Sports
No. 13 Kansas State opens Big 12 slate at fellow unbeaten BYU
Sep 13, 2024; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats quarterback Avery Johnson (2) warms up before the start of a game against the Arizona Wildcats at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images No. 13 Kansas State and host BYU both look to remain unbeaten when the unfamiliar 3-0 squads clash on Saturday night in their Big 12 Conference opener in Provo, Utah.
These two schools have never met as conference opponents, splitting their eight previous meetings. The last time they squared off was in the 1997 Cotton Bowl, which BYU won with a game-saving interception. The last time K-State played in Provo was a 39-0 loss in 1977.
Kansas State coach Chris Klieman is anxious to see how his team handles the new surroundings and a new rivalry.
“It’s going to be a tough environment,” he said. “A lot of respect for (BYU coach) Kalani (Sitake) and BYU. It’s going to be a heck of an atmosphere and a great test for us.
“Two weeks ago, we were talking about humidity and heat (before K-State’s game at Tulane) and now we’re talking about being cool and elevated (altitude). What a crazy league we’re in.”
BYU trounced Wyoming 34-14 on the road last weekend.
K-State showed newcomer Arizona what life in the Big 12 might be like, scoring the final 31 points in a 31-7 win over the then-No. 20 Wildcats.
While Arizona is now in the Big 12, it was a nonconference game since it was scheduled before Arizona joined the conference.
The Wildcats and Cougars rank near the middle of the Big 12 in scoring offense at seventh and ninth, respectively. They’re in the top half defensively, ranking fourth and fifth, respectively. But how they’ve gotten there is different.
The BYU offense is doing it through the air, averaging 289.3 passing yards per game, fifth in the conference. K-State, meanwhile, is second in the league with 244.3 rushing yards per game. BYU is ranked fourth in rushing defense, allowing just 105.7 yards per game.
Sitake knows the competition is going to get tougher, now that the conference season is starting. He believes that his team is ready for the challenge.
“It didn’t go perfectly, but there were some really good things to work on, some really good things to get better at,” he said following BYU’s victory over Wyoming. “I feel like we got better from last week to this week, and I am looking forward to making an improvement from this week to next.”
BYU’s Jake Retzlaff completed 22 of 36 passes for 291 yards with three touchdowns and one pick. He was also BYU’s leading rusher against the Cowboys with six carries for 62 yards.
K-State’s Avery Johnson rushed for 110 yards and was 14-of-23 passing for 156 yards with two touchdowns against Arizona. Johnson passed the credit around.
“It starts with Coach Riles (offensive coordinator Conor Riley),” Johnson said. “He came out firing. And credit Coach Klieman. We could have opened with a three-and-out but he said, ‘Go for it’ in our own end and we ended up with a 15-play drive.
“But it all starts with Coach Riles.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Best Bets for Knicks vs. Spurs Game 4 at Madison Square Garden
Jun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) shoots the ball against New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during game three of the 2026 NBA Finals in the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images The New York Knicks were living larger than Times Square when they opened the NBA Finals with two straight victories in San Antonio. But suddenly, the pressure is back on the Knicks after the Spurs delivered a big Game 3 triumph at Madison Square Garden.
New York badly needs to take Game 4 on Wednesday as a 3-1 lead sure beats being tied 2-2 with two of the final three games slated for San Antonio. And just imagine the worry the Knicks’ fans will feel if they start to sense the title drought since 1973 might continue.
The Spurs, of course, have pressures to deal with too. They don’t want to return to the Alamo City on the brink of elimination.
Spurs looked like a different team in Game 3
Digging the 0-2 hole in San Antonio put the Spurs in deep trouble but coach Mitch Johnson made adjustments and the Spurs played aggressively throughout the contest. Big man Victor Wembanyama looked fully in the moment while veterans Harrison Barnes (DNP) and Luke Kornet (nine minutes) were all but removed from the game plan.
Having three and sometimes four smaller athletic players who are solid with the ball to go with Wembanyama created positive advantages for San Antonio. Stephon Castle was sharp with 23 points while the Spurs worked around substandard shooting performances from De’Aaron Fox (4-of-14) and Dylan Harper (5-of-18).
The Knicks again saw Jalen Brunson (32 points) excel but Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in with just 11 points and is scoreless in the fourth quarter in this series. New York’s offense will have to be better Wednesday if it wants to keep the lead in the series.
Spurs plus 2.5-point spread, -115 (DraftKings)
Wemby gets physical, finds comfort zone.
Wembanyama looked more like the third-place finisher in the MVP race when he scored 32 points on 11-of-18 shooting and committed just one turnover in Game 3. The rest of the stat line included eight rebounds, six assists and three blocked shots.
He also seemed more settled in than his shaky Game 1 outing (6-of-21 shooting, six turnovers) and late Game 2 mishaps (pass off Castle’s back, missed 3-pointer prior to the buzzer) and could be ready to take control of the series. He made 18 of 29 two-point shots the past two games after making just 4 of 12 in Game 1.
Wemby also wasn’t taking any guff on Monday, though his toss of Brunson to the floor was a big-time cheap shot. He’s going to be a marked man in the Garden for the rest of his career but expect him to produce big in Game 4.
Wembanyama to score 27-plus points, -121 (DraftKings)
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Brunson has a trusted friend named OG.
Brunson (30-plus points, +120) has attempted a whopping 81 shots in the series but is making them at just a 37% clip. His 11-of-25 showing in Game 3 was his most efficient effort and he simply will always be counted on to carry the offense in every game.
While Towns (18-plus points, -114) could rebound, OG Anunoby might be the best bet to be Brunson’s scoring sidekick in Game 4. Anunoby scored 28 points on just 13 shots (making nine) for his best output since twice scoring 29 points in the first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks.
Anunoby is 8-of-18 from 3-point range and shooting 54.3% overall in the Finals. With Towns being 0-for-6 shooting in the fourth quarter in the series, the final 12 minutes should be Anunoby’s time to share scoring duties with Brunson and his over/under is low based on his Game 3 showing.
OG Anunoby to score 17-plus points, -109 (DraftKings)
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Sports
Colorado coach Deion Sanders now 'cancer free'
Nov 1, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders before the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Colorado head coach Deion Sanders announced he is “cancer free” heading into the 2026 season.
The Pro Football Hall of Famer talked about his battle with bladder cancer Tuesday on “Good Morning America.”
“I’ve got my health back. I’ve got my swagger back,” said Sanders, 58. “Last year at this time I was fighting cancer, didn’t know which way it was going to go. … I’m fully back now. Last year at this time, it wasn’t a good look.
“We fought the battle and we won the battle fighting cancer. I’m cancer free. I’m good. Great doctors in Colorado that have brought me through. God has brought me through. I’m thankful I’m healthy.”
Sanders said he underwent 14 surgeries, including the removal of his bladder.
Colorado struggled to a 3-9 finish last season following a 9-4 campaign in 2025.
“I’m ready to go coach my butt off this season,” Sanders said. “I’m having a good time.”
Sanders is 16-21 with one bowl appearance through his first three seasons in Boulder.
The Buffaloes open the season at Georgia Tech on Sept. 3.
A two-time Super Bowl champion and six-time All-Pro cornerback, Sanders played 14 NFL seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington and the Baltimore Ravens. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.
–Field Level Media
Sports
NYCFC announce departure of D Strahinja Tanasijevic
Mar 15, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York City FC defender Strahinja Tanasijevic (19) runs with the ball during the second half against New England Revolution at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Smith-Imagn Images New York City FC defender Strahinja Tanasijevic has departed the club, the team announced on Wednesday.
Tanasijevic, 28, joined NYCFC in February 2024 and made 43 appearances across all competitions.
“We would like to thank Tana for the commitment and professionalism shown throughout his time with the Club,” sporting director Todd Dunivant said. “This move provides an opportunity for Tana to pursue the next step in his career while also giving the Club additional roster flexibility. We wish Tana and his family all the best moving forward.”
Tanasijevic played for several clubs in his native Serbia prior to joining New York City FC.
–Field Level Media
Best Bets for Knicks vs. Spurs Game 4 at Madison Square Garden
Colorado coach Deion Sanders now 'cancer free'
