Cats try to rebound from last week’s nightmare.
Last week? Not much fun.
But we like having fun, so maybe we can get back to doing that this week against a familiar opponent. Unfortunately, said opponent is one of Chris Kleiman’s kryptonite rings. But maybe the fact that this is the second time this season that K-State has hosted the #20 team in the country will be auspicious.
The Game
The 21st-ranked Kansas State Wildcats (3-1, 0-1 Big 12) host the 20th-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys (3-1, 0-1 Big 12).
It’s not even October and this is the second matchup of ranked teams in Manhattan this season. The loser, however, is almost certainly going to fall completely off everyone’s ballot, and they’ll be facing a two-game hole in the conference standings. For all intents and purposes, this game is a playoff eliminator.
This will be the 71st installment of the rivalry between the US 77 rivals; the Cowboys lead the series 43-27, largely because Mike Gundy is a sorcerer. Gundy is 10-6 against the Wildcats, but seven of those wins have been one-score affairs, and not one has been a three-possession game; Oklahoma State’s largest win over the Cats under Gundy was a 26-13 win in Stillwater in 2019. Three of K-State’s wins over Gundy, on the other hand, have been complete blowouts, including 2022’s 48-0 rout over the then-tenth-ranked Pokes.
Last year, a 29-21 loss to the Cowboys in Stillwater ultimately left K-State on the season’s final day with no hope to clinch a spot in the Big 12 title game for a second consecutive year. The difference between 2023 and 2024 is that we know almost as a certainty that a loss this weekend would effectively do the same.
Chris Klieman has struggled with Oklahoma State; the Cats are 1-4 against the Cowboys during his tenure. A win this weekend would even the series in Manhattan, where K-State currently trails 18-19.
Of note for the Cowboys: last week, quarterback Alan Bowman was benched at halftime, although he’s expected to start this one, and after a big game against FCS #1 South Dakota State to start the season, Ollie Gordon has fallen off the map. He’s failed to reach 50 rushing yards in any of the last three games, averaging under three yards per carry.
Kickoff
Saturday, September 28, 11:00am CT at Bill Snyder Family Stadium (50,000) in Manhattan, Kansas.
Tickets
Standing room only, and those are $180 a pop. On the secondary market, there are a handful of tickets available for under $60, but the average price is $100 and a not-insignificant number of seats are going for two bills or more.
Weather
The morning tailgate will start off cool, with temperatures in Manhattan at around 60° during the 8:00 hour. By gametime, though, temps should be approaching 80° and wil be in the mid-80s by game’s end. Partly cloudy skies, no rain in the forecast.
Odds
K-State opened as a 5.5 point favorite; they’re not at -5 per our friends at DraftKings. The over at 57.5, indicating a 31-26ish win for K-State. The money line is -205 for K-State, +170 for the Pokes. Oddshark’s computer suddenly likes the Wildcats, projecting a 32-25 win.
Television
ESPN proper, as K-State appears on a primary network for the fourth straight week. As with the Tulane game, we’ll have Bob Wischusen, the awesome Louis Riddick, and Kris Budden on the call.
Radio
As always, Wyatt Thompson, Stan Weber, and Matt Walters will be on hand on the K-State Sports Network as well as via satellite on SiriusXM 82. For you emigres out there, the game is also a national radio game of the week, available on Westwood One affiliates with Nate Gatter and Derek Rackley on the call.
Internet Streaming
The game will stream on the ESPN app (cable/satellite subscription required). Audio available via kstatesports.com. Live stats provided by StatsBroadcast.
Editorial note: comments are disabled on How to Watch posts to combat illicit streaming spam.