Kansas State will be without one of its starting tight ends when it meets Kansas.
Garrett Oakley is listed as out for the Wildcats, and the full injury report has been released ahead of the matchup.
The betting line has Kansas State favored by 4 1/2 points, with the total set at 55 1/2. On the money line, K-State is -190 and Kansas is +160, according to BetMGM as of Thursday, Oct. 15.
The television and streaming info is also set for the game. Kansas State and Houston will air on FS1 and stream live on FUBO.
The Big 12 slate around the matchup includes Cincinnati at West Virginia at 11 a.m., Kansas at Kansas State at 11 a.m., Arizona State at Texas Tech at 2:30 p.m., TCU at Baylor at 6 p.m., Notre Dame at BYU at 6:30 p.m., Oklahoma State at Houston at 6:30 p.m. and Utah at Colorado at 9:30 p.m.
There is also some split opinion on how this one plays out.
Wyatt Wheeler wrote that Kansas State’s last two opponents have had dominant run games, while Kansas does not. He pointed to the Jayhawks’ inconsistent quarterback play and said K-State’s defense has been tested differently than it will be here.
Wheeler added, “I’ve been close to picking Kansas at different points since the Houston loss, and I’ve gone back and forth throughout the week. I’m leaning toward K-State 28-24, but wouldn’t be surprised if the streak ends.”
Jordan Guskey sees it differently. He wrote, “This is going to be the year that Kansas finally comes away with a win against Kansas State again, and the lengthy losing streak ends.
KU is going to take advantage of a team that’s finding its way with a new head coach, and put together a complete performance against a significant opponent. Look for the Jayhawks to win 27-21.”
A weather radar update was also posted in the buildup to kickoff.
In Other News...
Kansas States Rivalry Win Raised One Big Question About This Team
Kansas State kept its grip on the Sunflower Showdown with another win over Kansas, rolling to a 35-24 victory at Bill Snyder Family Stadium and stretching the streak to 18 straight in the rivalry. The Wildcats leaned on a ground attack that piled up more than 300 rushing yards, while the defense delivered the kind of timely stops that usually decide these games, including a key interception by Logan Bartley. Joe Jackson emerged as the game MVP, giving the Wildcats a performance that fit the physical, old-school feel of the rivalry.
Still, the bigger takeaway for Kansas State is not just that it handled Kansas again, but what the game may say about the rest of the season. The offense showed it can control a game on the ground, the defense made enough disruptive plays to matter, and special teams and coaching each played a part in a performance that deserved a full set of grades. The question now is whether this was simply a rivalry statement, or a more useful snapshot of what the Wildcats can be when everything lines up. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Just Tightened Its Grip On This Rivalry Again
Kansas State was staring at an early 10-point hole in its annual Sunflower Sundown matchup, but the Wildcats settled in and turned the rivalry back their way again. Avery Johnson helped steady the offense with a strong two-way effort, throwing for 209 yards and a touchdown while adding 132 yards on the ground, and Joe Jackson gave the run game the kind of volume and finishing power that can change a game like this.
The rally pushed Kansas State to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in Big 12 play, while also extending its remarkable winning streak in the series to 19 straight. In a rivalry that tends to expose every weakness, the Wildcats found enough answers after the rough opening quarter to keep control of a matchup they have owned for years. [Read more 🡒]
Sunflower Showdown Suddenly Carries More Weight For Kansas State Than Usual
The 124th Sunflower Showdown already had the feel of a game that could tilt a season, but this one comes with a little more edge than usual for Kansas State. Kansas is heading in with a 17-game losing streak in the series, yet the buildup around this matchup has been split enough to make it feel less like a routine rivalry game and more like a test of where both programs really stand.
Contributors from Kansas on SI have leaned into that tension with their predictions and analysis, and the range of outcomes says plenty about the stakes. Some see a breakthrough coming for the Jayhawks, while others still trust Kansas State to handle business, with the result carrying weight not just in the standings but in the bigger coaching picture each side is trying to stabilize. [Read more 🡒]