It’s far too early to predict which teams will take over for Oklahoma and Texas as the consistent powerhouse football programs in the newly expanded Big 12.
But Kansas State is already on its way to filling at least one of the valuable roles that the Sooners and Longhorns left behind when they bolted for the SEC. Here it is: the Wildcats are on national TV every single week.
Chris Klieman’s team opened the season on ESPN+ against Tennessee-Martin, but K-State has played on the big-boy networks ever since. ESPN broadcast the action when it played Tulane, BYU and Oklahoma State.
This weekend’s game at Colorado will also be on ESPN. K-State played Arizona on FOX. Next week’s game at West Virginia will be televised on FOX or FS1.
The Wildcats will play at least six straight games on major networks that fans can easily find no matter what TV service they prefer.
Many of the TV windows that used to go to Oklahoma and Texas are now going to K-State.
That is a big deal.
Now, all that TV attention has come with some drawbacks. K-State had to play Tulane and Oklahoma State at 11 a.m. Its game against Arizona was played on a Friday night. And its games against BYU and Colorado both were selected for Big 12 After Dark time slots.
But that seems like a small inconvenience for that kind of exposure. It beats a 2:30 p.m. kick on ESPN+.
Colorado is the only team in the Big 12 that has received more love from the TV networks, as every single one of its games has been played on a national network. So it’s appropriate that they meet in what figures to be an entertaining and highly viewed game on Saturday at Folsom Field.
That’s enough of a lead-in this week. Let’s dive into your questions. Thanks, as always, for providing them.
K-State will win and overcome their night game issues at Colorado because: A - The Wildcats will win the turnover battle. B - DJ Giddens will rush for more than 125 yards. C - Travis Hunter’s name is a no-show on the stat book. D - Fill in the Blank. Please share if or more is needed to win. - @ChadFullington via X.
The easiest path to a K-State victory starts with DJ Giddens (as well as Dylan Edwards and Avery Johnson) running the ball over, around and through the Colorado defense.
Colorado has been getting better at defending the run of late, as evidenced by its beat down of UCF when no one on the Knights could average five yards per run against the Buffaloes. But the Wildcats might have the best rushing attack that Colorado has faced this season.
There’s a chance Johnson could run wild and beat Colorado with QB keepers the same way he did at Texas Tech last year.
If K-State can control the clock and consistently gain yards on the ground then that means the Wildcats can play this game on their terms.
That is important, because K-State wants to build an early lead and play from ahead with its running game. Nebraska did that to perfection earlier this year and handed Colorado its only loss, 28-10.
Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter can still mount a comeback because of their potent passing game. Arizona, Oklahoma State and Tulane all put up huge passing numbers against K-State earlier this season. It’s scary to think about what Colorado might do if the Wildcats continue to have busted coverages in their secondary.
Still, playing from ahead is much preferred.
K-State running the ball on offense and stopping the pass on defense seem like the two biggest keys to this game. There’s no way Travis Hunter lays an egg. I don’t see Sanders turning the ball over. If the Wildcats are going to get an extra edge it may have to come on special teams. Getting a cheap touchdown in that area would be a nice way to fill in the blank.
Do you have a favorite Colorado/K-State memory? - Andrew B. via e-mail.
Dare I choose the Pervis Pasco Fiasco ?
I know that’s a painful one for K-State fans, but I feel like enough time has passed for all of us to laugh at a Big 12 Tournament loss that happened more than two decades ago.
Unfortunately, I only got to cover a few Colorado/K-State games before the Buffaloes left for the Pac-12. But I am glad they are back in the Big 12. Boulder is an awesome city and there’s no reason why this can’t become a fun rivalry.
Their football programs use contrasting styles, which should create fun matchups. And their basketball games have traditionally been close.
Kansas and Iowa State will always top the list of rivals for K-State fans, but Colorado could easily be next in line the same way Nebraska was back when the Cornhuskers were still in the Big 12 North.
It’s also fun to see Ralphie the Buffalo on the football field. I am excited to see these teams play again and make some new memories.
What are the odds that a team like Boise State ends up getting a bye in the expanded playoff instead of the Big 12 champion? - Jeff M. via e-mail.
First, let’s explain how seeding and byes work in the new playoff system.
Twelve teams get in, just in case you didn’t know that. The lowest eight seeds play each other on campus in the opening round. The top four seeds get a bye into the quarterfinals.
How does a team earn a top-4 seed and a bye? Those spots go to the four highest ranked conference champions. The fifth highest ranked league champ gets an automatic berth into the field, but no bye.
In most years, it would seem like a forgone conclusion that those top four seeds would go to the champions of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC.
But that’s not a lock this season, because Boise State is ranked at No. 17 in the AP poll and No. 22 in the coaches poll. That isn’t far behind No. 11/13 Iowa State, which is the highest rated Big 12 team at the moment.
If Big 12 teams continue beating up on each other and the conference champion finishes the season with three losses then it is definitely possible for a team like Boise State to get the nod.
There is also a chance that a team like Army or Navy could go undefeated and earn a bye as the American champion.
Of course, those teams have little room for error. They all have to win out for this to even be a conversation in December.
I remain confident that the Big 12 champ will earn one of the top four seeds in the playoff. But it isn’t a slam dunk.
The past couple of games I’ve noticed Avery Johnson looking at the sideline between plays. Are they using the helmet communications? - @BusMedicMike via X.
Yes, the K-State football team is using helmet communications on both sides of the ball.
Co-offensive coordinator Matt Wells sends in the calls and gives reminders to Avery Johnson before every play.
Defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman does the same with his linebackers.
But the Wildcats still signal in certain plays from the sideline. For example, whenever K-State goes with a no-huddle offense it doesn’t do much good to only speak the play to Johnson. Everyone else on the field still needs to know the call. So K-State likes to communicate the old-fashioned way in those situations.
I believe coaches are only allowed to talk into helmets for a certain amount of time before plays. So if they want to switch plays with 15 seconds remaining on the play clock they have to signal those in.
It’s a complicated situation that everyone in college football is still getting used to.
The NFL relies more on helmet communications, because teams huddle between the vast majority of plays.
How could you possibly believe KU, with their terrible record including their only win over former D2 team Lindenwood is four spots better than others with a better record in your Big 12 Power Rankings? A little home-state pride come over you? - David S. via e-mail.
While I completely understand your point of view, let me ask if you this: Have you seen just how badly the bottom of the Big 12 is playing at the moment?
I ranked Kansas at No. 12 in my Big 12 Power Rankings this week, even though the Jayhawks have the worst record in the conference, because I think they have more redeeming qualities than their peers.
For example:
- Oklahoma State has lost its three conference games 102-53 and just allowed West Virginia to rush for 389 yards in a game.
- Baylor can’t stop a nose bleed. Do the Bears deserve more love than KU for beating Air Force and Tarleton State?
- UCF players look like they’ve already given up on the season.
- TCU just let a team that hadn’t scored a single point in its past two games win in Fort Worth. Now, the Frogs admittedly beat KU head to head, but I felt like downgrading them after that loss to Houston.
Kansas is at least playing teams tough and has possessed a second-half lead in all of their games. It has also played a difficult schedule. I would argue that the Jayhawks are not a terrible team. They just have a terrible record.
I have nothing good to say about teams like Baylor and Oklahoma State at the moment. They are terrible teams.
College football statistician Kelley Ford puts out a computer-based power ratings system and he has KU rated ahead of TCU, Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor and Houston. So he’s even higher on the Jayhawks than me.
None of this is meant as some grand defense of KU football. The Jayhawks are having a disastrous season and keep finding comical ways to lose close games. They have been steadily dropping in my rankings all season.
Still, I would pick them to beat a few teams in the Big 12 right now.
One more thing: Where’s the fun in copying the Big 12 standings in my Big 12 Power Rankings? Houston is probably the worst team in the conference, but I felt like upgrading the Cougars after a big win. I thought ranking them at No. 11 was my most controversial choice. Guess not.
Fortunately, Kansas and Houston play each other soon in Kansas City. I can almost guarantee the loser of the game will plummet to No. 16 in my power rankings.
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