Three Things to Know About Oklahoma State-Kansas State

The Cowboys host the Wildcats on Saturday for their penultimate home game of 2025.

The end is near.

The last time Oklahoma State faced Kansas State seems like a lifetime ago. The Cowboys were 0-1 in Big 12 play with their only loss against No. 12 Utah. The Cowboys still haven’t won a conference game since then. The Wildcats were ranked when they toppled OSU and went on to win four straight before stumbling down the stretch.

Now one team is fighting for a postseason spot, while one is just trying to get a win. Let’s take a look at three things you should know before the Cowboys and Wildcats kick off Saturday morning.

1. Not Your Typical K-State Run Game

A big part of the Wildcats’ step back this season has been due to their struggles in the ground game.

K-State has only reached 200 rushing yards once so far this season, the win over UCF on Sept. 27, and the Cats are averaging 4.4 yards per carry. Last year, they reached 200 rushing yards eight times (and eclipsed 300 yards twice) and averaged over six yards per carry on the season.

And things got worse with Wildcat running back Dylan Edwards recently shutting it down for the year. But let’s face it, the Cowboys haven’t stopped anyone on the ground.

The two games in which OSU’s opponents didn’t run the ball (Arizona and Texas Tech), it was because those teams basically got what they wanted in the passing game or in the red zone.

2. The Cats Are Taking It Back

Kansas State is second in the Big 12 having forced 19 turnovers in nine games this season. That’s 10 fumbles recovered and nine passes picked off.

The Cowboys haven’t been terrible at taking care of the ball, committing just nine turnovers, but OSU has forced the least turnovers in the conference (eight), which is tied for 109th nationally.

What that means on Saturday? OSU has almost no margin for error due to depth and talent issues, as the results have proven out. The inability to flip the field and momentum — or the chance of giving up a valuable possession — makes turnovers all the more crucial for the Pokes.

3. Avery Johnson’s Wheels Get K-State Out of Trouble

The Cowboys’ coaches would love to corner Avery Johnson in the backfield, but that’s proven to be tough for any team, even when his offensive line has struggled.

Somehow, with a 68th ranking in pass blocking (according to Pro Football Focus), the Wildcats have only allowed eight sacks in nine games, good for third best in the Big 12. The Cowboys defense ranks 13th in the Big 12, having recorded just 16 sacks in nine games.

So how do they find an edge? Some advanced stats indicate bringing the pressure, but without blitzing (if that’s possible).

Johnson has not been great when under pressure, turning in an offensive grade of 37.4 when under pressure according to PFF, but when blitzed he has a 69.1 grade on run plays. If the Cowboys can find a way to get some pressure without blitzing (sure, no biggie), then they might be able to keep Johnson on his heels. If he can break contain, however, he’s liable to also break some Cowboy hearts.