Washington State could be short-handed when it walks into Bill Snyder Family Stadium this week, and the biggest question mark centers on senior receiver Tony Freeman.
Cougars coach Kirby Moore said Monday, Sept. 7, that Freeman is trending toward missing the matchup with Kansas State after leaving Washington State’s 24-10 loss to Washington on Sunday. Freeman played 11 snaps before going out with a knee injury.
That’s a notable hit for a Washington State passing game that leaned on Freeman a year ago. He finished last season as the Cougars’ second-leading receiver, piling up 54 catches for 590 yards and three touchdowns. He also landed on the Pac-12’s preseason impact list entering the 2026 season as both a receiver and punt returner.
Kansas State, meanwhile, got through its 71-3 win over Nicholls with only a couple of injury notes to monitor. Starting linebacker Mekhi Mason left after 14 snaps with an undisclosed injury, and coach Collin Klein didn’t say much about it Monday beyond saying the outlook is better than it initially seemed.
The Wildcats also continue to manage left guard Tanner Morley, who was supposed to be limited against Nicholls after getting hurt in fall camp. He still played 14 snaps, and Klein said Kansas State will keep easing him back in. Klein also pointed out that Charlie Adams handled his start well.
Kansas State and Washington State meet Saturday, Sept. 12, at 11 a.m. CT at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The game will be televised on TNT.
In Other News...
Collin Klein Knows Exactly How K State Should Remember Chris Klieman
Chris Kliemans retirement did not send Kansas State into a search for a stranger. Instead, the Wildcats handed the program to one of its most familiar figures in Collin Klein, who was named head coach after Klieman stepped aside following seven years on the job. Klieman also gave his blessing to the move, endorsing Klein as his successor and staying around the program in an advisory role.
For Klein, the transition has made the messaging around his predecessor pretty simple. He has spoken with clear appreciation for the mentorship Klieman provided and pointed to both the man and the resume as reasons the Wildcats should think of this as a continuation of a standard already set, not an ending. In Manhattan, that matters because Klieman leaves behind more than a coaching vacancy. He leaves a template for how the program expects to be led. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Gets Encouraging News On A Key Defensive Starter
Kansas State got a little relief in the aftermath of its season opener, where linebacker Mekhi Mason went down with a lower-body injury and left the Wildcats waiting for an update. Coach Collin Klein said the issue may not be as serious as it first appeared, a welcome development for a defense that had already built Mason into a key piece alongside Gabe Powers in the middle of the linebacker group.
Mason arrived as a transfer from Louisiana Tech with a rsum that included second-team All-Conference USA honors, and his role showed how quickly Kansas State trusted him to stabilize the unit. The encouraging part now is not just that the injury appears less severe, but that a return could come soon, leaving the Wildcats with a meaningful decision about how quickly to ease him back into the lineup. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State May Have Found A Crucial Answer On The Offensive Line
Ryan Howard got his first start at left tackle for Kansas State after the season-ending injury to the player who had been holding down the spot, and the Wildcats needed that kind of stability up front in a hurry. He settled in well enough to be part of a dominant showing against Nicholls, with Kansas State pounding the ball for 312 yards and finding the end zone six times on the ground.
There was also a little extra family support behind the scenes, as Howards older brother, Will, went over game film with him before the matchup. For a line that suddenly had to absorb a major change, the debut mattered not just because of how the Wildcats played, but because it offered a first look at whether Howard can be part of the answer at a critical spot moving forward. [Read more 🡒]