High expectations are nothing new for Kansas State football.
Since the Big Eight expanded to the Big 12 in 1996, the Wildcats have had one of the top teams in the conference, and this year will be no different. Despite stumbling down the stretch in 2024, K-State comes into this year with a Big 12 title as the goal.
This summer, BuffZone is previewing each of Colorado’s opponents for the 2025 season and in this final installment we look at Kansas State, which will host the Buffs on Nov. 29 in Manhattan, Kan.
K-State was one of the favorites a year ago as well, but a 7-1 start was followed by a 1-3 November. The Wildcats still finished at 9-4, their third consecutive season with at least nine wins.
This year, there are holes to fill, including All-Big 12 running back DJ Giddens and Big 12 defensive lineman of the year Brendan Mott graduating. Safety Marques Sigle and cornerback Jacob Parrish were NFL draft choices.
However, quarterback Avery Johnson is back for his junior year and that’s huge for the Wildcats. Johnson took over the starting role last year when Will Howard transferred to Ohio State, and he performed well, but K-State head coach Chris Klieman expects more this year.
“The maturity of Avery and the growth of Avery, you could tell there’s so much more of a comfort level,” Klieman said in May after the Wildcats completed spring practices. “Now you can tell he’s got another 12-13 games under his belt, and the confidence he has, the leadership he has, and it’s just made our whole offense, I think, a lot more confident, a lot more efficient.”
In addition to Johnson, top receiver Jayce Brown is back, as well as talented running backs Dylan Edwards and Joe Jackson, who combined for 773 yards in backing up Giddens. The Wildcats also added Antonio Martin Jr., a 222-pound back who rushed for 1,228 yards and 11 touchdowns at Southeastern Louisiana last year.
K-State is also loaded with talent at tight end, with Klieman saying, “We love our tight ends.” The group is led by Garrett Oakley, who was second-team All-Big 12 last year.
Up front, the Wildcats have to replace three starting linemen, including both tackles. They do have some talented returning backups and several transfers to compete for spots, though. Klieman said in the spring that there could be eight or nine who play.
Defensively, K-State was top-50 nationally in points allowed (23.4 per game, 50th) and yards allowed (343.4, 43rd) last year, and several starters are back.
The Wildcats are loaded with talent on the line, including returning starters Damian Ilalio and Cody Stufflebean and key rotational lineman Tobi Osunsanmi. That trio combined for 13 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.
Austin Romaine might be the best linebacker in the Big 12. He and fellow linebacker Desmond Purnell combined for 17 tackles for loss and six sacks last year.
Most of the secondary from last year is gone, but safety VJ Payne is an all-conference caliber player. Klieman and his staff hit the transfer portal to replenish the secondary, as there could be four transfers starting on the back end.
There will be no easing into the season this year, as K-State opens with a conference game against Iowa State in Week Zero (Aug. 23) in Dublin, Ireland. A win there would be huge for the Wildcats, but either way they expect to be in contention for the conference title when CU visits Manhattan in the regular season finale.
Kansas State Wildcats
Head coach: Chris Klieman, 7th season (48-28; 120-41 career)
2024 season: 9-4, 5-4 Big 12; Beat Rutgers, 44-41, in Rate Bowl
Series with CU: Buffs lead 45-21-1
Matchup with the Buffs: Saturday, Nov. 29 (TBA), at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan, Kan.
5 Guys to Watch
WR Jayce Brown: One of the top receivers in the Big 12, he caught 47 passes for 823 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore in 2024. Already in his career, he has posted 74 receptions for 1,260 yards and eight TDs.
RB Dylan Edwards: The former CU Buff is expected to take over a starting role. Last year at K-State, he had 1,117 all-purpose yards (546 rushing, 133 receiving, 140 in punt returns, 298 in kickoff returns) and scored eight total touchdowns. As a true freshman at CU in 2023, he had 768 all-purpose yards and scored five times.
QB Avery Johnson: As a sophomore last year, his first as a starter, he threw for 2,712 yards and 25 touchdowns, while also rushing for 605 yards and seven TDs. So far in his career, he’s accounted for 44 touchdowns (30 passing, 14 rushing).
S VJ Payne: Finished second on the team with 64 tackles in 2024, while adding 3.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and four pass breakups, earning All-Big 12 honorable mention. He has started 29 consecutive games and has posted 121 tackles and three interceptions in the last two years.
LB Austin Romaine: Earned second-team All-Big 12 honors last year after leading the Wildcats with 96 tackles. He also had 7.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and three forced fumbles. In 2023, he received votes from league coaches for the defensive freshman of the year award.
Good to know
• Last year’s game in Boulder, a 31-28 K-State win, was the first meeting between the teams since 2010. The Buffs and Wildcats had met every year from 1948-2010 as Big 7/Big Eight/Big 12 rivals. The game this year will be CU’s first visit to Manhattan since Oct. 24, 2009.
• Since 2010, the Wildcats have played in 13 bowl games in 15 seasons. They have won at least eight games in 11 of those 15 seasons.
• The Wildcats brought in a trio of experienced, productive receivers. Jerand Bradley caught just six passes last year at Boston College, but spent three years at Texas Tech, racking up 92 receptions for 1,274 yards and 10 touchdowns. Jaron Tibbs caught 25 passes for 305 yards and two TD at Purdue last year, and Caleb Medford hauled in 48 passes for 887 yards and 5 TD in two years at New Mexico.
• KSU lost kicker Chris Tennant, who made 17 of 21 field goals (81.0%) last year and 42 field goals in his career, to graduation. Two players – junior Leyton Simmering and freshman Cub Patton – are competing to replace him. Neither one has attempted a field goal in college.
• K-State has five players on the roster from Colorado high schools, including two that might wind up starting on the offensive line: Left tackle George Fitzpatrick (Cherry Creek) and right tackle John Pastore (Erie). Quarterback Blake Barnett (Erie) and tight ends Garrett Harstad (Loveland) and Andrew Metzger (Regis) also played prep football in Colorado.
Portal movement
The Wildcats lost 27 players to the portal, per 247Sports.com, and added 16 players. Right tackle Carver Willis was perhaps the biggest loss, as he is now with Washington. Receivers Keagan Johnson (New Mexico) and Tre Spivey (Arizona) also moved on, but the bulk of the departures were backups. K-State reloaded at receiver and defensive back. Receivers Jerand Bradley (Boston College), Jaron Tibbs (Purdue) and Caleb Medford (New Mexico) should battle for starting roles. Cornerbacks Amarion Fortenberry (South Alabama) and Jayden Rowe (Oklahoma) and safeties Gunner Maldonado (Arizona) and Qua Moss (West Georgia) could also start. Offensive linemen Terrence Enos Jr. (Pittsburgh), George Fitzpatrick (Ohio State), JB Nelson (Penn State) and Amos Talalele (USC) will all compete for starting roles. Defensive end Jayshawn Ross (Alabama) and linebacker Gabe Powers (Ohio State) are also expected to contribute immediately.
