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Iowa State, Kansas State players vote to skip bowl games. Who could take their spots?

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3 months ago

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Iowa State, Kansas State players vote to skip bowl games. Who could take their spots?


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.”

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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.

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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.



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Kansas

Former Kansas high school wrestling coach charged with producing child pornography

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15 hours ago

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March 5, 2026

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Former Kansas high school wrestling coach charged with producing child pornography


WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – A former Kansas wrestling coach was charged with creating child sexual abuse materials by secretly recording minors showering during an athletic competition.

According to court documents, 37-year-old Ryan Brungardt of Salina is charged with two counts of production of child pornography and one count of attempted production of child pornography.

Brungardt is a former employee at Lakewood Middle School and former wrestling coach for Salina Central High School.

Brungardt is accused of using a cellphone to record three minors while they showered in a locker room during the Tournament of Champions, a wrestling tournament was held at Newton High in January 2024.

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Brungardt made his initial court appearance for the criminal complaint on Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brooks G. Severson.

A detention hearing is scheduled for Monday

Investigators are in the process of reviewing additional seized cellphone videos in this case that are suspected to have been recorded at wrestling meets in Newton, Hays, Garden City and Salina during the 2023-2024 wrestling season.

Anyone who believes they witnessed crimes or any suspicious activity at these events is asked to contact the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (785) 600-8790 or report at www.kbi.ks.gov/sar.

Copyright 2026 KWCH. All rights reserved. To report a correction or typo, please email news@kwch.com

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RESULTS: NE Kansas high schools to play Saturday after Wednesday sub-state wins

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1 day ago

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March 5, 2026

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RESULTS: NE Kansas high schools to play Saturday after Wednesday sub-state wins


TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Below is a look at the results from Wednesday night’s high school basketball sub-state semifinals in Northeast Kansas.

Editor’s Note: This story will be updated with what schools are hosting when that information becomes readily available.

WIBW Scoreboard

BOYS

6A Boys West Sub-State: Wednesday’s sub-state semifinal results

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  • Topeka High 57, Washburn Rural 50 (will play Maize Saturday)
  • Junction City 70, Dodge City 56 (will play Derby Saturday)
  • Manhattan 58, Wichita-Northwest 56 (will play Wichita-East Saturday)

4A Boys East Sub-State: Wednesday’s sub-state semifinal results

  • Rock Creek 62, Louisberg 57 (will play Bishop Miege Saturday)
  • Atchison 74, Wamego 43
  • Hayden 72, Independence 56 (will play Atchison Saturday)
  • Eudora 76, Santa Fe Trail 68

GIRLS

5A West Girls: Wednesday’s sub-state semifinal results

  • Hays 80, Topeka West 18
  • Eisenhower 55, Seaman 41
  • Kapaun Mt. Carmel 71, Emporia 41

5A East Girls: Wednesday’s sub-state semifinal results

  • Shawnee Heights 89, Sumner 15 (will play Pittsburg Saturday)
  • Basehor-Linwood 74, Highland Park 28 (will play Piper Saturday)

3A Pomona-West Franklin Girls: Wednesday’s sub-state semifinal results

  • Osage City 75, Columbus 31 (will play Frontenac Saturday)

3A Sabetha Girls: Wednesday’s sub-state semifinal results

  • Silver Lake 48, Nemaha Central 26 (will play Riley County Saturday)
  • Riley County 51, Jeff West 40 (will play Silver Lake)

Copyright 2026 WIBW. All rights reserved.



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RESULTS: NE Kansas high schools to play Friday after Tuesday sub-state wins

Published

2 days ago

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March 4, 2026

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RESULTS: NE Kansas high schools to play Friday after Tuesday sub-state wins


TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Below is a look at the results from Tuesday night’s high school basketball sub-state semifinals in Northeast Kansas.

Editor’s Note: This story will be updated with what schools are hosting when that information becomes readily available.

WIBW Scoreboard

BOYS

5A East Boys: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results

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  • KC Washington 68, Highland Park 38
  • Shawnee Heights 49, De Soto 37 (will play Leavenworth Friday)

5A West Boys: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results

  • Topeka West 55, Hutchinson 32 (will play Bishop Carroll Friday)
  • Emporia 61, Great Bend 41 (will play Maize South Friday)
  • Seaman 73, Valley Center 51 (will play Hays Friday)

3A West Franklin Boys: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results

  • Burlington 60, Osage City 35 (will play Baxter Springs Friday)

3A Sabetha Boys: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results

  • Hiawatha 73, Oskaloosa 48 (will play Heritage Christian Friday)
  • Silver Lake 58, Sabetha 39 (will play Perry-Lecompton Friday 7:30 p.m.)

GIRLS

6A West Girls: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results

  • Washburn Rural 60, Wichita South 32 (will play Derby)
  • Topeka High 69, Maize 45 (will play Liberal)
  • Manhattan 67, Free State 21 (will play Wichita East)

4A East Girls: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results

  • Rock Creek 71, Parsons 23 (will play Tonganoxie)
  • Wamego 54, Labette County 33 (will play Bishop Miege)
  • Hayden 2, Athison 0 (will play Baldwin)

2A Eskridge/Mission Valley Girls: Tuesday’s sub-state semifinal results

  • Rossville 71, KC Christian 49 (will play Maur Hill-Mount Academy)
  • Lyndon 61, Jeff. Co. North 31 (will play Valley Heights)
  • Valley Heights 65, Doniphan West 41 (will play Lyndon)

Copyright 2026 WIBW. All rights reserved.



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