Kansas State football fans are eager for a steady ride after the rollercoaster that was the 2025 season. As they look toward 2026, one constant remains in their favor: the Sunflower Showdown. This historic rivalry with Kansas has tilted heavily in Kansas State's favor recently, with the Wildcats claiming victory in the last 17 matchups against the Jayhawks.
The Wildcats have been nothing short of dominant in this series, and the latest encounter was no exception. Kansas State walked away from Lawrence, KS, with a decisive 25-point win.
Quarterback Avery Johnson was in fine form, completing 11 of 17 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 17 yards and adding two more scores on the ground. Receiver Jayce Brown was a standout, hauling in four receptions for 160 yards and a touchdown.
The defense was relentless, forcing four turnovers, and the special teams chipped in with a blocked punt that resulted in a score in the first quarter.
This performance was one of those mid-season highlights that had fans thinking the Wildcats were turning a corner. While Kansas still holds the overall series lead, it's been Kansas State's show since the early 2000s.
Looking ahead, it's reasonable to expect more of the same. Kansas is projected to be a middle-of-the-pack team in 2026, with limited upside due to a lack of significant roster moves.
Meanwhile, the Wildcats, despite some setbacks via the transfer portal, are poised for a rebound. The return of program legend Collin Klein as head coach is a major boost.
Klein's presence is anticipated to spark quarterback Avery Johnson, setting him up for the star season he's been groomed for since his freshman year. With Johnson expected to lead the charge, the rest of the team should follow suit.
In his opening press conference, Klein emphasized the team's commitment to effort and competition. "We are gonna be known for how hard we play and compete," he declared.
"It is gonna be evaluated day in and day out on that practice film to know that it’s that process inside every single player’s heart and mind in finding more in them that they didn’t even know they could give. That will show up on Saturday afternoons."
The Wildcats are gearing up for a season that could see them reclaim their status as a force to be reckoned with in college football. With Klein at the helm and Johnson ready to shine, Kansas State fans have plenty to be optimistic about as they look forward to the 2026 season.
In Other News...
Kansas State Just Took A Big Step In Crucial 2026 Pursuit
Kansas States frontcourt recruiting picture for 2026 continues to take shape, and Teke Deng is now part of the conversation after a recent visit to the program. The three-star center has already added a UNLV offer to his board, but the Wildcats are clearly making him a priority as they look to strengthen an area that needs more long-term depth.
The interest makes plenty of sense for a roster that is still leaning on younger bigs and trying to avoid the kind of frontcourt strain that showed up last season when injuries piled up. Kansas State already has Nash Stark, Jaylen Alexander and Devin Hutcherson committed in the 2026 class, and adding a center like Deng would fit the broader push to rebuild the roster with more size and stability inside. [Read more 🡒]
National Buzz Around Kansas State Just Got Very Real
Kansas States offseason buzz has started to travel beyond Manhattan, and the national conversation is beginning to catch up. CBS Sports recently put the Wildcats fourth among the Big 12 teams most likely to win the conference, a sign that this program is being viewed as more than just a solid returner in a league that rarely leaves much room at the top.
A big reason for that optimism is the change on the sideline, with Collin Klein stepping into his first head-coaching job after already carrying plenty of familiarity with the program. He has made it clear he expects this group to develop quickly, and quarterback Avery Johnson is viewed as one of the players who could help make that jump real if Kansas State can turn early confidence into the kind of fast start that changes a season. [Read more 🡒]
K-State Fans Wont Love What This NBA Moment Revived
Bennett Stirtz is headed to the NBA after a two-year rise that kept adding fuel to the resume, and his path will look even better now that hes done it with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Across those college seasons, he averaged 19.5 points, 1.7 steals and five rebounds, the kind of production that makes every program in the region think twice about recruiting misses and developmental upside.
For Kansas State fans, the old familiar sting comes from more than just Stirtzs ascent. The article also points to former Wildcats Nate Johnson and Onyenso finding their own NBA entry points, with Johnson now in Oklahoma City and Onyenso headed to Detroit, a reminder that K-State talent is still reaching the league even as another name from the area becomes impossible to ignore. What lingers is how a moment from Stirtzs college career against the Wildcats still fits so neatly into the larger story of what might have been. [Read more 🡒]