The Kansas State Wildcats walked out of Tempe with more questions than answers after a 28-17 loss to Arizona State on Saturday, a defeat that wiped away the lift they had picked up a week earlier against rival Kansas.
Kansas State is now 4-3 overall and 1-3 in the Big 12, and the loss exposed the same issues that have followed the Wildcats through their defeats this season.
The biggest problem was the ground game. Joe Jackson and Rodney Fields never found a rhythm against Arizona State’s run defense, and Kansas State’s offense spent too much of the day asking backup quarterback Jacob Knuth to carry the load. With the rushing attack bottled up, the Wildcats had trouble generating enough offense to stay in control.
Knuth at least held up under the pressure. In the first game Avery Johnson has missed in three seasons, Knuth completed 26 of 41 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown, then added another score on the ground. He has spent the last three seasons as a backup after starting his career with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, and his showing gave Kansas State something to work with if Johnson is sidelined for longer than expected.
There is no timetable yet for Johnson’s return, though coach Collin Klein is expected to address his status during his weekly press conference before Saturday’s road game at Colorado.
The other recurring issue was on defense, where Kansas State again had trouble stopping the run. That pattern has shown up in every loss the Wildcats have taken this year, including earlier defeats to Cincinnati and Houston. Arizona State followed the same script and controlled the game on the ground.
That is a tough development for a unit that was supposed to be Kansas State’s strength this season. The Wildcats came into the year with a reputation as a dark horse Big 12 contender, helped by a schedule that avoided Texas Tech, Utah and BYU, the conference’s top three teams. Instead, the defensive problems are threatening to drag the season in a different direction, and they are the kind Kansas State has to fix quickly if it wants to climb back into the race.
In Other News...
Former Kansas State Players Are Making Noise All Over College Football
The ripple effect from Kansas States roster building has been easy to spot well beyond Manhattan, with former Wildcats turning up in key moments across the college football map in Week 8. Tobi Osunsanmi helped Indiana pull out an overtime win at Michigan with three tackles and two sacks, while DeVon Rice made his mark for Hawaii by scoring three touchdowns in a victory over Northern Illinois.
Jemyri Davis added another strong showing to the list, putting together a career night for Memphis in its overtime win against East Carolina with seven catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns. For Kansas State, it is another reminder that its former players are continuing to make an impact in pressure-packed games, even if they are doing it in different colors this fall. [Read more 🡒]
Collin Klein Sounds Fed Up With What Kansas State Must Fix
The frustration was plain after Kansas States 28-17 loss to Arizona State, with Collin Klein leaving little doubt that the Wildcats have work to do in several areas. He pointed directly to the offensive line and the struggles on third down, two issues that helped stall a night when the offense never found much rhythm.
Jacob Knuth drew a positive mention from Klein for the way he competed and handled the physical side of the game, a small bright spot in an otherwise disappointing result. Klein also made it clear the fixes have to come from everywhere, not just the players on the field, as Kansas State looks for cleaner execution from both the roster and the coaching staff moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Felix Anudike-Uzomah Is Finally Forcing His Way Into Chiefs Plans
Felix Anudike-Uzomah is finally getting the kind of runway the Chiefs envisioned when they made him a first-round pick in 2023. After a start to his pro career slowed by surgeries on both hamstrings, he has worked back into the lineup and started all five games this season, giving Kansas City a healthier look off the edge and a chance to see more of the former Kansas State standout in a real role.
For Anudike-Uzomah, the shift has been about more than just being available. Injuries had repeatedly interrupted his progress, including a complete tear of his right hamstring and lingering trouble with the left, but the early returns have been enough for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to note how much better he has looked and how much more he is affecting the field. The bigger question now is whether this is the point where his development finally starts matching the Chiefs long-term plans. [Read more 🡒]