Kansas State’s 2026 football schedule is out, and for first-year head coach Colin Klein, it’s a slate that offers both opportunity and early tests. With seven games set for Bill Snyder Family Stadium, the Wildcats are in a position to establish momentum at home - and maybe surprise a few folks along the way.
Early Opportunities: Nicholls, Washington State, Tulane
The season opens with three games that, on paper, stack up favorably for Kansas State. First up is Nicholls, an FCS program from the Southland Conference that struggled last year.
After a Week 1 win over Incarnate Word, the Colonels dropped six straight and finished 4-8. It's the kind of matchup that should allow Klein and his staff to fine-tune their systems and get a look at their depth chart in live action.
The second game brings Washington State to Manhattan. The Cougars are in transition, having brought in Kirby Moore as their 36th head coach following Jimmy Rogers’ departure to Iowa State.
Washington State finished 6-6 last season and capped it off with a bowl win over Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. It’s a program with talent, but one that’s still finding its footing - the kind of opponent that could make for a competitive early-season measuring stick.
Then there’s Tulane in Week 3 - a matchup that might stir up some memories for Wildcat fans. Back in 2022, Tulane came into Manhattan and handed K-State a 17-10 loss, a game that featured 31 pass attempts and just 150 yards from then-quarterback Adrian Martinez.
That loss stood out as the Wildcats’ only defeat to an unranked team that season, and it lingered in the minds of the College Football Playoff Committee. K-State still earned a Sugar Bowl berth, but Alabama made quick work of them in New Orleans, rolling to a 45-20 win.
The Wildcats did get some payback in 2024, edging Tulane 34-27 on the road. Now, with the Green Wave coming back to Manhattan, expect a little extra juice in the building.
Big 12 Battles at Home - Including the Sunflower Showdown
K-State’s Big 12 home schedule features four key matchups, starting with back-to-back weekends against Houston and Kansas. The Sunflower Showdown comes a bit earlier than usual this year, set for October 17, but the stakes remain high.
The Wildcats have dominated this rivalry in recent years, riding a 17-game win streak over the Jayhawks - one of the longest active in-state rivalry streaks in college football. Last year, they rolled into Lawrence and left with a 42-17 win.
There’s an added wrinkle this time around: former K-State running back Dylan Edwards is now in crimson and blue. The former Wildcat committed to Kansas earlier this year, setting the stage for a high-drama reunion when he lines up against his old team.
Later in the season, Kansas State hosts Oklahoma State on November 7 and Arizona on November 21 - two games that could carry serious weight in the conference standings. Both opponents bring their own unique challenges, and by that point in the year, depth and durability will be tested across the board.
Road Challenges and the Return of Farmageddon
The road schedule isn’t exactly a walk in the park, either. Trips to Cincinnati, Arizona State, and Colorado offer a mix of environments and playing styles that will test Klein’s squad in different ways.
But the one that looms largest? A return trip to Ames for the annual Farmageddon showdown with Iowa State.
Last year’s meeting was a heartbreaker for K-State - a 24-21 loss in Dublin that still stings. That came on the heels of the Cyclones’ 10-win campaign in 2024, a program-best that included a win over the Wildcats in Ames.
There’s no shortage of history or emotion in this rivalry, and with both teams eyeing a spot near the top of the Big 12, this one could carry major implications.
What’s Next?
With the schedule locked in, all eyes turn to the transfer portal and spring ball. How Kansas State navigates roster changes in the coming months will go a long way in determining how competitive this team can be in Klein’s first year at the helm. But one thing’s clear: the pieces are there for a strong start, and the home-heavy slate gives the Wildcats a real chance to build some early-season momentum.
The challenge? Turning potential into production - and showing that the Colin Klein era is ready to hit the ground running.