Up for the Challenge

By: D. Scott Fritchen

Kansas State has largely had its way with Texas Tech for more than a decade. But the Wildcats, who have won 12 of the last 13 meetings in the series, haven't faced a Red Raiders team quite like this in many years.

No. 13 Texas Tech rolls into Manhattan for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff on Saturday as the highest-ranked Texas Tech team to play at Bill Snyder Family Stadium since the seventh-ranked Red Raiders visited in 2008 — the last time they won in Manhattan. This Texas Tech team, which is 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the Big 12 Conference, is also the highest-ranked opponent to visit the Little Apple since No. 9 Oklahoma State visited in 2022.

A big game, a big opponent, and a big opportunity awaits K-State, 4-4 and 3-2, which enters the final month of the regular season within two games of conference-leading BYU and Cincinnati in the league standings.

After starting the season at 1-3, K-State has won three of its last four games, including last Saturday's 42-17 thumping of Kansas at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence.

"It just raises the stakes, and it gets tougher and tougher," said K-State head coach Chris Klieman, who is 5-0 against Texas Tech. "We have a really good football team coming in here with Texas Tech, and we're excited to have them at home. We have to come up with great plans and have great focus because it's going to be a heck of battle at The Bill."

Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire is 30-17 overall in his four seasons in Lubbock, as the Red Raiders seek their best nine-game start to a season since 2008 and are one of four teams with one loss or less in the Big 12. Texas Tech comes of a 42-0 win over Oklahoma State for its first shutout victory over a Big 12 opponent since 2005, and its lone blemish is a 26-22 loss at Arizona State on October 18.

As for the fact that Texas Tech hasn't beaten K-State since 2015?

"We're not going to concern ourselves with the history or what has been there or here," McGuire said. "This is an entirely different team. You know, a majority of this team has never played K-State."

K-State and Texas Tech are the only two Big 12 programs to boast an above-.500 conference record in each of the past three seasons, regardless of league affiliation.

"As far as how big of a game that is, we're all in on this game right now here," McGuire said. "Everything that you've worked for all year long, we put ourselves in that spot. Now you've got to take care of business this week and get ready for what's next."

Texas Tech has outscored opponents 349-99 in its seven victories and ranks No. 2 nationally in outscoring opponents by an average of 31.3 points in its eight contests.

"Joey is rolling," Klieman said. "He's got them going and playing really well. They got tripped up at Arizona State, but they won at Utah and at Houston, and those are tough places to go and win. That's why we have to get it cranked up on Saturday."

K-State comes off it best two games of the season with a 41-28 win over TCU preceding the Wildcats' 17^th-straight win over the Jayhawks. K-State has averaged 37.8 points per game over its last four contests, and it is tied for third in scoring among Power 4 schools since September 27.

Quarterback Avery Johnson has thrown for 1,792 yards and 15 touchdowns to just two interceptions and his 0.8% interception percentage ranks 13^th in the FBS. He has thrown touchdown passes to six different pass catchers this season, including four to wide receiver Jayce Brown and four to tight end Garrett Oakley.

But Johnson, who has 66 carries for 255 yards and five scores on the ground this season, made a rousing statement with his legs the last time the teams met in 2023. Johnson, then a true freshman, came off the sideline as a true freshman and rushed for a school record-tying five touchdowns in a 38-21 victory in Lubbock.

"If you look at the numbers, just in conference, they're playing better on offense than what they were," McGuire said. "Johnson is really good. You're really not going to be able to stop him because he is really explosive and a great quarterback."

K-State, which is led in rushing this season by sophomore Joe Jackson — 95 rushes for 382 yards and one touchdown — might have to put together its best performance of the season to maintain offensive balance against one of the best defenses in the FBS.

"They're a great team, physical, tough and very disciplined," Jackson said. "No matter the game, it's the same mentality. This is a game where you have to make sure you're on top of all your details and the little things. You have to do the little things right."

Texas Tech ranks fourth nationally in allowing just 12.4 points per game — on pace for its best scoring defense since 1964 — and it ranks 10^th in surrendering just 264.6 total offensive yards.

"They're dominant on defense, and when they're dominant on defense they're getting a lot of snaps on offense," Klieman said. "You can tell they're jumping on people fast just because they're so disruptive on defense and getting short fields."

Perhaps most glaring, Texas Tech also possesses the No. 1 rushing defense in the nation. It is giving up just 68.1 yards per game on the ground. Texas Tech hasn't allowed an opponent to rush for more than 105 yards this season and is allowing just 2.19 yards per carry. Opponents have rushed the ball 249 times and have produced just three rushing touchdowns.

"Look at the stats and look at the other eight teams that have rushed the ball against them," K-State offensive coordinator Matt Wells said. "It's not very good, but we're going to find a way – we've got to find a way. You can't throw it every down, and you can't sit back there and let those guys know exactly where you're at. It's a challenge. It's a major challenge whether it's scheme, personnel or angles.

"I'm looking forward to our guys. Our guys are ready for that challenge."

Meanwhile, Texas Tech ranks fourth nationally in averaging 43.6 points per game and fourth with 499.4 total yards of offense per contest. That includes 300.1 passing yards, which ranks 12^th in the country, while the Red Raiders rank 27^th with 199.3 rushing yards.

Senior Behren Morton, who has battled injury, is expected to return to his role as starting quarterback on Saturday. He entered the fall as one of only six FBS quarterbacks to return for the 2025 season after throwing for at least 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns while suffering fewer than nine interceptions a year ago. His 21 wins as starting quarterback are the most at Texas Tech since Graham Harrell won 28 games between 2006-08.

This season, Morton has thrown for 1,501 yards and 13 touchdowns to just three interceptions despite playing only one full game to this point.

K-State defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman said, "They're just a different team with him."

"They're probably scarier this week than they were in the previous couple," Klanderman added. "We're going to have to get lined up and rock and roll. He sees the field really well. Their whole deal is let's play with tempo, let's see the picture, and let's get the football in space where it needs to be.

"He's been doing it for years. That's why they're so efficient right now."

The Red Raiders have a nation-leading five players with at least 290 receiving yards this season while the sophomore tandem of running backs Cameron Dickey and J'Koby Williams have produced 1,068 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns — operating behind a veteran offensive line whose 165 combined career starts ranked fourth in the FBS entering the season.

"They're one of the best teams in the country, and it's an explosive offense," K-State defensive end Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder said. "It's going to be a challenge, but we're up to this challenge. We're going to do what we have to do to be successful in this game. I feel our defense will step up to the challenge."

While K-State allows an average of 25.8 points and 368.9 total yards per game, the Wildcats have made a business out of getting to the football, and rank No. 1 among Power 4 teams with 17 takeaways. That includes nine fumble recoveries and eight interceptions.

"A big part of our success is we have not turned the ball over on offense and we've gotten those turnovers on defense," Klieman said. "That's been a huge factor for us as we've played better."

Prior to Saturday's kickoff, fans will enjoy K-State's annual Harley Day celebration as 100 Harley Davidson motorcycles will slowly parade around the outskirts of the football field at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. It is certain to be loud.

After making noise across the Sunflower State with a dominant win over Kansas, the Wildcats now have a chance to make noise across the Big 12 landscape if they can extend another winning streak and take down the high-flying 13^th-ranked Red Raiders.

"(Kansas) was a great win, but we all know there's another opportunity coming up, and we have to get our minds ready," K-State cornerback Zashon Rich said. "We're playing with the most confidence of anybody in the nation right now. We feel like we can beat anybody."

Kansas State University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder

Jayce Brown

Joe Jackson

Avery Johnson

Garrett Oakley

Zashon Rich

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