Kansas State coach Collin Klein is already making the message clear to incoming players: nothing about wearing the Powercat is supposed to be easy.
That theme came through again during his Big 12 interview, where Klein leaned into the idea that the challenge is part of the appeal for recruits.
"I tell recruits it’s going to be hard," Klein said in his Big 12 interview. "I tell them it’s a badge of honor to wear that Powercat.
I tell them that the most valuable things in life you’re going to have to pay the most for. We’re going to make that price really freaking high to play at Kansas State."
It’s the kind of line that fits Klein, a multi-conference champion who understands what it takes to win at a high level. And it also lands at a time when Kansas State is trying to reset after a season that fell far short of expectations.
What was supposed to be a generational year for the Wildcats ended up becoming one of the most disappointing in roughly a decade. Injuries mounted, key players didn’t deliver at the level the program needed, and the defense slipped badly. By the middle of the season, Kansas State was no longer thinking about a conference title or postseason push - it was simply trying to stack together enough wins.
Klein has stepped into the job with a clear intent to restore the program’s standard and push beyond it. Since returning to Manhattan, he has repeatedly laid out the foundation he wants the Wildcats built on.
"We’re gonna be the new old school," Klein said in his introductory press conference. "We’re gonna stay true to a value system that’s been in place for a long time.
We’re gonna move our program forward and take the steps necessary to chase excellence in everything we do. We’re gonna love our players.
We’re gonna be elite relationship builders that strive and scratch and claw to make sure that we know that we, myself, and our staff have their backs no matter what. And make sure to help them become the best they can possibly be, on and off the field."
In Other News...
This Sunflower Showdown Just Got Personal For Kansas State Fans
The Sunflower Showdown already carries enough edge on its own, but this one has an extra layer after Dylan Edwards winding path through college football brought him back into the rivalry conversation. Edwards arrived at Kansas State with plenty of buzz, then saw his second season in Manhattan disrupted by injury before the next chapter of his career took shape elsewhere. Now the former Wildcats back is part of a Kansas offense trying to sort itself out before the season, with a crowded backfield and a quarterback competition still hanging over the preseason.
For Kansas State fans, the date on the calendar is the part that matters most. The Wildcats and Jayhawks are set to meet on October 17 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, and the matchup already has the feel of one that will draw extra attention because of who Edwards used to be and where he is now. Rivalry games tend to sharpen every storyline, and this one has given both sides a fresh reason to circle it early. [Read more 🡒]
Avery Johnson Finally Addressed Kansas States Controversial Bowl Snub
Avery Johnson finally put a little more detail around one of the stranger episodes of Kansas States offseason, explaining why the Wildcats passed on last years bowl invitation. The quarterback said the decision came in a messy stretch for the program, with coaching changes swirling and players trying to sort out their futures, leaving the roster in a place where not everyone was fully on the same page.
Johnsons comments also help frame why the move drew so much attention beyond Manhattan. Kansas State was hit with a hefty fine for declining the bowl bid before the penalty was later cut in half, and the explanation now points back to the uncertainty around the roster and the transfer portal during that transition period. [Read more 🡒]
Joe Jackson Just Sent A Strong Message About K-State's Backfield
The backfield picture at Kansas State got a little more crowded this offseason, and Joe Jackson does not sound bothered by it. The Wildcats added transfers Rodney Fields from Oklahoma State and Jay Harris from Oregon, giving the running backs room more depth and more competition, but Jackson welcomed the move as something that can help the team rather than complicate his own role.
Collin Klein has already identified Jackson as the leader in the room, while also making it clear the plan is to rotate backs and keep everyone fresh over the course of the season. For Jackson, that means the job is less about protecting touches and more about setting the tone in a group that could be asked to share the load in a bigger way than before. [Read more 🡒]