The coaching carousel in the Big 12 just made a major turn - and it’s one that could reshape the Sunflower Showdown for years to come.
Kansas State’s Chris Klieman, after seven seasons at the helm in Manhattan, has officially stepped away from coaching, announcing his retirement earlier this month. That decision sends ripples not just through the Wildcats program, but across the entire Big 12 landscape. And for Kansas head coach Lance Leipold, it marks the end of an era - and the beginning of a new chapter in one of college football’s most underrated rivalries.
Leipold, speaking on Dec. 3, didn’t just acknowledge Klieman’s departure - he respected it.
“First of all, congratulate Chris on a great career and what he’s done,” Leipold said. “I know sometimes, especially at rival schools, people don’t understand, sometimes, the relationship part of that, and competitiveness but yet respect.”
That mutual respect was evident. Klieman called Leipold personally to share the news before it broke publicly - a gesture that speaks volumes about the kind of competitor and colleague he was. Leipold, who’s still searching for his first win over Klieman in the rivalry, recognized not just the success Klieman had, but the personal toll coaching at that level can take.
“It’s too bad, because I think Chris has a lot of good football yet ahead of him,” Leipold added. “But when you feel like it’s time... the drain it takes on you personally, he just felt like it was time.”
With Klieman stepping away, the Wildcats wasted no time in turning the page. Just a day later, Kansas State announced Collin Klein as the program’s next head coach.
Klein is a name that carries serious weight in Manhattan - a former star quarterback for the Wildcats and most recently the offensive coordinator at Texas A&M. In his two seasons in College Station, Klein helped guide the Aggies to a spot in the College Football Playoff, showcasing his offensive acumen and leadership potential on a national stage.
For Kansas, this means the Leipold-Klieman chapter of the rivalry is officially closed. And for Leipold, who took over the Jayhawks program in 2021, that means preparing for a new face across the sideline - one who’s young, energized, and already proven capable of competing at the sport’s highest level.
But it’s not just Kansas State undergoing a transformation. The Big 12 as a whole is entering a new phase. Coaching changes are coming at Utah, Iowa State, and Oklahoma State as well - a wave of turnover that’s set to redefine the power dynamics in a conference already in flux.
What does that mean for Kansas? That’s the million-dollar question.
The Jayhawks have been steadily building under Leipold, and with so many programs hitting the reset button, there’s a real opportunity here. Stability, in college football, can be a weapon - and Kansas has it.
Leipold has laid a foundation, and now he’s entering a Big 12 where many of his counterparts are starting from scratch.
By 2026, the league could look completely different - both in terms of leadership and competitiveness. New faces, new schemes, new rivalries.
But one thing’s for sure: the Sunflower Showdown just got a fresh coat of intrigue. And for Kansas fans, that’s something to keep a close eye on.