Kansas State is set for a much stiffer challenge this weekend as it comes home to Bill Snyder Family Stadium for what should be the first real measuring stick of the Collin Klein era.
The Wildcats, 1-0 after a 71-3 win over Nicholls, will face Washington State on Saturday, Sept. 12, with kickoff scheduled for 11 a.m. in Manhattan. The Cougars enter at 0-1 after a 24-10 loss to Washington.
The game will air nationally on TNT and will also be available to stream live via Sling TV.
All eyes will be on how Kansas State handles a Washington State team that did not offer much offensively in its opener. The Cougars may also be without their top offensive weapon, which only adds to the intrigue for a K-State defense that will be tasked with keeping the pressure on.
A big part of the week’s conversation centers on Caden Pinnick, who accounted for 61 of Washington State’s 100 rushing yards. The matchup gives Jordan Peterson’s group a chance to line up against an offense that should be more organized than the one it saw on Sunday.
Kansas State, meanwhile, brings a more established offense into the game. Avery Johnson will have a chance to show off his dual-threat skill set against a Washington State defense that had trouble with that kind of attack this week. How the Wildcats go about establishing the run will be one of the main things to watch.
Prediction: Kansas State 27, Washington State 14.
In Other News...
Collin Klein Had The Perfect Reaction To K-States 71-Point Outburst
Kansas States 71-point outburst against Nicholls was the kind of offensive showing that still stands out around Manhattan, especially because it was the first time the Wildcats had topped 70 since 2000. It also brought one of the programs more unusual traditions back into the spotlight, with Willie the Wildcat assigned a marathon push-up challenge tied to the scoring binge.
Collin Klein noticed the toll it took. The head coach offered a knowing reaction to Willies fatigue, saying he could relate to the physical grind of the task, which stretched over three hours. It was a lighthearted postgame footnote, but one that fit the mood around a rare offensive explosion and the kind of celebration that only Kansas State seems to make feel routine. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Backfield Battle Just Got More Interesting Before Washington State
Kansas States Week 2 depth chart came with a small but notable shakeup after the Wildcats 71-3 win over Nicholls, and it landed in the part of the roster that tends to draw the most attention. Collin Klein adjusted the running back order, moving Rodney Fields to the top of the group as Kansas State heads into its next matchup, a sign that the battle in the backfield is already worth watching this early in the season.
Elsewhere, the depth chart stayed mostly intact, which suggests the staff liked what it saw across most position groups in the opener. There were also some updates tied to snap counts and player availability, leaving the backfield change as the clearest indication that Kansas State is still sorting out exactly how it wants to distribute touches before Washington State comes to town. [Read more 🡒]
Avery Johnson Gave Kansas State Exactly What Fans Needed To See
Avery Johnson gave Kansas State a strong early-season reminder of why the Wildcats are counting on him to steer the offense, and Collin Klein had plenty to like in the wake of the lopsided win over Nicholls. In a 71-3 rout that never stopped being comfortable, Johnson looked poised throughout the afternoon, completing 15 of 21 passes for 199 yards and three touchdowns while setting a school record for passing scores.
Klein pointed to more than the box score, too, praising Johnsons pocket presence, decision-making and communication. For a team that still wants to sharpen its identity as the schedule gets tougher, those were the kinds of details that mattered most, and the performance offered exactly the kind of reassurance Wildcats fans were hoping to see. [Read more 🡒]