Here is the latest Big 12 Conference sports news from The Associated Press
By AP
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.
UNDATED (AP) — Joey McGuire grew up on the Texas-Arkansas border with his family season-ticket holders for the Razorbacks, a team known locally as the Hogs. The number for his first landline telephone as a teenager literally ended in 1464 — or 1HOG. McGuire is now wrapping up his third season as coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders with a game against Arkansas in the Liberty Bowl on Friday night. McGuire says his team won’t hear Arkansas fans doing their well-known cheer for long because his Red Raiders will be ready. A win gives Texas Tech its first nine-victory season since 2009. Arkansas sat out bowl season in 2023.
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Sam Leavitt has led No. 10 Arizona State from a three-win season a year ago to spot in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals against No. 7 Texas in the New Year’s Day Peach Bowl. While running back Cam Skattebo has been the Sun Devils’ turbocharger, Leavitt has been the steady hand at the wheel. The redshirt freshman helped push the Sun Devils to four wins over ranked opponents in their best season since the 1996 team went to the Rose Bowl. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound transfer from Michigan State has thrown for 2,663 yards and 24 touchdowns with five interceptions. Leavitt has made good decisions throughout the season, playing more like a veteran than redshirt freshman, and used his legs to extend plays or break off runs.
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.
