Kansas State’s first-year head coach is finding out quickly that the job is about a lot more than calling plays.
For Collin Klein, the biggest change in Manhattan has been stepping away from the hands-on rhythm of a coordinator or position coach and into the more detached role of running the whole operation. That means less time in the weeds and more trust placed on the assistants around him.
Klein addressed that challenge as the Wildcats get ready for Saturday’s season opener against Nicholls at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
"The good part about that is with the way practices have been structured and the way that my whole life as a playcaller and then even as a coach," Klein said. "Because you're right there on the field, because I've played and been out there on the field, I've had to reorganize my notes a little bit, I can't have this nice little area where you can write stuff down and do all that."
The adjustment is a real one, but Klein isn’t walking into it cold. He spent the last two seasons as offensive coordinator at Texas A & M, and before that he held the same job at Kansas State. He also worked as a position coach earlier in his career.
Just as important, he’s been shaped by two of the biggest names in the program’s coaching history. Klein learned under Bill Snyder and later worked on Chris Klieman’s staff, and he has said more than once that those experiences have stayed with him.
That background is part of why Kansas State looks like more than just a solid Big 12 team on paper. The Wildcats were projected by conference media to land in the middle of the league, but there’s also a belief that they could be one of college football’s sleepers. Some oddsmakers like the schedule, too, since Kansas State does not play BYU, Texas Tech or Utah, the three teams viewed as the Big 12’s top tier.
And if Klein handles the jump to head coach cleanly, that could be the thing that separates a good season from something much bigger.
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Kansas States early buzz for the 2026 football season is starting to take shape around a handful of players who could help define what the first year under Collin Klein looks like. The offensive line enters camp with some injury-related questions, which makes right tackle Gus Hawkins especially important as the Wildcats try to settle the front and give the offense a reliable edge.
On defense, the conversation stretches across a few possible breakout names before narrowing to linebacker Gabe Powers and transfer defensive end Gregory as players who could end up carrying more weight than the depth chart suggests. For a team changing coaches and trying to establish a new identity quickly, finding a few dependable rise-from-nowhere contributors would go a long way toward making the transition feel a lot smoother. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State's Late Arrival Is Suddenly In The Secondary Mix
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Miller was ranked the 14th-best JUCO cornerback in the Class of 2026 by 247Sports, and he also comes with a notable high school and junior college rsum. Add in the fact that he is related to NFL player Kenneth Gainwell, and there is a little more intrigue around a player who has gone from after-the-fact addition to someone competing for either a starting job or a useful relief role. For Kansas State, the timing is the story, but the bigger question is how quickly a late arrival can translate that background into real snaps. [Read more 🡒]
Collin Kleins NCAA Stance Puts Avery Johnsons Future In Focus
The NCAAs new five-year eligibility rule has opened a fresh lane for older college players, allowing student-athletes to compete for five years after turning 19. Kansas State coach Collin Klein came out in favor of the change, pointing to the value it can provide for players as they navigate their careers and development.
For the Wildcats, the rule also naturally puts Avery Johnsons future back into view. Johnson is already listed as a senior, but the new framework could create room for another season in Manhattan if he chooses to take it, though he has not addressed that possibility publicly. [Read more 🡒]