GAME 4
K-State at Cincinnati
Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026
Kickoff: 6 p.m. (CT)
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Stadium: Nippert Stadium
Series: Cincinnati Leads, 4-3
TV: ESPN2 (watch)
Chuckie Kempf (Play-by-Play)
Dustin Fox (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. 268, and on the SiriusXM App
X Updates: @KStateFB and @KStateStatsInfo
CATS OPEN BIG 12 PLAY ON THE ROAD AT CINCY
Following a 31-20 win over Tulane to wrap up non-conference play with a 3-0 record, K-State will hit the road for the first time this season as it opens its Big 12 slate at Cincinnati on Saturday in a 6 p.m. (CT) contest. The game will be shown on ESPN2 with Chuckie Kempf (play-by-play) and Dustin Fox (analyst) on the call, while the K-State Sports Network begins its coverage at 4 p.m. (CT), with Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play), Stan Weber (analyst) and Matt Walters (sidelines) calling the action.
DEFENSE HAS SHINED EARLY IN 2026
K-Stateās defense under Jordan Peterson has made a statement through three games as it has only allowed 182.7 total yards per game through three weeks ā allowing just 96.0 yards on the ground and 86.7 yards through the air ā while opponents are just 13-of-43 on third down this season. K-State enters the week ranked first nationally in passing yards allowed per game, second in total defense, third in tackles for loss, sixth in sacks, 11th in scoring defense and 34th in third-down defense.
NEW FACES MAKING IMPACTK-State overhauled the roster with 59 new players this season, 27 of which are Division I or II transfers. Many of those have made an impact through three games. Running back Rodney Fields Jr. has rushed for 224 yards to rank 10th in the Big 12, Brandon White ranks 19th nationally with a 17.1-yard punt return average, wide receiver Josh Manning ranks second on the team in catches and receiving yards, while defensive end Wendell Gregory leads the Big 12 and ranks third nationally with 6.5 TFLs.
SEVEN FOR SATURDAYā¢ K-State ranks first nationally this week in six different statistical categories. See pg. 4 for complete rankings.
ā¢ The Cats are one of only four programs to average at least 45 points per game and allow less than 10 points per game (Utah, Ohio State, Indiana).
ā¢ K-State is 29-of-43 this season on third down, which ranks seventh nationally.
ā¢ The Cats rank fourth nationally in rushes of 10 or more yards (27) and in fewest 20-plus yard passing plays allowed (3).
ā¢ K-State has allowed less than 300 yards of total offense to three straight opponents for the first time since 2007.
ā¢ The Cats lead the Big 12 and rank third nationally with 30 tackles for loss this season.
ā¢ This is the 22nd time in the 31-year history of the Big 12 that K-State has opened league play away from home.
TEAM NOTESTHE COLLIN KLEIN ERA BEGINS
ā¢ The 131st season of K-State football has ushered in the opening of the Collin Klein era as the former Heisman Trophy finalist and starting quarterback of the 2012 Big 12 Championship team is in 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 59 newcomers, which is made up of 32 high school or community college enrollees and 27 NCAA Division I or II transfers.
ā¢ Of K-Stateās 112-man roster this season, 52.7% 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 27-man transfer class of 2026 combined for 507 games played (18.78 per player) entering the season. The 24 offensive or defensive players combined for 196 starts (8.17 per player).
ā¢ The most experienced transfers that entered their first year at K-State were wide receiver Josh Manning (37 games/19 starts), safety Adrian Maddox (36/28), running back Jay Harris (35/10), cornerback Ben Osueke (34/20), 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¢ K-State has produced winning Big 12 records 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 22 ahead of Texas Tech (127). 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 (minimum 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¢ Since 2022 ā the year that current head coach Collin Klein took over as offensive coordinator ā the Wildcats have averaged only 42.02 penalty yards per game (55 games) to rank eighth among Power 4 teams (min. 50 games).
ā¢ In the opener, the Cats were penalized just once for 10 yards and followed that up with three penalties for 25 yards against Washington State. This week, K-State ranks first nationally in fewest penalties and third in penalties per game.
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 140 since 1999, nine more than the second-place team (Alabama ā 131) and 18 more than the second-best Big 12 program (Utah ā 122).
ā¢ K-State recorded five non-offensive scores in both 2024 and 2025. 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¢ In the 2026 opener, Brandon White returned a punt 65 yards against Nicholls under new coordinator Stanton Weber.
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 CONFERENCE OPENERS
ā¢ K-State holds a 36-71-5 (.344) all-time record in conference openers, including a 14-16 (.467) mark in the Big 12 era.
ā¢ The Wildcats are looking for their first victory in a conference opener since a 44-31 win over UCF in 2023.
CATS IN BIG 12 ROAD OPENERS
ā¢ The Wildcats are 12-18 (.400) in their initial Big 12 road game of the season.
ā¢ The last time K-State won their Big 12 road opener was a 41-34 victory at No. 6 Oklahoma in 2022.
K-STATE IN OHIO
ā¢ This Saturday's game represents just the fourth contest all time that the Wildcats have played in the state of Ohio and the first since 1995.
ā¢ All three of K-State previous games in the state of Ohio came at Cincinnati as the Wildcats enter the week with a 1-2 record in The Buckeye State.
OFFENSIVE NOTESKLEINāS BIG DEBUTā¢ New K-State head coach Collin Klein has kicked off his tenure at K-State in style with a 71-point, 559-yard showing on offense against Nicholls. The 71 points were the fourth-most in school history and the most for a season opener.
ā¢ The Cats followed that up with an impressive 34-7 win over Washington State and a 31-20 win over Tulane to make Klein 3-0 early on in his coaching career.KLEINāS EXPLOSIVE OFFENSESā¢ New K-State head coach Collin Klein has been one of the top offensive play callers in the nation the last four-plus 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¢ Since 2022, Kleinās offenses have averaged 34.1 points per game, which would rank 12th among Power 4 programs.
ā¢ Additionally, his last five offenses have combined for 433.6 yards per game (229.6 passing yards per game/202.2 rushing yards per game) which would rank 14th among Power 4 schools.
ā¢ His teams the last four-plus years have combined for 270 plays of at least 20 or more yards (181 pass/82 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 rank 12th nationally and sixth among Power 4 teams in points per game in conference games since 2022 (min. 30 games).
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.THE FIRST TO 6,000/1,500ā¢ Avery Johnson is the only player in school history to throw for at least 6,000 yards and rush for 1,500 yards, going over both of those marks during the Tulane game.
ā¢ Johnson is one of only 11 quarterbacks in Big 12 history to reach those two career milestones and just the fourth since 2016. He is also one of just four active players to accomplish the feat, joining Auburn's Byrum Brown, Texas Tech's Tommy Castellanos and Utah's Devon Dampier. However, Johnson is the only quarterback that is currently in his fourth year of college football as the other three are in their fifth seasons.
ā¢ Johnson enters the Cincinnati game ranked fourth in school history in career passing yards with 6,194 ā just 15 yards shy of passing Lynn Dickey (1968-70) for third place ā while he ranks third in career rushing yards by a quarterback at 1,631.THE SCHOOLāS ALL-TIME LEADERā¢ Avery Johnsonās seven-yard touchdown pass to Jaron Tibbs in the first quarter against Nicholls carried significant weight as he broke the schoolās career record. Since then, Johnson has thrown five more to bring his total to 54.
ā¢ Johnson, who entered 2026 tied with Will Howard (2020-23), became the first K-State quarterback with more than 50 touchdown strikes in a career.
ā¢ A product of Wichita, Kansas, Johnson ranks in the top 10 in program history in 15 career categories (see page 53).
IN A CLUB ALL BY HIMSELFā¢ Avery Johnson had a historic effort last week against Tulane as he threw for 227 yards and rushed for 152 yards with two touchdowns.
ā¢ He became the first player in school history and just the 14th in Big 12 history to throw for at least 200 yards and rush for at least 150 yards in a single game.
ā¢ It was the first time a Big 12 player had accomplished the feat since West Virginia's Garrett Greene against Cincinnati in 2023.
ā¢ Johnson's 379 yards of total offense against the Green Wave tied for the 15th most in school history, while his 152 rushing yards were the 10th most ever by a K-State quarterback.
ā¢ A native of Wichita, Kansas, Johnson busted a career-long run of 66 yards in the second half, which led to his own seven-yard rushing score on the next play. It was the longest rush by a K-State signal caller since Adrian Martinez recorded a 69-yard touchdown against Texas Tech in 2022.
THIRD-YEAR STARTERā¢ Quarterback Avery Johnson is back for his third year of starting duties in 2026 having started each of the last 29 games. His 29-straight starts rank second overall in school history behind Josh Freemanās 32-straight starts over his freshman through junior seasons.
ā¢ Johnson has led the Wildcats to 19 wins as a starting quarterback, which ranks sixth in school history. Skylar Thompson (2017-21) holds that mark with 24, followed by 22 by Ell Roberson (2001-03), Michael Bishop (1997-98) and current K-State head coach Collin Klein (2010-12).
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 37 starts over the last three-plus seasons at Arizona.
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 currently ranks fourth with 77 catches, 29 receptions behind Jeron Mastrudās record of 106 from 2006-09. Oakley ranks fifth with 846 receiving yards, 519 yards behind Henry Childsā record of 1,365 from 1971-73.RUNNING IN WIDE OPEN FIELDS
ā¢ Junior transfer Rodney Fields Jr. opened his K-State career with a pair of 100-yard rushing games, going for 101 yards against Nicholls and 105 yards against Washington State.
ā¢ Fields Jr. was one of two transfers in the nation to open the 2026 season with two 100-yard games (Cincinnatiās GiāBran Payne).
ā¢ A native of Wright City, Oklahoma, Fields Jr. is the first K-State player to rush for 100-yard games in his first two games as a Wildcat, joining James Gilbert, who did so against Nicholls (115 yards) and Bowling Green (103 yards).
ā¢ Fields Jr., who enters the week ranked 24th in rushing yards per carry (6.05), has totaled 937 career rushing yards as he needs 63 yards to reach the 1,000-yard mark.ACTION JACKSONā¢ Senior running back Joe Jackson, who had a stellar finish to his 2025 campaign, is shining as both a rusher and a receiver to begin 2026.
ā¢ In the season opener, Jackson had 86 yards from scrimmage and had both a rushing and receiving touchdown. It was the 21st time in the Big 12 era a Wildcat had both in one game.
ā¢ Jackson added another receiving touchdown against Washington State, a 21-yard catch-and-run right before halftime.
ā¢ It marked the first time a K-State running back had receiving touchdowns in consecutive games since Deuce Vaughn did so in three-straight games in 2022 against Oklahoma State, Texas and Baylor.
ā¢ It was the first time a K-State running back had receiving touchdowns in the first two games of a season since at least 1988.TIBBS REACHES MILESTONE IN CAREER GAMEā¢ Senior Jaron Tibbs went over the 1,000-yard receiving mark in his career in grand fashion last week against Tulane as he hauled in nine catches for 114 yards.
ā¢ The former Purdue transfer surged past his previous career high in receiving yards, which was 80 last year at Baylor, while he eclipsed his previous career high in catches of eight last year against UCF.
DEFENSIVE NOTESA GREAT START ON DEFENSE
ā¢ Kansas State has had a great start on defense as it has allowed just 182.7 yards per game through three weeks, which ranks second nationally.
ā¢ K-State also allowed just 30 passing yards to Nicholls, the fewest since the 2016 Missouri State game (24 yards) and the fewest in a full game since the 2000 Ball State contest (5).
ā¢ Through three weeks, K-State ranks first nationally in passing yards allowed, second in total defense, 11th in scoring defense and 29th in rushing defense.
ā¢ In the passing game, the Wildcats held its first two opponents to under 100 yards, marking the first time since the 2000 Ball State and North Texas games the Cats did so in consecutive games.
A DEFENSE FULL OF NEWCOMERSā¢ Kansas Stateās initial defensive depth chart of the 2026 season featured 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).
LIMITED POINTS PER GAMEā¢ Since the 2021 season (68 games), the Cats are allowing 22.1 points per game, which ranks fourth among current Big 12 teams and 19th 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 90 turnovers, which is ranks 18th in the nation, ninth among Power 4 teams and third among active Big 12 teams.
ā¢ Of the 90 turnovers, 52 have been via interception to rank third among active Big 12 programs and tie for 21st among Power 4 teams.
TURNOVER TURNAROUNDā¢ The 2026 Kansas State defense is looking 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.
ā¢ The Wildcats have continued the trend in 2026 by recovering one fumble in each of the first two games.
IMPACT ON THE EDGE
ā¢ Kansas State was able to secure the services of defensive end Wendell Gregory out of the transfer portal, and he has put together one of the best two-game stretches by a K-State defender in over 25 seasons.
ā¢ One week after recording 3.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks against Washington State, Gregory recorded another 3.0 tackles for loss and a half sack against Tulane.
ā¢ It marked the first time a Wildcat had at least 3.0 tackles for loss in consecutive games since Chris Johnson in 2000 against Kansas (7.0) and Oklahoma (3.0).
ā¢ The Marietta, Georgia, native, who earned Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors in 2025, recorded both of his sacks against the Cougars on third downs. Wazzu went 2-for-12 on third downs in the contest.
ā¢ Gregory enters the week ranked third nationally in tackles for loss per game (2.17) and 28th in sacks per game (0.67).
A DUAL-THREAT ON DEFENSE
ā¢ Another young, athletic player that is making his presence felt this season is sophomore Darien Whitaker Jr., who came to K-State as a linebacker but switched to defensive end during preseason camp.
ā¢ A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Whitaker Jr. opened the season with a strip-sack and fumble recovery against Nicholls, while he recovered another fumble against Washington State and had another 1.5 sacks against Tulane.
ā¢ Whitaker Jr. enters the Cincinnati game tied for first nationally in fumble recoveries (2), 23rd in forced fumbles per game (0.33) and 28th in sacks per game (0.83).
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.
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 64.
ā¢ That mark is 24 more than the second-best team in Alabama (40) and 30 more than the closest Big 12 programs, Oklahoma State and TCU (34).
ā¢ Of the 64 total returns, a nation-leading 32 are on kickoff returns, which are 11 more than the second-best team (Houston).
19 AND COUNTINGā¢ Kansas State has blocked at least one punt or field goal/extra point every year since 2008, which includes the 2026 season after Jordan Allen blocked a Washington State field goal.
ā¢ The Wildcats were one of five FBS teams entering 2026 to have blocked at least one punt, field goal or extra point every year since 2008, joining Boise State, Indiana, Marshall and Texas A&M. K-State is the only team of the group that has blocked a kick this year.
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 166 games and 467 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 208).
ā¢ From the 2013 through the 2025 seasons, the 138 FBS programs 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.
TO THE HOUSE
ā¢ All fifth-year player Brandon White did on his first-career punt return attempt is take it 65 yards for a touchdown in the 2026 season opener against Nicholls.
ā¢ It was Kansas Stateās first punt-return touchdown since September 13, 2024, against Arizona, while it was the first non-blocked return touchdown in a season opener since the 2018 South Dakota game.
ā¢ A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, White followed that performance up with a 62-yard return in the second quarter against Washington State that was nearly returned for a touchdown but set up a 21-yard score two plays later.
ā¢ White, who also added a nine-yard receiving touchdown to close out the game's scoring against the Cougars, enters the week ranked fifth in punt-return touchdowns and 19th in punt-return average (17.1).
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. He enters Week 3 ranked 23rd nationally with a 20.3-yard kickoff return average.
ā¢ The St. Louis, Missouri, native is returning 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 2,289 all-purpose yards in his career, but a majority have come from scrimmage as he has 2,105rushing 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 enters the week ranked fifth nationally among active players by connecting on 88.9% of his field goals after going 2-for-2 against Washington State and connecting on a 23-yard field goal against Tulane.
ā¢ A native of Sylmar, California, Rodriguez's career percentage would be tops in school history if he had two more attempts to qualify. The career record is currently held by Matthew McCrane, who put together an 86.4% connection 2014 through 2017.
ā¢ Last year, Rodriguez proceeded to connect on 13-of-15 field goal attempts and all 42 extra points despite not arriving in Manhattan until right as preseason practices commenced. He ranked 22nd nationally and second in the Big 12 last year with his 86.7% field goal conversion rate, a mark that tied for sixth in school history.
...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¢ McClannan currently ranks fifth in school history and in the top 25 nationally among active players with a career punting average of at 42.85 yards.
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.