The 124th Sunflower Showdown arrives with Kansas and Kansas State headed in different directions, and the gap is pretty clear in the way the game is being framed. K-State comes in as a one-touchdown favorite, while Lance Leipold’s Kansas team is trying to end a brutal 17-game skid against its in-state rival.
Around Kansas on SI, the prediction split goes right down the middle.
One contributor is sticking with Kansas, and not quietly. The case starts with the length of the losing streak: “Seventeen years is far too long for this losing skid to last.”
That pick also leans on the idea that Leipold knows what is hanging over this matchup, even if his rivalry record has been disappointing. The offense, after showing something late in the loss to Utah, is expected to carry that into a stronger start here, with Andy Kotelnicki’s group seen as capable of coming out aggressive against a Kansas State team that has struggled.
The other pick goes the opposite way and expects Kansas State to take care of business. That view points to how much is on the line for both teams.
The Wildcats have dropped two in a row and need a win to settle things down, while Kansas is trying to keep its bowl hopes alive and maybe help Leipold’s standing beyond this season. Even after KU was picked apart last week by Utah quarterback Devon Dampier, the belief here is that something similar could happen again.
Avery Johnson is expected to get a bounce-back type of performance, and Collin Klein’s first Sunflower Showdown as head coach adds another layer to the night. Kansas is projected to keep pace offensively, but the Wildcats are still the team predicted to finish the job.
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 🡒]
Kansas State Suddenly Has A Key Availability Concern Before Kickoff
Garrett Oakleys status is one of the main things to watch as Kansas State heads into its rivalry game against Kansas. The starting tight end is officially listed as out, which adds a notable wrinkle for the Wildcats as they get ready for a matchup that already has plenty of attention around it. For a team trying to settle in before kickoff, losing a key piece of the offense changes the feel of the buildup.
Oakleys absence leaves Kansas State with another question to answer in a game that comes with all the usual extra layers, from predictions and betting angles to weather and broadcast details. In a rivalry setting like this, availability can matter just as much as anything else, and the Wildcats now have one more thing to sort through before the opener. [Read more 🡒]