Here is the latest Big Ten Conference sports news from The Associated Press
By AP
UNDATED (AP) — Penn State’s offense is thriving under first-year offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. The Nittany Lions are one of a handful of Power Four schools averaging 200 yards per game rushing and receiving heading into their College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Boise State. Penn State has one of the most unique offensive weapons in the country in tight end Tyler Warren. Warren has 92 receptions this season and has become a threat out of the backfield, rushing for 197 yards and two touchdowns.
PHOENIX (AP) — Dylan Edwards ran for 196 yards and scored his third touchdown on a 36-yard run in the fourth quarter, helping Kansas State rally past Rutgers 44-41 in the Rate Bowl. The Scarlet Knights led by 10 at halftime and went up 34-17 on Ja’shon Benjamin’s 7-yard touchdown catch on the opening drive of the second half. Edwards scored on 65-yard touchdown run and Garrett Oakley caught a 13-yard touchdown pass to pull Kansas State within five. Rutgers stretched the lead to 41-29, but Kansas State scored twice after that and stopped the Scarlet Knights on downs to close it out.
ANN ARBOR, Michigan (AP) — Michigan defensive lineman Kenneth Grant is skipping his final college season to enter the NFL draft. Grant, a key part of the Wolverines’ 2023 national championship team, announced his decision on X, formerly known as Twitter. Fellow Michigan interior lineman Mason Graham had already declared for the draft. Both are projected as likely first-round picks. The 6-foot-3, 339-pound Grant was a third-team Associated Press All-American. Cornerback Will Johnson and tight end Colston Loveland have also declared for the draft leading up to Michigan’s game against No. 11 Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Southern California opened its season at Allegiant Stadium with a victory over LSU that set up the Trojans for early contention for the College Football Playoff. They instead will end the year where they started. Texas A&M also had high hopes for a playoff spot. The Aggies went even deeper into the season before that dream ended with three defeats in their final four games. Now both teams face each other in Friday night’s Las Vegas Bowl. It’s not the setting either side envisioned but a chance for both to finish the season on a positive note.
PHOENIX (AP) — Kansas State will try to rebound from a difficult finish to the regular season as it faces Rutgers in the Rate Bowl. The Wildcats were once in the thick of the Big 12 race, but lost three of their final four games as their offense faltered. Kansas State is certainly familiar with the desert, playing in the Rate Bowl for the fifth time. Rutgers had its down stretch in the middle of the season, losing four straight games as injuries mounted. The Scarlet Knights closed the season with a blowout win over Michigan State and have a chance to win consecutive bowl games for the first time since a run of five straight from 2006-11.
