Kansas State had a path to its first road win of the season even without its starting quarterback. Instead, a third-quarter call from Collin Klein helped turn the night in Arizona State’s favor, and the Wildcats left Mountain America Stadium with a 28-17 loss on Saturday, Oct. 24, in Tempe, Arizona.
The final result was frustrating enough on its own, but the collapse showed up across the board in the grades.
Jacob Knuth gave Kansas State enough at quarterback to make the game winnable. With Johnson out for the Wildcats, Knuth was a capable starting quarterback, and the offense’s problems had as much to do with coaching choices and a lack of a ground game as anything else.
The defense was shaky early after giving up a few explosive plays, then found a little more stability. But once the momentum swung late in the third quarter, it couldn’t produce the stops it needed against a freshman quarterback.
Special teams had its bright spots. Simon McClannan continues to impress as Kansas State's punter, and Sterling Lockett nearly sparked the Wildcats with a strong punt return that almost got them into the red zone. Still, a late illegal formation penalty on a punt became a costly 30-yard swing in Arizona State’s favor.
The biggest hit came on the sideline. Klein’s decision to go for it on fourth-and-12 late in the third quarter flipped the momentum and led to the loss.
Kansas State’s overall team grade landed at C-, a reflection of how close the Wildcats were to taking the game and how quickly it slipped away once the key decision went against them.
In Other News...
Kansas State Suddenly Has A Serious Avery Johnson Problem
Avery Johnsons absence against Arizona State changed the look of Kansas States offense in a hurry, and it came after the quarterback was hurt in the previous game against Kansas. With Johnson unavailable, fifth-year senior Jacob Knuth got the start, giving the Wildcats a very different answer at the most important position on the field.
The bigger concern for Kansas State is that there is still no clear timeline for Johnsons return. Collin Klein said the medical staff is continuing to evaluate the injury, leaving the Wildcats to wait and see how long they might have to manage without the quarterback who has been central to their plans. [Read more 🡒]
Collin Klein Sounds Fed Up With What Kansas State Must Fix
After Kansas States 28-17 loss to Arizona State, Collin Klein didnt sound interested in dressing up what went wrong. He pointed to the offensive line and the lack of success on third down as major issues, and his postgame tone made it clear the Wildcats know there is plenty to clean up if they want the offense to function more consistently.
Jacob Knuth drew praise for the way he fought through the game, with Klein commending his toughness and competitiveness in a difficult setting. Beyond that, the message was bigger than one player or one play - Klein said the entire operation, from the roster to the coaching staff, has room to improve as Kansas State looks to regroup and reset. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Let This One Slip Away For A Frustrating Reason
A night that had already asked a lot of Kansas State got even tougher in the third quarter, when a fourth-and-12 decision by Collin Klein turned into one of the game's biggest turning points. The Wildcats were still within striking distance against Arizona State on Oct. 24, and backup quarterback Jacob Knuth had given them enough to hang around after stepping in for Avery Johnson and operating efficiently through the air and on the ground.
But Kansas State could never fully take control because the offense could not get the run game going, finishing with only 84 rushing yards, while Arizona State found steadier answers with its ground attack and three-quarterback approach. Knuth did his part with 194 passing yards and a touchdown, plus a score on the ground, but the Wildcats were left looking back at a decision that helped swing momentum at the worst possible time in a 28-17 loss. [Read more 🡒]