As a former Heisman Trophy candidate and Big 12 champion at his new (old) school, Collin Klein would seem to be ideally suited for success as a first-year head coach at Kansas State this fall.

However, at Big 12 media days in Frisco, Texas, on Wednesday, Klein was quick to acknowledge the advantages familiarity with the program will afford him … while also understanding that those advantages won’t matter without proper work and execution.

It’s the message he is selling to recruits.

“I tell recruits it’s going to be hard,” Klein said. “I tell them it’s a badge of honor to wear that Powercat. I tell them that the most valuable things in life you’re going to have to pay the most for. We’re going to make that price really freaking high to play at Kansas State.”

Klein is one of four new head coaches to take over in the Big 12 this fall, joining Iowa State’s Jimmy Rogers (formerly of Washington State), Oklahoma State’s Eric Morris (formerly of North Texas) and Utah’s Morgan Scalley.

Scalley, like Klein, is a first-time head coach taking over at his alma mater.

“I don’t think even as much as you walk yourself through it mentally, you really even understand until your boots are on the ground and you’re in it,” Klein said.

In addition to familiarity with the school and the area, Klein also has a previously established relationship with his returning quarterback. As an offensive assistant with Kansas State, Klein recruited Avery Johnson before taking over as offensive coordinator at Texas A&M for the 2024 season.

Johnson is excited to rekindle the relationship on the field.

“Everybody has a newfound energy,” Johnson said. “We’ve all been super grateful for Coach Klein to come back, and I think we’re all excited for the season.”

–Scalley focused on maintaining Utah standard

Scalley relayed a story about once recruiting Klein when he was a graduate assistant at Utah, noting that Klein somehow left Salt Lake City without an offer despite arriving dressed for success.

“He showed up on campus in a suit and tie,” Scalley said, relating that to the quality of individuals roaming the sidelines in the Big 12. “So much respect for the coaches in this league. Really good coaches, good men, and it is a competitive league.”

Despite the challenge, Scalley is focused on maintaining the standard of excellence set by his predecessor, Kyle Whittingham, who recorded 18 winning records over 22 seasons.

“It is a responsibility I do not take lightly,” Scalley said. “There’s something to be said about continuity and believing in a staff and creating a culture.”

–Beginning the healing process

Yahoo Sports reported on a recent meeting between league leaders and leadership at Texas Tech following the contentious fight between the sides over quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s eligibility.

Sorsby ultimately gave up his fight to play for the Red Raiders over the controversy regarding his admission to gambling around $90,000 on college and professional sports.

Described as “productive, but not over,” the talks revolved around the league’s ability to field competitive teams within the current college football environment.

Texas Tech board chair Cody Campbell told Yahoo, “We want to find a way to get all other Big 12 schools to elevate themselves. Everybody needs to do some version of what we’ve done. That’s the path forward for this conference. A rising tide lifts all boats. People not on board with that and those that want everyone worse so they can be relatively better, we’ll have a problem with those institutions.”

–Field Level Media

Foster Griffin pitched seven strong innings, Luis Garcia Jr. had three hits including a three-run homer and the Nationals beat the Houston Astros 8-2 Wednesday night in Washington.

CJ Abrams also homered for Washington, which took two of three from Houston, and Daylen Lile had two hits. James Wood drew three walks and scored twice.

Griffin, who bolstered his case as a potential injury replacement on the National League All-Star team, gave up a run on five hits and struck out nine without a walk while improving to 10-2. He allowed one earned run or fewer in his seventh consecutive start and lowered his ERA to 2.77.

“I feel like I had really good command of my cutter and my sweeper especially,” Griffin told Nationals TV. “I was able to keep…the hitters off balance. I feel like they couldn’t make a decision on which one was coming out of the same tunnel.”

Isaac Paredes and Zach Dezenzo each had two hits each for the Astros.

Houston starter Spencer Arrighetti (7-5) gave up eight runs on seven hits in four innings. Astros pitchers allowed nine hits and 10 walks.

Washington took a 2-0 lead in the third. Wood walked and stole second. Garcia walked and Wood went to third on a fly out and scored on Abrams’ sacrifice fly. Lile doubled Garcia home.

The Nationals staged a two-out rally in the fourth. Keibert Ruiz singled, Wood walked and Garcia followed with his 20th homer of the season, a shot to right center, and the lead was 5-0.

In the Houston fifth, Yainer Diaz doubled, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Brice Matthews’ single.

Abrams hit his 20th homer of the season leading off the bottom half. Lile and Dylan Crews singled before Jorbit Vivas walked to load the bases. Lile scored when Jose Tena grounded out and Crews came home on a Ruiz sacrifice fly to make it 8-1.

In the Houston eighth, Dezenzo singled, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on Nick Allen’s single.

–Field Level Media

Kayla McBride scored 23 points to lift the Minnesota Lynx to an 86-80 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday in Uncasville, Conn.

McBride made 6 of 10 shots from the floor and all nine attempts from the free-throw line for the Lynx (16-6), who rebounded after dropping a 90-89 decision to Connecticut on Monday in Minneapolis. McBride scored a season-high 28 points in that game.

Minnesota’s Natasha Howard collected 12 points and 10 rebounds on Wednesday and former Sun player Courtney Williams and Dorka Juhasz each added 12 points.

Cheryl Reeve recorded her 380th regular-season win, the most in WNBA history. She has been the head coach of the Lynx since 2010.

Minnesota rookie Olivia Miles sat out her second consecutive contest with a right calf strain after starting the team’s first 20 games.

Leila Lacan scored 15 points and Olivia Nelson-Ododa added 14 for the Sun (5-17), who played without Brittney Griner. The 6-foot-9 Griner sat out with a left quad strain after scoring a season-high 29 points in Monday’s game.

Sun guard Saniya Rivers exited the floor in a wheelchair after sustaining a left ankle sprain following a drive to the basket early in the second quarter. Rivers, who was fouled by Nia Coffey, did not return to the contest.

Connecticut held a 65-60 lead after three quarters before Minnesota responded with a 16-5 run to start the fourth. Antonia Delaere and Juhasz each sank a 3-pointer to give the Lynx a 76-70 advantage. Gianna Kneepkens converted from beyond the arc to halve the deficit, however Juhasz countered with another 3-pointer.

Diamond Miller drew the Sun to within three after sinking four free throws before Juhasz made her fourth 3-pointer with 7.1 seconds to seal the win.

Williams drained a long jumper to give Minnesota a 41-37 lead with 2:27 to play in the second quarter before the Sun responded with a flourish. Kneepkens sank a 3-pointer, Lacan scored four quick points and Raegan Beers added a free throw to give the Sun a 45-41 advantage at halftime.

–Field Level Media