Kansas State’s backfield now has a familiar question hanging over it, and Saturday’s Sunflower Showdown may have provided the clearest answer yet.
Joe Jackson, who entered the season as the incumbent before losing the starting job to Rodney Fields, was back in the featured role against Kansas. He made the most of it, grinding out 27 carries for 159 yards and a touchdown in the Wildcats’ 35-24 win over the Jayhawks at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan. The victory was Kansas State’s 18th straight in the rivalry.
Jackson’s outing was a sharp reminder of what he can bring when the offense leans on him. He became the first K-State running back to top 100 yards since Big 12 play began, and his performance stood out even with Fields contributing 66 yards and a touchdown of his own.
That’s what makes the decision in front of first-year coach Collin Klien so interesting. Fields handled the bulk of the work during the non-conference portion of the schedule, and for a stretch it looked like he had seized the lead role for good. But once league play started, his efficiency dropped and so did his production.
Now Klien has to decide whether to keep splitting the job or move back to Jackson as the primary runner.
It’s a dilemma Kansas State has already seen before. A year ago, Chris Klieman started the season with Dylan Edwards as the top option, only for Jackson to climb to the front after a few games. Edwards is now with Kansas, and Jackson finds himself in a similar spot this season.
There’s still room for Fields and Jay Harris to contribute, but the question is whether the Wildcats are best served by giving Jackson the bulk of the touches and letting the rest of the backfield fill in around him.
The timing matters, too. Kansas State heads to Arizona State next, and that trip comes with real urgency. The Wildcats need a win to keep their Big 12 hopes alive, though even that may not be enough with Utah, BYU and Texas Tech all surging.
In Other News...
Logan Bartley Is Giving Kansas State A New Defensive Spark
Logan Bartley has been one of the more encouraging defensive developments for Kansas State this fall, and his impact was on full display in the Sunflower Showdown. The safety came up with a key second-half interception against Kansas that helped tilt the rivalry game in the Wildcats favor, a timely play from a player who has steadily earned more trust in the secondary.
It was Bartleys first collegiate interception, but it hardly felt like a one-off flash from a backup. He has piled up 25 tackles this season and, after the game, coach Collin Klein pointed to Bartleys work ethic and competitiveness as reasons the Wildcats keep getting more out of him. For a defense looking for stability and playmaking, Bartley is beginning to provide a little of both. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State May Need This Surprise Lineup Fix Longer Than Expected
Kansas State had to get creative last week when Garrett Oakley went down, and the answer was an unusual one: freshman tackle Oliver Miller shifted over to tight end against Kansas. It is the kind of emergency move that can happen in a pinch, but Millers willingness to jump in and handle the assignment has apparently made a real impression on the coaching staff.
Collin Klein said Millers adaptability stood out, and he also suggested the Wildcats may keep using him there as long as Oakley remains sidelined. For a team trying to keep its offense steady through an injury, the bigger question now is whether this temporary fix turns into a longer-term piece of the plan. [Read more 🡒]
Collin Klein Just Showed How Much K-State Trusts Joe Jackson
Joe Jacksons work in Kansas States 35-24 win over Kansas went well beyond a productive afternoon on the stat sheet. The running back piled up 159 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries, but the bigger sign of his importance came in the way the Wildcats leaned on him to steady the offense, especially after halftime when the ground game became the centerpiece of the plan.
Collin Klein had plenty to say afterward about Jacksons work ethic and leadership, and the trust showed up in the game flow. In the second half, Jackson carried the ball 11 straight times for 97 yards, helping Kansas State control the clock and close out the fourth quarter with the kind of physical, possession-heavy football the Wildcats wanted when the stakes were highest. [Read more 🡒]