Kansas State gets a chance to close out non-conference play unbeaten when it hosts Tulane on Saturday, Sept. 19, at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan.
Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CT, with the game airing nationally on ESPN2 and streaming live on ESPN+.
The Wildcats are 2-0 under Collin Klein and have been stingy on defense through the first two games, not allowing a touchdown. On the other side of the ball, Kansas State has leaned on the run, averaging more than 300 rushing yards per game. That formula has the Wildcats positioned as a heavy favorite against Tulane, which enters at 1-1.
Kansas State and Tulane have played some memorable games over the years, but this one comes with K-State carrying plenty of confidence into the matchup. The Wildcats also have an eye on the road ahead, with Big 12 play looming after Saturday.
A productive afternoon on the ground would fit the way Kansas State has played so far. A third straight 100-yard game from Fields looks likely, and Joe Jackson should also find room to work. Johnson is due for a better showing, too.
The defense will be the biggest question. Kansas State has yet to give up a touchdown this season, and the Wildcats will try to keep that run going. That kind of streak can’t last forever, but a third straight game without allowing an opponent into the end zone feels like a tall order for Tulane.
The prediction: Kansas State 37, Tulane 14.
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Kansas State Win Revealed More Than Fans Will Like Before Big 12 Play
Kansas State closed non-conference play with a 31-20 win over Tulane, moving to 3-0 and giving the Wildcats a clean runway into Big 12 action. Avery Johnson was the headliner, piling up a career-high 152 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while the defense again showed it can lean on depth up front to keep the team in games.
Still, the win also offered a few reminders of what will matter once the league schedule starts. The offensive line had stretches that looked vulnerable, and the Wildcats had to finish without safety Logan Bartley after he left early because of injury, while defensive lineman Jordan Allen did not play. The record looks good, but the next phase will tell Kansas State a lot more about how complete this team really is. [Read more 🡒]
Collin Klein Sounds Off On One Kansas State Problem After Win
Collin Klein came away from Kansas States 31-20 win over Tulane with plenty to like, and he made sure to credit the back-and-forth nature of the game. He praised both teams for the adjustments they made as the night wore on, pointed to the defenses ability to bend without breaking on long Tulane drives, and noted that the offense found a better rhythm with Avery helping steady things.
Even with the victory in hand, Klein kept coming back to the same issue: the penalties. He said the Wildcats have to be more disciplined moving forward, even after a game in which special teams also did its part by limiting Tulanes return game. For Kansas State, it was the kind of win that showed progress in a few areas while leaving at least one familiar problem sitting in plain view. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State May Have Found The Linebacker It Needed Most
Kansas State has been searching for answers in the middle of its defense since Austin Romaine transferred to Texas Tech, and Gabe Powers is beginning to look like a player who can help steady that spot. The fifth-year senior, who arrived from Ohio State, has already started to settle in with the Wildcats and showed his value in a recent victory against Washington State, where he finished with four tackles.
Powers is expected to keep playing a major role as the schedule moves forward, and that matters for a defense still adjusting to life without Romaine. The fit has been encouraging enough that Kansas State may have found a linebacker who can give it the kind of reliability it needed most, even if the full picture is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]