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
Kentucky adds Furman transfer Alex Wilkins
Mar 20, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Furman Paladins guard Alex Wilkins (10) dribbles the ball against the UConn Huskies in the second half during a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Former Furman guard has Alex Wilkins transferred to Kentucky.
His transfer was announced on Saturday.
Wilkins excelled in his freshman season with the Paladins, averaging 17.8 points, 4.7 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 35 games (all starts).
Listed at 6-foot-5, Wilkins showed his skills to a national audience in Furman’s lone game of the NCAA Tournament. He made four 3-pointers and scored 21 points in the Paladins’ 82-71 loss to eventual national championship runner-up UConn in the first round.
–Field Level Media
Sports
New Bengals DT Dexter Lawrence signs 1-year, $28M extension
Nov 16, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) scrambles away from New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97) during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images Three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence passed his physical and signed a one-year contract extension with the Cincinnati Bengals through the 2028 season on Sunday morning.
Financial terms were communicated through Win Sports Group, which informed multiple media outlets that the extension was worth $28 million.
Lawrence was acquired by Cincinnati from the New York Giants on Saturday in exchange for the No. 10 pick overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
“We are excited to add Dexter to our team,” Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said. “He has been a dominant player in the league since he was drafted, and he will be a tremendous presence on the field and in our locker room.”
Lawrence, 28, requested a trade last week and did not report to the Giants’ offseason program, with reports that discussions over a contract extension had reached an impasse.
The Giants have three of the top 37 picks in the 2026 draft. That includes their original first-round pick — No. 5 — and Cincinnati’s selection, No. 10.
A 2019 first-round pick (17th overall) out of Clemson, Lawrence has recorded 341 tackles, 30.5 sacks and 103 quarterback hits in 109 games (102 starts) over seven seasons in New York.
Lawrence was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2022 through 2024, but not last season when he started 17 games and had 31 tackles, 0.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, eight quarterback hits and one interception.
Cincinnati already added to its defensive line with offseason signings of former Seattle Seahawks edge rusher Boye Mafe to a three-year, $60 million contract and former Minnesota Vikings tackle Jonathan Allen to a two-year, $25 million deal.
“The opportunity to add a player of Dexter’s ability was too good to pass up,” Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin said. “… Dexter fits the vision we have on our defense and will also elevate others around him. We are confident in Dexter and can’t wait to see the positive effects he and the other players we have acquired this offseason have on our football team. We are excited to turn to the draft and our remaining picks to further enhance our team.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
St. Bonaventure sees influx of transfers added to basketball roster
Feb 28, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions forward Mason Blackwood (1) drives the ball to the basket during the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Bryce Jordan Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images Former Penn State forward Mason Blackwood became the latest transfer to commit to St. Bonaventure and to new head coach Mike MacDonald.
ESPN broke that news Sunday morning, and Blackwood’s transfer caps an eventful week for the Bonnies.
Per the 247 transfer portal and multiple reports, St. Bonaventure, located in Olean, N.Y., has added to its roster this week, along with Blackwood:
–Akbar Waheed III, a 6-foot-6 guard who redshirted at Boston College last season.
–Zach Philipkoski, a 6-4 guard, and 6-10 center Benjamin Bill, both of whom played for MacDonald at Division II Daemen.
–Taj Au-Duke, a 6-3 point guard who started his college career at Pepperdine but transferred to Indian Hills Community College in Iowa, where he became a first-team JUCO All-American.
–Ryan Kalambay, a 6-9 forward from Detroit Mercy.
Returning to the Bonnies from the 2005-06 roster are Ilia Ermakov, a 6-6 guard from Russia; John Ikpotokin, a 6-7 center from Ireland; Jack DeRose, a 6-foot guard and local product from Olean High School; Achille Lonati, a 6-5 Italian guard; and Joe Grahovac, a 6-10 forward from Santa Ana, Calif.
With Kalambay and Au-Duke from Canada, the Bonnies will have an international flair.
The Bonnies are losing four seniors and seven players to the transfer portal. According to 247Sports’ portal tracker, none of them have selected a new school.
Adding two players with experience in a power-conference program is a boost for St. Bonaventure.
Blackwood, from nearby Rochester, N.Y., appeared in 26 games as a freshman (one start) and averaged 2.6 points and 1.8 rebounds over 12.2 minutes. The 6-7 forward is expected to be a building block for the revamped Bonnies.
Waheed didn’t appear in any games at Boston College as a freshman. He will have four years of eligibility remaining.
St. Bonaventure finished 17-17 in the 2025-26 season and 4-14 in Atlantic 10 play.
MacDonald was hired as head coach on March 31 to replace Mark Schmidt, who retired after 19 seasons on the job. A 1988 St. Bonaventure alum, he led Daemen to a 265-86 record over 12 seasons. He led the Wildcats to NCAA Division II East Regional championships in 2026 and 2021.
He is the only coach to win 100 games with programs at the Division I (Canisius), II (Daemen) and III (Medaille) levels.
–Field Level Media
Kentucky adds Furman transfer Alex Wilkins
New Bengals DT Dexter Lawrence signs 1-year, $28M extension
