Tuesday.Kansas: Goes on the road to face Colorado on Tuesday.