Kansas State is trying to turn a rivalry high into road success this weekend, and the next stop comes in Tempe.
The Wildcats visit Arizona State on Saturday, Oct. 24, with kickoff set for 2:45 p.m. CT at Mountain America Stadium. The game will air on ESPN2 and stream on ESPN+.
Kansas State arrives at 4-2 overall and 1-2 in Big 12 play after beating Kansas 35-24 last week. That result snapped the skid that followed losses to Cincinnati and Houston in the Wildcats’ first two conference games.
This will be Kansas State’s second road game of the season after a 31-26 loss at Cincinnati on Sept. 26.
The biggest storyline hanging over the matchup is the quarterback situation. Avery Johnson was listed on the team’s availability report ahead of the game, and the Wildcats’ offense clearly changes if he’s on the field.
Arizona State comes in at 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the Big 12, a team that has been tough to pin down all season. The Sun Devils’ only Power 4 victory is a 24-17 win over Kansas on Sept. 19 in London.
Outside of that, the lows have been loud, including a 53-25 loss at Texas Tech last week after Arizona State changed quarterbacks at halftime. The Sun Devils were also blown out in their other two Big 12 games.
The broader résumé is just as uneven. Arizona State has wins over Morgan State, Hawaii and Kansas, but blowout defeats to Texas A&M, Baylor and Texas Tech have defined the other side of the ledger.
If Johnson plays, the Wildcats are projected to come away with a 27-24 win. The thinking is that Kansas State found something with its run game against Kansas, and that same formula can travel against an Arizona State defense that has struggled to stop the run. The Sun Devils also rarely lean on the ground game themselves, which could keep this one in Kansas State’s preferred style.
There is a path to a different kind of afternoon, though. If Kansas State has to go with Jacob Knuth behind center, the game could slow down and become a lower-scoring grind built on short gains and ball control. But the Wildcats would still be leaning on their quarterback depth and the expectation that Johnson is their most valuable player.
In Other News...
Kansas State Suddenly Faces A Huge Avery Johnson Concern
Avery Johnsons status suddenly turned into the biggest pregame storyline for Kansas State after he landed on the Wildcats Friday availability report as doubtful ahead of the matchup with Arizona State. The quarterback had briefly left the previous game after a run, then came back and finished without any obvious sign of trouble, so the late-week designation caught plenty of attention around a team that has built its offense around his presence.
If Johnson cant go, Kansas State would be forced to turn to backup Jacob Knuth, a situation that changes both the game plan and the pressure on the rest of the offense. For a Wildcats team trying to keep momentum against a tough Big 12 opponent, the final decision on Johnson looms as one of the most important developments of the week. [Read more 🡒]
K-State Suddenly Has A Bigger Question Than Arizona State
Avery Johnsons status has become the biggest storyline for Kansas State heading into its matchup with Arizona State, and the latest injury report did little to clear things up. The Wildcats quarterback is still listed as doubtful after briefly leaving the previous game with an injury before returning to finish it, leaving the staff to keep one eye on preparation and another on the final availability report still to come.
If Johnson cant go, Jacob Knuth would be in line to start, which changes the shape of the game plan well before kickoff. For a Kansas State team trying to stay on schedule in a key conference test, the uncertainty at quarterback now looms larger than the opponent across the field. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Walks Into A Dangerous Road Spot At Arizona State
Kansas State heads into a tricky road test at Arizona State on Sept. 26, with both teams sitting at 1-2 in Big 12 play and looking to keep from slipping further in the standings. The Wildcats will see a Sun Devils team that is still searching for traction under Kenny Dillingham, and the change at quarterback from Cutter Boley to Mikey Keene adds another layer of uncertainty to a matchup that already has plenty on the line.
Mountain America Stadium figures to have the kind of atmosphere that can make a September trip uncomfortable, and the game-day details only add to the feel of a real crossroads spot for Kansas State. Between the ticket buzz and the forecast for Tempe, this one has the ingredients of a road game that asks plenty of a team still trying to steady itself in conference play. [Read more 🡒]