GAME 7
K-State at Arizona State
Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Kickoff: 2:45 p.m. (CT)
Location: Tempe, Ariz.
Stadium: Mountain America Stadium
Series: Arizona State Leads, 6-1
TV: ESPN2 (watch)
Jay Alter (Play-by-Play)
Tom Luginbill (Analyst)
Lauren Sisler (Sidelines)
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. 269, and on the SiriusXM App
X Updates: @KStateFB and @KStateStatsInfo
CATS OPEN TWO-GAME ROAD SWING IN TEMPE
Coming off a 35-24 win over in-state rival Kansas, K-State begins a two-game Big 12 road trip as it travels to Arizona State on Saturday for a 2:45 p.m. CT contest inside Mountain America Stadium. The game will be shown on ESPN2 with Jay Alter (play-by-play), Tom Luginbill (analyst) and Lauren Sisler (sidelines) on the call, while the K-State Sports Network begins its coverage at 12:30 p.m. (CT), with Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play), Stan Weber (analyst) and Matt Walters (sidelines) calling the action.
HIGH-POWERED OFFENSE
Kansas State enters the Arizona State contest coming off a 568-yard outburst against Kansas, which included 359 rushing yards. The 568 total offensive yards were the 12th most in school history and the fifth most by the Wildcats in a Big 12 game. Additionally, it was the ninth most total yards by a Power 4 team in a conference game this season. K-State's 359 rushing yards was its fifth most ever in a Big 12 game and were the fourth most by a Power 4 team in a conference game this season.
DEFENSE STEPPING UPKansas State has allowed only 136.3 passing yards per game this season, ranking third in the nation and tops in the Big 12 by 35.0 yards per game. One of the main reasons the Wildcats are stout against the pass is they rank fifth in the Big 12 with 2.2 sacks per game and 12th nationally with 7.5 tackles for loss per game. K-State has four players that have recorded multiple sacks, led by Wendell Gregory and Darien Whitaker Jr. with 2.5 sacks apiece.
SEVEN FOR SATURDAY• K-State ranks fifth in the country in fewest sacks allowed (3) and first nationally in fewest lost yards from sacks (6).
• K-State ranks third in the country in fewest passing yards allowed, giving up 136.3 per game this season.
• The Wildcats are third nationally in fewest penalties and eighth in fewest penalty yards.
• K-State ranks second in the nation by converting on 59% (51-of-86) of its third-down attempts.
• The Cats rank 12th nationally and third in the Big 12 with 7.5 tackles for loss per game.
• K-State ranks sixth nationally in rushing offense with 239.8 yards per game.
• K-State ranks 16th nationally in total offense this week, averaging 464.7 yards per game.
TEAM NOTESRECENT RECAP
• Kansas State won its 18th straight over in-state rival Kansas with a 35-24 win last week at home.
• The Cats ran for 359 yards in the contest, which included 159 from Joe Jackson and 132 yards from Avery Johnson. It was the most rushing yards in a Big 12 game this season and the fifth most offensive yards in a Big 12 game this season (568).
• It was K-State's fifth-most rushing yards and total offensive yards ever in a Big 12 contest.
• Prior to that, K-State suffered a 35-16 loss to No. 22 Houston and has dropped two games in a row following a 31-26 setback at Cincinnati to open Big 12 play.
• K-State had one of its best collective non-conference performances in the Big 12 era in wins over Nicholls (71-3), Washington State (34-7) and Tulane (31-20).
NEWCOMERS MAKING AN IMPACT
• Of the 132 available starts on offense and defense this season, just under 45.5% (60 of 132) are made up of transfers.
• The biggest area in which newcomers are making an difference is sacks and tackles for loss. Of the Wildcats' 13 sacks, 7.5 (57.7%) are from newcomers, while 48.9% (22.0) of their 45 tackles for loss are from those new to the program.
• Kansas State’s 2026 roster features 59 newcomers, equating to 52.7% of its roster.
• The 59 newcomers on the roster rank seventh in program history. The school record for newcomers in a season is 72 in 2002.
LETTERWINNER TURNED COACH
• Collin Klein, 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.
• He is the first former K-State letterwinner to serve as head football coach since Ellis Rainsberger from 1975 through 1977.
• 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).
THE BIG 12’S BEST
• Kansas State has totaled 150 Big 12 victories since the conference’s formation in 1996, which stands as the most among active Big 12 programs.
• The Cats are 16 wins ahead of Oklahoma State (134) and 21 ahead of Texas Tech (129). The Wildcats, Cowboys and Red Raiders are the only three Big 12 teams with over 100 conference wins.
• 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 58.7% (81-57), ahead of Oklahoma State (57.2%; 79-59) and TCU (55.0%; 71-58).
• During that stretch, the Wildcats are 46-24 (65.7%) at home and 35-33 (50.7%) on the road/neutral in Big 12 play.
FOUR-STRAIGHT WINNING BIG 12 SEASONS
• K-State has produced winning Big 12 records each of the last four seasons, its longest streak since doing so from 2011-14.
• The Wildcats are one of only two Big 12 teams with a current four-year streak of winning Big 12 records (Texas Tech).
VERY FEW PENALTIES
• Since 2022 – the year that current head coach Collin Klein took over as offensive coordinator – the Wildcats have averaged only 42.50 penalty yards per game (58 games) to rank ninth among Power 4 teams (min. 50 games).
• K-State enters the week ranked fourth nationally in fewest penalties per game (4.0) and 12th in fewest penalty yards per game (40.5) this season.
THE NATION’S LEADER IN NON-OFFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS
• K-State leads the country in non-offensive touchdowns over the last 28 seasons as it has 140 since 1999, seven more than the team in second place (Alabama – 133).
• K-State recorded five non-offensive scores in both 2024 and 2025, and they got on the board this year with a Brandon White punt return score against Nicholls.
A REGULAR IN THE POSTSEASON
• 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.
• The Wildcats are one of only 15 Power 4 teams – and the only Big 12 program – 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!
• 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.
• 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).
OFFENSIVE NOTESKLEIN’S HIGH-OCTANE OFFENSES• 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.
• 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.
• Since 2022, Klein’s offenses have averaged 33.6 points per game, which would rank 13th among Power 4 programs.
• Additionally, his last five offenses have combined for 433.8 yards per game (229.5 passing yards per game/202.6 rushing yards per game), which would rank 14th among Power 4 schools.
• His teams the last four-plus years have combined for 284 plays of at least 20 or more yards (194 pass/90 rush), good for an average of 4.8 per game.HIGH POINT TOTAL vs. BIG 12• When Collin Klein took over the K-State offense in 2022, it began a trend of averaging 32.4 points per game in conference contests, which ranks second in the league to Texas Tech (33.2). Additionally, the Wildcats rank eighth nationally and eighth among Power 4 teams in points per game in conference contests since 2022 (min. 30 games).
• The Cats have hit the 30-point mark in 24 of their 39 Big 12 games since the start of 2022, which includes 10 times over the last two-plus seasons with current quarterback Avery Johnson running the offense.
• 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.PROTECTING THE PASSER• Kansas State was the only FBS team to not allow a sack through four games, a streak that ended in its fifth game of the year against Houston.
• The Wildcats are tied for fourth nationally by allowing only three sacks this season, while they rank first nationally by losing only six yards due to sacks. Notre Dame is second on the list with nine lost yards, while Army is third with 11 lost yards.
PAVING THE WAY• Kansas State's offensive line has gotten off to a good start in 2026 as the Wildcats are second in rushing yards per carry (6.23), tied for sixth nationally in runs of 20 or more yards (15), and rank sixth in rushing yards per game (239.8).
THIRD-YEAR STARTER• Quarterback Avery Johnson is in his third year of starting duties in 2026. He has now started each of the last 32 games, tying Josh Freeman (2006-08) for the most consecutive starts at quarterback in school history.
• Johnson has led the Wildcats to 20 wins as a starting quarterback, which ranks sixth in school history. Skylar Thompson (2017-21) holds the top mark with 24, followed by a tie for second with 22 wins by Ell Roberson (2001-03), Michael Bishop (1997-98) and Collin Klein (2010-12), while Johnathan Beasley (1999-2000) led the Wildcats to 21 wins.
• 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 39 starts over the last three-plus seasons at Arizona.
MULTIPLE 200/100 GAMES• Avery Johnson has recorded two games this season with at least 200 passing yards and 100 rushing yards as he did so against Tulane (227 pass/152 rush) and KU (209 pass/132 rush).
• He is the fourth Wildcat in the Big 12 era to have two such games in one season, joining Michael Bishop (1998), Collin Klein (2012) and Jake Waters (2014).
HIGH AVERAGE FOR A QB• Avery Johnson has rushed for a team-leading 462 yards on only 51 carries, good for a 9.1-yard average.
• He leads all qualified quarterbacks nationally in rushing average this season and is 3.0 yards per carry better than the next best Power 4 signal caller (South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers).
THE FIRST TO 6,500/1,500• Avery Johnson is the only player in school history to throw for at least 6,500 yards and rush for 1,500 yards, and he is one of only 10 quarterbacks in Big 12 history to reach those two career milestones, including 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 at least their fifth seasons.
• Johnson is on the doorstep of reaching 7,000 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards in his career as he needs 123 yards through the air and 160 yards on the ground to hit those marks.
• He is looking to become fourth player in Big 12 history to hit those two marks as he would join Missouri's Brad Smith (2002-05), Baylor's Robert Griffin III (2008-11) and TCU's Trevone Boykin (2012-15).
IN A CLUB ALL BY HIMSELF
• Avery Johnson had a historic effort against Tulane as he threw for 227 yards and rushed for 152 yards with two touchdowns.
• He became the first player in school history, just the 14th in Big 12 history and one of only two players this season (Texas State's Brad Jackson) to throw for at least 200 yards and rush for at least 150 yards in a single game.
• It was the first time a Big 12 player had accomplished the feat since West Virginia's Garrett Greene against Cincinnati in 2023.
• 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.
• A native of Wichita, Kansas, Johnson enters the week ranked 14th in the nation and fourth in the Big 12 with 293.8 yards of total offense per game. That mark would rank third in school history.THE SCHOOL’S ALL-TIME LEADER
• Avery Johnson’s seven-yard touchdown pass to Jaron Tibbs in the first quarter against Nicholls carried significant weight as he broke the school’s career record. Since then, Johnson has thrown nine more to bring his total to 58.
• 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.
• A product of Wichita, Kansas, Johnson ranks in the top 10 in program history in multiple career categories (see pages 56-57).OAKLEY ALSO AFTER RECORDS• 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.
• The career record holder for touchdown catches by a tight end with 14, Oakley ranks second among all active tight ends in the country in career receiving scores.
• Oakley is also looking to hold the school’s positional records for catches and receiving yards, needing 19 catches and 390 yards to hold those marks as well.
• After producing 129 yards against Cincinnati and Houston – including a career-high 80 yards against the Bearcats – Oakley is now only 25 yards shy of becoming the fifth tight end in school history to go over 1,000 career receiving yards.SEEING DOUBLE ON THE GROUND• Kansas State produced two 100-yard rushers against Kansas as running Joe Jackson had 159 yards on 27 carries – with no lost-yardage plays – and quarterback Avery Johnson produced 132 yards.
• It was the 18th double 100-yard game in program history and first since Adrian Martinez (171 yards) and Deuce Vaughn (170 yards) had one against Texas Tech in 2022.
• The 291 yards between Jackson and Johnson were the eighth most in a double 100-yard game in school history.RUNNING IN WIDE OPEN FIELDS• 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.
• A native of Wright City, Oklahoma, Fields Jr. was the first K-State player to rush for 100-yard games in his first two games as a Wildcat since James Gilbert in 2019 against Nicholls (115 yards) and Bowling Green (103 yards).
• During the Houston game, Fields Jr. went over 1,000 rushing yards in his career, a mark that now stands at 1,099 yards.SEEING DOUBLE THROUGH THE AIR• Seeing significant playing time due to injury, Derrick Salley Jr. broke out with a seven-catch, 140-yard performance at Cincinnati.
• Teaming with Jaron Tibbs' 114-yard effort the week prior against Tulane, it marked the first time two different Wildcats had 100-yard receiving games in consecutive contests since Tyler Lockett (158 yards vs. Kansas) and Curry Sexton (104 yards vs. UCLA in the Alamo Bowl) in 2014.
DEFENSIVE NOTESTOP-TIER PASS DEFENSE
• Kansas State enters the Kansas game owning the nation's third-ranked pass defense, allowing only 136.3 yards per game.
• K-State allowed only 30 passing yards against Nicholls to open the season, the fewest since the 2016 Missouri State game (24 yards) and the fewest in a full game since the 2000 Ball State contest (5).
• K-State followed that up by limiting Washington State to only 65 passing yards, marking the first time since the 2000 Ball State and North Texas games the Cats allowed less than 100 passing yards in consecutive games.
BEHIND THE LINE• The Cats have opened the 2026 season as one of the nation's best teams in terms of tackles for loss, ranking 12th in the country and third in the Big 12 with 7.5 TFLs per game (45 total).
• This is the second time in the last four seasons the Wildcats have recorded at least 45 tackles for loss in the first six games of the season (46 in 2023).
• Defensive end Wendell Gregory, ranks sixth nationally and second in the Big 12 with 1.58 tackles for loss per game (9.5 total).
LIMITED POINTS PER GAME• Since the 2021 season (71 games), the Cats are allowing 22.5 points per game, which ranks third among current Big 12 teams and 20th among Power 4 teams (minimum 40 games).
• Since 2019, the Wildcats have held 52 of their 65 Big 12 opponents under their season average at the time it faces the Wildcats (excluding 2025 season opener against Iowa State).
CREATING TURNOVERS• Over the last four-plus seasons, K-State has done an excellent job in forcing opponent turnovers. Since 2022, the Wildcats have been on the receiving end of 92 turnovers, which is tied for 21st in the nation and ranks 11th among Power 4 teams and third among active Big 12 teams.
• Of the 92 turnovers, 53 have been via interception to rank fourth among active Big 12 programs.
SCOOP IT UP• The K-State defense had a propensity of falling on fumbles last season as it tied for third nationally with 13 recoveries.
• 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.
• The Wildcats have continued the trend in 2026 by recovering three fumbles in six games this season.
IMPACT ON THE EDGE
• Defensive end Wendell Gregory has had an outstanding beginning of his K-State career as he ranks sixth in the nation and second in the Big 12 with 1.58 tackles for loss per game (9.5 total TFLs).
• Gregory held a three-game streak of at least 2.0 TFLs over the Washington State, Tulane and Cincinnati contests, which was the longest by a Wildcat since Brandon Harold in 2008 against Montana State (3.0), Louisville (2.0) and Louisiana (3.0).
• A native of Marietta, Georgia, Gregory recorded 3.0 TFLs and 2.0 sacks against Washington State before posting another 3.0 TFLs and a half sack against Tulane.
• 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).
• The 2025 Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year, Gregory has recorded 1.08 TFLs per game over his 20-game career to rank third nationally among active players. Colorado's Gideon Lampron (1.42) ranks first, while Texas' Colin Simons (1.30) is second.
A SUCCESSFUL FIRST START
• Freshman defensive back Nick McClellan made his first-career start against Kansas a successful one as he recorded three tackles – two of which went for a loss of 14 yards – forced a fumble on a punt attempt that resulted in a safety and broke up a pass with 1:15 remaining as KU was in K-State territory trying to cut into an 11-point deficit.
• A native of St. Louis, Missouri, McClellan was honored for his play against the Jayhawks as he was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Week.
FROM THE SECOND LEVEL TO THE FRONT LINE
• Sophomore Darien Whitaker Jr. made the switch from linebacker to defensive end during preseason camp, and the move has paid off as he ranks in the top 15 nationally in both fumbles recovered (3rd – 2) and forced fumbles per game (14th – 0.33).
• He began the season on fire as he recorded a strip-sack and fumble recovery against Nicholls before coming back with another fumble recovery against Washington State. He also posted 1.5 sacks against Tulane, had another tackle for loss at Cincinnati and forced a fumble against Kansas.
A STEADY PRESENCE• Linebacker Gabe Powers has recorded 25 tackles this season to rank second on the team, posting at least four tops in four of the six contests.
• His total through five games – which includes a career-high nine tackles at Cincinnati – is already four more than his previous high of 21 last year, which was his first at K-State after spending the 2022-24 seasons at Ohio State.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTESSCORING IN THE THIRD PHASE• A big part of K-State’s 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.
• 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).
• Of the 64 total returns, a nation-leading 32 are on kickoff returns, which are nine more than the second-best team (San Diego State).
19 AND COUNTING• 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 attempt.
• 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, Boise State and Marshall have each extended its streaks this season.
EIGHT STRAIGHT• The Wildcats entered the 2026 season having 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.
• 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.
• Toledo and Michigan are second on the list by blocking a punt each of the last six years, which includes 2026. South Carolina is at five-straight years, a program in which Weber was a special teams analyst in 2021 and 2022.
HITTING THE MARK• Thanks in part to a 4-for-4 effort last week against Kansas, place kicker Luis Rodriguez continues to holds the top spot in school history with a 92.0% (23-of-25) conversion rate on field goals.
• One of his two career misses was blocked a 56-yard attempt at the end of last year's Baylor game, meaning he has been true on 23-of-24 (95.8%) field goal attempts that have gone past the line of scrimmage.
• Among active kickers who have attempted at least 20 career attempts, Rodriguez leads the nation in career field goal percentage.
4-FOR-4• Place kicker Luis Rodriguez was successful on all four field goal attempts and three extra point attempts in K-State's 11-point victory over Kansas as he went on to earn Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
• His four made field goals tied for the most in a Big 12 game this season, tied for fourth most in the nation and tied for the second most in a game in school history.
• A native of Slymar, California, Rodriguez now ranks 16th nationally in with 1.67 field goals per game.
McCLANNAN’S HIGH AVERAGE• Punter Simon McClannan has had a great start to the 2026 season, adding to an already impressive career.
• A native of Omaha, Nebraska, McClannan enters the week ranked third in program history and 18th nationally among active players with a 43.13-yard average over his 113 career punts.
• McClannan holds a 46.8-yard average over his 18 punts this season, a mark that would rank ninth in the nation if he had four more attempts to qualify.
• McClannan is tied for fourth in the Big 12 with 10 punts that have landed inside the opponent's 20-yard line, while his eight punts of 50 or more yards this season rank fifth in the conference. His career high in punts of 50 or more yards was 13 last season.
TO THE HOUSE
• 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.
• It was Kansas State’s 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.
• 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.
• 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, 18th in punt-return average (13.2) and 28th in combined kickoff- and punt-return yards (242).