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UCF Falls to Kansas 27-20, Drops Second Straight Game Despite Early Lead

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ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN Sports) – The UCF Knights dropped their second straight game Saturday night, falling 27-20 to the Kansas Jayhawks at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Coming off a road loss at Kansas State, the Knights were hoping to stay undefeated at home—but the Jayhawks had other plans.

Strong Start, Sudden Shift

UCF appeared to be in control early when running back Myles Montgomery scored his second touchdown of the game to give the Knights a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.
However, Kansas began to respond midway through the second quarter. After a 46-yard completion from quarterback Jalon Daniels to tight end Boden Green, running back Leshon Williams punched in a short touchdown run to make it 14-7. On the next drive, another deep throw from Daniels set up a second Williams touchdown, cutting the lead to 17-14.
UCF kicker Noe Ruelas nailed a 38-yard field goal before halftime, giving the Knights a 20-14 advantage heading into the break—their final score of the night.

Photo: J Willie David, III / Florida National News

Kansas Takes Control

The Jayhawks dominated the third quarter, outscoring UCF 13-0. Two field goals tied the game before a costly UCF turnover changed everything.
On 3rd and 8 from the Knights’ own 17-yard line, quarterback Tayven Jackson was blindsided by Jalen Dye for a strip sack, and Key Lathan recovered the ball at the UCF 2-yard line. Jackson left the game holding his midsection and did not return.
Kansas capitalized immediately as Leshon Williams ran in his third touchdown of the night, giving the Jayhawks a 27-20 lead they would not relinquish.

Late Chances Fall Short

Backup quarterback Cam Fancher nearly engineered a comeback, leading the Knights down to the 1-yard line in the fourth quarter. However, his fourth-down QB sneak was ruled short—a controversial call that was upheld upon review.
UCF’s defense forced a punt, giving the offense one last chance with 1:28 remaining, but four straight incompletions from the Kansas 22-yard line ended the game.
Head coach Scott Frost said he had no updates on Jackson’s condition postgame. Running back Myles Montgomery believed Fancher crossed the goal line on the disputed play but admitted, “I might be biased.”
Despite the setback, linebacker Dwayne Thomas remained optimistic, saying the Knights are “one of the most talented teams in the Big 12” and “just need to finish.”

UCF falls to 3-2 (0-2 Big 12) and will travel to Cincinnati next week to face the Bearcats. Kansas (4-2) will head to Lubbock to take on No. 11 Texas Tech.

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Marcus Richardson | Sports@FloridaNationalNews.com

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Central Florida News

Orlando Magic Earn NBA Team International Strategy Award for Second Consecutive Year

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Orlando Magic Add Veteran NBA Coaches, Player Development Leaders to Sean Sweeney's Coaching Staff

NEW YORK (FNN SPORTS) — The Orlando Magic have been named the recipient of the NBA Team International Strategy Award for the second consecutive year, recognizing the organization’s innovative global marketing efforts as part of the NBA’s 2025-26 Team Partnership and Ticket Sales & Service Awards.

The award honors NBA teams that develop data-driven international marketing strategies that strengthen brand recognition, create meaningful partnerships and expand fan engagement outside the United States.

Germany Strategy Drives Award-Winning Campaign

Building on last year’s success, the Magic expanded their presence in Germany through a year-long strategy surrounding The NBA Berlin Game 2026.

Rather than focusing solely on the international exhibition, Orlando created a comprehensive campaign that included:

  • A summer promotional tour across Germany
  • Magic Kiez, an immersive fan experience hub
  • Youth basketball clinics
  • Business networking summits
  • Community watch parties
  • Interactive fan activations
  • Corporate partnership events

The organization said the strategy helped establish a sustained presence before, during and after the Berlin game while strengthening relationships with German basketball fans and business leaders.

New International Partnerships

The campaign also expanded the Magic’s International Team Marketing Program (ITMP) through collaborations with several new international and global partners, including:

  • AIDA Cruises
  • Domino’s
  • Kellogg’s
  • Telekom
  • ThreatLocker
  • Visit Orlando

The partnerships supported both fan engagement initiatives and business development opportunities throughout Germany.

NBA Recognizes Innovation Across the League

The NBA’s annual Team Partnership and Ticket Sales & Service Awards celebrate organizations that demonstrate excellence in fan engagement, sponsorship activation, innovation, community impact and ticket sales.

This year’s major award winners included:

AwardWinner
International Strategy AwardOrlando Magic
Partnership of the YearCleveland Cavaliers
Partnership Innovation AwardLA Clippers
Social Impact & Inclusion AwardPhiladelphia 76ers
New Sales CampaignDetroit Pistons
Membership Program of the YearCharlotte Hornets
Premium Experience of the YearCleveland Cavaliers

The Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans also received recognition through the NBA’s AI Studio program for innovative applications of artificial intelligence to improve fan experiences.

NBA Executive Applauds Team Innovation

Jonathan Tillman, the NBA’s Executive Vice President and Head of Team Marketing and Business Operations, praised the league’s clubs for continuing to innovate.

“The innovation, creativity and strategic thinking NBA teams demonstrate every day continue to raise the bar for the sports industry while creating deeper connections with fans in their communities and around the world,” Tillman said.

He added that NBA teams are finding new ways to grow their businesses through strategic partnerships, artificial intelligence, ticket sales innovations and community engagement.

Selection Process

All 30 NBA franchises were invited to submit entries for the Team Partnership and Ticket Sales & Service Awards.

Winners were selected by a committee of NBA league and team executives based on creativity, measurable business results and overall impact.

For the second consecutive season, the Orlando Magic’s international strategy stood out among the league’s entries, highlighting the franchise’s continued commitment to expanding its global brand while strengthening relationships with fans and partners overseas.

Award Highlights

  • Orlando Magic won the NBA Team International Strategy Award for the second straight year.
  • The award recognized the franchise’s comprehensive marketing strategy surrounding The NBA Berlin Game 2026.
  • The campaign featured fan engagement, youth clinics, business summits and year-round activations across Germany.
  • New international partners included AIDA Cruises, Domino’s, Kellogg’s, Telekom, ThreatLocker and Visit Orlando.
  • All 30 NBA teams were eligible, with winners selected by NBA and team executives.

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Central Florida News

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Announce Training Camp Roster Moves Ahead of 53-Man Cutdown

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TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced a series of roster moves Tuesday as the team continues preparations for the 2026 NFL season.

The Buccaneers waived safety Ja’Qurious Conley with a non-football injury designation.

In addition, Tampa Bay placed cornerback Chase Lucas and defensive lineman Haggai Ndubuisi on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) List.

Players placed on the Active/PUP List count toward the club’s 90-player offseason roster and remain eligible to return to practice at any point before the NFL’s deadline to reduce rosters to the regular-season 53-player limit.

The moves come as the Buccaneers continue evaluating their roster during training camp in preparation for the upcoming preseason schedule and the start of the regular season.

What the Moves Mean

A player waived with a non-football injury (NFI) designation has sustained an injury or medical condition that did not occur during NFL football activities. If Conley clears waivers, the Buccaneers’ next steps will depend on league rules and his injury status.

The Active/PUP List is reserved for players who are unable to practice because of football-related injuries at the start of training camp. While on the Active/PUP List, Lucas and Ndubuisi may participate in team meetings and receive medical treatment, and they can be activated at any time before the team’s final roster reduction.

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Jaguars Place Two Offensive Linemen on Active/PUP List Ahead of Training Camp

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The Jacksonville Jaguars announced Sunday that offensive linemen Garrett DiGiorgio and Cole Van Lanen have been placed on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list as the team continues preparations for training camp.

Players on the Active/PUP list count against the 90-man offseason roster but are unable to participate in practice until they are medically cleared. Once cleared, they may return to practice at any time during training camp.

The Jaguars did not disclose the nature of the injuries or provide a timetable for either player’s return.

DiGiorgio and Van Lanen are among the offensive line depth pieces competing for roster spots as Jacksonville prepares for the 2026 NFL season. Their availability during training camp could impact competition along the offensive front as coaches evaluate the roster ahead of preseason play.

The Jaguars continue training camp preparations with veterans and rookies working toward the start of the 2026 season.

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