Kansas State gets its first real chance to show whether last week’s blowout was a launch point or just a loud opening note.
The Wildcats rolled past Nicholls 71-3 in their season opener, while Washington State dropped its first game 24-10 at Washington last Sunday. That sets up a Saturday meeting at Bill Snyder Family Stadium between two teams with new coaches and a whole lot still to sort out in Game 2.
Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. on TNT.
For Kansas State, the opener was more than just a lopsided win. Collin Klein got 85 players onto the field in his first game as the Wildcats’ coach, a broad showing that gave the staff a first look at a roster still taking shape. Even with the big margin, Klein made it clear Monday that one game doesn’t tell the whole story.
"Really good place to start," Klein said at his Monday press conference. "I think the little things didn't catch us when we made those mistakes.
We have to get them shored up. We have a big week ahead of us.
Watching Washington State yesterday, I thought they played incredibly hard. I think they're extremely physical.
"That was a physical ballgame from start to finish, both sides of the ball. I think their two defensive ends are very, very good.
I think their quarterback is dangerous and makes plays and is incredibly tough. We have to have a good prep this week to have a good week."
Klein also liked what he saw when his team returned to work Monday.
"I thought our guys had a very business mindset, business mentality, and came in, got their bodies moving," Klein said. "They're in the weight room right now, and the music's cranked up. So, they're fired up.
It’s the first meeting between Kansas State and Washington State.
In Other News...
Kansas State Just Got An Early Answer Behind Avery Johnson
Kansas State got a useful early look at its quarterback depth in the season-opening win against Nicholls, with both Jacob Knuth and Blake Barnett getting snaps behind Avery Johnson. For a team that will keep needing answers at that spot, the first game offered a clean opportunity to see how the backup work might hold up in real action, and head coach Collin Klein came away encouraged by what he saw from both players.
Barnett handled the heavier load and moved the offense efficiently in his work, while Knuth made the most of his limited chances by contributing with both his arm and his legs. The bigger takeaway for Kansas State was not just the final result, but the way those reps fit into the programs larger plan at quarterback, giving Klein something tangible to evaluate as the season starts to unfold. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Faces Its First Real Test Under Collin Klein
Kansas State gets its first real measuring-stick of the Collin Klein era on Sept. 12, when Washington State comes to Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan. The Wildcats opened with a win under their new coach, and now they face a Cougars team trying to steady itself after a loss in Kirby Moores debut. It is the kind of early-season nonconference game that can tell a lot about where a team really stands, especially with the oddsmakers already leaning toward the Wildcats.
For Kansas State, the larger question is not just whether it can protect home field, but whether the offense keeps building against a more demanding opponent. Washington State brings enough uncertainty of its own to make this an interesting matchup, and the scouting report points to a game with a few pressure points on both sides. The Wildcats should like their position entering the week, but this one feels more revealing than your typical September tune-up, because the margin for error may be tighter than it looked in the opener. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Faces An Early Test That Could Change Everything
Week 2 in the Big 12 brings a slate that already feels like a tone-setter, with a handful of crossover games carrying real weight for teams trying to figure out who they are before conference play tightens the screws. Kansas State is part of that conversation because the Wildcats come off a lopsided opener and now get a much different kind of challenge, one that asks more about readiness, discipline and how quickly a team can build on a strong start.
The matchup also matters because the opponent is not walking in empty-handed after opening the season with a competitive showing of its own against Houston, and that makes this more than just a routine early checkup. For Kansas State, the first roadblock of September could reveal whether the opener was simply a clean warmup or the start of something more durable, and that distinction can shape how the rest of the season is viewed. [Read more 🡒]