Tag: Kansas State Wildcats

Joe Jackson helps Kansas State hand Colorado its fifth straight loss

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Joe Jackson rushed for 142 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries to lead Kansas State to a 24-14 victory Saturday over Colorado at Manhattan, Kan.

The Wildcats (6-6, 5-4 Big 12) became bowl eligible with the victory. It will be their sixth bowl appearance in seven seasons under coach Chris Klieman.

Colorado (3-9, 1-8) lost its last five games in coach Deion Sanders’ third season with the Buffaloes.

Colorado started Kaidon Salter at quarterback after electing to redshirt true freshman Julian Lewis after Lewis played in four games, the limit to keep redshirt status.

Salter completed 14 of 25 pass attempts for 172 yards with no touchdowns and an interception. He rushed for 63 yards on 15 carries.

Kansas State’s Avery Johnson was 10 of 17 for 115 yards.

Kansas State took a 14-7 lead with 4:32 left in the third quarter on Jackson’s second touchdown run of the game, this one from 1 yard.

Kansas State scored on its next possession on a 35-yard field goal by Luis Rodriguez with 10:23 left to increase the lead to 17-7.

Colorado answered with Micah Welch’s second 1-yard touchdown run that capped a nine-play, 75-yard drive with 7:03 remaining.

Jackson’s 17-yard touchdown run with 2:37 left completed Kansas State’s ensuing drive that took eight plays over 75 yards.

Colorado turned the ball over on downs at the Kansas State 42 with 1:13 left.

Jackson’s 4-yard score capped a 13-play, 74-yard drive that took almost half of the quarter to open the game. Kansas State led 7-0 with 7:40 left in the first quarter.

Kansas State maintained the lead when Qua Moss blocked Alejandro Mata’s 39-yard field-goal attempt with 58 seconds left in the first quarter.

Colorado went 84 yards in 11 plays, culminating with 1-yard scoring run by Micah Welch with 18 seconds left in the half, tying the game at 7.

The Buffaloes prolonged the drive by converting a third-and-17 play on a screen that went 38 yards from Salter to Omarion Miller.

–Field Level Media

Colorado aiming to contain Kansas State rushing attack

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Colorado coach Deion Sanders confirmed that true freshman quarterback Julian Lewis will not play in Saturday’s regular-season finale at Kansas State, thereby preserving his redshirt status.

“I’ve made a decision that JuJu is gonna redshirt,” Sanders said. “That’s my decision. I want what’s best for the kid, what’s best for his family, and what’s best for this wonderful university.”

Lewis has played in the last four games, the limit to keep a redshirt year, and started the last two after Kaidon Salter started earlier this season.

Salter will start against for Colorado (3-8, 1-7 Big 12) against Kansas State (5-6, 4-4) in Manhattan, Kan.

Lewis finishes the season having completed 52 of 94 passes for 589 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.

Kansas State coach Chris Klieman and his players spent much of Monday’s weekly press conference not talking about Colorado but instead discussing Klieman’s emotional comments after the Wildcats’ 51-47 loss at Utah last weekend.

Klieman broke down during his opening statement in the postgame press conference.

The seventh-year coach addressed fans who are calling for a new coach and different players by saying he was “tired of it.”

“I care for the kids, and I’m not going to apologize,” Klieman said Monday. “I care for our guys, and I’m gonna always have their back.”

Kansas State captain Damian Ilalio said Klieman has earned the Wildcats’ respect.

“Some people call him emotional, and some people have theories on who he is as a person, but I’ll be the first to tell you that he just dedicates everything he is into this game and this team,” Ilalio said.

To become bowl eligible, Kansas State needs a victory over Colorado, which has lost four straight games.

Colorado’s rush defense, which ranks No. 134 out of 136 FBS teams, allowed Arizona State to gain 355 yards on the ground in last week’s 42-17 defeat.

Kansas State is coming off a program-record 472-yard rushing performance at Utah.

Joe Jackson also broke a school record with his 293 yards on 24 carries with three touchdowns.

–Field Level Media

Kansas State gets past Oklahoma State in Big 12 matchup

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Kansas State’s Avery Johnson threw a touchdown pass, Joe Jackson ran for one in the fourth quarter, and the Wildcats won 14-6 over the Oklahoma State Cowboys in a Big 12 matchup on Saturday afternoon in Stillwater, Okla.

The Wildcats (5-5, 4-3) saw Johnson throw for 177 yards and a score by completing 15 of 28 passes with one interception. Jayce Brown caught three balls for 82 yards and a TD.

Jackson had 14 carries for 69 yards and scored, while cornerback Zashon Rich recorded an interception and a fumble recovery as the Wildcats won in Stillwater for the second time in 26 years.

The last-place Cowboys (1-9, 0-7) moved the ball but could not finish drives. They totaled 373 yards but committed five turnovers.

Zane Flores went 24 of 36 for 233 yards with two interceptions.

The Cowboys were able to tally on their second series. Logan Ward capped it with a 47-yard field goal to make it 3-0 at 8:37.

The Cowboys’ defense continued to be stout and kept the Wildcats scoreless in the first quarter, marking the first time the home side had done that to an opponent this season. Ward added a center-cut 47-yarder on the first play of the second quarter.

Kansas State forced the first turnover when a strong rush led to Flores being hit on a deep pass attempt. The fluttering throw was hauled in by Rich for an interception.

While the Cowboys outplayed the visitors most of the first half, leading 193-133 in yardage, Kansas State took a 7-6 edge at 7:07 of the second quarter when Johnson hit Brown on a 34-yard slant.

Ward fell short on a 55-yard attempt, and the Wildcats’ Luis Rodriguez missed from 38 yards in the half’s closing minutes.

In the third quarter, the teams traded turnovers in the first five minutes as the Cowboys squandered a scoring chance, but the Wildcats moved into scoring position when Ryan Davis sacked Flores, forcing a fumble that Rex Van Wyhe recovered.

Jackson gave Kansas State breathing room with a 15-yard TD run on fourth down with 12:31 left to end a 70-yard series.

The Wildcats’ Daniel Cobbs picked off Trent Howland’s halfback pass to end a scoring drive with 8 1/2 minutes left.

The visitors’ defense made a defensive stop in the red zone in the final minute to preserve the victory.

–Field Level Media

Sep 6, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita (1) looks to pass the ball during the second quarter of the game against the Weber State Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images

Arizona hosts Kansas State in nonconference Wildcat battle

Posted on | by Field Level Media

They’re both Wildcats and they both play in the Big 12 Conference, but as Kansas State and Arizona get ready to square off in a primetime game on Friday in Tucson, Ariz., they’ll be concluding the nonconference portion of their schedules.

The game, between two teams seemingly headed in opposite directions, was scheduled before Arizona moved to the Big 12 for the 2024 season, so it doesn’t count in the conference standings.

Kansas State (1-2) lost 24-21 to Army on Saturday, when their defense was worn down by Army’s run-heavy offense. The Black Knights held possession for nearly 27 minutes in the second half and 40 minutes, 32 seconds overall.

Arizona (2-0) has defeated its first two opponents by lopsided scores. This week’s game will actually be the second straight against Wildcats, as Arizona trounced Weber State 48-3 Saturday behind five touchdown passes from Noah Fifita.

Fifita completed his first 14 passes and finished 17 of 22 for 373 yards.

“We came into this game expecting to win, and we did that,” Arizona head coach Brent Brennan said after the game. “The offense was rolling. And for the second straight week, the defense held an opponent without a touchdown.

“We’ve got a big game coming this week, and we’ve got some work to do in the accountability department. We were heavily penalized tonight. Some of them were avoidable and some of them were just football. But we’re going to dive into that and make sure we’re not putting ourselves into a position where we hurt our chances to get the result we want.”

K-State hasn’t gotten the results it wants. After losing a close game to Iowa State in Dublin, Ireland, the Wildcats barely escaped against FCS opponent North Dakota before being outmuscled by Army.

Army ran 41 consecutive scrimmage plays in the second half, interrupted only by a 99-yard kickoff return by K-State’s Bryce Noernberg and a botched kickoff by the Wildcats.

“I’m dang proud of that football team that we have in there,” K-State coach Chris Klieman said after the loss. “I’m disappointed in the loss. I told the guys, it ain’t sunny and 70 every day, and when it ain’t sunny and 70, who’s got to stand up? It’s got to be me.

“And I know that we have a good football team.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 16, 2024; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell watches his team play the Cincinnati Bearcats at Jack Trice Stadium. The Iowa State Cyclones won the game 34-17. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images

No. 18 Iowa State tops No. 24 Kansas State for 1st 10-win season

Posted on | by Field Level Media

No. 18 Iowa State scored 14 points off turnovers and defeated No. 24 Kansas State 29-21 on Saturday on a frigid night in Ames, Iowa.

The Cyclones (10-2, 7-2 Big 12) will face Arizona State in the Big 12 Championship Game on Dec. 7 if BYU beats Houston later Saturday. The Cyclones last won a conference football championship in 1912 when they were members of the Missouri Valley Conference.

Iowa State has 10 wins in a season for the first time in school history.

The Wildcats (8-4, 5-4) have lost three of their past four games.

Rocco Becht threw for 137 yards and two touchdowns for the Cyclones. Avery Johnson racked up 220 yards passing and three touchdowns for the Wildcats (8-4, 5-4), who have lost three of their past four games.

Trailing 24-14, Kansas State looked poised to make it a one-score game midway through the third quarter after a first-and-goal at Iowa State’s 5-yard line. But two short gains set up a 21-yard field-goal attempt that was blocked.

The Wildcats converted on their next possession as Johnson hit Garrett Oakley for a 7-yard touchdown to trim their deficit to 24-21 with 4:41 left in the third. Kansas State stopped Iowa State on fourth-and-2 at the Kansas State 7. On the Wildcats’ ensuing possession, Johnson was called for intentional grounding in the end zone, extending the Cyclones’ lead to 26-21 with 13:22 left in the game.

Iowa State then got a 20-yard field goal by Kyle Konrardy with 6:16 left to cap the scoring.

Johnson’s throw on the first play of the game was ruled a backward pass, which was recovered by Iowa State at the Kansas State 27-yard line. Six plays later, Becht found Jayden Higgins for a 15-yard touchdown.

After going three-and-out on their second drive, the Wildcats found their footing. Johnson found Jayce Brown for a 28-yard touchdown to cap a 10-play, 83-yard drive and tie the score at 7-7.

Iowa State regained the lead early in the second quarter on a 41-yard field goal by Konrardy. Kansas State then turned the ball over again when Keagan Johnson fumbled at the Wildcats’ own 30 after making a reception. Five plays later, Becht found Jaylin Noel in the back of the end zone for a 17-7 lead.

Kansas State got back into the game when Johnson threw a 65-yard touchdown to Brown to cut the Wildcats’ deficit to 17-14 with 5:49 left in the first half.

Becht’s 5-yard run with 43 seconds left in the second quarter gave Iowa State a 24-14 halftime lead.

–Field Level Media

Oct 26, 2024; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats defensive end Chiddi Obiazor (8) celebrates a safety against Kansas Jayhawks during the second quarter at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images

Chris Tennant’s 51-yard FG fuels No. 16 Kansas State past Kansas

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Chris Tennant tied his career long with a 51-yard field goal in the final two minutes, helping No. 16 Kansas State to a 29-27 victory over in-state rival Kansas on Saturday in Manhattan, Kan.

K-State extended its winning streak over Kansas to 16 games.

Avery Johnson was 19-of-34 for 253 yards and two touchdowns for the Wildcats (7-1, 4-1 Big 12). Johnson also had a rushing touchdown.

K-State opened the second half with a quick scoring drive, capped by Johnson’s 10-yard run. The big play on the drive was a 54-yard run by DJ Giddens.

Kansas (2-6, 1-4) answered with Devin Neal’s 24-yard rushing touchdown. The extra-point attempt hit the upright, making the score 23-20. Neal’s touchdown was the 44th of his career, making him the all-time TD leader in Kansas history.

Jalon Daniels then put Kansas ahead 27-23 on an 8-yard touchdown run up the middle with 36 seconds left in the third quarter.

Kansas State drew within 27-26 on a 28-yard field goal by Tennant early in the fourth quarter.

Kansas State went for it on fourth-and-12 from the Kansas 42 with just over four minutes left. An incomplete pass gave the ball back to the Jayhawks. But Daniels fumbled and K-State got the ball at the KU 48 with 3:44 left. The Wildcats’ drive lasted 2:02 and ended with Tennant’s 51-yard field goal with 1:42 left.

Daniels’ rush on fourth down with a minute left was short, and the Wildcats held on.

Kansas opened the scoring with an 11-play, 75-yard drive on its opening possession. Sevion Morrison bounced around the right end for a 38-yard touchdown to cap the drive.

K-State answered with a 13-play, 95-yard drive. Johnson hit tight end Will Anciaux with a 24-yard touchdown pass.

On the ensuing kickoff, Kansas returner Jameel Croft Jr. caught the ball at his own 1-yard line before stepping out of bounds. On the next play, Neal was stopped in the backfield for a safety. On the next drive, Johnson found another tight end, Garrett Oakley, on a 2-yard touchdown on a jump pass for a 16-7 lead.

Kansas responded with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Daniels to Luke Grimm to cap a 75-yard drive. The Jayhawks appeared to be driving for a go-ahead score late in the first half when Daniels threw an interception in the end zone.

–Field Level Media

Oct 19, 2024; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Kansas State Wildcats coach Chris Klieman speaks with the media after defeating the West Virginia Mountaineers at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images

Seeking Sweet 16: Kansas State vies to extend run in Sunflower Showdown

Posted on | by Field Level Media

No. 16 Kansas State will seek its 16th straight victory over in-state rival Kansas when the teams meet in a Big 12 game Saturday night in Manhattan, Kan.

While Wildcats fans will boast about the longest winning streak in the history of the Sunflower Showdown, Kansas fans will point to the fact that the Jayhawks still have won more than they have lost in the all-time series.

For the coaches, those are just numbers in the past. The only thing that matters is Saturday.

“Because it’s KU vs. K-State, we’re not going to have that problem this week,” Kansas State coach Chris Klieman said Monday when it was suggested his team lacked energy at the start of its game last Saturday vs. West Virginia. “Just because of the respect both programs have for each other.”

That was Klieman’s way of saying the records don’t matter. The two programs aren’t fond of each other.

The Jayhawks (2-5, 1-3) snapped a five-game losing streak with a 42-14 victory over Houston last Saturday. It was a relief for Kansas coach Lance Leipold.

“We were able to put pressure on the quarterback,” Leipold said of the difference between Saturday’s contest and the five previous games. “We were able to create a few turnovers and get some momentum.

“Offensively, we were able to take some shots and get the ball down the field.

“This team has been very fragile for a while, because we’ve been so close. For us to have a win of this margin is something we’ve been waiting for.”

Kansas defensive back Cobee Bryant tied a school record with three interceptions against Houston. Bryant was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for his performance, which also included three tackles and one tackle-for-loss.

The Jayhawks now must switch their focus from celebration to preparation.

“I think (the players have) handled it extremely well,” Leipold said Monday. “They came in with a good attitude today, obviously pleased with the good outcome Saturday, but understanding that it’s one game and we have plenty to improve on.

“We have a very good opponent coming up, and we’re going to have to travel to Manhattan to play a good football team.”

The Wildcats (6-1, 3-1) also won last Saturday, defeating West Virginia 45-18 in arguably their best game of the season. Avery Johnson completed 19 of 29 passes for a career-high 298 yards and three touchdowns. When the Mountaineers took away the running game, holding DJ Giddens to a season-low 57 yards, the Wildcats took to the air.

“It was not a very good performance in the first half,” Klieman said. “Two plays solidified or gave us the chance to be successful. One was the fourth-down stop that we had at the end of the first half (which allowed K-State to take a 17-10 lead into the locker room).

“The other one was when we had a fourth-and-6 or fourth-and-7 in the first drive of the second half and we decided to go for it. Avery did a great job making a rusher miss, and Ty (Bowman) made a big catch and got a first down. We scored on that drive and ended up playing really good football in the second half.”

But again, that’s in the past.

“(Kansas) has a lot of really good players on both sides of the ball,” Klieman said. “We’ve got to come up with a really good plan.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 19, 2024; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Kansas State Wildcats quarterback Avery Johnson (2) throws a pass during the first quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images

No. 17 Kansas State rides QB Avery Johnson’s arm in rout of West Virginia

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Avery Johnson threw for career highs in yards (298) and touchdowns (three) in his eighth career start as No. 17 Kansas State dominated host West Virginia 45-18 on Saturday night.

On a night K-State (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) struggled to get any traction on the ground, Johnson found three different receivers for touchdowns. The Wildcats entered the game second in the conference with 241 rushing yards per game but was held to a season-low 114.

Quarterback Garrett Greene was 9-of-19 for 85 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions, for the Mountaineers (3-4, 2-2 Big 12). He did not play in the second half due to an upper-body injury.

Kansas State scored on its first two possessions of the second half to open a 31-10 lead, with two key plays helping the Wildcats. On the first drive, they converted a fourth-and-5 when Johnson escaped a near sack to hit tight end Ty Bowman for a first down. Three plays later, Johnson found Garrett Oakley for a 16-yard touchdown.

On the next drive, Johnson hit DJ Giddens on a screen pass and Giddens took it 53 yards to the West Virginia 1-yard line. Johnson found tight end Will Anciaux for a 1-yard touchdown.

After Giddens scored from a yard out to give K-State a 38-10 lead, West Virginia backup quarterback Nicco Marchiol hit Traylon Ray for a 12-yard touchdown, followed by a successful two-point conversion.

But Giddens’ second TD stretched the lead to 45-18.

After the teams traded field goals, Johnson hit Jadon Jackson on a 60-yard scoring strike with 21 seconds left in the first quarter to give K-State a 10-3 lead.

On West Virginia’s next possession, Marques Sigle picked off a Greene pass and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown and a two-score lead.

West Virginia responded with a 13-play, 70-yard drive. Greene found Hudson Clement on a 7-yard touchdown on third and goal to cap the drive. West Virginia then had the ball at the K-State 3-yard line with a fourth-and-1 in the half’s final minute, but Greene’s pass was incomplete.

–Field Level Media

Sep 13, 2024; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats quarterback Avery Johnson (2) warms up before the start of a game against the Arizona Wildcats at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images

No. 13 Kansas State opens Big 12 slate at fellow unbeaten BYU

Posted on | by Field Level Media

No. 13 Kansas State and host BYU both look to remain unbeaten when the unfamiliar 3-0 squads clash on Saturday night in their Big 12 Conference opener in Provo, Utah.

These two schools have never met as conference opponents, splitting their eight previous meetings. The last time they squared off was in the 1997 Cotton Bowl, which BYU won with a game-saving interception. The last time K-State played in Provo was a 39-0 loss in 1977.

Kansas State coach Chris Klieman is anxious to see how his team handles the new surroundings and a new rivalry.

“It’s going to be a tough environment,” he said. “A lot of respect for (BYU coach) Kalani (Sitake) and BYU. It’s going to be a heck of an atmosphere and a great test for us.

“Two weeks ago, we were talking about humidity and heat (before K-State’s game at Tulane) and now we’re talking about being cool and elevated (altitude). What a crazy league we’re in.”

BYU trounced Wyoming 34-14 on the road last weekend.

K-State showed newcomer Arizona what life in the Big 12 might be like, scoring the final 31 points in a 31-7 win over the then-No. 20 Wildcats.

While Arizona is now in the Big 12, it was a nonconference game since it was scheduled before Arizona joined the conference.

The Wildcats and Cougars rank near the middle of the Big 12 in scoring offense at seventh and ninth, respectively. They’re in the top half defensively, ranking fourth and fifth, respectively. But how they’ve gotten there is different.

The BYU offense is doing it through the air, averaging 289.3 passing yards per game, fifth in the conference. K-State, meanwhile, is second in the league with 244.3 rushing yards per game. BYU is ranked fourth in rushing defense, allowing just 105.7 yards per game.

Sitake knows the competition is going to get tougher, now that the conference season is starting. He believes that his team is ready for the challenge.

“It didn’t go perfectly, but there were some really good things to work on, some really good things to get better at,” he said following BYU’s victory over Wyoming. “I feel like we got better from last week to this week, and I am looking forward to making an improvement from this week to next.”

BYU’s Jake Retzlaff completed 22 of 36 passes for 291 yards with three touchdowns and one pick. He was also BYU’s leading rusher against the Cowboys with six carries for 62 yards.

K-State’s Avery Johnson rushed for 110 yards and was 14-of-23 passing for 156 yards with two touchdowns against Arizona. Johnson passed the credit around.

“It starts with Coach Riles (offensive coordinator Conor Riley),” Johnson said. “He came out firing. And credit Coach Klieman. We could have opened with a three-and-out but he said, ‘Go for it’ in our own end and we ended up with a 15-play drive.

“But it all starts with Coach Riles.”

–Field Level Media