Game 2
North Dakota at 17/20 K-State
Date: Saturday, August 30, 2025
Kickoff: 6 p.m.
Location: Manhattan, Kan.
Stadium: Bill Snyder Family Stadium (50,000)
Series: First Meeting
TV: ESPN+ (Watch)
Shawn Kenney (Play-by-Play)
Barrett Brooks (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. 139 or 198, and on the SiriusXM App
X Updates: @KStateFB
THE TOP 5
1) Coming off a hard-fought loss to Iowa State in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin last week, K-State returns to Manhattan for its home opener against North Dakota on Saturday evening inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The game, which kicks off at 6 p.m., will be shown on ESPN+ with Shawn Kenney (play-by-play) and Barrett Brooks (analyst) on the call.
2) Quarterback Avery Johnson is set to make his 16th-career start under center. The Wichita, Kansas, product is coming off an efficient game in the season opener as his 70.0% completion rate (21-of-30) was a career best (minimum 10 attempts). His 168.4 pass efficiency rating against Iowa State was the second highest of his career, only to be outdone by a 186.0 mark last year at West Virginia.
3) K-State’s offensive playmakers accounted for 383 yards in the season opener. Wide receivers Jayce Brown, Jerand Bradley and Jaron Tibbs combined for 188 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Brown had a 37-yard touchdown catch and Bradley had a 65-yard score, both coming in the fourth quarter. Running back Joe Jackson made his second-career start and rushed for a career-high 51 yards.
4) K-State’s defense held Iowa State to only 4.2 yards per play and 2.8 yards per rush thanks to six tackles for loss, which included four sacks. It was the seventh time in the last 14 games the Wildcats had at least four sacks. Defensive end Tobi Osunsanmi had a career-high 2.0 sacks, while defensive back Qua Moss had a sack that forced a fumble, which the Wildcats recovered.
5) The Wildcats’ defensive backs totaled six pass breakups, the fourth time in the last six games dating back to last year that K-State tallied at least five breakups. Cornerback Donovan McIntosh led the way with a career-high two passes defended, while he set a new career high with eight tackles. Fellow cornerback Zashon Rich and linebacker Austin Romaine also collected eight tackles in the season opener.
STATISTICAL SPOTLIGHTS375 – K-State has totaled at least 375 offensive yards in 33 games since 2022, which is tied for eighth among Power 4 teams.
70.0 – Completion percentage by Avery Johnson in the season opener, the highest of his career (minimum 10 attempts).
22 – Consecutive games that Jayce Brown has recorded at least one catch, which dates back to the 2023 Texas Tech game.
4 – Sacks last week against Iowa State, the seventh time in the last 14 games the Wildcats had at least four sacks.
1 – This is the first meeting all-time between K-State and North Dakota. The two teams were originally scheduled to play in 2020.
TEAM NOTESHOME OPENERS
• All-time, Kansas State is 96-28-5 (76.4%) in home openers, while head coach Chris Klieman is 10-2 (83.3%) in home openers as a head coach.
NON-CONFERENCE NOTABLES
• Since 1990, K-State holds a 101-20 (83.5%) record in regular-season non-conference games.
• That stretch includes an 84-9 (90.3%) mark at home. Over that period of time, the Wildcats have had perfect regular season non-conference ledgers 18 times and unblemished marks at home on 26 occasions.
CATS vs. FCS
• Kansas State has won each of its last 10 games against FCS competition dating back to the 2014 season.
• The last time the Wildcats fell to an FCS opponent was the 2013 season opener against defending FCS National Champion North Dakota State.
• Ironically, that Bison squad’s defensive coordinator was current K-State head coach Chris Klieman, and the linebackers coach was current K-State linebackers coach Steve Stanard.
CATS vs. THE MVFC
• Saturday’s contest against North Dakota is the third time in Chris Klieman’s seven years that the Wildcats will take on a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference, a conference he was part of for eight years after the conference’s inception in 2008, including five years as a head coach at North Dakota State from 2014-18.
• The Wildcats defeated Southern Illinois, 31-23, in the second game of the 2021 season following a neutral-site season opener against Stanford in Arlington, Texas. Then, in 2022, K-State topped South Dakota, 34-0, in the season opener.
• The Wildcats hold a 14-4 record all-time against current members of the MVFC.
• This will be the first all-time matchup between K-State and North Dakota. Interestingly, the two teams were scheduled to play in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic altered the schedules.
TOWARD THE TOP IN CONSISTENCY
• K-State is one of only 10 Power 4 schools that have won at least nine games in each of the last three seasons, joining Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State and Tennessee.
• Among those teams, only Kansas State, Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Oregon have accomplished that feat in addition to winning a conference championship during that timeframe.
• The Wildcats rank 13th among Power 4 teams and are tops among current Big 12 programs with 28 total wins over the last three seasons.
AMONG THE NATION’S BEST
• K-State has a total of 231 victories since 1996, which is tied for 21st nationally.
• Among active Big 12 teams, the Wildcats rank fourth behind BYU (239), TCU (238) and Utah (233).
A WINNING TRADITION
• Kansas State has totaled 144 Big 12 victories since the conference’s formation in 1996, which stands as the most among active Big 12 programs.
• The Cats are also second among active Big 12 members in winning percentage since non-divisional play began in 2011. They sit at 59.1% (75-52), trailing only Oklahoma State (61.1%; 77-49).
• During that stretch, the Wildcats are 42-21 (66.7%) at home in Big 12 play and 33-31 (51.6%) on the road/neutral.
RETURNING EXPERIENCE
• The 2025 Wildcats are tied for sixth in most returning letterwinners since 2003 with 45, which is impressive considering the roster limits that took effect over the summer.
• Among the group, K-State returns 13 starters from last season – which is tied for 10th in the nation – while its 15 returning starters from the Rate Bowl are tied for seventh in the nation.
STATE PRIDE
• Of the 13 returning starters, seven hail from the state of Kansas.
• On offense, the Kansans are quarterback Avery Johnson (Wichita), running back Dylan Edwards (Derby) and offensive linemen Taylor Poitier (Kansas City) and Sam Hecht (Shawnee).
• Defensively, the list includes defensive tackle Damian Ilalio (Manhattan), linebacker Des Purnell (Topeka) and defensive end Cody Stufflebean (McPherson).
NOCTURNAL CATS
• Kansas State played nine night games a year ago – going 6-3 in those contests – and the Wildcats begin the season with each of their first four games kicking off at 5 p.m. local time or later.
• The season opener against Iowa State kicked off at 5 p.m. (Irish Standard Time), while K-State’s first two home games will each kick off at 6 p.m. (Central Time). Then, the Wildcats travel to face Arizona in a game that will kick off at 6 p.m. (Mountain Standard Time).
• Last season was the first time that K-State played nine night games during the regular season in the Big 12 era (1996).
A TRACK RECORD OF WINNING
• A proven winner with a championship history, Chris Klieman holds a 120-42 career record, as his 74.1% career winning percentage ranks fourth among current FBS coaches that are in at least their 10th season. He is also one of just 16 current Power 4 head coaches with at least 100 career victories.
• Klieman, who is 48-29 since arriving at K-State, has led the Cats to five victories over teams ranked in the top 10 of the AP Top 25, the most of any active Big 12 program since 2019.
CARDIAC CATS
• Kansas State earned four come-from-behind wins in 2024 when trailing in the fourth quarter, tied for the second most in the country (Illinois, 5).
• The Wildcats’ four wins last season when trailing in the fourth quarter tied the school record originally set by the 2011 squad (Eastern Kentucky, Miami, Baylor, Texas A&M).
• At Tulane, a Dylan Edwards touchdown run and a Jack Fabris fumble return – the latter with 8:13 left – erased a 27-20 deficit in a 34-27 win.
• At Colorado, a 50-yard touchdown pass from Avery Johnson to Jayce Brown with 2:14 remaining swung a 28-24 deficit to a 31-28 victory in the Buffaloes’ lone home loss of the season.
• K-State trailed Kansas, 27-26, until Chris Tennant’s 51-yard field goal with 1:42 left earned the Wildcats a 29-27 win.
• Lastly, the Wildcats recorded their largest bowl come-from-behind victory in the 2024 Rate Bowl as they trailed Rutgers by 17 points in the third quarter and by 12 points in the fourth quarter before a 44-41 victory.
CATS TOPS IN NON-OFFENSIVE TDs
• K-State is the nation’s best in non-offensive touchdowns over the last 25-plus seasons as it has 135 since 1999, nine more than the next closest team (Alabama – 126) and 17 more than the next Big 12 program (Utah – 118).
• K-State recorded four non-offensive scores during the 2024 season, its most since also recording four in 2020.
• The four non-offensive scores a year ago were: a Ty Bowman blocked punt against UT Martin that was returned for a score by Colby McCalister, a 60-yard fumble return by Jack Fabris at Tulane, a 71-yard punt return by Dylan Edwards against Arizona, and a 43-yard interception return by Marques Sigle at West Virginia.
OFFENSIVE NOTESWELLS LEADING THE CHARGE
• After spending the 2024 season coaching the K-State quarterbacks and serving as co-offensive coordinator, associate head coach Matt Wells is now the full-time play caller in 2025.
• All Wells did during his first season on staff was tutor Avery Johnson to a school-record 25 touchdown passes, while his sophomore signal caller ranked fifth in school history in passing yards (2,985) and completions (238).
• Wells and Johnson helped guide a K-State offense that finished in the top 15 nationally in four categories and in the top 10 of school history in 15 game or season categories.
TOTAL OFFENSE• K-State has totaled at least 375 yards of offense in 33 of the last 41 games dating back to the beginning of the 2022 season.
• The 33 games with at least 375 yards are tied for eighth among Power 4 programs and second among Big 12 schools. Georgia leads the way with 36, followed by LSU, Oregon, TCU, Texas and USC with 34, while Washington is at 33.
• During that stretch, K-State holds a 26-7 record when totaling at least 375 yards, while the Wildcats are 2-6 when going under that mark.RED ZONE SUCCESS• Since Chris Klieman’s first season at K-State in 2019, the Wildcats have been the best in the Big 12 in terms of converting red-zone opportunities into points.
• The Wildcats rank first in the Big 12 with an 89.7% (270-of-301) success rate in the red zone since 2019, just ahead of both Texas Tech (87.8%) and Oklahoma State (87.5%).
• K-State also ranks first in the league in touchdown success rate at 67.1% (202-of-301), ahead of Kansas (66.4%) and UCF (65.0%).RED ZONE THREATS• Kansas State’s tight end unit combined for 13 touchdown receptions in 2024, which led the nation.
• The 13 touchdowns came from four different players who are all back in 2025 in Garrett Oakley (5), Will Anciaux (3), Will Swanson (3) and Brayden Loftin (2).GROUND AND POUND• K-State finished the 2024 season ranking 11th nationally by averaging 215.5 rushing yards per game, while the Cats were second in the country by averaging a school-record 6.08 rushing yards per carry.
• The Cats rushed for at least 200 yards in eight games last year, the most in the Big 12 and the second most among Power 4 schools.
• The average was driven by 95 rushes of at least 10 yards to rank seventh in the nation, while K-State’s 34 rushing plays of 20 or more yards last season ranked second (UNLV, 36).NEW – BUT EXPERIENCED – OL• Kansas State brought back seven offensive linemen who have seen playing time in a Wildcat uniform prior to the start of 2025 but only three that earned starts. However, K-State is not void of experience thanks to the addition of a few transfers.
• The Wildcats’ primary offensive linemen in the season opener have totaled 162 games played and 49 starts, led by left guard Taylor Poitier (32 games, 17 starts).
• The other primary linemen to open the 2025 season were center Sam Hecht (31 games, 14 starts), right guard JB Nelson (32 games, 9 starts), right tackle Andrew Leingang (28 games, 3 starts), left tackle John Pastore (11 games, 1 start) and reserve tackle Terrence Enos Jr. (28 games, 5 starts).VERY EFFICIENT• Quarterback Avery Johnson had one of his better outputs in terms of efficiency in the season opener, completing 70.0% of his passes and producing a 168.4 pass efficiency rating.
• Johnson went 21-of-30 for 273 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions against Iowa State. His 70.0% completion clip was a career best (minimum 10 attempts), bettering his 66.7% mark in last year’s season opener against UT Martin. His pass efficiency rating was the second highest of his career, only to be outdone by a 186.0 mark last year at West Virginia.SECOND-YEAR STARTER• Quarterback Avery Johnson is in his second year of starting duties after setting the school record for single-season touchdown passes at 25 a year ago.
• Additionally, Johnson finished second in school history in passing yards by a sophomore (2,712), fourth in pass attempts (372), fifth in overall passing yards and completions (217), sixth in total offensive yards (3,317) and eighth in touchdown responsibility (32).
• A product of Wichita, Kansas, Johnson is ranked in the top 10 in four career categories, while he is just outside the top 10 in several others (see page 47).
WINNING FROM A YOUNG AGE• Despite only starting 15 career games, Avery Johnson has led the Wildcats to 10 wins to rank 11 in school history in wins among K-State signal callers since 1990.
• Additionally, his 67.7% winning percentage ranks ninth among those that have started at least 10 games.
ONE OF A SELECT FEW• Avery Johnson was one of only five players in the nation and one of three from Power 4 schools to record at least 2,700 passing yards and 600 rushing yards in 2024. He was joined on that list by Jalen Milroe (Alabama), Taylen Green (Arkansas), Devon Dampier (New Mexico), Riley Leonard (Notre Dame) and John Mateer (Washington State).
• Additionally, Johnson was one of nine signal callers nationally with at least 25 passing touchdowns and seven rushing touchdowns. The others to hit those marks were Cade Klubnik (Clemson), Rocco Becht (Iowa State), Alonza Barnett III (James Madison), Will Howard (Ohio State), Dillon Gabriel (Oregon), Jordan McCloud (Texas State), Caden Veltkamp (Western Kentucky) and Mateer.
A NEW ERA IN THE BACKFIELD• Running back Dylan Edwards shined during his first opportunity as K-State’s primary running back in the 2024 Rate Bowl, and he looks to carry that momentum into 2025.
• All Edwards did was set a school bowl record with 196 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, while he had 27 receiving yards and another score en route to Offensive MVP honors.
• A native of Derby, Kansas, and former transfer from Colorado, Edwards finished second on the team last season with 1,117 all-purpose yards.
GOIN’ DEEP• Wide receiver Jayce Brown kept his high average per catch going in the 2025 season opener, hauling in four passes for 78 yards (19.5 yards per catch) with a 37-yard touchdown.
• A native of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Brown has averaged 17.15 yards on his 78 career catches to rank seventh in school history.
• Brown finished the 2024 season tied for fourth nationally with seven receptions of 40 or more yards, while his four receptions of 50 or more yards tied for eighth.
DEFENSIVE NOTESCONTINUITY ON THE STAFF• Each of the Wildcats’ full-time coaches on the defensive side of the ball have been the same since 2020, as Kansas State and Iowa are the only two programs in the country to lay that claim.
• However, Iowa utilizes four positional coaches on defense, whereas K-State employs five.
• Safeties coach Joe Klanderman was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2020, the same year that cornerbacks coach Van Malone was elevated to assistant head coach and Steve Stanard joined the staff to coach the linebackers. Defensive tackles coach Mike Tuiasosopo and defensive ends coach Buddy Wyatt – along with Klanderman and Malone – were members of Chris Klieman’s original staff at K-State in 2019.
LIMITED POINTS PER GAME• Since the 2021 season (54 games), the Cats are allowing just 21.9 points per game, which ranks 23rd nationally and third among current Big 12 teams.
• Additionally, the Wildcats have allowed 134 offensive touchdowns (2.5 per game) over that time to rank 23rd in the nation.
• The Wildcats have finished each of the three previous seasons allowing less than 24.0 points per game, their longest streak since going 13-straight years from 1991 through 2003.
• Since head coach Chris Klieman’s first year of 2019, the Wildcats have held 42 of their 54 Big 12 opponents under their season average at the time it faces the Wildcats (excluding 2025 season opener against Iowa State).
NONE OVER 200• Kansas State did not allow a team to rush for 200 or more yards in any game last season, the first time the Wildcats accomplished that feat since 2016.
• They continued that trend in the season opener as Iowa State only managed 130 rushing yards on 46 attempts (2.8 yards per carry).
• K-State was one of only two Big 12 teams to not allow a 200-yard rushing game in 2024 (Arizona State).
• The Wildcats yielded minus-29 rushing yards last year at Colorado, which was the third fewest in school history, the second fewest allowed by an FBS team in 2024 and the fewest allowed in a Big 12 game since 2006.
CREATING TURNOVERS• Since the beginning of 2022, K-State has totaled 64 forced turnovers, which is the most among active Big 12 teams and tied for 11th among Power 4 teams.
• Of the 64 turnovers, 39 have been via interception to rank second among all active Big 12 programs and tie for 16th among Power 4 teams.
BEHIND THE LINE• K-State finished the 2024 season ranked 25th nationally and second in the Big 12 with 2.69 sacks per game.
• It was the Wildcats’ best national ranking since 2015 (No. 9) and highest sacks per game mark since 2020 (2.80).
• Kansas State’s 35 sacks a year ago resulted in 249 lost yards, which ranked 11th in the Power 4 and first in the Big 12.
• It was the most sack yardage by the Wildcats since 2003 (345) and tied for the fifth most by any K-State team since 1996.
• K-State’s six sacks last year at Colorado resulted in 74 yards of loss, the fourth-most ever by a Big 12 team in a league game and second most by a Big 12 team in any game since 2012.
• It was the most sack yardage accumulated by the Wildcats in a single game since at least 1995. Their previous best over that timeframe was 72 yards against Baylor in 2002.
• The Cats recorded four sacks in the 2025 season opener, the seventh time in the last 14 games the Wildcats have carded at least four sacks.
ROMAINE LED THE WAY IN 2024• Junior linebacker Austin Romaine, a 2024 All-Big 12 Second Team selection, returns after leading the Wildcats and ranking ninth in the conference with 96 tackles (7.38 per game).
• Romaine was the first Wildcat with at least 90 tackles in a season since Jayd Kirby had 99 in 2017.
• A native of Hillsboro, Missouri, Romaine had two sacks at Tulane, the second of which caused a fumble that was returned for a 60-yard, game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter.
• It was his first of two forced fumbles on the year that led directly to the game-winning points. He also had one against Kansas prior to the game-winning field goal in a two-point victory.
• Romaine opened the 2025 season with eight tackles to tie for team-high honors.
BRINGING THE PAYNE
• Senior safety VJ Payne enters his final season in a Wildcat uniform with 41 career games played and 31 starts, both of which are the most among returning players.
• Additionally, he has started a team-high 30-straight games, which dates back to the 2022 Kansas game.
• The Buford, Georgia, product was around the football all year in 2024. Aside from his 64 tackles, he also had a pair of interceptions to halt potential scoring drives as he had one in the end zone with five seconds remaining to seal the win at Tulane and another in the red zone at Colorado.
• Payne also forced a fumble at Tulane and another against Kansas, the latter being on the final fourth-down stop of the game.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTESSCORING IN THE THIRD PHASE• The Wildcats continue to lead the nation in total return touchdowns since 2005 with 62, which is 22 more than the next closest team in Alabama (40) and 28 more than the next closest Big 12 programs, Oklahoma State and TCU (34).
• Of the 62 total returns, a nation-leading 31 are on kickoff returns, and the next closest team is Houston with 21.
SEVEN STRAIGHT• K-State has blocked a punt in seven-straight seasons, tied for the longest streak in the nation with San Diego State.
• Oregon and Iowa State are tied for third at five-straight years.
BREAKING IN A NEW KICKER• Kansas State has a new place kicker in 2025 as Chris Tennant departed after serving as the primary place kicker each of the last three seasons.
• In the first game of 2025, special teams coordinator/special assistant to the head coach Nate Kaczor turned to community-college transfer Luis Rodriguez, who was true on all three extra-point attempts.
• Rodriguez came to K-State in July from College of the Canyons after being named to the California Community College Football Coaches Association (CCCFCA) All-America Team. In his lone season playing for the Cougars, Rodriguez was true on 21-of-25 field goals with a long of 54 yards, while he connected on 31-of-34 extra points.
McCLANNAN IS BACK• Although K-State is relying on the services of a new place kicker, the Wildcats do have their regular punter back in sophomore Simon McClannan.
• The Omaha, Nebraska, native is coming off the 2024 season in which he averaged 42.34 yards on 47 punts to rank third in the Big 12 in average among qualified punters and fifth in school history among freshmen (minimum 25 attempts).
• McClannan saved his best effort of 2024 for the final game as he tallied a career-best 46.5-yard average (minimum 3 attempts) in the Rate Bowl against Rutgers, which was the fourth-highest average in K-State bowl history.
DEFENSE ON KICK RETURNS• K-State has not allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown since the 2013 season, going the last 152 games and 444 returns without allowing its opponent to find paydirt.
• The streak is the longest among the active Big 12 teams, 266 returns better than the next closest team (Arizona State – 178).
• Since K-State allowed its last kickoff-return touchdown, the Wildcats have scored 14 of their own.