Kansas State's Collin Klein Calls Out Both Sides Of Ball After Latest Loss
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After starting the season with so much promise, the Kansas State Wildcats are now at the midseason crossroads.
They have dropped two straight games, falling last week to the Houston Cougars and Cincinnati Bearcats two weeks ago. The Wildcats are now 3-2 and 0-2 in the Big 12 conference.
After the latest loss, first-year coach Collin Klein refused to single out any group. He basically called out the entire team following the 35-16 to the Cougars. The Wildcats were outplayed in every phase.
“I think it's probably just getting used to the load of managing it all," Klein said. "All of us need to be better, period. I need to be better for our guys, for our team, on both sides of the football."
This marks six straight poor quarters of football for the Wildcats. They led the Bearcats 17-10 at halftime before imploding the last two quarters in a 31-25 loss at Nippert Stadium. They followed that up an uninspiring effort against the Cougars.
The loss means the Wildcats have lots of ground to make up if they are going to compete for a shot at the Big 12 championship and berth in the College Football Playoff. Despite this being Klein's first year, those were the aspirations once he took over.
At first, it appeared they were at least headed in that direction. They opened with impressive victories against the Nicholls Cowboys, Washington State Cougars and Tulane Green Wave, which was a participant in last year's College Football Playoffs.
Since, the Wildcats have sputtered under Klein. While the Cougars were the favored team, Kansas State was supposed to handle Cincinnati. The loss has since created a snowball effect of negativity.
The hope is things can get better before this week's matchup against the Kansas Jayhawks at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. This is perhaps the most evenly matched game between the teams in quite a while. The Wildcats have won the last 17 games in the series but could be in danger of having the streak snapped.
Two of the Jayhawks' three losses have been to ranked opponents. They fell against the Missouri Tigers earlier this season and last week to the Utah Utes. Even though the Utes won 41-24, it was closer than the score indicated.
This week could be a defining moment for Klein, who is trying to make the Wildcats once again a national title contender. But a three-game losing streak, especially a loss to the rival Jayhawks, would cause some disappointment in Manhattan.
The hope is Klein gets things turned around sooner than later.
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