The “Tush Push” has become one of the NFL’s most argued-over plays, but the conversation has now circled back to Manhattan, Kansas, and a name that still carries enormous weight at Kansas State: Bill Snyder.
During a recent discussion on Pat McAfee’s ESPN show, the panel pointed to Snyder’s second stint as Kansas State’s coach as a possible early version of the idea. A video has also surfaced showing the Wildcats running something similar to the “Tush Push,” adding another layer to the claim that K-State may have been ahead of the curve.
What started in one corner of college football has since spread across the sport, with NFL teams such as the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs using the play. The appeal is obvious, and so is the frustration. Critics argue it gives the offense an unfair edge by letting linemen drive the ball-carrier forward for a few extra yards, especially in short-yardage and goaline situations.
The debate got intense enough that the league even considered banning the play, though it remains legal.
For Kansas State, the link only adds to Snyder’s already massive legacy. He remains the most celebrated figure in K-State sports history, ahead of names like NBA Hall of Famer Mitch Richmond, former NFL player Terrence Newman, running back Darren Sproles, quarterback Michael Bishop and even current coach Collin Klein.
And as Kansas State gets ready to start another season, the Wildcats will do so Saturday against Nicholls at the field named after the most influential person in school history.
And the creator of the “Tush Push.”
In Other News...
Kansas State's Nonconference Scheduling Comes With A Price Fans Know Too Well
Kansas States season opener on Sept. 5 brings the kind of nonconference matchup that has become routine in college football, and the price tag attached to it is no secret. Nicholls will receive a $500,000 guaranteed payment to make the trip to Bill Snyder Family Stadium, another example of how the Wildcats use these early-season games to fill out the schedule while also committing real money to get them on the field.
The broader picture around those arrangements is harder to ignore. Kansas State has other guarantee payments lined up in future seasons as well, and the business side of scheduling can shift quickly when bigger checks enter the picture. Missouri State already backed out of a game with Kansas State after landing a larger guarantee from Texas A&M, a reminder that for programs in this lane, the schedule is often about more than just who is willing to play. [Read more 🡒]
K-States 2026 QB Depth Picture Suddenly Looks More Interesting
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For a program that always has to think ahead at quarterback, Barnett now sits in a spot where development and readiness matter just as much as recruiting pedigree. Coaches have spoken well of him, and his high school rsum was built on state records and championships, so the next stretch will be about whether that early promise keeps turning into a real push for bigger snaps in Manhattan. [Read more 🡒]
Collin Klein Has A New Kansas State Battle To Manage Early
Kansas States early preseason chatter has centered on a couple of familiar names, but the picture at running back and tight end is getting more crowded by the day. Joe Jackson and Garrett Oakley both showed enough last season to enter camp with momentum, yet the Wildcats have added transfers and recruits who are pushing hard for reps, giving first-year coach Collin Klein more options to sort through before the opener against Nicholls.
Jay Harris and Rodney Fields are in the mix at running back, while Will Anciaux and Linkon Cure add to the competition at tight end, creating the kind of depth Klein said he wanted to see this time of year. It is a healthy problem for a staff trying to build out its rotation, though it also means the next few weeks will matter for anyone hoping to carve out a role before the season gets underway. [Read more 🡒]