MANHATTAN - Kansas State opened the Collin Klein era the way a team is supposed to open a season against a lighter opponent: fast, sharp and without much drama.
The Wildcats rolled past Nicholls 71-3 on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, reaching 70 points in a game for the first time since a 76-point outing against Ball State in 2000. The performance gave K-State a clean start and a lot to like on both sides of the ball.
Avery Johnson kept the offense tidy, and the Wildcats showed real promise on the ground. The offensive line, despite the concerns around it entering the game, held together well. The only blemish on that side was Jay Harris’ lost fumble.
On defense, Kansas State’s numbers looked strong, though Nicholls made life easier than it should have. The visiting offense missed several open receivers throughout the night, but the Wildcats still deserve credit for forcing a turnover when Darien Whitaker came up with a strip sack.
Special teams also chipped in with a big play when Brandon White took a punt 65 yards for a touchdown. Kansas State then followed that up by kicking the ball out of bounds on the kickoff, the lone hiccup in an otherwise dominant showing.
Collin Klein’s debut as coach brought the kind of offensive creativity and explosiveness the crowd wanted to see, and new defensive coordinator Jordan Peterson helped set the tone on that side too.
The night’s standout was Rodney Fields, who looked like the most impressive back in a crowded running back room. His patience and burst through the hole made him the game’s MVP.
It all adds up to a straightforward opening statement for Kansas State: an A-level effort, and exactly the kind of result a good team should produce against Nicholls. On to Washington State.
In Other News...
Kansas State's Offensive Eruption Put Willie Wildcat Through Something Absurd
Kansas States offense gave Willie Wildcat plenty of work at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, where the mascots post-score routine turned into a full-blown endurance test. After every touchdown and kick, Willie dropped into another push-up, keeping up with a Wildcats attack that rolled past Nicholls and piled up points at a pace that is not exactly routine in Manhattan.
By the end of the blowout, the total had climbed to 71 push-ups, a number that matched the scoreboard and made for a viral social media moment as Willie labored through the last few reps. The tradition is simple enough when the scoring is steady, but on a night like this, Kansas States rare offensive eruption left its mascot paying the price in a way the internet was happy to watch. [Read more 🡒]
Collin Kleins Debut Gave K-State Fans A Reason To Dream
Kansas State opened the season with the kind of all-around performance that can make September feel a little bigger than it really is, rolling past Nicholls and showing immediate buy-in to Collin Kleins first game as head coach. The Wildcats were sharp from the start, and the most encouraging sign was how long the standard held up as the margin grew. Avery Johnson managed the offense efficiently, and the defense helped turn the afternoon into a runaway long before the final whistle.
The scoreline alone would have been enough to grab attention, but the larger takeaway for K-State was the sense of focus and effort that carried through the opener. Johnson did his part with a strong day through the air and on the ground before giving way to the next wave, while Klein had plenty to point to when talking about the teams attention to detail. For a fan base looking for an early read on this new era, it was the kind of start that invites bigger dreams without forcing anyone to get ahead of September. [Read more 🡒]
Former Kansas State Players Are Already Testing Fans Patience
The first weekend of the 2026 college football season also served as a reminder of how many former Kansas State players are already making noise in new places. Dylan Edwards opened his Kansas career with a splash, Austin Romaine was part of Texas Techs early action, and a few other Wildcats found themselves in meaningful roles at Indiana and Baylor as their new seasons got underway.
For Kansas State fans, it was the kind of mixed-bag update that keeps the out-of-state tracker busy before September even settles in. Some of those former Wildcats put together eye-catching Week 1 stat lines and contributions, while others were simply part of the rotation as new programs sorted out their early identities, leaving plenty for Kansas State supporters to monitor as the season moves forward. [Read more 🡒]