Kansas State is staring at a difficult one on Saturday, and the challenge only gets steeper with Oklahoma State coming to Manhattan.
The Wildcats and Cowboys are set for a noon CT kickoff on Nov. 7 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, with the game airing on TNT. It can also be streamed live via Sling.
Kansas State enters at 4-4 overall and 1-4 in Big 12 play after dropping four of its last five, a stretch that includes an Oct. 31 overtime loss at Colorado. The bigger issue is the quarterback situation. The Wildcats have been without starter Avery Johnson for the past two weeks, and over the last three weeks they’ve used four different quarterbacks in meaningful snaps.
Oklahoma State comes in at 5-3 and 3-2 in the Big 12 after a loss at Iowa State, where the Cyclones won it with a 34-yard field goal at the horn. The Cowboys have lost two of their last three under first-year coach Eric Morris, but their offense remains the headliner. It’s one of the best in college football and is led by NFL QB prospect Drew Mestemaker.
That sets up a rough matchup for Kansas State, especially if Johnson is still unavailable. The Wildcats’ offense without him is not built for a shootout, and Oklahoma State’s scheme has been piling up points. On the other side, Kansas State’s defensive issues could be put under the brightest spotlight yet.
Prediction: Oklahoma State 42, Kansas State 28.
In Other News...
Kansas State Suddenly Has A Bigger Problem Than One Tough Loss
Kansas States overtime loss to Colorado did more than sting in the standings. It also exposed how thin the margin can be when a team is trying to survive a rough patch while already staring at major roster turnover, with key defensive lapses helping turn a winnable game into a frustrating finish. For a program that has leaned on continuity, the bigger concern may be how much of that foundation is about to change.
Collin Kleins decision to start sophomore quarterback Dillon Duff added another layer to the night, and Duffs early struggles forced Blake Barnett into the game. Barnett nearly pulled off a comeback, which only sharpened the sense that Kansas State is searching for answers in real time while also preparing for a potential rebuild as many players run out of eligibility and a new crop of recruits waits in the wings. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State May Have Found The Spark Its Offense Needed
Kansas State has been searching for any kind of lift on offense as it tries to climb out of a 1-4 Big 12 start, and a recent game against Colorado offered a small but meaningful sign. Tight end Linkon Cure scored his first career touchdown on a 33-yard catch from backup quarterback Blake Barnett, a play that stood out not just because it reached the end zone, but because it came from a player who has been showing steady growth this season.
Cures role has expanded with more receptions and more yards, and that kind of development matters for an offense still looking for reliable answers. The Wildcats need more than one bright moment to change their conference trajectory, but a young tight end finding his footing gives them something to build on as the season moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Has A Stretch Run Problem Fans Can't Ignore
Colorados 27-24 overtime win over Kansas State on October 31 was the kind of late-season result that can linger, especially for a team trying to steady itself for the stretch run. The Buffaloes got a big lift from running back Richard Young, who handled 24 carries for 120 yards and two touchdowns, while edge rusher Yamil Talib made his presence felt with two sacks and eight tackles.
For Kansas State, the loss was another reminder that tight games are getting harder to finish cleanly when the margin shrinks in November. Colorado coach Deion Sanders singled out Youngs readiness and steady practice habits afterward, and Talibs emergence added another layer to a defense that has been finding impact plays at key moments. [Read more 🡒]