Quarterback to Back: K-State’s Blake Barnett to Get the Start against OSU

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For a former all-time quarterback from Manhattan, Collin Klein has had a tough go in his QB room in Year 1.

After returning starter Avery Johnson went down with a neck injury, there have been three other passers get a shot with Dillon Duff and Jacob Knuth each getting a start. Now it’s Blake Barnett’s turn, according to Klein.

Let’s take a look at Barnett’s short sample size for this year and what the Cowboys’ defense can expect. But first, here are the numbers.

Although this will be his first time to attempt a pass against the Cowboys, he did line up in the backfield against OSU last season.

In 2025, he appeared in four games as a runner. Barnett totaled 40 rushing yards on 14 attempts. He had one carry for two yards against the Pokes. He did not attempt a pass last season.

This year he came in behind the likes of incumbent starter and the others mentioned above. He played briefly in the season-opening blowout over FCS team Nicholls State but didn’t see the field until last week at Colorado.

Dillon Duff got that start against Colorado, but it was clear that Klein and Co. weren’t keen on airing it out with him. In three series — all three-and-outs — Duff attempted just one pass for two yards. Both teams were still scoreless when Duff came out, but Colorado went up 7-0 on the next drive.

In came Barnett. On his first drive the Wildcats attempted (but missed) a 48-yard field goal. Baby steps, but progress.

The next Colorado possession ended in a fumble, and Barnett led K-State on an 11-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. He missed his first throw on that drive but made his next four, including a 28-yard touchdown.

Barnett would finish 18-for-28 for 224 yards and three touchdowns. His third score was an 8-yard score with two seconds remaining to tie it at 21 and force overtime. They settled for a field goal before Colorado scored a TD to win it.

He also rushed for 40 yards on 16 carries last week. That net rushing total includes three sacks for a loss of 22 yards. So his sack-adjusted would be 62 yards at 3.9 per carry. He had runs of nine, nine and 14 yards.

It’s a small sample size but Barnett has shown better results than the other two backups that have gotten a crack at it, so Klein appears to have his man for the time being and while Johnson remains sidelined.

The Cowboys and Wildcats square off at 12 p.m. Saturday in Manhattan, Kansas.