Kansas State’s optimism for the upcoming season has been tied tightly to one name: Collin Klein. His return as head coach has fueled the belief that the Wildcats can sit near the top of the Big 12, and that confidence comes straight from what Klein already meant to the program as a player and assistant.
CBS Sports, though, didn’t buy into the buzz when it released its Big 12 coach rankings for next season. Klein landed at the bottom of the list.
“Klein is the only one of the Big 12's four new faces who has never served as a head coach in a game," the article wrote. "The last six Power Four coaches with no prior head coaching experience combined to go 37-42 in their debut seasons.
That assessment leans heavily on the lack of head-coaching experience, but Klein’s resume in Manhattan is still substantial. After graduating, he worked in several roles for Kansas State, including offensive coordinator for the 2022 team that won the conference championship. He later spent two seasons at Texas A&M, where he helped develop quarterback Marcel Reed into one of the best in the country.
His return matters most because of what Kansas State needs from Avery Johnson. During Klein’s time away, Johnson never really took the leap many expected after his freshman year. His production was solid, but not explosive, and he struggled to consistently attack downfield or fully unlock the dual-threat passing ability that made him such an intriguing piece.
Last season made the need for a reset even clearer. Johnson fell off in almost every statistical category, and the year that was supposed to bring a major jump instead became a step back. Even with relatively few turnovers, the ones he did have came at the wrong time and helped seal Kansas State’s fate.
That’s why Klein’s return as the primary play-caller is being viewed as such a critical piece of the puzzle. The hope is that he can get Johnson back on track and finally produce the breakout season people have been waiting on since 2023.
CBS Sports isn’t the only place where Klein’s new role is drawing belief despite his inexperience. Other prominent outlets have also put faith in what his return could mean for Kansas State.
In Other News...
K-States Future Schedule Is Taking Shape In A Big Way
Kansas States future non-conference slate is filling in fast, and the latest addition gives the Wildcats another home game to look forward to in the 2029 season. Sam Houston is headed to Manhattan for a first-ever meeting on Sept. 15, 2029, adding another familiar scheduling wrinkle for a program that has been busy locking in opponents well beyond the immediate horizon.
The Wildcats have now finalized a run of non-league matchups stretching from 2026 through 2032, with games set against Nicholls, Washington State, Tulane, South Dakota, Georgia Southern, Texas State, Oregon State and North Carolina State. For a program that has spent plenty of time balancing regional fit, Power Four caliber tests and shorter trips that make sense financially, the growing list offers a clearer picture of what the next several seasons could look like, even if there are still pieces left to sort out. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas States 2026 Hopes Rest On Three Huge Senior Questions
Kansas States long view for 2026 is already taking shape, and the senior class is right at the center of it. As part of a series breaking down five Wildcats from each class who could matter in that season, the focus now shifts to three veterans whose rsums and roles will loom large if the roster develops the way the staff hopes. Quarterback Avery Johnson remains the face of the offense, wide receiver Jaron Tibbs brings another layer to the passing game, and transfer defensive back Adrian Maddox is the kind of piece that can change the look of the secondary.
The reason those names matter is simple: the Wildcats are trying to project beyond the present, and senior-year decisions tend to shape what comes next in Manhattan. Johnsons growth, Tibbs fit in the receiver room, and Maddoxs place on defense all carry different kinds of weight, especially with coaching changes and current eligibility realities adding another layer of uncertainty. None of it is settled yet, but these are the kinds of players who can turn a 2026 conversation from hopeful to serious. [Read more 🡒]
Avery Johnson Has A Chance To Become The Star K State Expected
Avery Johnson keeps looming as the kind of quarterback Kansas State has been waiting for, and the setup around him is getting better. With Collin Klein back as offensive coordinator, there is a real sense that the Wildcats can finally build an offense around Johnsons dual-threat ability in a way that matches his talent and the expectations that followed him into Manhattan.
For Johnson, the next step is less about promise and more about production. He has flashed the tools that made him such an intriguing name, but the Wildcats are still waiting on the kind of season that turns potential into a conference title chase, and ESPNs view of 2026 suggests this could be the year the pieces start to fit. [Read more 🡒]