Game 1
Nicholls at K-State
Date: Saturday, September 5, 2026
Kickoff: 6 p.m.
Location: Manhattan, Kan.
Stadium: Bill Snyder Family Stadium (50,000)
Series: K-State Leads, 1-0
TV: ESPN+ (Watch)
Mark Neely (Play-by-Play)
Jeff Woody (Analyst)
K-State Radio: K-State Sports Network; k-statesports.com (Listen)
Wyatt Thompson (Play-by-Play)
Stan Weber (Analyst)
Matt Walters (Sidelines)
SiriusXM Satellite Radio Ch. 173 or 238, and on the SiriusXM App
X Updates: @KStateFB and @KStateStatsInfo
K-STATE OPENS KLEIN ERA AGAINST NICHOLLSThe Collin Klein era of K-State football begins on Saturday when the Wildcats host Nicholls inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium in a 6 p.m., contest that kicks off the 131st season in program history. The game will be shown on ESPN+ with Mark Neely (play-by-play) and Jeff Woody (analyst) on the call, while the K-State Sports Network begins its coverage at 4 p.m., with Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play), Stan Weber (analyst) and Matt Walters (sidelines) calling the action.
JOHNSON RETURNS AT QB WITH 26 CAREER STARTSQuarterback Avery Johnson is in line to make his 27th-career start on Saturday. The Wichita, Kansas, native is starting a third-straight season opener, joining Skylar Thompson (2018-21) and Jesse Ertz (2015-17) as the only three K-State signal callers since 1990 to start at least three-straight season openers. His 26 career starts tie him for sixth among K-State quarterbacks since 1990, while he is tied for 12th nationally but tied for second among quarterbacks who have not transferred in their careers.
CATS INJECT 26 TRANSFERS INTO ROSTERK-State overhauled the roster with 58 new players that will be in a Wildcat uniform on Saturday, 26 of which are Division I or II transfers. Those players have combined for 473 career games played (18.19/player), while the 23 offensive and defensive players have combined for 176 starts (7.65/player). The most experienced transfer is wide receiver Josh Manning (37 games/19 starts), while defensive end Wendell Gregory is coming off a year in which he earned Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors.
SEVEN FOR SATURDAYā¢ This is the second ever meeting with Nicholls. Ironically, the first one was Chris Kliemanās first game at K-State in 2019.
ā¢ The Wildcats hold an 89-36-5 (.704) all-time record in season openers, including wins in 32 of the last 37 years.
ā¢ K-State is 96-29-5 (.758) all-time in home openers with wins in 34 of the last 36 years and a current streak of five years.
ā¢ The Wildcats have scored at least 30 points in seven-straight home openers, including four 40-point efforts.
ā¢ This is the first time K-State is opening a season with three-straight home games since 2022.
ā¢ Quarterback Avery Johnson is starting a season opener for a third-straight year, the third time by a Wildcat since 1990.
ā¢ At least eight defensive players are in line to make their start as a Wildcat against Nicholls.
TEAM NOTESTHE COLLIN KLEIN ERA BEGINS
ā¢ The 131st season of K-State football ushers in the opening of the Collin Klein era as the former Heisman Trophy finalist and starting quarterback of the 2012 Big 12 Championship team begins his first season as head coach in 2026.
ā¢ He is the first former K-State letterwinner to serve as head football coach since Ellis Rainsberger from 1975 through 1977.
ā¢ In fact, Klein is one of only four former letterwinners to take the helm of the K-State program as he and Rainsberger are joined by Lud Fiser (1945) and Ralph Graham (1948-50).
ā¢ The sixth-youngest football coach in FBS, Klein is one of five current Big 12 head coaches that are leading their alma mater along with Arizona Stateās Kenny Dillingham, BYUās Kalani Sitake, Utahās Morgan Scalley and West Virginiaās Rich Rodriguez.
ROSTER TURNOVER
ā¢ Kansas Stateās 2026 roster features 58 newcomers, which is made up of 32 high school or community college enrollees and 26 NCAA Division I or II transfers.
ā¢ Of K-Stateās 111-man roster this season, 52.3% are made up of new players from last season.
ā¢ K-Stateās record for newcomers in one season is 72 in 2002, while the 1983, 2001, 2004, 2011 and 2013 squads each had 60 or more newcomers.
EXPERIENCED TRANSFER CLASS
ā¢ K-Stateās 26-man transfer class of 2026 has combined for 473 games played (18.19 per player). The 23 offensive or defensive players have combined for 176 starts (7.65 per player).ā¢ The most experienced transfers entering their first year at K-State are wide receiver Josh Manning (37 games/19 starts), safety Adrian Maddox (36/28), running back Jay Harris (35/10), safety JaāSon Prevard (33/29), linebacker Mekhi Mason (32/14), offensive lineman Tyler Johnson (27/1), cornerback Kaleb Patterson (26/15) and offensive lineman Delvin Morris (25/11).
FOUR-STRAIGHT WINNING BIG 12 SEASONS
ā¢ Kansas State has earned a winning Big 12 record in each of the last four seasons, its longest streak since doing so in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.ā¢ The Wildcats are one of only two Big 12 teams with a current four-year streak of winning Big 12 records (Texas Tech).
THE BIG 12ās BEST
ā¢ Kansas State has totaled 149 Big 12 victories since the conferenceās formation in 1996, which stands as the most among active Big 12 programs.
ā¢ The Cats are 17 wins ahead of Oklahoma State (132) and 23 victories ahead of Texas Tech (126). The Wildcats, Cowboys and Red Raiders are the only three Big 12 teams with over 100 conference wins.
ā¢ K-State is also first among active Big 12 members in winning percentage since non-divisional play began in 2011 (min. 50 games). The Wildcats sit at 59.3% (85-55), ahead of Oklahoma State (57.0%; 77-58) and TCU (55.6%; 70-56).
ā¢ During that stretch, the Wildcats are 45-23 (66.2%) at home and 35-33 (51.5%) on the road/neutral in Big 12 play..
VERY FEW PENALTIES
ā¢ K-State finished the 2025 season tied for eighth nationally in fewest penalties per game (4.08) and ranked 12th in fewest penalty yards per game (38.25).ā¢ Since 2022 ā the year that current head coach Collin Klein took over as offensive coordinator ā the Wildcats have averaged only 42.73 penalty yards per game (52 games) to rank eighth among Power 4 teams (min. 40 games)..
THE NATIONāS LEADER IN NON-OFFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS
ā¢ K-State leads the country in non-offensive touchdowns over the last 27 seasons as it has 139 since 1999, 10 more than the second-place team (Alabama ā 129) and 17 more than the second-best Big 12 program (Utah ā 122).
ā¢ K-State has recorded four non-offensive scores in each of the last two seasons. Last year, the Wildcats had a 99-yard kickoff return against Army, a 15-yard fumble return by Wesley Fair and a 25-yard interception return by Des Purnell against TCU, while they received a 20-yard fumble return on a botched punt snap at Kansas.
ā¢ The four non-offensive touchdowns last season tied for 14th nationally and second in the Big 12 behind BYU (5).
A REGULAR IN THE POSTSEASON
ā¢ Kansas State has qualified for postseason play in 14 of the last 15 seasons (excluding COVID) as the Wildcats earned a 6-6 record in 2025 but opted to not participate in a bowl game due to the change in coaching staff.ā¢ The Wildcats are one of only 15 Power 4 teams ā and the only Big 12 program ā to be eligible in 14 of the last 15 seasons, joining Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Iowa, Louisville, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas A&M and Washington..
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
ā¢ Prior to the opener, Kansas State announced six team captains for the 2026 season in defensive ends Jordan Allen and Travis Bates, running back Joe Jackson, quarterback Avery Johnson, tight end Garrett Oakley and linebacker Gabe Powers.ā¢ Each of them were voted captains for the first time in their careers except for Johnson, who is now a captain for a third time. He is the ninth player in school history to be named a captain on three occasions and the third quarterback, joining current head coach Collin Klein (2010-12) and Skylar Thompson (2019-21).
CATS IN LID LIFTERS
ā¢ Entering its 131st year of football, Kansas State holds an all-time record of 89-36-5 (70.4%) in season openers, including a 31-5 (86.1%) mark since 1990.ā¢ The Cats have scored at least 30 points in eight of the last 12 season openers, including five games with at least 40 points.
NON-CONFERENCE NOTABLES
ā¢ Since 1990, K-State holds a 102-22 (82.3%) record in regular-season non-conference games.ā¢ That stretch includes an 85-10 (89.5%) mark at home. Over the last 36 years, the Wildcats have had perfect regular season non-conference ledgers 18 times and unblemished marks at home on 26 occasions.
CATS vs. FCS
ā¢ Kansas State has won each of its last 11 games against FCS competition dating back to the 2014 season.ā¢ The last time the Wildcats fell to an FCS opponent was the 2013 season opener against defending FCS National Champion North Dakota State.
CATS vs. THE SOUTHLAND
ā¢ Games against the Southland Conference have been few and far between as the Wildcats hold a 3-0 record against current members of the league.ā¢ Prior to its game against Nicholls in 2019, the only other games against current Southland members were a 55-16 win over Stephen F. Austin in 2014 and a 55-14 victory over McNeese in 2003.
OFFENSIVE NOTESKLEINāS EXPLOSIVE OFFENSESā¢ New K-State head coach Collin Klein has been one of the top offensive coordinators in the nation the last four seasons. He earned his first offensive coordinator post with the Wildcats in 2022 and 2023 before moving to Texas A&M for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
ā¢ During his four seasons as an offensive coordinator, Klein helped the Wildcats and Aggies to a combined 38-15 record, including a Big 12 Championship at K-State in 2022 and a berth into the College Football Playoff at Texas A&M in 2025.
ā¢ Over the last four seasons, Kleinās offenses have averaged 33.4 points per game, which would tie for 14th among Power 4 programs.
ā¢ Additionally, his last four offenses have combined for 428.5 yards per game (230.1 passing yards per game/198.4 rushing yards per game) which would rank 15th among Power 4 schools.
ā¢ His teams the last four years have combined for 252 plays of at least 20 or more yards (177 pass/75 rush), good for an average of 4.8 per game.HIGH POINT TOTAL vs. BIG 12ā¢ When Collin Klein took over the K-State offense in 2022, it began a Big 12-leading trend of averaging 32.9 points per game in conference contests. Additionally, the Wildcats enter 2026 ranked 13th nationally (min. 30 games) and sixth among Power 4 teams in points per game in conference games since 2022.
ā¢ The Cats have hit the 30-point mark in 23 of their 36 Big 12 games since the start of 2022, which includes nine times over the last two seasons with current quarterback Avery Johnson running the offense.
ā¢ K-State had a four-game streak of scoring at least 30 points last year against UCF (34), Baylor (34), TCU (41) and Kansas (42), its longest streak in conference play since doing so in six-straight games during the 2003 season.THIRD-YEAR STARTERā¢ Quarterback Avery Johnson is back for his third year of starting duties in 2026 having started each of the last 26 games. His 26-straight starts is the longest streak by any K-State quarterback entering their senior season.
ā¢ Johnsonās 26-straight starts is tied for second overall in school history behind Josh Freemanās 32-straight starts over his freshman through junior seasons. Johnson is tied with current K-State head coach Collin Klein (2011-12) and former quarterback Jake Waters (2013-14), both of whom started all 26 games over their junior and senior seasons to close out their careers.
ā¢ Johnson is one of only two quarterbacks in the Big 12 in 2026 to have started for multiple years at the same school. The other is Noah Fifita, who has made 34 starts over the last three seasons at Arizona.
ā¢ Johnson enters 2026 tied for 12th overall among all quarterbacks nationally in career starts but tied for second among those that have not transferred in their careers. He is eight starts behind Fifita and tied with Kevin Jennings (SMU) and Maddux Madsen (Boise State) in the latter category.ON THE BRINK OF HISTORYā¢ Avery Johnsonās first touchdown pass of 2026 will carry significant weight as he will break the schoolās career record.
ā¢ Johnson enters 2026 tied with Will Howard (2020-23) with 48 career touchdown passes as he looks to become the first K-State quarterback with more than 50 touchdown strikes in a career.
ā¢ A product of Wichita, Kansas, Johnson goes into his senior season in the top 10 in program history in 15 career categories (see page 48).
5,000/1,000ā¢ Avery Johnson goes into his senior campaign with 5,576 passing yards and 1,378 rushing yards in his career as he is one of only three quarterbacks in program history to go over the 5,000-yard mark and 1,000-yard mark in passing and rushing, respectively.
ā¢ Johnson joined Ell Roberson (2000-03) and Skylar Thompson (2017-21) on the list, but Johnson was the fastest of the three to reach those numbers as he did so in his 30th career game. It took Thompson 36 games and Roberson 41 games to reach the milestone.
ā¢ Johnson is one of nine active players in the nation to hit those career marks, joining Alonza Barnett III (UCF), Byrum Brown (Auburn), Anthony Colandrea (Nebraska), Devon Dampier (Utah), Cam Fancher (Michigan State), Jaylen Raynor (Iowa State) and Marcel Reed (Texas A&M).
ā¢ Of the eight quarterbacks, only Johnson and Reed ā the latter of whom Collin Klein worked with the last two seasons at Texas A&M ā have not transferred during their careers.OAKLEY ALSO AFTER RECORDS
ā¢ Senior Garrett Oakley is also looking to put his name in the top 10 of several records as he tries to lay claim as the best tight end in school history.ā¢ The career record holder for touchdown catches by a tight end with 13, Oakley is also looking to hold the schoolās positional records for catches and receiving yards. He enters the 2026 season ranked fourth with 71 catches, 35 receptions behind Jeron Mastrudās record of 106 from 2006-09. Oakley is also 586 receiving yards behind Henry Childsā record of 1,365 from 1971-73. ACTION JACKSONā¢ Senior running back Joe Jackson returns after a stellar finish to his 2025 campaign in which he rushed for 435 yards and six touchdowns over the final two games, good for a 217.5-yard, three-touchdown average after going for just 47.6 yards and 0.2 touchdowns per game in the first 10 contests.
ā¢ Included in that great finish was a school-record 293-yard outburst at No. 13 Utah. That broke the 21-year old record of Darren Sproles by a single yard as the future College Football Hall of Fame member had 292 yards against Louisiana on September 18, 2004.
ā¢ Jackson leads a loaded running back room that also includes transfers Rodney Fields Jr. (Oklahoma State) and Jay Harris (Northwest Missouri State/Oregon).TIBBS READY FOR YEAR TWO IN MANHATTANā¢ Senior Jaron Tibbs is the Wildcatsā most experienced returning wide receiver after playing in every game with 11 starts en route to All-Big 12 Honorable Mention accolades last year.
ā¢ A transfer from Purdue prior to 2025, Tibbs recorded 595 receiving yards and three scores on 47 catches a season ago.
ā¢ When adding in his performance over 20 games at Purdue, Tibbs enters the 2026 season with 942 career receiving yards, needing 58 yards to reach the 1,000-yard mark.
DEFENSIVE NOTESLIMITED POINTS PER GAMEā¢ Since the 2021 season (65 games), the Cats are allowing 22.7 points per game, which ranks third among current Big 12 teams and 20th among Power 4 teams (minimum 40 games).ā¢ Since 2019, the Wildcats have held 49 of their 62 Big 12 opponents under their season average at the time it faces the Wildcats (excluding 2025 season opener against Iowa State).
CREATING TURNOVERSā¢ Over the last four seasons, K-State has done an excellent job in forcing opponent turnovers. Since 2022, the Wildcats have been on the receiving end of 88 turnovers, which ranks 12th in the nation, seventh among Power 4 teams and second among active Big 12 teams.ā¢ Of the 88 turnovers, 52 have been via interception to rank third among active Big 12 programs and tie for 13th among Power 4 teams.
TURNOVER TURNAROUNDā¢ The 2026 Kansas State defense will look to force more turnovers in the first quarter of the season than it did last year as the Wildcats only had three takeaways in the first three games.ā¢ Despite that, the 2025 Wildcats finished the year ranked seventh nationally with 26 turnovers gained, which tied for the fourth most by a K-State team in the Big 12 era. It was also the most turnovers forced by the Wildcats since 2011 (27).
SCOOP IT UPā¢ The K-State defense had a propensity of falling on fumbles last season as it tied for third nationally with 13 recoveries.ā¢ The 13 fumble recoveries last season were the most by a K-State team since the 2012 squad also had 13 recoveries over 13 games. In 2024, the Wildcats only had five fumble recoveries.
A DEFENSE FULL OF NEWCOMERSā¢ Kansas Stateās initial defensive depth chart of the 2026 season features 13 newcomers, including nine FBS transfers.ā¢ Those listed on the depth chart that transferred from FBS schools are defensive ends Wendell Gregory (Oklahoma State) and Jayden Bryant (Coastal Carolina), defensive tackles Kamari Burns (Cincinnati) and Austin Ramsey (Kentucky), linebacker Mekhi Mason (Louisiana Tech), safeties Koy Beasley (Miami [Ohio]) and JaāSon Prevard (Virginia), as well as cornerback Kaleb Patterson (Illinois).
BREAKING UP THE PASSā¢ Cornerback Zashon Rich, a 2026 Preseason All-Big 12 pick by multiple publications, recorded 11 pass breakups in 12 games last season to rank third in the Big 12 and tie for 15th in the country.
ā¢ His 11 pass breakups were the most by a Wildcat since Duke Shelley had 11 in 2017, and it tied for 20th in program history. He also recorded his first-career interception last season at Oklahoma State.
ā¢ A junior from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Rich earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention accolades in 2025.
IMPACT ON THE EDGE
ā¢ Kansas State was able to secure the services of defensive end Wendell Gregory out of the transfer portal after he had an outstanding second season of college football last year at Oklahoma State.
ā¢ The Marietta, Georgia, native earned Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors in 2025 in addition to being named an All-Big 12 Third Team performer and a finalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award.
ā¢ Gregory recorded 12.0 tackles for loss last year, ranking second nationally among freshmen and fifth in the Big 12 among all players in TFLs. Additionally, his 4.0 sacks led all Big 12 freshmen.
ANOTHER YOUNG SACK ARTIST
ā¢ Sophomore Elijah Hill had one of the best freshman campaigns in the nation last year by totaling 9.0 sacks while playing for Kennesaw State.
ā¢ Hill led all freshmen in the country ā 2.0 sacks clear of a tie for second place ā en route to All-Conference USA First Team honors.
ā¢ Hill recorded multiple sacks in four games, including 2.5 sacks against UTEP and 2.0 sacks against Merrimack and at Jacksonville State, the latter contest being the Owlsā victory in the Conference USA Championship.
MASON CLOSE TO MILESTONES
ā¢ Transfer linebacker Mekhi Mason is close to reaching a couple of milestones as he begins his final year of college football.
ā¢ The Pembroke Pines, Florida, native enters the 2026 season opener with 96 career tackles ā needing four to hit the century mark ā while he has 18.5 tackles for loss ā needing 1.5 to reach 20.0 in his career.
ā¢ Mason, who began his career by playing in eight games over two seasons at Syracuse, spent the last two seasons at Louisiana Tech. Last year, Mason tallied 68 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks en route to All-Conference USA Second Team honors.
A DUAL-THREAT ON DEFENSE
ā¢ Another young, athletic player that will try to make his presence felt this season is sophomore Darien Whitaker Jr., who is a linebacker by trade but could see time as an edge defender.
ā¢ A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Whitaker Jr., saw action in the final two games of 2025, working on the kickoff unit and recording tackles against both Utah and Colorado.
ā¢ Whitaker Jr. came to K-State prior to 2025 after being regarded as the 60th-best linebacker in the nation for the Class of 2025 by On3.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTESSCORING IN THE THIRD PHASEā¢ A big part of K-Stateās non-offensive touchdown success comes from special teams as the Wildcats continue to lead the nation in total kickoff- and punt-return touchdowns since 2005 with 63.
ā¢ That mark is 23 more than the second-best team in Alabama (40) and 26 more than the closest Big 12 programs, Oklahoma State and TCU (34).
ā¢ Of the 63 total returns, a nation-leading 32 are on kickoff returns, which are 11 more than the second-best team (Houston).
18 AND COUNTINGā¢ Kansas State has blocked at least one punt or field goal/extra point every year since 2008.ā¢ The Wildcats are one of five FBS teams to have blocked at least one punt or kick each of the last 18 years, joining Boise State, Indiana, Marshall and Texas A&M.
EIGHT STRAIGHTā¢ The Wildcats have blocked at least one punt in eight-straight seasons, which is the longest streak in the nation and the longest by K-State since at least the 1970s.
ā¢ New special teams coordinator Stanton Weber held the same title the last three seasons at Toledo. Under his leadership, the Rockets tied for fifth nationally with two blocked punts last year and also had one in 2024.
ā¢ Toledo is tied for second on the list by blocking a punt each of the last five years. South Carolina is also at five-straight years, a program in which Weber was a special teams analyst in 2021 and 2022.
DEFENSE ON KICK RETURNSā¢ K-State has not allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown since September 7, 2013, going the last 163 games and 465 returns defended without allowing its opponent to find paydirt.
ā¢ The streak is the longest among the active Big 12 teams, more than double the second-best team (Arizona State ā 202).
ā¢ The 138 FBS programs in 2026 have combined to allow 4.5 kickoff return touchdowns since the start of the 2013 season, while the Wildcats have allowed just the one.
ā¢ Since K-State allowed its last kickoff-return touchdown, the Wildcats have scored 15 of their own.
NEXT MAN UP ON KICKOFF RETURNSā¢ Kansas State has a long history of excellent kickoff-return specialists, and fifth-year player Jay Harris is looking to add to that list.
ā¢ The St. Louis, Missouri, native is in line to return kickoffs for the first time in his career, but he is not void of big plays throughout his collegiate career, which spanned two seasons at both Northwest Missouri State (2022-23) and Oregon (2024-25).
ā¢ Harris has accumulated 2,140 all-purpose yards in his career, but they have all come from scrimmage as he has 2,017 rushing yards and 123 receiving yards.
ā¢ During his time at Northwest Missouri State, Harris had three rushes of 40 or more yards, which included a 64-yarder as part of a 274-yard output against Central Oklahoma.
ā¢ Last year while playing for Oregon, Harris recorded a 50-yard reception in the season opener against Montana State.
CATS RETURN PRIMARY KICKER...ā¢ K-State has the luxury of returning its place kicker in Luis Rodriguez, who shined in 2025 after arriving in Manhattan just prior to preseason camp.
ā¢ Rodriguez proceeded to connect on 13-of-15 field goal attempts and all 42 extra points. He ranked 22nd nationally and second in the Big 12 with his 86.7% field goal conversion rate, a mark that tied for sixth in school history.
ā¢ A native of Sylmar, California, Rodriguez needs five more attempts to qualify for K-Stateās career field goal percentage record. His 86.7% career mark would rank just ahead of the top mark, an 86.4% connection rate that Matthew McCrane put together from 2014 through 2017.
ā¢ The Wildcats brought in two place kickers to challenge Rodriguez in Robert Hammond III ā a transfer from Toledo ā and Aidan OāNeill ā a freshman from Clarkston, Michigan.
...AND PUNTER AS WELLā¢ In addition to place kicker, the Wildcats also bring back their primary punter from the last two seasons in Simon McClannan.
ā¢ A product of Omaha, Nebraska, McClannan averaged 42.5 yards on 48 punts last season to rank 13th in school history, while he tied for fifth in the Big 12 with 13 punts of 50 or more yards and 18 punts that landed inside the opponent 20-yard line.
ā¢ McClannan enters his senior campaign ranked fifth in school history in career punting average at 42.43 yards per punt.