Avery Johnson entered Kansas State with the kind of hype that can swallow a quarterback whole.
Before he ever took a snap under center in Manhattan, he was being talked about as the answer for Kansas State football. He was one of the most highly regarded high school quarterbacks to come out of Kansas, and he chose the Wildcats over programs like Washington and Oregon. Ranked as the No. 9 quarterback in his class, Johnson got on the field right away, and the expectations only kept rising.
That’s what makes the conversation around 2026 so tricky. The talent has always been obvious, but the path hasn’t exactly been smooth.
By the time Johnson was expected to take over in 2024, the setup around him had already changed. Will Howard, who had started in 2023 and helped Kansas State win the Big 12 in 2022, transferred to Ohio State.
That opened the door for Johnson to become the starter. Then Collin Klein was gone too, and Chris Klieman turned to Conor Riley, the former offensive line coach, as offensive coordinator after the two helped Kansas State beat off with a win in the Pop Tarts Bowl to finish the 2023 season.
That meant a first-time starting quarterback working with a first-time offensive coordinator. The assumption was that Johnson’s ability would cover for the growing pains. He did have a productive sophomore season, but the Wildcats kept falling short in the biggest games, and a strong start gave way to a disappointing second half.
Johnson finished with 2,712 passing yards and 25 touchdowns, and he added 605 yards on the ground. Turnovers were an issue at times, but the numbers still pointed toward a real breakout heading into 2025, when Kansas State carried Big 12 title expectations.
Then the offense changed again.
Riley left in the offseason to become the offensive line coach for the Dallas Cowboys, and Matt Wells stepped in as offensive coordinator. Johnson’s junior season did not go as planned.
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Purple Reign Just Landed A Summer Showdown K-State Fans Will Feel
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The matchup adds another layer of intrigue because both sides are bringing recognizable college-era names into a tournament built around alumni pride and a $2 million prize. For K-State, the draw is obvious: a chance to watch Purple Reign on its home floor in a setting that should feel part reunion, part high-pressure summer basketball, with the series stretching across the week and the winner still to be decided. [Read more 🡒]