Kansas State heads into its first road test of the season with a chance to reach a mark the program hasn’t hit since 2012.
After last Saturday’s 31-20 win over Tulane, the Wildcats moved to 3-0 and finished a clean sweep of the non-conference slate. Now Collin Klein’s team gets Cincinnati, and a win would make K-State 4-0 for the first time under a first-year head coach.
Ron Prince and Chris Klieman both opened 3-0 before falling in game four. In 2006, the Wildcats dropped a 24-6 decision to then-No.
8 Louisville in Manhattan. In 2019, they lost 26-13 at then-No.
24 Oklahoma State.
Cincinnati brings a more difficult challenge than the final score against Miami might suggest. The Bearcats needed a huge second-half rally and a last-minute touchdown to beat their cross-state rival last week, but they remain a Big 12 opponent and have to be treated that way.
On paper, the two teams are nearly mirror images on offense. Both are averaging 222 passing yards per game, 269 rushing yards per game and 491 total yards per game.
The difference so far has been on defense, where Kansas State has the edge. The Wildcats have been strong enough to hold opponents under 100 yards per game on both the ground and through the air on an unadjusted basis, even with some issues against inside runs.
Cincinnati, meanwhile, has been vulnerable through the air and was hit hard by Miami last week, allowing more than 300 passing yards to the Redhawks. K-State hasn’t allowed more than 300 passing yards in a game this season, and most of its passing damage allowed came in last week’s game against Tulane, when it gave up 167.
The Wildcats are a 6.5-point road favorite, with the line including the usual three points for the home team. It’s a clear step up from Tulane and Washington State, but not one K-State should be afraid of.
The game kicks off at 6:00 p.m. CT from Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati and will air on ESPN2, with Chuckie Kempf and Dustin Fox on the call.
For those following along elsewhere, the game can also be heard on the 29-station K-State Sports Network with Wyatt Thompson, Stan Weber and Matt Walters. It will air on SiriusXM Satellite Radio Ch. 268 and be available online through the Varsity Network app. Live stats will be posted at k-statesports.com, and updates will be available on Twitter (@KStateFB).
In Other News...
K-State Defense Faces Its First Real Big 12 Stress Test
Kansas States defense has spent the early part of the season looking like one of the nations better units, but the next challenge is less about reputation and more about the kind of plays that can flip a game in an instant. The Wildcats have been strong in several statistical categories, yet the one vulnerability that keeps surfacing is the occasional explosive run, and that is not the sort of crack you want to carry into Big 12 play.
Cincinnati arrives with the kind of offensive line that has earned national recognition and helped fuel one of the countrys top rushing attacks, which makes this a useful early test of how sturdy K-State really is against power and movement up front. If the Bearcats lean on that ground game, the Wildcats could be forced to handle long drives and broken tackles, while quarterback JC French IV adds another wrinkle with his efficient, conservative passing style that keeps the offense on schedule without asking for much downfield risk. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Is Starting Earlier Than Ever On One Key Roster Need
Kansas State is wasting no time looking ahead, and that urgency is showing up in the early pursuit of its 2028 class. Among the latest names on the board is Allen High School defensive back Elijah Smith, part of a growing list of young prospects the Wildcats have already reached out to as they try to get an early jump on one of the most important spots on the roster.
The group of offers also includes Quinn Jacobs, Dailon Denkins, Julian Dwyer, Jekai Lee, Brady Reeves, Sloan Blackwell, Jerry Richmond and Asher Megonnell, a sign that Kansas State is casting a wide net well before those players are close to signing day. The timing says as much about the Wildcats recruiting priorities as the names themselves, with the staff clearly treating this as a position it wants to stay ahead of for years to come. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Fans Should Watch One Overlooked Wildcats Target Saturday
Kansas State heads into Saturdays matchup with Cincinnati as a 6.5-point favorite, and the Wildcats passing game offers a few interesting angles for bettors looking beyond the usual names. One of the more overlooked options is Garrett Oakley, whose growing chemistry with quarterback Avery Johnson has started to make him a worthwhile piece of the offense, especially against a Bearcats defense that leans on zone coverage.
Oakleys role could be the kind that pays off quietly rather than loudly, which is often where value lives in the prop market. With the total sitting at 55.5, Kansas State should have chances to move the ball through the air, and Oakleys usage gives him a path to turn into a steady contributor if the game script opens up the right way. [Read more 🡒]