Important Because It’s The Next One
Nov 15, 2023 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Will Howard pays attention to the Big 12 Conference standings. The Kansas State senior quarterback knows that the Wildcats must win out in order to have a chance for bigger things down the road.
No. 21 K-State, 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the Big 12, is still in the thick of things in the league race.
It all starts Saturday. K-State must beat 25th-ranked Kansas, 7-3 and 4-3, in Lawrence before finishing the regular season against Iowa State.
"We know at the end of the day that if we don't take care of business these next two weeks, none of (the standings) matters," Howard said. "We know. It's all in the back of our heads and we know the possibilities that could happen.
"We're just trying to take care of one thing at a time and not get ahead of ourselves."
The 121st edition of the Dillons Sunflower Showdown figures to be the most competitive game in the series in more than a decade. K-State takes a series-record 14-game winning streak into the 6 p.m. kickoff at Memorial Stadium.
Although K-State is 6-0 at home for the first time since 2012, it has been outscored by an average of 4.7 points in its three road losses this season, including a 33-30 overtime defeat at No. 7 Texas on November 4.
Winning on the road this season has proven difficult for the defending Big 12 Champions, who still remain one of the top teams in the league.
"It's proven to be tough for us," K-State head coach Chris Klieman said. "Right now, we've played well at times and not played well at times. On the flip side, we've played really well at home. For us, we have to bottle that up and take it on the road.
"I know it's going to be really loud and a really good environment."
K-State has won the last seven times in Lawrence by an average score of 42.4 to 13.1. That includes a 35-10 victory the last time the teams met there in 2021 in the Jayhawks' first season under head coach Lance Leipold.
Although the Wildcats prevailed, 47-27, last season in Manhattan, Kansas continues to improve under Leipold, who is 15-20 in his third season. This year, he has led the Jayhawks to their first winning season since 2008 while their seven wins in 10 games are their best since starting at 10-0 in 2007.
K-State remains focused on attacking each day this week.
"This is a big week just because it's the next week," senior All-American left guard Cooper Beebe said. "They're in the way of our goals and aspirations as a team, so that's why this is a big week."
Beebe added: "They believe it's their year, and they have a really good team. It's going to be a fun game for sure."
K-State's challenges on the road began with a 20-17 loss at Missouri on a SEC-record 61-yard field goal. Two weeks later, the Wildcats suffered a 29-21 loss at Oklahoma State before bouncing back with a resounding 38-21 win at Texas Tech.
After the Wildcats' three-point overtime loss at Texas, they stormed back last Saturday with a dominant 56-25 victory over Baylor in perhaps their best overall game of the league season.
"It's important that we are able to carry over what we're doing here at home to the road and win," senior center Hayden Gillum said. "It's a big thing for us being able to go down there and handle the environment and play our football. That's what we've talked about this week."
Howard, a native of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, has gained an appreciation for the rivalry.
"I have nothing but respect for those guys, and I'm glad they're playing better," he said. "Coach Leipold has done a great job over there. It's great for the state and for the Big 12. It makes the game more fun and interesting. I know those guys are going to be fired up to play, and I have a ton of respect for those guys.
"It's going to be a tough task for sure."
K-State's meeting against Kansas comes one week after the Jayhawks suffered a 16-13 upset loss to Texas Tech in Lawrence.
In the last two weeks, 8 of 14 league games have been decided by single digits.
It's interesting times for sure within the powerhouse conference.
"It's crazy," senior wide receiver Phillip Brooks said. "It's really anybody's game. Top to bottom, it's one of the toughest conferences. We have so many contenders for the championship."
K-State seeks to remain a contender.
That means it must beat Kansas in Lawrence on Saturday.
Will Howard pays attention to the Big 12 Conference standings. The Kansas State senior quarterback knows that the Wildcats must win out in order to have a chance for bigger things down the road.
No. 21 K-State, 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the Big 12, is still in the thick of things in the league race.
It all starts Saturday. K-State must beat 25th-ranked Kansas, 7-3 and 4-3, in Lawrence before finishing the regular season against Iowa State.
"We know at the end of the day that if we don't take care of business these next two weeks, none of (the standings) matters," Howard said. "We know. It's all in the back of our heads and we know the possibilities that could happen.
"We're just trying to take care of one thing at a time and not get ahead of ourselves."
The 121st edition of the Dillons Sunflower Showdown figures to be the most competitive game in the series in more than a decade. K-State takes a series-record 14-game winning streak into the 6 p.m. kickoff at Memorial Stadium.
Although K-State is 6-0 at home for the first time since 2012, it has been outscored by an average of 4.7 points in its three road losses this season, including a 33-30 overtime defeat at No. 7 Texas on November 4.
Winning on the road this season has proven difficult for the defending Big 12 Champions, who still remain one of the top teams in the league.
"It's proven to be tough for us," K-State head coach Chris Klieman said. "Right now, we've played well at times and not played well at times. On the flip side, we've played really well at home. For us, we have to bottle that up and take it on the road.
"I know it's going to be really loud and a really good environment."
K-State has won the last seven times in Lawrence by an average score of 42.4 to 13.1. That includes a 35-10 victory the last time the teams met there in 2021 in the Jayhawks' first season under head coach Lance Leipold.
Although the Wildcats prevailed, 47-27, last season in Manhattan, Kansas continues to improve under Leipold, who is 15-20 in his third season. This year, he has led the Jayhawks to their first winning season since 2008 while their seven wins in 10 games are their best since starting at 10-0 in 2007.
K-State remains focused on attacking each day this week.
"This is a big week just because it's the next week," senior All-American left guard Cooper Beebe said. "They're in the way of our goals and aspirations as a team, so that's why this is a big week."
Beebe added: "They believe it's their year, and they have a really good team. It's going to be a fun game for sure."
K-State's challenges on the road began with a 20-17 loss at Missouri on a SEC-record 61-yard field goal. Two weeks later, the Wildcats suffered a 29-21 loss at Oklahoma State before bouncing back with a resounding 38-21 win at Texas Tech.
After the Wildcats' three-point overtime loss at Texas, they stormed back last Saturday with a dominant 56-25 victory over Baylor in perhaps their best overall game of the league season.
"It's important that we are able to carry over what we're doing here at home to the road and win," senior center Hayden Gillum said. "It's a big thing for us being able to go down there and handle the environment and play our football. That's what we've talked about this week."
Howard, a native of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, has gained an appreciation for the rivalry.
"I have nothing but respect for those guys, and I'm glad they're playing better," he said. "Coach Leipold has done a great job over there. It's great for the state and for the Big 12. It makes the game more fun and interesting. I know those guys are going to be fired up to play, and I have a ton of respect for those guys.
"It's going to be a tough task for sure."
K-State's meeting against Kansas comes one week after the Jayhawks suffered a 16-13 upset loss to Texas Tech in Lawrence.
In the last two weeks, 8 of 14 league games have been decided by single digits.
It's interesting times for sure within the powerhouse conference.
"It's crazy," senior wide receiver Phillip Brooks said. "It's really anybody's game. Top to bottom, it's one of the toughest conferences. We have so many contenders for the championship."
K-State seeks to remain a contender.
That means it must beat Kansas in Lawrence on Saturday.
Players Mentioned
Wednesday, June 03
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Thursday, May 28
