CHRIS KLIEMAN

Felix Anudike-Uzomah had four sacks while forcing two fumbles to help Kansas State to a 31-12 victory over TCU.

Skylar Thompson passed for 296 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter, rallying Kansas State in the second half of a 25-24 victory over Texas Tech. The Wildcats came up big on Texas Tech's final two plays with a pair of sacks.

Big 12 coaches feel the league is solidified for the long haul after the conference's swift action to expand.

Kansas State coach Chris Klieman says he was never worried the Big 12 would disband or become irrelevant, even with the lingering questions about the conference's future when Oklahoma and Texas head to the Southeastern Conference. The Big 12's swift response to expand with the additions of BYU, UCF, Cincinnati and Houston certainly helped answer a lot of those questions and created some stability moving forward for the league that some didn't think would survive the departures of its only football national champions.

(AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)Virginia Tech is ending the nation’s longest bowl streak at 27 years. Hokies coach Justin Fuente said Wednesday the players decided to bypass postseason, ending their pandemic-hit season at 5-6. Kansas State lost its last five games but was in line for a bowl game because it finished seventh in the Big 12. Its opponent, UTSA, switched to the First Responders Bowl — likely against Kansas State before its own outbreak. The Frisco Bowl is among a dozen bowl games that have been canceled.

___The Duke women’s basketball team has paused team activities due to two positive COVID-19 tests and contact tracing within the program’s travel party. 4 North Carolina State as well as Tuesday’s game against UNC Wilmington. Instead, athletic director Greg McGarity says Georgia will seek another way to honor its seniors and the Bulldogs’ focus will switch to a bowl game. ___The Atlantic Coast Conference says the women’s basketball game scheduled for Sunday featuring Duke at North Carolina State has been postponed. The league says the postponement follows positive COVID-19 tests, subsequent quarantining and contact tracing within the Duke women’s program.

NORMAN, Okla. – A Kansas State squad that lost its opener to Arkansas State two weeks ago, had its roster depleted by COVID-19, and entered Saturday's game against No. Kansas State coach Chris Klieman said he didn't know until Friday if he'd have enough players available at all position groups to play the game. Kansas State upset Oklahoma 48-41 in Manhattan, Kansas, last year, making the loss especially disappointing for the Sooners. Oklahoma outgained the Wildcats 517 yards to 400 but had four turnovers to none for Kansas State. STAT LINESIn the fourth quarter, Kansas State outscored Oklahoma 17-0.

FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019 file photo, Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley talks with players during an NCAA college football game between Iowa State and Oklahoma in Norman, Okla. As usual, Riley is taking his time naming a starting quarterback. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)

The Sooners are still considered the overwhelming favorite to win their sixth consecutive Big 12 crown overall because nobody has dethroned them with Riley there. Purdy last year set school records with 3,982 yards and 27 TDs passing, leading the Big 12 with 306.3 yards per game. Conference play begins Sept. 26, the start of an 11-week stretch for nine league games before the Big 12 title game Dec. 12 or Dec. 19, if an extra week is needed. Since this is only TCU's ninth season in the league, Patterson technically isn't the longest-tenured Big 12 coach. Former Oklahoma State quarterback Mike Gundy is in his 16th season as head coach for his alma mater.