MANHATTAN, Kansas (AP) — Brendan Hausen scored 18 points on 5-for-6 shooting, Coleman Hawkins scored 15 points and Kansas State routed Oklahoma State 85-57 on Wednesday night.

Max Jones scored 14 points, Dug McDaniel scored 10 and the Wildcats (9-11, 3-6 Big 12) had 10 players enter the scoring column. Kansas State shot 52.6% (30 for 57).

Reserve Marchelus Avery scored 22 points, shooting 7 for 8, and Bryce Thompson was the lone starter in double-digit scoring for Oklahoma State with 11 points. The Cowboys' bench outscored the starters 39-18 and made 14 of their 21 made field goals.

The Wildcats began by establishing a 10-0 lead and were up 15-4 with 15 minutes before halftime. Avery threw down a dunk and Thompson made a layup to get Oklahoma State within 25-18 with 9:39 before the break, but McDaniel countered with a 3-pointer and layup for a 12-point lead. The Wildcats stayed ahead by double figures the rest of the way. Kansas State led 45-23 at halftime.

It was Kansas State's second largest margin of victory this season. On Dec. 1, the Wildcats beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff 120-73 at home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738208395531.png" alt="Photo K-State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo K-State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kansas (AP) — Brendan Hausen scored 18 points on 5-for-6 shooting, Coleman Hawkins scored 15 points and Kansas State routed Oklahoma State 85-57 on Wednesday night.Max Jones scored 14 points, Dug McDaniel scored 10 and the Wildcats (9-11, 3-6 Big 12) had 10 players enter the scoring column. Kansas State shot 52.6% (30 for 57).Reserve Marchelus Avery scored 22 points, shooting 7 for 8, and Bryce Thompson was the lone starter in double-digit scoring for Oklahoma State with 11 points. The Cowboys' bench outscored the starters 39-18 and made 14 of their 21 made field goals.The Wildcats began by establishing a 10-0 lead and were up 15-4 with 15 minutes before halftime. Avery threw down a dunk and Thompson made a layup to get Oklahoma State within 25-18 with 9:39 before the break, but McDaniel countered with a 3-pointer and layup for a 12-point lead. The Wildcats stayed ahead by double figures the rest of the way. Kansas State led 45-23 at halftime.It was Kansas State's second largest margin of victory this season. On Dec. 1, the Wildcats beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff 120-73 at home.

🏀 Hausen leads K-State in blitz of Oklahoma State

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Zeke Mayo scored 24 points, including a pair of clinching free throws with 3.1 seconds left, and No. 11 Kansas rallied to beat UCF 91-87 on Tuesday night to avoid its first back-to-back losses in Allen Fieldhouse in 36 years.

Hunter Dickinson added 24 points and Flory Bidunga had 10 points and 11 boards for the Jayhawks (15-5, 6-3 Big 12), who were coming off a double-overtime loss to sixth-ranked Houston.

The Knights (13-7, 4-5), who got 34 points from Keyshawn Hall and 19 from Darius Johnson, led by nine early in the second half before the Jayhawks used a 12-2 run to take their first lead since midway through the first half.

The Jayhawks were clinging to an 87-86 lead when KJ Adams, back after missing three games to a shoulder injury, made a pair of free throws with 4.6 seconds left. Kansas fouled Johnson at the other end and he made one of two foul shots, and Mayo then went to the line for the clinching free throws.

Kansas has not lost consecutive games at the Phog since dropping four straight under Roy Williams in 1989.

UCF lost to the Jayhawks by 51 points at home a couple of weeks ago. So the fact that the Knights were able to take Kansas to the wire in Allen Fieldhouse speaks volumes about their resiliency.

Kansas played without Dajuan Harris Jr., who hurt his ankle in practice. The Jayhawks could have used his experience, especially when their guards got into foul trouble. He's played in 159 games and had started the last 98 of them.

Adams only scored 12 points, but his free throws in the final seconds were crucial.

Kansas got 29 points from its bench. UCF got two.

UCF plays BYU on Saturday. Kansas heads to Baylor the same day.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738121990712.png" alt="Photo Kansas athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Zeke Mayo scored 24 points, including a pair of clinching free throws with 3.1 seconds left, and No. 11 Kansas rallied to beat UCF 91-87 on Tuesday night to avoid its first back-to-back losses in Allen Fieldhouse in 36 years.Hunter Dickinson added 24 points and Flory Bidunga had 10 points and 11 boards for the Jayhawks (15-5, 6-3 Big 12), who were coming off a double-overtime loss to sixth-ranked Houston.The Knights (13-7, 4-5), who got 34 points from Keyshawn Hall and 19 from Darius Johnson, led by nine early in the second half before the Jayhawks used a 12-2 run to take their first lead since midway through the first half.The Jayhawks were clinging to an 87-86 lead when KJ Adams, back after missing three games to a shoulder injury, made a pair of free throws with 4.6 seconds left. Kansas fouled Johnson at the other end and he made one of two foul shots, and Mayo then went to the line for the clinching free throws.Kansas has not lost consecutive games at the Phog since dropping four straight under Roy Williams in 1989.<h2>Takeaways</h2>UCF lost to the Jayhawks by 51 points at home a couple of weeks ago. So the fact that the Knights were able to take Kansas to the wire in Allen Fieldhouse speaks volumes about their resiliency.Kansas played without Dajuan Harris Jr., who hurt his ankle in practice. The Jayhawks could have used his experience, especially when their guards got into foul trouble. He's played in 159 games and had started the last 98 of them.<h2>Key moment</h2>Adams only scored 12 points, but his free throws in the final seconds were crucial.<h2>Key stat</h2>Kansas got 29 points from its bench. UCF got two.<h2>Up next</h2>UCF plays BYU on Saturday. Kansas heads to Baylor the same day.

🏀 Zeke Mayo scores 24 as No. 11 Jayhawks rally past UCF

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;Kansas State senior offensive lineman&nbsp;Easton Kilty&nbsp;and senior defensive end&nbsp;Brendan Mott&nbsp;were honored for their work in the classroom on Tuesday as the duo was named to the 2024 Academic All-America football team as selected by the College Sports Communicators.

Kilty was named to the first team and Mott was named to the second team, and both players were honored for the first time in their careers. It is the seventh time in school history that the Wildcats had two players earn Academic All-America status in the same season, including the second-straight year after Cooper Beebe and Ben Sinnott were named to the first team in 2023.

A transfer from North Dakota, Kilty holds a 4.00 GPA in communication studies. He was an All-Big 12 Second Team honoree by the league’s coaches in addition to picking up votes for the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year award. The Stratford, Wisconsin, native started all 13 games at left tackle, helping lead an offensive line unit that aided the Wildcats in setting school records in rushing yards per carry (6.08) and offensive yards per play (6.57) as they finished second and 13th nationally in those two categories, respectively. Protecting the quarterback’s blind side, Kilty helped K-State surrender only 13 sacks on the season – its fewest since 2000 – while the Wildcats’ 1.00 sacks allowed per game average ranked 10th in the nation.

Mott, who hails from Iowa City, Iowa, holds a 3.63 GPA in finance and is a two-time Academic All-District performer. A career 36-game starter – including all 13 games in 2024 – Mott was named the 2024 Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year, an All-Big 12 First Team honoree and earned votes for the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award after leading the conference with 8.5 sacks to go along with 49 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, an interception and a fumble recovery. He tallied a season-high 2.5 sacks at Colorado – the most in the Big 12 during the 2024 season – as he helped the Wildcats earn a 31-28 comeback win over the Buffaloes. Mott recorded his first-career interception against Cincinnati – the first Wildcat defensive lineman with a pick since 2021 and the first in Big 12 play since 2011 – while he recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter against Kansas, which led to the game-winning field goal.

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;Kansas State senior offensive lineman&nbsp;Easton Kilty&nbsp;and senior defensive end&nbsp;Brendan Mott&nbsp;were honored for their work in the classroom on Tuesday as the duo was named to the 2024 Academic All-America football team as selected by the College Sports Communicators.Kilty was named to the first team and Mott was named to the second team, and both players were honored for the first time in their careers. It is the seventh time in school history that the Wildcats had two players earn Academic All-America status in the same season, including the second-straight year after Cooper Beebe and Ben Sinnott were named to the first team in 2023.A transfer from North Dakota, Kilty holds a 4.00 GPA in communication studies. He was an All-Big 12 Second Team honoree by the league’s coaches in addition to picking up votes for the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year award. The Stratford, Wisconsin, native started all 13 games at left tackle, helping lead an offensive line unit that aided the Wildcats in setting school records in rushing yards per carry (6.08) and offensive yards per play (6.57) as they finished second and 13th nationally in those two categories, respectively. Protecting the quarterback’s blind side, Kilty helped K-State surrender only 13 sacks on the season – its fewest since 2000 – while the Wildcats’ 1.00 sacks allowed per game average ranked 10th in the nation.Mott, who hails from Iowa City, Iowa, holds a 3.63 GPA in finance and is a two-time Academic All-District performer. A career 36-game starter – including all 13 games in 2024 – Mott was named the 2024 Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year, an All-Big 12 First Team honoree and earned votes for the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award after leading the conference with 8.5 sacks to go along with 49 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, an interception and a fumble recovery. He tallied a season-high 2.5 sacks at Colorado – the most in the Big 12 during the 2024 season – as he helped the Wildcats earn a 31-28 comeback win over the Buffaloes. Mott recorded his first-career interception against Cincinnati – the first Wildcat defensive lineman with a pick since 2021 and the first in Big 12 play since 2011 – while he recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter against Kansas, which led to the game-winning field goal.– k-statesports.com –RYAN LACKEY

K-State’s Kilty, Mott Earn Academic All-America Honors

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw for 245 yards and a touchdown, ran through the Buffalo defense for two more scores, and relied on his defense at key moments to help the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Bills 32-29 on Sunday night and reach the Super Bowl for the third consecutive season.

Now, the AFC champions will try to do something no other NFL team has done: Win all three.

The Chiefs will get a familiar foe in the Eagles, whom they beat two years ago for the first title in this run. Philadelphia romped to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/commanders-eagles-score-b4f7c398625075b73f74bfe3531662e4">a 55-23 victory</a>&nbsp;over the Washington Commanders earlier Sunday to earn a shot at the champs on Feb. 9 in New Orleans.

It's the fourth time since January 2021 that the Chiefs have ended the Bills' season in the playoffs. And like all the rest, it came after a heavyweight fight between two of the top teams in the AFC, one that was tied 29-all after Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/1883703300098511105">found Curtis Samuel</a>&nbsp;in the back of the end zone to set up a little more drama at Arrowhead Stadium.

Mahomes was simply unflappable, though. He completed four consecutive passes on the ensuing possession, setting up&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/1883705691783016624">Harrison Butker's go-ahead field goal</a>&nbsp;with 3:33 left and putting the Bills in another do-or-die situation in Kansas City.

Allen got their drive going by running for a first down, but his next two throws were batted at the line of scrimmage and fell incomplete. He hit Amari Cooper for a short gain on third down, and the Bills chose to go for it — they were 4 of 5 on fourth down at that point — and the Kansas City blitz forced Allen to loft up a prayer that Dalton Kincaid could not catch.

The Chiefs took over, picked up a couple of first downs and began to celebrate once again.

Kareem Hunt had a touchdown run and Xavier Worthy had six catches for 85 yards and a score for Kansas City, which became the fourth franchise to reach three consecutive Super Bowls with its ninth consecutive playoff victory.

Allen threw for 237 yards and two scores for Buffalo. James Cook ran for 85 yards and two touchdowns of his own.

The Bills still have not been to the Super Bowl since a run of four straight during the 1990-93 seasons.

The Bills and Chiefs have become well acquainted over the years, meeting seven times since Kansas City beat Buffalo under the exact same circumstances — the AFC title game at Arrowhead Stadium — to reach the Super Bowl in January 2021.

Buffalo had won all four games in the regular season. Kansas City had won the three that mattered in the postseason.

And that familiarity, along with the fact that Bills coach Sean McDermott once worked for Chiefs counterpart Andy Reid, was evident as the game transpired. The Bills simply refused to let Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce beat them, like he did against the Texans in the divisional round, while Kansas City was prepared for Allen's propensity to take off and run.

It was the Chiefs who took a 21-16 lead into the locker room after a topsy-turvy first half.

Mahomes and Hunt ran for scores and Worthy had a touchdown reception as the teams traded the lead. Cook reached the end zone for Buffalo, and a spectacular touchdown catch by Mack Hollins just before halftime kept the Bills in the game.

It remained a game of inches in the second half: Cook barely reached across the goal line for a touchdown, the Chiefs stopped Allen inches shy of the marker on fourth down, Mahomes bulldozed into the end zone for a score, and the Bills answered with a 70-yard drive in which their MVP-candidate quarterback hit Samuel on fourth-and-goal to tie the game at 29-all.

Fifty-three minutes and 45 seconds had been rendered moot. Everything came down to the last 6:45 of the game.

Bills cornerback Christian Benford was carted off in the first quarter and declared out with a concussion. He had spent the week in the concussion protocol before getting cleared to play Sunday.

The Chiefs are headed to the Big Easy to face the Eagles in the Super Bowl for the second time in three years. In the first game, they rallied from a 24-14 halftime deficit with Butker hitting a 27-yard field goal for the 38-35 win.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737946017425.png" alt="Photo Kansas City Chiefs" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas City Chiefs</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw for 245 yards and a touchdown, ran through the Buffalo defense for two more scores, and relied on his defense at key moments to help the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Bills 32-29 on Sunday night and reach the Super Bowl for the third consecutive season.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKansasCityChiefs%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02DsqpzPNdWkD2jBiiom8nnLQZ8R2oz2cFin7hPFZyhQZWEjEdQcHCVDPKKTfDUQUdl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="194" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>Now, the AFC champions will try to do something no other NFL team has done: Win all three.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKansasCityChiefs%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02CkXz5C3QM8xFUL6NtCo1KM5qra7XcoAkHGkKdQbgTpuGuzNThydDaZDmeWfuEdNAl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="590" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>The Chiefs will get a familiar foe in the Eagles, whom they beat two years ago for the first title in this run. Philadelphia romped to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/commanders-eagles-score-b4f7c398625075b73f74bfe3531662e4">a 55-23 victory</a>&nbsp;over the Washington Commanders earlier Sunday to earn a shot at the champs on Feb. 9 in New Orleans.It's the fourth time since January 2021 that the Chiefs have ended the Bills' season in the playoffs. And like all the rest, it came after a heavyweight fight between two of the top teams in the AFC, one that was tied 29-all after Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/1883703300098511105">found Curtis Samuel</a>&nbsp;in the back of the end zone to set up a little more drama at Arrowhead Stadium.Mahomes was simply unflappable, though. He completed four consecutive passes on the ensuing possession, setting up&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/1883705691783016624">Harrison Butker's go-ahead field goal</a>&nbsp;with 3:33 left and putting the Bills in another do-or-die situation in Kansas City.Allen got their drive going by running for a first down, but his next two throws were batted at the line of scrimmage and fell incomplete. He hit Amari Cooper for a short gain on third down, and the Bills chose to go for it — they were 4 of 5 on fourth down at that point — and the Kansas City blitz forced Allen to loft up a prayer that Dalton Kincaid could not catch.The Chiefs took over, picked up a couple of first downs and began to celebrate once again.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737947456770.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) leaps into the end zone for a touchdown against Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) leaps into the end zone for a touchdown against Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)</figcaption>
 </figure>Kareem Hunt had a touchdown run and Xavier Worthy had six catches for 85 yards and a score for Kansas City, which became the fourth franchise to reach three consecutive Super Bowls with its ninth consecutive playoff victory.Allen threw for 237 yards and two scores for Buffalo. James Cook ran for 85 yards and two touchdowns of his own.The Bills still have not been to the Super Bowl since a run of four straight during the 1990-93 seasons.The Bills and Chiefs have become well acquainted over the years, meeting seven times since Kansas City beat Buffalo under the exact same circumstances — the AFC title game at Arrowhead Stadium — to reach the Super Bowl in January 2021.Buffalo had won all four games in the regular season. Kansas City had won the three that mattered in the postseason.And that familiarity, along with the fact that Bills coach Sean McDermott once worked for Chiefs counterpart Andy Reid, was evident as the game transpired. The Bills simply refused to let Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce beat them, like he did against the Texans in the divisional round, while Kansas City was prepared for Allen's propensity to take off and run.It was the Chiefs who took a 21-16 lead into the locker room after a topsy-turvy first half.Mahomes and Hunt ran for scores and Worthy had a touchdown reception as the teams traded the lead. Cook reached the end zone for Buffalo, and a spectacular touchdown catch by Mack Hollins just before halftime kept the Bills in the game.It remained a game of inches in the second half: Cook barely reached across the goal line for a touchdown, the Chiefs stopped Allen inches shy of the marker on fourth down, Mahomes bulldozed into the end zone for a score, and the Bills answered with a 70-yard drive in which their MVP-candidate quarterback hit Samuel on fourth-and-goal to tie the game at 29-all.Fifty-three minutes and 45 seconds had been rendered moot. Everything came down to the last 6:45 of the game.<h2>Injuries</h2>Bills cornerback Christian Benford was carted off in the first quarter and declared out with a concussion. He had spent the week in the concussion protocol before getting cleared to play Sunday.<h2>Up next</h2>The Chiefs are headed to the Big Easy to face the Eagles in the Super Bowl for the second time in three years. In the first game, they rallied from a 24-14 halftime deficit with Butker hitting a 27-yard field goal for the 38-35 win.

🏈 Chiefs get more Mahomes magic, advance to 3rd straight Super Bowl

Ilia Malinin laid in the middle of the ice at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Sunday as everyone else stood in ovation.

In another stunning display of athleticism, the reigning world champion landed six of his seven planned quad jumps — including the quad axel, the jump that only Malinin has ever landed in competition — and finished with 333.31 points after his free skate to win his third consecutive national championship at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas.

Andrew Torgashev landed a pair of quads during his free skate and finished second with 286.49 points, while Camden Pulkinen took advantage of a sloppy free skate from Jimmy Ma to secure the bronze medal with 252.92 points.

Malinin was trying to become the first skater ever to land seven clean quads in competition, and he came close. He opened with the quad flip, easily landed his quad axel and hit his quad lutz — the second-hardest of the quads. But then came his only miscue, when Malinin fell on his quad loop, and he punched the air in mid-routine as if he was miffed at himself.

He landed three more quads, all of them leading into other jumps, and finished it all off with a crowd-pleasing backflip.

“It wasn't the perfect program that I exactly wanted, but I think I gave a good, solid start for what is working in this program,” said Malinin, who was using nationals as a dress rehearsal for the upcoming world championships in Boston.

If it had been international competition, Malinin's score would have nearly matched Nathan Chen's record of 335.30 points.

“I'm still not at my full potential yet and there's a lot bigger limit, I guess, that I can go for,” Malinin said.

Malinin went into the free skate with a record margin for nationals — 19.14 points over anyone else in the field — after a sublime short program Saturday that was even a bit tame by his standards. The self-proclaimed “Quad God” landed a quad flip and a quad lutz-triple toe loop combination but chose to skip over his quad axel for a triple axel instead.

Malinin was philosophical about it afterward, saying, “There's the pressure of trying to do (the quad axel) at every competition. People might want to see something bigger and better, but I want to make sure I am consistent.”

The 20-year-old from Fairfax, Virginia, has won eight consecutive competitions since a second-place finish at the Grand Prix de France last year. That stretch of podium perfection included his second national title, two victories at the prestigious Grand Prix Final, and a world championship that Malinin will attempt to defend on home soil in March.

It's a run that prompted Ma to vault Malinin into the same category of greatness as Chen, the retired Olympic champion.

“I don’t even think of Ilia as competition anymore because it’s not something I think I can achieve,” Ma said. “It’s just an honor to be friends and compete with two people who can be considered GOATs in their own way.”

The 23-year-old Torgashev, who was third at the Grand Prix de France, was so pumped about his performance to the symphonic suite “Scheherazade” that earned him a silver medal that he said stepping off the ice Sunday, “I ... crushed it.”

Pulkinen rounded out the podium with a second consecutive bronze medal at nationals.

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports WriterIlia Malinin laid in the middle of the ice at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Sunday as everyone else stood in ovation.He has that effect on people.In another stunning display of athleticism, the reigning world champion landed six of his seven planned quad jumps — including the quad axel, the jump that only Malinin has ever landed in competition — and finished with 333.31 points after his free skate to win his third consecutive national championship at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas.Andrew Torgashev landed a pair of quads during his free skate and finished second with 286.49 points, while Camden Pulkinen took advantage of a sloppy free skate from Jimmy Ma to secure the bronze medal with 252.92 points.Malinin was trying to become the first skater ever to land seven clean quads in competition, and he came close. He opened with the quad flip, easily landed his quad axel and hit his quad lutz — the second-hardest of the quads. But then came his only miscue, when Malinin fell on his quad loop, and he punched the air in mid-routine as if he was miffed at himself.He landed three more quads, all of them leading into other jumps, and finished it all off with a crowd-pleasing backflip.“It wasn't the perfect program that I exactly wanted, but I think I gave a good, solid start for what is working in this program,” said Malinin, who was using nationals as a dress rehearsal for the upcoming world championships in Boston.If it had been international competition, Malinin's score would have nearly matched Nathan Chen's record of 335.30 points.“I'm still not at my full potential yet and there's a lot bigger limit, I guess, that I can go for,” Malinin said.Malinin went into the free skate with a record margin for nationals — 19.14 points over anyone else in the field — after a sublime short program Saturday that was even a bit tame by his standards. The self-proclaimed “Quad God” landed a quad flip and a quad lutz-triple toe loop combination but chose to skip over his quad axel for a triple axel instead.Malinin was philosophical about it afterward, saying, “There's the pressure of trying to do (the quad axel) at every competition. People might want to see something bigger and better, but I want to make sure I am consistent.”That hasn't been a problem.The 20-year-old from Fairfax, Virginia, has won eight consecutive competitions since a second-place finish at the Grand Prix de France last year. That stretch of podium perfection included his second national title, two victories at the prestigious Grand Prix Final, and a world championship that Malinin will attempt to defend on home soil in March.It's a run that prompted Ma to vault Malinin into the same category of greatness as Chen, the retired Olympic champion.“I don’t even think of Ilia as competition anymore because it’s not something I think I can achieve,” Ma said. “It’s just an honor to be friends and compete with two people who can be considered GOATs in their own way.”The 23-year-old Torgashev, who was third at the Grand Prix de France, was so pumped about his performance to the symphonic suite “Scheherazade” that earned him a silver medal that he said stepping off the ice Sunday, “I ... crushed it.”Pulkinen rounded out the podium with a second consecutive bronze medal at nationals.

World champ lands 6 quad jumps, cruises to US Figure Skating title in Wichita

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Madison Chock and Evan Bates have been the best American ice dancers for years.

They only served to underscore that fact on Saturday, when they won their fourth consecutive title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and their sixth overall, matching the record held by longtime standard-bearers Meryl Davis and Charlie White.

Chock and Bates followed up their sublime rhythm dance with a winning free dance, totaling 223.52 points to easily outdistance second-place Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko. Caroline Green and Michael Parsons finished third.

“It means honestly the world,” Bates said. “The U.S. championships is always an event that we hold near and dear to our hearts. I think it's because it's the competition that we grew up coming to every January, watching every year on TV as kids. It's what made us fall in love with the sport. There's something incredibly magical about this event.”

Earlier in the day, two-time defending U.S. champion and reigning world champion Ilia Malinin scored 114.08 points for his short program to take a big lead into Sunday's free skate. Andrew Torgashev was 20 points back in second and Jimmy Ma in third.

In the pairs competition, Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov managed to hold their free skate together while their biggest rivals collapsed, allowing them to do one better than their silver medal from a year ago and stand atop the podium Saturday night.

Efimova and Mitrofanov scored 211.90 points for their program, set to “Je Suis Malade” by Serge Lama. Katie McBeath and Daniil Parkman also took advantage of mistakes by defending champs Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea and 2023 runner-ups Emily Chan and Spencer Howe to capture the silver medal after a marathon day at INTRUST Bank Arena.

O'Shea and Kam erred on nearly every big element — their triple toe loops, throw triple lutz and throw triple toe loop. Their triple salchow into an axel was deemed invalid, and they got no points at all for a final lift on which both skaters fell.

Kam and O'Shea wound up third with 189.57 points. Chan and Howe were fourth with 183.95.

Chock, who was dealing with a food-related stomach bug all week, nevertheless joined Bates in a rollicking rhythm dance set to music from the 1950s, ‘60s and '70s with her longtime partner on Friday night. Chock and Bates had 92.16 points, putting them nearly 10 points clear of second-place Carreira and Ponomarenko heading into the free dance.

With Chock still dealing with her illness Saturday, they still managed to pad their lead, and confirm their status as favorites not just for the upcoming world championship in Boston but also the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

“Maddie has had a tough couple of days. Wasn’t really able to fuel much,” Bates said. “She’s so tough. She’s never not going to go out there and not give it her best. It took all the little energy that she had. I just tried to give the love and support to her.”

Carreira and Ponomarenko finished with 210.79 points for their second consecutive silver medal, while Green and Parsons took bronze after they had been tied on 82.13 points with Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik after the rhythm dance.

“This dance field is so strong,” Carreira said, “that we're really proud to be on the podium.”

In the men's short program, the 20-year-old Malinin did exactly what he's become known for: nailing quads. He opened with a quad flip, breezed through a triple axel, then hit a quad lutz in combination with a triple toe loop.

“I felt really good with my skate today,” he said, before adding: "I still have work to do on the quality of my skating.”

Imagine that: Malinin thinks he could be even better.

“I don't even think of Ilia as competition anymore because it's not something I think I can achieve,” said Ma, who likened the jumping dynamo to retired Olympic champion Nathan Chen. “It's just an honor to be friends and compete with two people who can be considered GOATs in their own way.”

U.S. Figure Skating also began confirming its lineups for the world championships in March.

Amber Glenn, who won her second straight national title on Friday night, will be joined in the women's competition in Boston by U.S. silver medalist Alysa Liu and reigning world silver medalist Isabeau Levito, provided she is healthy enough to compete. She did not compete at nationals due to a lingering foot injury.

If Levito is unable to perform in Boston, she would be replaced by newly minted U.S. bronze medalist Sarah Everhardt.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Madison Chock and Evan Bates have been the best American ice dancers for years.Best in the world, too.They only served to underscore that fact on Saturday, when they won their fourth consecutive title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and their sixth overall, matching the record held by longtime standard-bearers Meryl Davis and Charlie White.Chock and Bates followed up their sublime rhythm dance with a winning free dance, totaling 223.52 points to easily outdistance second-place Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko. Caroline Green and Michael Parsons finished third.“It means honestly the world,” Bates said. “The U.S. championships is always an event that we hold near and dear to our hearts. I think it's because it's the competition that we grew up coming to every January, watching every year on TV as kids. It's what made us fall in love with the sport. There's something incredibly magical about this event.”Earlier in the day, two-time defending U.S. champion and reigning world champion Ilia Malinin scored 114.08 points for his short program to take a big lead into Sunday's free skate. Andrew Torgashev was 20 points back in second and Jimmy Ma in third.In the pairs competition, Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov managed to hold their free skate together while their biggest rivals collapsed, allowing them to do one better than their silver medal from a year ago and stand atop the podium Saturday night.Efimova and Mitrofanov scored 211.90 points for their program, set to “Je Suis Malade” by Serge Lama. Katie McBeath and Daniil Parkman also took advantage of mistakes by defending champs Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea and 2023 runner-ups Emily Chan and Spencer Howe to capture the silver medal after a marathon day at INTRUST Bank Arena.O'Shea and Kam erred on nearly every big element — their triple toe loops, throw triple lutz and throw triple toe loop. Their triple salchow into an axel was deemed invalid, and they got no points at all for a final lift on which both skaters fell.Kam and O'Shea wound up third with 189.57 points. Chan and Howe were fourth with 183.95.Chock, who was dealing with a food-related stomach bug all week, nevertheless joined Bates in a rollicking rhythm dance set to music from the 1950s, ‘60s and '70s with her longtime partner on Friday night. Chock and Bates had 92.16 points, putting them nearly 10 points clear of second-place Carreira and Ponomarenko heading into the free dance.With Chock still dealing with her illness Saturday, they still managed to pad their lead, and confirm their status as favorites not just for the upcoming world championship in Boston but also the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.“Maddie has had a tough couple of days. Wasn’t really able to fuel much,” Bates said. “She’s so tough. She’s never not going to go out there and not give it her best. It took all the little energy that she had. I just tried to give the love and support to her.”Carreira and Ponomarenko finished with 210.79 points for their second consecutive silver medal, while Green and Parsons took bronze after they had been tied on 82.13 points with Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik after the rhythm dance.“This dance field is so strong,” Carreira said, “that we're really proud to be on the podium.”In the men's short program, the 20-year-old Malinin did exactly what he's become known for: nailing quads. He opened with a quad flip, breezed through a triple axel, then hit a quad lutz in combination with a triple toe loop.“I felt really good with my skate today,” he said, before adding: "I still have work to do on the quality of my skating.”Imagine that: Malinin thinks he could be even better.“I don't even think of Ilia as competition anymore because it's not something I think I can achieve,” said Ma, who likened the jumping dynamo to retired Olympic champion Nathan Chen. “It's just an honor to be friends and compete with two people who can be considered GOATs in their own way.”U.S. Figure Skating also began confirming its lineups for the world championships in March.Amber Glenn, who won her second straight national title on Friday night, will be joined in the women's competition in Boston by U.S. silver medalist Alysa Liu and reigning world silver medalist Isabeau Levito, provided she is healthy enough to compete. She did not compete at nationals due to a lingering foot injury.If Levito is unable to perform in Boston, she would be replaced by newly minted U.S. bronze medalist Sarah Everhardt.

Chock and Bates win their sixth ice dance national title in Wichita

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — J’Wan Roberts scored 24 points, including six in two overtime periods, and No. 7 Houston beat No. 12 Kansas 92-86. Roberts hit two free throws with 13.9 seconds left in regulation to tie the game. At the end of the first overtime, Houston (16-3, 8-0 Big 12) got back-to-back 3-pointers from Emanuel Sharp and Mylik Wilson to send it to the second overtime. The Cougars got 18 from Mylik Wilson and 17 from Milos Uzan. Kansas (14-5, 5-3) was led by Flory Bidunga with 19 points and Hunter Dickinson with 17.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — J’Wan Roberts scored 24 points, including six in two overtime periods, and No. 7 Houston beat No. 12 Kansas 92-86 on Saturday night.

Roberts hit two free throws with 13.9 seconds left in regulation to tie the game. At the end of the first overtime, Houston (16-3, 8-0 Big 12) got back-to-back 3-pointers from Emanuel Sharp and Mylik Wilson to send it to the second overtime.

The Cougars got 18 from Mylik Wilson and 17 points, nine rebounds and nine assists from Milos Uzan.

Kansas (14-5, 5-3) was led by Flory Bidunga with 19 points and Hunter Dickinson with 17.

Houston: Injuries hampered the Cougars. Emanuel Sharp, who missed Houston's last game against Utah with an injury, played 25 minutes but scored just eight points. Ja'Vier Francis rolled his ankle early in the first half and played only 3:45. He finished with four points.

Kansas: Bidunga, after scoring just two points on a last-second tipin in the first half, scored 17 in the second half and overtime for a career-high 19. With K.J. Adams out with a separated shoulder, Bidunga's contributions helped Kansas against a strong Houston front line.

Houston used a 13-0 run early in the second half to turn a 40-31 deficit into a lead. Kansas went 6:21 without a point, and missed eight straight shots during the run, including a missed breakaway dunk attempt by Shakeel Moore.

Both teams missed plenty of opportunities. The teams combined to shoot 56% from the free-throw line. Houston missed its first eight free throws of the second half and finished the half just 4 of 13 from the line, and was 14 of 25 for the game.

The Jayhawks were 17 of 30 from the line.

Houston travels to West Virginia on Wednesday night and Kansas hosts UCF on Tuesday night.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737860423031.png" alt="Photo Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — J’Wan Roberts scored 24 points, including six in two overtime periods, and No. 7 Houston beat No. 12 Kansas 92-86. Roberts hit two free throws with 13.9 seconds left in regulation to tie the game. At the end of the first overtime, Houston (16-3, 8-0 Big 12) got back-to-back 3-pointers from Emanuel Sharp and Mylik Wilson to send it to the second overtime. The Cougars got 18 from Mylik Wilson and 17 from Milos Uzan. Kansas (14-5, 5-3) was led by Flory Bidunga with 19 points and Hunter Dickinson with 17.<h2>Story Body</h2>LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — J’Wan Roberts scored 24 points, including six in two overtime periods, and No. 7 Houston beat No. 12 Kansas 92-86 on Saturday night.Roberts hit two free throws with 13.9 seconds left in regulation to tie the game. At the end of the first overtime, Houston (16-3, 8-0 Big 12) got back-to-back 3-pointers from Emanuel Sharp and Mylik Wilson to send it to the second overtime.The Cougars got 18 from Mylik Wilson and 17 points, nine rebounds and nine assists from Milos Uzan.Kansas (14-5, 5-3) was led by Flory Bidunga with 19 points and Hunter Dickinson with 17.<h2>Takeaway</h2>Houston: Injuries hampered the Cougars. Emanuel Sharp, who missed Houston's last game against Utah with an injury, played 25 minutes but scored just eight points. Ja'Vier Francis rolled his ankle early in the first half and played only 3:45. He finished with four points.Kansas: Bidunga, after scoring just two points on a last-second tipin in the first half, scored 17 in the second half and overtime for a career-high 19. With K.J. Adams out with a separated shoulder, Bidunga's contributions helped Kansas against a strong Houston front line.<h2>Key moment</h2>Houston used a 13-0 run early in the second half to turn a 40-31 deficit into a lead. Kansas went 6:21 without a point, and missed eight straight shots during the run, including a missed breakaway dunk attempt by Shakeel Moore.<h2>Key stat</h2>Both teams missed plenty of opportunities. The teams combined to shoot 56% from the free-throw line. Houston missed its first eight free throws of the second half and finished the half just 4 of 13 from the line, and was 14 of 25 for the game.The Jayhawks were 17 of 30 from the line.<h2>Up next</h2>Houston travels to West Virginia on Wednesday night and Kansas hosts UCF on Tuesday night.

🏀 J’Wan Roberts scores 24 and Houston downs Kansas in double OT

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Dug McDaniel scored 15 points and David N’Guessan added 14 as Kansas State snapped a six-game skid with a 73-60 win over No. 23 West Virginia on Saturday night.

The Wildcats (8-11, 2-6 Big 12) charged to a 19-2 lead and shot 26 for 55 (47.3%), including 6 for 17 from 3-point distance.

CJ Jones came off the bench to score 10 points as the Kansas State reserves outscored West Virginia's bench 15-5. Max Jones had 12 points and Coleman Hawkins 11.

West Virginia's Javon Small, the leading scorer in the Big 12, had 22 points, three steals and five assists. Toby Okani scored 13 points and Sencire Harris had 12 for the Mountaineers (13-6, 4-4), who struggled from the floor, shooting 25 for 68 (36.8%), including 4 for 21 from distance.

West Virginia trailed by 24 at the half and never cut its deficit to single digits.

West Virginia: After beating No. 3 Iowa State last week, the Mountaineers lost consecutive games for the first time this season and will likely fall out of the Top 25.

Kansas State: The Wildcats have been playing better. They had close losses to Kansas and Baylor last week before picking up their second Big 12 victory.

McDaniel hit a 3-pointer with 12 minutes left in the first half to cap a 17-0 run and force West Virginia to call a timeout.

The Mountaineers were averaging nearly 72 points per game. But, for the second straight contest, they scored 60 points or less.

Both teams play Wednesday. West Virginia hosts No. 7 Houston, while Kansas State hosts Oklahoma State.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737856610753.jpeg" alt="Kansas State guard David N'Guessan (1) dunks the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against West Virginia, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas State guard David N'Guessan (1) dunks the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against West Virginia, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Dug McDaniel scored 15 points and David N’Guessan added 14 as Kansas State snapped a six-game skid with a 73-60 win over No. 23 West Virginia on Saturday night.The Wildcats (8-11, 2-6 Big 12) charged to a 19-2 lead and shot 26 for 55 (47.3%), including 6 for 17 from 3-point distance.CJ Jones came off the bench to score 10 points as the Kansas State reserves outscored West Virginia's bench 15-5. Max Jones had 12 points and Coleman Hawkins 11.West Virginia's Javon Small, the leading scorer in the Big 12, had 22 points, three steals and five assists. Toby Okani scored 13 points and Sencire Harris had 12 for the Mountaineers (13-6, 4-4), who struggled from the floor, shooting 25 for 68 (36.8%), including 4 for 21 from distance.West Virginia trailed by 24 at the half and never cut its deficit to single digits.<h2>Takeaways</h2>West Virginia: After beating No. 3 Iowa State last week, the Mountaineers lost consecutive games for the first time this season and will likely fall out of the Top 25.Kansas State: The Wildcats have been playing better. They had close losses to Kansas and Baylor last week before picking up their second Big 12 victory.<h2>Key moments</h2>McDaniel hit a 3-pointer with 12 minutes left in the first half to cap a 17-0 run and force West Virginia to call a timeout.<h2>Key stats</h2>The Mountaineers were averaging nearly 72 points per game. But, for the second straight contest, they scored 60 points or less.<h2>Up next</h2>Both teams play Wednesday. West Virginia hosts No. 7 Houston, while Kansas State hosts Oklahoma State.

🏀 K-State beats West Virginia and snaps 6-game losing streak

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Amber Glenn was disappointed but not defeated after her short program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, the reigning champion defiantly vowing to “go on the attack” when she returned to the ice for the free skate on Friday night.

She did exactly that, beginning with a powerful triple axel to start the program and ending with an elegant layback spin.

The 25-year-old from Plano, Texas, wound up with 216.79 points, enough to edge out Alysa Liu, who had led after the short program but made a couple of small mistakes in her free skate that proved to be just big enough. The two-time national champion, in the midst of a comeback from a two-year retirement, finished right behind Glenn with 215.33 points.

“I wasn't feeling my absolute best and today, being able to not fully lock in but for the most part get into the zone I needed to be, I'm very proud of my mental fortitude and the progress I've made,” Glenn said.

Two-time champion Bradie Tennell, who was second after the short program, struggled through a fall on her triple lutz in her free skate and was passed for third by Sarah Everhardt, an 18-year-old rising star from Haymarket, Virginia.

Glenn rolled into nationals unbeaten for the season, becoming the first American woman to win the Grand Prix Final in nearly 15 years along the way. But after her uneven short program, Glenn was left in third place and trailing Liu by nearly six points.

Her opening triple axel may have been the best of her career, and it set the tone for the rest of her night. Glenn landed six more triple jumps, including three in combination, before her only real mistake — a fall on her triple loop late in the program.

“I still don't believe I won,” Glenn said. “It's a real shock to me.”

Liu, the youngest U.S. champion ever when she triumphed at the age of 13, was trying to add a third title five years after winning her last. But a couple of errors, including a mistake on her layback spin at the end, may have cost her the gold.

“I did not think I won," she said with a laugh. “I honestly didn't know if I would medal or not.”

Earlier in the night, two-time defending ice dance world champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates pranced their way through three decades of popular American music and into a big lead after the rhythm dance portion of their competition.

Chock and Bates scored 92.16 points, nearly 10 more than second-place Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko. To put that into context, second through fourth places were separated by less than a point, with the pair of Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik scoring the exact same — 82.13 points — as Caroline Green and Michael Parsons.

Chock and Bates were not available after their performance because she was dealing with a food-related stomach bug.

They are going for their fourth straight national title and sixth overall, which would tie the U.S. record held by Meryl Davis and Charlie White. And this one would come 11 years after Chock and Bates first stepped atop the podium.

The ice dance finale is Saturday, when world champion Ilia Malinin also will be in action during the men’s short program.

The proscribed style for the rhythm dance this season is “social dances and styles of the 1950s, ‘60s and ’70s," and while many teams chose to dance to Elvis Presley, Nancy Sinatra or disco fare, the avant-garde Chock and Bates chose to take their fans on a rollicking journey through all three decades of American popular culture.

There was music from “Hawaii Five-O” and a version of “Let’s Twist Again.” Chock and Bates did the “Watusi with Lucy” and spent time “Stayin’ Alive” with the Bee Gees. And of course, they had the Village People leading the arena in doing the “YMCA.”

The performance underscored their status as favorites heading into the world championships in March in Boston.

They're probably the favorites heading into the Winter Olympics next year in Milan, too.

Carreira and Ponomarenko scored 82.86 points for their cheeky, fun nod to 1950s sock hops. The reigning silver medalists made a small mistake on their twizzle but scored big on their choreographed rhythm sequence to land in second place.

Zingas and Kolesnik, who were fourth a couple of years ago, turned heads with their medley of music by the Bee Gees, and Green and Parsons managed the same score — a rarity in a sport in which there are so many variables — but were slotted into fourth place because they lost to Zingas and Kolesnik in the technical score.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Amber Glenn was disappointed but not defeated after her short program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, the reigning champion defiantly vowing to “go on the attack” when she returned to the ice for the free skate on Friday night.She did exactly that, beginning with a powerful triple axel to start the program and ending with an elegant layback spin.The 25-year-old from Plano, Texas, wound up with 216.79 points, enough to edge out Alysa Liu, who had led after the short program but made a couple of small mistakes in her free skate that proved to be just big enough. The two-time national champion, in the midst of a comeback from a two-year retirement, finished right behind Glenn with 215.33 points.“I wasn't feeling my absolute best and today, being able to not fully lock in but for the most part get into the zone I needed to be, I'm very proud of my mental fortitude and the progress I've made,” Glenn said.Two-time champion Bradie Tennell, who was second after the short program, struggled through a fall on her triple lutz in her free skate and was passed for third by Sarah Everhardt, an 18-year-old rising star from Haymarket, Virginia.Glenn rolled into nationals unbeaten for the season, becoming the first American woman to win the Grand Prix Final in nearly 15 years along the way. But after her uneven short program, Glenn was left in third place and trailing Liu by nearly six points.Her opening triple axel may have been the best of her career, and it set the tone for the rest of her night. Glenn landed six more triple jumps, including three in combination, before her only real mistake — a fall on her triple loop late in the program.“I still don't believe I won,” Glenn said. “It's a real shock to me.”Liu, the youngest U.S. champion ever when she triumphed at the age of 13, was trying to add a third title five years after winning her last. But a couple of errors, including a mistake on her layback spin at the end, may have cost her the gold.“I did not think I won," she said with a laugh. “I honestly didn't know if I would medal or not.”Earlier in the night, two-time defending ice dance world champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates pranced their way through three decades of popular American music and into a big lead after the rhythm dance portion of their competition.Chock and Bates scored 92.16 points, nearly 10 more than second-place Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko. To put that into context, second through fourth places were separated by less than a point, with the pair of Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik scoring the exact same — 82.13 points — as Caroline Green and Michael Parsons.Chock and Bates were not available after their performance because she was dealing with a food-related stomach bug.They are going for their fourth straight national title and sixth overall, which would tie the U.S. record held by Meryl Davis and Charlie White. And this one would come 11 years after Chock and Bates first stepped atop the podium.The ice dance finale is Saturday, when world champion Ilia Malinin also will be in action during the men’s short program.The proscribed style for the rhythm dance this season is “social dances and styles of the 1950s, ‘60s and ’70s," and while many teams chose to dance to Elvis Presley, Nancy Sinatra or disco fare, the avant-garde Chock and Bates chose to take their fans on a rollicking journey through all three decades of American popular culture.There was music from “Hawaii Five-O” and a version of “Let’s Twist Again.” Chock and Bates did the “Watusi with Lucy” and spent time “Stayin’ Alive” with the Bee Gees. And of course, they had the Village People leading the arena in doing the “YMCA.”The performance underscored their status as favorites heading into the world championships in March in Boston.They're probably the favorites heading into the Winter Olympics next year in Milan, too.Carreira and Ponomarenko scored 82.86 points for their cheeky, fun nod to 1950s sock hops. The reigning silver medalists made a small mistake on their twizzle but scored big on their choreographed rhythm sequence to land in second place.Zingas and Kolesnik, who were fourth a couple of years ago, turned heads with their medley of music by the Bee Gees, and Green and Parsons managed the same score — a rarity in a sport in which there are so many variables — but were slotted into fourth place because they lost to Zingas and Kolesnik in the technical score.

Amber Glenn defends title at the US Figure Skating Championships in Wichita

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Alysa Liu wore the smudge of blood on her dress at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Thursday night like a poignant badge of honor, symbolic of everything she has gone through over the past few years.

The 19-year-old has been through some battles.

The youngest American champion ever when she triumphed at 13, and then defended her title the next year, Liu walked away from the sport in 2022 content with her career. She had done everything that everyone had ever asked of her, and she was more than ready to move on to the next phase of her life, which meant enrolling at UCLA to study psychology.

But then, early last year, Liu decided to mount a comeback. And with the bright lights shining again, Liu delivered a brilliant and breathtaking short program in her return to nationals, scoring 76.36 points to take a solid lead over two-time U.S. champ Bradie Tennell and defending champion Amber Glenn heading into Friday night's free skate.

“I was emotional from the very beginning to the end,” said Liu, who had nicked the palm of her hand when she grasped her skate blade especially hard during the program. “And I really loved that for me, and I felt very connected to the ice.”

In the pairs competition earlier in the night, Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea scored 77.19 points in a near-flawless short program. It was more than four points better than their best in international competition, and put Kam and O’Shea more than eight ahead of second-place Emily Chan and Spencer Howe heading into Saturday night’s free skate.

This year’s nationals, just over a year out from the Milano-Cortina Games, should help identify the front-runners for the squad the U.S. sends to Italy. It also will go a long way toward deciding the U.S. team for the world championships, which are returning to American soil for the first time in nine years this March in Boston.

Who would have thought Liu might be there?

“I don’t remember the first time I won (nationals) or like, the feeling of it, honestly,” said Liu, who got back on the ice after a ski trip, when she realized had she missed the adrenaline of competing. “It feels like a different lifetime. And when I’ve seen like, old videos of me, it’s like that wasn’t me, you know what I’m saying? But it was, obviously. It was just so long ago.”

Liu's score Thursday night would have been the third highest in international competition this season, and it was more than five points clear of Tennell, who scored 71.23 to land in second. Glenn scored 70.91 after a mistake on her combination jump.

Tennell was still pleased with her performance, especially given the foot and ankle injuries that have hobbled her for years.

“It felt amazing,” she said. “This program is so lively and so energetic and so much fun for me to perform, and there's nothing like performing for your home country. Nationals always feels like coming home. And I'm very happy.”

The 25-year-old Glenn wasn't nearly as pleased, especially after a season in which she won every competition she entered.

“I didn't feel the attack or adrenaline going out there today," Glenn said. “I came into this event trained and ready but definitely more fatigued and not quite as — I'm trying to find a word for it — exhilarated as I'd like to be.”

Kam and O'Shea, who were fifth at the Grand Prix Final last month, opened their short program with a clean triple twist before landing side-by-side triple salchows. But it was their throw triple loop that highlighted their program, and Kam and O'Shea both knew it when their music came to an end — she punched both of her fists and he punched one of his own.

And their moms, who had clenched hands while watching from the stands, finally exhaled and celebrated.

“My mom and I share some high anxiety in pressure moments. I think she knows what I feel,” Kam said, “but being able to see them on the big screen, it's just really special for them to come to these events with us.”

Chan and Howe, the 2023 silver medalists at nationals, scored 69.10 points for their program to Lara Fabian's cover of “Je Suis Malade." The score was dragged down just a bit by a noticeable wobble going into their lift midway through.

Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov, the reigning silver medalists, were right behind Chan and Howe with 69.03 points.

“We were both really happy with how we felt out there,” said Chan, who dealt with a concussion earlier this season that limited the amount of time the pair could spend on the ice. “We put our heads together and really made a lot of improvement and felt we were really happy with our training, and we wanted to put it out here tonight.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737687208394.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Alysa Liu wore the smudge of blood on her dress at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Thursday night like a poignant badge of honor, symbolic of everything she has gone through over the past few years.The 19-year-old has been through some battles.The youngest American champion ever when she triumphed at 13, and then defended her title the next year, Liu walked away from the sport in 2022 content with her career. She had done everything that everyone had ever asked of her, and she was more than ready to move on to the next phase of her life, which meant enrolling at UCLA to study psychology.But then, early last year, Liu decided to mount a comeback. And with the bright lights shining again, Liu delivered a brilliant and breathtaking short program in her return to nationals, scoring 76.36 points to take a solid lead over two-time U.S. champ Bradie Tennell and defending champion Amber Glenn heading into Friday night's free skate.“I was emotional from the very beginning to the end,” said Liu, who had nicked the palm of her hand when she grasped her skate blade especially hard during the program. “And I really loved that for me, and I felt very connected to the ice.”In the pairs competition earlier in the night, Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea scored 77.19 points in a near-flawless short program. It was more than four points better than their best in international competition, and put Kam and O’Shea more than eight ahead of second-place Emily Chan and Spencer Howe heading into Saturday night’s free skate.This year’s nationals, just over a year out from the Milano-Cortina Games, should help identify the front-runners for the squad the U.S. sends to Italy. It also will go a long way toward deciding the U.S. team for the world championships, which are returning to American soil for the first time in nine years this March in Boston.Who would have thought Liu might be there?“I don’t remember the first time I won (nationals) or like, the feeling of it, honestly,” said Liu, who got back on the ice after a ski trip, when she realized had she missed the adrenaline of competing. “It feels like a different lifetime. And when I’ve seen like, old videos of me, it’s like that wasn’t me, you know what I’m saying? But it was, obviously. It was just so long ago.”Liu's score Thursday night would have been the third highest in international competition this season, and it was more than five points clear of Tennell, who scored 71.23 to land in second. Glenn scored 70.91 after a mistake on her combination jump.Tennell was still pleased with her performance, especially given the foot and ankle injuries that have hobbled her for years.“It felt amazing,” she said. “This program is so lively and so energetic and so much fun for me to perform, and there's nothing like performing for your home country. Nationals always feels like coming home. And I'm very happy.”The 25-year-old Glenn wasn't nearly as pleased, especially after a season in which she won every competition she entered.“I didn't feel the attack or adrenaline going out there today," Glenn said. “I came into this event trained and ready but definitely more fatigued and not quite as — I'm trying to find a word for it — exhilarated as I'd like to be.”Kam and O'Shea, who were fifth at the Grand Prix Final last month, opened their short program with a clean triple twist before landing side-by-side triple salchows. But it was their throw triple loop that highlighted their program, and Kam and O'Shea both knew it when their music came to an end — she punched both of her fists and he punched one of his own.And their moms, who had clenched hands while watching from the stands, finally exhaled and celebrated.“My mom and I share some high anxiety in pressure moments. I think she knows what I feel,” Kam said, “but being able to see them on the big screen, it's just really special for them to come to these events with us.”Chan and Howe, the 2023 silver medalists at nationals, scored 69.10 points for their program to Lara Fabian's cover of “Je Suis Malade." The score was dragged down just a bit by a noticeable wobble going into their lift midway through.Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov, the reigning silver medalists, were right behind Chan and Howe with 69.03 points.“We were both really happy with how we felt out there,” said Chan, who dealt with a concussion earlier this season that limited the amount of time the pair could spend on the ice. “We put our heads together and really made a lot of improvement and felt we were really happy with our training, and we wanted to put it out here tonight.”

Alysa Liu returns from 2-year absence and leads at US Championships in Wichita

WACO, Texas (AP) — Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/BaylorMBB/status/1882271226623889568">VJ Edgecombe scored 20 of his career-high 30 points</a>&nbsp;in the second half to rally Baylor to a 70-62 win over Kansas State on Wednesday night.

The Bears were down a dozen when Dug McDaniel drilled a 3-pointer to put the Wildcats up 40-28 less than four minutes into the second half.

Baylor was down nine when Jalen Celestine made a pair of free throws to ignite a 19-5 run for a 55-40 lead. Edgecombe had 11 points and capped the surge with a 3-pointer. Celestine also had a pair of 3s in that stretch.

Brendan Hausen hit his third 3 of the half to pull Kansas State within 57-56 with just under five minutes to go but Celestine and Edgecombe worked the Bears' lead back to nine with a minute left.

Celestine scored 15 of his 18 points in the second half for the Bears (12-6, 4-3 Big 12 Conference). Norchad Omier grabbed 13 rebounds for Baylor.

David N'Guessan scored 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Kansas State (7-11, 1-6), which has lost 15-straight road games and six overall. McDaniel and Hausen both added 12.

McDaniel hit a 3-pointer, Coleman Hawkins converted a three-point play and then McDaniel added a pair of layups for a 10-0 run that helped the Wildcats take a 30-26 lead at the half.

Baylor shot 25% in the first half but 60% in the second, when the Bears made 5 of 8 3s and 15 of 19 free throws with just one turnover.

No. 23 West Virginia plays at Kansas State on Saturday when Baylor plays at Utah.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737608015745.png" alt="Kansas State guard Max Jones attempts a shot over the Baylor defense in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Waco, Texas. (Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald via AP)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas State guard Max Jones attempts a shot over the Baylor defense in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Waco, Texas. (Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>WACO, Texas (AP) — Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/BaylorMBB/status/1882271226623889568">VJ Edgecombe scored 20 of his career-high 30 points</a>&nbsp;in the second half to rally Baylor to a 70-62 win over Kansas State on Wednesday night.The Bears were down a dozen when Dug McDaniel drilled a 3-pointer to put the Wildcats up 40-28 less than four minutes into the second half.Baylor was down nine when Jalen Celestine made a pair of free throws to ignite a 19-5 run for a 55-40 lead. Edgecombe had 11 points and capped the surge with a 3-pointer. Celestine also had a pair of 3s in that stretch.Brendan Hausen hit his third 3 of the half to pull Kansas State within 57-56 with just under five minutes to go but Celestine and Edgecombe worked the Bears' lead back to nine with a minute left.Celestine scored 15 of his 18 points in the second half for the Bears (12-6, 4-3 Big 12 Conference). Norchad Omier grabbed 13 rebounds for Baylor.David N'Guessan scored 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Kansas State (7-11, 1-6), which has lost 15-straight road games and six overall. McDaniel and Hausen both added 12.McDaniel hit a 3-pointer, Coleman Hawkins converted a three-point play and then McDaniel added a pair of layups for a 10-0 run that helped the Wildcats take a 30-26 lead at the half.Baylor shot 25% in the first half but 60% in the second, when the Bears made 5 of 8 3s and 15 of 19 free throws with just one turnover.No. 23 West Virginia plays at Kansas State on Saturday when Baylor plays at Utah.

🏀 Freshman VJ Edgecombe scores 30 to rally Baylor over K-State

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Hunter Dickinson had 16 points to lead five Kansas players scoring in double figures as the 12th-ranked Jayhawks won 74-61 at TCU on Wednesday night after trailing by 14 points in the first half.

AJ Storr scored 10 of his 12 points after halftime for the Jayhawks (14-4, 5-2 Big 12). His stepback jumper with 11:30 left put them ahead to stay, right after the junior guard had turnovers on consecutive possessions, and ignited a 14-2 run he ended with a jumper.

Zeke Mayo added 13 points and Shakeel Moore 11. Flory Bidunga had 10 points and 10 rebounds, giving the 6-foot-9 freshman his first career double-double, along with four blocked shots.

Noah Reynolds had 14 points to lead TCU (10-8, 3-4), which has alternated wins and losses the past eight games. Vasean Allette had 13 points and Brendan Wenzel had 11.

After Kansas was down 14 midway through the first half, Mayo's jumper tied the game at 33 just before halftime. The preseason No. 1 team now has its lowest ranking this season.

TCU missed a chance for its second win in a row over a Top 25 team after a win Sunday at then-No. 25 Baylor.

Dickinson had the ball cradled into his body with both arms on an offensive rebound when TCU forward Trazarien White also grabbed at it. They remained tangled and both got technical fouls after officials reviewed the play. TCU had possession and White had an alley-oop dunk from Reynolds to make it 48-47 with 12:44 left, its last lead.

TCU missed its last six shots and only made two free throws over the final 3:37.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737597754433.png" alt="Photo Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Hunter Dickinson had 16 points to lead five Kansas players scoring in double figures as the 12th-ranked Jayhawks won 74-61 at TCU on Wednesday night after trailing by 14 points in the first half.AJ Storr scored 10 of his 12 points after halftime for the Jayhawks (14-4, 5-2 Big 12). His stepback jumper with 11:30 left put them ahead to stay, right after the junior guard had turnovers on consecutive possessions, and ignited a 14-2 run he ended with a jumper.Zeke Mayo added 13 points and Shakeel Moore 11. Flory Bidunga had 10 points and 10 rebounds, giving the 6-foot-9 freshman his first career double-double, along with four blocked shots.Noah Reynolds had 14 points to lead TCU (10-8, 3-4), which has alternated wins and losses the past eight games. Vasean Allette had 13 points and Brendan Wenzel had 11.<h2>Takeaways</h2>After Kansas was down 14 midway through the first half, Mayo's jumper tied the game at 33 just before halftime. The preseason No. 1 team now has its lowest ranking this season.TCU missed a chance for its second win in a row over a Top 25 team after a win Sunday at then-No. 25 Baylor.<h2>Key moment</h2>Dickinson had the ball cradled into his body with both arms on an offensive rebound when TCU forward Trazarien White also grabbed at it. They remained tangled and both got technical fouls after officials reviewed the play. TCU had possession and White had an alley-oop dunk from Reynolds to make it 48-47 with 12:44 left, its last lead.<h2>Key stat</h2>TCU missed its last six shots and only made two free throws over the final 3:37.<h2>Up next</h2>

🏀 No. 12 Kansas overcomes early deficit and beats TCU

The Kansas Shrine Bowl has announced the four member Hall of Fame Class of 2025 to be inducted, Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Manhattan. The 2025 class will be inducted during the Kansas Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame ceremony at the Coach Bill Snyder Family/Sunflower Chapter National Football Foundation Banquet. The event will be hosted at the Shamrock Plaza at Coach Bill Snyder Family Stadium at Kansas State University.

The Kansas Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame Class of 2025 includes:•&nbsp;CJ Hamilton, Silver Lake H.S., Kansas Shrine Bowl Coach (1977, 1985, 1986, 2003, 2004)•&nbsp;Kent Sedlacek, Hanover H.S., Kansas Shrine Bowl East All-Star (1979)•&nbsp;Collin Sexton, Abilene H.S., Kansas Shrine Bowl West All-Star (2012)•&nbsp;Dane Simoneau, Salina Sacred Heart H.S., Kansas Shrine Bowl West All-Star (2007)The Kansas Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame was established for the purpose of honoring those individuals who have gained recognition and fame for themselves and the Kansas Shrine Bowl as a result of their endeavors and accomplishments both on and off the football field.

The Kansas Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame consists of 32 inductees, with the 2025 class soon to join. To learn more about the Kansas Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kansasshrinebowl.com/HallofFame">www.KansasShrineBowl.com/HallofFame</a>.Tickets to the Kansas Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame Ceremony and the Bill Snyder Family/Sunflower Chapter National Football Foundation Banquet in Manhattan on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, are available for $30. Please contact Jeff Bollig at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:jbollig84@gmail.com">jbollig84@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;or call 913-449-1635 for additional ticketing information.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737495122317.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Shrine Bowl has announced the four member Hall of Fame Class of 2025 to be inducted, Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Manhattan. The 2025 class will be inducted during the Kansas Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame ceremony at the Coach Bill Snyder Family/Sunflower Chapter National Football Foundation Banquet. The event will be hosted at the Shamrock Plaza at Coach Bill Snyder Family Stadium at Kansas State University.The Kansas Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame Class of 2025 includes:•&nbsp;CJ Hamilton, Silver Lake H.S., Kansas Shrine Bowl Coach (1977, 1985, 1986, 2003, 2004)•&nbsp;Kent Sedlacek, Hanover H.S., Kansas Shrine Bowl East All-Star (1979)•&nbsp;Collin Sexton, Abilene H.S., Kansas Shrine Bowl West All-Star (2012)•&nbsp;Dane Simoneau, Salina Sacred Heart H.S., Kansas Shrine Bowl West All-Star (2007)The Kansas Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame was established for the purpose of honoring those individuals who have gained recognition and fame for themselves and the Kansas Shrine Bowl as a result of their endeavors and accomplishments both on and off the football field. The Kansas Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame consists of 32 inductees, with the 2025 class soon to join. To learn more about the Kansas Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kansasshrinebowl.com/HallofFame">www.KansasShrineBowl.com/HallofFame</a>.Tickets to the Kansas Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame Ceremony and the Bill Snyder Family/Sunflower Chapter National Football Foundation Banquet in Manhattan on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, are available for $30. Please contact Jeff Bollig at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:jbollig84@gmail.com">jbollig84@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;or call 913-449-1635 for additional ticketing information.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kansas Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame Class of 2025 Announced

ATLANTA (AP) — The pass seemed to hang up there forever. Did it feel like seven weeks? Did it feel like 10 years?

What a great debate for Ohio State fans to have forever.

When that&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/OhioStateFB/status/1881552148040958413">teardrop of a throw</a>&nbsp;from Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard on third-and-11 finally landed, light as a feather, in the hands of receiver Jeremiah Smith late in the fourth quarter Monday, Ohio State had locked up what would be a 34-23 victory over Notre Dame for its sixth national title and first in a decade.

It was that 56-yard gain that snuffed out a feverish Notre Dame comeback and made the Buckeyes the champion of the sport's first 12-team playoff, just as they were champions of its first four-team tournament a decade ago.

“They were running man coverage and I said, ‘Hey, I’m gonna let this loose and let him make a play on it,’” Howard said of a play that felt about 100 years removed from Ohio State's once program-defining “Three yards and a cloud of dust.”

This was a win that hardly anyone thought possible a mere seven weeks ago — Nov. 30 — when a 13-10 loss to Michigan led to a near-riot on the field and questions over whether coach Ryan Day would keep his job when the calendar flipped.

“It’s a great story about a bunch of guys who have just overcome some really tough situations, and at the point where there’s a lot of people that counted us out (they) just kept swinging and kept fighting,” Day said.

Buckeyes were on cruise control, then suddenly, ND came to life

It might be that much sweeter because of how it went down in a jam-packed stadium in the middle of SEC country that looked like a Christmas tree — Ohio State fans on one half in red, Notre Dame's on the other in green.

Trailing 31-7, Notre Dame scored two touchdowns and two 2-point conversions to make it a one-score game late in the fourth quarter. The in-stadium camera found legendary Irish coach Lou Holtz in his luxury box, and he ignored all those booing Buckeye fans and flashed a thumbs-up.

But Notre Dame's time was running out. After stopping the Buckeyes on their first two plays and using their timeouts, the Irish put Christian Gray — whose interception&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/penn-state-notre-dame-orange-bowl-score-34fe8fc6414366145cfaa10f0147964c">wrapped up Notre Dame's semifinal win</a>&nbsp;over Penn State — in single coverage on Smith.

Smith got behind Gray on the right sideline and Howard dropped his best pass of the season into the hands of the second-team All-American.

It set up a field goal that started the celebration in earnest, and also helped Ohio State&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-state-notre-dame-cfp-national-championship-betting-line-4e59407b67c901d23a06f511099c45bc">cover the 8 1/2-point spread</a>&nbsp;at BetMGM Sportsbook.

“It was do or die, it was that type of down,” Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said. “He’s a heck of a player. He’s difficult to cover.”

Howard and Judkins make transfer portal pay off for Ohio State

Howard, a transfer-portal success story from Kansas State, threw for 231 yards and two scores, but nothing will beat the pass to Smith with everything on the line.

The receiver, who had been bottled up by Texas in the semifinals then fairly quiet for most of this game, finally got loose for the kind of play he’s been making all year. He finished with five catches for 88 yards.

“We felt at the end we wanted to give Jeremiah that shot,” Day said. “We really hadn't thrown it all night, but I thought, ‘Know what, let’s be aggressive, let's do this and lay it on the line.'”

Ohio State didn't really look like a team that needed to take risks after scoring touchdowns on its first four possessions, then adding a field goal on its fifth.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737436647075.jpeg" alt="Ohio State celebrates after their win against Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)" />
 <figcaption>Ohio State celebrates after their win against Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)</figcaption>
 </figure>ATLANTA (AP) — The pass seemed to hang up there forever. Did it feel like seven weeks? Did it feel like 10 years?What a great debate for Ohio State fans to have forever.When that&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/OhioStateFB/status/1881552148040958413">teardrop of a throw</a>&nbsp;from Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard on third-and-11 finally landed, light as a feather, in the hands of receiver Jeremiah Smith late in the fourth quarter Monday, Ohio State had locked up what would be a 34-23 victory over Notre Dame for its sixth national title and first in a decade.It was that 56-yard gain that snuffed out a feverish Notre Dame comeback and made the Buckeyes the champion of the sport's first 12-team playoff, just as they were champions of its first four-team tournament a decade ago.“They were running man coverage and I said, ‘Hey, I’m gonna let this loose and let him make a play on it,’” Howard said of a play that felt about 100 years removed from Ohio State's once program-defining “Three yards and a cloud of dust.”This was a win that hardly anyone thought possible a mere seven weeks ago — Nov. 30 — when a 13-10 loss to Michigan led to a near-riot on the field and questions over whether coach Ryan Day would keep his job when the calendar flipped.“It’s a great story about a bunch of guys who have just overcome some really tough situations, and at the point where there’s a lot of people that counted us out (they) just kept swinging and kept fighting,” Day said.<h2>Buckeyes were on cruise control, then suddenly, ND came to life</h2>It might be that much sweeter because of how it went down in a jam-packed stadium in the middle of SEC country that looked like a Christmas tree — Ohio State fans on one half in red, Notre Dame's on the other in green.Trailing 31-7, Notre Dame scored two touchdowns and two 2-point conversions to make it a one-score game late in the fourth quarter. The in-stadium camera found legendary Irish coach Lou Holtz in his luxury box, and he ignored all those booing Buckeye fans and flashed a thumbs-up.But Notre Dame's time was running out. After stopping the Buckeyes on their first two plays and using their timeouts, the Irish put Christian Gray — whose interception&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/penn-state-notre-dame-orange-bowl-score-34fe8fc6414366145cfaa10f0147964c">wrapped up Notre Dame's semifinal win</a>&nbsp;over Penn State — in single coverage on Smith.Smith got behind Gray on the right sideline and Howard dropped his best pass of the season into the hands of the second-team All-American.It set up a field goal that started the celebration in earnest, and also helped Ohio State&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-state-notre-dame-cfp-national-championship-betting-line-4e59407b67c901d23a06f511099c45bc">cover the 8 1/2-point spread</a>&nbsp;at BetMGM Sportsbook.“It was do or die, it was that type of down,” Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said. “He’s a heck of a player. He’s difficult to cover.”<h2>Howard and Judkins make transfer portal pay off for Ohio State</h2>Howard, a transfer-portal success story from Kansas State, threw for 231 yards and two scores, but nothing will beat the pass to Smith with everything on the line.The receiver, who had been bottled up by Texas in the semifinals then fairly quiet for most of this game, finally got loose for the kind of play he’s been making all year. He finished with five catches for 88 yards.“We felt at the end we wanted to give Jeremiah that shot,” Day said. “We really hadn't thrown it all night, but I thought, ‘Know what, let’s be aggressive, let's do this and lay it on the line.'”Ohio State didn't really look like a team that needed to take risks after scoring touchdowns on its first four possessions, then adding a field goal on its fifth.When Quinshon Judkins (100 yards, 11 carries, three TDs), a transfer from Mississippi who highlighted Ohio State’s judicious use of the ever-growing portal, busted a 70-yard run to set up the score that made it 28-7, this game looked over.It wasn’t, and now Freeman will have to answer a few tough questions — one about the failed fake punt in the third quarter that turned into a field goal for a 31-7 lead; the other about sending Mitch Jeter in for a short field goal attempt while down 16 and facing fourth-and-goal from the 9. It might have looked like a better call had Jeter’s kick not clanged off the left upright.“I know it’s still a two-score game, but you have a better probability of getting 14 points than you do 16 points,” Freeman said.<h2>Ohio State dominated most of the night, and all through the playoffs</h2>Really, though, Ohio State was the better team. The Buckeyes outgained Notre Dame 445 yards to 308. Howard completed his first 13 passes and never really got stopped. Ohio State punted a grand total of once.The Buckeyes rolled through four games in the new, expanded playoff — what great timing for Ohio State that the tournament swelled to a dozen teams in a year it didn't even play for the Big Ten title — by an average score of 36-21.Ohio State was seeded eighth, but the seedings were pretty much meaningless. The worse seed won every game in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, and the Buckeyes dominated in this title-game showdown of No. 7 vs. No. 8.<h2>A fine ending to a season that almost got away</h2>It puts to rest, for now, any angst about that 13-10 Michigan loss in November — Ohio State’s fourth straight in the series — that ended with a brawl after Wolverine players tried to plant a flag at midfield.The whole scene left a lot of folks, both in and out of Buckeye circles, thinking Day, in his sixth season, had outlived his usefulness on a campus that hadn’t tasted a title in a decade.Instead, the Ohio State marching band can dot the “I” next time with the national-title trophy. And Day can join a list of title-winning coaches with Urban Meyer (2014) Jim Tressel (2002), Woody Hayes ("Three yards and a cloud of dust") and Paul Brown (who went on to become the namesake of the NFL's Cleveland Browns).Also, Day’s .873 winning percentage coming into the game was third among coaches with 50-plus games — one spot behind none other than the Notre Dame legend Knute Rockne, himself.The Notre Dame loss means college football still has never had a Black coach win the national title.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cfp-notre-dame-king-trump-football-faf2fc685b25a887dd6eec083223a591">Freeman was trying</a>&nbsp;to become the first.Instead, another kind of history. This marked the first time the Big Ten has taken back-to-back titles since 1942. Last year’s champion was Michigan, which was sitting home watching this one, but still played a special role in a Buckeyes redemption story hardly anyone saw coming.___