Things have gone from bad to worse for the Kansas State Wildcats.
After picking up a win over rival Kansas to improve to 4-2 on the season, the Cats dropped their next two, both on the road, to fall to 4-4 on the season and just 1-4 in Big 12 play.
And it’s not just the losing games. The Cats have lost Avery Johnson likely for the season, and then primary backup Jacob Knuth is also out after aggravating an ankle injury during the loss at Arizona State. Dillon Duff started the game last week at Colorado
but was pulled after three ineffective drives for Blake Barnett. Barnett was solid, but not enough against the Buffs and the ineffective K-State defense.
Which is, of course, it’s own problem. For all the injuries on offense that have hindered operations, the defense has been at-best below-average even with regular starters. Missed fits, poor tackling, and overall lack of awareness have hampered a unit with the kind of star power that should have made this a rock of the team. But instead, the defense has largely been a liability.
So what can we expect from today? Well, that’s the million-dollar question. Certainly K-State is capable of winning this game. The talent is there, the pieces are there. But with this work-in-progress it’s hard to say what’s actually going to happen today.
Despite a 51-49 loss to Iowa State last weekend, Oklahoma State enters today at 5-3. 3-2 overall and looking decent in Eric Morris’ first year up the road from North Texas. It helps that Morris has a really good QB in Drew Mestemaker – brought with him from Denton – but it’s also a bonus that Morris cut his teeth at the lower levels of FBS before moving up. Collin Klein may be the Wonder Kid, Bill Snyder 3.0, but he’s still in his first year as a head coach at any level, and that lack of experience has shown at several times this season.
K-State needs to win today. Every game is important, but this team has shown a significant lack of ability to win away from the friendly confines of Bill Snyder Family Stadium. With just two home games, and four overall, left in the season, holding serve at home will be critical to securing a post-season berth and it’s extra practice time.
Time to get back on track. Time to protect the home turf. Time to win. Let’s do it.
We’ve got an 12:00pm CDT kickoff from Bill Snyder Family Stadium being aired on TNT/HBO Max with J.B. Long (play-by-play), Mike Golic Jr. (analyst), and Jared Greenberg (sidelines) on the call.
If you don’t have TNT/HBO Max or can’t access the stream, the game can be heard across the 29-station K-State Sports Network with Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play), former K-State quarterback Stan Weber (analysis), and Matt Walters (sidelines) calling the action. The game will also be on SiriusXM Satellite Radio Ch. 177 or 247, and available online via the Varsity Network app. Live stats are also available at k-statesports.com, and Twitter updates (@KStateFB) will also be a part of the coverage.
Go Cats!
