KCSN Weekly: KU & MU brackets are set, Garcia wins MVP as Opening Day nears, and Chiefs nab Fields from Jets
A weekly look at everything happening across Kansas City sports.
The NFL has mostly settled into its quieter phase, and there is plenty of baseball buzz, but college basketball has taken center stage. Brackets are set, and for Kansas and Missouri, any game could be their last.
Here’s where things stand across Kansas City sports.
Chiefs Check-In: A quiet week, with one notable exception
It was a relatively quiet week for the Kansas City Chiefs, but they did make one move that is perhaps not as minor as it seemed.
Fields now steps in as the likely offseason leader of the offense while Patrick Mahomes continues to rehab from knee surgery. The hope remains that Mahomes will be ready for Week 1, but Fields adds an intriguing dynamic whether he is or not.
His athleticism gives Kansas City another option in short-yardage and red-zone situations. At a minimum, the former Bear, Steeler, and Jet provides experienced depth behind the franchise quarterback and will give defenses a much different look if he is ever thrust into meaningful football in Kansas City.
Competency at quarterback throughout OTAs, mini-camp, and perhaps parts of training camp is no small thing for the wide receivers looking to get good looks as well.
It is a fairly radical change of philosophy in terms of style, on the heels of four straight seasons of Gardner Minshew, Carson Wentz, Blaine Gabbert, and Chad Henne. Head coach Andy Reid has had success with run-first quarterbacks in the past, however.
Royals Report: KC buzz in WBC and one week till Opening Day
The countdown is on for the Kansas City Royals.
Kansas City opens the 2026 season one week from today in Atlanta against the Atlanta Braves, with Cole Ragans set to face veteran left-hander Chris Sale.
But the biggest Royals headlines this week didn’t come from Arizona; they came from the World Baseball Classic in Miami.
Maikel Garcia helped power Venezuela to a championship run, earning MVP honors and further establishing himself as one of the game's rising stars. His performance, alongside contributions from several Royals players on the international stage, put Kansas City firmly in the spotlight during the tournament.
Now, the focus shifts back to the regular season, with final tune-ups wrapping up before the games start to count.
College Hoops: Tigers and Jayhawks march on
Kansas: Back as an NCAA Tournament contender
The Kansas Jayhawks saw their Big 12 Tournament run end in the semifinals with a 69–47 loss to Houston, but still secured a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Kansas opens play tonight against California Baptist, where they are 14.5-point favorites. The challenge will be slowing down Dominique Daniels Jr., who enters averaging 23.1 points per game.
Missouri: No more bubble talk
Despite late-season uncertainty, the Missouri Tigers avoided the bubble entirely, earning a No. 10 seed, even after losing three-straight to end the season.
They will face No. 7 Miami in St. Louis, a favorable location just over an hour from Columbia. Statistically, the matchup is close, but Miami carried more consistency (25–8, third in the ACC) throughout the season.
Missouri enters as a 1.5-point underdog, essentially a toss-up.
What to Watch This Week
Royals
Final two Cactus League games today and tomorrow.
Two exhibition games at Globe Life Field in Arlington against the Texas Rangers on Monday and Tuesday.
Then it’s Opening Day one week from today in Atlanta.
Kansas
vs. California Baptist tonight at 8:45 p.m. CT (CBS).
With a win, KU will face the winner of St. John’s vs. Northern Iowa in the Round of 32.
Missouri
vs. Miami tonight at 9:10 p.m. CT (truTV).
With a win, Mizzou advances to face Purdue or Queens University.
For Kansas and Missouri, the next few days will define their seasons. For the Royals, the long buildup to Opening Day is nearly complete. And for the Chiefs, you never know when news will drop. If it does, KCSN will have it covered.
We’ll be back next week to see who’s still dancing and how everything else across Kansas City sports is taking shape.