Kansas State fans had plenty to gripe about when the Wildcats showed up nowhere in either preseason college football poll. But if history is any guide, the omission might be less insult and more omen.
The last time Kansas State was left out of both preseason polls was 2022, and that season ended with a Big 12 championship. The Wildcats went 9-3 in the regular season under former coach Chris Klieman, then beat the Texas A & M Aggies in the conference title game before falling 45-20 to the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Sugar Bowl.
That’s the kind of reminder that makes preseason rankings feel pretty flimsy. Kansas State already had to prove itself once before the ballots were even released, as the league media preseason poll pegged the Wildcats to finish eighth in the conference.
Now the focus shifts somewhere far more important than outside opinion: the start of the Collin Klein era. Klein, in his first season as head coach after two years as the Texas A & M offensive coordinator, gets his shot to lead his alma mater.
He’s no stranger to Manhattan. Klein was one of the Wildcats’ biggest stars in the early 2010s and finished as a Heisman finalist, with Johnny Manziel taking home the award. His name still sits near the top of the Kansas State record books, and now he’s tasked with guiding the next chapter.
That includes Avery Johnson, who enters his third season as the full-time starter and could be in line for one more year if he becomes eligible for a fifth season under new NCAA rules. For now, though, Johnson is only thinking about the present.
In Other News...
Kansas State Enters A New Era With Latest Football Uniform Change
Kansas State is moving into a new commercial era this season, adding Purple Wave Auction as the first sponsored jersey patch in program history. The local online auction companys logo will appear on the football uniforms as part of a partnership announced by the university, with Learfield brokering the deal and helping line up additional digital, social media and in-game activations.
The arrangement also opens the door to NIL opportunities for players, giving the program another layer of revenue-connected visibility as the sport keeps expanding its sponsorship footprint. Purple Wave will join a growing collection of brands tied to Kansas State football and its game-day presence, including familiar names already seen around the uniforms and stadium, a sign of how quickly the Wildcats presentation is changing as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Avery Johnson Faces One Big Task In Kansas States New Offense
Kansas States offense is in a transition phase under new head coach Collin Klein, and Avery Johnson has already been asked to help steer it through some familiar and unfamiliar territory. With Chris Klieman gone and the Wildcats reshaping their attack, the quarterback has been talking about the work being done behind the scenes to get the passing game synced up again, especially with a receiving group that will look different when the season arrives.
Jayce Browns absence leaves a notable void, but Johnson pointed to the growth of players such as Joshua Manning and Brandon White as part of the next wave of targets the Wildcats are trying to develop. For a team trying to settle into a new offense, the challenge is not just learning the scheme, but building trust and timing with a receiver room that has to prove it can carry more of the load. [Read more 🡒]
Avery Johnson Wants A Different K State Start Under Collin Klein
Avery Johnson still sounds like a quarterback who remembers just how strange Kansas States 2025 opener felt in Ireland. The long trip, the different routine and the buildup to a game against Iowa State made for a demanding start to the season, and Johnson made it clear the Wildcats would welcome something more familiar when the next campaign begins.
Under new head coach Collin Klein, the priority now is a cleaner opening and a steadier approach to adversity. Johnson said the team is focused on handling those moments more professionally, and the fact that 2026 will start at home gives Kansas State a chance to settle in before the real pressure starts to build. [Read more 🡒]