Kansas State football is revving up the engines on the hype train once again, and it's catching the eye of major outlets like ESPN. The Wildcats, who were showered with praise last offseason, find themselves in a familiar spotlight as they gear up for another promising campaign.
In ESPN's latest Big 12 predictions, Kansas State is sitting pretty with a 10.3 rating in the CFB efficiency model, placing them fourth in the conference. While Texas Tech is still the team to beat, the gap is narrowing, making for an intriguing race.
The buzz is music to the ears of Kansas State fans, especially after a tumultuous 2025 season that saw the departure of veteran coach Chris Klieman and several key players. The defense might not be the conference's most formidable, but that's no surprise given the exodus to the transfer portal and the arrival of an offensive-minded head coach.
Enter Collin Klein, a name that resonates deeply with Wildcats fans. Klein, who quarterbacked Kansas State to a Big 12 title and later served as offensive coordinator for another championship team, is back at the helm.
His stint at Texas A&M, where he helped guide the team to the College Football Playoff and develop standout quarterback Marcel Reed, only bolsters his credentials. Klein's return is seen as a natural fit, a seamless transition from the retiring Chris Klieman.
The focus is squarely on Klein and quarterback Avery Johnson. Klein's championship pedigree and offensive acumen, combined with Johnson's potential, have fans dreaming of a renaissance.
Johnson's freshman season was electric, but subsequent years have fallen short of expectations. Now, with Klein back in the fold for Johnson's final year, there's a sense of anticipation for a breakout season.
Klein's mission is clear: restore Kansas State to championship glory. His determination was evident in his opening press conference, where he embraced the challenge ahead.
"I love challenges and doing hard things," Klein declared. "To go and take this program where it’s never been is gonna be hard.
I want it to be hard, I want it to be difficult. We’re gonna attack it together as a staff, as a fanbase, and as an administration, and we’re gonna take this program where it hasn’t been before."
With a renewed sense of purpose and a talented roster, Kansas State is poised to make some noise in the Big 12. As the season unfolds, all eyes will be on the Wildcats to see if they can turn potential into performance.
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Kansas State Just Took A Big Step In Crucial 2026 Pursuit
Kansas States frontcourt recruiting picture for 2026 continues to take shape, and Teke Deng is now part of the conversation after a recent visit to the program. The three-star center has already added a UNLV offer to his board, but the Wildcats are clearly making him a priority as they look to strengthen an area that needs more long-term depth.
The interest makes plenty of sense for a roster that is still leaning on younger bigs and trying to avoid the kind of frontcourt strain that showed up last season when injuries piled up. Kansas State already has Nash Stark, Jaylen Alexander and Devin Hutcherson committed in the 2026 class, and adding a center like Deng would fit the broader push to rebuild the roster with more size and stability inside. [Read more 🡒]
National Buzz Around Kansas State Just Got Very Real
Kansas States offseason buzz has started to travel beyond Manhattan, and the national conversation is beginning to catch up. CBS Sports recently put the Wildcats fourth among the Big 12 teams most likely to win the conference, a sign that this program is being viewed as more than just a solid returner in a league that rarely leaves much room at the top.
A big reason for that optimism is the change on the sideline, with Collin Klein stepping into his first head-coaching job after already carrying plenty of familiarity with the program. He has made it clear he expects this group to develop quickly, and quarterback Avery Johnson is viewed as one of the players who could help make that jump real if Kansas State can turn early confidence into the kind of fast start that changes a season. [Read more 🡒]
K-State Fans Wont Love What This NBA Moment Revived
Bennett Stirtz is headed to the NBA after a two-year rise that kept adding fuel to the resume, and his path will look even better now that hes done it with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Across those college seasons, he averaged 19.5 points, 1.7 steals and five rebounds, the kind of production that makes every program in the region think twice about recruiting misses and developmental upside.
For Kansas State fans, the old familiar sting comes from more than just Stirtzs ascent. The article also points to former Wildcats Nate Johnson and Onyenso finding their own NBA entry points, with Johnson now in Oklahoma City and Onyenso headed to Detroit, a reminder that K-State talent is still reaching the league even as another name from the area becomes impossible to ignore. What lingers is how a moment from Stirtzs college career against the Wildcats still fits so neatly into the larger story of what might have been. [Read more 🡒]