Kansas State University Athletics
Saturday, November 1
Manhattan, Kan.
2:30 p.m.
Kansas State University
vs
Texas Tech
K-State Hosts 13th-Ranked Texas Tech
Oct 27, 2025 | Football
Game 9
13/13 Texas Tech at K-State
Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.
Location: Manhattan, Kan.
Stadium: Bill Snyder Family Stadium (50,000)
Series: K-State Leads, 15-9
TV: FOX (watch)
Jason Benetti (Play-by-Play)
Robert Griffin III (Analyst)
Alexa Landestoy (Sidelines)
K-State Radio: K-State Sports Network; k-statesports.com (Listen)
Wyatt Thompson (Play-by-Play)
Stan Weber (Analyst)
Matt Walters (Sidelines)
SiriusXM Satellite Radio Ch. 138 or 199, and on the SiriusXM App
Big 12 Radio on TuneIn
X Updates: @KStateFB and @KStateStatsInfo
THE TOP 5
1) Coming off a dominating 42-17 win over in-state rival Kansas – its 17th straight win in the series – Kansas State returns home on Saturday as it hosts 13th-ranked Texas Tech inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The game kicks off at 2:30 p.m., and will be shown on FOX with Jason Benetti (play-by-play), Robert Griffin III (analyst) and Alexa Landestoy (sidelines) on the call.
2) After starting the season with a 1-3 record, the Wildcats have rebounded the last four games by going 3-1 as their lone loss in that stretch was a one-point defeat at Baylor. The Wildcats have averaged 37.8 points per game over their last four games, as K-State is tied for third in scoring among Power 4 schools since September 27 with Tennessee, just behind Utah (41.0 ppg) and Pittsburgh (38.4 ppg).
3) Quarterback Avery Johnson is set to make his 23rd-career start under center having thrown for 1,792 yards and 15 touchdowns with only two interceptions as his 0.8% interception ratio ranks 13th in the nation and second in the Big 12. He has thrown touchdown passes to six different receivers this season, with wide receiver Jayce Brown and tight end Garrett Oakley leading the way with four apiece.
4) Austin Romaine leads the team with 55 tackles, followed by 46 from Des Purnell, who over the last two games has recorded two sacks, two interceptions, a forced fumble and five total passes defended. Cornerback Zashon Rich is tied for second in the Big 12 and eighth nationally with eight pass breakups, and the Cats rank second in the country with nine fumble recoveries.
5) Kicker Luis Rodriguez is 10-for-11 on field goals, ranking 15th in the country with a 90.9% conversion rate as his only miss was a blocked 56-yard attempt at the end of the Baylor game. Punter Simon McClannan ranks sixth in the Big 12 with a 41.7-yard average. The Cats rank 13th nationally with a 26.9-yard kickoff return average, led by Bryce Noernberg, who ranks third in the country with a 29.9-yard average.
STATISTICAL SPOTLIGHTS
217.7 – Pass efficiency rating by Avery Johnson at KU, the highest mark by a K-State QB in a conference game since 2014 (min. 15 att.)
139 – Nation-leading non-offensive scores by K-State since 1999 after three in its last two games.
37.8 – Points per game by the Wildcats over the last four games, which is tied for third among Power 4 schools since September 27.
17 – Number of turnovers the Wildcats have forced this season, which ranks third in the nation and first in the Big 12.
1 – The first-ever Big 12 game was a 21-14 K-State win over Texas Tech in Manhattan on August 31, 1996.
TEAM NOTES
RECENT RECAP
• Kansas State is coming off a dominating 42-17 win at Kansas, its 17th straight win over the Jayhawks.
• Avery Johnson was 11-of-17 for 231 yards and accounted for four touchdowns, while Jayce Brown caught four passes for 160 yards, including a 78-yard score.
• Defensively, the Wildcats forced four total turnovers and pressured quarterback Jalon Daniels most of the day. The Jayhawks averaged just 3.2 yards per snap in the contest.
• Prior to that, the Wildcats earned a 41-28 victory over TCU, a game that featured defensive touchdowns by safety Wesley Fair (15-yard fumble return) and linebacker Des Purnell (25-yard interception return).
• Purnell's pick-6 came on the very next play after he had a sack and was part of a two-interception game with four total passes defended en route to Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors.
• Johnson threw three touchdown passes against the Horned Frogs, including two to tight end Garrett Oakley, which gave him 11 in his career to set the school record by a tight end.
A LOOK BACK IN HISTORY
• K-State and Texas Tech will meet for the 25th time on Saturday as the Wildcats hold a 15-9 advantage in the series.
• These two teams also hold a special place in the Big 12 record book as they met in Manhattan on August 31, 1996, in the inaugural Big 12 Conference football game, a 21-14 Wildcat win.
AGAINST A RANKED FOE
• Kansas State will play a ranked team for the second time this season in No. 13 Texas Tech. The Wildcats opened the season with a narrow 24-21 loss to No. 22 Iowa State.
• This is the first time K-State will face a ranked Red Raider team since a 49-26 win over No. 25 Texas Tech in Lubbock in 2013.
• The Wildcats are looking to defeat a ranked opponent for the first time since September 2024 when they topped No. 20 Arizona, 31-7, before a 42-20 win over No. 20 Oklahoma State two weeks later.
• The last time K-State defeated a top-15 team was in the 2022 Big 12 Championship, a 31-28 overtime victory over No. 3 TCU.
FIVE ONE-SCORE GAMES
• Of Kansas State's last 21 games dating back to Week 2 of the 2024 season, 11 have been decided by just one score.
• Last year, the Wildcats went 4-2 in one-possession games. All four of the victories were fourth-quarter comebacks, which ranked second in the nation to Illinois' five.
• This season, K-State has played five one-possession games but has only come out on the winning side one time. In four of those games, the Wildcats had the ball with a chance to either tie or take the lead late in the fourth quarter.
• The five one-score games this year are tied for the second most among Power 4 teams (Ole Miss – 6; Arizona State, Iowa State and Virginia – 5).
TOWARD THE TOP IN CONSISTENCY
• K-State is one of only 10 Power 4 schools that have won at least nine games in each of the last three seasons, joining Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State and Tennessee.
• Among those teams, only Kansas State, Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Oregon have accomplished that feat in addition to winning a conference championship during that time frame.
• The Wildcats are tied for second among current Big 12 teams and 18th among Power 4 teams with 32 total wins since the beginning of 2022.
AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
• K-State has a total of 235 victories since 1996, which ranks 22nd nationally.
• Among active Big 12 teams, the Wildcats rank fourth behind BYU (247), TCU (244) and Utah (239).
A WINNING TRADITION
• Kansas State has totaled 147 Big 12 victories since the conference's formation in 1996, which stands as the most among active Big 12 programs.
• The Cats are also rank first among active Big 12 members in winning percentage since non-divisional play began in 2011. They sit at 59.5% (78-53), just ahead of Oklahoma State (58.8%; 77-54).
• During that stretch, the Wildcats are 44-21 (67.7%) at home in Big 12 play and 34-32 (51.5%) on the road/neutral.
A TRACK RECORD OF WINNING
• A proven winner with a championship history, Chris Klieman holds a 124-45 career record, as his 73.4% career winning percentage ranks fourth among current FBS coaches that have completed at least 10 seasons. He is also one of just 15 current Power 4 full-time head coaches with at least 100 career victories.
• Klieman, who is 52-32 since arriving at K-State, has led the Cats to five victories over teams ranked in the top 10 of the AP Top 25, the most of any active Big 12 program since 2019.
FEW PENALTIES
• K-State enters this week's game against Texas Tech ranked third nationally in fewest penalties per game (3.25) and seventh in fewest penalty yards per game (33.0).
• Since 2022, the Wildcats have averaged 42.23 penalty yards per game (48 games) to rank sixth among Power 4 teams, while their 4.87 penalties per game to rank ninth.
CATS TOPS IN NON-OFFENSIVE TDs
• K-State is the nation's best in non-offensive touchdowns over the last 25-plus seasons as it has 139 since 1999, 11 more than the next closest team (Alabama – 128) and 20 more than the next Big 12 program (Utah – 119).
• K-State recorded four non-offensive scores during the 2024 season – its most since also recording four in 2020 – and has equaled that mark in 2025.
• The first non-offensive score of the year was Bryce Noernberg's 99-yard kickoff return against Army.
• Against TCU, Wesley Fair had a 15-yard fumble return touchdown in the second quarter before Des Purnell recorded a 25-yard interception return. It was the first time since the 2023 Baylor game that the Wildcats had two defensive touchdowns in one contest.
• Then, last week at Kansas, Ralph Ortiz scooped up an errant snap on a punt and returned it 20 yards for a score.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
TOTAL OFFENSE
• K-State has totaled at least 375 yards of offense in 36 of the last 48 games dating back to the beginning of the 2022 season.
• The 36 games with at least 375 yards are tied for ninth in the Power 4 and rank second among Big 12 schools (TCU – 39).
• Georgia and USC lead the way with 41, followed by Ole Miss, Oregon and TCU with 39, Washington and Tennessee with 38, and Texas with 37.
• During that stretch, K-State holds a 28-8 record when totaling at least 375 yards, while the Wildcats are 4-8 when going under that mark. Two of their wins when going under 375 yards of offense have come in the last two games.
RED ZONE SUCCESS
• Kansas State enters the week ranked 16th nationally and third in the Big 12 by converting on 92.0% (23-of-25) of its red zone opportunities.
• That included a streak of 22-straight red-zone scores, which was the second-longest active streak in the Big 12 until taking a knee at Kansas to run out the clock.
• Since Chris Klieman's first season at K-State in 2019, the Wildcats have been the best in the Big 12 in terms of converting red-zone opportunities into points.
• The Wildcats rank first in the Big 12 with a 90.1% (292-of-324) success rate in the red zone since 2019, just ahead of Texas Tech (87.9%) and Oklahoma State (87.2%).
• K-State also ranks first in the league in touchdown success rate at 67.0% (217-of-324), ahead of Utah (66.0%) and Kansas (66.0%).
LIMITED SACKS PER GAME
• K-State has been one of the nation's best in terms of limiting sacks since head coach Chris Klieman's first season of 2019.
• The Wildcats rank fifth among Power 4 teams and second in the Big 12 by allowing only 1.43 sacks per game over the last six-plus seasons, a span of 84 games.
• K-State is seventh in the nation by allowing 0.75 sacks per game this season.
T.O.P. TURNAROUND
• Over its first four games of 2025, Kansas State averaged 24:28 in time of possession, ranking 131st out of 134 teams entering its Week 5 game against UCF.
• Over the last four games, K-State is averaging 33:24 in time of possession. The Wildcats now rank 91st nationally in that department – a 40-spot jump in the rankings – with a season average of 28:56 – a 4:28 rise in their average.
VERY EFFICIENT
• Avery Johnson tallied a career-best pass efficiency rating of 217.7 at Kansas. It was the 10th-best mark by a K-State quarterback 1996 (minimum 15 attempts), the best since Jesse Ertz had a 319.8 rating against Central Arkansas in 2017 and the best in a Big 12 game since Jake Waters had a 218.1 mark against Kansas in 2014.
• Johnson's mark was the second-best mark by a Big 12 quarterback in a league game this season.
MULTIPLE SCORING STRIKES
• Avery Johnson threw two touchdown passes against Kansas, his fourth-straight game with multiple touchdown passes and 17th in his 22 career starts under center. His performance at Kansas came on the heels of a three-touchdown game against TCU, the second time this season and sixth in his career he had three passing touchdowns in a game.
• Johnson is now in second place in school history with 45 career passing touchdowns, just three shy of the record held by Will Howard (2020-23).
• His 15 passing touchdowns this season are tied for fourth in school history by a junior – five shy of the record – and three shy of entering the school's top-10 list among all passers.
• On the flip side, the Wichita, Kansas, product has done a tremendous job of taking care of the football. He has a 0.8% interception rate this season to rank 13th in the nation and second among Big 12 signal callers.
4,000/1,000
• Avery Johnson became the fifth quarterback in program history to pass for 4,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in a career as he went over the 1,000-yard rushing mark against UCF.
• He was the second-fastest player in school history to hit that mark as he did so in his 26th career game, just four games shy of Michael Bishop (1997-98). The others to accomplish the feat were Ell Roberson (2000-03), Collin Klein (2009-12) and Skylar Thompson (2017-21).
AVERY ON THE RUN
• Avery Johnson ranks fifth in school history among quarterbacks with 1,156 career rushing yards, while his 5.00-yard career average on 231 carries ranks ninth in school history among all players and second among quarterbacks (Jesse Ertz, 2014-17 – 5.46).
• When taking away sack yardage, Johnson has rushed for 1,320 yards on 211 true rushing attempts, good for a 6.26-yard clip.
BROWN DELIVERS
• Wide receiver Jayce Brown leads the Wildcats this season with 36 receptions for 577 yards and four touchdowns.
• He had his best game as a Wildcat at Kansas, catching four passes for 160 yards, including a 78-yard touchdown. It was the most receiving yards by a Wildcat since Byron Pringle had 166 yards at Oklahoma State in 2017. His 40.0-yard average was the fourth-highest average nationally in a game this season (minimum four catches) and the third-highest average by a Big 12 player since 2018.
• A native of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Brown has a career receiving average of 16.70 yards to rank ninth in school history and fourth in the nation among active players.
HARD RUNNING BY JACKSON
• Running back Joe Jackson tallied the first 100-yard rushing game of his career against TCU, going for 110 yards on a career-high 27 attempts. It shattered his previous bests of 61 yards on 13 carries the week prior at Baylor.
• It was the most rushing attempts by a Wildcat since DJ Giddens had 28 rushes against NC State in the 2023 Pop-Tarts Bowl, while it was the most against a Big 12 opponent since Giddens had 31 totes in the 2023 regular-season finale against Iowa State.
• Most of Jackson's damage against the Horned Frogs came in the second half when he tallied 88 yards on 21 carries.
• He backed that up with another solid outing at Kansas, rushing for 69 yards on 20 carries, including 35 yards on 13 attempts in the second half to help run out the clock.
CAREER RECORD FOR OAKLEY
• Tight end Garrett Oakley had two receiving touchdowns against TCU to bring his career total to 11, which is the most in school history by a tight end.
• The previous record of 10 was shared by current Washington Commander Ben Sinnott (2021-23) and Henry Childs (1971-73).
• Each of Oakley's four receiving touchdowns this season have come since September 27, tied for the most in the nation among tight ends since that date. He enters the week tied for seventh nationally in receiving touchdowns by tight ends this season.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
OPENING DRIVE DEFENSE
• Kansas State has allowed points only twice on opponents' first drive of the game or second half, which was a field goal to open the game at Baylor and a short-field touchdown by Kansas following a fumble on a kick return.
• Of the 16 total drives to start a half, the K-State defense has forced 12 punts – including seven 3-and-outs – a missed field goal and a turnover on downs.
• Five of the 2-and-outs have on opponents' initial drive of the second half. K-State's opponents have only managed four first downs and 57 total yards on the eight opening drives of the second half.
LIMITED POINTS PER GAME
• Since the 2021 season (61 games), the Cats are allowing 22.3 points per game, which ranks fourth among current Big 12 teams and 20th among Power 4 teams (minimum 40 games).
• Additionally, the Cats have allowed 155 offensive touchdowns (2.5 per game) over that time to rank 21st among Power 4 schools.
• The Wildcats have finished each of the previous three seasons allowing less than 24.0 points per game, their longest streak since going 13-straight years from 1991 through 2003.
• Since head coach Chris Klieman's first year of 2019, the Wildcats have held 46 of their 58 Big 12 opponents under their season average at the time it faces the Wildcats (excluding 2025 season opener against Iowa State).
TURNOVER TURNAROUND
• After beginning the 2025 season with a minus-1 turnover margin in the first three games (4 giveaways, 3 takeaways) to rank 86th in the nation and 12th in the Big 12, K-State has turned the tide on turnovers.
• Over the last five games, K-State is plus-10 in turnover margin, thanks to seven interceptions and seven fumble recoveries by the defense while only losing two fumbles and throwing two picks.
• K-State has made a 78-spot improvement in the national rankings from Week 3 to now as the Wildcats are eighth nationally and tied for first in the Big 12 in turnover margin.
• Additionally, K-State enters the week ranked third nationally and first in the Big 12 with 17 turnovers gained.
CREATING TURNOVERS
• Since the beginning of 2022, K-State has forced 79 turnovers, which is the most among active Big 12 teams and tied for eighth among Power 4 teams.
• Of the 79 turnovers, 47 have been via interception to rank second among all active Big 12 programs and tie for 16th among Power 4 teams.
JUMPING ON THE BALL
• K-State has had a propensity of falling on fumbles this season as it ranks first nationally and is the best in the Big 12 with nine recoveries.
• The nine fumble recoveries this season are the most through the first eight games of a season since the 2012 team had 10 recoveries in the first eight games. Last year, the Wildcats only had five fumble recoveries over 13 games.
• K-State's nine recoveries this season have come from nine different players in Austin Romaine (Iowa State), Chiddi Obiazor (Iowa State), Tobi Osunsanmi (North Dakota), long snapper Mason Olguin (Arizona), Justice Clemons (UCF), Asa Newsom (Baylor), Wesley Fair (TCU), Ralph Ortiz (Kansas) and Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder (Kansas).
ROMAINE LEADING THE WAY
• After leading the Wildcats in tackles last season en route to All-Big 12 Second Team honors, linebacker Austin Romaine is at it again in 2025.
• A product of Hillsboro, Missouri, Romaine has a team-leading 55 tackles, ranking 13th in the Big 12 with 6.9 tackles per game.
• Romaine has at least four tackles in every game this season, including 10 apiece against North Dakota and Army.
• Last season, Romaine led the Wildcats and ranked ninth in the conference with 96 tackles (7.38 per game). He was the first Wildcat with at least 90 tackles in a season since Jayd Kirby had 99 in 2017.
PURNELL THE PLAYMAKER
• Senior linebacker Des Purnell put together an outstanding game against TCU as he was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week after carding five tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, a sack, two interceptions – including one he returned 25 yards for a touchdown – and two pass breakups.
• His sack and pick-6 came on consecutive plays, the first K-State player since at least 1989 to have both on consecutive plays and the only player in the nation to accomplish the feat this season.
• He is the only Big 12 player with a pick-6 and a sack in the same game this season and one of seven in the country.
• His four total passes defended are tied for fourth in the country for a single game this season and are tied for the most among linebackers. He was the first Wildcat with four passes defended in a game since safety Russ Yeast against West Virginia in 2021 and the first K-State linebacker to do so since at least 2003.
• His pick-6 against TCU was the third time in his career he found paydirt as he returned a fumble for a touchdown against Baylor in 2023 and returned a blocked punt for a score against South Dakota in 2022. He is one of only two players in school history to have a pick-6, fumble return touchdown and a punt return score in a career (Courtney Herndon, 2006-09).
• A native of Topeka, Kansas, Purnell ranks fifth nationally among active players with two defensive touchdowns, and he is the only active Big 12 player with a fumble return score and a pick-6 in Big 12 games in his career. He also ranks fifth nationally among active players with three career non-offensive touchdowns.
BREAKING UP THE PASS
• Sophomore cornerback Zashon Rich has eight pass breakups in eight games this season to tie second in the Big 12 and eighth in the country.
• His eight pass breakups are the most since Jacob Parrish and Marques Sigle each had nine in 2023. Both of those players were drafted last year as Parrish was selected in the third round by Tampa Bay and Sigle was taken in the fifth round by San Francisco.
• A native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Rich added to his repertoire against UCF when he had a career-high 2.0 tackles for loss, including his first-career sack.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
SCORING IN THE THIRD PHASE
• The Wildcats continue to lead the nation in total kickoff- and punt-return touchdowns since 2005 with 63, which is 23 more than the next closest team in Alabama (40) and 29 more than the next closest Big 12 programs, Oklahoma State and TCU (34).
• Of the 63 total returns, a nation-leading 32 are on kickoff returns, and the next closest team is Houston with 21.
HIGH AVERAGE ON RETURNS
• Kansas State enters the week ranked 13th nationally and tops in the Big 12 with a 26.86-yard average on kickoff returns, a mark that ranks fifth in school history.
• The Wildcats are looking to rank in the top-15 nationally in kickoff return average for the first time since 2021 (9th – 27.22). In head coach Chris Klieman's first year of 2019, K-State led the nation with a 29.50-yard average, which was the top mark in school history.
• The high average is boasted by a 99-yard touchdown by Bryce Noernberg against Army, the 12th kickoff return of at least 99 yards in school history.
EIGHT STRAIGHT
• With Garrett Harstad's blocked punt at Arizona, K-State has now blocked a punt in eight-straight seasons, which is the longest streak in the nation.
• San Diego State is next on the list with seven-straight years, while Iowa State, Michigan, Oregon State, Rutgers, South Carolina, Toledo and UNLV are tied for third with five-consecutive years.
RODRIGUEZ CONNECTS
• Due to injuries at kicker late in the summer, the Wildcats scrambled to find a replacement, and they landed community-college transfer Luis Rodriguez from College of the Canyons.
• After arriving in Manhattan just as preseason practices commenced, all Rodriguez has done over his first eight games is connect on 10-of-11 field goal and all 30 extra-point attempts. His lone miss this season was a blocked 56-yard attempt as time expired at Baylor.
• Rodriguez ranks 15th nationally and fourth in the Big 12 by connecting on 90.9% of his field goal attempts. He also has the ninth-longest streak in school history of extra-point connections to start a season.
HIGH AVERAGE BY McCLANNAN
• Sophomore punter Simon McClannan ranks sixth in the Big 12 with a 41.7-yard average on 32 punts. His average is boosted by eight punts that have traveled at least 50 yards, which is tied for fifth in the Big 12. Last year, McClannan only had six punts of 50 or more yards over 13 games.
• A native of Omaha, Nebraska, McClannan recorded a career-best 50.8-yard average on five punts at Arizona and came back with a 51.0-yard average on four punts against UCF. Following the game against the Knights, he was named the Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week.
• It was the first time in the Big 12 era that Kansas State had a punter average at least 50.0 yards on at least four punts in consecutive games.
• McClannan enters his 24th-career game with a 42.08-yard average on 79 career punts, which ranks eighth in school history.
DEFENSE ON KICK RETURNS
• K-State has not allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown since the 2013 season, going the last 159 games and 457 returns without allowing its opponent to find paydirt.
• The streak is the longest among the active Big 12 teams, 261 returns better than the next closest team (Arizona State – 196).
• Since K-State allowed its last kickoff-return touchdown, the Wildcats have scored 15 of their own.
13/13 Texas Tech at K-State
Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.
Location: Manhattan, Kan.
Stadium: Bill Snyder Family Stadium (50,000)
Series: K-State Leads, 15-9
TV: FOX (watch)
Jason Benetti (Play-by-Play)
Robert Griffin III (Analyst)
Alexa Landestoy (Sidelines)
K-State Radio: K-State Sports Network; k-statesports.com (Listen)
Wyatt Thompson (Play-by-Play)
Stan Weber (Analyst)
Matt Walters (Sidelines)
SiriusXM Satellite Radio Ch. 138 or 199, and on the SiriusXM App
Big 12 Radio on TuneIn
X Updates: @KStateFB and @KStateStatsInfo
THE TOP 5
1) Coming off a dominating 42-17 win over in-state rival Kansas – its 17th straight win in the series – Kansas State returns home on Saturday as it hosts 13th-ranked Texas Tech inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The game kicks off at 2:30 p.m., and will be shown on FOX with Jason Benetti (play-by-play), Robert Griffin III (analyst) and Alexa Landestoy (sidelines) on the call.
2) After starting the season with a 1-3 record, the Wildcats have rebounded the last four games by going 3-1 as their lone loss in that stretch was a one-point defeat at Baylor. The Wildcats have averaged 37.8 points per game over their last four games, as K-State is tied for third in scoring among Power 4 schools since September 27 with Tennessee, just behind Utah (41.0 ppg) and Pittsburgh (38.4 ppg).
3) Quarterback Avery Johnson is set to make his 23rd-career start under center having thrown for 1,792 yards and 15 touchdowns with only two interceptions as his 0.8% interception ratio ranks 13th in the nation and second in the Big 12. He has thrown touchdown passes to six different receivers this season, with wide receiver Jayce Brown and tight end Garrett Oakley leading the way with four apiece.
4) Austin Romaine leads the team with 55 tackles, followed by 46 from Des Purnell, who over the last two games has recorded two sacks, two interceptions, a forced fumble and five total passes defended. Cornerback Zashon Rich is tied for second in the Big 12 and eighth nationally with eight pass breakups, and the Cats rank second in the country with nine fumble recoveries.
5) Kicker Luis Rodriguez is 10-for-11 on field goals, ranking 15th in the country with a 90.9% conversion rate as his only miss was a blocked 56-yard attempt at the end of the Baylor game. Punter Simon McClannan ranks sixth in the Big 12 with a 41.7-yard average. The Cats rank 13th nationally with a 26.9-yard kickoff return average, led by Bryce Noernberg, who ranks third in the country with a 29.9-yard average.
STATISTICAL SPOTLIGHTS
217.7 – Pass efficiency rating by Avery Johnson at KU, the highest mark by a K-State QB in a conference game since 2014 (min. 15 att.)
139 – Nation-leading non-offensive scores by K-State since 1999 after three in its last two games.
37.8 – Points per game by the Wildcats over the last four games, which is tied for third among Power 4 schools since September 27.
17 – Number of turnovers the Wildcats have forced this season, which ranks third in the nation and first in the Big 12.
1 – The first-ever Big 12 game was a 21-14 K-State win over Texas Tech in Manhattan on August 31, 1996.
TEAM NOTES
RECENT RECAP
• Kansas State is coming off a dominating 42-17 win at Kansas, its 17th straight win over the Jayhawks.
• Avery Johnson was 11-of-17 for 231 yards and accounted for four touchdowns, while Jayce Brown caught four passes for 160 yards, including a 78-yard score.
• Defensively, the Wildcats forced four total turnovers and pressured quarterback Jalon Daniels most of the day. The Jayhawks averaged just 3.2 yards per snap in the contest.
• Prior to that, the Wildcats earned a 41-28 victory over TCU, a game that featured defensive touchdowns by safety Wesley Fair (15-yard fumble return) and linebacker Des Purnell (25-yard interception return).
• Purnell's pick-6 came on the very next play after he had a sack and was part of a two-interception game with four total passes defended en route to Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors.
• Johnson threw three touchdown passes against the Horned Frogs, including two to tight end Garrett Oakley, which gave him 11 in his career to set the school record by a tight end.
A LOOK BACK IN HISTORY
• K-State and Texas Tech will meet for the 25th time on Saturday as the Wildcats hold a 15-9 advantage in the series.
• These two teams also hold a special place in the Big 12 record book as they met in Manhattan on August 31, 1996, in the inaugural Big 12 Conference football game, a 21-14 Wildcat win.
AGAINST A RANKED FOE
• Kansas State will play a ranked team for the second time this season in No. 13 Texas Tech. The Wildcats opened the season with a narrow 24-21 loss to No. 22 Iowa State.
• This is the first time K-State will face a ranked Red Raider team since a 49-26 win over No. 25 Texas Tech in Lubbock in 2013.
• The Wildcats are looking to defeat a ranked opponent for the first time since September 2024 when they topped No. 20 Arizona, 31-7, before a 42-20 win over No. 20 Oklahoma State two weeks later.
• The last time K-State defeated a top-15 team was in the 2022 Big 12 Championship, a 31-28 overtime victory over No. 3 TCU.
FIVE ONE-SCORE GAMES
• Of Kansas State's last 21 games dating back to Week 2 of the 2024 season, 11 have been decided by just one score.
• Last year, the Wildcats went 4-2 in one-possession games. All four of the victories were fourth-quarter comebacks, which ranked second in the nation to Illinois' five.
• This season, K-State has played five one-possession games but has only come out on the winning side one time. In four of those games, the Wildcats had the ball with a chance to either tie or take the lead late in the fourth quarter.
• The five one-score games this year are tied for the second most among Power 4 teams (Ole Miss – 6; Arizona State, Iowa State and Virginia – 5).
TOWARD THE TOP IN CONSISTENCY
• K-State is one of only 10 Power 4 schools that have won at least nine games in each of the last three seasons, joining Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State and Tennessee.
• Among those teams, only Kansas State, Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Oregon have accomplished that feat in addition to winning a conference championship during that time frame.
• The Wildcats are tied for second among current Big 12 teams and 18th among Power 4 teams with 32 total wins since the beginning of 2022.
AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
• K-State has a total of 235 victories since 1996, which ranks 22nd nationally.
• Among active Big 12 teams, the Wildcats rank fourth behind BYU (247), TCU (244) and Utah (239).
A WINNING TRADITION
• Kansas State has totaled 147 Big 12 victories since the conference's formation in 1996, which stands as the most among active Big 12 programs.
• The Cats are also rank first among active Big 12 members in winning percentage since non-divisional play began in 2011. They sit at 59.5% (78-53), just ahead of Oklahoma State (58.8%; 77-54).
• During that stretch, the Wildcats are 44-21 (67.7%) at home in Big 12 play and 34-32 (51.5%) on the road/neutral.
A TRACK RECORD OF WINNING
• A proven winner with a championship history, Chris Klieman holds a 124-45 career record, as his 73.4% career winning percentage ranks fourth among current FBS coaches that have completed at least 10 seasons. He is also one of just 15 current Power 4 full-time head coaches with at least 100 career victories.
• Klieman, who is 52-32 since arriving at K-State, has led the Cats to five victories over teams ranked in the top 10 of the AP Top 25, the most of any active Big 12 program since 2019.
FEW PENALTIES
• K-State enters this week's game against Texas Tech ranked third nationally in fewest penalties per game (3.25) and seventh in fewest penalty yards per game (33.0).
• Since 2022, the Wildcats have averaged 42.23 penalty yards per game (48 games) to rank sixth among Power 4 teams, while their 4.87 penalties per game to rank ninth.
CATS TOPS IN NON-OFFENSIVE TDs
• K-State is the nation's best in non-offensive touchdowns over the last 25-plus seasons as it has 139 since 1999, 11 more than the next closest team (Alabama – 128) and 20 more than the next Big 12 program (Utah – 119).
• K-State recorded four non-offensive scores during the 2024 season – its most since also recording four in 2020 – and has equaled that mark in 2025.
• The first non-offensive score of the year was Bryce Noernberg's 99-yard kickoff return against Army.
• Against TCU, Wesley Fair had a 15-yard fumble return touchdown in the second quarter before Des Purnell recorded a 25-yard interception return. It was the first time since the 2023 Baylor game that the Wildcats had two defensive touchdowns in one contest.
• Then, last week at Kansas, Ralph Ortiz scooped up an errant snap on a punt and returned it 20 yards for a score.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
TOTAL OFFENSE
• K-State has totaled at least 375 yards of offense in 36 of the last 48 games dating back to the beginning of the 2022 season.
• The 36 games with at least 375 yards are tied for ninth in the Power 4 and rank second among Big 12 schools (TCU – 39).
• Georgia and USC lead the way with 41, followed by Ole Miss, Oregon and TCU with 39, Washington and Tennessee with 38, and Texas with 37.
• During that stretch, K-State holds a 28-8 record when totaling at least 375 yards, while the Wildcats are 4-8 when going under that mark. Two of their wins when going under 375 yards of offense have come in the last two games.
RED ZONE SUCCESS
• Kansas State enters the week ranked 16th nationally and third in the Big 12 by converting on 92.0% (23-of-25) of its red zone opportunities.
• That included a streak of 22-straight red-zone scores, which was the second-longest active streak in the Big 12 until taking a knee at Kansas to run out the clock.
• Since Chris Klieman's first season at K-State in 2019, the Wildcats have been the best in the Big 12 in terms of converting red-zone opportunities into points.
• The Wildcats rank first in the Big 12 with a 90.1% (292-of-324) success rate in the red zone since 2019, just ahead of Texas Tech (87.9%) and Oklahoma State (87.2%).
• K-State also ranks first in the league in touchdown success rate at 67.0% (217-of-324), ahead of Utah (66.0%) and Kansas (66.0%).
LIMITED SACKS PER GAME
• K-State has been one of the nation's best in terms of limiting sacks since head coach Chris Klieman's first season of 2019.
• The Wildcats rank fifth among Power 4 teams and second in the Big 12 by allowing only 1.43 sacks per game over the last six-plus seasons, a span of 84 games.
• K-State is seventh in the nation by allowing 0.75 sacks per game this season.
T.O.P. TURNAROUND
• Over its first four games of 2025, Kansas State averaged 24:28 in time of possession, ranking 131st out of 134 teams entering its Week 5 game against UCF.
• Over the last four games, K-State is averaging 33:24 in time of possession. The Wildcats now rank 91st nationally in that department – a 40-spot jump in the rankings – with a season average of 28:56 – a 4:28 rise in their average.
VERY EFFICIENT
• Avery Johnson tallied a career-best pass efficiency rating of 217.7 at Kansas. It was the 10th-best mark by a K-State quarterback 1996 (minimum 15 attempts), the best since Jesse Ertz had a 319.8 rating against Central Arkansas in 2017 and the best in a Big 12 game since Jake Waters had a 218.1 mark against Kansas in 2014.
• Johnson's mark was the second-best mark by a Big 12 quarterback in a league game this season.
MULTIPLE SCORING STRIKES
• Avery Johnson threw two touchdown passes against Kansas, his fourth-straight game with multiple touchdown passes and 17th in his 22 career starts under center. His performance at Kansas came on the heels of a three-touchdown game against TCU, the second time this season and sixth in his career he had three passing touchdowns in a game.
• Johnson is now in second place in school history with 45 career passing touchdowns, just three shy of the record held by Will Howard (2020-23).
• His 15 passing touchdowns this season are tied for fourth in school history by a junior – five shy of the record – and three shy of entering the school's top-10 list among all passers.
• On the flip side, the Wichita, Kansas, product has done a tremendous job of taking care of the football. He has a 0.8% interception rate this season to rank 13th in the nation and second among Big 12 signal callers.
4,000/1,000
• Avery Johnson became the fifth quarterback in program history to pass for 4,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in a career as he went over the 1,000-yard rushing mark against UCF.
• He was the second-fastest player in school history to hit that mark as he did so in his 26th career game, just four games shy of Michael Bishop (1997-98). The others to accomplish the feat were Ell Roberson (2000-03), Collin Klein (2009-12) and Skylar Thompson (2017-21).
AVERY ON THE RUN
• Avery Johnson ranks fifth in school history among quarterbacks with 1,156 career rushing yards, while his 5.00-yard career average on 231 carries ranks ninth in school history among all players and second among quarterbacks (Jesse Ertz, 2014-17 – 5.46).
• When taking away sack yardage, Johnson has rushed for 1,320 yards on 211 true rushing attempts, good for a 6.26-yard clip.
BROWN DELIVERS
• Wide receiver Jayce Brown leads the Wildcats this season with 36 receptions for 577 yards and four touchdowns.
• He had his best game as a Wildcat at Kansas, catching four passes for 160 yards, including a 78-yard touchdown. It was the most receiving yards by a Wildcat since Byron Pringle had 166 yards at Oklahoma State in 2017. His 40.0-yard average was the fourth-highest average nationally in a game this season (minimum four catches) and the third-highest average by a Big 12 player since 2018.
• A native of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Brown has a career receiving average of 16.70 yards to rank ninth in school history and fourth in the nation among active players.
HARD RUNNING BY JACKSON
• Running back Joe Jackson tallied the first 100-yard rushing game of his career against TCU, going for 110 yards on a career-high 27 attempts. It shattered his previous bests of 61 yards on 13 carries the week prior at Baylor.
• It was the most rushing attempts by a Wildcat since DJ Giddens had 28 rushes against NC State in the 2023 Pop-Tarts Bowl, while it was the most against a Big 12 opponent since Giddens had 31 totes in the 2023 regular-season finale against Iowa State.
• Most of Jackson's damage against the Horned Frogs came in the second half when he tallied 88 yards on 21 carries.
• He backed that up with another solid outing at Kansas, rushing for 69 yards on 20 carries, including 35 yards on 13 attempts in the second half to help run out the clock.
CAREER RECORD FOR OAKLEY
• Tight end Garrett Oakley had two receiving touchdowns against TCU to bring his career total to 11, which is the most in school history by a tight end.
• The previous record of 10 was shared by current Washington Commander Ben Sinnott (2021-23) and Henry Childs (1971-73).
• Each of Oakley's four receiving touchdowns this season have come since September 27, tied for the most in the nation among tight ends since that date. He enters the week tied for seventh nationally in receiving touchdowns by tight ends this season.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
OPENING DRIVE DEFENSE
• Kansas State has allowed points only twice on opponents' first drive of the game or second half, which was a field goal to open the game at Baylor and a short-field touchdown by Kansas following a fumble on a kick return.
• Of the 16 total drives to start a half, the K-State defense has forced 12 punts – including seven 3-and-outs – a missed field goal and a turnover on downs.
• Five of the 2-and-outs have on opponents' initial drive of the second half. K-State's opponents have only managed four first downs and 57 total yards on the eight opening drives of the second half.
LIMITED POINTS PER GAME
• Since the 2021 season (61 games), the Cats are allowing 22.3 points per game, which ranks fourth among current Big 12 teams and 20th among Power 4 teams (minimum 40 games).
• Additionally, the Cats have allowed 155 offensive touchdowns (2.5 per game) over that time to rank 21st among Power 4 schools.
• The Wildcats have finished each of the previous three seasons allowing less than 24.0 points per game, their longest streak since going 13-straight years from 1991 through 2003.
• Since head coach Chris Klieman's first year of 2019, the Wildcats have held 46 of their 58 Big 12 opponents under their season average at the time it faces the Wildcats (excluding 2025 season opener against Iowa State).
TURNOVER TURNAROUND
• After beginning the 2025 season with a minus-1 turnover margin in the first three games (4 giveaways, 3 takeaways) to rank 86th in the nation and 12th in the Big 12, K-State has turned the tide on turnovers.
• Over the last five games, K-State is plus-10 in turnover margin, thanks to seven interceptions and seven fumble recoveries by the defense while only losing two fumbles and throwing two picks.
• K-State has made a 78-spot improvement in the national rankings from Week 3 to now as the Wildcats are eighth nationally and tied for first in the Big 12 in turnover margin.
• Additionally, K-State enters the week ranked third nationally and first in the Big 12 with 17 turnovers gained.
CREATING TURNOVERS
• Since the beginning of 2022, K-State has forced 79 turnovers, which is the most among active Big 12 teams and tied for eighth among Power 4 teams.
• Of the 79 turnovers, 47 have been via interception to rank second among all active Big 12 programs and tie for 16th among Power 4 teams.
JUMPING ON THE BALL
• K-State has had a propensity of falling on fumbles this season as it ranks first nationally and is the best in the Big 12 with nine recoveries.
• The nine fumble recoveries this season are the most through the first eight games of a season since the 2012 team had 10 recoveries in the first eight games. Last year, the Wildcats only had five fumble recoveries over 13 games.
• K-State's nine recoveries this season have come from nine different players in Austin Romaine (Iowa State), Chiddi Obiazor (Iowa State), Tobi Osunsanmi (North Dakota), long snapper Mason Olguin (Arizona), Justice Clemons (UCF), Asa Newsom (Baylor), Wesley Fair (TCU), Ralph Ortiz (Kansas) and Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder (Kansas).
ROMAINE LEADING THE WAY
• After leading the Wildcats in tackles last season en route to All-Big 12 Second Team honors, linebacker Austin Romaine is at it again in 2025.
• A product of Hillsboro, Missouri, Romaine has a team-leading 55 tackles, ranking 13th in the Big 12 with 6.9 tackles per game.
• Romaine has at least four tackles in every game this season, including 10 apiece against North Dakota and Army.
• Last season, Romaine led the Wildcats and ranked ninth in the conference with 96 tackles (7.38 per game). He was the first Wildcat with at least 90 tackles in a season since Jayd Kirby had 99 in 2017.
PURNELL THE PLAYMAKER
• Senior linebacker Des Purnell put together an outstanding game against TCU as he was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week after carding five tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, a sack, two interceptions – including one he returned 25 yards for a touchdown – and two pass breakups.
• His sack and pick-6 came on consecutive plays, the first K-State player since at least 1989 to have both on consecutive plays and the only player in the nation to accomplish the feat this season.
• He is the only Big 12 player with a pick-6 and a sack in the same game this season and one of seven in the country.
• His four total passes defended are tied for fourth in the country for a single game this season and are tied for the most among linebackers. He was the first Wildcat with four passes defended in a game since safety Russ Yeast against West Virginia in 2021 and the first K-State linebacker to do so since at least 2003.
• His pick-6 against TCU was the third time in his career he found paydirt as he returned a fumble for a touchdown against Baylor in 2023 and returned a blocked punt for a score against South Dakota in 2022. He is one of only two players in school history to have a pick-6, fumble return touchdown and a punt return score in a career (Courtney Herndon, 2006-09).
• A native of Topeka, Kansas, Purnell ranks fifth nationally among active players with two defensive touchdowns, and he is the only active Big 12 player with a fumble return score and a pick-6 in Big 12 games in his career. He also ranks fifth nationally among active players with three career non-offensive touchdowns.
BREAKING UP THE PASS
• Sophomore cornerback Zashon Rich has eight pass breakups in eight games this season to tie second in the Big 12 and eighth in the country.
• His eight pass breakups are the most since Jacob Parrish and Marques Sigle each had nine in 2023. Both of those players were drafted last year as Parrish was selected in the third round by Tampa Bay and Sigle was taken in the fifth round by San Francisco.
• A native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Rich added to his repertoire against UCF when he had a career-high 2.0 tackles for loss, including his first-career sack.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
SCORING IN THE THIRD PHASE
• The Wildcats continue to lead the nation in total kickoff- and punt-return touchdowns since 2005 with 63, which is 23 more than the next closest team in Alabama (40) and 29 more than the next closest Big 12 programs, Oklahoma State and TCU (34).
• Of the 63 total returns, a nation-leading 32 are on kickoff returns, and the next closest team is Houston with 21.
HIGH AVERAGE ON RETURNS
• Kansas State enters the week ranked 13th nationally and tops in the Big 12 with a 26.86-yard average on kickoff returns, a mark that ranks fifth in school history.
• The Wildcats are looking to rank in the top-15 nationally in kickoff return average for the first time since 2021 (9th – 27.22). In head coach Chris Klieman's first year of 2019, K-State led the nation with a 29.50-yard average, which was the top mark in school history.
• The high average is boasted by a 99-yard touchdown by Bryce Noernberg against Army, the 12th kickoff return of at least 99 yards in school history.
EIGHT STRAIGHT
• With Garrett Harstad's blocked punt at Arizona, K-State has now blocked a punt in eight-straight seasons, which is the longest streak in the nation.
• San Diego State is next on the list with seven-straight years, while Iowa State, Michigan, Oregon State, Rutgers, South Carolina, Toledo and UNLV are tied for third with five-consecutive years.
RODRIGUEZ CONNECTS
• Due to injuries at kicker late in the summer, the Wildcats scrambled to find a replacement, and they landed community-college transfer Luis Rodriguez from College of the Canyons.
• After arriving in Manhattan just as preseason practices commenced, all Rodriguez has done over his first eight games is connect on 10-of-11 field goal and all 30 extra-point attempts. His lone miss this season was a blocked 56-yard attempt as time expired at Baylor.
• Rodriguez ranks 15th nationally and fourth in the Big 12 by connecting on 90.9% of his field goal attempts. He also has the ninth-longest streak in school history of extra-point connections to start a season.
HIGH AVERAGE BY McCLANNAN
• Sophomore punter Simon McClannan ranks sixth in the Big 12 with a 41.7-yard average on 32 punts. His average is boosted by eight punts that have traveled at least 50 yards, which is tied for fifth in the Big 12. Last year, McClannan only had six punts of 50 or more yards over 13 games.
• A native of Omaha, Nebraska, McClannan recorded a career-best 50.8-yard average on five punts at Arizona and came back with a 51.0-yard average on four punts against UCF. Following the game against the Knights, he was named the Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week.
• It was the first time in the Big 12 era that Kansas State had a punter average at least 50.0 yards on at least four punts in consecutive games.
• McClannan enters his 24th-career game with a 42.08-yard average on 79 career punts, which ranks eighth in school history.
DEFENSE ON KICK RETURNS
• K-State has not allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown since the 2013 season, going the last 159 games and 457 returns without allowing its opponent to find paydirt.
• The streak is the longest among the active Big 12 teams, 261 returns better than the next closest team (Arizona State – 196).
• Since K-State allowed its last kickoff-return touchdown, the Wildcats have scored 15 of their own.
– k-statesports.com –
How to follow the Cats: For complete information on K-State Football, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
How to follow the Cats: For complete information on K-State Football, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
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/ FootballK-State Football | Chris Klieman Press Conference - Oct. 27, 2025
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