CNT Sports // Football & Volleyball // NRG CN
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SET; MICHIGAN AND WASHINGTON BATTLE FOR TITLE:
The final chapter of the 2023-24 season is upon college football tonight. The No. 2 Washington Huskies will face future conference foe No. 1 Michigan tonight in the season finale at NRG Stadium in Houston at 6:30 PM.
Michigan is playing for its first national championship since 1997 and Washington for its first since 1991. The Wolverines, who have won nine national titles, beat Alabama 27-20 in overtime at the Rose Bowl to reach the championship game.
Washington, which has two national titles, beat Texas 37-31 at the Sugar Bowl to advance. The game also sets the stage for Washington’s move from the disintegrating Pac-12 to the Big Ten. The Wolverines and Huskies meet again Oct. 5 for a regular-season game in Seattle.
The game can be seen on ESPN tonight.
FORMER HUSKER PLAYER, COACH ADDED TO 2024 CFB HALL OF FAME CLASS:
Former Nebraska head coach Frank Solich is one of 22 individuals who will make up the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Class. The 19 players and three coaches were announced on Monday afternoon by the National Football Foundation and the College Hall of Fame.
Solich becomes the seventh Husker coach in the Hall of Fame, joining Tom Osborne, Bob Devaney, Biff Jones, Dana X. Bible, Fielding Yost and Eddie N. Robinson.
Overall, Nebraska has 27 members in the Hall, including 20 players. Solich is the first Nebraska inductee since offensive tackle Zach Wiegert in 2022 and gives Nebraska nine inductees in the past 18 classes.
During his 22 seasons as a head coach, Solich compiled a record of 173-101, including a 58-19 record in six seasons as Nebraska’s head coach from 1998 to 2003, followed by 115 wins as the head coach at Ohio University.
NEBRASKA LOSES BATENHORST TO PORTAL:
Another hitter has entered the transfer portal for Nebraska Volleyball, with senior Ally Batenhorst announcing her intention to hit the portal.
The junior added to her personal social media on Monday morning to announce she would be leaving the Husker program to pursue her Master’s degree at another university. She will have one year of eligibility remaining.
She had 196 kills and 52 blocks this season.
FUTURE HUSKER LIBERO NAMED GATORADE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Nebraska volleyball incoming freshman libero Olivia Mauch has been named the Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year, presented annually to the most outstanding high school student-athletes for their athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character.
Mauch averaged 7.1 digs per set and had 49 service aces in her senior season at Bennington this fall, leading the Badgers to the Class B state semifinals each of the past two years.
She was a Lincoln Journal Star Super-State and Omaha World-Herald All-Nebraska selection.
POTTS CLAIMS FOURTH WEEKLY HONOR:
Nebraska’s Natalie Potts captured her fourth Big Ten Freshman of the Week award on Monday.
The 6-2 forward from O’Fallon, Mo., averaged 12.5, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals for the Huskers last week.
In Thursday’s victory at Wisconsin, Potts powered the Huskers with 16 second-half points to help Nebraska improve to 3-0 in the Big Ten for the first time since 2011-12. She added five rebounds and a career-high three steals against the Badgers.
Potts added nine points, four rebounds and a career-high four assists against No. 14 Indiana on Sunday.
AREA ATHLETES AID IN SOUTH DAKOTA STATE’S FCS CHAMPIONSHIP:
Mark Gronowski ran for a touchdown and threw for another after halftime as SDSU repeated as champions with a 23-3 win over Montana on Sunday. The Jackrabbits have won 29 games in a row, including over North Dakota State last year for their first national title.
Plenty of former area athletes were represented from the Jackrabbits championship roster, including former Husker and Kearney Isaiah Stalbird who wrapped with 5 tackles, a tackle for loss, sack, and a pass breakup.
Caleb Francl (GISH), Kytan Fyfe (GISH), and Kolten Tilford (North Platte) also had contributions for SDSU ending 15-0 this season.
HUSKER WOMEN FALL FLAT AGAINST INDIANA IN HOOPER’S JERSEY RETIREMENT:
Alexis Markowski scored a team-high 21 points but it was not enough to prevent No. 14 Indiana from running to a 91-69 women’s basketball win over Nebraska in front of a season-high 9,059 fans at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Markowski hit 9-of-14 shots from the field including all three of her three-point attempts to notch her fifth 20-point performance of the season.
The Hoosiers, who improved to 13-1 overall and 4-0 in the Big Ten with their 12th consecutive victory. Nebraska is now 11-4 and 3-1 in Big Ten play.
Nebraska raised the fourth retired jersey banner in school history in pregame ceremonies, when 2014 first-team All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year Jordan Hooper had her No. 35 banner unveiled at the North end of the arena.
GIRLS BASKETBALL SHOWCASE WRAPS THRILLING ACTION SATURDAY:
The third annual Nebraska Girls Basketball Showcase was a thrilling affair throughout the day Saturday, having four games come within four points or less.
Local action included: SEM falling to Elmwood-Murdock 62-29 in the opening contest, Southern Valley downing Centennial 53-43, Seward escaping Broken Bow in overtime 68-64, Omaha Marian taking down York 43-34, and the nightcap seeing Class B’s Beatrice edge Kearney High 61-58.
Full results can be found at KGFW and Central Nebraska Today.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF CHAMPIONSHIP:
No. 1 Michigan v. No. 2 Washington – 6:30 PM (ESPN)
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE SCHEDULE/RESULTS:
SATURDAY RESULTS:
Pittsburgh Steelers 17-10 Baltimore Ravens
Houston Texans 23-19 Indianapolis Colts
SUNDAY RESULTS:
Tennessee Titans 28-20 Jacksonville Jaguars
Detroit Lions 30-20 Minnesota Vikings
New Orleans Saints 48-17 Atlanta Falcons
New York Jets 17-3 New England Patriots
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-0 Carolina Panthers
Cincinnati Bengals 31-14 Cleveland Browns
Green Bay Packers 17-9 Chicago Bears
Dallas Cowboys 38-10 Washington Commanders
Las Vegas Raiders 27-14 Denver Broncos
New York Giants 27-10 Philadelphia Eagles
Seattle Seahawks 21-20 Arizona Cardinals
Los Angeles Rams 21-20 San Francisco 49ers
Kansas City Chiefs 13-12 Los Angeles Chargers
Buffalo Bills 21-14 Miami Dolphins
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYOFF SCHEDULE:
SATURDAY:
AFC: No. 5 Cleveland Browns @ No. 4 Houston Texans – 4:30 PM (NBC)
AFC: No. 6 Miami Dolphins @ No. 3 Kansas City Chiefs – 8 PM (Peacock)
SUNDAY:
AFC: No. 7 Pittsburgh Steelers @ No. 2 Buffalo Bills – 1 PM (CBS)
NFC: No. 7 Green Bay Packers @ No. 2 Dallas Cowboys – 4:30 PM (FOX)
NFC: No. 6 Los Angeles Rams @ No. 3 Detroit Lions – 8 PM (NBC/Peacock)
MONDAY:
NFC: No. 5 Philadelphia Eagles @ No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 8 PM (ABC/ESPN)
Buffalo County Results & Schedules:
THIS WEEK IN BUFFALO COUNTY SPORTS:
MONDAY:
KGFW Sports Schedule:
- KGFW High School Coaches Show (5 PM – 6 PM)
- Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)
