SNYDER TO RETURN

Kansas State coach Bill Snyder will be back on the sideline next season. The 78-year-old coach told his assistants during a short meeting that he will return for his 27th season with the Wildcats, a person familiar with his decision told The Associated Press. Snyder said after a Cactus Bowl victory over UCLA last week that he was still mulling whether to return next season or retire for a second time.

l With the semifinals back New Year’s Day, ESPN viewership for the College Football Playoff was the highest it has been since the first season of the postseason system in 2015. The double overtime Rose Bowl thriller between Georgia and Oklahoma drew a 14.8 overnight Nielsen rating and average viewership of 27 million, up 39 percent over last season’s early semifinal. Georgia beat Oklahoma 54-48 and ESPN said the television rating reached a high of 17.3 in overtime. The Sugar Bowl between Alabama and Clemson got a 12.5 rating and average viewership of 21.1 million, up 10 percent from last season’s second semifinal.