Kansas State’s 2026 outlook is starting to pick up some serious national steam, and CBS Sports is buying into the idea that Collin Klein’s first full run in charge could land the Wildcats right in the middle of the Big 12 race.
In a national projections piece, CBS Sports slotted Kansas State as a team that could climb after a frustrating season, pointing to a conference landscape that looks wide open beyond the top names.
“The Big 12 is far more open at the top of the league than the Big Ten and SEC,” the article wrote. “While we all expect Texas Tech and BYU to be good, after that, nobody knows anything for sure.
The Wildcats are in a good position to move up after a disappointing season because neither Texas Tech nor BYU is on their schedule! Utah isn't, either!”
That schedule setup is a big part of the optimism. If Kansas State can take advantage of missing Texas Tech, BYU and Utah, the path to a strong conference finish gets a lot cleaner.
CBS Sports also pointed to Klein’s background as a reason the Wildcats could make a jump. The article tied his recent work at Texas A&M to the opportunity in Manhattan, especially with Avery Johnson waiting for another step forward.
“They also have a new coach in Collin Klein, who has had some success of his own in Manhattan,” the article wrote. “He was able to develop Marcel Reed at Texas A&M last season, and now he hopes to do the same with Avery Johnson.
What if he does? What if Avery Johnson lives up to his potential while the Wildcats play one of the easier schedules in the Big 12?
If it happens, you've suddenly got a CFP contender on your hands.”
Klein already has plenty of credit built up with Kansas State. He was viewed as the key figure behind Johnson’s freshman season, when the quarterback put together stretches that made him look like a future star. Johnson hasn’t fully hit that level yet, but the expectation now is that Year 4 could be the one where it finally comes together with Klein back on the sideline.
And around the league, the picture behind Texas Tech, Utah and BYU isn’t exactly intimidating. Houston, Arizona and TCU are mentioned as possible wild cards, but the broader read is that Kansas State has a real shot to land in the Big 12’s top five next season.
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Kansas State Opens With A Lineup Question Fans Can't Ignore
Kansas State heads into its Week 1 matchup with Nicholls carrying a roster puzzle that will shape the early feel of the season, with 18 players set to make their first starts. The list reflects the kind of offseason turnover and opportunity that college football always seems to produce, especially when transfers arrive, younger players push into bigger roles and injuries force coaches to shuffle the deck before the opener.
Among the new faces in the starting lineup are wide receivers Josh Manning and Brandon White, running backs Jay Harris and Rodney Fields, along with several newcomers on the offensive and defensive lines and in the secondary. For the Wildcats, the challenge is not just filling those spots, but doing it quickly enough to look settled in a game that should offer an early read on how smoothly all those changes have come together. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Has A Tackle Problem Avery Johnson Can't Ignore
Season-ending injuries to starters John Pastore and George Fitzpatrick have forced Kansas State to keep shuffling the edges of its offensive line, and the timing is hardly ideal with the season opener against Nicholls approaching. Collin Klein has been working through the fallout by rotating Ryan Howard, Tyler Johnson, Charlie Adams and Chase Duarte at tackle, trying to find the right mix while the group absorbs a major reset in the final stretch before kickoff.
Klein said he is proud of how those players have developed through the work, but the bigger issue is obvious: Avery Johnson has to be kept upright if the Wildcats want their offense to function the way it needs to. The tackle situation now becomes one of the most important pieces of the preseason puzzle, because Kansas State can feel good about the growth up front and still know the unit has to hold together when the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
K-States New Linebacker Didnt Take A Normal Path To This Role
Mekhi Masons route to Kansas State looks nothing like the usual one for a veteran linebacker stepping into a major role. After leaving Syracuse for Louisiana Tech and then arriving in Manhattan as a fifth-year senior, Mason has turned limited early opportunities into a real chance to matter for the Wildcats, earning a starting spot and giving the defense another proven piece to lean on.
For Kansas State, the appeal is obvious: Mason brings experience, momentum from his time at Louisiana Tech and the kind of late-career urgency that can help settle a defense. For Mason, the final college season is about more than simply fitting in. He is aiming high, with the Butkus Award and All-Big 12 recognition in his sights, and he now gets the platform to chase both in purple. [Read more 🡒]