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Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Ihmir Smith-Marsette scored on a 6-yard run, a 98-yard kickoff return and a 12-yard reception to lead No. 19 Iowa to a 49-24 victory over No. 22 Southern California in the Holiday Bowl. Senior Nate Stanley threw two touchdown passes and the Hawkeyes (10-3) won their fourth straight game for their sixth 10-win season in coach Kirk Ferentz’s 21 years. USC freshman quarterback Kedon Slovis, who threw two touchdown passes, was knocked out of the game with an apparent arm injury early in the third quarter. The Trojans (8-5) had their three-game winning streak snapped.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals signed third baseman Maikel Franco to a $2.95 million contract to be their everyday third baseman next season. The deal was agreed to earlier this week and includes up to $1.05 million in incentives. It also means the Royals can use Hunter Dozier, their primary third baseman last season, at first base and in the outfield as they try to keep the young slugger’s bat in the lineup.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — No. 14 Notre Dame closes another double-digit win season against Iowa State in the Camping World Bowl. The Fighting Irish are a year removed from appearing the College Football Playoff semifinals. They lost two games this season, but are trying to finish on a six-game winning streak. Iowa State lost four games this year by a total of 11 points to teams that finished in the final CFP rankings. The Cyclones are looking for a signature win against Notre Dame.

COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler needs 50 yards Sunday at Kansas City to become at least the fourth running back since the merger to have 1,000 receiving yards in a season. He leads the league in receiving yards and touchdowns by a running back and is second in receptions. Ekeler has been a rare highlight in what has been a disappointing season for the Chargers, who will finish last in the AFC West after going to the playoffs last season.

SAN DIEGO (AP) –  Ihmir Smith-Marsette scored on a 6-yard run, a 98-yard kickoff return and a 12-yard reception to lead No. 19 Iowa to a 49-24 victory over No. 22 Southern California in the Holiday Bowl, Friday night.

Iowa quarterback Nate Stanley looks to throw a pass during the first half of the Holiday Bowl NCAA college football game against Southern California, Friday, Dec. 27, 2019, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez)

Senior Nate Stanley threw two touchdown passes and the Hawkeyes (10-3) won their fourth straight game for their sixth 10-win season in coach Kirk Ferentz’s 21 years. USC freshman quarterback Kedon Slovis, who threw two touchdown passes, was knocked out of the game with an apparent arm injury early in the third quarter. T

The Trojans (8-5) had their three-game winning streak snapped.

Kennesaw State (1-11) vs. No. 25 Iowa (9-3)
Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City, Iowa; Sunday, 3 p.m. CST

BOTTOM LINE: No. 25 Iowa hosts Kennesaw State in a non-conference matchup. Kennesaw State came up short in an 83-70 game at home to Wofford on Sunday. Iowa is coming off a 77-70 win in Chicago over Cincinnati last week.

TEAM LEADERSHIP: The powerful Luka Garza has put up a double-double (21.5 points and 10.2 rebounds) to lead the way for the Hawkeyes. Joe Wieskamp has complemented Garza and is maintaining an average of 12.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. The Owls have been led by Terrell Burden, who is averaging 10.3 points.GIFTED GARZA: Garza has connected on 40 percent of the 30 3-pointers he’s attempted and has made 3 of 9 over the last three games. He’s also made 63.6 percent of his foul shots this season.

STREAK STATS: Kennesaw State has dropped its last seven road games, scoring 50.6 points and allowing 77.1 points during those contests. Iowa has won its last four home games, scoring an average of 81.8 points while giving up 63.3.

ACCOUNTING FOR ASSISTS: The Hawkeyes have recently created baskets via assists more often than the Owls. Iowa has an assist on 49 of 77 field goals (63.6 percent) across its past three matchups while Kennesaw State has assists on 20 of 53 field goals (37.7 percent) during its past three games.

DID YOU KNOW: Iowa has committed a turnover on just 17.2 percent of its possessions this season, which is the second-lowest percentage among all Big Ten teams. The Hawkeyes have turned the ball over only 12.2 times per game this season.

(Learfield Sports) — The Iowa Hawkeye women open the Big Ten race on Saturday with a visit to Nebraska. The Hawkeyes are 9-2 while the Huskers enter the league race with a record of 10-1.

(That’s) Iowa coach Lisa Bluder [who] feels her team is ready for a tough league race.

ORLANDO, Florida (AP) – No. 14 Notre Dame closes another double-digit win season against Iowa State in the Camping World Bowl. The Fighting Irish are a year removed from appearing the College Football Playoff semifinals. They lost two games this season, but are trying to finish on a six-game winning streak. Iowa State lost four games this year by a total of 11 points to teams that finished in the final CFP rankings. The Cyclones are looking for a signature win against Notre Dame.

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast with Jim Field.

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Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The No. 19 Iowa Hawkeyes will remember former coach Hayden Fry when they play No. 22 USC in the Holiday Bowl. Iowa will remove the Tigerhawk decals from its helmets to honor Fry, who died on Dec. 17 at age 90. Fry introduced the logo during his 20-year tenure, which included trips to the Holiday Bowl in 1986, 1987 and 1991. The Hawkeyes will continue to wear a sticker to honor American farmers and will add a sticker to honor former athletic director Bump Elliott, who died Dec. 7 at age 94. USC will try to win its fourth straight game.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs head into their regular-season finale against the Chargers knowing that a win coupled with a Dolphins upset of the Patriots would give them the No. 2 seed in the AFC and a first-round bye. Kansas City long ago wrapped up the AFC West for the fourth straight year. The Chargers have struggled through a season marked by injuries and inconsistency, and could be playing their final game with Philip Rivers. Their longtime quarterback’s contract expires after this season, and the franchise could move on from him as it moves into a new stadium in Los Angeles.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The indoor football team in Wichita is leaving its downtown arena for another home north of the city built specifically for the sport. The Wichita Eagle reports that the Wichita Force has announced that it will leave the Intrust Bank Arena downtown and move to Hartman Arena in Park City. The first of six home games at the new venue is set for April 3. Wichita oilman and restaurateur Wink Hartman developed the 5,000-seat arena largely as a home for the Wichita Wild. Hartman owned the Wild, and it played there from 2009 until it folded in 2014.

UNDATED (AP) — Gymnast Simone Biles is the 2019 AP Female Athlete of the Year. The reigning world and Olympic champion edged U.S. women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe for the honor in a vote among AP member sports editors and AP beat writers. The 22-year-old is the first gymnast to win the award twice and the first to do it in a non-Olympic year. She was named the Athlete of the Year in 2016 after winning four gold medals at the Rio Olympics. Biles is preparing for the 2020 Games in Tokyo and says she’s eager to finish her career with a flourish.

(By The Associated Press) – The No. 19 Iowa Hawkeyes will be playing for the memory of former coach Hayden Fry and a 10-win season, Friday night, when they face the No. 22 USC Trojans in the Holiday Bowl. Fry died on Dec. 17 at age 90. To honor their former coach, the Hawkeyes will remove the Tigerhawk decals from their helmets. Fry introduced the logo during his 20-year tenure.

The Trojans will be playing for the first time since new athletic director Mike Bohn announced that coach Clay Helton would return next season. That wasn’t popular with the fans. However, USC has won three straight games and five of six.

Pre-game coverage on KJAN begins at 5-p.m., with the kick-off at 7-p.m. (Friday).

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs head into their regular-season finale against the Chargers knowing that a win coupled with a Dolphins upset of the Patriots would give them the No. 2 seed in the AFC and a first-round bye. Kansas City long ago wrapped up the AFC West for the fourth straight year.

The Chargers have struggled through a season marked by injuries and inconsistency, and could be playing their final game with Philip Rivers. Their longtime quarterback’s contract expires after this season, and the franchise could move on from him as it moves into a new stadium in Los Angeles.