Can Kansas State Wildcats Get Back In Big 12 Conference Title Picture?
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
The season for the Kansas State Wildcats began with so much hype.
It was the first year under coach Collin Klein, a former star quarterback for the Wildcats. It was the third season as the starter for senior quarterback Avery Johnson. And then there were some folks calling them one of the sleepers to win the Big 12 conference and earn a berth in the College Football Playoff.
Everything was looking that way after impressive wins against the Nicholls Cowboys, Washington State Cougars and Tulane Green Wave at home to start the season. And then last week happened.
After building a seven-point lead at halftime, the Wildcats unraveled in the second half on the road against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the conference opener. It started with a fumble by Derrick Salley on the first play of the third quarter. It got worse from there, with the Wildcats having no answer for the Bearcats running game.
K-State left Nippert Stadium on the losing end of a disappointing 31-26 loss, slowing the momentum of what some felt could be a promising season. The question now is this: Can the Wildcats work their way back into the Big 12 picture?
Of course, they can.
It's just going to take some fast-tracking from Klein and his players. With a bye week, the Wildcats have plenty of time to digest the loss at Cincinnati. What's most disappointing is they had every chance to win that game. If that had happened, the Wildcats would be off to their first 4-0 start since 2012, the same year they won the conference and lost to the Oregon Ducks in the Fiesta Bowl with Klein as the quarterback.
K-State (3-1) gets its first chance for redemption next week against the Houston Cougars at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. It is yet another tough roadblock in a conference that also includes the Utah Utes, BYU Cougars and defending champion Texas Tech Red Raiders.
And this is why there is every reason to believe the Wildcats can still make some noise in the conference. They don't play any of those top teams. They also play most of the games against the Big 12's best at home, just like Houston.
Still, that doesn't mean it's going to be easy.
As of now, the No. 20 Cougars and No. 19 Oklahoma State Cowboys are the only ranked teams left on the schedule. Kansas State plays both of them at home.
So it's way too early to write off the Wildcats. But next weekend is likely a must-win if the Wildcats want to remain in the race.
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos