Kansas State is heading into Big 12 play with an unbeaten record, but the first real test arrives fast.
The Wildcats travel to Cincinnati on Saturday to open conference action against another undefeated team, and first-year coach Collin Klein is already bracing for the league to tighten up in a hurry.
"It will be extremely competitive," Klein said. "The margins are thin, and whichever teams do the little things well and consistently, are going to win a lot of games just because the margins are so thin. I think that's across the board, not just in the Big 12."
That kind of warning makes sense when you look around the conference. The Big 12 was expected to be a three-team race in the preseason, with Utah, BYU and defending champion Texas Tech leading the conversation. But the league has more unbeaten teams than expected, and Kansas State is part of that group.
Utah has looked the part so far, rolling past Idaho, Arkansas and Utah State while giving up only 24 points. BYU already owns a conference win after beating Arizona in Week Two and has also handled Utah Tech and Colorado State. Texas Tech has probably faced the toughest road to this point, opening with Abilene Christian before grinding out wins over Oregon State and Houston.
Cincinnati has also started strong. The Bearcats opened with an impressive win over Boston College and then hammered Western Carolina 62-10. Still, last week’s close call against Miami of Ohio left some questions hanging.
West Virginia has been the surprise of the undefeated group. The Mountaineers shocked No. 25 Virginia, a result that could give them momentum as the season goes on.
Kansas State, meanwhile, is coming off a non-conference stretch that went smoothly enough to keep the Wildcats unbeaten, but the calendar changes now. Saturday starts the part of the season where every possession matters a little more and every mistake gets louder.
There was also some recruiting news for the Wildcats this week. Kansas State and Klein picked up their first commitment in the 2028 class, with linebacker Taylen Washington of Derby High School announcing his decision on social media. Washington is listed at 6-foot-3 and 208 pounds.
One of the next questions for the Wildcats is simple enough to ask and tricky enough to matter: How can Kansas State get the tight ends more involved on offense?
In Other News...
Collin Klein Is Sending A Clear Message As Big 12 Play Starts
Kansas State has opened the season with a level of discipline that stands out nationally, and the numbers back it up. Through three games, the Wildcats have been flagged just eight times, a pace that trails only one college football team, which is the kind of early-season detail coaches usually love to see as Big 12 play begins.
Still, Collin Klein is not treating that as a reason to relax. He made clear after the Tulane game that the penalties Kansas State did commit left him frustrated, especially the ones the Wildcats can control, and he pointed to discipline as an area that still needs tightening even with the overall count staying low. For a team trying to carry clean football into conference play, the standard is clear, and Klein does not sound interested in letting a good early trend hide the rough spots. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State Still Has One Missing Piece As Big 12 Play Starts
Kansas States passing game has found ways to move the ball early this season, but one of its most intriguing spots has yet to fully open up. The tight end room, led by Garrett Oakley and Linkon Cure, has put together only modest production so far, with 15 catches for 174 yards and no touchdowns, even as the staff continues to view the position as a meaningful part of the offense.
Collin Klein said opposing defenses are clearly paying attention to the tight ends and trying to limit them, which helps explain why Avery Johnson has leaned more heavily toward wide receivers and running backs. Still, the expectation inside the program is that role will grow as Big 12 play settles in, and Cure remains the name to watch as a potential breakout piece and the tight end of the future. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas State May Be Building Something Bigger With Its 2028 Start
Kansas State is already working well ahead of the usual recruiting calendar, and the 2028 class is starting to take shape through early contact and an emphasis on getting in front of prospects before the rest of the field catches up. The Wildcats have made in-state talent a clear priority, using those relationships to get on the board with players who fit the programs long-term vision.
One of the early pieces is Taylen Washington, a versatile athlete who looks likely to end up at linebacker and was offered by Kansas State before other schools entered the picture. For a staff trying to build a strong class from the ground up, those early wins matter because they help establish momentum, especially when the goal is to keep top local talent from drifting away. [Read more 🡒]