Nov 09, 2026 | Football
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State head coach Collin Klein and select players met with the media on Monday inside the Vanier Family Football Complex to preview K-State's game this Saturday at TCU. Links to video and audio of Klein's press conference – which was streamed live on ESPN+ – are above in addition to an audio link of the player breakout interviews. A transcript of Klein's press conference is below.
COLLIN KLEIN, HEAD COACH
Opening Statement…
"Good morning. Recapping Saturday, one of the more frustrating, bad losses that I've been a part of. Not a whole lot of good in all three phases. A lot to improve on. In a game like that, against a team like that, even talking all week, and as we had discussed before, the things that couldn't happen happened. You look at, obviously, giving them a drive right off the bat of three plays and a score all three of our turnovers giving them extremely short fields that resulted in points was catastrophic there. First possession of the game, offensively, didn't get in any rhythm, was not able to get the wheels going and possess the football with no points on a three-and-out right off the bat. A lot of self-inflicted wounds. But, kind of the breaking point of the game there is the 4th and 1 down 14-7. Have a chance, don't get it. They go score. We get a turnover and have a chance with a surprise on side with a good look and weren't able to capitalize on a couple of opportunities to keep the fight going.
"Was proud of the team. Was proud of the guys for the effort and how we competed through the game, albeit as it got out of reach from a mentality standpoint. There are things to be gained even in a bad situation like that to improve yourself and to improve your team as we continue to build this thing moving forward. I said it after the game and after going through and watching it, we have to do a better job as a staff of getting our guys in better positions offensively and defensively.
"Defensively, we're putting a lot of strain on certain areas and not getting things done in the run game. I looked it up. In the last 20 times that we've given up over 200 yards rushing, we've won four of those games. When we don't win the line of scrimmage and our brand of football – K-State football and how we're going to play, how we want to play, and who we're going to be and have been for a long time – that didn't take place on Saturday and needs to take place and will take place in the future again as we continue to build it. On the flip side, we didn't obviously win the line of scrimmage. There were some things they did that we did not adapt to fast enough in some of the 12 personnel run game pictures and fits that caused us to waste too many plays and waste too many chances at bat there offensively.
"We have to keep building, have to keep our heads down. It's a daily, constant, continual improvement. It's not about pointing fingers at anyone. That's what bad teams do. That's what losers do. That's not what our guys did and proved it this morning when they came into work. That's how we're going to approach it and attack that process.
"We got a big challenge this week. TCU, I think, is as good a defensive team as I've seen in the conference. Their front seven is big, long, fast and physical. Offensively, they've been kind of growing through some identity things on that side of the ball. As good a defensive team as we probably will play this year. Coach (Andy) Avalos does a tremendous job with those guys, and a lot of respect for Coach (Sonny) Dykes and the program that he's built down there."
On the problems will they focus on fixing during the last three weeks…
"I think there are things, fundamentally, that can be improved daily: pursuit angles, tackling, hand placement, footwork in blocking fundamentals, read progressions and experience at quarterback. I think a lot of those things can still be greatly improved on. Then as a staff, too, I have challenged us, and we've challenged ourselves. I've not been a part of an injury situation like we have this year. However, that can happen, and we have to be able to adjust. As we're building, yeah, there may be certain things that we want to do that are not conducive to where we're at right now, and we have to adjust. We have to be creative and find solutions to problems instead of letting some of those solutions just keep beating us over the head a little bit. That's the challenge. That's the give and take with it. Even this last week, it's happened on the defensive side of things. Obviously, we've been battling it on offense, but losing Eli Jackson and then De'Arieun Hicks early in the game are two big ones, and then Koy Beasley is on his way back, but working through it too. So, schematic adjustments to say, 'Hey, this is obviously some set of unfortunate circumstances, but we got to adjust and adapt to solve those problems while getting better fundamentally,' because that's the baseline of any scheme. We're not playing fundamental football on either side of the ball right now and how we need to play it."
On the solution to the defense's struggles…
"It is frustrating because some of them are repeat instances. As you look at a couple of those runs, and it's a different problem every time. That's the hard part. It's not just one guy, it's not just one thing, it's collectively. We're not getting it done at the first level, second level, or finishing at the third level how it needs to be done to get that ball down for a two- or three-yard gain that then spits for 12, 22, whatever it ends up being."
On the current state of the locker room…
"Like I said just even a second ago, they came in here this morning, they got to work, they flew around. We had a good Monday practice. That foundation of culture and effort and competitive nature and finish, that's what K-State has been for a long time. There are a good number of guys that are leading that charge and effort. It started even this morning with a little history lesson. We talked about how, 'Yeah, none of us are sitting in a situation that we would pick, and this is hard, and when you go on a string of three losses in a row and five of our last six, like that's not a that's not a fun place to be, and none of us would pick that.' However, I told them about 2015, and I told them about the guts of that team, of, 'Hey, we started 3-0, lost six in a row, and we stayed together. We kept getting better. We kept focusing on the things within our control, and finished it right, and found a way to win our last three.' That's possible. I was brought up that I was on the other side of it and watched a program, a struggling program in Baylor, do that in 2012, and was 4-6, but then down the stretch they made a decision of like, 'Hey, there's still time.' Every single game that you have a chance to compete is a chance to improve, is a chance to create momentum for this year – but then also beyond – and that decision is in front of all of us, staff, players, program-wide every single day. Albeit, these circumstances are not fun or anyone would pick. However, this is where you really get to find out where you're made of. That's for us as a staff, as for myself, and definitely for our players, and their character and integrity shows through."
On how Jordan Peterson has handled the defensive struggles the last few weeks…
"He's a tough competitor. He's given our team, our program and our players everything he's got because everyone's doing everything that they possibly can to get us over this hump and to get that momentum started in a positive direction."
On the decision to hand over offensive playcalling duties…
"It was a combination of factors. There were a few things that happened even a couple weeks before through the through the course of the weeks that I kept kind of catching myself going like, 'Oh, we needed to fix that Tuesday,' and it's Thursday, or, 'I didn't see that fast enough to make a difference,' and that was very that was very frustrating to me. Then it felt like my vision was getting a little bit blurred, too, of trying to do a lot on both sides of it. So, I didn't like that feeling. Like I said, part of the growing process I felt really good with Sean (Gleason) and all that he has done for me and our offense through the preparations to where I didn't feel like it would suffer. You know what I'm saying? Going through this thing week to week, step by step, it's not any like hardline, long-term decisions either way. It's like, 'Hey, we got to find a way to get a win this week. We got to do everything we can to better our program and our team.' That was some of those factors."
On if there was any improvement during the week due to the change…
"It was it was different. I think I felt like I was able to see certain things a lot better in real time and help some processes through the week. But, it's going to be a process as we continue to work through."
On if he's made a decision on playcalling going into this week…
"Last week I made the decision on about Thursday just because I wanted to see where I was really at and what my comfort level was of the mastery of what we were trying to get done. So, probably day to day. I think we'll carry on this way would be my bet."
On when he wants to know who the starting quarterback will be against TCU…
"Man, that's a tough question, and it's not anything to do with those guys. They're both going to compete this week. They're both going to get a lot of reps. We're going to see how it goes through the week. I was glad to see Dillon (Duff) get out there and get to play and get in the flow of the game and make some plays and do some good things. So, I would see them both playing."
On how good it was for Dillon Duff to throw a touchdown pass against Oklahoma State…
"It felt really good for him, and I was happy for him. There's a different quarterback psychology that happens, especially as younger players when you're starting a game. It's not any different than going out and playing any snaps at any point of the game other than you're starting the game and you're feeling that you're carrying the load for your football team. Both of those guys needed to grow into that. They had struggles on either side of it. So, to see Dillon (Duff) not start the game, come in and play well, the exact inverse of what happened (at Colorado), it's part of the growth process, but really, really happy for him that he was able to do so."
On going from a game in which they are playing the best offense in the Big 12 to playing the best defense in the Big 12…
"Welcome to the Big 12."
On the biggest challenge of the TCU defense…
"I think it's their front seven. They're extremely disruptive. They can rush the passer. They really get off blocks and destroy blocks in the run game. They play hard. They've got a very multiple scheme that you know they're not just going to sit there and let you know where they're at. So, that they do a really nice job."
On seeing Linkon Cure play for the first time as a recruit…
"Early in the recruiting process, we knew who he was and knew his family and got to know him pretty well early. I remember even going out to a basketball game in Goodland and watching him on the court compete in person. That was one of the first times. He's a tremendous athlete. I'm proud of him just how he continues to grow into the position. His technique is getting better, his blocking mechanics are getting better, his route running is getting more consistent. Then, for him to get some results from that process to be able to channel the God-given ability he has, I've been really happy to see that for him."
On Linkon Cure scoring his first touchdown and then having a career high in catches…
"He just keeps getting better and better. You can even just tell, like getting him the ball more in space and his comfortability with the ability to do something with it after and have that spatial awareness. That, again, is just continued growth for him. We just got to keep plugging along."
On filling out the defensive tackle position due to injuries…
"I mean it's going to be a group effort. Obviously, Travis Bates, Austin Ramsey. We'll have a rotation and work some different guys through there."
On the status of center Dylan Villarouel after leaving the Oklahoma State game…
"He'll be fine."
COLLIN KLEIN, HEAD COACH
Opening Statement…
"Good morning. Recapping Saturday, one of the more frustrating, bad losses that I've been a part of. Not a whole lot of good in all three phases. A lot to improve on. In a game like that, against a team like that, even talking all week, and as we had discussed before, the things that couldn't happen happened. You look at, obviously, giving them a drive right off the bat of three plays and a score all three of our turnovers giving them extremely short fields that resulted in points was catastrophic there. First possession of the game, offensively, didn't get in any rhythm, was not able to get the wheels going and possess the football with no points on a three-and-out right off the bat. A lot of self-inflicted wounds. But, kind of the breaking point of the game there is the 4th and 1 down 14-7. Have a chance, don't get it. They go score. We get a turnover and have a chance with a surprise on side with a good look and weren't able to capitalize on a couple of opportunities to keep the fight going.
"Was proud of the team. Was proud of the guys for the effort and how we competed through the game, albeit as it got out of reach from a mentality standpoint. There are things to be gained even in a bad situation like that to improve yourself and to improve your team as we continue to build this thing moving forward. I said it after the game and after going through and watching it, we have to do a better job as a staff of getting our guys in better positions offensively and defensively.
"Defensively, we're putting a lot of strain on certain areas and not getting things done in the run game. I looked it up. In the last 20 times that we've given up over 200 yards rushing, we've won four of those games. When we don't win the line of scrimmage and our brand of football – K-State football and how we're going to play, how we want to play, and who we're going to be and have been for a long time – that didn't take place on Saturday and needs to take place and will take place in the future again as we continue to build it. On the flip side, we didn't obviously win the line of scrimmage. There were some things they did that we did not adapt to fast enough in some of the 12 personnel run game pictures and fits that caused us to waste too many plays and waste too many chances at bat there offensively.
"We have to keep building, have to keep our heads down. It's a daily, constant, continual improvement. It's not about pointing fingers at anyone. That's what bad teams do. That's what losers do. That's not what our guys did and proved it this morning when they came into work. That's how we're going to approach it and attack that process.
"We got a big challenge this week. TCU, I think, is as good a defensive team as I've seen in the conference. Their front seven is big, long, fast and physical. Offensively, they've been kind of growing through some identity things on that side of the ball. As good a defensive team as we probably will play this year. Coach (Andy) Avalos does a tremendous job with those guys, and a lot of respect for Coach (Sonny) Dykes and the program that he's built down there."
On the problems will they focus on fixing during the last three weeks…
"I think there are things, fundamentally, that can be improved daily: pursuit angles, tackling, hand placement, footwork in blocking fundamentals, read progressions and experience at quarterback. I think a lot of those things can still be greatly improved on. Then as a staff, too, I have challenged us, and we've challenged ourselves. I've not been a part of an injury situation like we have this year. However, that can happen, and we have to be able to adjust. As we're building, yeah, there may be certain things that we want to do that are not conducive to where we're at right now, and we have to adjust. We have to be creative and find solutions to problems instead of letting some of those solutions just keep beating us over the head a little bit. That's the challenge. That's the give and take with it. Even this last week, it's happened on the defensive side of things. Obviously, we've been battling it on offense, but losing Eli Jackson and then De'Arieun Hicks early in the game are two big ones, and then Koy Beasley is on his way back, but working through it too. So, schematic adjustments to say, 'Hey, this is obviously some set of unfortunate circumstances, but we got to adjust and adapt to solve those problems while getting better fundamentally,' because that's the baseline of any scheme. We're not playing fundamental football on either side of the ball right now and how we need to play it."
On the solution to the defense's struggles…
"It is frustrating because some of them are repeat instances. As you look at a couple of those runs, and it's a different problem every time. That's the hard part. It's not just one guy, it's not just one thing, it's collectively. We're not getting it done at the first level, second level, or finishing at the third level how it needs to be done to get that ball down for a two- or three-yard gain that then spits for 12, 22, whatever it ends up being."
On the current state of the locker room…
"Like I said just even a second ago, they came in here this morning, they got to work, they flew around. We had a good Monday practice. That foundation of culture and effort and competitive nature and finish, that's what K-State has been for a long time. There are a good number of guys that are leading that charge and effort. It started even this morning with a little history lesson. We talked about how, 'Yeah, none of us are sitting in a situation that we would pick, and this is hard, and when you go on a string of three losses in a row and five of our last six, like that's not a that's not a fun place to be, and none of us would pick that.' However, I told them about 2015, and I told them about the guts of that team, of, 'Hey, we started 3-0, lost six in a row, and we stayed together. We kept getting better. We kept focusing on the things within our control, and finished it right, and found a way to win our last three.' That's possible. I was brought up that I was on the other side of it and watched a program, a struggling program in Baylor, do that in 2012, and was 4-6, but then down the stretch they made a decision of like, 'Hey, there's still time.' Every single game that you have a chance to compete is a chance to improve, is a chance to create momentum for this year – but then also beyond – and that decision is in front of all of us, staff, players, program-wide every single day. Albeit, these circumstances are not fun or anyone would pick. However, this is where you really get to find out where you're made of. That's for us as a staff, as for myself, and definitely for our players, and their character and integrity shows through."
On how Jordan Peterson has handled the defensive struggles the last few weeks…
"He's a tough competitor. He's given our team, our program and our players everything he's got because everyone's doing everything that they possibly can to get us over this hump and to get that momentum started in a positive direction."
On the decision to hand over offensive playcalling duties…
"It was a combination of factors. There were a few things that happened even a couple weeks before through the through the course of the weeks that I kept kind of catching myself going like, 'Oh, we needed to fix that Tuesday,' and it's Thursday, or, 'I didn't see that fast enough to make a difference,' and that was very that was very frustrating to me. Then it felt like my vision was getting a little bit blurred, too, of trying to do a lot on both sides of it. So, I didn't like that feeling. Like I said, part of the growing process I felt really good with Sean (Gleason) and all that he has done for me and our offense through the preparations to where I didn't feel like it would suffer. You know what I'm saying? Going through this thing week to week, step by step, it's not any like hardline, long-term decisions either way. It's like, 'Hey, we got to find a way to get a win this week. We got to do everything we can to better our program and our team.' That was some of those factors."
On if there was any improvement during the week due to the change…
"It was it was different. I think I felt like I was able to see certain things a lot better in real time and help some processes through the week. But, it's going to be a process as we continue to work through."
On if he's made a decision on playcalling going into this week…
"Last week I made the decision on about Thursday just because I wanted to see where I was really at and what my comfort level was of the mastery of what we were trying to get done. So, probably day to day. I think we'll carry on this way would be my bet."
On when he wants to know who the starting quarterback will be against TCU…
"Man, that's a tough question, and it's not anything to do with those guys. They're both going to compete this week. They're both going to get a lot of reps. We're going to see how it goes through the week. I was glad to see Dillon (Duff) get out there and get to play and get in the flow of the game and make some plays and do some good things. So, I would see them both playing."
On how good it was for Dillon Duff to throw a touchdown pass against Oklahoma State…
"It felt really good for him, and I was happy for him. There's a different quarterback psychology that happens, especially as younger players when you're starting a game. It's not any different than going out and playing any snaps at any point of the game other than you're starting the game and you're feeling that you're carrying the load for your football team. Both of those guys needed to grow into that. They had struggles on either side of it. So, to see Dillon (Duff) not start the game, come in and play well, the exact inverse of what happened (at Colorado), it's part of the growth process, but really, really happy for him that he was able to do so."
On going from a game in which they are playing the best offense in the Big 12 to playing the best defense in the Big 12…
"Welcome to the Big 12."
On the biggest challenge of the TCU defense…
"I think it's their front seven. They're extremely disruptive. They can rush the passer. They really get off blocks and destroy blocks in the run game. They play hard. They've got a very multiple scheme that you know they're not just going to sit there and let you know where they're at. So, that they do a really nice job."
On seeing Linkon Cure play for the first time as a recruit…
"Early in the recruiting process, we knew who he was and knew his family and got to know him pretty well early. I remember even going out to a basketball game in Goodland and watching him on the court compete in person. That was one of the first times. He's a tremendous athlete. I'm proud of him just how he continues to grow into the position. His technique is getting better, his blocking mechanics are getting better, his route running is getting more consistent. Then, for him to get some results from that process to be able to channel the God-given ability he has, I've been really happy to see that for him."
On Linkon Cure scoring his first touchdown and then having a career high in catches…
"He just keeps getting better and better. You can even just tell, like getting him the ball more in space and his comfortability with the ability to do something with it after and have that spatial awareness. That, again, is just continued growth for him. We just got to keep plugging along."
On filling out the defensive tackle position due to injuries…
"I mean it's going to be a group effort. Obviously, Travis Bates, Austin Ramsey. We'll have a rotation and work some different guys through there."
On the status of center Dylan Villarouel after leaving the Oklahoma State game…
"He'll be fine."
– 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
DE
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S
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TE
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QB
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DT
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DT
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DT
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OL
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