Kansas State heads to Fort Worth with plenty of questions and one clear message from Collin Klein: the Wildcats aren’t folding.
After a 66-28 loss to Oklahoma State over the weekend, Klein said he was encouraged by the way his team kept competing, even as the game got away from them. With K-State sitting at 4-5 overall and 1-5 in the Big 12, the head coach pushed back on any idea that the Wildcats might drift through the rest of the season.
“That’s not what Kansas State has been about for a long time,” Klein said. “That’s not what it’s been about every day that we’ve been with them as a program, and what they have invested in their teammates. Everyone will finish how we’re supposed to.”
The next shot comes Saturday at 1 p.m. against TCU at Amon G. Carter Stadium, a game that carries more weight than it might have a few weeks ago. Both teams need to win two of their final three games to reach bowl eligibility, which gives this matchup real stakes for the stretch run.
Kansas State’s quarterback situation remains unsettled heading into the week. Avery Johnson is unlikely to play again this season while recovering from an injury, and Jacob Knuth has missed the last two weeks with an ankle injury.
That leaves Blake Barnett and Dillon Duff as the healthy options, and Klein said the two will compete in practice before he settles on a starter closer to kickoff. There’s also a chance both quarterbacks see the field if the Wildcats are searching for a spark.
The challenge on the other side is a TCU defense that has been difficult to crack. The Horned Frogs are allowing just 15.8 points per game, the best mark in the Big 12, and they play a style that aims to keep games tight and low-scoring. That makes this a different kind of conference test for Kansas State.
Even in a difficult season, a few Wildcats have stood out. Sophomore safety Logan Bartley has been one of the bright spots on defense, recording 39 tackles and two interceptions. He also delivered a big moment against Oklahoma State, picking off Drew Mestemaker and taking it back for a touchdown.
On offense, Derrick Salley has been Kansas State’s most productive receiver in Big 12 play. Against Oklahoma State, the junior wideout caught three passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns. For the season, he has 411 receiving yards and three scores.
The game will be shown on ESPNU, with radio coverage on KFNZ (96.5 FM and 610 AM) in Kansas City and KFH (1240 AM and 97.5 FM) in Wichita. TCU is a 9.5-point favorite, and the over/under is set at 46.5.
In Other News...
Kansas State Recruiting Just Took Another Hit Fans Will Notice
Kansas States recruiting run took another turn when defensive lineman Finn Walker announced he is no longer committed to the Wildcats. The three-star prospect from Conroe Oak Ridge High School shared the news on social media, reopening a recruitment that had given Kansas State a promising piece up front.
Walkers decision puts him back on the market with several notable programs already in the mix, including Arizona, SMU, Oklahoma State and Baylor. For Kansas State, it is another reminder that recruiting battles rarely stay settled for long, especially when a player with Power Five options starts drawing fresh attention. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas States Slide Puts Collin Klein Under A Tougher Spotlight
Kansas States loss to Oklahoma State dropped the Wildcats to 4-5 overall and 1-5 in the Big 12, deepening a season that has already been defined by attrition and missed opportunities. First-year coach Collin Klein said afterward that the responsibility starts with him and the staff, stressing that the coaches have to do a better job of putting the players in position to succeed.
The injuries have only made the climb steeper, with season-ending losses piling up along the offensive line and at quarterback. For a team trying to steady itself in November, the challenge now is not just getting healthy enough to compete, but finding enough answers around the roster to stop the slide before it defines the rest of the year. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Heads To TCU With One Problem Fans Can't Ignore
Kansas State heads to Fort Worth this week with plenty still hanging in the balance, and the biggest question around the Wildcats is the one under center. Both Kansas State and TCU enter the Nov. 14 meeting at 4-5, a reminder that there is still something to salvage as the season moves into its final stretch. The matchup at Amon G. Carter Stadium comes with the added visibility of a national TV slot on ESPNU, with streaming available on ESPN+.
For the Wildcats, though, the spotlight is less about the stage and more about sorting out the quarterback situation after recent losses. TCU has its own frustration after a close defeat to Arizona, so this is hardly a soft landing spot for either side. Still, Kansas States ability to steady itself at the games most important position may end up shaping not just this trip to Texas, but the tone of the rest of the month. [Read more 🡒]