Iowa State and Kansas State players have voted against playing in bowl games this month, ending both teams’ seasons and opening the door for two 5-7 teams to earn spots.

The Iowa State athletic department announced Sunday morning that it had notified the Big 12 that the Cyclones (8-4) would not participate in a bowl game. Players met with athletic director Jamie Pollard on Sunday morning and voted against playing in a game “due to the lack of healthy players to safely practice and play,” the school said.

It’s a highly unusual move for an eight-win team, but it comes days after coach Matt Campbell left to take Penn State’s opening. He was replaced by Washington State’s Jimmy Rogers on Friday.

“The administrative staff and coaches respect and support the players’ decision,” Pollard said in a release announcing the decision. “Our student-athletes have had an incredible season and we are grateful for their leadership as we worked through this process with them today.”

Iowa State led off the season with a trip to Dublin, Ireland to play Kansas State. That wasn’t a primary reason for either school declining its bowl opportunity, but it impacted fans’ willingness to travel.

Kansas State coach Chris Klieman announced his retirement Wednesday, and it was unclear who would coach the Wildcats (6-6) in a bowl game if they chose to attend one. A player vote was scheduled for Thursday, and the players opted out, the school announced Sunday morning.

“Following our recent coaching change and conversations with our player leadership and Commissioner Yormark, I determined that we will not accept a bowl invitation on Sunday,” Kansas State athletics director Gene Taylor said in a release announcing the decision. “This decision was not taken lightly, but with our coaching staff transition and several uncertainties regarding player availability, I felt it was not in our best interest to try to field a team that was not representative of Kansas State University. We applaud this group for fighting back from a 2-4 record to lead us to bowl eligibility yet again, and we are happy that our seniors were able to go out on top with a victory inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium.”

The Big 12 announced that it was issuing $500,000 fines to Iowa State and Kansas State, citing the conference’s contractual obligations with the bowls. The conference also said it considered the matter resolved and would not comment further.

With the Cyclones and Wildcats declining, the spots become open to teams with 5-7 records and the highest Academic Progress Report (APR) score that accepts them. That means Auburn and Florida State have first dibs, both with an APR score of 990 last year. Rice follows at 988.

Auburn has a new head coach in Alex Golesh, but he retained interim head coach D.J. Durkin as defensive coordinator. Florida State did not have a head coaching change, but may have assistant changes. Moving the transfer portal back to Jan. 2 for schools that didn’t change head coaches provides more opportunities to keep a roster together, but schools also begin winter break soon.

Kansas State began the season ranked No. 17 in the AP Poll, the second-highest spot among Big 12 teams, but the Wildcats lost their opener against Iowa State in Ireland and never seemed to get right, finishing 6-6.

The Athletic projected Kansas State to the Independence Bowl against Louisiana Tech. Coincidentally, a year ago, Marshall backed out of the Independence Bowl after bowl games were announced, due to a head coaching change and roster exodus. The spot was filled by 5-7 Louisiana Tech.

Nebraska volleyball entered the second round of the NCAA tournament after sweeping Long Island on Friday. The Huskers faced the Kansas State Wildcats, who defeated San Diego in five sets yesterday.

Nebraska swept the Wildcats (25-17, 25-21, 25-16) despite offensively struggling at times against the Kansas State defense, posting 14 blocks and 32 digs. The Huskers finished with 43 kills off 99 attacks for a .253 hitting percentage. The Huskers also earned 48 digs and eight blocks to help hold Kansas State to .118 and 27 kills on 102 attacks.

Harper Murray and Andi Jackson co-led Nebraska in the sweep, both tallying 10 kills. Murray also earned six digs while Jackson posted a team-high three blocks. Taylor Landfair finished 8-of-18 on the night, while Virginia Adriano hit 7-of-12 with a service ace.

Rebekah Allick delivered six kills off 13 attacks, while Allie Sczech earned 2-of-4. Bergen Reilly tallied 34 set assists and a service ace. Laney Choboy and Olivia Mauch combined for 25 digs and four service aces.

TOPEKA (KSNT) – The man accused of killing a Kansas priest outside a northeast Kansas church is headed to the state’s largest psychiatric facility for evaluation, prosecutors said Friday.

Gary Hermesch is accused of shooting Father Arul Carasala on April 3 outside Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. Carasala died at a nearby hospital.

Authorities said Hermesch went to the sheriff’s office immediately after the shooting and confessed.

A judge is determining whether Hermesch, of Tulsa, Okla., is competent to stand trial. An evaluation at Larned State Hospital in southwest Kansas will help make that determination, Nemaha County Attorney Brad Lippert said.

A status conference in the case is set for Dec. 18.