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Who will be Kansas’ best players in EA Sports’ ‘College Football 25?’ Here’s a prediction

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Who will be Kansas’ best players in EA Sports’ ‘College Football 25?’ Here’s a prediction


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LAWRENCE — Both the Kansas football team and the Jayhawks’ starting quarterback, Jalon Daniels, made posts on social media recently about their involvement in EA Sports’ “College Football 25.”

The KU team itself said in part on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, “Rock Chalk, we’re in the game.” Daniels said in part on Instagram, “I’m In The Game.” And both moves have only added to the excitement around the Jayhawks ahead of the video game’s release.

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But if all of Kansas’ leading talent opts to be a part of the video game, which players will receive the best ratings? What will that say about the Jayhawks’ roster as a whole? Here’s a prediction about the three guys who could be at the top of the list:

Jalon Daniels (Quarterback)

Injuries have hindered Jalon Daniels across the past couple seasons. As long as there aren’t any setbacks, he’s in line to start at quarterback again for Kansas in 2024. When healthy, he’s proven capable of being one of the top players in the Big 12 Conference. Take a look at a year ago, ahead of the 2023 season, when he was named the preseason Big 12 offensive player of the year.

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Daniels’ post on Instagram went up Friday. Whenever the video game is released, his dual-threat capability should make him a talent people want to put their faith in. Consider what he did in the overtime win at Texas in 2021, and the triple overtime loss in the Liberty Bowl against Arkansas in 2022, for a couple examples of what he’s put on tape during his career.

Devin Neal (Running back)

Devin Neal, Kansas’ star from Lawrence, has an opportunity to continue to cement his legacy at KU. But while he’s working toward being able to deliver in that regard, he could be one of the Jayhawks’ stars in the video game as well. Each of the past three seasons, he’s led Kansas in rushing yards, and there too many reasons not to anticipate he’s in line to do the same this upcoming season.

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Each year, Neal has also had more receptions and receiving yards than the year before. The potential is there for him to be seen as more than just a dynamic talent in the running game. Paired with Daniel Hishaw Jr., another running back on the Jayhawks’ roster, the duo could end up being the Big 12’s best.

Cobee Bryant (Cornerback)

Cobee Bryant, like Daniels, posted in part on Instagram on Friday that he’s also “in the game.” That makes the Kansas cornerback available when the video game is released. He’s arguably the most dynamic talent on defense who’s returned to the Jayhawks from the 2023 team — which earned a second-straight bowl appearance for the program and its first bowl victory in more than a decade, too.

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Bryant tied for the team lead in interceptions this past season. Back in 2022, he led the team in interceptions. Much like Daniels and Neal, he has the potential to be an All-Big 12 honoree who sets himself up for a professional opportunity in the NFL.

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Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.



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Pedestrian killed on westbound I-44 at Kansas Expressway

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Pedestrian killed on westbound I-44 at Kansas Expressway


SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – MoDOT reopened the westbound lanes of I-44 in Springfield around 9 a.m. after a deadly pedestrian crash on Thursday.

Police say a pedestrian was hit and killed on I-44 near the Kansas Expressway exit around 5 a.m. Police have not identified the victim.

Emergency officials closed the interstate for about three hours. Crews exited traffic off the Kansas Expressway and the West Bypass.

To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com. Please include the article info in the subject line of the email.

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Bill Self returning to Kansas next season after retirement speculation

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Bill Self returning to Kansas next season after retirement speculation


LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas basketball coach Bill Self is returning for a 24th season with the Jayhawks.

The program released a statement from Self on Wednesday confirming his return for another year with the program he has led to 21 regular-season conference championships, four Final Fours and a pair of national championships.

“With renewed clarity and the ongoing support from our administration, I remain focused and committed to Kansas Basketball competing for a national championship,” Self said. “I look forward to seeing and hearing the best fans in college basketball next season at Allen Fieldhouse.”

Jayhawks head coach Bill Self gestures during the first half of Kansas’ win over California Baptist in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Getty Images

The 63-year-old Self has a record of 840-272, not including the 15 wins that were vacated by the NCAA, putting him 12th on the career list.

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He passed Phog Allen as the winningest coach at Kansas with a 77-69 win over Michigan State on November 12, 2024, and finished with a record of 633-167 while leading one of college basketball’s most storied programs.

Kansas’ season ended March 22 against St. John’s and fellow Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Jayhawks rallied from a 13-point deficit with 7 1/2 minutes left, tying it with 13.1 seconds to go, only for the Red Storm’s Dylan Darling to hit a layup as time expired to end their season.

The Jayhawks have not survived the opening weekend of the tournament since 2022, when Self won his second national title.

“I’ve gone through some stuff off the court, so I’ll get back and get with family and visit and see what’s going on,” Self said following the loss in San Jose, California. “I love what I do. I need to be able to do it where I’m feeling good and healthy to do it fairly well. I’ll get back home and it will all be discussed.”

Self’s health has been a factor to monitor.

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Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self talking to players during a timeout.
Kansas head coach Bill Self talks with players during a timeout against Cincinnati at Allen Fieldhouse. Denny Medley-Imagn Images

He was hospitalized just before the Big 12 Tournament in 2023 after feeling unwell, and had two stents inserted into his heart, which forced him to miss the NCAA tourney. Self had two more stents inserted last year, and this past January, he missed a game at Colorado after doctors advised him not to travel following a precautionary trip to the hospital.

“When you get to be doing it as long as I’ve done it, I looked at it in five-year increments. Now I’m probably looking at it in more two-year increments, so to speak,” he said. “So I try to focus on this season and try to get us to a second weekend — which we failed at — so I’ll go back now and break it down and see where that leads.”

Self won national titles at Kansas in 2008 and 2022. And he’s been especially good at Allen Fieldhouse, historically one of college basketball’s toughest venues. He is 27-6 against top-10 opponents at home, and his 131-81 record against Top 25 opposition is the third-best winning percentage among Division I coaches.

He also has sent 43 players to the NBA, and more could be on the way. Darryn Peterson is expected to be among the first three players to hear his name called in June, while Flory Bidunga and others could also be selected in the upcoming NBA draft.

Self was selected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.

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Minnesota Twins bested by Kansas City Royals 3-1

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Minnesota Twins bested by Kansas City Royals 3-1



The Minnesota Twins were defeated 3-1 by the Kansas City Royals, who used home runs by Kyle Isbel and Isaac Collins, two hitters not known for their power, on an unseasonably warm day in front of a sellout crowd of 39,320 in Kansas City’s home opener. 

The temperature at first pitch on Monday was 85 degrees.

In the first game at Kauffman Stadium since the Royals moved in the fences 8 to 10 feet, all four runs scored on home runs. However, all three home runs also would have been out with the old dimensions.

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Kris Bubic (1-0) picked up the win for Kansas City. He allowed one run on two hits in six innings. John Schreiber pitched the ninth for his first save.

Simeon Woods Richardson (0-1) took the loss for the Twins.

Both Woods Richardson and Bubic were effective, though neither was brilliant. Woods Richardson allowed just two runs but on five hits. Bubic walked three. Both starters allowed baserunners in all but one inning.

Bubic was the third straight Royals starter to pitch at least six innings with one or fewer runs allowed after Michael Wacha allowed no runs in 6 innings Saturday and Seth Lugo allowed no runs in 6 1/3 innings on Sunday.

Matt Wallner opened the scoring in the second inning for the Twins with a 424-foot home run that nearly reached the fountains in right-center.

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The Royals answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning when Isbel’s homer landed in the Royals bullpen in right field. Isbel managed only four home runs in all of 2025.

Collins then extended the lead to 3-1 with a 400-foot blast into the Twins bullpen in the seventh. It was Collins’ first hit this season, having started the season 0-for-8.

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After an off-day Tuesday, the Twins and Royals resume the three-game series Wednesday.



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