Summer Schedule Preview: Kansas State Looks to Take the Next Step to the Top of a Stacked Big 12

The Wildcats stumbled down the stretch in 2024, but they have enough talent returning — and in the right spots — to be a trendy pick to make it back to Arlington, if not further.

Let’s continue our look at Oklahoma State’s 2024 revenge tour with the Cowboys’ penultimate home game, a visit from Kansas State.

Be sure you catch up on our previous previews: Noncon | Baylor | Arizona | Houston | Cincinnati | Texas Tech | Kansas

Week 12: Kansas State | Nov. 15 | Stillwater, Okla.

Series history: 43-25

Last meeting: KSU 42, OSU 20 (2024)

The Cowboys came into their first five games last season ranked in the Top 25. This was the one that ended it.

No. 20 OSU took on 23rd-ranked K-State on the road and succumbed to a deluge of touchdowns by Wildcats QB Avery Johnson. The sophomore passed or ran for five total touchdowns (four of those part of a stretch of five unanswered) to hand the Pokes their second loss of the season, foreshadowing the nine-game skid they’d end on. Alan Bowman, on the other hand, had a single TD (a 77-yarder to De’Zhaun Stribling) and threw two interceptions. Trent Howland did manage a late rushing TD in garbage time, but the rout was already on.

Kansas State in 2024: After a 7-1 start, the Wildcats stumbled down the stretch. But they still managed a 9-4 finish and a 5-4 conference finish. They ended on a high note with a 44-41 win over Rutgers in the Rate Bowl. It was the second-straight nine-win season following K-State’s 10-4 2022 finish, the year the Cats won the Big 12 Championship.

Kansas State’s Offense in 2025: The good news for K-State starts with the return of Avery Johnson. He’s back for his second year manning the QB1 spot for the Wildcats and should improve in 2024. The Wildcats lost leading rusher DJ Giddens to the NFL, but do return a pair of proven backs in Dylan Edwards and Joe Jackson. They also return their top receiver from last year in Jayce Brown. K-State has some turnover to account for along its offensive line, but K-State offenses just seem to be able to run the ball and a mobile QB like Johnson is always a leg up.

Kansas State’s Defense in 2025: The Wildcats return five starters from a defense that was one of the best in the league last year, and there’s reason to think it could be the best in 2025.

K-State returns the majority of its fierce front seven that ranked second in the league in rushing defense, including All-Big 12 second-team linebacker Austin Romaine and others. The Cats also added depth and talent via the transfer portal, headlined by Alabama transfer edge Jayshawn Ross. There will be more movement in the back end, but K-State added Arizona safety Gunner Maldonado and others to fill in the gaps.

Of note: The Cats will have a new playcaller under the headset.

Former Texas Tech and Utah State head coach Matt Wells was elevated to sole offensive coordinator this offseason after sharing the “Co-” designation with offensive line coach Conor Riley. Riley was hired away to coach the Dallas Cowboys’ line, and Wells was given the reins to the offense with a budding star in Avery Johnson and a slew of proven playmakers. Before 2024, he spent time at Oklahoma as an analyst.

K-State was no slouch last year, finishing Top 15 in rushing yards per game and yards per carry (second and first in the Big 12), but Wells has made a name for himself not only as an offensive orchestrator but a QB guru (see Jordan Love at Utah State). That seems to have played out in his first year with Johnson, and K-State fans and brass hope that will continue in 2025.