Texas A&M is already staring at a new reality without Collin Klein, and for the Aggies, that means adjusting to life after one of the more valuable pieces on the staff. The move also sets up a fresh chapter for Klein, who is now back at Kansas State and getting his first crack at leading the Wildcats.
Reed addressed the change during SEC Media Days last week, and it sounds like he has largely turned the page. Still, there’s no getting around the fact that Klein’s presence will be missed.
Klein had one of the better jobs in the country, but the pull of Manhattan was too strong to ignore. Returning to coach at his alma mater gave him a chance to go home after first making his name there as a player. As a quarterback for Kansas State in the early 2010s, he was a star, and his senior season even ended with an invitation to the Heisman ceremony.
After his playing career wrapped up, Klein spent a few seasons as an assistant with the Wildcats before landing the opportunity at Texas A&M. Now, though, he gets the first shot to prove himself in Kansas State colors as a head coach.
He walks into the job with a built-in edge most first-year coaches don’t have. He already knows the area, and he’s one of the most cherished figures in Kansas State history, right alongside Bill Snyder, Darren Sporles, Terrence Newman and Michael Bishop.
There’s another boost, too: Klein already has ties to some of the players he helped bring to Kansas State during his time there as a coach. That includes quarterback Avery Johnson, who is heading into his third season as the full-time starter.
So while Texas A&M appears to be moving along just fine without him, Kansas State is more than ready to welcome Klein back.
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K-State Just Added A Preseason Test To A High-Pressure Rebuild
Kansas States rebuild under first-year coach Casey Alexander is getting an early measuring stick, with the Wildcats set to face Nebraska in an exhibition game on Oct. 26 at Eihusen Arena in Grand Island. Its the kind of preseason test that can reveal a lot about a team before the games count, especially for a roster that has been turned over almost completely.
Sophomore guard Andrej Kostic is the lone returning player, which leaves Alexander leaning on a wave of newcomers to settle in quickly. Among the pieces expected to help smooth that transition are transfers Brandon Rechsteiner and Jaren Schutt, former Virginia Tech teammates who arrive with some built-in familiarity as Kansas State tries to piece together a new identity. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Has A Real Chance To Seize Early Momentum
Kansas State heads into its 2026 football season with a fresh look on the sideline and enough familiar pieces on the field to make the transition feel more manageable. Collin Klein takes over a largely new coaching staff, but the Wildcats are not starting from scratch, with key veterans back on both offense and defense to help steady the early weeks of the year.
The schedule also gives Kansas State a real opening to build confidence before Big 12 play settles in. Nicholls, Washington State and Tulane are on the nonconference slate, and the Wildcats also avoid the leagues top preseason favorites, which leaves room for a fast start if they handle the games in front of them. The conference path still has its share of traps and chances, but the kind of early momentum that can shape a season is there for the taking. [Read more 🡒]