What to Expect from Kansas State University Football This Upcoming Season

As a longtime observer of college football and someone who has spent years analyzing team dynamics across different sports, I always find the preseason to be a fascinating period of cautious optimism and nagging uncertainty. This year, as we look toward the Kansas State Wildcats' upcoming campaign, that feeling is particularly pronounced. To understand why, I sometimes look beyond the gridiron to other team sports for parallels, and a recent situation in Philippine volleyball caught my eye. The Creamline Cool Smashers, a dominant force in their league, are currently navigating the absence of their star setter and captain, Jia de Guzman. The reports state, "STILL no Jia de Guzman for Creamline - for now, at least." That single word, "STILL," carries so much weight—it speaks to lingering uncertainty, to a team adjusting its identity around a central void, and to the hope that maybe, just maybe, the cornerstone will return. In many ways, that’s the exact atmosphere surrounding Kansas State football as we approach the new season, particularly when we talk about the quarterback position and the broader identity of this team.

Let's be clear: Kansas State is coming off a solid, if not spectacular, 9-4 season that culminated in a Pop-Tarts Bowl victory. The foundation laid by Coach Chris Klieman is undeniably strong, built on a culture of toughness, discipline, and a physical brand of football that defines the Big 12. However, the departure of key veterans, especially on offense, creates a "STILL no..." scenario of our own. The most glaring question mark, our version of the missing star setter, is at quarterback. Will Howard, who accounted for over 2,800 total yards and 27 touchdowns, has taken his talents to Ohio State. That leaves a significant void. The buzz in Manhattan is centered on Avery Johnson, a highly-touted sophomore with electrifying speed. I’ve watched his limited snaps, and the potential is through the roof—his 90-yard touchdown run against Texas Tech last year was a glimpse of a game-breaking talent. But potential and week-in, week-out consistency as the guy are two different things. The offense, which averaged 33 points per game last season, will need to reconfigure itself around Johnson’s dual-threat capabilities, much like a volleyball team must redesign its attacks without its primary playmaker. The offensive line, replacing three starters, adds another layer to this transition. My personal take is that Johnson’s ceiling is higher than Howard’s, but the floor might be lower early on. There will be growing pains, moments of brilliance interspersed with rookie mistakes. How quickly he settles in will dictate the season's trajectory.

The uncertainty isn't confined to the quarterback room, though that's the spotlight. The defense, which was frankly a pleasant surprise last year, ranking in the top 25 nationally in scoring defense, also faces reloading challenges. Losing stalwarts like linebacker Austin Moore and safety Kobe Savage hurts. The defensive line, however, looks to be the unit’s anchor, with Uso Seumalo and Brendan Mott returning. I expect Coordinator Joe Klanderman to lean on this group heavily, especially early in the season, to generate pressure and protect a somewhat green secondary. The schedule, as always, presents both landmines and opportunities. The non-conference slate is manageable, but the Big 12 gauntlet is brutal. A trip to Colorado in late September will be a circus, but it's a winnable game. The real tests come in October: hosting Oklahoma State and then back-to-back road games at West Virginia and Iowa State. Honestly, I see that three-game stretch as the make-or-break period for the Wildcats' conference title hopes. If they can emerge 2-1 from that, they’ll be in the mix. The season finale at home against a reloading Kansas team could have major bowl implications.

So, what should you realistically expect? I’m leaning toward a season that mirrors the "for now, at least" part of that volleyball headline. This isn't a rebuild; it's a recalibration. The culture is too strong for a collapse. I anticipate a team that might start a bit unevenly as Johnson finds his rhythm and new defensive pieces gel, but one that will be notoriously tough to beat at home in Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The running game, with DJ Giddens leading the charge, will be the offensive bellwether early on to ease pressure on the young QB. My prediction? I see an 8-4 regular season finish. There’s a path to 9 wins if they steal a close one on the road and hold serve at home, and a risk of 7-5 if the quarterback transition is rockier than hoped. They’ll be competitive in every game, pull off an upset or two, and likely drop a game they "should" win. That’s the nature of a team in transition, even one with a strong system. The hope, much like for Creamline fans awaiting their star setter, is that by season's end, the "STILL" in front of the unanswered questions fades away, replaced by the emergence of new stars and a cohesive identity. For Kansas State, that means seeing Avery Johnson transform from a question mark into an exclamation point, solidifying the Wildcats as a perennial force in the new-look Big 12. It might not be a conference championship season, but it will be a compelling and crucial chapter in the Klieman era.