Details, Improvement, and Looking Forward
Sep 08, 2026 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
How's this for starters?
Kansas State scored its most points ever in a season opener and the fourth-most points by a FBS team this season, while the Wildcats allowed their fewest total yards since 2009 and recorded their first punt-return touchdown in two years during a 71-3 win over Nicholls in the debut of Collin Klein as head coach.
Klein, who replaced retired Chris Kleiman as head coach in December, during his news conference on Monday sounded eerily similar to his 86-year-old mentor in Hall of Famer Bill Snyder, whose legendary process for success always centered on details, improvement, and the next challenge for his team.
"I was very pleased with the effort from the ballgame and how they competed from start to finish in all three phases," Klein said.
Klein added: "There are still a lot of little things that can still be cleaned up."
K-State, which featured a new coaching staff and 58 new players on its roster, and that saw 16 players make their first ever starts as Wildcats – including 10 who were new to the team this season – racked up 559 total yards while a school-record nine different players scored a touchdown, as the defense allowed just 122 total yards, the fewest by an opponent in a full game since Tennessee State in 2009.
"It's a really good place to start," Klein admitted. "The little things didn't catch us when we made mistakes. We have to get them shored up. We have a big week ahead of us."
K-State, 1-0, now prepares to face Washington State, 0-1, which suffered a 24-10 loss at No. 17 Washington on Sunday. It'll mark the first-ever meeting between the schools, who both are in their 131st season of competition. K-State and Washington State will kick off at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday in what will be the annual Fort Riley Day game at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
The 36-year-old Klein, who came to K-State after two ultra-successful years as offensive coordinator at Texas A&M, and who previously also served as offensive coordinator at K-State and helped the Wildcats to a 2022 Big 12 Championship, indicated that he wasted little time after his first career victory to begin preparation for this week.
"Preparation has to happen that night," Klein said. "You get to enjoy the win right afterward, and Sunday you have to restart the cycle and it's 0-0 again."
Asked whether the entirety of last Saturday top to bottom was everything that he had hoped for on his big day, Klein replied, "It's tough to answer just because what's helped to build that mentality in myself and in our team and program is truly the next thing right in front of you. That's the mentality and the mindset.
"I'm just so proud of our players for getting off to a good start. But I told them this morning, 'It's 0-0 today, and we have to go do it again.'"
Following a morning practice on Monday, the Wildcats were still hard at work while Klein spoke to reporters at his first Monday news conference following a game weekend.
"Our practice was good," Klein said. "Our guys had a very business-like mindset and a business-like mentality. They're in the weight room right now and the music is cranked up. So, they're fired up."
K-State has been fired up for a while. Winter conditioning boasted multiple individual and team-wide school records, and Klein directed the team to practice with pads and helmets for a majority of the spring sessions, echoing the freshly-coined motto that Klein said at his introductory news conference: "Some people visit physicality, we live in it."
Reflecting on whether the rigors of winter weights and conditioning and the grueling spring paid dividends for the Wildcats, Klein replied, "I know it did."
"There's a lot of little things that we do need to tighten up that are very normal for a first-game type situation, but credit to our guys," Klein said. "Because of how hard we've gone and for how long we've gone, there were less of those first-game moments out there for a lot of new guys on the roster and a new staff, so credit to them for their work paying off."
K-State played a total of 85 players against Nicholls.
While Avery Johnson threw three touchdowns and ran for another, and Jaron Tibbs and Derrick Salley Jr. each had a team-high four receptions, and sophomore running back Rodney Fields Jr. rushed for 101 yards and one touchdown in his first game, strong safety Logan Bartley and linebacker Gabe Powers each had five tackles.
But there were many others who played a role in the team's success as well.
"The biggest overarching theme was just how much they enjoyed competing and getting their opportunity and how they attacked it," Klein said. "There was Monterrio Elston Jr. and how hard he ran the football and Ashton Moore having two big tackles down the stretch. I could go on, but just seeing those guys with all the work they've put in, and a lot of them are younger — those first snaps are important, and you remember those forever.
"Getting guys reps was really good, and I appreciate how they competed and finished the ballgame."
Brandon White opened eyes during an overall lights-out performance by the K-State special teams. White, who hadn't returned a punt since his sophomore year in high school, dashed 65 yards into the end zone for the Wildcats' first punt-return touchdown since 2024. Meanwhile it marked K-State's 140th non-offensive touchdown since 1999, which leads the FBS.
"I mean, you could tell he was good with his really good short-area quickness," Klein said. "He caught the ball for the most part well through training camp, and we rotated a lot of different guys back there and had a natural feel for it. Our guys get really excited because of how Coach Stanton Weber sells it and the history of this place and how important we make it that they're excited to get a shot and take it."
Johnson appeared fired up after the first game of his senior season, as the senior quarterback made history with three touchdown passes that gave him a school-record 51 touchdown passes in his career. Johnson made his 27th career start, tied for fifth among K-State quarterbacks since 1990.
Klein was pleased with the performance of Johnson, who completed 15-of-21 passes for 199 yards and three touchdowns, and who added four carries for 23 yards and one score on the ground.
"It lined up with what I felt in the moment and what I felt talking to him on the sideline," Klein said. "He was seeing everything, was 100% with our protection checks on third down, and did a really good job managing that part of the game. His leadership and presence and consistency with the guys around him was really good throughout the entire course of the game. There was a level of decisiveness and competitive edge, and it was great to see him just cut it loose and compete."
Klein was pleased with how K-State competed from start to finish.
"I thought they were fine and focused the whole game," Klein said.
For the first time in K-State history, the school displayed a brilliant purple-themed LED lightshow between the third and fourth quarters. The "Sandstorm" song that has long been a hit among K-State fans at home basketball games, made its debut appearance at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, prompting fans and players alike to dance.
"I was looking down at my cards, so I didn't really notice, because I was trying to finish the game," Klein said. "I thought it was great. I hope our players did enjoy it."
Klein paused.
"I think we had a holding penalty the first snap right after that," he said, "so many we enjoyed it a little too much."
Reporters chuckled at Klein's quick comedic dry wit — an endearing quality of his mentor at news conferences many years ago.
How's this for starters?
Kansas State scored its most points ever in a season opener and the fourth-most points by a FBS team this season, while the Wildcats allowed their fewest total yards since 2009 and recorded their first punt-return touchdown in two years during a 71-3 win over Nicholls in the debut of Collin Klein as head coach.
Klein, who replaced retired Chris Kleiman as head coach in December, during his news conference on Monday sounded eerily similar to his 86-year-old mentor in Hall of Famer Bill Snyder, whose legendary process for success always centered on details, improvement, and the next challenge for his team.
"I was very pleased with the effort from the ballgame and how they competed from start to finish in all three phases," Klein said.
Klein added: "There are still a lot of little things that can still be cleaned up."
K-State, which featured a new coaching staff and 58 new players on its roster, and that saw 16 players make their first ever starts as Wildcats – including 10 who were new to the team this season – racked up 559 total yards while a school-record nine different players scored a touchdown, as the defense allowed just 122 total yards, the fewest by an opponent in a full game since Tennessee State in 2009.
"It's a really good place to start," Klein admitted. "The little things didn't catch us when we made mistakes. We have to get them shored up. We have a big week ahead of us."
K-State, 1-0, now prepares to face Washington State, 0-1, which suffered a 24-10 loss at No. 17 Washington on Sunday. It'll mark the first-ever meeting between the schools, who both are in their 131st season of competition. K-State and Washington State will kick off at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday in what will be the annual Fort Riley Day game at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
The 36-year-old Klein, who came to K-State after two ultra-successful years as offensive coordinator at Texas A&M, and who previously also served as offensive coordinator at K-State and helped the Wildcats to a 2022 Big 12 Championship, indicated that he wasted little time after his first career victory to begin preparation for this week.
"Preparation has to happen that night," Klein said. "You get to enjoy the win right afterward, and Sunday you have to restart the cycle and it's 0-0 again."
Asked whether the entirety of last Saturday top to bottom was everything that he had hoped for on his big day, Klein replied, "It's tough to answer just because what's helped to build that mentality in myself and in our team and program is truly the next thing right in front of you. That's the mentality and the mindset.
"I'm just so proud of our players for getting off to a good start. But I told them this morning, 'It's 0-0 today, and we have to go do it again.'"
Following a morning practice on Monday, the Wildcats were still hard at work while Klein spoke to reporters at his first Monday news conference following a game weekend.
"Our practice was good," Klein said. "Our guys had a very business-like mindset and a business-like mentality. They're in the weight room right now and the music is cranked up. So, they're fired up."
K-State has been fired up for a while. Winter conditioning boasted multiple individual and team-wide school records, and Klein directed the team to practice with pads and helmets for a majority of the spring sessions, echoing the freshly-coined motto that Klein said at his introductory news conference: "Some people visit physicality, we live in it."
Reflecting on whether the rigors of winter weights and conditioning and the grueling spring paid dividends for the Wildcats, Klein replied, "I know it did."
"There's a lot of little things that we do need to tighten up that are very normal for a first-game type situation, but credit to our guys," Klein said. "Because of how hard we've gone and for how long we've gone, there were less of those first-game moments out there for a lot of new guys on the roster and a new staff, so credit to them for their work paying off."
K-State played a total of 85 players against Nicholls.
While Avery Johnson threw three touchdowns and ran for another, and Jaron Tibbs and Derrick Salley Jr. each had a team-high four receptions, and sophomore running back Rodney Fields Jr. rushed for 101 yards and one touchdown in his first game, strong safety Logan Bartley and linebacker Gabe Powers each had five tackles.
But there were many others who played a role in the team's success as well.
"The biggest overarching theme was just how much they enjoyed competing and getting their opportunity and how they attacked it," Klein said. "There was Monterrio Elston Jr. and how hard he ran the football and Ashton Moore having two big tackles down the stretch. I could go on, but just seeing those guys with all the work they've put in, and a lot of them are younger — those first snaps are important, and you remember those forever.
"Getting guys reps was really good, and I appreciate how they competed and finished the ballgame."
Brandon White opened eyes during an overall lights-out performance by the K-State special teams. White, who hadn't returned a punt since his sophomore year in high school, dashed 65 yards into the end zone for the Wildcats' first punt-return touchdown since 2024. Meanwhile it marked K-State's 140th non-offensive touchdown since 1999, which leads the FBS.
"I mean, you could tell he was good with his really good short-area quickness," Klein said. "He caught the ball for the most part well through training camp, and we rotated a lot of different guys back there and had a natural feel for it. Our guys get really excited because of how Coach Stanton Weber sells it and the history of this place and how important we make it that they're excited to get a shot and take it."
Johnson appeared fired up after the first game of his senior season, as the senior quarterback made history with three touchdown passes that gave him a school-record 51 touchdown passes in his career. Johnson made his 27th career start, tied for fifth among K-State quarterbacks since 1990.
Klein was pleased with the performance of Johnson, who completed 15-of-21 passes for 199 yards and three touchdowns, and who added four carries for 23 yards and one score on the ground.
"It lined up with what I felt in the moment and what I felt talking to him on the sideline," Klein said. "He was seeing everything, was 100% with our protection checks on third down, and did a really good job managing that part of the game. His leadership and presence and consistency with the guys around him was really good throughout the entire course of the game. There was a level of decisiveness and competitive edge, and it was great to see him just cut it loose and compete."
Klein was pleased with how K-State competed from start to finish.
"I thought they were fine and focused the whole game," Klein said.
For the first time in K-State history, the school displayed a brilliant purple-themed LED lightshow between the third and fourth quarters. The "Sandstorm" song that has long been a hit among K-State fans at home basketball games, made its debut appearance at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, prompting fans and players alike to dance.
"I was looking down at my cards, so I didn't really notice, because I was trying to finish the game," Klein said. "I thought it was great. I hope our players did enjoy it."
Klein paused.
"I think we had a holding penalty the first snap right after that," he said, "so many we enjoyed it a little too much."
Reporters chuckled at Klein's quick comedic dry wit — an endearing quality of his mentor at news conferences many years ago.
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