Eight of 12 schools on the [2017 Kansas football schedule][1] are playing in bowl games, which means they get the benefit of extra practices. Coaches use much of that time with an eye toward next season, trying players at different positions, etc.
All eight 2017 KU foes play their bowl games on ESPN. Dig under your couch cushions for the remote and when you locate it, read on for the bowl schedule of KU’s 2017 foes so you can record them, study the returning players and get a feel for the degree of difficulty of next season’s schedule:
**Today, 1:30 p.m.:** **Central Michigan** is an 11-point underdog to Tulsa today on ESPN at 1:30 p.m., in the Miami Beach Bowl. (Here’s hoping that when Kansas returns to bowl action, this is the game).
**Friday, 7 p.m.:** **Ohio’s** a five-point underdog to Troy in the Dollar General Bowl, played Friday at 7 p.m.
**Dec. 27, 9:15 p.m.:** **Baylor’s** a 10-point underdog against Boise State in the Cactus Bowl.
**Dec. 28, 4:30 p.m.:** **West Virginia’s** a 1.5-point underdog against Miami (Fla.) in the Russell Athletic Bowl.
**Dec. 28, 8 p.m.:** **Kansas State’s** a 2.5-point underdog vs. Texas A&M.
**Dec. 29, 8 p.m.:** **Oklahoma State’s** a 2-point underdog to Colorado in the Alamo Bowl.
**Dec. 30, 11 a.m.:** **TCU’s** a 1.5-point favorite against Georgia in the Liberty Bowl.
**Jan. 2, 2017, 7:30 p.m.:** **Oklahoma’s** a five-point favorite against Auburn.
Southeast Missouri State (3-8), Texas Tech (5-7), Iowa State (3-9) and Texas (5-7), all on next season’s schedule, did not qualify for bowl games, or in FCS SEMO’s case, the playoffs.
**Honors keep rolling in for Payne**
Congrats to Kelsie Payne, KU’s first two-time, first-team All-American in volleyball, as selected by American Volleyball Coaches Association, and to Ainise Havili, a third-team selection one year after earning third-team honors.
Payne, Big 12 Player of the Year, Havili and fellow first-team All-Big 12 selection Madison Rigdon all will be seniors next season when the Jayhawks will try to make it to the Final Four, which will be played close to home at Sprint Center.
Havili and Payne are the school’s only first-team All-Americans. Caroline Jarmoc earned second-team honors in 2012, third-team in 2013.
KU earned the outright Big 12 volleyball title by finishing one game ahead of Texas. The Longhorns finished as runner-up to national champion Stanford.
[1]: http://www2.kusports.com/schedules/football/2017/kansas/
