Saturday, October 31
Boulder, Colo.
1 p.m. (CT)
Kansas State University
at
Colorado
Oct 26, 2026 | Football
GAME 8
K-State at Colorado
Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026
Kickoff: 1 p.m. (CT)
Location: Boulder, Colo.
Stadium: Folsom Field
Series: Colorado Leads, 45-22-1
TV: TNT/HBO Max
J.B. Long (Play-by-Play)
Mike Golic Jr. (Analyst)
Jared Greenberg (Reporter)
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. 265, and on the SiriusXM App
Big 12 Radio on TuneIn
X Updates: @KStateFB and @KStateStatsInfo
K-STATE LOOKS TO BOUNCE BACK AT COLORADO
Coming off a 28-17 loss at Arizona State, K-State wraps up a two-game Big 12 road trip as it travels to Colorado on Saturday for a 1 p.m. (CT) contest inside Folsom Field. The game will be shown on TNT with J.B. Long (play-by-play), Mike Golic Jr. (analyst) and Jared Greenberg (sidelines) on the call, while the K-State Sports Network begins its coverage at 11 a.m. (CT), with Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play), Stan Weber (analyst) and Matt Walters (sidelines) calling the action.
LEANING ON THE GROUND GAME
Kansas State enters the Colorado contest ranked 14th nationally in rushing thanks in part to a 359-yard outburst against Kansas en route to 568 yards of total offense. The 568 total offensive yards were the 12th most in school history and K-State's fifth most in a Big 12 game. Additionally, it was the 10th most total yards by a Power 4 team in a conference game this season. K-State's 359 rushing yards were its fifth most ever in a Big 12 game and were the fifth most by a Power 4 team in a conference game this season.
PASS DEFENSE AMONG THE BEST
Kansas State has allowed only 147.1 passing yards per game this season, ranking fifth in the nation and tops in the Big 12 by 11.8 yards per game. One of the main reasons the Wildcats are stout against the pass is they rank fifth in the Big 12 with 2.4 sacks per game and 13th nationally with 7.3 tackles for loss per game. K-State has five players that have recorded multiple sacks, including Jordan Allen, who is coming off a game at Arizona State in which he recorded two sacks.
SEVEN FOR SATURDAY
• K-State ranks fifth in the country in fewest passing yards allowed, giving up 147.1 per game this season.
• The Wildcats are second nationally in fewest penalties and sixth in fewest penalty yards.
• K-State ranks sixth in the nation by converting on 55% (55-of-101) of its third-down attempts.
• The Cats rank 13th nationally and fifth in the Big 12 with 7.3 tackles for loss per game.
• K-State ranks 14th nationally in rushing offense with 217.6 yards per game.
• K-State ranks 25th nationally in total defense this week and 32nd nationally in total offense.
• Kicker Luis Rodriguez is one of five players nationally to be perfect on all field goals this season, minimum of 11 attempts.
TEAM NOTES
RECENT RECAP
• K-State dropped a 28-17 decision at Arizona State last week despite a gutsy performance by quarterback Jacob Knuth, who made his first career start.
• That came on the heels of K-State's 18th-straight win over in-state rival Kansas in a 35-24 victory.
• The Wildcats ran for 359 yards against the Jayhawks, which included 159 yards from Joe Jackson and 132 yards from Avery Johnson. It was the most rushing yards in a Big 12 game this season and the sixth most offensive yards in a Big 12 game this season (568).
• It was K-State's fifth-most rushing yards and total offensive yards ever in a Big 12 contest.
• K-State had one of its best collective non-conference performances in the Big 12 era in wins over Nicholls (71-3), Washington State (34-7) and Tulane (31-20).
NEWCOMERS MAKING AN IMPACT
• Of the 154 available starts on offense and defense this season, 46.1% (71-of-154) are made up of transfers.
• The biggest area in which newcomers are making an difference is sacks and tackles for loss. Of the Wildcats' 17 sacks, 8.5 (50.0%) are from newcomers, while 47.1% (24.0) of their 51 tackles for loss are from those new to the program.
• Kansas State's 2026 roster features 59 newcomers, equating to 52.7% of its roster.
• The 59 newcomers on the roster rank seventh in program history. The school record for newcomers in a season is 72 in 2002.
LETTERWINNER TURNED COACH
• Collin Klein, the former Heisman Trophy finalist and starting quarterback of the 2012 Big 12 Championship team, is in his first season as head coach in 2026.
• He is the first former K-State letterwinner to serve as head football coach since Ellis Rainsberger from 1975 through 1977.
• In fact, Klein is one of only four former letterwinners to take the helm of the K-State program as he and Rainsberger are joined by Lud Fiser (1945) and Ralph Graham (1948-50).
THE BIG 12'S BEST
• Kansas State has totaled 150 Big 12 victories since the conference's formation in 1996, which stands as the most among active Big 12 programs.
• The Cats are 15 wins ahead of Oklahoma State (135) and 21 ahead of Texas Tech (129). The Wildcats, Cowboys and Red Raiders are the only three Big 12 teams with over 100 conference wins.
• K-State is also first among active Big 12 members in winning percentage since non-divisional play began in 2011 (minimum 50 games). The Wildcats sit at 58.3% (81-58), ahead of Oklahoma State (57.6%; 80-59) and TCU (54.6%; 71-59).
FOUR-STRAIGHT WINNING BIG 12 SEASONS
• K-State has produced winning Big 12 records each of the last four seasons, its longest streak since doing so from 2011-14.
• The Wildcats are one of only two Big 12 teams with a current four-year streak of winning Big 12 records (Texas Tech).
VERY FEW PENALTIES
• Since 2022 – the year that current head coach Collin Klein took over as offensive coordinator – the Wildcats have averaged only 42.08 penalty yards per game (59 games) to rank eighth among Power 4 teams (min. 50 games).
• K-State enters the week ranked third nationally in fewest penalties per game (3.8) and seventh in fewest penalty yards per game (37.3) this season.
THE NATION'S LEADER IN NON-OFFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS
• K-State leads the country in non-offensive touchdowns over the last 28 seasons as it has 140 since 1999, six more than the team in second place (Alabama – 134).
• K-State recorded five non-offensive scores in both 2024 and 2025, and they got on the board this year with a Brandon White punt return score against Nicholls.
A REGULAR IN THE POSTSEASON
• Kansas State has qualified for postseason play in 14 of the last 15 seasons (excluding COVID) as the Wildcats earned a 6-6 record in 2025 but opted to not participate in a bowl game due to the change in coaching staff.
• The Wildcats are one of only 15 Power 4 teams – and the only Big 12 program – to be eligible in 14 of the last 15 seasons, joining Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Iowa, Louisville, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas A&M and Washington.
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
• Prior to the opener, Kansas State announced six team captains for the 2026 season in defensive ends Jordan Allen and Travis Bates, running back Joe Jackson, quarterback Avery Johnson, tight end Garrett Oakley and linebacker Gabe Powers.
• Each of them were voted captains for the first time in their careers except for Johnson, who is now a captain for a third time. He is the ninth player in school history to be named a captain on three occasions and the third quarterback, joining current head coach Collin Klein (2010-12) and Skylar Thompson (2019-21).
OFFENSIVE NOTES
KLEIN'S HIGH-OCTANE OFFENSES
• K-State head coach Collin Klein has been one of the top offensive play callers in the nation the last four-plus seasons. He earned his first offensive coordinator post with the Wildcats in 2022 and 2023 before moving to Texas A&M for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
• During his four seasons as an offensive coordinator, Klein helped the Wildcats and Aggies to a combined 38-15 record, including a Big 12 Championship at K-State in 2022 and a berth into the College Football Playoff at Texas A&M in 2025.
• Since 2022, Klein's offenses have averaged 33.3 points per game, which would rank 14th among Power 4 programs.
• Additionally, his last five offenses have combined for 431.3 yards per game (229.0 passing yards per game/200.6 rushing yards per game), which would also rank 14th among Power 4 schools.
• His teams the last four-plus years have combined for 286 plays of at least 20 or more yards (195 pass/91 rush), good for an average of 4.8 per game.
HIGH POINT TOTAL vs. BIG 12
• When Collin Klein took over the K-State offense in 2022, it began a trend of averaging 32.5 points per game in conference contests, which ranks fourth in the league. Additionally, the Wildcats rank 19th among Power 4 teams in points per game in conference contests since 2022 (min. 30 games).
• The Cats have hit the 30-point mark in 24 of their 40 Big 12 games since the start of 2022, which includes 10 times over the last two-plus seasons with current quarterback Avery Johnson running the offense.
• K-State had a four-game streak of scoring at least 30 points last year against UCF (34), Baylor (34), TCU (41) and Kansas (42), its longest streak in conference play since doing so in six-straight games during the 2003 season.
PROTECTING THE PASSER
• Kansas State was the only FBS team to not allow a sack through four games, a streak that ended in its fifth game of the year against Houston.
• The Wildcats are tied for 10th nationally by allowing only six sacks this season, while they are tied for seventh nationally by losing only 28 yards due to sacks.
PAVING THE WAY
• Kansas State's offensive line has gotten off to a good start in 2026 as the Wildcats are fifth in rushing yards per carry (5.79), tied for ninth nationally in runs of 20 or more yards (16), and rank 14th in rushing yards per game (217.6).
THIRD-YEAR STARTER
• Quarterback Avery Johnson is in his third year of starting duties in 2026. He saw a streak of 32-consecutive starts snapped at Arizona State, which tied Josh Freeman (2006-08) for the most consecutive starts at quarterback in school history.
• Johnson has led the Wildcats to 20 wins as a starting quarterback, which ranks sixth in school history. Skylar Thompson (2017-21) holds the top mark with 24, followed by a tie for second with 22 wins by Ell Roberson (2001-03), Michael Bishop (1997-98) and Collin Klein (2010-12), while Johnathan Beasley (1999-2000) led the Wildcats to 21 wins.
• Johnson is one of only two quarterbacks in the Big 12 in 2026 to have started for multiple years at the same school. The other is Noah Fifita, who has made 39 starts over the last three-plus seasons at Arizona.
MULTIPLE 200/100 GAMES
• Avery Johnson has recorded two games this season with at least 200 passing yards and 100 rushing yards as he did so against Tulane (227 pass/152 rush) and KU (209 pass/132 rush).
• He is the fourth Wildcat in the Big 12 era to have two such games in one season, joining Michael Bishop (1998), Collin Klein (2012) and Jake Waters (2014).
HIGH AVERAGE FOR A QB
• Avery Johnson has rushed for a team-leading 462 yards on only 51 carries, good for a 9.1-yard average.
• He leads all qualified quarterbacks nationally in rushing average this season and is 3.1 yards per carry better than the next best Power 4 signal caller (South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers).
THE FIRST TO 6,500/1,500
• Avery Johnson is the only player in school history to throw for at least 6,500 yards and rush for 1,500 yards, and he is one of only 10 quarterbacks in Big 12 history to reach those two career milestones, including the fourth since 2016.
• He is also one of just five active players to accomplish the feat, joining Auburn's Byrum Brown, Texas Tech's Tommy Castellanos, Utah's Devon Dampier and South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers.
• Johnson is on the doorstep of reaching 7,000 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards in his career as he needs 123 yards through the air and 160 yards on the ground to hit those marks.
• He is looking to become fourth player in Big 12 history to hit those two marks as he would join Missouri's Brad Smith (2002-05), Baylor's Robert Griffin III (2008-11) and TCU's Trevone Boykin (2012-15).
IN A CLUB ALL BY HIMSELF
• Avery Johnson had a historic effort against Tulane, throwing for 227 yards and rushing for 152 yards with two scores.
• He became the first player in school history, just the 14th in Big 12 history and one of only two players this season (Texas State's Brad Jackson) to throw for at least 200 yards and rush for at least 150 yards in a single game.
• It was the first time a Big 12 player had accomplished the feat since West Virginia's Garrett Greene against Cincinnati in 2023.
• Johnson's 379 yards of total offense against the Green Wave tied for the 15th most in school history, while his 152 rushing yards were the 10th most ever by a K-State quarterback.
• A native of Wichita, Kansas, Johnson enters the week ranked 15th in the nation and fifth in the Big 12 with 293.8 yards of total offense per game. That mark would rank third in school history.
THE SCHOOL'S ALL-TIME LEADER
• Avery Johnson's seven-yard touchdown pass to Jaron Tibbs in the first quarter against Nicholls carried significant weight as he broke the school's career record. Since then, Johnson has thrown nine more to bring his total to 58.
• Johnson, who entered 2026 tied with Will Howard (2020-23), became the first K-State quarterback with more than 50 touchdown strikes in a career.
• A product of Wichita, Kansas, Johnson ranks in the top 10 in program history in multiple career categories (see pages 57-58).
OAKLEY ALSO AFTER RECORDS
• Senior Garrett Oakley is also looking to put his name in the top 10 of several records as he tries to lay claim as the best tight end in school history.
• The career record holder for touchdown catches by a tight end with 14, Oakley ranks second among all active tight ends in the country in career receiving scores.
• Oakley is also looking to hold the school's positional records for catches and receiving yards, needing 19 catches and 390 yards to hold those marks as well.
• After producing 129 yards against Cincinnati and Houston – including a career-high 80 yards against the Bearcats – Oakley is now only 25 yards shy of becoming the fifth tight end in school history to go over 1,000 career receiving yards.
TIBBS ON A ROLL
• Wide receiver Jaron Tibbs leads the team with 34 receptions for 325 yards and four touchdowns.
• A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Tibbs has recorded receiving touchdowns in each of the last three games. He is the first K-State wide receiver to accomplish the feat since Kade Warner against TCU, Oklahoma State and Texas in 2022.
SEEING DOUBLE ON THE GROUND
• Kansas State produced two 100-yard rushers against Kansas as running Joe Jackson had 159 yards on 27 carries – with no lost-yardage plays – and quarterback Avery Johnson produced 132 yards.
• It was the 18th double 100-yard game in program history and first since Adrian Martinez (171 yards) and Deuce Vaughn (170 yards) had one against Texas Tech in 2022.
• The 291 yards between Jackson and Johnson were the eighth most in a double 100-yard game in school history.
SEEING DOUBLE THROUGH THE AIR
• Seeing significant playing time due to injury, Derrick Salley Jr. broke out with a seven-catch, 140-yard performance at Cincinnati.
• Teaming with Jaron Tibbs' 114-yard effort the week prior against Tulane, it marked the first time two different Wildcats had 100-yard receiving games in consecutive contests since Tyler Lockett (158 yards vs. Kansas) and Curry Sexton (104 yards vs. UCLA in the Alamo Bowl) in 2014.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
TOP-TIER PASS DEFENSE
• Kansas State enters the Colorado game owning the nation's fifth-ranked pass defense, allowing only 147.1 yards per game.
• The 147.1 passing yards allowed currently stands as the sixth-best mark in Big 12 history. The Wildcats also own the top three marks, allowing 124.0 yards per game in 1999, 126.9 yards per game in 1997 and 137.2 yards per game in 1996.
• K-State opened the season by allowing only 30 passing yards to Nicholls, the fewest since the 2016 Missouri State game (24 yards) and the fewest in a full game since the 2000 Ball State contest (5).
• K-State followed that up by limiting Washington State to only 65 passing yards, marking the first time since the 2000 Ball State and North Texas games the Cats allowed less than 100 passing yards in consecutive games.
BEHIND THE LINE
• The Cats are one of the nation's best teams in terms of tackles for loss, ranking 13th in the country and third in the Big 12 with 7.5 TFLs per game (51 total).
• The 51 total tackles for loss through seven games are the most by the Wildcats since the 2006 squad tallied 58.
• Defensive end Wendell Gregory ranks ninth nationally and second in the Big 12 with 1.5 tackles for loss per game (10.5 total). Fellow defensive ends Jordan Allen and Darien Whitaker Jr. have recorded 5.0 tackles for loss apiece.
LIMITED POINTS PER GAME
• Since the 2021 season (72 games), the Cats are allowing 22.6 points per game, which ranks third among current Big 12 teams and 20th among Power 4 teams (minimum 40 games).
• Since 2019, the Wildcats have held 53 of their 66 Big 12 opponents under their season average at the time it faces the Wildcats (excluding 2025 season opener against Iowa State).
CREATING TURNOVERS
• Over the last four-plus seasons, K-State has done an excellent job in forcing opponent turnovers. Since 2022, the Wildcats have been on the receiving end of 92 turnovers, which is tied for 22nd in the nation and 11th among Power 4 teams, while it ranks third among active Big 12 teams.
• Of the 92 turnovers, 53 have been via interception to rank fourth among active Big 12 programs.
SCOOP IT UP
• The K-State defense had a propensity of falling on fumbles last season as it tied for third nationally with 13 recoveries.
• The 13 fumble recoveries last season were the most by a K-State team since the 2012 squad also had 13 recoveries over 13 games. In 2024, the Wildcats only had five fumble recoveries.
• The Wildcats have recovered three fumbles in seven games this season.
IMPACT ON THE EDGE
• Defensive end Wendell Gregory has had an outstanding beginning of his K-State career as he ranks eighth in the nation and third in the Big 12 with 1.50 tackles for loss per game (10.5 total TFLs).
• Gregory held a three-game streak of at least 2.0 TFLs over the Washington State, Tulane and Cincinnati contests, which was the longest by a Wildcat since Brandon Harold in 2008 against Montana State (3.0), Louisville (2.0) and Louisiana (3.0).
• A native of Marietta, Georgia, Gregory recorded 3.0 TFLs and 2.0 sacks against Washington State before posting another 3.0 TFLs and a half sack against Tulane.
• It marked the first time a Wildcat had at least 3.0 tackles for loss in consecutive games since Chris Johnson in 2000 against Kansas (7.0) and Oklahoma (3.0).
• The 2025 Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year, Gregory has recorded 1.07 TFLs per game over his 21-game career to rank third nationally among active players. Colorado's Gideon Lampron (1.37) ranks first, while Texas' Colin Simmons (1.30) is second.
A SUCCESSFUL FIRST START
• Freshman defensive back Nick McClellan made his first-career start against Kansas a successful one as he recorded three tackles – two of which went for a loss of 14 yards – forced a fumble on a punt attempt that resulted in a safety and broke up a pass with 1:15 remaining as the Jayhawks were in K-State territory trying to cut into an 11-point deficit.
• A native of St. Louis, Missouri, McClellan was honored for his play against the Jayhawks as he was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Week.
FROM THE SECOND LEVEL TO THE FRONT LINE
• Sophomore Darien Whitaker Jr. made the switch from linebacker to defensive end during preseason camp, and the move has paid off as he ranks in the top 15 nationally in both fumbles recovered (3rd – 2) and forced fumbles per game (20th – 0.29).
• He began the season on fire as he recorded a strip-sack and fumble recovery against Nicholls before coming back with another fumble recovery against Washington State. He also posted 1.5 sacks against Tulane, had another tackle for loss at Cincinnati and forced a fumble against Kansas.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
SCORING IN THE THIRD PHASE
• A big part of K-State's non-offensive touchdown success comes from special teams as the Wildcats continue to lead the nation in total kickoff- and punt-return touchdowns since 2005 with 64.
• That mark is 24 more than the second-best team in Alabama (40) and 30 more than the closest Big 12 programs, Oklahoma State and TCU (34).
• Of the 64 total returns, a nation-leading 32 are on kickoff returns, which are nine more than the second-best team (San Diego State).
19 AND COUNTING
• Kansas State has blocked at least one punt or field goal/extra point every year since 2008, which includes the 2026 season after Jordan Allen blocked a Washington State field goal attempt.
• The Wildcats were one of five FBS teams entering 2026 to have blocked at least one punt, field goal or extra point every year since 2008, joining Boise State, Indiana, Marshall and Texas A&M. K-State, Boise State and Marshall have each extended its streaks this season.
EIGHT STRAIGHT
• The Wildcats entered the 2026 season having blocked at least one punt in eight-straight seasons, which is the longest streak in the nation and the longest by K-State since at least the 1970s.
• New special teams coordinator Stanton Weber held the same title the last three seasons at Toledo. Under his leadership, the Rockets tied for fifth nationally with two blocked punts last year and also had one in 2024.
• Toledo and Michigan are second on the list by blocking a punt each of the last six years, which includes 2026. South Carolina is at five-straight years, a program in which Weber was a special teams analyst in 2021 and 2022.
HITTING THE MARK
• Place kicker Luis Rodriguez continues to hold the top spot in school history with a 92.3% (24-of-26) conversion rate on field goals.
• One of his two career misses was blocked a 56-yard attempt at the end of last year's Baylor game, meaning he has been true on 24-of-25 (96.0%) field goal attempts that have gone past the line of scrimmage.
• Among active kickers who have attempted at least 20 career attempts, Rodriguez leads the nation in career field goal percentage.
11-FOR-11
• Place kicker Luis Rodriguez has been true on all 11 of his field goal attempts this season.
• It is tied for the second-best start by a Wildcat place kicker in the Big 12 era.
4-FOR-4
• Luis Rodriguez was successful on all four field goal attempts and three extra point attempts in K-State's 11-point victory over Kansas as he went on to earn Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
• His four made field goals tied for the second most in a Big 12 game this season, tied for fifth most in the nation and tied for the second most in a game in school history.
• A native of Slymar, California, Rodriguez now ranks 16th nationally in with 1.57 field goals per game.
McCLANNAN'S HIGH AVERAGE
• Punter Simon McClannan has had a great start to the 2026 season, adding to an already impressive career.
• A native of Omaha, Nebraska, McClannan enters the week ranked second in program history and 16th nationally among active players with a 43.36-yard average over his 119 career punts.
• McClannan holds a 47.1-yard average over his 24 punts this season, a mark that would rank seventh in the nation if he had two more attempts to qualify.
• McClannan ranks second in the Big 12 with 13 punts that have landed inside the opponent's 20-yard line, while his 11 punts of 50 or more yards this season are tied for second in the conference. His career high in punts of 50 or more yards was 13 last season.
TO THE HOUSE
• All fifth-year player Brandon White did on his first-career punt return attempt is take it 65 yards for a touchdown in the 2026 season opener against Nicholls.
• It was Kansas State's first punt-return touchdown since September 13, 2024, against Arizona, while it was the first non-blocked return touchdown in a season opener since the 2018 South Dakota game.
• A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, White followed that performance up with a 62-yard return in the second quarter against Washington State that was nearly returned for a touchdown but set up a 21-yard score two plays later.
• White, who also added a nine-yard receiving touchdown to close out the game's scoring against the Cougars, enters the week ranked sixth nationally in punt-return touchdowns, 15th in punt-return average (13.2) and 39th in combined kickoff- and punt-return yards (242).
K-State at Colorado
Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026
Kickoff: 1 p.m. (CT)
Location: Boulder, Colo.
Stadium: Folsom Field
Series: Colorado Leads, 45-22-1
TV: TNT/HBO Max
J.B. Long (Play-by-Play)
Mike Golic Jr. (Analyst)
Jared Greenberg (Reporter)
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. 265, and on the SiriusXM App
Big 12 Radio on TuneIn
X Updates: @KStateFB and @KStateStatsInfo
K-STATE LOOKS TO BOUNCE BACK AT COLORADO
Coming off a 28-17 loss at Arizona State, K-State wraps up a two-game Big 12 road trip as it travels to Colorado on Saturday for a 1 p.m. (CT) contest inside Folsom Field. The game will be shown on TNT with J.B. Long (play-by-play), Mike Golic Jr. (analyst) and Jared Greenberg (sidelines) on the call, while the K-State Sports Network begins its coverage at 11 a.m. (CT), with Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play), Stan Weber (analyst) and Matt Walters (sidelines) calling the action.
LEANING ON THE GROUND GAME
Kansas State enters the Colorado contest ranked 14th nationally in rushing thanks in part to a 359-yard outburst against Kansas en route to 568 yards of total offense. The 568 total offensive yards were the 12th most in school history and K-State's fifth most in a Big 12 game. Additionally, it was the 10th most total yards by a Power 4 team in a conference game this season. K-State's 359 rushing yards were its fifth most ever in a Big 12 game and were the fifth most by a Power 4 team in a conference game this season.
PASS DEFENSE AMONG THE BEST
Kansas State has allowed only 147.1 passing yards per game this season, ranking fifth in the nation and tops in the Big 12 by 11.8 yards per game. One of the main reasons the Wildcats are stout against the pass is they rank fifth in the Big 12 with 2.4 sacks per game and 13th nationally with 7.3 tackles for loss per game. K-State has five players that have recorded multiple sacks, including Jordan Allen, who is coming off a game at Arizona State in which he recorded two sacks.
SEVEN FOR SATURDAY
• K-State ranks fifth in the country in fewest passing yards allowed, giving up 147.1 per game this season.
• The Wildcats are second nationally in fewest penalties and sixth in fewest penalty yards.
• K-State ranks sixth in the nation by converting on 55% (55-of-101) of its third-down attempts.
• The Cats rank 13th nationally and fifth in the Big 12 with 7.3 tackles for loss per game.
• K-State ranks 14th nationally in rushing offense with 217.6 yards per game.
• K-State ranks 25th nationally in total defense this week and 32nd nationally in total offense.
• Kicker Luis Rodriguez is one of five players nationally to be perfect on all field goals this season, minimum of 11 attempts.
TEAM NOTES
RECENT RECAP
• K-State dropped a 28-17 decision at Arizona State last week despite a gutsy performance by quarterback Jacob Knuth, who made his first career start.
• That came on the heels of K-State's 18th-straight win over in-state rival Kansas in a 35-24 victory.
• The Wildcats ran for 359 yards against the Jayhawks, which included 159 yards from Joe Jackson and 132 yards from Avery Johnson. It was the most rushing yards in a Big 12 game this season and the sixth most offensive yards in a Big 12 game this season (568).
• It was K-State's fifth-most rushing yards and total offensive yards ever in a Big 12 contest.
• K-State had one of its best collective non-conference performances in the Big 12 era in wins over Nicholls (71-3), Washington State (34-7) and Tulane (31-20).
NEWCOMERS MAKING AN IMPACT
• Of the 154 available starts on offense and defense this season, 46.1% (71-of-154) are made up of transfers.
• The biggest area in which newcomers are making an difference is sacks and tackles for loss. Of the Wildcats' 17 sacks, 8.5 (50.0%) are from newcomers, while 47.1% (24.0) of their 51 tackles for loss are from those new to the program.
• Kansas State's 2026 roster features 59 newcomers, equating to 52.7% of its roster.
• The 59 newcomers on the roster rank seventh in program history. The school record for newcomers in a season is 72 in 2002.
LETTERWINNER TURNED COACH
• Collin Klein, the former Heisman Trophy finalist and starting quarterback of the 2012 Big 12 Championship team, is in his first season as head coach in 2026.
• He is the first former K-State letterwinner to serve as head football coach since Ellis Rainsberger from 1975 through 1977.
• In fact, Klein is one of only four former letterwinners to take the helm of the K-State program as he and Rainsberger are joined by Lud Fiser (1945) and Ralph Graham (1948-50).
THE BIG 12'S BEST
• Kansas State has totaled 150 Big 12 victories since the conference's formation in 1996, which stands as the most among active Big 12 programs.
• The Cats are 15 wins ahead of Oklahoma State (135) and 21 ahead of Texas Tech (129). The Wildcats, Cowboys and Red Raiders are the only three Big 12 teams with over 100 conference wins.
• K-State is also first among active Big 12 members in winning percentage since non-divisional play began in 2011 (minimum 50 games). The Wildcats sit at 58.3% (81-58), ahead of Oklahoma State (57.6%; 80-59) and TCU (54.6%; 71-59).
FOUR-STRAIGHT WINNING BIG 12 SEASONS
• K-State has produced winning Big 12 records each of the last four seasons, its longest streak since doing so from 2011-14.
• The Wildcats are one of only two Big 12 teams with a current four-year streak of winning Big 12 records (Texas Tech).
VERY FEW PENALTIES
• Since 2022 – the year that current head coach Collin Klein took over as offensive coordinator – the Wildcats have averaged only 42.08 penalty yards per game (59 games) to rank eighth among Power 4 teams (min. 50 games).
• K-State enters the week ranked third nationally in fewest penalties per game (3.8) and seventh in fewest penalty yards per game (37.3) this season.
THE NATION'S LEADER IN NON-OFFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS
• K-State leads the country in non-offensive touchdowns over the last 28 seasons as it has 140 since 1999, six more than the team in second place (Alabama – 134).
• K-State recorded five non-offensive scores in both 2024 and 2025, and they got on the board this year with a Brandon White punt return score against Nicholls.
A REGULAR IN THE POSTSEASON
• Kansas State has qualified for postseason play in 14 of the last 15 seasons (excluding COVID) as the Wildcats earned a 6-6 record in 2025 but opted to not participate in a bowl game due to the change in coaching staff.
• The Wildcats are one of only 15 Power 4 teams – and the only Big 12 program – to be eligible in 14 of the last 15 seasons, joining Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Iowa, Louisville, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas A&M and Washington.
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
• Prior to the opener, Kansas State announced six team captains for the 2026 season in defensive ends Jordan Allen and Travis Bates, running back Joe Jackson, quarterback Avery Johnson, tight end Garrett Oakley and linebacker Gabe Powers.
• Each of them were voted captains for the first time in their careers except for Johnson, who is now a captain for a third time. He is the ninth player in school history to be named a captain on three occasions and the third quarterback, joining current head coach Collin Klein (2010-12) and Skylar Thompson (2019-21).
OFFENSIVE NOTES
KLEIN'S HIGH-OCTANE OFFENSES
• K-State head coach Collin Klein has been one of the top offensive play callers in the nation the last four-plus seasons. He earned his first offensive coordinator post with the Wildcats in 2022 and 2023 before moving to Texas A&M for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
• During his four seasons as an offensive coordinator, Klein helped the Wildcats and Aggies to a combined 38-15 record, including a Big 12 Championship at K-State in 2022 and a berth into the College Football Playoff at Texas A&M in 2025.
• Since 2022, Klein's offenses have averaged 33.3 points per game, which would rank 14th among Power 4 programs.
• Additionally, his last five offenses have combined for 431.3 yards per game (229.0 passing yards per game/200.6 rushing yards per game), which would also rank 14th among Power 4 schools.
• His teams the last four-plus years have combined for 286 plays of at least 20 or more yards (195 pass/91 rush), good for an average of 4.8 per game.
HIGH POINT TOTAL vs. BIG 12
• When Collin Klein took over the K-State offense in 2022, it began a trend of averaging 32.5 points per game in conference contests, which ranks fourth in the league. Additionally, the Wildcats rank 19th among Power 4 teams in points per game in conference contests since 2022 (min. 30 games).
• The Cats have hit the 30-point mark in 24 of their 40 Big 12 games since the start of 2022, which includes 10 times over the last two-plus seasons with current quarterback Avery Johnson running the offense.
• K-State had a four-game streak of scoring at least 30 points last year against UCF (34), Baylor (34), TCU (41) and Kansas (42), its longest streak in conference play since doing so in six-straight games during the 2003 season.
PROTECTING THE PASSER
• Kansas State was the only FBS team to not allow a sack through four games, a streak that ended in its fifth game of the year against Houston.
• The Wildcats are tied for 10th nationally by allowing only six sacks this season, while they are tied for seventh nationally by losing only 28 yards due to sacks.
PAVING THE WAY
• Kansas State's offensive line has gotten off to a good start in 2026 as the Wildcats are fifth in rushing yards per carry (5.79), tied for ninth nationally in runs of 20 or more yards (16), and rank 14th in rushing yards per game (217.6).
THIRD-YEAR STARTER
• Quarterback Avery Johnson is in his third year of starting duties in 2026. He saw a streak of 32-consecutive starts snapped at Arizona State, which tied Josh Freeman (2006-08) for the most consecutive starts at quarterback in school history.
• Johnson has led the Wildcats to 20 wins as a starting quarterback, which ranks sixth in school history. Skylar Thompson (2017-21) holds the top mark with 24, followed by a tie for second with 22 wins by Ell Roberson (2001-03), Michael Bishop (1997-98) and Collin Klein (2010-12), while Johnathan Beasley (1999-2000) led the Wildcats to 21 wins.
• Johnson is one of only two quarterbacks in the Big 12 in 2026 to have started for multiple years at the same school. The other is Noah Fifita, who has made 39 starts over the last three-plus seasons at Arizona.
MULTIPLE 200/100 GAMES
• Avery Johnson has recorded two games this season with at least 200 passing yards and 100 rushing yards as he did so against Tulane (227 pass/152 rush) and KU (209 pass/132 rush).
• He is the fourth Wildcat in the Big 12 era to have two such games in one season, joining Michael Bishop (1998), Collin Klein (2012) and Jake Waters (2014).
HIGH AVERAGE FOR A QB
• Avery Johnson has rushed for a team-leading 462 yards on only 51 carries, good for a 9.1-yard average.
• He leads all qualified quarterbacks nationally in rushing average this season and is 3.1 yards per carry better than the next best Power 4 signal caller (South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers).
THE FIRST TO 6,500/1,500
• Avery Johnson is the only player in school history to throw for at least 6,500 yards and rush for 1,500 yards, and he is one of only 10 quarterbacks in Big 12 history to reach those two career milestones, including the fourth since 2016.
• He is also one of just five active players to accomplish the feat, joining Auburn's Byrum Brown, Texas Tech's Tommy Castellanos, Utah's Devon Dampier and South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers.
• Johnson is on the doorstep of reaching 7,000 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards in his career as he needs 123 yards through the air and 160 yards on the ground to hit those marks.
• He is looking to become fourth player in Big 12 history to hit those two marks as he would join Missouri's Brad Smith (2002-05), Baylor's Robert Griffin III (2008-11) and TCU's Trevone Boykin (2012-15).
IN A CLUB ALL BY HIMSELF
• Avery Johnson had a historic effort against Tulane, throwing for 227 yards and rushing for 152 yards with two scores.
• He became the first player in school history, just the 14th in Big 12 history and one of only two players this season (Texas State's Brad Jackson) to throw for at least 200 yards and rush for at least 150 yards in a single game.
• It was the first time a Big 12 player had accomplished the feat since West Virginia's Garrett Greene against Cincinnati in 2023.
• Johnson's 379 yards of total offense against the Green Wave tied for the 15th most in school history, while his 152 rushing yards were the 10th most ever by a K-State quarterback.
• A native of Wichita, Kansas, Johnson enters the week ranked 15th in the nation and fifth in the Big 12 with 293.8 yards of total offense per game. That mark would rank third in school history.
THE SCHOOL'S ALL-TIME LEADER
• Avery Johnson's seven-yard touchdown pass to Jaron Tibbs in the first quarter against Nicholls carried significant weight as he broke the school's career record. Since then, Johnson has thrown nine more to bring his total to 58.
• Johnson, who entered 2026 tied with Will Howard (2020-23), became the first K-State quarterback with more than 50 touchdown strikes in a career.
• A product of Wichita, Kansas, Johnson ranks in the top 10 in program history in multiple career categories (see pages 57-58).
OAKLEY ALSO AFTER RECORDS
• Senior Garrett Oakley is also looking to put his name in the top 10 of several records as he tries to lay claim as the best tight end in school history.
• The career record holder for touchdown catches by a tight end with 14, Oakley ranks second among all active tight ends in the country in career receiving scores.
• Oakley is also looking to hold the school's positional records for catches and receiving yards, needing 19 catches and 390 yards to hold those marks as well.
• After producing 129 yards against Cincinnati and Houston – including a career-high 80 yards against the Bearcats – Oakley is now only 25 yards shy of becoming the fifth tight end in school history to go over 1,000 career receiving yards.
TIBBS ON A ROLL
• Wide receiver Jaron Tibbs leads the team with 34 receptions for 325 yards and four touchdowns.
• A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Tibbs has recorded receiving touchdowns in each of the last three games. He is the first K-State wide receiver to accomplish the feat since Kade Warner against TCU, Oklahoma State and Texas in 2022.
SEEING DOUBLE ON THE GROUND
• Kansas State produced two 100-yard rushers against Kansas as running Joe Jackson had 159 yards on 27 carries – with no lost-yardage plays – and quarterback Avery Johnson produced 132 yards.
• It was the 18th double 100-yard game in program history and first since Adrian Martinez (171 yards) and Deuce Vaughn (170 yards) had one against Texas Tech in 2022.
• The 291 yards between Jackson and Johnson were the eighth most in a double 100-yard game in school history.
SEEING DOUBLE THROUGH THE AIR
• Seeing significant playing time due to injury, Derrick Salley Jr. broke out with a seven-catch, 140-yard performance at Cincinnati.
• Teaming with Jaron Tibbs' 114-yard effort the week prior against Tulane, it marked the first time two different Wildcats had 100-yard receiving games in consecutive contests since Tyler Lockett (158 yards vs. Kansas) and Curry Sexton (104 yards vs. UCLA in the Alamo Bowl) in 2014.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
TOP-TIER PASS DEFENSE
• Kansas State enters the Colorado game owning the nation's fifth-ranked pass defense, allowing only 147.1 yards per game.
• The 147.1 passing yards allowed currently stands as the sixth-best mark in Big 12 history. The Wildcats also own the top three marks, allowing 124.0 yards per game in 1999, 126.9 yards per game in 1997 and 137.2 yards per game in 1996.
• K-State opened the season by allowing only 30 passing yards to Nicholls, the fewest since the 2016 Missouri State game (24 yards) and the fewest in a full game since the 2000 Ball State contest (5).
• K-State followed that up by limiting Washington State to only 65 passing yards, marking the first time since the 2000 Ball State and North Texas games the Cats allowed less than 100 passing yards in consecutive games.
BEHIND THE LINE
• The Cats are one of the nation's best teams in terms of tackles for loss, ranking 13th in the country and third in the Big 12 with 7.5 TFLs per game (51 total).
• The 51 total tackles for loss through seven games are the most by the Wildcats since the 2006 squad tallied 58.
• Defensive end Wendell Gregory ranks ninth nationally and second in the Big 12 with 1.5 tackles for loss per game (10.5 total). Fellow defensive ends Jordan Allen and Darien Whitaker Jr. have recorded 5.0 tackles for loss apiece.
LIMITED POINTS PER GAME
• Since the 2021 season (72 games), the Cats are allowing 22.6 points per game, which ranks third among current Big 12 teams and 20th among Power 4 teams (minimum 40 games).
• Since 2019, the Wildcats have held 53 of their 66 Big 12 opponents under their season average at the time it faces the Wildcats (excluding 2025 season opener against Iowa State).
CREATING TURNOVERS
• Over the last four-plus seasons, K-State has done an excellent job in forcing opponent turnovers. Since 2022, the Wildcats have been on the receiving end of 92 turnovers, which is tied for 22nd in the nation and 11th among Power 4 teams, while it ranks third among active Big 12 teams.
• Of the 92 turnovers, 53 have been via interception to rank fourth among active Big 12 programs.
SCOOP IT UP
• The K-State defense had a propensity of falling on fumbles last season as it tied for third nationally with 13 recoveries.
• The 13 fumble recoveries last season were the most by a K-State team since the 2012 squad also had 13 recoveries over 13 games. In 2024, the Wildcats only had five fumble recoveries.
• The Wildcats have recovered three fumbles in seven games this season.
IMPACT ON THE EDGE
• Defensive end Wendell Gregory has had an outstanding beginning of his K-State career as he ranks eighth in the nation and third in the Big 12 with 1.50 tackles for loss per game (10.5 total TFLs).
• Gregory held a three-game streak of at least 2.0 TFLs over the Washington State, Tulane and Cincinnati contests, which was the longest by a Wildcat since Brandon Harold in 2008 against Montana State (3.0), Louisville (2.0) and Louisiana (3.0).
• A native of Marietta, Georgia, Gregory recorded 3.0 TFLs and 2.0 sacks against Washington State before posting another 3.0 TFLs and a half sack against Tulane.
• It marked the first time a Wildcat had at least 3.0 tackles for loss in consecutive games since Chris Johnson in 2000 against Kansas (7.0) and Oklahoma (3.0).
• The 2025 Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year, Gregory has recorded 1.07 TFLs per game over his 21-game career to rank third nationally among active players. Colorado's Gideon Lampron (1.37) ranks first, while Texas' Colin Simmons (1.30) is second.
A SUCCESSFUL FIRST START
• Freshman defensive back Nick McClellan made his first-career start against Kansas a successful one as he recorded three tackles – two of which went for a loss of 14 yards – forced a fumble on a punt attempt that resulted in a safety and broke up a pass with 1:15 remaining as the Jayhawks were in K-State territory trying to cut into an 11-point deficit.
• A native of St. Louis, Missouri, McClellan was honored for his play against the Jayhawks as he was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Week.
FROM THE SECOND LEVEL TO THE FRONT LINE
• Sophomore Darien Whitaker Jr. made the switch from linebacker to defensive end during preseason camp, and the move has paid off as he ranks in the top 15 nationally in both fumbles recovered (3rd – 2) and forced fumbles per game (20th – 0.29).
• He began the season on fire as he recorded a strip-sack and fumble recovery against Nicholls before coming back with another fumble recovery against Washington State. He also posted 1.5 sacks against Tulane, had another tackle for loss at Cincinnati and forced a fumble against Kansas.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
SCORING IN THE THIRD PHASE
• A big part of K-State's non-offensive touchdown success comes from special teams as the Wildcats continue to lead the nation in total kickoff- and punt-return touchdowns since 2005 with 64.
• That mark is 24 more than the second-best team in Alabama (40) and 30 more than the closest Big 12 programs, Oklahoma State and TCU (34).
• Of the 64 total returns, a nation-leading 32 are on kickoff returns, which are nine more than the second-best team (San Diego State).
19 AND COUNTING
• Kansas State has blocked at least one punt or field goal/extra point every year since 2008, which includes the 2026 season after Jordan Allen blocked a Washington State field goal attempt.
• The Wildcats were one of five FBS teams entering 2026 to have blocked at least one punt, field goal or extra point every year since 2008, joining Boise State, Indiana, Marshall and Texas A&M. K-State, Boise State and Marshall have each extended its streaks this season.
EIGHT STRAIGHT
• The Wildcats entered the 2026 season having blocked at least one punt in eight-straight seasons, which is the longest streak in the nation and the longest by K-State since at least the 1970s.
• New special teams coordinator Stanton Weber held the same title the last three seasons at Toledo. Under his leadership, the Rockets tied for fifth nationally with two blocked punts last year and also had one in 2024.
• Toledo and Michigan are second on the list by blocking a punt each of the last six years, which includes 2026. South Carolina is at five-straight years, a program in which Weber was a special teams analyst in 2021 and 2022.
HITTING THE MARK
• Place kicker Luis Rodriguez continues to hold the top spot in school history with a 92.3% (24-of-26) conversion rate on field goals.
• One of his two career misses was blocked a 56-yard attempt at the end of last year's Baylor game, meaning he has been true on 24-of-25 (96.0%) field goal attempts that have gone past the line of scrimmage.
• Among active kickers who have attempted at least 20 career attempts, Rodriguez leads the nation in career field goal percentage.
11-FOR-11
• Place kicker Luis Rodriguez has been true on all 11 of his field goal attempts this season.
• It is tied for the second-best start by a Wildcat place kicker in the Big 12 era.
4-FOR-4
• Luis Rodriguez was successful on all four field goal attempts and three extra point attempts in K-State's 11-point victory over Kansas as he went on to earn Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
• His four made field goals tied for the second most in a Big 12 game this season, tied for fifth most in the nation and tied for the second most in a game in school history.
• A native of Slymar, California, Rodriguez now ranks 16th nationally in with 1.57 field goals per game.
McCLANNAN'S HIGH AVERAGE
• Punter Simon McClannan has had a great start to the 2026 season, adding to an already impressive career.
• A native of Omaha, Nebraska, McClannan enters the week ranked second in program history and 16th nationally among active players with a 43.36-yard average over his 119 career punts.
• McClannan holds a 47.1-yard average over his 24 punts this season, a mark that would rank seventh in the nation if he had two more attempts to qualify.
• McClannan ranks second in the Big 12 with 13 punts that have landed inside the opponent's 20-yard line, while his 11 punts of 50 or more yards this season are tied for second in the conference. His career high in punts of 50 or more yards was 13 last season.
TO THE HOUSE
• All fifth-year player Brandon White did on his first-career punt return attempt is take it 65 yards for a touchdown in the 2026 season opener against Nicholls.
• It was Kansas State's first punt-return touchdown since September 13, 2024, against Arizona, while it was the first non-blocked return touchdown in a season opener since the 2018 South Dakota game.
• A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, White followed that performance up with a 62-yard return in the second quarter against Washington State that was nearly returned for a touchdown but set up a 21-yard score two plays later.
• White, who also added a nine-yard receiving touchdown to close out the game's scoring against the Cougars, enters the week ranked sixth nationally in punt-return touchdowns, 15th in punt-return average (13.2) and 39th in combined kickoff- and punt-return yards (242).
– 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.
Players Mentioned
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Saturday, October 17
Saturday, October 17
