Through 12 games and 11 wins, there were doubters. But after beating Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl, Kansas proved it belonged, writes Heather Dinich.

  Tennessee quarterback Vince Young took part in most of practice but will be a game-time decision for the Titans' playoff game Sunday against the Chargers.

  One NFL scout called linebacker Patrick Willis "a beast." And that was before Willis won The Associated Press 2007 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

  SMU has extended an offer to Hawaii's Junes Jones to be its next football coach, The Dallas Morning News reported Friday.

  Steelers safety Troy Polamalu practiced Friday and is expected to play in Saturday's AFC wild-card game against the Jaguars.

  The federal judge who will sentence former Olympic champion Marion Jones has served notice that he may go beyond the six-month maximum prison term suggested in her plea agreement.

  Knicks forward Zach Randolph was suspended one game without pay for throwing his headband at an official, the NBA announced on Friday.

  New England Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork has been fined $15,000 by the NFL for what the league considered unsportsmanlike conduct during last Saturday night's regular-season finale against the New York Giants.

  Eddie Sutton, who came out of retirement last week to be San Francisco's interim coach, has no designs on keeping the job permanently.

  Martina Hingis was banned for two years Friday for testing positive for cocaine at Wimbledon last year.

  The Cubs have received permission to add 70 "bullpen box seats" along the third base line and install additional digital signage at Wrigley Field.

  Toronto Raptors guard T.J. Ford, unable to play since he was injured in a mid-December game against the Atlanta Hawks, said in a radio interview on Thursday that he is feeling better and insisted he will return this season.

  Bill Stewart was promoted to head coach of West Virginia Thursday, less than 12 hours after he led his Mountaineers to a stunning 48-28 victory over Oklahoma in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

  The Dakar Rally was canceled Friday on the eve of the race due to safety concerns after the slaying of a French family in Mauritania was blamed on al-Qaida-linked militants.