After Kansas State opened 3-0, the Wildcats hit a rough patch and dropped two straight before righting the ship Saturday with a win over Kansas. That finish pushed them to 4-2, and it came with a little of everything: a defense that looked sharper after giving up 17 points and allowing only two real touchdown drives, and an offense that finally moved the ball with force.
The Wildcats piled up 570 total yards and ran the ball much more effectively after back-to-back losses in which they left plenty on the table. October has been uneven overall, but Saturday gave Kansas State something to build on. With Collin Klein in his first season as head coach, the challenge now is finding more of that consistency on the road, where the Wildcats are set for consecutive trips to Arizona State and Colorado, two games that appear winnable.
That broader inconsistency has fueled plenty of discussion around Kansas State, and no spot gets picked apart more than quarterback. Avery Johnson is the name at the center of it all.
The Wichita native is in his third season as a starter and already working under his fourth offensive coordinator in four years. Back with Klein, the coach who recruited him, Johnson is on pace for the best statistical season of his career.
He is tracking toward career highs in completion percentage, completions, rushing yards, yards per carry, and total yards. He also appears headed for a near-career-best total in touchdowns, while posting the lowest turnover rate of his starting career. Even so, Kansas State is only 1-2 in the Big 12 for the second year in a row, and that has only intensified questions about where the Klein-Johnson pairing goes from here.
It’s the sort of quarterback situation that gets examined from every angle, and under Klein, that scrutiny will only grow. Johnson’s numbers suggest progress.
The team’s record says there is still plenty to sort out. The next stretch will reveal whether Saturday was just a good day or the start of something bigger, including whether Johnson can push toward a fifth year in 2027.
In Other News...
Kansas State May Need Another Tight End Fix Against Arizona State
Garrett Oakley is expected to miss a second straight game, leaving Kansas State to keep adjusting at tight end as it prepares for Arizona State. Coach Collin Klein said the starting tight end is dealing with a viral illness, and Oakley was already out for the Wildcats game against Kansas, forcing the staff to shuffle personnel and look for help elsewhere on the offense.
One of those fixes has been using freshman offensive tackle Oliver Miller in a tight end role in recent games, a move that shows how much the Wildcats have had to improvise around the spot. With Oakley unlikely to return this week, Kansas State will again have to manage its tight end plan on the fly while trying to stay on schedule against the Sun Devils. [Read more 🡒]
K-State Revives A Throwback Look Fans Never Expected This Soon
Kansas State is reaching back into its wardrobe for a look that feels equal parts familiar and fresh, unveiling alternate uniforms with purple helmets and purple pants for its upcoming game against Arizona State. The Wildcats shared images of the set on social media ahead of the matchup, and the combination brings back a style that has been part of the programs history but not its recent game-day routine.
The purple helmets are especially notable, since Kansas State has not worn them since 1988. The purple pants also make their return after last being used during the Ron Prince era, giving this weeks matchup a vintage feel before the Wildcats even take the field. For fans who like a little nostalgia mixed into the present, it is a throwback worth paying attention to. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Faces A Road Test After Last Weeks Ground Breakthrough
Kansas State heads into Saturdays trip to Tempe with a little more breathing room after finally breaking through for its first Big 12 win of the season against Kansas. The Wildcats will now try to carry that momentum into Mountain America Stadium, where they face Arizona State on Oct. 24 with kickoff set for 2:45 p.m. CT.
Arizona State comes in looking to respond after a loss to Texas Tech, which makes this one feel like an important measuring-stick game for both programs. The matchup will be on ESPN2 and streamed on ESPN+, giving the Wildcats a quick chance to see whether last weeks breakthrough can travel on the road. [Read more 🡒]